Blood test advice

DeVlaeminck

OK I am going to go back to the Dr to discuss this but before doing so I would find it useful to have a bit of advice from you lot.

My daughter does a lot of sport - her main interest is football but she does other stuff too. Recently she's been feeling wiped out early in matches - she used to be a very hard working player but recently she is just unable to get about the pitch to the extent if you watched her you'd think she was either massively unfit or just couldn't be bothered.

We went to Dr partly about that and partly because she's been having the odd dizzy spell (not during exercise) - although that has become more infrequent than earlier this year. They did a heart ECG (I think it was an ECG) on her (she's also previously been screened by the FA earlier this year when she told us about the dizzy spells) which came out clear and some blood tests which apparently have come back clear but it says "mean corpuscle Hb conc" is a bit low - but still marked no action. I don't know the exact figure as I have only spoken to the receptionist.

The receptionist offered me a phone consultation with the GP if I wanted which I'll probably do but before I do is there anything I should be asking. Is the absolute figure important - is there some level where they might not flag it for action but it might affect someone in sport.

Also is some kind of iron supplement worth thinking about - just the sort of thing you can buy over the counter ? Fwiw she's only recently (this year) started periods - is that something that might be causing problems and could it be a temporary thing. Apologies for all the questions but since last week she's been hoping that they'd find a problem they could fix and I don't want to come away from talking to the GP and later think I wish I'd asked him that.

Re the dizzy spells they do seem to be disappearing and we've had two heart checks now so I'm sort of hoping that side of things is sorted - I did think she was drinking too much water and she's cut down on that a bit which maybe has helped or maybe coincidence.

Thanks

slowbike

has she had thyroid function tested?
Mine's under - and you slow down, feel cold, can't remember things - generally can't be arsed sort of feel.
It's probably not - but it depends what she had the blood tested for - Dr should tell you what they test for.

DeVlaeminck

Yes they said they were going to test for that - so I'm assuming that has come back OK - her older sister does take medication for that so I did wonder but I will ask just to make sure. She has been feeling cold but I put it down to her being nesh.

Tashman

My better half has an underactive |thyroid condition and the symptoms certainly could match that.

graeme_s-2

My wife has been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in the last year or so (runs in her family, and we had a baby which seems to have been the trigger for her). I remember when I was reading up on it some of the UK thyroid organisations seemed to be suggesting that numbers that a GP would tell you were ok might not be ok. Might be worth asking for the actual figure and doing some reading - especially if it's an issue for others in the family.

AK_jnr

My mum and my mum in law both have underactive too.
Low iron is one of the problems which again could match her symptoms.

DeVlaeminck

Yes the blood has actually been flagged up as borderline low - the thyroid hasn't - so I'm hoping and expecting if either of those are a problem it is the blood level and that a fairly low level iron supplement/time/diet can sort that out. My wife works in public health so will try and get the actual figures and get an opinion off some of the doctors she works with and maybe some of you lot.

oscarbudgie

b12 deficiency?

StillGoing

Has the GP checked the blood pressure in both arms? Doing that could rule out cardiac and vascular problems. My ECG tests have all shown as perfectly normal, but the BP in my arms were very different. It wasn't until I had had a Vascular Consultant send me for a scan of the upper vascular system that we discovered I have a completely blocked left side subclavian artery. I'm not overweight, have lead an active lifestyle in the military and moderately in the police, never smoked and barely drink. Anyone can suffer with cardiac or vascular problems irrespective of their lifestyle and I'd advise anyone that goes for a BP check, to get the nurse or doctor to check it in both arms.

ugo.santalucia

Low haemoglobin is not unusual in girls as from when they get their period.

The best iron supplement is eating liver, as it also comes with the vitamins you need to actually absorb it and use it straightaway, while the absorption of tablets in the gut is somewhat poor. It's not generally palatable to kids, but it can be minced with a food processor and hidden in pretty much anything, from a Shepherd's pie to a burger or a bolognese sauce... I do it all the time with my wife, most of the time she doesn't even know it's there. Mussles are another great source of iron, but even harder to feed to kids. Iron is steaks is not as much as people think and it is certainly not enough as a supplement. If she is vegetarian, then it becomes harder, as iron in beans or vegetables is harder to absorb, unless it is paired with doses of vitamin C.. so spinach alone doesn't work, but spinach with fresh peppers or a fresh orange works

kajjal

It also depends on age, if she is a teenager simply growing up can give various temporary effects. I had migraines and felt very tired in my mid teens but not since. Also teenagers can if left to their own devices eat poorly. My wife in her teens became a vegetarian and nearly passed out due to not eating properly. Others have similar results due to dieting when very active etc.

Best to talk to your doctor and see what they suggest.

finlayson99

So, obviously speak to the GP for specific info but the following may help your questions.

Re the ECG, check that the QT interval has been accurately measured, it's quite hard to do this accurately.

The MCHC on the blood test is unlikely to be significant. Make sure though that the B12, folate, serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation and ferritin have all been checked as well as the FBC.
Also check that a full biochemical screen including thyroid, glucose and HbA1C have been done.
Also check that glandular fever test has been done.

Hope this helps. Obviously this is just advice to take to the GP.

reluctantlondoner

Most likely explanation is surely glandular fever?

svetty

finlayson99 wrote:

So, obviously speak to the GP for specific info but the following may help your questions.

Re the ECG, check that the QT interval has been accurately measured, it's quite hard to do this accurately.

The MCHC on the blood test is unlikely to be significant. Make sure though that the B12, folate, serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation and ferritin have all been checked as well as the FBC.
Also check that a full biochemical screen including thyroid, glucose and HbA1C have been done.
Also check that glandular fever test has been done.

Hope this helps. Obviously this is just advice to take to the GP.

Just make sure that the GP doesn't see you as being demanding or trying to tell him how to do his job. In all honesty, the tests referred to above are likely un-necessary; if the MCV is reasonable a minor drop in MCHC can be disregarded in an otherwise healthy pre-menopausal woman. Just make sure she has a reasonably balance diet with some red meat in it.

She could have had asymptomatic glandular fever (or any number of other viral infections) - this is might explain non-specific fatigue but if so there would be no specific treatment apart from normal rest and recovery.

What you definitely don't want to do is generate unfounded doubts in her mind regarding the resilience and robustness of her health.....

DeVlaeminck

Thanks all. She doesn't really eat much red meat so unfortunately the chances of getting her to eat liver are pretty slim but I agree Ugo it would be preferable to look at diet as the first step rather than supplements. Other than that she does eat a reasonable diet.

Finlayson - thanks for the additional information - her mum was going to phone to get the info on what has been checked but I just asked her if she's done it and she hasn't - however I doubt they checked all that. Still useful though as it gives some pointers if this continues to drag on.

Svetty - she isn't one to worry unnecessarily - she wasn't in the least concerned about the dizzy spells and her only concern for the fatigue is that she'll lose her place in her football teams.