Getting my bloods done

Last updated on Wed, 14th Sep 2022

I went to my GP yesterday to get my bloods done. This is part of the regular blood tests that I’ll have to get done, to check that the vitamin and mineral levels in blood are good following my bariatric surgery.

My bariatric team requires that I get bloods done:

• Every 3 months for the first year
• Every 6 months for the second year
• Once a year thereafter

I could get my bloods done in the private hospital where I had my operation, but that’s really expensive. I’ve done it in the past, and it’s cost me around €70-100 for each visit. And the public hospital phlebotomy clinics are a bit hit and miss in terms of how long you have to wait.

It’s much easier for me to visit the nurse in my local GP surgery. It does cost me €35 to visit, but the benefit is that the surgery is only a 5 minute walk from my house, so it’s a quick visit.

I also needed to get an injection of Neo-Cytamen (vitamin B12) so I got that done as part of the same appointment. And for an added bonus the nurse also gave me a seasonal flu shot for free as well. So I have ended up with many holes in my arms!

Blood test protocol following bariatric surgery

• FBC
• U&E
• LFTs (including Albumin)
• Thyroid function tests (TSH, free T4)
• Bone profile (calcium, phosphate, ALP)
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Iron studies (ferritin, serum iron, TIBC)
• Zinc
• Lipid profile
• Magnesium
• 25-Hydroxyvitamin D