MIKE I AM NOT SURE IT IS A MANDATORY THING, I KIND OF DO CAUSE I DON'T EAT IN THE MORNS, AND MOST MY DRAWS ARE IN THE MORN. I THINK ZZZ DOES JUST BECAUSE THATS HOW SHE STARTED THEM.. YOU WILL FIND DOCS DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT... ESPECIALLY ABOUT HH....

Hi Yrekadc--I never fasted before a phlebotomy. I was told to drink a lot of water before hand...I guess so the blood will flow more freely. As a matter of fact this Tuesday I have a phlebotomy and I'll be just drinking bottled water on my way to the dr's office. By the way, on top of my usual problems I had a killer of a sinus infection which caused a big abcess in my upper tooth last week. I'm feeling a tad better from that, but it seems it's one thing after another. Take care. Lilyc

I don't fast either.

Mike, I have labs done every time I get a phelb. My doctor's office has always wanted me to eat a good meal prior to the phelb to make sure that we don't have any issues. Generally when labs are done for HH, they are doing a CBC, Ferritin, saturation, and binding capacity. You don't need to fast for those. Obviously it is also important to be very well hydrated for labs or phlebs.

HI LILY ; I REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. I AM TRYING TO PASS A KIDNEY STONE AS WE CYBER SPEAK, OR MAYBE I SWALLOWED YOUR CYBER TOOTH?? EITHER WAY IT AINT NO FUN. MAKE SURE YOU FINISH THOSE ANTIBIOTICS!!! YOU CAN DIE FROM AN ABSESS. AND IF YOU DID THAT I WILL NOT SPEAK TO YOU..
I DO HOPE YOU ARE BETTER, ALL KIDDING ASIDE.
IF YOU LIKE CHECK OUT MY PHOTOS, MAYBE YOU WILL GET A TICKLE OUT OF ONE, OR THROW UP ONE!?
OH I THINK MIKE WAS REFERRING TO PRIOR BLOOD DRAW, OR NOT

yr........... u r a GOOF BALL! Lost in the high weeds, I might add:)

nah, I don't fast BUT I did start out (and continue) fasting with my PCP when he'd do my thyroid blood work. Not the phleb/labs.

I like your family photos tho I might add, several of the others got the good looks in the family, no offense!

Mike,
I fast before the labs just in case the doctor wants another test that requires fasting.
Wildforhim, are you saying that you get a phleb before you know the results of the labs? I wouldn't do that. Your SF and CBC may be too low. I get my labs done on Mondays, find out the results by Wed and if I need a phleb, I get it done on Thursday.
JMHO

Bronx, No, I do get them done ahead of time but it is all in the same day. I get the labs done at my Hemotolgist's office. After the blood is drawn I go back and sit in the waiting room for about 10 minutes while the labs are being processed (they will have the CBC results but not the ferritin). Then I go in to the chemo room for my phleb. My Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are high (different condition but same treatment as HH) so I have to have the phleb regardless of my ferritin. We are hoping that they will be down to normal by this summer so that the phlebs can be cut back to 3 - 4 times a year. I only started getting the phelbs in December (have had 5 so far). I had them every 4 weeks for a while but am now going every 3 weeks to try to get the Hemoglobin and Hematocrit down. After my 4th phleb my ferritin was down to 91 with 29.45% saturation so I am close to where I need to be for the HH but I still have a way to go with the other.

I've never been required to fast, but like YR usually have not eaten prior to my appointment that's scheduled early in my day. My phleb cut-off numbers are where I always get a phleb. My ferritin has to be below 20, or HCT below 35 not to get a phleb. In 13 years the only time my numbers were at a point to not get a phleb were when I first started getting de-ironed every two weeks. Most people with HH, that go to where I get my phleb's go a few days prior to get their ferritin drawn, but in my case my doctor has the ferritin drawn while I'm getting my phleb. Once in a while, when my ferritin is approaching close to my cut-off of 20, my doctor will have me get phleb's at two month intervals for about six months, instead of my normal monthly phlebs, but that doesn't happen very often.

All 3 of my doctors including Hemo insist that I not only eat before a phleb but eat plenty of carbs and drink lots of liquid, including Pedialyte, which helps the flow of blood. Also afterwards. I have never heard of fasting before, it seems counterintuitive.

If you're going to be phlebbed the same day you get your labs, then no, dod not fast. That too risky. I was referring to those of us who get the labs done one day and then getting phlebbed on a different day.
I push fluids from the day labs are done until after the phleb is done including the rest of the day.