I emailed my medicheck blood test results to my gp, had a conversation with her, felt everything i said was dismissed as normal. B12 and folate very low. It was advised by medicheck that i get a serum methylmalonic acid blood test.
Also recommended on here to have a pernicious Anaemia test.
I requested both at my gp surgery but was told this morning by receptionist that the doctor has ordered b12, folate and tsh, t4, t3 only. Why would she want them done again when my Medicheck results were about 3 weeks ago. Ive now got a telephone conversation with another doctor at the surgery who wants to discuss why i am asking for a pernicious Anaemia test and a serum methylmalonic acid blood test.
I know they are going to ask why i want tests done and i wont be able to explain myself well enough for them to think i know what im talking about with confidence, i know i'll be fobbed off. The lack of understanding is making me so anxious. Is the only way forward to go private? If i was to see a private endo would they insist i have all the blood tests done again or will they accept Medicheck results?
Is there an easy explanation i can give the gp tomorrow regarding the pernicious Anaemia test and a serum methylmalonic acid blood test.
Written by
Odinil
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You could look at the Pernicious Anaemia website: pernicious-anaemia-society.org/ as they have lots of useful info (much like Thyroid UK)I'm a member so have used the site for several years after being diagnosed with PA in 1985. They used a different test then, but you can look on there for help in how to get diagnosed and find out whether you are likely to have it.
Why not look up a list of low B12 symptoms, tick them off and read through them to your GP. Then explain that as a result of symptoms you got the tests done. Then you can explain that the analysis for the tests advised further investigation. If you have autoimmune thyroid disease you could explain that you understand it makes you more susceptible to other autoimmune disease. So, putting it all together it makes sense to explore further since you still have symptoms correlating with poor vitamin levels.
For any difficult conversations I want to have with doctors, if at all possible I send them a letter. It means I can polish the letter carefully and say what I want with time to think about it. It also means that I can add other info as well, such as copies of guidelines or other articles.
It is obviously not a good idea to send a very long letter or too many additional pages, but one well chosen page with a short letter could be helpful to you. Highlight anything you want to draw the doctor's attention to.
If you are forced to speak to a doctor on the phone please use a phone which you can put on loudspeaker and have a witness with you - preferably a mature male who is familiar with your health problems and who is sympathetic and empathetic. You could also record the call if you have some appropriate equipment to do so.
Make sure you have all the references you need to hand when you speak to a doctor on the phone and that your witness is well briefed in advance.
I did send an email to the surgery who scanned it and gave it to the gp. I called today as i hadnt had a reply and was told the gp wanted to talk to me and booked a telephone consultation.
Its so hard im quite good when in a face to face situation but whenever its on the phone i feel rushed, not listened to and struggle to keep up with what they are saying not fully understanding, before i know it they are hanging up and im left confused. Ive tried to educate myself on the subject of pernicious Anaemia in readiness for the conversation tomorrow but i know the gp will baffle me with science. I need this test done before i can start working on my b12 and folate.
Gp has already said she will not prescribe b12 injections and doesnt think i need them as she said my b12 was normal slightly on the low side, its more then on the low side.
She said only an endo can prescribe them.
I have an appointment with an endo at the hospital in December at least i'll have a bit more knowledge now and can ask questions.
I've never heard of a doctor saying only an endo can prescribe B12 before! It sounds like absolute nonsense to me. But the experts on the subject would be on this forum :
Ive got my routine hospital appointment to see an endo in December. Usually i dont have much to say, i didnt know what to ask, i do now.
The gp not only said it has to be an endo prescribe b12 injections, i wasnt saying i want them, only do you think i need them, she said they can have side effects too. Im all for being told the truth about any medication but i feel the more i know the less they listen. Im not telling them only suggesting something that may help me.
You will probably need a diagnosis of pernicious anaemia to be prescribed B12 injections. Endo is unlikely to sort this out for you. A haematologist might help you get a diagnosis but the GP could do relevant tests for anaemias.
Spoken to gp this morning although very nice i knew i wasnt getting anywhere with him regarding pernicious anaemia blood test. I was throwing all the facts at him but no all ive managed to get is a full blood count blood test. I'll do as he asked, i'll get supplements for my B12 and Folate after blood test, he wouldnt acknowledge my b12 was low, said it was in normal range even though its at the very end of normal. Im going to put myself on Mercury Pharma, get Medicheck blood test carried out again in November so I'll have Augusts results and Novembers results when i see the endo in December. If it wasnt for this site it is a case of going it alone.
Well, if you haven't had a full blood count done then that is a starting point. It will at least help you rule out some possible reasons for symptoms. If they all come back normal then ask GP to investigate further but you need to keep a note of symptoms and let GP know what they are.
Gp said my full blood count was normal a year ago so will be interesting to see what this next one will be. Ive asked for a serum methylmalonic acid blood test recommended by Medicheck and he rang me this afternoon to say that the blood test can be done on nhs but not at his lab, anyway he is going to ring somewhere tomorrow to see where i can get it done, if not i'll have to go private.
I dont understand why i cant go anywhere to get the test done, surely if i have a blood test form i can take it anywhere thats nhs.
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