slo’s THURSDAY 6/5 poll - Wellness Bloodwork 🩸

[tvguy]

I have had annual blood work for probably 20 years.
Efforts to reduce my blood pressure damaged my kidneys so I had to have blood work every 3 months for 3 years until last year. Now I am back to every six months.
The challenge is, the levels considered acceptable keep changing.
High blood pressure until 2017 was defined at 140/90 and above. Then it was lowered to 130/80 and now it is apparently 120/80. I am about 125/80 with a few readings below 120.
LDL cholesterol, acceptable level is up to 130. Below 100 is preferred. Now my Doctor wants me to get to 50! I am at 79.

 

[_19disnA]

It was my impression that if taking certain prescription drugs, your doctor has to see you at least annually (some cases 2x/year) to verify your current condition and renew your medications. Often that involves bloodwork as well. Frequency of various other tests is determined by your age and current medical condition.

 

[clappyclaps]

I've never had any tests like this done, and I'm not even sure if its something that is offered in the UK on the NHS or if you have to go private (hopefully a more informed member of the board knows more!). I would certainly be interested in getting tests like this once I get past a certain age though.

 

[georgina]

Yes, I see my primary care every year and my endocrinologist every year. They both want bloodwork, and some tests overlap. I am on blood pressure medication, thyroid medication, and allergy medication. My thyroid and cortisol levels get checked as well as a whole rash of tests - kidney function, liver function, cholesterol, etc, etc, etc

 

[slo]

Yes, I get wellness bloodwork done at least once a year. My wellness exam is usually in March. It was fine then, a few months ago. It's amazing how many different parameters are looked at, measured, etc with 3 or 4 small vials of blood.

Have a good work up, Sandy, enjoy your coffee and whatever afterward.

Thanks Dan…..I loved coming home afterwards and pouring my cup of coffee. Drinking water while making my poll just isn’t the same - LOL!

 

[BlueStarryHat]

My doctor sends me twice a year for routine bloodwork. However, this May my A1C came up as a 6.5 and I got the diabetes talk. He told me to change my eating habits and move more, and now I have to get bloodwork in another three months to see if a lifestyle change makes any difference. I am now sugar free and extremely low carb.

 

[Logitexum]

Oof, I feel this—I’m the worst at remembering wellness stuff unless something’s actually wrong. I did bloodwork about a year ago, mostly because my doctor basically guilt-tripped me into it . I definitely should go again soon, though. Setting a phone reminder is a smart idea—I might steal that!

 

[loves to dive]

I'm over a certain age and have Medicare, it requires it every 6 months for me. I just had it done on Thursday. Truthfully, if I didn't need my two prescriptions I'd skip all the wellness checkups but alas, I have to go every 3 months in order to get the renewals. I only take two drugs - one for high trigycerides and hormones. I tried going off the hormones but have been on them for over 30 years and the Doc told me at this point, I'll never be able to totally go off them but I can (and have) slowly started reducing how often I take them. Down to 5 days a week right now. I'll never be able to go off the other med either since, for me, high tri are inherited and there is nothing I can do with my diet or exercise to bring them down.

 

[John VN]

Wellness appointment once a year, but Bloodwork is every 3 months due to Prostate Cancer + other kwap requiring it.

 

[Meriweather]

I get it done once a year from my Primary care provider.
And as a diabetic, every 3-4 months from the endocrinologist.