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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

why would dr order immunology and virology blood tests

29 replies

myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 20:54

I was discharged medically from hospital today at midday approx.
While waiting for the usual paperwork the haemotologist came at about 2pm for bloods.
I explained I was already discharged and had bloods already taken this morning.
So she said they wouldn't be usual bloods.
I asked her whether results would go to gp
She said to ask Dr.
Except he didn't come back to have the opportunity to ask

Aibu to ask what the Fuck they're testing for?

OP posts:
PeaFaceMcgee · 18/04/2017 20:56

Yanbu. Every test must involve your informed consent and opportunity to decline. Do complain.

PacificDogwod · 18/04/2017 21:00

Yes, rubbish communication.
Do ask what they are testing for, but direct the question to whoever asked for the further blood tests to be done.
If need be, contact your consultant's secretary and arrange to speak to the consultant at a mutually convenient time (could be by phone).

I am a GP and I often sometimes get asked by patients "What happens next?/What is this test for?/What will my treatment entail?" or similar and I cannot answer because communication between Secondary Care and Primary Care can be slow and rubbish.

Unfortunately the lack of resource in the NHS is often most noticeable in communication or lack thereof.

Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 21:03

Not sure if tests relate to my history.
For drip feed I almost died in icu about two months ago.
This admission they gave me a drip of magnesium.
I'm not aware that I will have any following up out patient appointment.

Curious what and WHY these tests at last minute.

Probably never know!

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 21:04

I have no idea who my consultant was!

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 21:08

I think I may have met him if he was the arrogant prick who told me I wasn't allowed out to smoke. He lost me there lol as my devious addict mind focused on whether any nurse had overheard.

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PacificDogwod · 18/04/2017 21:08

If you are in England, contact PALS - at the very least they can tell you who your consultant was.

opinionatedfreak · 18/04/2017 21:10

Haematologists are medically qualified specialists in blood disorders re. Sickle cell disease, haemophilia, leukaemia.

The people who take blood samples are called phlebotomists.

I' sorry you didn't get a chance to question why you were having tests. It is probably worth feeding that back and you could ask in your letter/email for an explanation of what they were testing for, why they were doingextra tests and what the results showed.

Google your treating hospital and PALs.

Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 21:17

Thanks freak. Useful information. I will put it on my never-get-around-to-it list.

Maybe I'm a freak of nature or something where my blood works in mysterious ways.

I guess I was hoping for an answer 'oh they will be just checking for xyz, totally normal, etc.'

My curiosity is even more piqued now.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 21:20

Phlebotomist, yes that's who it was. The blood suckers. Grin

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thatorchidmoment · 18/04/2017 22:10

If you are happy to share what put you in ICU, I could hazard an educated guess at why you are having extra tests sent off?

If your liver function tests became quite abnormal during your admission, it's quite common to perform a 'liver screen'. This is a long list of blood tests for many potential causes of liver problems, some of which take time to come back. If anything untoward is picked up on a liver screen, it should be monitored or followed up by a gastroenterologist. These tests include some autoimmune conditions, some viral infections such as hepatitis and glandular fever, and an HIV test might be done (although this often needs your explicit consent).

As I say, I'm hazarding a guess, and there could be another reason why your tests were done. It's definitely a common reason for some of the more obscure tests to be requested though, and perfectly possible that it was a last minute job the consultant asked his juniors to do, without bothering to explain to you why he wanted it!

ArgyMargy · 18/04/2017 22:18

No, you're not that special. And yes, sounds like you were unreasonable. Really not sure why you didn't ask what the blood was for and/or refuse to have blood taken until you were given a satisfactory answer. Why people choose to ask the internet baffles me.

Venusflytwat · 18/04/2017 22:43

Haven't you had fairly extensive communication breakdown with this hospital before?

I'm sorry you are unwell again. But I think the communication thing goes both ways and you need to be proactive/collaborative as well.

Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 23:47

Orchids, it was pneumonia which resulted in almost complete organ failure ie liver, lungs, kidneys.
Family called in etc. Possibly wouldn't survive. Yet here I am!

My liver function is normally abnormal.

I did ask what the blood test was for. Which is why I know what it was for.

What I don't know why is why those tests were carried out. The question I'm asking here.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 23:49

Argy? Lay off the Dutch gold.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 18/04/2017 23:52

Venus? While I was in a coma for two weeks I guess the lines of communication were not so good.

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Venusflytwat · 18/04/2017 23:58

Oh grow up for goodness sake.
You were in a presumably busy, presumably free at the point of need hospital being looked after by presumably over stretched staff. Yes of course you should have been told. Yes of course things should all happen in the right order. And yes of course, by all means ask someone what booods were taken and why.

But yes, you would be unreasonable to "ask what the fuck they're testing for".

I don't post much. I remembered your username as being antagonistic towards the medics who saved you last time. I can't think why it lodged in my brain.

Good luck. I hope for everyone's sake you are fully better soon.

Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:03

Twat. Didn't catch any flies today?

I am asking why these tests were being carried out. I didn't DARE bother anyone by demanding to know why.

Happy?

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:05

Seems like nobody knows why anyway.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:08

Next time I will just demand a consultant to come to explain before I give blood.

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TinselTwins · 19/04/2017 00:13

the phlebotomist wouldn't know unless the reason was written on the form.. which it wouldn't necessarily be.

Why didn't you ask the ward staff?
You can ring the ward in the morning and ask.

Its possible that the blood form was written before you were discharged but as non-urgent it stayed in the phleb pile over the bank holiday (by which time it was decided that your routine bloods were okay and you were fine to go home without further investigation.. but nobody fetched the blood form out of the phlebotomists pile)

Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:22

Lol.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:23

So nobody knows what the tests are for. Just say that.

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Original poster
myoriginal3 · 19/04/2017 00:25

Some of you must never have been in hospital

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Beelzebop · 19/04/2017 01:17

This is only a suggestion, but they could be doing bloods to check for any nasties remaining as well as magnesium levels to make sure that they're healthy.

UterusUterusGhali · 19/04/2017 01:22

Do you remember what coloured bottles they drew the blood into? What colour the tops of the vials were?