To ask the doctors for liver function tests?

[Orangesandlemons77]

I've got gallstones and seeing a consultant privately next week.

Just reading the Nice guidance for gallstones and it mentions liver function tests. I've not had these done recently

Should I ask the doctors about this? Or wait to see what the consultant says.

I'm actually going in for blood tests for something else tomorrow so they could do it then.

Usually a doctor (or other medical practitioner) has to request a blood test. There needs to be a clinical need for it, and a phlebotomist usually won’t do it at the request of a patient.

Also, it’s not in the NHS gp’s remit to provide blood tests for a private doctor.

So you may need an appointment with your NHS gp first before being to get one done (unless it’s a routine one you have done, and is now overdue).

You need to ask ahead of the appointment and a dr has to sign them off usually. I went to my bloods, asked if they’d included my thyroid tests that were also due - they hadn’t. They were very apologetic that they couldn’t do them too despite seeing they were due because a dr hadn’t ordered them. I had to go back 2 weeks later when I could get an appointment.

So worth asking but don’t be surprised if you can’t get them tomorrow.

I could do an e consult first thing and ask them I suppose.

I maybe wrong, but as someone who has had gallstones that once turned into pancreatitis and jaundice, I'm thinking your liver would only show a problem if there is a stone currently stuck in the bile duct, ie causing pancreatitis, which you would have symptoms for?

I am not an expert, but I was told my liver tests were "deranged" (quote) when there was a stone actively stuck, following this and beforehand (when I still had gallstones) my liver was fine and normal.

Apologies if I have got any of this wrong, I am not a doctor and this all happened when I had a newborn and was hospitalised a lot, had surgery etc, so very stressful and it was over a year ago now.

There is nothing stopping you from asking the doctors though for their advice. Good luck, I hope you get this sorted ASAP, completely horrendous illness.

@BinNightTonight this is my understanding too. LFTs are not routinely monitored in people with gallstones but should be checked urgently if you have pain/jaundice/fever. I’d wait and see what the consultant says.

I think I'll wait and see. Thanks 👍

Liver function tests are pretty much always done in a general bloods panel. If you’re having blood tests by your GP for something else, it’s very likely they’ll be included. If not, just ask. I’m not sure they would do them on the NHS on behalf of a private consultant though. But the consultant can certainly order them and you can have them done via the private hospital, or you can order via places like Medichecks (you can take the sample yourself or pay to have the blood draw done, usually at your nearest private hospital).

Just to update this and say thanks for the replies. I did an e-consult and they have added it on to my bloods later.