Annual Health Check

stickywicket

So I started the day early, taking my specimen bottle and an old jug into the loo, doing a rather different-from-usual stretchy exercise and wishing, as I do on these occasions, that I had been born into the opposite gender. Mission accomplished, I went down to the Health Centre only to be told by the Health Care Assistant “Oh the girls on the desk tell everyone to take one. You're not diabetic and have no kidney problems so you don't need to. I'll just chuck it out.”

Chuck it out Chuck it out :shock: I was proud of the effort it had taken to fill that little bottle. How could she?

My BP was, as usual, upper edges of normal. That'd be due to my outrage at the casual treatment of my specimen bottle

Bloods next. They all hate my veins which have learnt a thing or two from 40 odd years of regular tests - ie see the needle, rush for cover. She'd actually given up on the first arm, undone the tourniquet and started to withdraw the needle when I yelled “Whoa! We're in!” Sure enough, the vein that never says 'yes' was filling the first container like a good 'un and even coughed up for the second too.

My reward is another visit next week, this time to the nurse, for the results. No doubt, I shall be told I'm somewhat decrepit but will live to fight another specimen bottle. There's always something to look forward to

Megrose489

Well done - on obtaining the specimen (even though they didn't want it) and on your veins relinquishing the blood. My OH has the same problem when he goes for his health check and often comes back with both arms punctured.

We've got our annual checks coming up this month as well, so will be going through the same procedure!

barbara12

SW you don't half make me laugh and did I need that...sorry I do tend to laugh at peoples misfortunes...but if you wrote the book I would by it... hope next week goes smoothly....I will await the next chapter... xx

Numptydumpty

Hah, you think you've had problems! In July I was summoned for a fasting blood test, to check cholesterol etc. this was done alongside my normal monthly bloods, so far so good. I was told to ring for results, which admittedly I failed to do, I had stuff going on and cholesterol was pretty low on my list of priorities! I asked for the results in August when I went for my usual monthly blood test. They hadn't tested for cholesterol! so, I had another fasting blood test in September. This time I rang for results, everything was fine. Yesterday, I went for my normal monthly blood test, and was informed I needed a fasting blood test to check my cholesterol etc, as part of my annual health check! I asked why this wasn't done in September, and apparently, I should have been told to make a follow up appointment to discuss my results etc. I wasn't told this at the time, so I asked if I could just make an appointment to discuss my September results, or better still do it there and then. I was told that's not the way they do it, so I need to make an appointment for another fasting blood test! What a waste of time and resources, to say nothing of my blood! :x

villier

Oh Sticky that was funny you make things so colourful when I am in hospital every three weeks after they finally get a cannula in before my infusion they take routine bloods, one time I was leaving and at the desk for my next appointment the ward doctor was speaking, who I thought was to the nurse then realised it was me she was speaking to, saying that I had to get my bloods done again as the lab had lost mine a happy chappie I was not even the nurse had a few little expletives under her breath xx

Kitty

I've recently had breast cancer, which involved removing some lymph nodes beneath my left arm pit. So, I can no longer have blood tests or blood pressure taking on that arm (no needles at all due to risk of lymphoedema). This was my favourite arm for producing blood samples as the other one is rather bent at the elbow, and getting a needle in can be a bit difficult. Anyway, the young man taking my test tried in he vein just where the elbow bends - nope, not playing today. So he tried a vein slightly away from that one and managed to get a tiny dribble. As he had to fill three sample bottles, this was obviously not enough. Pathetically I offered my 'bad' arm explaining how honoured he should feel that I was trusting him not to cause lymphoedema on that side, and why. Needle went in easily and the blood flowed. All sample bottles filled nicely. I anxiously surveyed my poor arm hoping I wouldn't regret my decision and as I walked away he said "You might get a bruise there" pointing to the arm that wouldn't play. He wasn't wrong. The next morning I had a bruise that covered at least half my arm!!

My problem is, I have to have regular blood tests as I'm on Leflunomide, but I'm scared to go now!

applerose

Sticky, how dare they suggest you chuck out your sample after all that effort. I'm sure they could have found some use for it.

dreamdaisy

I never thought I would say this but if only I had loo cam. I find it bad enough (and I can still bend in places where I should) to aim accurately into a (the wrong word I know but it springs to mind) piddling little vessel. Mind you, I doubt that blokes can be that accurate (despite the apparent blessing of the 'point and fire' equipment) because I am the one who cleans after he's been. Ahhhhh, marriage. It's wonderful. 8) DD

mig

:P :P :oops: Oops Mig

bubbadog

I can never get the no.1 specimen done! I end up having to use an old mug to collect it! But my rhummy nurse was sweet last time I saw her and gave me 2 cardboard collectors which sadly got used when the hospital cock-up appts happened! So will have to use the mug again on the 27th!! The trouble us women have to go through hey!!

Kitty

I keep a plastic jug and a funnel specially for the job

Even then I sometimes spill some :oops:

stickywicket

The loo cam will not feature, DD. Nor will the loo mike which, in any case, would render the air so blue that the loo cam would be useless

KathleenT, I did the breast cancer/chemo/lymph nodes thing over 20 years ago. They finally decided to ignore the no-bloods-from-that-arm thing when my other went on strike. I use both now.