How often do you guys have blood work done? I am having blood taken for a medical check for some disability insurance I am starting and I am just curious what they are looking for. I am 21, no known probs, workout frequently, and eat pretty well, and my weight is in check. They said not to eat anything 12 hours before- why is that? And does it matter what I eat/drink the day before?

 

I get it done about every year or 18 months,,,,just one suggestion...

Get typed every time you get a blood test. It will cost extra to do this and the places that draw blood and even your doctor will tell you to save your money and will try to talk you out of it but it might help ensure that your blood test results are yours..

for example I am A negative and if my results come back anyother type then I know there was a mix up......if you think they can't mix them up then just go visit a blood lab...

Study hard for that test

 

They will most likely be checking for Cholesterol, liver enzymes, aids, blood sugar levels etc...

 

I donate blood 2x a year, everytime I donate Red Cross sends me a card with my Blood Type/ Cholesterol Level and next date Im eligible to donate again.

 

I don't so ANYTHING with needles <--- huge needle phobic. And hell I'm about to finish vet school in the next week or so.

Anyway, as for what they are checking...there's usually up to 6 viles, and the colors on the top determine what exactly they are looking for. Usually the most important ones are CBC - complete blood count, Cholesterol - HDL, LVL, glucose (if they test for it), T3, T4 and a few others. Labwork is also used for other tests such as pregnancy, not that this will concern you. There are other tests that require your consent, such as HIV. They will not run this if you don't ask for it.

What you eat the day before can throw off levels...especially cholesterol. Try not to eat anything with a lot of fat and sugar for a day or two prior. It doesn't always throw it off, but it can...so they are just covering their bases. And you should be able to drink water prior to the lab work...if you don't like needles drink plenty of it so you don't pass out. If your on any medications, definitely tell them...though I'm always knocked out with oral sedations prior to any labwork and they never get told and it comes back fine. All depends on what your taking.

Also, they run your blood type everytime. If they are charging you to find that out, they are ripping you off. It's part of the workup. They should tell you if you request it...plain and simple. I really have a problem with todays medical field...so few people actually care and are just in it for the long term money.

 

Well this nurse came and took 3 vials of blood, a urine sample, EKG, lung expansion, checked the pulse, lungs, hernia, the whole 9! Probrably the most intense physical- and it was all for some insurance... She scared the crap out of me though by saying "o dear, I need to check you heart rate and BP again- it can't be right"... turns out 45 beats per min is OK-but on the low end and my BP is low, evidently these are good things though... Blood results due back in 2 weeks. There was just a quick prick of pain and it wasn't bad for future searchers.

 

Hah stop bragging. we all know you're a beast and you could bench press the RJ. BTW, stalls suck. We got it down though, first sim went well.

 

Too true. You always did work out more than anyone else at the flight school. I'm not surprised your heart rate and BP were that low.

 

She just scared me the way she said it....

I know who glider is.. Now who is "the king"? Just give me a hint..