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Original poster

OK, stupid question about GTT......

30 replies

Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 11:58

Do I have to fast before it?

I have an appointment for 11.30 tomorrow, not seen anyone since 12 weeks booking (2nd timer) so I didn't think to ask!

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UriGeller · 08/01/2014 12:00

As far as I remember yes. Its the one where you have blood taken then drink that stuff and hang around for 2 hours? Take a book!

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 12:01

Hiya - i had mine just before christmas and i seem to recall i wasnt allowed to eat or drink (apart from water) for 12 hours beforehand, my appt was at 8am so not eating wasnt to bad although how i stomached lucozade at 6am on empty tum amazes me lol :-)

Honkyponk · 08/01/2014 12:02

Yes you have to fast as the first blood test you have is a fasting glucose (sugar level). Don't have any breakfast, but you can drink water. Good luck!

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 12:04

I have no idea - the info says it takes an hour, but that's it. My fault really for not checking sooner, I've had the anti natal clinic (no named midwife, wouldn't even know how to get hold of one) on redial all morning, either ringing out or engaged and now a message to say they are closed....

Won't eat after dinner tonight then, but tomorrow morning, i'll br starving! I wish the appointment was earlier, I still have sickness which gets so much worse if i don't eat every 2 hours.

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Cariad007 · 08/01/2014 12:10

Yes you have to fast. Mine was at 9am so it wasn’t too bad but 11.30am is a bit harsh, considering you can’t eat for the 2 hours you’re in the hospital either! Make sure you take a snack with you that you can eat immediately after. All the sugar in the drink tends to go to your head so you may feel a bit woozy.

Aliama · 08/01/2014 12:17

Yep, I had one at 9.30 yesterday and had to fast from 10am the previous night. Only water allowed, so no coffee either.

Only An hour though? If that's true, you're lucky. Mine was two hours sitting around doing bugger all. Think my last one was two hours too.

Aliama · 08/01/2014 12:19

Sorry, i meant 10PM the previous night, not am. Eejit.

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 12:21

Oh, bugger.

Still, what better excuse for a massive McDonalds healthy meal after!

I just hope I'm not too sick. In my first pregnancy, I tried to do the yet but I had HG - I couldn't even keep down water most of the time, so they abandoned it after the third attempt at lucozade came right up.

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Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 12:21

*test, not yet

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g5linda · 08/01/2014 12:24

Yes you need to fast! I had mine last week and wasn't allowed anything from midnight, my appointment was at 9am though. They took a blood sample and I had to drink 2 cups of lucozade, went back at 11am for 1st lot of results (which where fine) they took another blood sample to test again THEN I was allowed food, they offered me a cuppa T and sandwich while I waited another hour for results.
Good luck

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 12:24

I had to let the lucozade go completely flat over night to even stand a chance of keeping it down, I hate lucozade too so worst test ever for me! I had to wait exactly two hours after drinking it for bloods to be taken! Yumm McDonalds, yes please! :-)

g5linda · 08/01/2014 12:27

Did you need to supply your own lucozade? "Had to let it go flat over night"

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 12:29

Yes i was given the exact measurements from midwife and went and brought the original lucozade from shop, you can get the reduced sugar but you need to drink slightly more so i went with the original. It was still more than enough though lol

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 12:30

Oh. I don't know if I need to take my own, but I will do just incase.

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Cariad007 · 08/01/2014 12:56

What I was given wasn't Lucozade - I expected it to be very sugary but what I didn't expect was for it to be warm as well! Took me about 5-10 minutes to down it but I felt ok. One poor woman at the clinic felt faint and said she needed to vomit but the phlebotomist told her that if she did she'd just have to start again!

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 13:43

I had to drink it within 10 mins which was hard at 6 am lol. I believe that you can have a special mix from the hospital but my mw always just told me to drink the lucozade? All the details were on a sheet about why i had to have it done :-) Maybe call your midwife?

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 14:03

Call my midwife! I wish I knew who she was or who to call!

I have three numbers, one is for the anti natal clinic who are only for info on appointment times and who are never there and a general advice number and one for the labour ward.

I had to call the general number when I had bleeding at 18 weeks, they were useless, I just ended up going to A&E.

I wouldn't know how to contact a midwife let alone know who mine is supposed to be (and don't get me started on consultants, I want to see one as I want a repeat CS, the midwife I saw at 12 weeks said there was no point as my cs was 11 years ago, they would only say no, she wouldn't even tell me the consultants name!).

I am swapping to private care at 36 weeks anyway, touch wood I won't have any problems until then so tomorrow (28 weeks) is the last time I will see a midwife.

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BEEwitched · 08/01/2014 14:03

I was told no food and no water from midnight before the test, and to eat something at around 9-10 o'clock in the evening. I have mine in March.

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 14:17

Really? you dont know who your mw is? I have to see consultant too due to high BMI have to say so far so unimpressed - all they have done is tell me how bad it is i am a high BMI and what a great risk i am, cant have a water birth cant do this cant do that and they have been so rude to me! Always see a different consultant and i have no idea of their names but i would rather not have to see them!
Fingers crossed you wont have any issues and going private you will feel more comfortable! Hope all goes well :-)

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 14:24

Yep, I have no idea! I am under the care of a 'team' but have no idea what any of the midwives are called. I was just grunted at a bit at 12 weeks and that was it.

I have requested to see a consultant twice. I will try again tomorrow.

I really don't want to have to go private, I'd rather us the NHS private will wipe out our savings and leave us with nothing, but I had a horrendous birth experience with ds and I don't think I could cope with a repeat.

But I am 28 weeks now and can't get to speak to a dr! SO I have no idea what to do.

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BEEwitched · 08/01/2014 14:29

You should've seen a midwife, either at your GP's clinic or at hospital at 16 weeks, really - I know every area is structured differently but that's quite poor.

Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 14:37

I see from other threads that lots of ladies deal with GP's only and no MW which i found differrent as i havent seen a GP only MW (well apart from when i had breathing probs and A&E couldnt get there heads around it) i have a MW allocated to me but have seen three althogether due to holidays etc. If i need to speak to her i wld have to call a main line and leave a msg for her to call me back.
Yeh private would be hugely expensive but if your worried about the birth experience i guess it would set your mind at rest!
Sounds like your having a tough time with your care team its not good enough is it, someone should be available if you have concerns etc and if you want to book an appt or find out whats happening...I did find that our antenatal clinic was only open certain days so you just had to wait if you wanted to book/change appt etc?
Well i can only speak from my test and i had to drink lucozade two hours before the actual blood test with 12 hrs fasting, the bloods have to be done dead on the 2 hours you started to drink it so i had to tell the reception staff i was there for lucozade/glucose test. I would take some lucozade with you if your worried and then you have the option i guess.

Original poster
Loopylouu · 08/01/2014 14:40

I know I should.

I don't have a GP (I have a private one, I am not registered with an NHS one due to problems years ago) and the midwives are seen through the hospital at an attached anti natal clinic.

So far, I have paid twice to see a private consultant for reassurance, I saw one at 16 weeks.

It's madness really. The got the hump with me at 12 weeks when I said I'd most likley be having a private birth and private care from 36 weeks (within that NHS hospital, with one of their consultants, but they still didn't like it).

I am going to push to see a consultant tomorrow, but I will need to transfer hospitals to their sister hospital if I want to go NHS.

It's complicated as I am only at this hospital as the private consultant does NHS there. She put me under her team on the NHS, but her managers then threw a wobbly and refused to let her see me under the NHS, so her hands are tied. She does private practice at the sister hospital, which is far closer to my home.

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Newmumtobe2014 · 08/01/2014 14:47

I can see why you are having difficulties then.
The whole thing seems complicated and i can understand your frustration!
Goodluck with getting a consultant appointment sorted tomorrow, what a nightmare!

Original poster
Loopylouu · 09/01/2014 19:01

Oh for gods sake!

Well, I starved myself, drank the lukewarm lucozade the clinic gave me, was called into see the midwife .... Who said "oh you poor thing, who told you to fast!!". To be fair, there's nothing anywhere in the notes that gives any information.

Turns out it's a 'mini' GTT. Drink lucozade, blood test after only one hour and home right away.

All was right in the world when I raided sainsburys for sandwiches and crips on the way home though Grin

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