fasting for blood work??

[Gino23]

I am going for my six month blood work, does anyone fast before their bloodwork?

[Panz]

I always fast ahead of all blood work. I have been dealing with CLL for going on 34 years and because of the trips I had to make for my doctor were very long and in winter in the North I wasn’t taking any chance of them wanting to run labs requiring fasting so it just become a habit. I now receive IVIG every 4 weeks and labs are drawn each visit. I now live in the South but I still fast and on several occasions it has paid off….saving me having to return for the test they are wanting. This is just my personal choice. All the very best to you!!!

Panz💕🙂☘️🙏🌈👍

[Gino23 in reply to Panz]

Thank you, I’m also starting with a new doctor!!!!

[Big_Dee]

Hello Gino23

I fast before blood work up, but my idea of fasting is doing without breakfast before blood testing.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Gino23

When our doctors use EPIC to enter the orders, the nurse, PA or NP can advise if any tests require fasting- since it automatically appears on their computer screens.

None of the ones I do for CLL require it.

But my wife's endocrinologist runs Cholesterol & Triglyceride tests that the doctor believes can be affected by fasting, My wife is taking a statin, but I am not.

Here is some of the debate going on:

health.harvard.edu/blog/far...

healthline.com/health/high-...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

-

Len

[MisfitK]

I do not fast for my routine CLL bloodwork. It's not necessary.

Funny enough, I still do fast for my annual physical's bloodwork at my primary care, b/c I get certain extra tests done at that appointment.

[wellbeingwarrior]

I always go first thing in the morning, and don't eat beforehand. Only reason is if I do it at the same time of the day, with the same routine (usually at least 12 hours since I last ate) then it doesn't throw another variable into the mix. But there is no real reason to do it.

[Gino23 in reply to wellbeingwarrior]

thank you

[AussieNeil Administrator]

None of the panel of tests I do as part of my clinical trial require fasting. I do fast occasionally to check how my glucose is going, as that test is included in my Blood Biochem panel. It should show on your test form if you are required to fast for any test. The only tests I can recall needing fasting in addition to blood glucose (only if you want a fasting result), are iron/folate/B12 studies if you want to find out if your low haemoglobin might have a nutritional factor.

Good question!

Neil

[ezabella in reply to AussieNeil]

Hi Neil, since I completed my 12 months therapy with O&V; I noticed my Haematologist been requesting Glucose level test every 3 months, and I've to be fasting every time when doing blood test. I am just wandering; am I at risk of diabetic following the treatment? And my GP started checking my blood pressure which never occured before. Does the treatment put patient at risk of developing Hypertension & Diabetics?!

Ezabella

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to ezabella]

There is a risk of hypertension with long term BTKi drugs, which is one of the attractions of fixed term treatments like you had. I'm not aware of any concerns with V&O.

As I mentioned, my haematologist has glucose testing on my blood test form since diagnosis, back in 2009.

It's good practice for GPs to check blood pressure.

Finally, some checks are wise to include as we get older.

Neil

[ezabella in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you Neil, that's right; it's good that Glucose & BP are being monitored regularly. Ezabella

[Vlaminck in reply to AussieNeil]

I can't go in for a stubbed toe without a nurse checking my blood pressure. Any office, any specialty. Always blood pressure.

[Walkingtall62 in reply to AussieNeil]

oh! I wasn’t asked to fast before my folate/iron tests. Thanks

[Poodle2]

I don't fast unless I'm told to do so (happened just 2x).

[LeoPa]

If you mean skipping breakfast, yes. No need for any other fast than a good overnight fast.

[J1015]

I never fast before blood work. Neither my local oncologist nor my specialist at MDA require it. I wish they would run the full panel so I could send it to my PCP and avoid one extra blood draw when I have my annual physical cut guess my CLL doctors don’t want to run numbers for my Cholesterol etc.

[BaseballGardener]

It depends on what blood work you are doing. If you are doing hematology blood work, such as WBC, RBC, Hematocrit, Platelets, etc. then fasting is not needed. The results measured do not matter whether you have fasted or not. However, if you are doing a chemistry work up, such as glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc., then yes, fasting is absolutely needed. You should consult with your doctor when handed the script, so you are both on the same page. If your script includes both hematology and chemistry measurements, including metabolites like glucose, then you will have to fast.

[Edalv]

I always skip breakfast the day of blood work, it can be called fasting. The reason is that my oncologist also requests a metabolic panel in conjunction with the CBC, which is important to see if there are any other health issues…

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Nope! Why would you want to?

Cholesterol or glucose maybe. Once in a while?

Jig

[BeckyLUSA]

I only fast if told to do so. Obviously, if I had to do cholesterol or glucose testing I would be required to fast. In the past my oncologist has been ordering glucose testing every 6 mo or so, and I asked once about fasting and he said not to worry about it. If it ever came back abnormal he would send the results to my GP for his review and followup.

BeckyL USA