To think it odd my doctor won't give me a blood test

[ImStillMe]

I did an e-comsult asking for a blood test for two things. Firstly I have been taking OTC vitamin D as I read this may be beneficial if you catch Covid (although I have also read this is debunked). I wanted my vitamin D level checked so I know whether or not to continue with this.

And secondly my hair has become very dry so I wondered if I am deficient in anything, or if it ok to try OTC biotin or zinc.

The surgery replied to say it's up to me if I want to continue with vitamin D supplements or not as they are OTC, and that I should talk to a pharmacist about my dry hair.

So no blood tests for me.

I was initially denied a blood test for feeling tired, dizzy and nauseated. So you and your bad hair day don't stand much of a chance.

Good. You aren't ill. The GP is right. You need a hairdresser not a blood test.

The NHS is not there to pander to your whims. Stop wasting their time and grow up

My son had to have a full set of blood tests but as he was seeing a consultant privately, the cost was an eye watering 1k. This was just at the regular path lab at the local nhs hospital. Luckily, the consultant arranged them on the quiet for me under the NHS.

Anyway, this made me realise that blood tests are probably pretty expensive, even on the NHS. So I’m not surprised your GP was reluctant to refer you for a triviality.

Vitamin D costs £249 in our trust (it flashes up on the system when we order it).

And actually a full panel of every vitamin and trace metal known to man, which is what OP apparently asked for, would probably cost a few grand. Maybe not £8k, but closer to £8k than £1k. Selenium, zinc, manganese etc are send-away tests to a reference lab - definitely not something a GP could authorise, and definitely not indicated for dry hair.

Taking vitamin D daily is completely safe in this country and on the rare chance you took to much you would know about it as you would be ill. As for your hair try a different shampoo and conditioner

Totally unreasonable

Vitamin D is low in most people in this country especially this time of the year and you're unlikely to overdose yourself taking OTC supplements so just keep going of you want. Zinc /biotin levels aren't routinely checked as they are really significant enough. Again just take suplements if you're worried. I am a GP and don't think the advice was unreasonable. Just see the pharmacist as advised. I don't think your symptoms warrant the discomfort and cost of a blood test tbh x

If you've been taking OTC Vit D then it's probably a very small dose, am I right? 800 i.u. possibly? This may be insufficient but you do need to do a blood test to see where you are at with levels. I highly recommend getting hold of a self-test kit:

www.vitamindtest.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-fmZBhDtARIsAH6H8qjsbf8vyZ47LxD6NJE9AZjRw-fz9z-mFoExLDQ_QLfII14DIlnAOrYaAiTUEALw_wcB

This will give you the info you need so you can decide whether to up supplementation or not.

The dry hair thing - honestly it's just too vague and could be any number of reasons why your hair is dry. NHS ain't going to test for that.

I totally agree with you. I’m in Australia and went to see a doctor who worked in the UK. He said the NHS is great for cancer and if you’re dying.
it is just too reactive, and if there were more preventive checks in place, might help to alleviate the stress on the system.

It's this type of 'entitled' approach to (mis)using the NHS that has helped tip it into the crisis its currently in. Honestly, OP, listen to yourself and get a grip.

Maybe if there was a national mentality that people should be encouraged to test regularly, just maybe, we could prevent some types of illness that are currently utilising NHS resources

There are more important tweaks to the ‘national mentality’ than everyone getting blood tests all the time for vitamin D, vanadium, boron etc. Like eating less sugar, junk food and similar crap and walking more instead of driving everywhere. The after effects of those things consume more NHS resources than lack of vitamin D. See how effectively the advice on diet and exercise has been absorbed by the ‘national mentality’. Unpopular opinion coming up: I suspect that most of the people demanding regular blood tests, if they were available on the NHS, would be like a PP’s Aussie mate: they’ve put weight on and are determined to ascribe it to a hormone or vitamin deficiency rather than crisps.

Wasting NHS time on frivolities. People are dying and not getting enough attention out there. The NHS is on its knees.

Sorry I agree with the majority. That's not a medically required blood tests and you could pay to have that done privately.

I don't agree with the principle that NHS is only there if you're gravely ill. It's there to support your health as a whole. However... there is no evidence that these minor vitamin deficiencies in any way affect long term health or that there's any real benefit to supplementing them. The only evidence based vitamin supplementation recommended by NICE is folic acid in pregnancy, B12/folate supplementation if found to be deficient and vitamin D for basically everyone without the need for a blood test. It is therefore highly unlikely that OP is going to significantly improve her health by having a blood test. Doing anything about other minor vitamin deficiencies even if detected would probably be pseudoscience at best. That's why it isn't being offered on the NHS. Of course you should see your GP if something is affecting your quality of life but you also need to accept that they aren't just going to order any test you ask for if they don't see a justification for it.

Where’s OP gone then? Off discovering hair masques?

You can buy a Vit D finger prick test from here

www.vitamindtest.org.uk

for £29.

Two years ago, a member of my family used this service. It was a quick turn around. A couple of weeks later, he had a full blood count done on the NHS which included a Vit D test. The result from the private testing service was very similar to the NHS result. He had been taking 1000IUs of Vit D for around a year and his Vit D level was excellent.

This is my favourite AIBU for quite some time.

FFS!

Googling ‘the effects of too much breathing’ and asking for an echocardiogram

This absolutely isn’t the reason. It’s too heavy management and total underfunding.

Health should be preventative. Regular health screens would prevent deterioration and take the pressure off the NHS in the long run.

In the U.K. we have an aging population who have complex medical needs. (And our covid policies have led to a mass disabling event). The future is bleak but not because of someone wanting to be proactive about their health.

Bit I 100% agree the NHS can not handle this request now. You can buy a home test for vitD for £31 from Superdrug.

@recklessgran I am so sorry to hear this.

Out of Interest how long has your hair been very dry for? About the same length of time as you've been taking vitamin D at all?

I am in the UK.

I have never heard of these private testers - many thanks for the links. I had no idea of the costs involved with blood tests either.

Re the hair, I've tried everything on the Style & Beauty board, including Olaplex, to no avail....

I do think there is real rationing of care going on, when I went to hospital last year, I don’t think I’d of been admitted had I not been working. If you’re not earning there’s no urgency.

That’s a bit different. Your hair shouldn’t be dry if you’ve done that. Get your thyroid and vitamins checked. Those private tests are well worth it