Blood work

[junie]

My Dr. gave me orders to get blood work done, I want to get my vitamin D checked out, what would I circle on the paper for
they will check it out also?Thanks so much.

[jules]

If you check something on the paper the doctor hadn't checked, the doctor can fire you as a patient.

You can go to some places online and order blood work yourself in many states - pay for it yourself and get the results yourself but if you change the doctor's orders you can get into serious trouble.

[WearyOne]

My Dr. gave me orders to get blood work done, I want to get my vitamin D checked out, what would I circle on the paper for
they will check it out also?Thanks so much.

It's a great idea to get your V-D checked. If you already have the written order, you could call and ask for another one and for that to be added. Or he/she could write a separate one just for the V-D. (DON'T change his order yourself!) Or, like Jules said, you can order blood tests online, and get them done locally without a doctor's prescription. The catch is you can't use your insurance, I don't think, and some of the tests are expensive. Vitamin D is one that is not cheap. (But others are very inexpensive.)

Here's one I have used and would highly recommend. They're very fast, and the LabCorp I use locally to actually do the tests is good as well.

http://www.healthcheckusa.com/

[jdm2857]

The ability to order (and pay for ) diagnostic test on your own varies by state. In NJ you can't get one without a prescription, regardless of who pays.

[araminta]

I just want to reinforce how important a test it could be to get.
I had my annual exam last month, and along with it some routine and not so routine blood work.
I was stunned to learn I was low in Vitamin D.

The aging process ain't for wimps.

[WearyOne]

I've very low in Vit-D as well and am again on prescription strength.

I checked the HealthCheckUSA website on this. They have a map the U.S. and you can click on a state to see if the service is available there. Although I didn't check all the states, I did check most and the two I found where the service is not available are NJ and NY.

[BeanMeScot]

You should definately have your TSH level checked.

[DreamStalker]

My Dr. gave me orders to get blood work done, I want to get my vitamin D checked out, what would I circle on the paper for
they will check it out also?Thanks so much.

What Jules said.

You could (and probably everyone should) also take a D supplement. I think I read somewhere that you need to take D supplements with some saturated fat in order for the body to uptake of the vitamin. So take it with a small glass of whole fat milk or small chunk of cheese.


... and Happy B-Day!

[junie]

Thank you so much for the birthday wish, and also everyone about the vitamin D