Complete Blood Test review: Will’s story

Blood tests are invaluable for knowing what’s going on under the hood. After experiencing low energy, loss of sex drive, weight gain, and dry skin for several months, Will, 46, a railway worker based in Merseyside, decided to order a Complete Blood Test.

We caught up with him about how it’s transformed his health. 

Why did you decide to take a blood test?

For the last 12 months, my energy levels had plummeted. I felt permanently tired, had dry skin, a reduced sex drive, and was sleeping for an hour or two when getting home from work. I’d also put on a lot of weight despite my diet not changing. 

I’m a typical bloke who doesn’t consider going to the doctor’s, so after some googling, I thought I may have an issue with my thyroid. I then began a search online for a private blood test to confirm my suspicions and after a lot of research, I settled on Numan. 

What interested you about the blood tests at Numan?

I was impressed by the 21 health indicators included in the test. Primarily the thyroid test but also the vitamin D levels as I work indoors so get very little sunlight. I was also curious about my cholesterol levels, liver function, and testosterone which I’d never tested before. It seemed to be a really good package to get a snapshot of my health.

What happened after you got your results?

My results showed that my thyroid was actually fine, but my testosterone levels were really low. This explained all of the symptoms I was experiencing. I was advised by Numan’s doctor to contact my own GP to discuss my results which I did immediately. My GP requested another testosterone blood test through the NHS to confirm the Numan result and it was correct.

My GP has now organised an appointment for me to see an endocrinologist who specialises in hormones. They expect I will be put on testosterone replacement therapy. Apparently, it’s very rare for GPs to routinely check for testosterone levels so without me having the private blood test result to show my GP then chances are it never would have been discovered. 

Have you made any diet changes since you took your first blood test? 

I started a diet as my cholesterol levels were slightly elevated. It gave me that push I needed to get more serious about my health. 

I do a 16/8 intermittent fasting plan now so my window for eating is between 11 am - 7 pm. I’ve also swapped chocolate for fruit. I hope my next blood test will show my cholesterol levels have reduced which will give me further enthusiasm to keep the diet going. 

What were your biggest concerns before getting your results?

I knew something wasn’t right with my health due to my reduced energy levels and I assumed it would be a thyroid issue. But I really had no idea what it could be so it was a bit worrying to wait on the results and what they might show. I knew I was doing the right thing by checking though and I actually looked forward to getting my results as it felt like I was being proactive about my health. 

What was your experience like with the blood test itself?

I’d never taken my own blood before and I thought it would be a struggle to fill the two little vials with enough blood from my fingertip. I followed the instructions given: I kept my hand in a bowl of hot water for 10 minutes to get the blood flow going, made sure I wiped away the first drop of blood to stop it from coagulating, and then it just kept dripping out. The whole process was done in 5 minutes.

What advice would you give to someone interested in an at-home blood test?

Just do it. I put off getting a private blood test for 12 months and felt terrible for all of that time. If I’d gone ahead 12 months ago my issues could have been resolved then. It’s such a convenient way to check on your health. It doesn’t involve taking time out of your schedule to visit a doctor and something might show up that could potentially save your life.