How often do you get blood work done?

[Princess_Pris85]

Hello Everyone - just curious about blood work/physicals. I'm a mid-twenties relatively healthy female. I last had blood work done 2 years ago and everything came out fine.

I'm getting conflicting information about how often I should have blood work done. One doctor encourages blood work every year while another said once every five years while in the 20s, every 3 years in the 30s, 2 years in 40s, and once a year in the 50s.

What do you all think? How often do you get your blood work done? Do you have underlying conditions that require more frequent blood tests?

 

[Micca]

Every six months, but I'm neither young nor particularly healthy.

 

[Pakey]

I've graduated up to every 3 months. But I've had cancer twice.

 

[SAHDad]

Last time I had blood work done was several years ago. (In this case, "several" means more than two, and less than six. Four, maybe?) I am thinking about going in for a physical fairly soon anyway, and I will probably ask for bloodwork then.

 

[Princess_Pris85]

Pakey - I'm always really happy to hear about cancer survivors. The media focuses so much on the negative and I'm always so inspired to hear about people who beat cancer. It's very uplifting.

 

[FireDancer]

We have a health day here at work every year and they do a cholesterol test but that is the only blood work I have done. I am part of a 20 year cancer study and they took blood but it is a reference sample and I didn't get any blood work results from it (it is referenced by a confidential number and not linked to me in any identifiable way).

I asked a doctor I know if I am supposed to get yearly checkups now that I am over 30 and he said no. If I were over weight or had a family history of anything I might but I don't fit either of those categories.

 

[kirstenb1]

I haven't had bloodwork done since our 5 yr old was in my tummy!! I'm 44, and have been wondering if I was supposed to have it on an recurring basis or not.

 

[XYSRUS]

Baseline physicals and blood work should be done every 5 years on a young, healthy adult-20s,30s...Insurance now has us going every year to track numbers and offering lifestyle coaching /monetary incentives etc. should anything be out of range re: blood sugar, weight, b/p, cholesterol...

 

[GJM]

Last time I had bloodwork done was when I was pregnant in 1999 -

 

[Muushka]

Question. Exactly what kind of blood work is everyone talking about?

If you are young and healthy and have a baseline (knowing what your blood is reading when you are healthy is a good idea), I would agree with who ever said every 5 years or so.

What I would want in a baseline is chol, trig, HDL, cbc, perhaps a fasting blood sugar and metabolic panel (kidney, electrolytes that sort of thing). A baseline cbc is good to know what your normal white count and hemoglobin is.

 

[Bilberry]

I enjoy the new do it your self home tests. They are not traditional home kits as you mail off the sample and receive results a month later. It is easier than going to the hospital. And never could figure out why the hospital needed a vile when a drop could do. I buy kits here, but have seen them for sale elsewhere. Oh, I probably test every 6 months.

http://shop.trackyourplaque.com/

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I got a new doctor and my first appt. was a physical with blood work. I like to keep my thyroid and cholesterol numbers in check.

I think you should get bloodwork when you have a health change that is significant. Sudden weight gain, loss, or other funky symptoms.

 

[136368]

Monthly. I take a medication that can be lethal if left unchecked, God forbid.

 

[LisaR]

I haven't had bloodwork done since our 5 yr old was in my tummy!! I'm 44, and have been wondering if I was supposed to have it on an recurring basis or not.

This just reminded me of something that always makes me laugh. I took my mom in for a physical a few years ago. She HATES doctors with a passion and wanted me to stay in the room during the "interrogation" as she calls it.

The nurse asked her when she last had a physical. My 75 y/o mom said she had a 6 week check up after her last baby was born. The nurse stood there for a minute trying to think of the right way to phrase the next question. Finally, she asked when she gave birth and my mom points to me and says that her baby is turning 40 next month!

 

[Kronk's girl]

Bloodwork...? I have never heard of getting regular bloodwork done and I am 29. The only bloodwork I have ever had done was when I've had a problem and they wanted to check for something...very infrequently. I think only 3 times in my whole life.

 

[Angelhalo]

Seems like a blood test is my Dr's answer to everything. Any time I go in for anything other than a well visit, she runs a blood test so I'd say at least once a year. I am 31.

 

[nancycg56]

Every 3 months for me ~ I am diabetic, chronically anemic, and have a really wacky thyroid. So I have those things checked. It's really hard to get a vein on me and that stinks!

 

[indimom]

I'm 37. Last blood draw I had was after the birth of my son 10 years ago.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Hello Everyone - just curious about blood work/physicals. I'm a mid-twenties relatively healthy female. I last had blood work done 2 years ago and everything came out fine.

I'm getting conflicting information about how often I should have blood work done. One doctor encourages blood work every year while another said once every five years while in the 20s, every 3 years in the 30s, 2 years in 40s, and once a year in the 50s.

What do you all think? How often do you get your blood work done? Do you have underlying conditions that require more frequent blood tests?

I'm curious too - I'm also a mid-20s healthy female (no conditions or diseases, physically active, healthy weight) - and my doctor mentioned at my last appointment that I should probably have comprehensive bloodwork done to have as a "baseline."

Obviously I haven't done it yet, I could see why it is a good idea, but not having any health problems... I don't know.

 

[MIGrandma]

Currently twice a year, for cholesterol and diabetes.