How often do you get blood work done?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Usually every 3 to 4 months but I have a clotting disorder that is monitored plus medication levels that are checked. I would think at an annual checkup at a certain age then bloodwork would be done to check thyroid function, cholesterol levels, anemia, etc...

 

[Muushka]

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/

I would rather they take a vial or 2 and run the tests on instruments that are more accurate than home kits.
Trust me, if all they needed was a drop, that is all they would draw.
Old medical technologist talking here.

 

[MomRN]

Yearly unless something is wrong. I have high hemoglobbin and low HDL cholesterol, so it's been about every 3-6 months for me.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Just a note for anyone going in for bloodwork - make sure you are WELL hydrated before going in for a stick. When I go in for my usual bloodwork I always drink a good bit of water beforehand. I was very sick and had to go into the ER yesterday and it took 25 sticks (by 3 nurses) to get an IV in and another 10 sticks by a phlebotomist to get any blood because I was so dehydrated and I wasn't even vomiting - just so nauseated that I hadn't been eating or drinking much.

Both of my arms and hands are black and blue from all of the sticks and attempts at sticks yesterday. I look like I was on the losing end of a bad fight!

 

[aprilgail2]

I get it done every year...its part of a yearly physical. My daughter also has gotten full blood work done every year since she was born as part of a childs yearly physical.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I get it done every year...its part of a yearly physical. My daughter also has gotten full blood work done every year since she was born as part of a childs yearly physical.

Really? Wow. My oldest DD is almost 17 and got blood drawn for the first time a few weeks ago (and BOY was it traumatic for her!). She was hospitalized when she was an infant for dehydration due to a virus so she most likely had some done at that point but none of my kids have ever had any done at any of their physicals.

 

[tvguy]

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.

Do you go to the doctor on a regular basis?
18 to 40, I had a chem panel done every 2 years.
40 to 50, chem panel every year.
50 on, chem panel every year, and a cholesterol and psa check.

I thought women got blood work and a mammogram every year after 18.

 

[autumnpalm]

I have mine done about once a month. I am young (early 20s) and active, but I have low blood pressure, a heart condition and wacky electrolytes so I get it checked often.

 

[indimom]

Do you go to the doctor on a regular basis?
18 to 40, I had a chem panel done every 2 years.
40 to 50, chem panel every year.
50 on, chem panel every year, and a cholesterol and psa check.

I thought women got blood work and a mammogram every year after 18.[/QUOTE]

An exam and samples taken, but no bloodwork.
Under the normal course of events, you get your first mammogram at about 35-40 (I think 40 is the more common choice), then have regular checks after that.

 

[barkley]

Just a note for anyone going in for bloodwork - make sure you are WELL hydrated before going in for a stick. When I go in for my usual bloodwork I always drink a good bit of water beforehand. I was very sick and had to go into the ER yesterday and it took 25 sticks (by 3 nurses) to get an IV in and another 10 sticks by a phlebotomist to get any blood because I was so dehydrated and I wasn't even vomiting - just so nauseated that I hadn't been eating or drinking much.

Both of my arms and hands are black and blue from all of the sticks and attempts at sticks yesterday. I look like I was on the losing end of a bad fight!

hydrating before a blood draw can make all the difference in the world.

i have very small veins so unless i get a good technician i still end up with multiple sticks (and since i bruise easily it looks awful). being well hydrated helps the process along so much.

the other tip i'll offer if someone just naturaly is difficult to draw blood from-find out if the place you go for the draw to has a designated staff member for pediatrics, then arrange to get this person to do your draw with a pediatric needle (standard staff can do this, but i've found that if you explain the situation ahead with a phone call you don't get the standard staff trying to convince you that they can do it "no problem" with a standard needle, and then you end up going home with tons of bruising that occured before they finaly conceded the peds needle was the best choice in the first place).

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Do you go to the doctor on a regular basis?
18 to 40, I had a chem panel done every 2 years.
40 to 50, chem panel every year.
50 on, chem panel every year, and a cholesterol and psa check.

I thought women got blood work and a mammogram every year after 18.

Not mammograms - I think after 40. My mom had breast cancer, so as an immediate relative, I think I'm supposed to start getting mammograms when I am half the age that she was when she was diagnosed. I am, but it is a FIGHT with my insurance to get them to approve it.

 

[disfan07]

I get a full physical every year with complete bloodwork but I also get blood work done every 6 weeks to check liver function because I am on long term methotrexate treatment. I also get my B12 level checked every 3 months because I have severe B12 deficiency.

BUT, I also have:
Asthma, Heart arrythmia, B12 and vitamin D/Calcium deficiency, Long term methotrexate treatment, and now boarderline thyroid function.

At 21, I am at the point where my veins are completely shot. In the hospital, they cant get an IV to stay for more than 12 hours.