VeggieBoards › Forums › Local Forums › United Kingdom › Health check on NHS?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Health check on NHS?

post #1 of 18
4/8/12 at 2:49am
Thread Starter 
So, I being completely obsessed with numbers and blood pressure and nutrients and cholesterol and all that stuff and why didn't get into a job where I can measure people like that all the time? I don't know.

But I want to know about me. Right now, am I ok? If I go to my GP and say I'm about to start training for a marathon and I'm a strict vegetarian, please check all my stats, kthx, will they do it for me? I don't even mind paying, I would like to know about cholesterol, B12, iron and vitamin D in particular. Do I need to wait til I am dying of anaemia or an old person?

If my GP won't do it, is there anyone I can go to who will?
Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on VeggieBoards

Get Refreshing Beverage & Smoothie Recipes
Easy, refreshing hard lemonade recipe
VeggieBoards is the ultimate resource for all vegetarians
post #2 of 18
4/8/12 at 10:03am
I was going to go and see if I could get my Vit D and B12 checked too. I have never asked them to check that when I've had blood tests but I would be interested to know what my levels are like.

I have had quite a few blood tests where they tested thyroid, liver function and gave me my cholesterol results so they definitely do that on the NHS. I had to go and get a referral slip from my GP and then go to a local clinic to have blood taken.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 18
4/8/12 at 10:50am
In the US if your doctor won't do it (which is unlikely) then you can go directly to the lab. Many will let you buy all kinds of lab services out of pocket. Maybe it's the same in the UK?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 18
4/8/12 at 10:51am
Don't know how they do it over there, but we have several community health fairs a year where one can order such tests quite reasonably, no doctor necessary.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 18
4/8/12 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
I've found if my doctor won't do it, my local pharmacy can send off for most of it (except D) for £75. I'd rather doctor's would do it but I'd love to see the results, which I doubt I would with GP unless something was wrong.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 18
4/8/12 at 11:48am
I actually got results of my most recent blood work back on Friday. Didn't do the vitamin tests but they were offered... just the basic blood work on cholesterol etc.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 18
4/8/12 at 11:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yally View Post

I've found if my doctor won't do it, my local pharmacy can send off for most of it (except D) for £75. I'd rather doctor's would do it but I'd love to see the results, which I doubt I would with GP unless something was wrong.

That is good to know. I would check with your GP first though as you may not need to pay. If there is any family history of high cholesterol or anything that would be enough of a reason to get a blood test. I've never had any problem with getting tested through my GP.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 18
4/9/12 at 6:59am
Last time I had blood tests, I asked the doctor to include ones for B12 and explained I'm not so good at remembering my supplement and I wanted to check if I was doing okay. He ordered it with no questions asked.

However my case is a little different, firstly I am diabetic and so routinely have blood tests anyway. Second I have a family history of pernicious anaemia which I think he knew about.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 18
4/9/12 at 8:46am
Essentially, you should have no trouble in requesting anything from your GP so long as you have a decent enough reason; which you do.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 18
4/12/12 at 3:33am
I just asked my GP for tests that included B-12 as I was a vegan and wanted to be sure things were at teh correct level as I was feeling a bit run down. He ordered a test no questions asked and then it came back slightly low so i started taking supplements again (I had gotten lazy and had stopped) and he asked for tests every 3months to check to see if they were going back up and they did. easy peasy.
****I have a blog--check me out!
http://spidergrrlvstheworld.blogspot.com/****
Reply
****I have a blog--check me out!
http://spidergrrlvstheworld.blogspot.com/****
Reply
post #11 of 18
4/12/12 at 5:44am
I usually have a complete blood test annually. I always have sugar levels, cholesterol, thryroid etc done.

This time I made a request for B12 which my GP obliged. However I forget to ask for Vit D to be checked.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 18
4/17/12 at 12:04pm
You dont have to have a special reason to ask for a blood work: you can just request it. And that isn't one of those postcode lottery things either: it should be standard across the whole of the NHS. Admittedly though, I have an amazing doctor on my university campus who I think only ever sees me and my friend (yay for personalised service) so Im not sure she really asks questions. I do remember reading an article on either the independent or guardian website which was something like: "the things we should ask for at a GP which we don't." something like that anyway.
"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." - Charles Darwin
http://leighonamission.wordress.com
Reply
"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." - Charles Darwin
http://leighonamission.wordress.com
Reply
post #13 of 18
4/18/12 at 3:28am
Thread Starter 
Well that was easy

Wish I'd asked for cholesterol just for curiosity's sake. There's a lot I like about the NHS.

Just need to find time to go in to get the blood taken now...
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 18
4/18/12 at 3:33am
Thread Starter 
Except if I'm low on vit D, she says anything she could prescribe would contain gelatin
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 18
4/18/12 at 4:05am
Thread Starter 
I have the GP request form! Can I tick the cholesterol box???
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 18
4/18/12 at 9:06am

smiley.gif

Reply
Reply
post #17 of 18
4/19/12 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
Oh really? Cool.

She says it will probably be low, cos everyone in Yallyland is low.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 18
4/19/12 at 12:40pm
Yeah, ten to twenty minutes in the sun is enough to stimulate your body to produce Vit-D, as long as your body is healthy in general i.e. you're not lacking seriously in any other nutrients. By Yallyland, I assume you mean the north? Vitamin D deficiency was a seriously problem in the 19th and e. 20th century, especially in the industrial north, because of the lack of sunlight children and adults were receiving due to the obscene working weeks they had. This problem was resolved somewhat during the war with rationing, when the "equal share" philosophy meant many working class families were actually eating better. </ end tangent>
"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." - Charles Darwin
http://leighonamission.wordress.com
Reply
"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." - Charles Darwin
http://leighonamission.wordress.com
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: United Kingdom

Featured Stories on VeggieBoards

Get Refreshing Beverage & Smoothie Recipes
Easy, refreshing hard lemonade recipe
VeggieBoards is the ultimate resource for all vegetarians
VeggieBoards › Forums › Local Forums › United Kingdom › Health check on NHS?