Blood testing in Florida

[Groda]

Hi All. I will be in Florida for 6 weeks from Nov. 1. Does anyone have experience with having to blood tests done? I will need to have my ESR and CRP tested every 2/3 weeks while I am tapering.

Is there a problem getting blood work done? I have a letter from Rheumie as to what I need tested and his requisition.

thank you. Groda

[Hidden]

I have no idea how this works in th USA, but if blood analysis labs are freely open to individuals could you not make contact with one local to where you are staying and see if they will accept your Canadian requisition and any costs assoc?

[Paulagcl in reply to Hidden]

I would think that would work, though you not bring Canadian money, they probably aren't equipped to take it (just like i Europe where in both France and Italy, I got sick and they didn't have the mechanism to charge m. Different in Europe you might bring some cash in case they don't take your Canadian party.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Paulagcl]

It is no different from any retail transaction if they take card payments. You can pay any charge with a bank card by choosing whether to pay in local currency or your home currency. By choosing local currency you are choosing your bank setting the exchange rate when the debit goes through, choose home currency and the retailer sets the exchange rate and it is likely to be poorer.

And I have yet to meet anywhere that won't take cash - but obviously, you get that from a bank or ATM locally. I don't expect to pay in euros in the USA - why would they take dollars here?

[Pixix]

um…different idea…have you asked your Rheumy if you can miss a test! I guess there’s something quite specific to your condition, but I’ve never heard of others being tested that frequently. Does everybody get blood tested every 2-3 weeks, & I’ve just never realised it, please? I get mine done if I have other issues, or on my annual test, but I’m on my third try at tapering from 5mg & never been tested just because I’m tapering. Gosh, I’d be like a pincushion, my veins are very hard to find!

[MrsMarigold]

Hi Groda. I am in USA. Here you more than likely would need to establish yourself with a local Doctor in order to get blood tests done. Perhaps you can make that appointment now before you start your trip. Also you said you are tapering ? I have lupus and other autoimmune disorders so I’m familiar with tapering. My recommendation is to stall the tapering until you return home. Travel is stressful.

It may not suit you well to try to reduce and vacation.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsMarigold]

I agree with MrsM - don't taper while away anyway, eeven pleasant stress is stress.

But testing every 2-3 weeks is a bit OTT. just before the next taper step is planned makes far more sense.

[cranberryt]

Fost, as others have said 1) I would skip testing while away and 2) I would absolutely not be tapering while traveling.

But, if your doctor insists, I would suggest going to a hospital instead of a lab as they are probably more experienced with out of country situations. You would need to have a prescription for the tests. And even then, they may or may not be able to do it. If they do, expect a long wait and to pay out of pocket, in advance. It is generally quite expensive without insurance so expect several hundred dollars minimum.

Honestly…if it were me, I would pause the tapering and skip the testing until back home. The expense, hassle, time and stress would not be worth it to me.

PS. I am in the US, but not Florida.

[Twopies]

I wintered in Florida for a long time. You can go to a prompt care, urgent care, etc., see whether they will do blood work. The ones nearest me had lab facilities. Pay with a credit card. While in Florida take special precautions with Covid, nt good there right now,

[jarn]

Every 2-3 weeks?? I get it done once a month so am sure you can wait until you get home. 6 weeks wouldn't be too bad. Perhaps check with your doctor. If not, there must be walk-in clinics you could use. (as mentioned by "Twopies". Good luck. Plastic always good!

[Tiredofpmr555]

It's unlikely that a lab would accept a foreign doctor's prescription. I tried to get an American prescription filled while in Canada once and was refused. you would need to go to an urgent care facility and show them your orders and have new ones drawn.

[singingloud]

It’s interesting that they want you to test so frequently. You are still on prednisone which will show you are lower on all those test and many doctors then recommend you getting off the prednisone quickly. I only test every six months here in Michigan.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to singingloud]

Groda has recently been diagnosed with GCA, and is reducing quite quickly on the higher doses [at fortnightly intervals - as per instructions from rheumy] so I imagine that is what he wants regular blood tests... especially as she is from Canada, but is in US for the next few weeks...

[singingloud in reply to DorsetLady]

Ah i didn’t see she had GCA.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to singingloud]

Not it's not mentioned in this post - which might have explained why the need for them... 🌸