Ive just received notification of a new Appt at another Hospital, in April. ( Hoorah). At my last appointment , at the previous hospital, the Rheumy, asked me to have a blood test prior to the appointment, so he could see how I was doing.
Consequently I asked my GP surgery for a letter to have said blood tests done.I have just spent an infuriating 40 minutes on the phone asking for the letter to have the bloods done. The answer I got was , “ The Dr needs to know what blood tests do I need) ,”
To cut this short........Please can one of you intelligent, lovely, people, tell me what I would need checking.........so I can then tell the surgery.
Frustrated , & Regards.
Written by
Stifffingers
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I don’t think you should be having to do this as your new Hospital only has to go on the Internet and they can get up all your medical information. Seems like they want you to do their job for them.
I’m not one of the experienced ones on here but I’m sure one will be along soon.
At a guess ESR and CRP - erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c-reactive protein - which are markers for inflammation. But MrsN is right - you need to ask the secretary to be sure.
Is the appointment at the new hospital with the same doctor? It is quite possible that a different team might want different things but ESR and CRP are the basics - if they were raised at diagnosis and are now in normal range you are on enough pred to manage the inflammation. They are actually things your GP should/could be checking every 3 to 6 months or relating to reduction steps to keep a closer eye on how you are doing.
Hopefully , the Appt will be with the same consultant. I believe I may have mentioned previously, that he has moved Hospitals. Consequently , my appt was cancelled to see him at the end of this Month.I took it upon myself to arrange an appt at his new Hospital, whether it will be with him , or another , I cannot answer. Hopefully, with him , as we had a good rapour.
At our last meeting , he asked me to have a blood test done prior to our appt. I asked how I would arrange this, and he told me to arrange through my own GP surgery. This is where the Question arose from this morning. When I contacted the Surgery this morning to ask for my blood test form, I was advised by one of the receptionists, that the Dr , needed to know what I needed on the form!,?
I suggested they looked this up on my records., but it became a painful battle in the end, hence my plea to you guys.
I have since Emailed the said Consultant, in the hope he may reply?
The last letter he wrote to my Dr, stated....
Diagnosis
..Polymyalgia Rheumatica with possible peripheral synovitis ( RF& ACP - negative
Review in 6 months with time with a repeat blood test!
That is rheumatoid factor and (I assume) anti-CCP (not ACP which is a test that used to be used in prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women! Not really relevant.). Neither of them were positive at the last check so he wants to monitor them.
"Rheumatoid factor (RF) – Designed to detect and measure the level of an antibody that acts against the blood component gamma globulin, this test is often positive in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) -- Also called anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), this test (like the test for rheumatoid factor) looks for the presence of a particular autoantibody that is present in approximately 60-80 percent of people with RA. While most patients with anti-CCP antibodies are also positive for rheumatoid factor, the RF antibody can occur in patients with many other conditions, including an infection. Anti-CCP is more specific for RA and is becoming the preferred test."
They can be normal in early RA - and may remain normal even though they can see evidence of RA in joints in which case you are told you are "sero-negative".
So those are the 4 tests I'd inform the GP you need to have done. If it is something else then the letter needs to be more specific for the benefit of receptionists
No, worked in the labs in an early incarnation! And I do know my blood tests ...
Yes: Full Blood Count (red cells, white cells, haemoglobin etc), Urea & Electrolytes (sodium, potassium etc), Liver Function Tests (does what it says on the tin) and the CRP and ESR I suggested. They are all just the normal routine screening tests your GP should be doing every so often anyway.
I can understand that the GP can’t tell you as it seems that primary and secondary care seem to live on different planets. They also seem to have totally different computer systems. Can you ask your previous hospital what test you had? I always ask for copies of my tests as this sort of thing seems to happen quite often and then at least I know what is going on.
I am quite lucky that my Rheumatologist and Eye Consultant ( I have GCA ) pass all the information onto my GP and then he sends me a copy of everything he receives from them. Also if they change any of my medication then my GP will phone me to check I am on the new dose.
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