Are there any haemotology experts out there?

[tigwig]

I am having blood tests done next week after complaining to the doctor that I can't lose weight after a month of a low fat diet and no alcohol and he thinks it could be my thyroid cos my mum suffers with it too. On the sample form you get there is several boxes ticked for them to test for and I wondered what they all mean exactly so here goes - U/E, TSH & FREE T4, CALCIUM & ALBUMIN, CHOL. HDL & RATIO, FULL BLOOD COUNT, ESR any info would be great cos I haven't got a clue!

[bednobs]

u/e = urea an electrolytes (potassium, sodium, general back groun type things, levels of minerals)
tsh = thyroid stimulating hormone (to see how your thyroi is functioning
calcium (bit of a no brainer - to check you have the right levels of calcium)
albumin (checking the protiens)
chol hdl an ratio=cholesterol (high density lipoprotiens and the ratio of the two)
full bloo count = heamaglobin (to check for anaemia) platelets, white blood count and all that jazz
esr erythrocyte sedimentation rate = to look for inflammation
i bet by the time ive posted this, theres two or three other replies explaining it better

[tigwig]

thanks for your speedy response bednobs thats all I wanted to know

[dot.hawkes]

I have an underaqctive thyroid and it is true that it can give you problems with your weight, if you do not eat carefully the pounds pile on and it takes ages to lose it again, I have to make sure I take the thyroxin regularly, I used to be very erratic with it and that is when weight gain is more likely and it takes longer to lose it. I am not 100% sure if it is a hereditary condition but my sister has the same thing, plus lupus, but my other sister does not. It does sound as though the doc is testing the thyroid function, your mum will tell you it is easily treatable, your medication would sort the imbalance out within 12 months or so, stick with the diet though.

[stewey]

Just a point of trivia, but only two of those blood tests (FBC abd ESR) fall under the heading of hematology; the rest fall into the biochemistry classification.