[willsken]

This may seem like a strange question, but I am terrified of the doctors (and dentist by the way!) What EXACTLY can I expect at my appointment next week? :confused:

I know I have to have a blood test, but what else.... I’m so nervous I can hardly sleep!! :wah

[Tia Maria]

I don't think its strange question at all. I have a needle phobia, so I was very nervous about my medical. Not sure if anything has changed since we did ours a few months ago, but this is what happened at ours.

1) Quite a lengthy form filling out session (all the bits you are suppose to do with the doctor, we were asked to fill out in the waiting room in advance)
2) Asked for a urine sample
3) Took blood at beginning, as I'd said I was nervous, (all mine were done with one needle)
4) Looked in ears
5) Did basic eye checks
6) Took blood pressure
7) Did weight and height
8) Went through form

My doctor was very nice, did everything to make me feel comfortable and I got the impression they do their best to get you through.

(wasn't asked for smear information, or extra tests for tatto, as I believe some were).

All in all took about 20mins for this bit. Then had Xrays around the corner. Asked to strip to waist, put on gown, stand in front of Xray machine. All over in about 10 mins.

I then went and had some ice cream and pancakes as a treat!

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Alex]

Yep, we found pretty much the same as in the previous post. I was scared before hand too! Don't worry.

[Cardiff Irons]

It really is nothing to worry about Nicola. IT's a very quick and simple examination and, apart from the blood test which some find a little worrying, nothing painful. Our 17 year old daughter was absolutely distraught about having an examination and afterwards she was a bit embarrassed about all the fuss she made.

Where are you going for your test? We found the ones in and around Cardiff very expensive and ended up taking the family to Manchester for our medicals. :eek:

[PaulandHelen]

We used a surgery in Birmingham which does xrays and medicals and they were very nice and helpful, it was about £160 if my memory serves me right.
P+H

[katandbob]

Hi, we have just got back from Sheffield!

MEDS: Hellish drive into Shefield City centre, (very bad for the nerves of us quiet country bumpkins!) trying to find way to Claremont Hospital for 1.30pm - £68 each for X-rays, but staff very nice! and we was out by 2.30pm.
then we had to get across town to the Duke Medical Centre for 3.30pm (got lost 3 times and had to ring for directions)

when we got there, at 3.27pm! they hadn't got us booked in - somemix up but they didnt turn us away!! :laugh they would have lost out on £380!
So Me and Rob got to see a nice lady doc, and the boys saw a nice Male doc, we were out in an Hour!
(had to pay £25 for mine and Robs bloods as they noticed our tattoos!) other wise it would have been £15 for bloods and £75 for meds. SO THATS A WHOPPING £652 plus burger king on way home and sarnies at Claremont which was £35.
Expensive day!!
MEDS IN BRIEF:
X-rays - take top/bra off, chest against plate (blue J-cloth gown to put on for ladys)
DONT FORGET put photograph on xray form too - I wondered why you had 2 and didnt realise you had to stick one one the x-ray form as well (but the nice nurses stapled it on for us)
Easy Peasy

Med:
PEE IN BOTTLE :-P
Height & weight taken - BMI worked out (it has to be under 35)
BLOOD taken (ouch!!!) only one tube each for us :-)
then the Doc takes over:
checked ears; eyes; throat.blood pressure
asks all questions, and for info if you have had any treatment find out the dates before you go (I took my letters with me for reference and the doc was very pleased)
asked us if we'd had all innoculations - Yep
(I took the boys Immunisation cards - they copied them and put them in with their the forms)
family history - all fit & well (yep)
NEXT they check your glands - throat, armpits
Prodded around tummy, for Hernias etc.
(female doc checked out robs BITS :laugh )
but the boys didnt get checked(I recon she was just copping a feel!! :laugh
She didnt see my bellybutton which is pierced (took it out) - so I didnt mention it :nice1

And that was it! we can ring in a week for blood results, but we cant open forms when they arrive a couple of days later.

so that will be it - we can send everything off and start the wait for the Blue stickers!

[willsken]

Thank you for all the reassurance, it has made me feel better about going. It is very hard to think of these things as being simple.

My 12 year old son is not happy about having the blood tests and is VERY jealous of his 8 year old brother who doesn’t have to have that or the chest x-ray!

[willsken]

We are using the BUPA hospital in Cardiff. The have quoted me about £70 each for the x-rays. For the medicals themselves, luckily, we can use our own doctors in Trethomas. (near Caephilly).

[femke]

Don't know about the new medicals but children under 15yrs do not have to have a blood test. We had ours in april this year my daughter was 14yr, no blood test needed, good job as she is terrified of jabs.
Moira

[Aydon]

Nicola, Me and Mrs A. used the BUPA in Cardiff for X-Rays, and then Ty Bryn surgery in Bedwas/Trethomas for the Medicals - Dr Palmer - a very nice lady.

It's absolutely no sweat. I have a phobia with needles - I can't stand them being anywhere near me - and even I managed not to faint when having the bloods taken :)

Lots of questions at the beginning, but standard stuff. Are you using the new forms or the old ones? We still managed to have the old ones, so the blood test only looks for Syphilis. I think the new ones go a bit deeper - but only for standard stuff like AIDS, Hep B, etc.

Don't worry about it :)

[katandbob]

I thought it was 15 and over that needed to have Bloods? at least they said to Jason that it was a shame that he'd just turned 15 as he'd have missed out on them if his birthday hadn't happened yet?

maybe its different on the new forms

Kat

[willsken]

The only reason I thought that Matthew needed the bloods, was that when I rang the doctors the receptionist asked the age of the children. I said 12 and 8 and she said, "Oh, the 8 year old won't need to have the blood test".

I just assumed. But you know what they say about assuming!!! :laugh

Poor little chap doesn't want to go and live in NZ if he has to have a needle! :no

[Hannah]

I noticed in earlier post on this thread that the doctor asks about kids jabs. My children (7 and 10) only had 2,3 & 4 month jabs. Have'nt had boosters or MMR. Is this a problem, out of interest. Chose not to jab them for personal reasons, not medical reasons. Wonder if they would have to have these as part of a medical?

[gil]

That's right Hannah, you have to take copies of immunisation records for all children under 16 (I think). At least, our 17 year old didn't need them. I don't know how they use/assess them, or whether full immunisation is required and it's a problem if you haven't been fully immunised (incl. MMR and boosters). Perhaps someone else here will know?

Our 14 year old did not have to have blood tests Nicola, so Matthew should escape that!
Hope all the meds go well,
Gil