Getting a blood draw

[reelingenious]

Apart from the "lock down", boredom issues, my health is deteriorating due to, what i think, are the Hypo symptoms getting progressively more pronounced. I have a TSH T3, Medichecks vacutainer test kit, but can't get a blood draw. GP positively won't do it and neither can I interest the consultant, who seems to be blind/blinkered, that Thyroid might provide explanations for my condition. Is there a way out of this Catch 22? Things are so bad I'm getting tempted to draw the blood myself..................not advisable I've been told!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

reelingenious

You can do a fingeprick test, I always do those as I can't get a blood draw.

Medichecks and Blue Horizon both offer fingerprick tests. Some people find them easy, some have problems.

youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...(Not working as expected?)

[reelingenious in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have tried and failed several times to do finger prick samples. It just doesn't work for me. warm water, waving my arms about etc., etc. No go.

[shaws Administrator in reply to reelingenious]

A few days before the blood draw, do you make sure you are well-hydrated i.e. by drinking plenty of water so that blood flows more easily. Also that hands and arms are warm for the blood draw.

[reelingenious in reply to shaws]

Adopted all the usual tactics. The last time I lacerated 4 fingers and the sample was rejected as the blood was "damaged"! Hence I gave up with finger pricks.

[shaws Administrator in reply to reelingenious]

That's a shame that you weren't able to do it yourself. I have never done so myself.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to reelingenious]

That's a shame. Do you have a nurse friend/acquaintence who might do it for you?

[reelingenious in reply to SeasideSusie]

A nurse friend, but a touch distant! Anyway whether I would be welcome is another issue!! Suppose my arm through the cat flap perhaps!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested?

These need to be optimal and need regular retesting

How about starting with just a vitamin D drop test

Only 4 drops blood required

vitamindtest.org.uk

[humanbean]

Whereabouts do you stab yourself when trying to get a blood sample? Lots of people try the very tip of the finger in the centre of the pad. That won't usually work.

The instructions in this post by @SeasideSusie are well worth reading :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...