Fasting blood test

Barbieg

my hubby is in the process of being tested for RA, he's already had a load of blood tests and X-ray but has just been asked to have a fasting blood test by the consultant. I was diagnosed with RA years ago but never had a fasting one, which I thought you had for Diabetes and Cholesterol. Is this normal for RA. Just wondered if anyone else has experience of this?

tkachev

My OH had a fasting blood test the other day for a general check up so they might just be looking for other things.
I've never had one in relation to RA.
Elizabeth

theresak

I've never had one with regard to RA - I have one only when my cholesterol is checked.

scozzie

I've had one and it was, I believe, just a precaution as the blood test I had to check on inflammatory arthritis also included a blood sugar check -- which, I believe, came back slightly elevated. The follow up fasting blood test came back absolutely normal. I think there was a colesteror test as well, which I passed too.

I understand they check blood sugars as some diabetic symptoms may be similar to some inflammatory arthritic ones. So, I strongly suspect, it's just a routine thing, especially as we get older.

dreamdaisy

I have one of these every year as part of the hypertension clinic check-up and so far, so good. I've not had one in connection with my auto-immune arthritis. DD

Jaclyncollin

I am prediabetic so I do have this glucose test once in a year. In regards to RA diagnosis, low body fluid glucose levels, indicates increased glucose utilisation, often caused by inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, that can causes a low pleural fluid glucose. Otherwise I haven’t heard before for this test in context to RA. May be your Doctors' focus is on ruling out the possibility of all autoimmune diseases rather than only RA.

Good luck.

barbara12

I have regulars bloods due to kidney probs and the only time its fasting is when it covers diabetes...and I think thyroid but not sure , so like Elizabeth say they are might be covering other things, here they call it find and treat.. .

Barbieg

Thank you for all your replies. He did have to give a water sample as well as all the blood tests and X-rays when he saw the consultant, so maybe the water sample showed something. I was just surprised when he was asked to do the fasting one. I suppose times change too as I was diagnosed a few years ago and never had an X-ray or a fasting blood test. He was put on steroids straight away too, to tied him over till he sees the Rheumatologist again in 2 weeks time. His poor swollen fingers/hands were almost normal within a few hours of taking them. Thanks again.

Barbieg

hubby had his follow up appointment today with the consultant to start on his treatment. The hospital is a nightmare to park and is in Suffolk and we live on the Essex/Suffolk border. Consultant was running an hour late, finally got in only to be told that they still couldn't diagnose which type of Rheumatoid arthritis he has as the relevant blood tests were contaminated so couldn't be read!!! It seems they had written to our GP requesting them to do the relevant ones . After a visit to the surgery they admitted that they had missed it because it had been added at the bottom of the letter requesting the fasting blood test as an appendix!! We are both so frustrated and angry, but you have to just grit your teeth and count to ten very slowly. He was given a steroid injection in his bottom to tied him over so to speak. Evidently if it turns out to be Gout or Pseudo Gout that should zap it, if it doesn't it could be PsA or any other type that comes under the umbrella of RA. I also have RA and attend our Essex hospital, but we were sent to the Suffolk one as it was quicker. We hope to transfer him to my Hospital in future but they don't seem to like this. Sorry this is such a long winded rant.

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, what a palaver. I am sorry but this is what can happen - quite why they thought the Suffolk hospital would be quicker than yours I don't know: I am under the one I think you are talking about and the level of service has, in the past year, deteriorated quite markedly , in fact I was moaning to The Spouse last night about the very same thing. Having said that, shame on those who failed to read the whole letter.

I admit I become somewhat narked when I am classed as having RA because I don't, but it seems to be the most recognisable label of an auto-immune arthritis. DD