Re: Private blood draw

[Guest guest]

You should be able to go to any NHS place that draws blood. I have been to two

different ones, one at my local GP and another at my local Gym.

I just took all my genova stuff in with me and said, can you please draw the

blood for me as im doing a test privately, depending if you have to pursuade

them you could say you have been forced to get the test done private as the

doctor refused. ( i said this once as it was true when getting my RT3 tested,

and the nurse was motrified by the doctors actions, espeically when i told her

the price of the test)

They then draw the blood with their equipment and transfer it into your genova

tube, and then they let me take the tube away with u to post off.

Hope this helps

Steve

>

>

> Does anyone know where I cam get a blood draw from? Or a sympathetic GP in the

Southampton region. I have the endo list but I need a GP who doesn't diode me as

a nutcase first!

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jess

>

[Guest guest]

My NHS hospital and my GP's surgery refused to take blood for a private laboratory.   I had to go to a private hospital to get it done.   I also then had difficulty getting it from them because they wanted to have a doctors name but I eventually got it done.

So it looks like in different areas, different hospitals things are different.    Surely one NHS hospital should have the same rules as all the other NHS hospitals.Lilian

You should be able to go to any NHS place that draws blood. I have been to two different ones, one at my local GP and another at my local Gym.

[Guest guest]

That sucks, what reasoning did they give to not take the blood ?

Only once did i have to pursuade them (i just made them feel sorry for me lol)

and all the other times i have had no problem, its shocking that some places

wont do it as they are already doing it, they even use their own needles the

only difference you send it off instead of them (so actually less work )

STeve

>

> My NHS hospital and my GP's surgery refused to take blood for a private

> laboratory.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jess,

I use the BMI private hospital at Dorchester. (Winterbourne) They charge £15

and you don't need an appointment.... If all else fails you could hop on a

train... Are you sure the hospital understood you just wanted them to draw

blood ? you shouldn't need a GP referral for that.....

x

>

> Hi,

>

> I ordered a thyroid screen from Genova and can't find anywhere to do a blood

draw. I tried spire Southampton hospital and they only do tests on GP referral.

[Guest guest]

They gave no reason Steve, just refused to do it unless they had an NHS blood test form (which I did not have) just the instructions on how to do it from the private Lab.In fact, in my GP's surgery, it  states on the thing that goes round with messages (don't know what it is called) that blood will not be taken unless you have the relevant blood test form.

LilianThat sucks, what reasoning did they give to not take the blood ?

[Guest guest]

Are you sure spire won't do it? i have been to 2 BMIs and had no problem - just

explained to them that i had the test kit, all that was requuired is blood to be

taken and that the results would be sent to a practitoner

have you actually gone to the spire and asked them? just wondered if you got

someone who didn't know what they were doing on the phone, that's all

chris

[Guest guest]

Hi Jess

Why did you order a blood thyroid screen - your own doctor

should do a serum thyroid function test for you, especially if you have

symptoms. However, doing a blood thyroid test only shows you the level of

thyroid hormone that is in the blood. It does not show whether the thyroid hormone

is being properly used in the cells. This is why it is best to get the 24 hour

urine test that Genova offer because that will show how much thyroid hormone

your tissues have used.

If you write a letter to your GP setting out all of your

symptoms and signs (check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under

'Hypothyroidism'). Also, list any members of your family who have a thyroid or

autoimmune disease. Take your basal temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you

get out of bed and list these if less than 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C, or

less). Ask for a full thyroid function test and for your serum ferritin, B12,

D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc to be tested showing him just some of

the references to the research/studies done that show that if any of these are

low in the range, thyroid hormone cannot be fully utilised at the cellular

level. Ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your medical notes and

send a copy to the head of practice (if there is one) and ask when it would be

convenient to pick up the blood request form. See if that works. If it doesn't,

then send another letter telling him that because he refused to even consider

allowing your thyroid function to be tested, you would like a second opinion

from an endocrinologist, preferably of your choice.

Luv - Sheila

I ordered a thyroid screen from Genova and can't find anywhere to do a blood

draw. I tried spire Southampton hospital and they only do tests on GP referral.

I ordered it thinking it was a urine test for some reason! No idea why I

thought that...

Does anyone know where I cam get a blood draw from? Or a sympathetic GP in the

Southampton region. I have the endo list but I need a GP who doesn't diode me

as a nutcase first!

Thanks,

Jess

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I talked to someone on the phone so it could be that they didn't know what they

were talking about! I can try again. If not I can head for Wimborne!

Sheila - I tried asking my doctor for more tests but they refused. They did one

test initially after 5 months of illness that said TSH 2.55 and a FT4 of 9.9

(7.5 -21). When I tried to say the TSH was high she shouted at me over and over

it was notmal and wouldn't hear anything else. I asked for an antibodies and she

said no.

I tried again a few weeks ago as I still feel off, with a different doctor at

the practice This one was equally useless and said my TSH of 2.55 was 'nicely

suppressed' and also refused to test me further for antibodies etc, as aparantly

'If I had antibodies the TSH would not be so suppressed' I know from here that's

not true but she wasn't having any of it. She eventually said they'd wasted

enough NHS money on me and the few tests I'd had showed nothing so it must be

that I'm making it up because I'm depressed (I got tested for some auto immune

ones for Sjogrens, arthritis too). She was really insistent I needed

councellling and meds for depression etc and started saying I must be stressed

at work and home but actually my life is great other than this rubbish, so I

know it's not true. I'm not mad!

Eventually she reduced me to tears as I was so frustrated and she took this as a

sign of her correct diagnosis that I was depressed and smugly told me to come

back when I could accept the mental help I needed.

.....and that is why I don't want to go back to the doctor!

I'm looking for another one but I'm scared that no one will take me seriously

with my low TSH as that's all they look at. That's why I ordered the test.. I

want to know what my levels are now, from July when the last test was, to see if

it's getting worse, and also if it's auto immune. If you think I'll have any

luck on the NHS do say, I just got fed up and thought I'd pay.

Is the urine test better then?

I have been keeping a diary of my temps for Dr Peatfield in November and they're

generally about 36.4 and my pulse is 58-62 ish but the NHS didn't care about

that. Out of interest I asked my boyfriend to check his and he was 36.2 and a

pulse of 52 and he feels great >.< how odd!

My erfa arrived today from Value Pharmaceuticals - only took a couple of

weeks. I want to use it but wanted to make sure adrenals were ok first. If the

temperature is this steady does that mean they're ok? Sorry, should probably be

a new post about this so I will post seperately. Sorry this message ended up

being so long!

> Why did you order a blood thyroid screen - your own doctor should do a serum

> thyroid function test for you, especially if you have symptoms. However,

> doing a blood thyroid test only shows you the level of thyroid hormone that

> is in the blood. It does not show whether the thyroid hormone is being

> properly used in the cells. This is why it is best to get the 24 hour urine

> test that Genova offer because that will show how much thyroid hormone your

> tissues have used.

>

[Guest guest]

Nooooo.... not Wimbourne!! It's the Winterbourne hospital at Dorchester!!!!

http://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/winterbourne?gclid=CPuvmov9k6sCFVFc4QodcEA8uw

x

> I talked to someone on the phone so it could be that they didn't know what

they were talking about! I can try again. If not I can head for Wimborne!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Haha! Sorry I totally misread that! Thanks for pointing that out before I turned

up in Wimborne!

All the best,

Jess

[Guest guest]

This truly is

appalling and taking on such General Prats can be taxing physically, and

emotionally draining. If you feel you cannot fight them and feel the need to

take your thyroid health into your own hands, then there is nothing else that

you can do, and Dr Peatfield will give you great guidance. I would however, be

tempted to write a letter to this doctor with a copy to the Head of practice

and ask for it to be placed into your medical notes, and ask them to

acknowledge in writing that this has been done.

I would set out

every symptom and sign I have (check these on our web site under

'Hypothyroidism'). Signs are what others can SEE or feel, like dry skin, outer

third of eyebrows missing, bodily and cranial hair disappearing, puffiness

around eyes etc etc. Write down your basal temperature taken before

getting out of bed for 4 or 5 mornings if they are less than 97.8 degrees f (36.6

degrees C, or less).

List any members of

your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease as this can come down the

family line.

List all the tests

you need done which should include TSH, free T4, free T3 and TPO, TgAb. List

also the specific minerals/vitamins that need testing to see whether any of

these are low in the reference range as low levels stop the thyroid hormone from

being properly used in the cells. These are iron, transferrin saturation%,

ferritin, B12, D3, magnesium, copper and zinc. See attached to enclose with

your letter to show just some of the research/studies undertaken that show

their connection with low levels and low thyroid.

Ask for a second

opinion of an endocrinologist, preferably of your choice, and say that you

appreciate that GP's are not specialists and that you are now determined to

find out the real cause of your physical symptoms and that these are not

'emotional'.

Ask for a response

from the surgery in writing as you find it too upsetting visiting the surgery

and then you can take it from there. At least, you will get it out of your

system and get something from you in writing showing that you asked properly

for help from your doctor which to date, has been refused, should it eventually

be found that you are suffering with hypothyroidism and this went completely

unrecognised leaving you suffering without treatment that you needed.

The urine test

measures the actual amount of thyroid hormone that has been used by your

tissues and cells. Blood tests only test what's in the blood, where it does

nothing.

Do you measure your

temperature at least 3 times throughout the day (but this should be done at the

same time each day Jess). See Dr Rind's recommendations here http://www.drrind.com/therapies/metabolic-temperature-graph

Luv - Sheila

My erfa arrived today from Value Pharmaceuticals - only took a couple of

weeks. I want to use it but wanted to make sure adrenals were ok first. If the

temperature is this steady does that mean they're ok? Sorry, should probably be

a new post about this so I will post separately. Sorry this message ended up

being so long!

__

[Guest guest]

Hi

Just to say when I had T3 test done (NHS would not do) I rang my GP surgery to

ask about having some blood taken. I asked the receptionist how much and she

said it was nothing. I don't understand why some do it and others don't. After

all we are saving the NHS money by having tests done privately so the least they

can do is draw the blood free of charge! After all, we have paid for these

phlebotomists in our taxes and they work for us!

Having said all that, you should be getting your thyroid test free of charge on

the NHS.

Margaret

>

> Hi,

>

> I ordered a thyroid screen from Genova and can't find anywhere to do a blood

draw. I tried spire Southampton hospital and they only do tests on GP referral.

I ordered it thinking it was a urine test for some reason! No idea why I thought

that...>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Haha! Sorry I totally misread that! Thanks for pointing that out before I turned

up in Wimborne!

All the best,

Jess

>

> > I talked to someone on the phone so it could be that they didn't know what

they were talking about! I can try again. If not I can head for Wimborne!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I hit back and somehow posted this again. Apologies.

> Hi ,

>

> Haha! Sorry I totally misread that! Thanks for pointing that out before I

turned up in Wimborne!

>

> All the best,

> Jess

>

>

> >

> > > I talked to someone on the phone so it could be that they didn't know what

they were talking about! I can try again. If not I can head for Wimborne!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jess,

I just found this site which has somewhere in Southaampton you can get a blood

draw.... http://www.medichecks.com/findphleb.cfm

x

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for posting this link, according to the site there's a blood draw place

in my road. How did I miss that?! I couldn't think of anywhere nearby that would

do that so I took a walk down the street and I could only find a couple of

hairdressers and a Spanish language school, I sure hope neither of them are

taking blood! You have to register and pay for a test before they will tell you

where the place is, but I'll try giving them a ring and seeing if I get through

to a kind soul who might disclose it!

In the mean time I might head out this evening for a walk around the block to

see if I can spot it, so weird it's right there and has no signage!

Thanks,

Jess

>

>

> Jess,

>

>

> I just found this site which has somewhere in Southaampton you can get a blood

draw.... http://www.medichecks.com/findphleb.cfm

>

> x

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jess,

Sorry if I'm wrong, but I did a search for my postcode and it showed a dark pink

dot on my street, but this is just noting your location. The red dots (very

similar) are the blood draw locations.

x

>

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks for posting this link, according to the site there's a blood draw place

in my road. How did I miss that?!

[Guest guest]

Hi , it was hard to see on my phone but I've double checked on the computer

and there is a pink dot for my house and a red dot near it. I think there used

to be a doctors surgery on the end which is no longer there, that may explain

it? Bit of a mystery!

Either way I found a Nomad Travel shop that does immunisations in town that will

do a blood draw. It's just getting there during the day, having to miss work

etc. You can't go in an evening and freeze the blood like a saliva test can you?

Shame.

Thanks for your help,

Jess

> Hi Jess,

>

> Sorry if I'm wrong, but I did a search for my postcode and it showed a dark

pink dot on my street, but this is just noting your location. The red dots (very

similar) are the blood draw locations.

>

> x

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Im having trouble fitting in a blood test around work and when i can get my

boyfriend to go with me as I'm terrified of needles, (I know, I'm a wuss) and I

was wondering, do they have to be done in the morning, do the levels change(I'm

not on any meds). Are they higher or lower at any times I should be aware of

that would affect the tests? Also if I got it done in the evening could I post

it to Genova the next day or would the blood go funny? I doubt they send it to

the hospital that quick when I had it done at the doctors...

Thanks in advance for any pointers on this.

Jess

[Guest guest]

Jess. it is best to get the test done first thing in the morning

- get it over with and then you can rest happy for the rest of the day. Genova

will give you instructions on how to get the test back to them, but you can

send it special delivery. If you got the test done in the evening, put it in

the fridge and send it the next day.

Luv - Sheila

Im having trouble fitting in a blood test around work and when i can get my

boyfriend to go with me as I'm terrified of needles, (I know, I'm a wuss) and I

was wondering, do they have to be done in the morning, do the levels change(I'm

not on any meds). Are they higher or lower at any times I should be aware of

that would affect the tests? Also if I got it done in the evening could I post

it to Genova the next day or would the blood go funny? I doubt they send it to

the hospital that quick when I had it done at the doctors...

__

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for your advice, very handy to know I can pop it in the fridge if need

be. I'd rather do it in the morning first thing as you suggested, as I have done

in the past but this place doesn't open early, I was hoping to maybe get it done

on a lunch break if the levels in the afternoon won't make much difference.

Thanks,

Jess

>

> Jess. it is best to get the test done first thing in the morning - get it

> over with and then you can rest happy for the rest of the day. Genova will

> give you instructions on how to get the test back to them, but you can send

> it special delivery. If you got the test done in the evening, put it in the

> fridge and send it the next day.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

> Im having trouble fitting in a blood test around work and when i can get my

> boyfriend to go with me as I'm terrified of needles, (I know, I'm a wuss)

> and I was wondering, do they have to be done in the morning, do the levels

> change(I'm not on any meds). Are they higher or lower at any times I should

> be aware of that would affect the tests? Also if I got it done in the

> evening could I post it to Genova the next day or would the blood go funny?

> I doubt they send it to the hospital that quick when I had it done at the

> doctors...

>

>

>

>

> __

>