Stupid effing GP surgery!!!

[Dozeyland]

went for my 38week check at the maternity ward yesterday, & MW (lovely) said oh everything is fine but you're anaemic & need iron, hasen't your GP told you? (i had my blood test 4 weks ago and (I work in a GP surgery so i know if a blood test needs advice to patient - you call them. not leve it 4 weeks & expect the patient to wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!)

so now i have 1.5 weeks to get enough iron in my system before EDD otherwise i cant go to midwifery-led unit incase i bleed heavily after baby.

i am so cross with my gp surgery :( :( :(

I understand you're cross but why didn't you ring up for the blood test results? In our surgery the onus is on you to call, not the other way around.

Yes it is the same in our surgery, the patient rings for the results not the surgery calls the patient.

At my surgery, they are supposed to contact YOU if there is a problem. If you don't hear back, then you can assume all is OK.

So don't have a go at Dozeyland. Different surgeries have different policies.

In my last surgery, and the current one (forces med centre) they call you if there is a problem, and if they don't call then you are to presume all is well.

Good luck with the iron tablets Dozey

mine also say they will contact you if a problem and have done in the past - they do say check if you don't hear though as well so it is obviously not foolproof which is dumb!

In our surgery you also have to ring for your results.

But I hope you can pack in enough veggies to boost your system. Have you tried spa-tone? or is it time for something more hard-core? It might also be worth arguing your case with the MLU unless you are seriously anaemic?

ATB

I work in a surgery where the policy is the lood results are to be back within 3 days, if anything is abnormal i would ring the patient THAT day.

I didnt think to ask because i'd see the GP twice and nothing had been mentioned (they are now saying that it was on screen) but if that WAS the case, surely she would have asked how i was feeling with the iron?

its a joke. if i don't get to deliver in the unit i want to i will complain.

even the MW at the hospital said, how come they havent told you you're anaemic? they also havent filled out some of my notes in my blue folder (MW at my surgery). useless

How annoying. The GP should have phoned you if there was a problem with the results, even if the patient usually rings the surgery.

Make sure you eat plenty of vitamin C - Vit C helps the absorption of iron (milk, tea, coffee, all hinder the absorption of iron).

Have you got iron tablets? Floradix is a more natural way of getting iron into your system, in pills or as a liquid; take it with fresh orange juice again for the vit C.

I have had regular blood checks for anaemia with all 3 of my pregancies, I have had blood transfusions etc to boost my iron. We have to call the surgery to get results, but most of the time the receptionist would just tell me to call the midwife, who is renoundly difficult to get hold of so I have spent most of my time chasing her for results! Do you know what your iron level is???

I had the blood tests and then had a letter through a week later telling me that my iron was low and that there was prescription waiting for me to pick up.

I really hate the side effects of taking irom tablets. My Nanna used to suffer from anaemia and she was given an iron injection. Would it be worth seeing if this is available to you?

Once you are taking the iron, be sure to drink lots of water and eat loads of fruit to make sure you don't get constipated.

My surgery also have the same policy. If there's a problem we'll call you, if not assume everything is ok. Good job really since phoning them is usually a wasted effort. I even nip in when I need to make an appointment since they are that bad at answering the phone.

You should be angry at them if this is their policy.

Take your iron tablet with some fresh orange juice, add plenty of leafy green veg to your diet and get yourself some spatone. How anaemic are you? What is the MLU's cut off?

oh no! i would complain!

well i went for my 12 week scan and found out i was 24 weeks pregnant, then had my first midwife appointment later that week had my bloods taken and had a phonecall about my iron and was put on iron tablets! im now 36 weeks, i also had boods taken a month after my first set i was under the impression thats how it works, 38 weeks seems a little late to be picking this up! i wouldnt be happy at all! find out how low your iron is and i agree with seeing if the injections are available to you!

*bloods not boods!

Dozeyland - my GPs does the same as where you work. If there's a problem they call you and arrange an appointment or prescription.

FWIW, take the tablets and make sure you eat plenty of red meat (if you're not a veggie), leafy greens etc. Eat as much as you can to help and have a glass of OJ with each meal too.

Are you drinking alcohol at all? Guinness is full of iron and champagne has even more unit for unit! When I had DD1 (in the dark ages) I was told by my GP to drink a pint of guinness a day () and eat lots of red meat as I didn't want to take tablets.

By the time she was born (although I did have a little more time than you!) I had a higher than average Hb level!

Good luck.

My level is 10.1 and the midwifery unit doesnt take patients who are below 10.0 incase they hemmorage (spl) :(

and it looked like the right place for me to give birth. so i want to get as much in me as possible. i have 10 days until EDD. babys head is really engaged so maybe even shorter length of time.

just hope it bumps up a bit, and that i dont have a lot of blood loss....

i know i did complain to the dr. not that it will get recognised!

I have plenty of OJ in the fridge. doc said to take 2-3 tablets a day so i guess i have to look forward to constipation and black stools - GREAT!! will keep topping up on water too to try and help.

I was wondering why im so tired. i have been having nesting feelings but been so lethargic to finish anything. i hope it doesnt hinder my energy levels for birth.

GRR Stupid GP :(

Oh, and get in some lactulose for the inevitable!

I hope it all works out for you. And if you can't give birth there, it won't be the end of the world. Explain to the midwives that you want a hands off, non intervetion birth if possible and write it in large letters on your birth plan.

Dosey I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. You're not under 10 as yet so 3 tablets a day lots of vit C and some steak, black pudding and tomatoes for dinner. If you're veggie it might be worth taking a couple of weeks off as animal sourced iron is much easier to abosorb than vegetable.

Avoid dairy and wholemeal and tea when taking your tablets or eating iron rich food to maximise your absorbsion rate.

And for the record, I had DD in a consultant led unit as it was the closest place by a long way - I wanted a natural active birth and that's what I got, I only saw the midwife.