Home blood testing kits instead of GP?

[LioneIRichTea]

AIBU to buy a blood testing kit to see what’s wrong with me rather than go to the GP?

Also has anyone done one of these and had a good experience? I am considering either Thriva or Let’s Get Checked.

To try and cut a long story short, for the last couple of months or so I’ve been having all manner of symptoms, some on and off and some constant; Nausea, bloating, gas, headaches, constantly changing bowel movements and some odd symptoms like painful leg cramps at night, constantly itchy skin and pain and numbness in my wrists and fingers. In fact, over the weekend I was out walking and I suddenly felt lightheaded and had a cold sweat and had to stop for a bit and the last few days I’ve been waking up with a sweet taste in my mouth.

The reason I want to do an independent test is because you can apparently get results back in a week and I’ve had such bad experience with GPs in the past that I feel it would take too long to even get them to first take me seriously, and so I’d be better off paying for an independent test.

History: I have an under active thyroid and it took over a year to get that diagnosis. They were trying to fob me off that I was just imagining the symptoms or just feeling stressed but I kept going back and pleading to be taken seriously. Was also the same experience with my endometriosis diagnosis that followed shortly after. Before my thyroid diagnosis, I even went up to hospital with chest pain and heart flutters (little did I know at the time was thyroid related) and was told it was ‘probably’ just a chest infection, no tests were done and I got sent off with antibiotics! So as you can see I don’t have much faith in GPs/hospitals.

I’m veering more towards Thriva, as they do a Wellness test which covers everything (from organ function to diabetes) whereas Lets Get Checked does individual tests, like a specific test for kidney function, so they are much more expensive.

Would you get an independent test? I feel like a hypochondriac but I know that’s only because I’ve been made to feel like one in the past, even though both times I did have something wrong with me!

Any advice would be gratefully received! 😊

Sorry didn’t realise that’d be so long! To cut a long story short... 🙈 oh dear. Thanks for reading if you get to the bottom!

I think you should go to the GP. If something comes back positive then there is no ability for thirva etc to treat you.

Just keep pushing the GP

Also I should have said my thyroid levels are routinely tested and are fine 😁

Have you even contacted the gp to discuss the symptoms

*I think you should go to the GP. If something comes back positive then there is no ability for thirva etc to treat you.

Just keep pushing the GP*

Thank you for replying! I’d have thought you could then have more clout to demand the same tests from your GP?

Have you even contacted the gp to discuss the symptoms

I have booked an appointment but earliest one I can get at the moment is in 3 weeks. I wanted to hopefully have results of this test by then.

I've looked into Thriva before. The things that put me off:

• To do it at home, you need to get all the blood required from your finger. Have you ever tried to do this? I struggled enough just getting 4 spots for a vitamin D test, never mind the actual vials of blood that Thriva require.

• Lots of reviews about lost/unprocessed samples - annoying if it's something you can easily re-do, but as above - it's not easy!

• It's not designed to be a one-off thing, it's a subscription (no idea how easily cancellable it is)

• If it revealed something, you'd still need a doctor in order to investigate further or get treatment

Although it's more expensive, in your shoes I'd consider either a private GP or health MOT.

If you can afford it then I absolutely would. I'd still be contacting your GP in the meantime so that if something does come up on the blood test, the GP already has a record of your symptoms.

I've read a lot of stories on MN recently of women having their symptoms brushed off as stress or anxiety. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon

Medichecks are another good company, if you can afford it do it. You can repeat the bloods at the GP if needed.
In other countries it’s normal to do routine bloods at least yearly to pick up things before they get to the stage they cause a problem, the NHS just doesn’t have the function for this but if you can pay that’s ok. And also freeing up nhs resources as well

I used thriva. Easily got the blood. Quickly got results.

I plan to repeat iron and vit d annually to monitor (been low in both in the past). May add cholesterol to this.

I believe in other countries routine screening checks these things annually.

If I had symptoms like you're describing I would definitely go to the GP as a priority.

I use Thriva pretty regularly, but just to keep an eye on things I already know are an issue for me (low iron, folate), I don't think it's ideal if you're having random symptoms and are not sure what you're testing for.

As you've got an appt I'd definitely keep that and even if the GP brushes you off, try and insist on getting full bloods done. Mine have never taken my symptoms that seriously but normally are fairly happy to run tests.

You could get bloods done privately in the meantime as backup, though even if something shows up they'll want to re-run their own so it won't necessarily speed anything up. But could be a helpful pointer in the right direction.

I've always been happy with Thriva as a company, never used the others to compare. Often get results the day or 2 after sending your sample, only once had a problem with a test (the sample clotted so they couldnt use it). Actually getting the sample is a nightmare though, I'm not a good bleeder! Normally manage to just about fill a tube, though have to sacrifice 3 fingers to do it

I use Medichecks, but I think the thing is that you have to actually know what needs to be checked. I do (in my case, vitamin levels, but I also check liver/kidney function and have done my thyroid in the past). I find it's much better than the GP. I don't need to hassle them and it's really just for my own peace of mind, so the NHS shouldn't have to pay for that anyway. I find results are usually back in 4-5 days without doctor review (which I don't need, just literally want the results as I can interpret them myself).

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to do an independent test just because I feel (from experience) I need more than just my say so to get GPs to take my symptoms seriously.

I've read a lot of stories on MN recently of women having their symptoms brushed off as stress or anxiety.

It’s always been the way with me, and it seems a lot of other women too. You’re just tired, stressed, anxious or just paranoid. 😔

To those who used Medicheck, it seems you can’t do a home test you have to visit a clinic. The only one in my area is the hospital. How does this work (there’s no explanation in the site)

I would and have considered private gp before but they wanted me to see a private consultant. I thought I had sleep apnea but my exhaustion has been brushed off for around 6 years. I had to try a online sleep clinic who also suggested apnea, then went to a female gp who did actually refer me. The Male Drs just dont seem to take me seriously ever. Even when I'm nearly always right in the end

But what would you test for?

You can't just do a ton of blood tests and find out what's wrong with you. If it was that easy then doctors wouldn't need 15 years of training!

You need to tailor your tests to your symptoms. The test should be to rule something in or out. If you do a whole battery of tests and some are normal and some abnormal (which is likely to be the case), you won't be any further along with a diagnosis.

It's a bit pointless really. I don't know how much you're looking at spending but you'd be better off seeing a private GP if the costs are similar. At least then the results will come with an interpretation.

Yes @Legoandloldolls it was always older make GPs and I had to battle to be heard. With my thyroid diagnosis for example, a young female locum saw me, looked at my neck and knew straight away and put me in for a test. I actually cried.

6 years!! that’s awful! I’m glad you got it sorted but we know our bodies don’t we. Don’t know why they don’t listen.

I did a Thriva test - it turned out that I'm diabetic, and they recommended an urgent appointment with the GP. Rang the nurse at my GP practice, and she prescribed Metformin for me - no need to see anyone or have more blood tests done. I'm continuing to monitor through Thriva, and it's a lot easier, clearer and quicker than being reliant on the GP practice.

For me, Thriva was definitely worth it. Had I started off with the GP, then I'd still be undiagnosed - they weren't doing any blood tests between March and mid September.

But what would you test for?

There are wellness tests that do a cluster of tests in one go e.g one does thyroid, liver, kidney, diabetes, inflammation (CRP) ,iron and B12. For me, that’d rule out a lot in one go if they all came back normal and put me at ease.

I don’t want to be rude, but having 15 years training doesn’t help me when I go over a year trying to convince a GP I’m not not just tired and in that time my organs are slowing down because my thyroid is shot to shit. Apologies if that doesn’t reassure me!

Thanks @evilkitten I’m really glad you got sorted and it worked out! Can I ask how you found getting the blood sample, was it difficult?

I said YANBU because of your previous experience, but would saying in the GP appointment you fobbed me off last time and I turned out to have a serious health issue so please take me seriously this time help?
I'm in Ireland so it's different, we pay for most things so GPs are not resistant to blood tests etc.

I haven't used the companies mentioned but I have had to fill a vial with blood from a finger a few times.

The best time was literally just after I had got out of the bath after a good 20 minute soak. My hands were really warm and the blood just flowed out in seconds!

Previously I had used all of the little needles they give you and had an insufficient sample.

Ok, so say they send you a list of results with

CRP 9
Bilirubin 26
ALT 390

Everything else normal.

What will that actually tell you? Do you see what I mean? Even if a doctor was given that list of results it would tell them absolutely nothing about what was wrong with the patient without a lot more info. I just don't think doing this is going to help. You'd be better off saving your money

@M0rT You’re right, I should say this at my appointment. I’m going to tell them about the private test too so I’m going to have to tell them why I thought it necessary

filling the two vials wasn't hard - there's three lancets in the pack, and a lot of instructions (and videos) of how to do it.

The results aren't presented as just figures. For each of them, there's an explanation of what you're measuring, what it might tell you, and where you fit in the ranges. The overall result set is commented on by a doctor.

Ok, that would make more sense!