Uric acid trends on GLP-1 — gout risk reduction data

Dr.RheumBOS said:

Quarterly for the first year is convention rather than evidence, and it is defensible for a simple reason: it is roughly the interval over which HbA1c…

Shot day Friday report relevant to baseline bloodwork:

Week 18. Currently on 1.7mg. Down 34 lbs from starting weight of 246 lbs.

This week's observations: Slight injection site redness, resolved in 24h.

Labs due next week — looking forward to seeing the metabolic panel. I'll post results in the Lab Results section when they come in.

Following on from hans_munich — and this may be the naive question:

How often to repeat it, because quarterly seems to be the convention and I cannot find the reasoning?

kate.chem said:

Shot day Friday report relevant to baseline bloodwork: Week 18.

PSA: get baseline labs BEFORE starting baseline bloodwork therapy. You need a "before" picture to measure progress. My recommended pre-treatment panel:

1. CMP + A1C + fasting insulin
2. Complete lipid panel with particle count if possible
3. hsCRP, ferritin, B12, vitamin D
4. Thyroid panel (TSH + free T4)
5. CBC with differential
6. Liver panel (ALT, AST, GGT)
7. DEXA scan or body composition

Total cost at Quest without insurance: ~$200. Worth every penny for the data.

Reporting back.

Took the whole panel in rather than the one flagged line, and the conversation lasted two minutes instead of generating three more tests.

Dr.DermMIA said:

PSA: get baseline labs BEFORE starting baseline bloodwork therapy.

No disagreement with Dr.DermMIA. One condition attached. One addition: if the lab changes analytical platform between your draws, the comparison breaks and nobody tells you. It is worth asking when a value moves inexplicably.