blood test

[lorrinet]

After my GP refused me a serum ferratin test, I contacted the Nuffield hospital. They have replied that a test is not that simple, that lifestyle has to be taken into account, and follow-up tests needed. In short, I was advised to go back to my GP.

Why am i finding it so difficult to get my blood tested?

[Madlegs1]

I don't understand. I'm in Ireland and after much research into rls-"asked my GP for ferritin test. No problem- just had to fast.

I actually consider that a ferritin test should be part of screening at least every five years. Especially in NW Europe - anywhere with such an ethnic origin. NZ , OZ , Nth America.

A certain percentage of those populations will have or carry a Haemochromatosis gene and be suffering from iron overload without knowing. When they do get symptoms , it will very often be too late , and their lives may be shortened unnecessarily.

You have every right to demand such a test - extra especially if you are of that ethnic cohort and male, or post menopausal female.

Get back in there and thump the desk.

👹💃

Oh- and BTW- my ferritin came back as 1100! That would soften any GPs cough! Total panic in the Blood Lab!!!😨

You may print this out and show it to your GP if you think it useful.

[lorrinet in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks for advice. I'm printing this out as you suggest and going to see a different GP. The one I saw said that I'd had a 'proper' blood test years ago and it was normal, and since i already had RLS then, if anything was wrong it would have shown up then. My GP practice is vastly over-subscribed and they are short of funds so I guess that may be the reason for refusal. We'll see.

[Joolsg in reply to lorrinet]

I think you've hit nail on head. The NHS is literally falling apart at the seams. As Madlegs says, go back and thump desk. Ferritin has to be around 75/100 to get relief from RLS but you shouldn't take iron supplements until you know your levels. It could be dangerous.

I understand your frustration. Fingers crossed they'll listen to you.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Hi Lorrinet

Have you visited the RLS-UK website? Here is a link that you may like to show the GP:

rls-uk.org/diagnosis/ If you scroll down it says:

It is recommended that patients with RLS are given the following tests by their medical practitioner, as a minimum:

Serum ferritin: RLS is frequently associated with iron deficiency.

Renal function: RLS may be associated with renal failure.

Other investigations for underlying possible cause include fasting blood glucose, magnesium, TSH, vitamin B12 and folate.

If the neurological examination suggests an associated peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy, electromyography and nerve conduction studies should be undertaken.

[involuntarydancer]

If you can run to it, I would order the Buchfuhrer, Allen, Henning et al book Clinical Management of Restless Legs Syndrome. It is a proper medical textbook and would (should?) be hard for your GP to ignore.

Page 234 says:

"RLS patients should have their serum ferritin level checked even when their hemoglobin and serum iron levels are normal ..."

Page 249 under Response That Has Become Inadequate With Time Despite Increasing Doses:

"This is often an appropriate time to reassess the patient's serum ferritin level although they should be checked regularly. As iron levels can diminish slowly, this problem may occur unexpectedly and respond to iron therapy."

In fact my understanding is that there has been recent research that suggests that RLS sufferers' iron levels decrease more rapidly than the 'normal' population but I cannot remember where I saw that.

[lorrinet in reply to involuntarydancer]

Thank you. I will order it and take it with me.