Refused vitamin and nutrient blood tests

[sobs1962]

I've just come back from GP surgery to have my thyroid bloods checked and asked about, vit d, b12, folate and ferritin and others being tested. Told by nurse doctor would need to authorise any other blood tests but I honestly don't think even if I spoke to the doctor, he/she would authorise and would only look at last time they were tested which 15 months ago and if they were OK then, they should be OK now. The NHS is slowly but surely going down the drain and people like us appear to have no choice but to spend hundreds of pounds to get private blood tests done in order to get a true picture of our health. I'm so angry right now, I feel like I could explode, this is just completely unacceptable. Sorry for rant, needed to get it off my chest.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Vitamin results from year ago

Vit D 51.3 (50-125) previous result 54 on same scale.

B12 546ng/L (211-911)previous result 366 but taking 100mcg for 2 1/2 weeks.

Magnesium 0.77 (0.70-1.00)

Cortisol 249 (200-500)

Folate 6.20ug/L (>4.0ug/L)

TSH - 0.01mu/L (0.35-5.50mn/L)

T4 - 23.5 (10-20pmol/L)previous results 29+ 26.5

FT3 - 6.5 (3.5-6.5)previous result 3.51.

Ferritin - 164 (10-291)

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking ?

Vitamin D, folate both were too low

Are you currently taking magnesium too

Are you now regularly taking vitamin B complex?

GP’s only retest vitamin D once every 2 years

Suggest you retest vitamin D here

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, am taking Igennus super b complex, calm vitality magnesium. Stopped taking vit b complex for 2 weeks so as not to interfere with blood tests was also taking selenium 200mcg every other day but stopped that before blood test. Also taking better you vit d+k2, ashwagandha and cbd gummies. I know that the NHS won't do anything about vit d levels unless below 50 and as long as they are "within range " even if at the very bottom they are classed as "normal", so I have no idea whether all these supplements are working or not. Thanks for info, will look at that.

[VioletKiss]

It really sucks, doesn’t it? I was away from the UK for 5 years and have just got back. I’m really shocked at how healthcare quality has declined in just this short time. I know that COVID is a thing, etc - but certainly my doctor didn’t even want to test my blood OR see my medical records when I arrived back to the UK. I was just given the same levothyroxine dose I’d been taking overseas. I use Thriva for regular blood tests - they’re not cheap, but not super expensive either - definitely worth a look, and if you google ‘Thriva voucher’ you can usually get up to 50% off on tests. Good luck.

[HappyHealthyGirl]

Dear sobs1962 ,I've only just come across your post, & I realise that it's a month old, so I have no idea where you may be up to now, but I do have to make a comment about it.

It is perfectly understandable that the nurse drawing the blood is not able to authorise extra tests - it would put the nurse in an extremely difficult position if everyone turned up & just said, 'while I'm here could you just test me for x, y & z. as well?'!!!

It's just standard procedure that blood tests are authorised by your doctor.

Speak to your GP, who must be aware of your medical conditions, discuss your current symptoms and request the tests, & be prepared to calmly say why. You can of course say that you are very keen to improve your health and think that the tests will inform you both about next steps. And you can say that since your Vit D was bottom end the last two times you'd like to know if there's any change.... Your GP might even suggest other tests, or a full panel!

There's no point in assuming that you won't get the tests & paying for them without actually asking.

Then if your GP actually refuses you can have a justified rant about it.

I know that it's difficult, but see what you can actually get done for free on the NHS first.

[sobs1962 in reply to HappyHealthyGirl]

Thanks, have an appointment next week with doctor, will mention the tests and find out if they can be done and if not, why not.