Unnecessary trip to hospital? Is GP surgery being ridiculous?

[JustCantShakeIt]

I have suffered low iron levels for years being a vegetarian. I also have hypothyroidism which is probably related. Last time I needed a refill for iron tablets I was told I’d need a consultation with my GP but I couldn’t get through on the phone as it’s constantly busy and appointments take a month to get so I put it off.

I haven’t had any now for about 3 months and am starting to feel the familiar tiredness so asked if the GP could just prescribe them with my usual thyroxine but I was told No. I need a blood test which are now only being done at the local hospital.

I don’t want to step foot into a hospital at present unless it’s a emergency.

AIBU to expect GP to use common sense and just prescribe them in the current climate. It’s hardly crack!

The OP said very clearly that she's been unable to get an appointment because it's always busy.

Actually OP said very clearly that she 'put it off'

OP I'm baffled that you are annoyed about this. Of course they won't just give you them, they told you 3 months ago that you needed to be seen.

I'm also slightly confused as to why your couldn't just buy some to tide you over at some point during those 3 months.

Regardless of how you resolve your current situation I would urge you to look at your diet. Vegetarians and vegans (me) need to take care of our protein, vitamin, mineral and micronutrient intake, there are many trackers available that can help you make adjustments to your diet to ensure you are eating a healthy balanced diet.

I also get anaemic, and have never had any problems obtaining Ferrous Sulphate tablets (the ones that I've previously been prescribed, at the same strength) over the counter.

Just get some from a pharmacy and remember to take them with vitamin C (orange juice or a supplement).

also have hypothyroidism which is probably related

Op Can I just check that you don’t take any multivitamins/iron tablets WITH your thyroxine. The iron stops thyroxine being absorbed.

However, patients with hypothyroidism can also be low in Vitam D, Iron and B12/Folate. The dr would need a blood test to check that your thyroid function isn’t too low before just handing over a prescription for iron though. Sorry you are feeling so tired. You could get some of this if you don’t want to have a blood test

www.spatone.com/en

OP can’t just buy them from a shop, those tablets are 14mg of iron, I‘m on prescribed iron tablets, 210mg in each.

Yes she can, my tablets (bought over the counter) are 200mg.

Pharmacy only have large enough doses, you have to ask for them.
Shop bought vitamins are too low doses.
I have the same problem, and thankfully get the iron on repeat now.

I also put things off a lot ...I wish I didn’t.

Good luck 😀

I’ve been anaemic since I was a teenager, I buy over the counter supplements and ensure my diet is high in iron rich foods, I’m a vegetarian but that’s no excuse for iron defiency.
Please do not go to a hospital, that’s ridiculous.

Buy some Spatone to tide you over for now

You can get do at home blood tests. I used to have to do one every three weeks to get a private prescription for something (not iron).

If you can afford to pay, you could try a private video appointment and try and get an at home kit sent to you.

I did find them extremely annoying to actually do though. You have to squeeze a tube's worth of blood out of a finger. I ended up looking like a pincushion as each cut dried up too quick.

I tried to see my GP recently for blood tests to check my iron levels because of being so tired. I spent two weeks trying to get through on the phone, eventually speak to receptionist who gives me an appointment four weeks away, a week before my appointment I get a text saying it's been cancelled. I spent another week trying to get through on the phone, and eventually get offered an appointment two weeks away. I eventually have my appointment (on the phone because now there's no face-to-face ones allowed) and she basically said tough shit there's nothing they can do, and that's it's my fault because I shouldn't have waited this long

She didn't believe me that I'd been trying to see a doctor for almost 2 fucking months.

@Twinkerbellsmum

That's crap, but it's not what happened here.

YABU not to just buy them over the counter instead of wasting NHS resources on this. YABU not to alter your diet to eat some of the abundant iron sources available for vegetarians and vegans, and to expect the NHS to pick up the bill for your poor food choices, especially right now. Plenty of veggies and vegans in the world don't have low iron.

You should just buy them over the counter rather than expecting the NHS to pay if you know the reason is your diet
Ask for ferrous sulphate 200mg or ferrous fumarate 210mg

too much iron is bloody dangerous too.

Just buy Spatone from Boots

I don't believe being Veggie is the reason for low iron OP.

Nor do I, unless you are a really fussy eater, too.

I was veggie for years and never had a problem.

You could see if you could get some over-the-counter iron supplements from the chemist.

You can your blood test done at a local pharmacy. No need to go to hospital. Done.

You can your blood test done at a local pharmacy. No need to go to hospital. Done.

Of your local pharmacy offers that service. I just googled and my closest is 67 miles away. Not done.

I'm another one suggesting buying ferrous sulphate 200mg. You'll have to ask the pharmacist as they won't be out on the general vitamins shelves.

They might also want to check whether you need vit B12. Some people don't absorb non haem iron very well, so it is possible that your vegetarian diet isn't working for you, so you will need supplements.

I had to take my child for blood tests this morning.

Trust it. It was a damn sight safer in there than it was in Sainsburys yesterday.

One in. One out. Saw no other people apart from workers. Nurses all wearing protection. Hospital empty apart from medical staff and Doctors/Nurses. Everyone observing 2m rule.

I have to go to my nearest hospital regularly for blood tests and I was told to come in as near as possible to the allocated time to minimise interaction with other patients. The only people there last week were the two phlebotomists, a nurse and the receptionist. And one elderly man who was leaving as I came in. The phlebotomists had visors and masks on.

If you don't want to take the treatment on offer, order some floradix or similar from Amazon.