Blood Tests

[KATE336]

Anyone else have to get them? I have to take them for Tegritol. It was just found that my levels were not "theraputic"...therefore, higher dose...

[lolli]

I get them monthly to monitor my levels of Epilim, not to hard just look away from the needle when they're taking your blood.

[clayton]

Dear Kate: It's good they found that out. I get them every three months for lithium--I speak of the vampire lady, and I watch the needle go in; sometimes they miss the vein and have to poke around, which really hurts; sometimes my GP wants blood tests, too, and those are fasting ones. My current level is .5, which is on the low side, but still therapeutic.

[Cathy]

I'm still working out my Lithium levels so I'm getting them done every week or so...getting used to it, but, as Clayton says, sometimes it takes a minute which can be uncomfortable. I look away from the needle too and ask them to recline the chair so I'm more comfortable.

[dragonfly]

i am supposed to be having one done but my doc isn't really full on about it and i have never had one.....i have pretty tough kidneys though i went through septicaemia once from a major kidney infection and it did no damage at all,weird,the hosp people were expecting me to have renal failure,it was probably all the other stupid crap i have pumped into my system over my misguided youth....