Blood tests

Have a first appt with rheumy in June - last bloods taken a year ago and think only calcium, vitamin d is it advisable to ask GP to do bloods prior to appointment or do they decide what they want when you there ? Thanks

[Hopey]

Usually i have an array of blood and urine tests done prior to seeing rhuemy all you can do is ask your gp for advice whether it is worth getting blood and urine tests done prior to your appointment

[Hidden in reply to Hopey]

So sorry I replied with thanks to you yesterday and only cos more responses noticed it isn't there - think I mustn't have pressed submit!

[Tillytop]

Hello Sue,

Like Hopey I have my blood tests done before rheumatologist appts and I certainly think it makes the best of a hospital appointment if the rheumatologist has recent blood test results to review when you go. As it's your first appointment I think its likely the rheumatologist will request further tests anyway but having the 'standard' test results to take with you would seem to me like a really good idea. So if your GP is agreeable I think having blood tests a week or so beforehand and asking for a print out of the results to take with you is a good plan (top tip - I always take a printout with me even if the GP tells me the results will be available to the rheumatologist on the hospital computer because I have been to far too many appointments only to be told they can't access the results). For reference the standard blood tests my rheumatologist asks for are as follows: full blood count, esr, crp, liver fuction test, urea and electrolytes. As it's your first appointment your GP might also do a test for rheumatoid faster though I think that test has largely been superseded by a more accurate test called anti ccp which I believe is usually only requested by a rheumatologist.

Other things I would have found useful to take to my first rheumatologist appointment - notes about when my symptoms first started, if there are particular times of day when symptoms are worse and what, if anything, makes them better. Also a classic first appointment question seems to be do you have morning joint stiffness and if so how long does it last. Photos can also be very helpful if you, like me, have symptoms which come and go. For example I rarely have much visible joint swelling and when I do it has a habit of disappearing at the mere suggestion of an appointment. So if I have any obvious swelling or any other symptoms which can be photographed I do so and take the 'evidence' with me to my appointments.

Sorry such a long reply and hope it's helpful.

Really good luck with you appointment and hope it's a good one.

Tillyx

[Hidden]

It does seem to be a case of the more the merrier with blood tests. The more your GP can do in advance, the better. I can't see any possible downsides to that.

[Hidden]

Yep going to make appt with doc this week to discuss - thankyou