Even better if...

[Moomin8]

Wouldn't it be great to have an app which you could input your blood results which would help you understand them and gave you a chart which plots them, giving you an idea of how it's all going ☺

What are your thoughts ?

[nomoreheels]

Mmmm, yes but you could do it yourself Moomin. Were you given a drug monitoring blood test book? If so you should find an explanation of what the terms mean & their normal value ranges. Each time you have bloods taken the nurse enters the previous blood test results in the book, they run concurrently so it's easy to make comparisons.

If you weren't given your own book ask for a print out of your bloods the next time they're taken, they'd show the previous test's results. Either ask the nurse (or whoever takes your bloods) if she can spare a few minutes to explain what each of them are for & the parameters for each or have a look at Lab tests online UK labtestsonline.org.uk. This is where an app may not work, each lab doesn't necessarily use the same method & why you'll find an explanation of what each test us for but not the normal values for each.

Previously I just had printouts of bloods. At each 3 monthly appointment my Consultant used to go through each with me (30>) paying note to & discussing those with asterisks (those higher or lower than they should be) & would circle round them. I was always given a copy & I filed them once I'd charted the results on graph paper (I know it's basic but it worked for me!).

If your nurse doesn't have time to explain what each test is for just ask & I'll explain but bear in mind test methods vary.

[Moomin8 in reply to nomoreheels]

This is true...but I get a frosty reception! I gave my gp my booklet and he said he hadn't 'had to' fill one out before! He scribbled it down- I daren't ask for an explanation 😕

[nomoreheels in reply to Moomin8]

How unhelpful!

[Dani83 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks nomoreheels. Just saved that link. Xx

[Moomin8]

Trees.....I agree......time and precious brain cells- that's what it would save me!😆

[helixhelix]

There are several! If you search ap store for blood test guide you'll find them. I used to use one, but got bored with it and returned to my pen & paper and drawing pictures.

[helixhelix in reply to helixhelix]

Except I've just looked and I can't find the one I used! I'm sure they'll be something similar tho' as seem to be millions of medical aps now.

[nomoreheels]

That's what files were invented for!

[Dani83]

That would be fab x

[DC56]

I have a book so all my results are filled in by the Blood Lady after she takes my blood she puts the results from my previous visit in been this way from the start I also have a list of what they call normal bloods so I can check my results mind you this 30 years old now I thought this was the norm for all ( they also send a copy of my results to my AR team) ,sorry if I've rambled a bit But they should be more helpful at your gps 😷

[Mimi21]

I never get the results of my bloods....my old consultant used to fill in my book at my appointments. I have always thought that if there was a problem they would let me know. Last year I had a big flare but I was well aware and the nurse and consultant showed me a graph of my bloods that showed the spike.

Perhaps I will ask at my next appointment - not sure who I would get the results from?

[Fra22-57]

When I was on methotrexate you had your blood results put in little book n that explained what everything was.No longer on it but still ask nurse at my doctors to fill the last months blood results in.All my results go through to my RA consultant.I have fibromyalgia and APS as well. Its me who has to ring them n then get fobbed off when nurse at my own doctors said results were too high.Only once have they been concerned as liver results too high n told me to stop taking it.

[Mandalou]

I wasn't given a book and it's been a battle with bloods that I've had to fight for and stand my ground because despite my GP referring me to a rheumy and sending me to a particular hospital my GP's surgery doesn't have a reciprocal blood test screening programme with this hospital ( cuckoo I know)

My hospital/rheumy nurse insist my GP surgery does my blood and my GP surgery say the hospital does it.

You can imagine Auntie Mand going bananas over this.

Well after much argy bargy and me being on Enbrel for a month with there not being a squeak about anyone checking my blood, I finally forced the GP's surgery to take responsibility which actually is perfect as its all on line and a day after the blood is taken I get all my results and it's all on graphs and is fantastic for plotting progress.

A really first rate system.

I wonder if a lot of GP's surgeries do this patient online business? I'm thrilled with it so it's worth asking at your GP's.

They never do both ESR and CRP though, it's one or the other.

[cathie]

Theres an app you can get with diabetic blood tests which does just that, so it is possible for other things though I think that one just measures one thing which is glucose levels. I just keep my blood results - here in Scotland they have columns for results going back 3 or 4 dates which is useful for comparison.

[linda-5502]

Yes I agree

[Juliev320]

My clinic in Wisconsin USA has a site where you can go to get test results online and summaries of drugs and doctor visits. They provide a graph of results and show the ranges. I get lab results sometimes the same day. It is awesome

[Moomin8 in reply to Juliev320]

Excellent!

[fionam]

I only see blood results once a year at my annual check up unless levels drop - then I get a phone call. It would be nice to see changes more often.

[Moomin8 in reply to fionam]

I try to make sense of then each time- I ask the receptionist of my gp to print them out- it's my right!