Blood test while shielding

[Seashoreshanty]

I am under shielding at the moment. I live on Anglesey North Wales. I am very nervous about going out! I need a blood test but i am worried about going to my surgery to have one. I know they only let one person in at a time but its worrying isnt it!

[allanah]

It is indeed . You are right when you say the surgeries are doing one at a time. Mine insisted I wear a face covering and I felt safe with my nurses use of PPE . I think shielding is hard as others are coping going to shops etc. I did have faith that health care professionals know a thing or two about infection control.

I was lucky to be able to drive to the side for of our surgery and the nurse when I called the surgery opened the door so I dudnt touch anything. Hand gel after treatment, straight out the door with her holding in. Straight in car with hand gel again!

I left my clothes outside our side door lol,and washed my shoes and outdoor waterproof coat with the hosepipe lol ,went in the shower and put other clothes in washer phew!!

The health secretary did say today they were trying to work out what we could do to let shielding people get out a little.

[Seashoreshanty in reply to allanah]

Thank you for replying. It seems you were fine. Will try and pluck up the courage !

[allanah in reply to Seashoreshanty]

I know! but theres so much research going into RA drugs some being possibly, maybe, helpful with the drug i'd rather have them !! And blood tests are sometimes only being done every few months if yours are stable so ring them before you go xxx

[allanah in reply to allanah]

Ps I love Anglesey, had a lovely holiday there x

[Lolabridge]

Hello Nairny.

I had a blood test done at my surgery on 30th March and it was fine. They are very well organised there and have what they call a “shielding” room for people like us.

I’ve another blood test to be done there on 1st June and I’m not unduly concerned. I will wear a mask and gloves and washable clothing that I can put straight into the washing machine when I get home, as I did last time.

Try not to worry they will be well prepared.

[Seashoreshanty in reply to Lolabridge]

Thank you

[wishbone in reply to Lolabridge]

I like the idea of the special "shielding" room.

[Aliceeliza]

The surgery has arranged for a nurse to come to my house for my last 4 bloods. Their choice

[Mmrr]

I've been advised that bloods are taken at 8 am from people shielding, after cleaning is completed, but before the GP practice is open to the general public. Gloves, masks etc being worn and a different door used for those shielding.

I was also told if I would prefer the phlebotomist would come out to the car to take blood from me, but personally I don't want that as I feel the car could potentially be 'contaminated'.

It is interesting to hear how different places are managing the situation.

[Matalow]

Nurse came to my house put on ppp before entering ,I got the door handles for her ,it took away the worry of going out.

Ask your surgery if it’s possible if your shielding.

Mike

[HappykindaGal]

I asked if I had to have one and they said not to worry as everything has been ok for four years. Perhaps you could ask and see what they say?

[jell in reply to HappykindaGal]

Going on that logic makes you wonder why they continue doing them once you've had ok results for a couple years!

Would make more sense that years of medications mean it would be more important to test.

I was told the same - only problem is, I've only been on these new meds a couple months.

And with the reported problems with hydroxy then surely even more important!

[HappykindaGal in reply to jell]

I'm not sure there are any problems with hydroxy as it's been used for decades without issue. Think there's some media spin going on.

I inject both mtx and biologics. The blood tests are mostly to make sure there's no damage to the liver by the meds. I guess as I've had no changes in 4 years with no change, it's unlikely to change now. It was me that said I'd prefer not to go to the surgery and they agreed 🙂

[KittyJ in reply to jell]

What are the reported problems jell? I’ve missed this. I’ve been on hydroxy for almost 30 years and have had no problems with it 😊

[Fra22-57]

I have District nurse visit me.I don't have transport n would have to go on public transport to go to doctors.In fact I have nurse coming today.They wear appropriate ppe and I feel safe that way

[Knit12]

I too am shielding due to the biologic. My surgery arranged for the nurse to come to me to take the blood test and they had full PPE. I am also a full time carer to my mum who is with a different surgery and they are also sending in a nurse to do her bloods as they know I am shielding and cannot take her. It might be worth checking with your surgery to see if they can do the same thing

[Barrister]

I have a hospital appointment scheduled for next week and I have been told that, even though they know I am shielding, I should still attend. I don’t want to miss the appointment but I don’t think that it’s right. They say I mustn’t use public transport (no other way of getting there!) and that I must wear a mask at all times. Not ideal! But it wouldn’t worry me about going to my surgery for a blood test.

Clemmie

[Kalimers65]

It’s amazing how different everyone‘s experience has been. I had to have a blood test while shielding. When I arrived there were 4 other people waiting, one person was actually coughing. I moved to another area where there was an elderly lady waiting with her daughter. There was no special area for anyone shielding and I had to wait 25 minutes! You’d think that all surgeries would have had the same advice .

[bubblyalex in reply to Kalimers65]

Wow ... at them having people waiting. My surgery is ‘closed’ and people are let in one at a time and only after screening.

[Kalimers65 in reply to bubblyalex]

That's as it should be. I had to go a second time, a week later and the surgery had markings to socially distance when you queued for the reception but there was no hand sanitiser. I have a call with a doctor next week and I'm going to bring all this up. It should be a standard practice.

[cathie]

I had to go to A&E on mOnday. It was deserted. I was given a mask, lots of hand sanitizer. I felt very confident in the 2 hours I was there. This was in edinburgh.

[cropredy]

Good Morning I'm shielding too, I called our surgery and they arranged for a nurse to come to my home to take my blood test. They insisted upon it. I would try calling them.

Good luck and stay safe.

[Seashoreshanty]

Thank you everyone, stay safe

[JEM95]

I’ve had two blood tests since lockdown. On both occasions I have called reception from the car park and stayed in my car until called. Then I whizzed straight through (with gloves on), gave my arm-full and then straight out again.

I worried about it beforehand but it was absolutely fine x

[helenlw7]

I had my routine mtx blood test done at the end of April. I rang the surgery prior to the appointment to ask if I should be going in because I’m shielding and a gp rang back to say I should. I was the only patient there. Whilst I was in the waiting room my own gp saw me and also the practice sister, and both said I shouldn’t be there so when next test is due in June the sister is coming to my home. Maybe your surgery does home visits.

[Summerrain14]

Hi Nairny, I do understand your concerns. It seems different GP’s and hospitals do things in their own way and I do hope that a suitable way can be sorted for you.

I am currently back on two weekly bloods at my GP surgery due to changes with my meds and I have had a really good experience thankfully. All precautions taken and only me and the nurse whilst having bloods done.

Next bloods booked for next Friday.

Take care.

[medway-lady]

I 've got one at 11.10 tomorrow and our GP's have got a drive thro set up going on. You go into carpark give the window a wave and out they come. Works great just don't have any strawberry flavour shakes. No I'm not worried at all. You could ask can your gp's do the same and they are also doing all the hospital requests too. I'm shielding as also got CKD and Brochectasis.

[Llanberisman]

I had my blood test at the rheumy monitoring clinic (local S Wales hospital) last week. Was apprehensive, but turned out very efficient and safe. Temperature taken at door and hands sanitised. Waited alone (unusual, that!) and called in very quickly. Blood taken by nurse in full ppe. Was out with 3 month prescription and breathing again in 10 minutes. Normally takes up to 2 hours, so was a far better experience.

[Seashoreshanty]

Thank you all for the messages