Full blood test

[David H]

Evening all,

I'd like to get a full blood test done to see what's what - I'd then follow this up on a 6 monthly basis.

I wondered if anyone could suggest where to go to have this done and what type of screening to ask for?

I'm 38 and healthy so I don't think my GP would perform a full test to look at things like vitamin d, iron etc, maybe I'm wrong?

I've seen some online kits you can get in the post, has anyone tried these? I'm a bit wary and would prefer to see a doctor.

I lift, I'm fit and healthy with a strict diet and like a lot of people in this section of the forum I put a lot of effort in to getting stronger and fitter everyday, I just don't want to leave this part of my health to chance, I want to optimise it as best I can and monitor it going forwards

Help appreciated in how to go about this

[NNH]

GP is likely to be very helpful, especially if you are starting a new or modified fitness programme. The basic checks you'll get may include cholesterol, liver function, anaemia, plus blood pressure.

If you're interested in a fuller checkup, it's around £300-400 for a few hours at BUPA, which adds things like VO2 max testing, EEG test, and overall health.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's from a reputable laboratory, so the before-and-after results are really comparable.

[anonymous-user]

go to private doctor and get whatever tests you want but will cost you.

[mph1977]

what is the clinical question you want to answer ?

[Antonia]

mph1977 said:

what is the clinical question you want to answer ?

My thoughts exactly. About what are you concerned? Are there problems that run in your family? Is there any one close to you who has recently had health problems? If so is this worrying you at all? There are many possible blood tests and it is better to focus in on your concerns so that the doctor can attempt to meet your expectations.

[meddyg]

mph1977 said:

what is the clinical question you want to answer ?

More than this, I would advise caution in undertaking unnecessary tests. Sometimes tests come back slightly borderline, or outside the healthy range, for no other reason than the reference ranges are based on 95% of the normal population. This often results in further investigation etc... Not only is this unnecessary, and probably expensive if going privately, but also stays on your medical records. Which, in the future could cost you in terms of life / holiday insurance.

If you have a genuine concern about something, by all means get it tested. If you want a general health checkup - I.e. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars - then this isn't such a bad idea. In fact the nhs offers this for the over 40s any way. However randomly testing for iron, vitamin D is just pointless. Especially re testing frequently. I get the impression that you are concerned about avoiding a future condition - what are you concerned about, what are you hoping the blood tests will tell you?

[mph1977]

Antonia said:

mph1977 said:

what is the clinical question you want to answer ?

My thoughts exactly. About what are you concerned? Are there problems that run in your family? Is there any one close to you who has recently had health problems? If so is this worrying you at all? There are many possible blood tests and it is better to focus in on your concerns so that the doctor can attempt to meet your expectations.

exactly

also ' what is the clinical question you want to answer' is the first thing any health professional asks themselves before making a referral for test ( and in the grand scheme of things even sending a blood / pee/ pus sample to the labs is a 'referral' to the scientists and ultimately the Consultants leading the various lab medicine specialities).

only the US has a culture of using tests becasue they are there, most other places in the world accept the evidence base and also the ;reasonable practitioner' test - and the 'reasonable practitioner' standard is often codified - e.g. the Royal college of radiologists ' Purple book' which suggests the first and secodn line investigations for imaging stuff ...

[944fan]

David H said:

I've seen some online kits you can get in the post, has anyone tried these? I'm a bit wary and would prefer to see a doctor.

I have been using these. The ones I am using are for athletes looking to enhance performance by checking certain metrics. The place I have used is a bit hit and miss. A couple of samples were clotted when they got there and their support for getting them re-done is ste.

[David H]

I think I'm in full health, I'm not checking for anything specific but how would I know if I had a deficiency for a long time and just live with it?

I thought it might be a good idea to get data to either back up my feeling that I'm ok or to help steer me away from any deficiency. I don't expect any big issues,

What started this thinking was a YouTube video from Stan Efferding! A guy who I think talks a lot of sense and has generally been around the block. He advises regular blood tests so I thought I'd come here amongst like minded people who lift on a regular basis to see if it was the norm and how others go about it.

It seems it's not normal and I appreciate the feedback, cheers guys

[mph1977]

David H said:

I think I'm in full health, I'm not checking for anything specific but how would I know if I had a deficiency for a long time and just live with it?

I thought it might be a good idea to get data to either back up my feeling that I'm ok or to help steer me away from any deficiency. I don't expect any big issues,

What started this thinking was a YouTube video from Stan Efferding! A guy who I think talks a lot of sense and has generally been around the block. He advises regular blood tests so I thought I'd come here amongst like minded people who lift on a regular basis to see if it was the norm and how others go about it.

It seems it's not normal and I appreciate the feedback, cheers guys

Broscience pure and simple , Efferding is firstly An American,secondly not a health professional and thirdly a powerlifter , three very good reasons to take any 'medical advice' none seriously and treat any other advice with the caution it deserves.

Edited by mph1977 on Wednesday 3rd August 00:27

[Robertj21a]

David H said:

I think I'm in full health, I'm not checking for anything specific but how would I know if I had a deficiency for a long time and just live with it?

I thought it might be a good idea to get data to either back up my feeling that I'm ok or to help steer me away from any deficiency. I don't expect any big issues,

What started this thinking was a YouTube video from Stan Efferding! A guy who I think talks a lot of sense and has generally been around the block. He advises regular blood tests so I thought I'd come here amongst like minded people who lift on a regular basis to see if it was the norm and how others go about it.

It seems it's not normal and I appreciate the feedback, cheers guys

You're trying too hard. Don't believe everything you see/hear. Chill out and just enjoy life.

[Johnny]

I recently got a full test done. Was going top go private but decided to chat to the GP first.

He was happy enough with what we discussed and what I wanted from it and agreed no problem. Damn site cheaper that the £99-£300 I'd been looking at privately, depending on what you wanted including.

All came back as expected, and cost me a fiver for a print out for my records...

[popeyewhite]

David H said:

Evening all,

I'd like to get a full blood test done to see what's what - I'd then follow this up on a 6 monthly basis.

I wondered if anyone could suggest where to go to have this done and what type of screening to ask for?

Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have this done. Go ask your GP, he/she may be sympathetic and offer advice and certainly basic bloods. If you're a lifter try and find a GP with some knowledge of the sport (rare, but sports knowledgeable GPs do exist), or ask for referral to a endocrinologist. Will cost. Mine did..and they still managed to lose the results of an entire week's bottled urine.

[mph1977]

Johnny said:

I recently got a full test done. Was going top go private but decided to chat to the GP first.

He was happy enough with what we discussed and what I wanted from it and agreed no problem. Damn site cheaper that the £99-£300 I'd been looking at privately, depending on what you wanted including.

All came back as expected, and cost me a fiver for a print out for my records...

i'd be interested to know who the GP was , as someone to avoid in future.

[Johnny]

Why?

[meddyg]

popeyewhite said:

Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have this done. Go ask your GP, he/she may be sympathetic and offer advice and certainly basic bloods. If you're a lifter try and find a GP with some knowledge of the sport (rare, but sports knowledgeable GPs do exist), or ask for referral to a endocrinologist. Will cost. Mine did..and they still managed to lose the results of an entire week's bottled urine.

This is unfortunately one of the reasons why the NHS is struggling, and GP practices have long waiting times. Because, more and more, we see perfectly healthy people with no reason for investigations, demanding them and demanding appointments to see specialists!

Once you reach 40, you will be eligible for the NHS health check, and I would recommend that you do this. Until then, save your money and your time. If you get unwell, or think you have a specific problem, then get it seen to.

[popeyewhite]

meddyg said:

This is unfortunately one of the reasons why the NHS is struggling, and GP practices have long waiting times. Because, more and more, we see perfectly healthy people with no reason for investigations, demanding them and demanding appointments to see specialists!

In some cases you may be correct, in this I don't think you are. OP will get his 7 minutes (or whatever) - in between old people with coughs - which he is quite entitled to. BTW try not to be so melodramatic, the OP is not demanding anything.

[mph1977]

Johnny said:

Why?

as someone who caves to the wants of patients.

Healthcare is Not Burger King .

[mph1977]

meddyg said:

popeyewhite said:

Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have this done. Go ask your GP, he/she may be sympathetic and offer advice and certainly basic bloods. If you're a lifter try and find a GP with some knowledge of the sport (rare, but sports knowledgeable GPs do exist), or ask for referral to a endocrinologist. Will cost. Mine did..and they still managed to lose the results of an entire week's bottled urine.

This is unfortunately one of the reasons why the NHS is struggling, and GP practices have long waiting times. Because, more and more, we see perfectly healthy people with no reason for investigations, demanding them and demanding appointments to see specialists!

Once you reach 40, you will be eligible for the NHS health check, and I would recommend that you do this. Until then, save your money and your time. If you get unwell, or think you have a specific problem, then get it seen to.

+1

[Prof Prolapse]

If you're fit and healthy you don't need regular blood testing. It's that simple.

If you are healthy but want a health check go private and pay a professional to do it.