GP mucked up my blood tests

[jt1952]

I feel like crying right now.

I saw my GP with a suspicion of an under active thyroid. He agreed with me and said he would book in the following blood tests:

FBC
Liver function
Renal function
Thyroid function
Tests for ferritin etc
Vitamin D
Cholesterol

I have had the blood test and got the results today. He only ordered FBC, renal function, liver function and HBA1C.

For full context I am overweight, I’ve lost 10 stone and I am still losing (intentionally). The GP has messaged to say the blood are all fine and as far as he’s concerned that’s the case closed. I can access my results.

I feel so frustrated that half the tests he promised haven’t been done. Now I need to start the entire process again, wait four weeks to speak to a GP and wait another four for a blood test, wait a week for the results and see if I actually get the tests I need.

AIBU to make a complaint? It really feels like he was trying to pull a fast one with the HBA1C, and blame this on me being pre-diabetic. In actual fact it’s at the bottom of a normal range!

My practice ignores emails so I either try and speak to someone on the ‘anything else’ line or if really struggling to get anything done I will write a physical letter. That usually works.

Phone the surgery, ask if they can phone the hospital labs to request they test the blood samples they already have for the tests the GP missed off the form

Most FBC tests include a TSH test which is often treated as the key indicator for thyroid issues. When you check your results it would be interesting to see if there is a TSH result and if so what it is.

Often results ‘in range’ can still be associated with significant negative symptoms. I’m on thyroxine and feel pants when my TSH is above 2 but the ‘normal’ range goes to 4.6. I had to have 2 tests out of range before getting treatment despite testing positive for hashimotos

To be honest I feel like a petulant kid right now. We’re told to put our trust in these doctors and then it feels like nothing ever goes right.

It's incredibly annoying, but it's probably a mistake

I used to have frequent blood tests and luckily I picked up the form physically, so I was always able to say if right and wrong boxes were or weren't ticked

With the extra tests, they're just trying to hit the targets of how many of those tests they're supposed to do. Again, very annoying. And I get it's incredibly frustrating that you didn't get tested for what you actually wanted to be tested for. I'd write to the practice manager.

Someone mentioned boots have their own test for £10? I would quite like a set of blood test, but I can't face dealing with the NHS again - several bad experiences - so if anyone has recommendations please let me know.

You can buy a home test for under active thyroid at Asda (and probably other places). I know that’s not the point but it might help with getting a test via the GP.

No TSH

So much this!

TFTs results usually take longer to come through from the lab than the bloods you have results for. They may come through next week.

Doctors are human, overworked and busy. It would be easy enough to tick the wrong box (if the other blood test is pre diabetic then it could be next to thyroid on an endocrine form) Agree with others, politely point out the error, if it was very recent they may even be able to order the test on the blood they already have.

Like I completely understand they’re trained etc. but I know when something is off and the symptoms I feel. Adding extra tests (at extra cost to the NHS for no reason) while ignoring most of the tests I need just feels insulting.

it's entirely possible the GPs just missed a tick on the form and then been reassured by the normal results. Not idea but not malicious or manipulative either.

You're clearly symptomatic, makes sense to check your TFTs.

I would phone the practice and explain the situation and what was agreed at the consultation. They will hopefully instantly understand that a new appointment is pointless when they can just pop a quick email to the GP asking for a new blood form. If they don't, point it out to them nicely!

There's a win-win here for everyone. Good luck!

One is understandable but when it’s multiple tests missed it’s less excusable.

I’ve mentioned this also, and it’s seems to have been ignored.

Surely in that case the GP wouldn’t have said the results had all come back normal?

As I’ve said multiple times they’ve told me it’s all come back normal, so they’re not waiting for more results are they?

This is absolutely not the case. They are very quick.

Well, it definitely won't go right if you don't act like an adult, phone the surgery on Monday and ask them to correct the issue, will it?

The doctors were referring to the blood tests that they have received, to date.

How do you know? The GP who checked your results may have just received this, seen "normal" and sent a message out saying no further action required. There may well be other tests on the way that he/she knows nothing about.

And then I have to wait another X weeks for a blood test, wait for the results, go through the entire process again because he couldn’t get it right the first time

No, they said my bloods have come back normal.

that implies that that means all results have been received and reviewed. If that’s not the case, they should be making it clearer

Seeing as they were reviewed by my GP, who ordered the tests, he should know what’s on the way and what isn’t.

If he’s not, that’s even worse.

Did you know that some results come back at different times? So the results they have already received are reviewed, within normal parameters and autofiled hence why you’ve been told they are all normal.

Other results may be outstanding as they are not auto filed if outwith normal parameters so need a GP (usually your own GP or whoever requested the tests) to manually review and file them. Those results may not be filed yet so you can’t see them or have the results.

It’s rare that we have multiple panels of bloods back at the same time on the same day, reviewed instantly and results available to the patient. Can you see the entry by the GP and the bloods requested? If you’re happy to screenshot here we can see if they were actually requested.

You're just making things up now. You have no idea that that will be the case.

But carry on sulking if it makes you happy, that will definitely help 🙄