I've been struggling to not be anaemic. It's my age. It's common. I've seen 4 different GPs on 4 occasions over about 3 years. It's not enough to understand how it all works. The first time I was sent for a blood test the Long Suffering Husband tutted and rolled his eyes at me, "You have to ring up to find out the results of the blood test," he said. I had assumed that they would contact you if there was a problem and we argued about it. He made me phone.
"Hello. I, erm, well I had a blood test and I'm ringing...."
"You want the results?"
"Er, yes please."
"You pressed the wrong number, you have to go through to tests and results, number 4."
"Oh,"
"I can try and put you through, if you want."
"That would be very helpful, thank you."
I heard a huge sigh as she pressed buttons before the phone rang again.
"Hello, test results."
"Oh, hello, erm, I had a blood test, I'm sure everything is OK because you'd have let me know but can I just check..."
I barked back my name and date of birth.
"Yes. Right. Well, you have to see the doctor."
"Oh, really, why's that then?"
"The doctor wants to discuss the results with you."
"Yes, I get that but why?"
"I can't tell you that, you'll have to see the doctor."
When I saw the GP she wagged her finger at me, as if it were in my control, "You're anaemic and not just a little bit."
I wasn't surprised. I'd been taking iron tablets that I bought.
"That won't be good enough. You can't buy iron tablets that are strong enough. I have to prescribe them for you."
My iron levels have gone up and down. One GP decided to test for Ferritin (a protein that stores and helps convert iron). The tests and results lady told me that I was NOT anaemic because my Hb level was fine but the doctor wanted to see me.
"You are still anaemic," said the doctor, folding his arms and staring at me over his half-moon glasses.
"Oh, when I rang up they told me I wasn't."
"Your ferritin level is low. It's 13, that's not enough. You have nothing in reserve."
I nodded, wisely. That just about summed up how I felt; nothing in reserve.
"If you don't take iron you'll just get anaemic again."
I was confused. I thought he'd said I was anaemic.
I asked the normal range, which was between 41 and 400, which seems a huge difference to me. No wonder the GP seemed unsure.
A few weeks ago I was running low on my prescribed iron and before I put in my repeat prescription I thought I'd go and have a blood test to check (the last GP had given me a form to use when I felt I needed it). Two days later I had a letter in the post telling me that my blood tests were back and I needed to make an appointment. This was a surprise to me and the LSH, he'd convinced me that you had to ring up.
I rang.
"Hello. I've had a letter asking me to make an appointment about my blood test."
"You'll have to ring on the day."
"Excuse me?"
"You'll have to ring on the day. I'm booking into November."
"I am ringing on the day."
"You'll have to ring on the day. I have no appointments."
"It is the day. Well, it's a day. What day should it be?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Hello? Can I make an appointment, or not?"
"You'll have to ring on the day."
"You said that but I don't understand."
A hefty sigh preceded a snapped, "Eight am," and the phone was put down.
The LSH rolled his eyes again, when I told him. "You have to ring at eight on the morning you want the appointment, How can you not know that?"
My only defence is that I'm a novice.
I tried.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
I became very familiar with the electronic woman but never got through before I had to leave for work.
I ran out of iron tablets, so put in my repeat prescription.
I kept trying.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
Every day.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy
The pharmacy rang.
"Hello. It's about your repeat prescription. Your surgery won't issue it until you've made an appointment with them."
I kept trying.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
I didn't have to go to work
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
I was patient
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
I began to feel a little anxious
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The anxiety turned to irritability.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
The number you are trying to reach is busy.
I checked my watch. Thirty five minutes had passed. Just as I wasn't expecting it the phone rang.
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
I held
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
I was patient
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
I needed a wee but I held.
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are still busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
I appreciated the addition of the extra word.
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are still busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
We are sorry for the delay. Our surgery lines are busy please hold and we will connect you as soon as possible.
Wait! What had happened to my extra word? I started to hyperventilate. Doctors are meant to make you better not cause a breakdown.
Ring Ring
Ring Ring
Ring Ring
I psyched myself up to talk to a real person.
You have reached the medical centre press one for appointments.
beep
Enter your date of birth
beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
Enter your telephone number
beep..............
The receptionist seemed genuinely surprised at how grateful I was to talk to her; a real person, at last.
I had an appointment.
I saw another doctor I had never seen before.
"Hello, what can I do for you?"
"I've had a letter saying that you want to discuss my blood test results."
"Right. What were they?"
I tried not to roll my eyes.
"I assume it was because I'm anaemic but I'm not sure because you refused my repeat prescription."
She tapped the computer.
"Yes, you're anaemic. It's 8 and you're not allowed to go below 7."
I did roll my eyes because I've been below 7 before.
"You've only got one to go. So, why are you anaemic.?"
I couldn't help thinking that she was meant to tell me that but I gave it my best guess and mumbled something about my age, menopause and avoiding hysterectomies.
"That's OK then," she smiled. "What was it before?"
"I have no idea. Maybe you could look it up, as I don't keep numbers like that in my head."
I think I was polite but I'm not sure.
"I don't understand this. It was normal. Why were you prescribed iron in the first place?"
"It was because the ferritin level was low."
She suddenly looked interested, tapping at the computer and mumbling, 'ferritin,' over and over. "Were you given medication for it?"
"Iron tablets."
"Right, well, it's 3 now. I must write that down. Do you mind if I type while the machine takes your blood pressure?"
I took my prescription to the pharmacy and did some shopping while they got it ready. The pharmacist was very nice.
"I know you've paid the prescription charge but if you just buy these then they will cost you £3 less. Would you like to do that?"
"I didn't know you could just buy them."
"Oh yes. It's only an iron supplement."
He confirmed that they were no different from the ones I had been taking before I started having confusing conversations with doctors. I can't help feeling that my appointment could have gone to someone that really needed it.
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