ClearSky

Have you noticed that doctors shares only if the results are positive or negative when you get a blood work done, but they do not share with you what exactly they tested you for? Such as if you're anemic, if you have an overactive or underactive thyroid or such things? You also don't have a copy of the results.

I called a doctor about it, and I asked to know what exactly I was tested on. The person went on to tell me the same thing I already knew what it was for and the results, but I told her that I wanted to know specifically what the tests were done for like if it's thyroid etc. She finally got the message, but I thought I was being clear.

Do you normally get told what you get tested for or do you just get told if the result is negative or positive?

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

jazzy

My doctor showed my blood works every time I went to see him. I get paper done if I ask for the copy from the office.I think they charged $$ for making copy of blood work.

__________________

ClearSky

They normally share with me the results over the phone. They never have me make another appointment. I requested copies, but I wasn't told that I would be charged. The thing that bugs me is that it never occurs to me that I could ask for details to make sure I am getting the right blood test done, you know?

VamPyroX

Not every doctor tells every patient everything.

Wouldn't hurt to ask.

__________________

Check out my city... CLICK HERE!
(If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

ClearSky

Yeah, that's what I have been doing because I want to see if I have had a particular test, but I never know if I have had them done. What if a specialist ask you if you've had this particular test and you say, 'no' but you may have?

I think the doctors should simply say in plain English for example, "you were tested on your thyroid, if you're anemic or your hormonal levels, cholesterol, sugar, etc and the results of each were normal." This will help a lot in knowing if one is tested appropriately. A patient can be a great help in their own health, too.

It just never occurred that I had a right to ask details. Also that the doctor's office I called repeats the same thing but didn't go into the details until I had to explain to tell me details. I worried that they were too lazy to explain, but she was nice to explain. Whew!

hohDougRN

that is vital thing to be mindful of if they are doing tests= it is ok to ask MD what tests he is doing, and if they're at all good they will tell you in simple terms, what they are doing and why......I want to know everything being done to me. (notice I say to me, not for me)

You can ask ahead of time about mailing copies right to you without charging you---that was pretty chump! then you can sign proper medical release consent and know how to interpret the test results via your doctor. Hope that helps OK

__________________
Doug

moonflower

i must have blood test every 3 weeks to keep my blood on target range 2 to 3 i am on blood thinner medication since i got blood clot last year they showed me when i am on the target range i finally on the between 2 and 3 whew

__________________


my little niece born 11/1/08

hohDougRN

Yes, 2.5 is optimal INR for anticoagulation after having a deep vein blood clot. You didn't get a blood clot in your lung did you?

__________________
Doug

Wokamuka

Does your medication include rat poison?

__________________

hohDougRN

Actually Coumadin is almost same ingrediant as Rat Poison that causes the coagulopathy and brain hemorrhage in rats. very good

__________________
Doug

webexplorer

Yeah, that's what I have for my heart condition. The lab must think that I am a rat. uh!

Five years ago, I read a science report about a new drug which is called "Extrana" which is on the market in Europe. I am not sure if that spell is correct. This new pill requires a patient to have a blood test every six months instead of every month.

Coumadin cost 5 dollars per pill and compare the Extrana cost 1 dollar. I haven't heard from FDA if the new drug is approved in U.S. That's all I know about it.

hohDougRN

There should be much cheaper price with Warfarin Sodium (coumadin) than 5$/pill. That is peculiar and I will have to read up on the cost of the generic availabilities and the costs.

__________________
Doug

moonflower

no thank god whew smile they caught it early

i am on warfarin

__________________


my little niece born 11/1/08

hohDougRN

I think the only oral therapy approved for US right now are Vitamin K antagonists (Coumadin). The problem with these is they have implications with more than 1 specifice clotting factors. There are a lot of diffferent clotting factors involved with blood coagulation. Also the half life of coumadin is 48-72hrs as those who take it know. This also causes routine monitoring of PT/INR level in blood to ensure therapeurtic level of medication in patients who face issues with blot clots, atrial fibrilation or S/P acute coronary syndromes.

Before this gets too boring for everybody.....there are some oral medications in clinical studies that I am aware of. They are drug classed as direct thrombin inhibitors and Xa inhibitors. Those are simply very specific clotting factors in the "clotting cascade" of blood, and the potential benefits of these meds are being very specific on the coagulation factor being inhibited which can help with more consistant therapeutic monitoring of the drug, less risk of adverse reactions etc.

There are quite a bit of medications that effect or inhibit 1 or more clotting factors, but other oral classes are used to treat other blood pathologies. If any other question regarding any anticoagulant feel free to PM or just do here. I like answering drug questions and am hopeful I can answer questions and be helpful.

__________________
Doug

webexplorer

I think I heard of this medicine, thrombin inhibitors, when I was in the hospital. Heparin (IV) is the 'deadly' dangerous medicine that I had before I went in for a surgery. This Heparin made my Coumadin messed up for about three weeks or two months - I don't remember now.

I think that a coumadin is a least okay to take, and it is better than no medicine. I did not know that the Coumadin last 48 hours. Wow.

Coumadin makes the blood thinner. Vitamin K makes the blood thicker.

webexplorer

I had two different blood test labs in two states. Both results are different.

One state that I used to live, and the lab reported that I had 2.5 INR for many years until I moved in other state. It was 1.7, and it almost never go up to 2.5 for two years. I suspect that these labs have different equipment. Don't you think?

hohDougRN

actually Vitamin K does not affect 'thickness' of blood at all, but I know what you meant....that is helps blood coagulate. When a patient who had OD'd on coumadin or is "overanticoagulated" and has to go for an urgent or emergent operation we administer Vitamin K either IV or intramucularly. Receiving vitamin K IV though has a slightly higher risk for an adverse even potentially anaphylactic reaction, (less than 1%).

Patient's will most often receive heparin in the hospital. The only exceptions would be to get a "fractionated" or lower molecular weight heparin. Patient would never receive heparin on outpatient. Noteworthy is that everyone will respond to heparin therapy differently....everything is very specificly weight-based with administration. There are many cases though patient's getting heparin (for a number of reasons) will get to high of level in which case we just appropriately adjust dosage of the heparin.

The blood test is a little bit different for measuring if the proper or therapeutic level is achieved with heparin. That test is call aPTT (activated Partial Thromboplastin time) Heparin has a have life (when administere intravenously of only 2-4 hours, so medical personal can correct a level that is not therapeutic more rapidly. If you are ever receive heparin in hospital, it is drug that dosage should always be double checked with staff member to ensure no dosage errors. The big reason is we have many different concentrations of heparin and if nurse obtained wrong concentration and gave IV it could be fatal. The "antidote" for a heparin overdose is a drug called Protamine Sulfate.

__________________
Doug

hohDougRN

yes that is correct. there will be minor differences with some lab equipment. Also small changes can occur with regards to elevation air pressure......not that significant though.

__________________
Doug