Fbc blood test repeated

[mizu]

I had blood tests last week. Got a letter in the post yesterday to say they were back and that in a month I have to have a fbc blood test again.

No explanation but form attached.

Googled fbc to find it is full blood count but that this test is done for all kinds of things.

Called the doctor to make appointment next month and receptionist could not tell me why it has to be repeated.

I'm guessing it must be low ferritin or B12 or something? I had a full hysterectomy 2 and a half years ago due to all kinds of period problems but still take spatone.

Any ideas ? And why do I still have low iron even though I no longer have horrendously heavy periods??

Any advice gratefully received.

It's normally just to check your counts again to make sure they're not out of range. Your results may have been borderline, which happens.

If all of us had fbc our counts would naturally go up and down. A bit like weight. Sounds like they're checking to be doubly sure the counts are not on the way below what's ok

I’ve literally just had the exact same thing happen. Luckily I can view my results online and it turns out my Haemoglobin is slightly low.

Ask them to email you the results, or go and collect them.

Or get the gp to call you.

FBC doesn't measure the things you've mentioned (ferritin/b12). It looks at the numbers/sizes of red cells, white cells, platelets. There are many reasons they may want to repeat it. Why not ask for a telephone appt with GP (or whoever requested it if it was t your GP) to ask what the problem was & then phlebotomy/nurse appointment in a month.

Thanks, think it must be something similar - had an iron infusion when pregnant with my 2nd and it was amazing, wouldn't mind another

walking yes, will do, just found it a bit strange that I had to book an appointment for a blood test when I hadn't been told what it was for.

I’m 10 weeks pregnant with my third and have had low iron with all of them so far. The worrying things is that I’m taking iron tablets already and it’s still low!

"Full blood count" sounds misleading doesn't it, as a patient you'd think it tests everything and you don't need to do anything else... More the opposite!

2nd lot of tests back and finally seen the doctor. B12 very low - 138?
So having 5 injections during the next 2 weeks.
All well and good but then she says I am pre-diabetic

Have been thinking about it all day as she asked about my diet. I thought I ate healthily, lots of fish, brown rice etc, I rarely drink these days. I do eat fruit, although not excessively but I do love a bar of chocolate or two

A bit gutted tbh - does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do? Cut out fruit juice I guess, although again, I don't drink much.

Don't think it's in the family. Please don't tell me I can't eat chocolate anymore

The best way to bring your blood sugar down is to adopt a low carb diet. Which means cutting out starchy food - potatoes, bread, pasta, rice and other baked goods. While fruit is healthy in moderation, it does contain a lot of natural sugar, so that too, should only be eaten in small amounts ( tropical fruits are the worst culprits - berries are lower in sugar).
And I'm afraid chocolate is not a good option either!
Although I was never pre-diabetic, I was very close to being so, and went low-carb two years ago, and found it easier than I thought. You lose your sweet tooth very quickly, so you don't miss sweet snacks, but you can eat small amounts of dark chocolate, I just have one square of 85% choc at night.
You also feel more energetic, and healthier on this way of eating, so maybe give it a go?

Thanks, Nan, can't think of anything worse than cutting out potatoes, rice and pasta tbh as they are staples in our house, especially jacket potatoes

Will have to start eating bulgar wheat maybe.

I cannot stomach pulses either so I think I'm going to starve!!

Lots of sensible advice here, now is the time to be pro-active, you really don't want to progress to full-blown diabetes.