All in the Numbers

 

When getting bloodwork the result is most often expressed as some sort of numeric value. I’ve decided to pull many of these number over time to give a summary for my primary care physician whom I’ll be meeting with in a few weeks. For the most part, the final number in each of these areas is fairly recent, i.e. in February, if not, I’ll indicate in the commentary. There are many more such numbers in my test results, but they are all pretty consistent and not an issue in the various medical issues I’ve been dealing with.

 

Weight: 234 >> 213 >> 203

I’ve started a habit of checking my weight once a week and recording it. The first in this series dates back to last April, i.e. 10 months ago. It was then that I started taking Mounjaro to help reduce/manage my blood sugars (which it has done a good job of doing). But a side effect of the GLP1 is to reduce your desire for food and thus impact your weight. The second number is a resultant reduction of my weight of roughly 20 lbs. The last 10 lbs is the result of my wife managing my diet because of my liver problems. I’m pretty satisfied with my current results, but wouldn’t mind another few lbs (I’ve had one of my grandsons make two new holes in the belt I most commonly use).

A1C: 8.9 >> 5.3 >> ??

The medications (Metformin and Lantus) I was taking to try to manage my diabetes needed some additional help, so last April I was prescribed Mounjaro as well. The goal of the endocrinologist was to get me under 7.0 into the “managed” diabetes range. However, by the time of my first episode of HE in November, I was down to 5.3, the more typical non-diabetic area. With the permission of my endocrinologist, we reduced my Lantus dose from 38 to 33. I monitor my blood sugars on a daily basis, but I’m still waiting to get my A1C checked again next month when I will see her and get a new rating to see if further adjustments are needed.

Ferritin: 11 >> 15 >> 51 >> 114 >> 138

Separately, it was noted two years ago that my iron levels were too low and I no longer qualified to give blood. I had a total of 3 IV infusions with a goal of getting my level over 100 – which you can see were successful. I was a little surprised in February that my reading had continued to rise, but this is still in the “normal” range. I was able to once again donate blood.

Triglycerides: 481 >> 312 >> 296

My triglycerides have always been too high, peaking at around 900 several years ago. I had brought them down into the 300-400 range with medication, but when that medication was no longer available my level started back up again. I am now taking a fairly expensive fish oil supplement and trying to be very consistent and my rate is coming back down to even less than it had before. Since the goal is to get my level closer to the “normal” range of <150, I still have a ways to go. This will be one of the discussion items with my PCP next month.

Bilirubin: 2.8 >> 2.3 >> 1.6

When my liver started having issues a few years ago, one of the few signs was my bilirubin. I peaked at a reading of 2.8 at the beginning of 2026. Now with a reduced diet that my wife is keeping me on, I have successfully brought it back to normal levels. This is a major factor in my MELD score, which I’ll discuss next.

MELD: 17 >> 12

I only got my first reading of this back at the beginning of the year. This score can range from a low of 6 to a high of 40. 10 or less is considered as normal with increasing concern as it gets higher. The only way to “fix” a liver permanently is a transplant, but not only am I considered too old, but with the number of livers available being rather small compared to the demand, anyone with a score of <25 is not eligible (and a score above 30 is indicative of being in a coma). But since the only symptom I have is my 3 episodes of HE (i.e. no jaundice, no ascites, etc.) taking it back down so quickly just through the use of two medications is a good sign. I’ll see the gastrointestinal doctor again at the end of June and also get a new MELD score at that time and see what she says.

Ammonia: 191 >> 181 >> 164

One of the goals of the two HE medications I’m taking is to change the ammonia (NH3) in your blood to ammonium (NH4) so it is not absorbable by the liver and leaves the body via your intestines. This measure is one indication that the medication is working and I am VERY faithful at taking my daily medications. The “normal” range for ammonia is 72 or less.

 

In general, I’m pretty pleased with the results above. I’d still like to see improvements in my triglycerides and ammonia. But if I can stay on the path I’m on, through diligent following of my medications and with the oversight of my diet with the assistance of my wife, I hope to continue to have a reasonably long life to enjoy with her and all my family and friends.