GD test -- a different question

[Anonymous]

So this topic has been banged up ad nauseum on these threads but here is a question I don't see answered in the archives.

I personally think there are a lot of problems and inaccuracies with the way the initial screen is administered and I don't like the fact that the test is administered to all women as if complications associated with pregnancy were the norm rather than the exception. I also think that there is no way in the world that I would ever drink that much sugar in a single day let alone a single sitting, therefore any spike in my blood sugar doesn't necessarily mean that my blood sugar would be spiking after normal meals and snacks. Finally, during this pregnancy I have taken great steps to keep my diet and lifestyle healthy. I am committed to a healthy organic diet and don't really fancy the idea of sucking back 50 ml of sugary garbage just to see what that would do to my system. Add to the fact that many women get very sick from the drink, and you can see my hesitation. There are many doctors who agree with me on this, but for some reason the GD test is standard. I could refuse the test, but I've decided not to do battle over this, mainly because I like my doctor and he took the time to explain why he would prefer that I took the test.

With this in mind, I am going away for three and a half weeks next month and what would be my 28th week visit falls right in the middle of my trip. Therefore, does it make sense for me to take this test 2 weeks early or 2 weeks late? My OB's office did not have any recommendations for how to schedule it.

Given my feelings about the relevance of the test, I'm mainly concerned about false positives. As I understand it, pregnancy itself makes your body less capable of processing sugars, and the further along in your pregnancy the more pronounced this can be. So if I wait until I get back from vacation, I will be past 30 weeks. But if I take it early, I will be back at the doctor in 2 weeks' time (and would be gone for 3.5 weeks if they wanted to do some kind of follow up anyway).

I know some people will feel obligated to tell me how important they think this test is, and if you feel you must say that, I can't stop you, but I've heard it all before and I've carefully researched the topic and have given a lot of thought to the test before coming to the conclusions I have come to.

So -- can anyone who relates to my concern about false positives weigh in on whether or not it would be better to take the test at 25.5 weeks or 30.5 weeks?

Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you will have a higher degree of false positive either way. Can't think of any scientific reason why, but I am just guessing. Since you think it is a stupid test, why not just take it later and not sweat it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you will have a higher degree of false positive either way. Can't think of any scientific reason why, but I am just guessing. Since you think it is a stupid test, why not just take it later and not sweat it?

Well, I think the test is stupid but the results are taken seriously if they come up positive. I don't want to have to take that three hour / 5 blood draw test and I don't want to get flagged as high risk for insurance reasons, monitored for a "big baby," etc, all of which goes hand in hand with a GD diagnosis. Thus, I don't want to risk a false positive. I think the issue about having false positives later on is that the further along you are in pregnancy, the harder your body has to work to process sugar. It's not like someone has told me to worry about this later on, it was just something that seemed to make sense. I could definitely take the test early, which I think would probably make me less likely to have a false positive, but I don't really want to schlep across town for another appointment 2 weeks after this one, if that makes any sense.

I guess what I'm asking is: does anyone have any input on whether or not waiting until 30.5 weeks would make me more likely to test positive?

[Anonymous]

Original PP here. If you have GD, you have it. One way to avoid false positives are to not eat anything day of the test. There was a recent thread on avoiding false positives recently. The only thing delaying does is delay the results.

This is from someone who got a false positive first pregnancy on the 1 hour and had to endure the 3 hour (passed). Second baby, I made sure not to eat anything day of the test.

GD can be very serious. Too bad they don't have better, more accurate tests.

[Anonymous]

As long as you aren't going abroad, why don't you schedule it while on vacation? You can do the test at labcorps or quest diagnostics - and they have labs just about everywhere in the country. Just an idea. I did some bloodwork at labcorps in vegas and it workedout just fine.

[Anonymous]

OP, will your MD let you eat a big carb-heavy meal instead of the glucose prior to the blood test? I agree with you about the test and how doctors interpret the results. I unfortunately have type I diabetes in my family history so I had to take the stupid glucose test not once but twice (but only the 1 hour version, not the big one). It made me sick to my stomach and dizzy and I hated it. That was just one of many reasons I switched to a midwife practice.

[Anonymous]

I was 25 weeks when I took the test. If I recall correctly (it's been 2 years), the window is between 24 and 28 weeks. It sounds like you'll be around 25 weeks if you take your test before the vacation. I would do it earlier rather than later for a few reasons - 1) if you do have GD, you can get on the diet/medication sooner and 2) if you don't, and chances are that's the case, you can relax and enjoy your vacation. It sounds like you're a bit worried about this, so perhaps doing it and having it over with would be better for you. Just a thought. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, I hear you about the test and agree that it's quite problematic. I'm the poster on a different thread who is also trying to avoid having a false positive, and my understanding is that the earlier the test is administered, the less likely you are to get that false positive on the initial screen. So absolutely take it at 25.5 weeks rather than 30.5 weeks. If you were truly GD, your number would be high regardless, but if you are borderline, which means that diagnosis and treatment are not likely to do anything but open you up to needless interventions, taking it earlier can impact your results. As a PP pointed out, another way to avoid a false positive is to schedule your appointment early in the morning and come in without having eaten. The three-hour test SUCKS, so being able to avoid that is another good reason to try to make your results the best they can be.

Interestingly, in other countries (such as the UK), GD testing is not universal -- they tend to screen on the basis of risk factors. Under that protocol, I would still have to take it anyway because I have two risk factors (PCOS and father with Type II diabetes), but many other women would be spared.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I read and even responded to that thread, and do plan to eat a certain way to try to minimize the chance of false positives. (I think I also asked if you would post back and tell me how your experiences went with your strategy of exercising and eating). Now I think we'll be taking the test around the same time, though. I didn't initially realize that the test would be falling within that window of time when I'd be on vacation.

One thing about taking it early is that if I do get flagged during the initial screening, I'll then be out of town for almost 4 weeks, and I don't want to be pressured to come back early to undergo the 3 hour test. (I would not). I've made my appointment for 2 weeks from now and we'll see how that goes. I wish it would be nicer outside again -- when I would get more exercise naturally than I am getting right now (with the rain and chilly weather).

[Anonymous]

My midwife gave me the option of having my blood drawn, fasting for a period of time (24 hours?) and having my blood drawn again, as a way to avoid the glucose test. Might be worth asking about...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My midwife gave me the option of having my blood drawn, fasting for a period of time (24 hours?) and having my blood drawn again, as a way to avoid the glucose test. Might be worth asking about...

Oh wow. It's great that you had an alternative, to be honest it would be hard to convince me that fasting 24 hours was easier (or healthier) than drinking that glucola garbage, though... Thanks for the input! Did you end up doing that?

[Anonymous]

The glucola stuff didn't make me feel sick at all and was pretty easy going down. I was surprised because I eat very little sugar and never have. I tend to have a sensitive stomach so I was prepared to feel like crap afterwards and didn't. I would just wait until you get back and not worry about it. My Dr. was very lax about when I took it because I had travel as well. I believe I did it around 29 weeks.

It was really no big deal at all. Fasting for 24 hours is something I could NOT do, however!

[Anonymous]

OP - I am a little confused about your post.

You go on and on about how dumb and invalid the GD test is. Ok, you made the point clear. We all get it (especially since it's been mentioned in previous threads).

But then you go on about when you should take the GD test? It sounds like you already made up your mind to decline it.

Perhaps discussing it with your doctor and what their practice policies are in regards to taking the GD test at X weeks would be a better idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I am a little confused about your post.

You go on and on about how dumb and invalid the GD test is. Ok, you made the point clear. We all get it (especially since it's been mentioned in previous threads).

But then you go on about when you should take the GD test? It sounds like you already made up your mind to decline it.

Perhaps discussing it with your doctor and what their practice policies are in regards to taking the GD test at X weeks would be a better idea.

I'm not sure you could decline a GD test if your doctor insists upon it. They have the right to refuse you further treatment if you refuse to agree to treatment they believe is mandatory. If OP otherwise likes her MD she may not want to take a stand against what I agree is a bad test.

[Anonymous]

I would schedule for after the trip. I would think if it came back positive that would quickly want you to get the longer test done, which might interfer with your trip. If you get it done afterwards, and you have to retest, it wouldn't be quite as big of a pain.