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Is it possible for a blood test to be wrong?

S

Sammyjaynee

Member
Messages
6
I wrote a few weeks ago about my daughter aged 3.5 who had symptoms of diabetes.
They tested her urine and no sign of glucose.
I took her back a week later as her symptoms were getting worse.
They ordered blood tests and checked everything including a “diabetes” blood test. Apparently all came back fine, but she does have subclinical hypothyroidism.
However the doctor was very surprised as she said her symptoms were “textbook” diabetes symptoms and were not explained by the thyroidism and she was at a loss of what to do next.
Her symptoms are:
Drinking 600-800mls per hour. (With waking during the night)
Urine incontenance even after being toilet trained for nearly 2 years.
Toddler diarrhoea that’s never gotten better
Lethargy &fatigue.
Puffy eyes/looking very tired even though she’s sleeping 14-15 hours a night.
Severe reflux.
Change in behaviour, extreme irritability.
Being constantly hungry but with no weight gain (but no weight loss)
“Crashing out” in the afternoon/barely making it until bedtime.
She’s now started complain that her eyes hurt and are very sore.
Stomach/back pain.

As I said the doctor is at a loss of what the next steps are. I’m just wondering whether you would stop worrying about diabetes now a test has come back all clear, or whether there is other tests that need to be asked for. Or even if there is something I can monitor maybe at home to keep an eye on her. I’ve got serious mum guilt because with no real diagnosis and the doctors being stumped I cant help her but she is suffering poor girl.
I’d just love to hear other people’s opinions!
 
As a type 2 I'm not an expert on type 1, but do you know what the "diabetes" blood test was? It must be so frustrating not to know what's wrong with you child. Keep pushing your GP until you get answers, be a nuisance. The people that shout the loudest are usually the ones who get results
 
Sorry I am also Type 2 and not able to help but like @lessci above I would keep pushing your GP and perhaps go to another GP and ask for a 2nd opinion - don't be afraid to do that - I have done this in the past with my sons/myself and also we expect doctors to be professional and take their opinion as gospel but in my experience over the years they are not always right and yes you do need to push for answers - don't give up - you know yourself when your own child is unwell and something is not right rather than them just feeling a bit under the weather - go on make the call for another appointment - take care - keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
 
Ask the gp for the test results and whether a cpeptide test and anti gad is being done? As these take a few weeks for the results. These tests help determine type 1. They’d check for ketones if she had blood sugars.
I’d go along the lines of you know your child best, if you really feel not enough is being done ask for tests to be repeated. Good luck I really hope she gets well soon.
It could be all sorts, my daughter was ill for weeks with some sort virus years ago, kept being sick, stopped walking as zero energy etc.
They could look for infection and inflammation with blood test too. The increase thirst would go with the diahorreah? Plus that causes low energy etc.
They could maybe dip her urine again check for infection?
Hope you get some answers.
.
 
Obviously I am no doctor and not attempting a diagnosis, but as a small (and medium-sized) child I suffered from recurrent kidney infections and many of my symptoms, from what my mum said, were similar. Perhaps something to have checked?
 


Sammyjanee - Personally, I always as k for the actual test results (although now with online access, I can help myself to them), so that I can see exactly what has been done and where my results are in the "normal" ranges and so on, so that I can begin to form my own views.

One tactic I have found useful in the past is to ask the person I am consulting what they would do in my shoes. In your case, the query would be what they would do next, if their little girl/boy had just received your daughter's results.

It usually makes the Doc's eyebrows rise a bit (although my own GP got used to it), and maybe think again.

If they responded, along the lines of "our guidelines suggest, or the NICE pathway says......", I would remind him/her my question was what he or she would do, not what the system said.

On that basis, I've had some good conversations with my GP about an issue I had that took ages (and, in my case, a decent lump of money) to sort out.
 

It is so so frustrating but they didn’t give me any information on what kind of blood test they did. They just told me it was a test to check for diabetes. Thank you!
 

I don’t have online access but I am considering ringing the surgery and asking for a copy of the blood test results, so I can have a look an actual look at them..
thanks for the advice, in her next appointment I will ask what the doctor would do in our situation.
 

Sammyjaynee - if your GP really is at a loss (and I'm not suggesting for a moment he's not being candid with you), he can consult with specialists by email.

Your GP can seek advice from specialist doctors by email. In my area, responses usually come back in a day or two.

Whilst that isn't quite the same as your daughter being referred to someone, it is a lot faster - if there is no emergency/urgent need, and can mean consulting with more than a single specialism.

In my case, when my GP used this, the Endo, in my case, instructed a course of action, and suggested a referral to see him again; which she did.

Fingers crossed for you and your daughter.
 
I have a defunct thyroid and have never been entirely happy with the replacement unless I was at the top end of the normal range.
I used to run up mountains - and down again so perhaps my levels were always naturally high. If your doctor continues to be puzzled maybe suggest a tiny supplement to see if it might help? If there is an immediate alteration in the symptoms it might indicate a way to go and if there is no change then it eliminates a possibility.
Several of the symptoms you describe were typical of the years before I was diagnosed - and diagnosis was difficult as apparently thyroids crash and recover over and over again before final failure. I must have had half a dozen tests before one was done at just the right time to see a very deep low point.
 
I had not realised young children can get thyroid problems. Thanks for the information.
 
Just a thought, did they check iron levels?
 
I'd suggest getting a blood test for U&E (urea and electrolytes) which is routine for me during diabetes review tests, a full blood count and creatinine levels. Also, has the dr checked her for a urinary tract infection? I buy the test strips online from Amazon etc, as I'm prone to suffer these, and although some of your daughters symptoms don't fit with that, a lot of them do. Hope you can get some answers soon.
 
@Sammyjaynee, the symptoms may not be due to any of the things tested. I agree that coeliac is one possible candidate, but I’m not a doctor.
Ask that your daughter’s referred to a Consultant paediatrician for further investigation? Maybe don’t mention what you think might be wrong? From what you say, she’s clearly not well, poor little girl, and a hospital paediatric dept would have the means to explore what might be wrong.
I hope the cause is found soon and she gets well again.
 
Thank you for everyone’s replies. I’ve got the doctor to agree to refer to paediatrics now as there needs to be more done.
She has her urine dipped regularly to check for water infections and all clear, we’ve actually brought our own sticks to check just in case.
She had all of her vitamin and mineral levels checked during her blood test and all came back fine. I was worried as I have PA.
New symptoms now! Not only are we having wee wee accidents, but poopy accidents too. She’s also waking in the night very distressed and sweaty saying her belly hurts. Weeing through the night is getting worse and we’re having to change her sheet twice a night even with nappies on. She actually weed on me last night whilst I was changing her (oh the joys of motherhood!) but she has no memory of Us being in the room with her or changing her sheets. She woke up this morning very confused why she was in different PJs and a different bed sheet bless her.
I’ve started to make a diary of all of her odd symptoms so that when we do finally see a paediatrician I have them all written down ready.
 
Sorry that your daughter now has new symptoms, that must be so worrying for you. I hope that she can be seen by the Paediatric Consultant very soon, and you can get some of the much needed answers as to what's causing her to be unwell. Great that you're keeping a diary, that will be a big help I'm sure. Take care, and let us know how you get on.
 
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