how long to wait for bloodtest results?

MKFaizi · Aug 26, 2005

I have worked in doctors' offices for years. I do try to call patients promptly with results. Occasionally, I screw up. Not very often but, when I do, I am honest about it.

Is this practice a large practice? If so, I know from experience that things get overlooked. I work in a small practice. In large practices, I have answered voice mail that is a month behind.

If you leave voice mail once without a return call, you should call back and ask to speak with Dr. Whoever's nurse. Some nurses do not call patients if the results are normal but, especially since you and your insurance company are paying for those results, I think you have the right to know them. Why order the tests if you are not going to be informed of them?

Even if it is a large practice, when you call, you should tell the person who answers the phone that you want your test results. You should say that you have waited two weeks and you have a need to know.

If you have no other choice, ask to speak to the office manager.

Your doctor was good to check your thyroid and BMP. You need the results.

That's your right.

You will, of course, attract more bees with honey than with vingegar. Be pleasant but pleasantly insisitant.

Purple Princess · Aug 26, 2005

I actually asked my mother to call monday and she too had to leave a message. so this is two messages that didn't get returned. It just concerns me because this was the first time I even met this new doctor for a sinus infection. he didn't have my records from the old place yet or anything. which I left there because they consistently fowled up things such as I came in for my appt, they told me I was suppose to have come in the day before, then asked me to come back at 430 to see a different doctor. I ended up waiting almost 3 weeks to finally see my doctor. then bloodwork was ordered the end of June, no one knows nothing, I get the papers early august. so that's why i left there. but yes each doctor and there's eight has their own assistant/receptionist. so i have been feeling crappy for over a year now, tired, getting sick alot, weight flux without effort, and i often feel depressed. it's like i have no energy for nothing. i go to school, work part time( right now i'm trying to give myself time to rest because of this problem of tiredness but it hasn't helped) and try to help my parents with things around the house and of course study alot.

I have worked in doctors' offices for years. I do try to call patients promptly with results. Occasionally, I screw up. Not very often but, when I do, I am honest about it.
Is this practice a large practice? If so, I know from experience that things get overlooked. I work in a small practice. In large practices, I have answered voice mail that is a month behind.
If you leave voice mail once without a return call, you should call back and ask to speak with Dr. Whoever's nurse. Some nurses do not call patients if the results are normal but, especially since you and your insurance company are paying for those results, I think you have the right to know them. Why order the tests if you are not going to be informed of them?
Even if it is a large practice, when you call, you should tell the person who answers the phone that you want your test results. You should say that you have waited two weeks and you have a need to know.
If you have no other choice, ask to speak to the office manager.
Your doctor was good to check your thyroid and BMP. You need the results.
That's your right.
You will, of course, attract more bees with honey than with vingegar. Be pleasant but pleasantly insisitant.

MKFaizi · Aug 26, 2005

Most old records are not that important.

It is usual for a doctor to check a BMP and thyroid on patients. Nothing unusual about that. Usual for a doctor to check a CBC.

You said that you have switched practices. Sounds like a good move, Tell the new doc about your plight. You can always sign a release for the new doctor to get the lab results. If it is all right with your insurance company, get the new doctor to repeat the tests. You can also file a complaint with your insurance company about the one practice that has not met your needs.

If your insurance will alllow it, you might make an appointment with the same doctor for the purpose of discussing your lab results. Sometimes, that is the best way. You have to pay your co-pay but you will get one on one communication.

Better, I think, than continuing to call them for results with no satisfaction. Plus, you will have his/her direct attention. If the results are all normal, you can ask him what you should do next.

At that visit, you could also tell him/her about your difficulty in getting your test results.

It may be worth the trip because he/she might have other recommendations.

MKFaizi · Aug 26, 2005

The cause of your fatigue could be something as simple as a B12 deficiency. You can take shots for that. You could benefit from an antidepressant. You could have mononucleosis.

If you can do it, go back to the same doctor and discuss your results. An eight doctor practice is fairly large. I would rather discuss my condition face to face with a practitioner than to depend on overworked receptionists and nurses.

Sad but true. Often a smaller practice is better.

I am sorry that you are not my patient. I would call you back ASAP.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2005

The doctor could easily fax the results of the blood work to the new physician with a signed consent for release of information from you. If nothing else you could stop by the old doctors office yourself and request copies right then. They have copy machines and it shouldnt cost you a thing except your time. You shouldnt even have to sign a release to get your own blood test results.

Leaving a message to ask for results is going to get you nowhere. Do it in person.

Purple Princess · Aug 26, 2005

I have tried on my own to exercise, set regular schedule for sleep, chamomile tea, various supplements etc. I've had a history of anemia related to my menstrual cycle but take pills now that limits bleeding to just spotting. that was over 6 months ago. I don't know how a b12 deficiency would be detected or the symptoms. I do have a history of depression but antidepressants really didn't help plus it aggravated my sleeping disorder. i can sleep anywhere from 12 to 16+ hours at a time. the old doctor wanted to order various tests including a sleep study. but I declined because I have very limited insurance. some made sense but it seemed he just about ordered everything on that form, some i felt were not necessary like a test for rheumatoid arthritis and an autoimmune test for scleroderma and other strange problems. I too think it's something simple. I also had a problem with my stomach which involved nausea and vomiting, gastritis and hyperacidity. so maybe I now have trouble absorping certain nutrients. most of my problem seemed to develop since college. the problem is now i can't even get through to anyone at the office, they say to hold the line but it just rings and rings, finally you get the option to either leave a message or call 911!! it's certainly not an emergency.

Katnip, RN · Aug 26, 2005

Maybe you should just present yourself to the office and tell them that you want the results and your old records now. You've waited over two weeks. That's ridiculous. Be polite, but firm.

Old records aren't that important for most things, but they're still good for your new doc to have regarding immunizations and things, especially if you don't know when you've had them all. It's your right to have them given to you or transferred to another doc in a timely manner.

MKFaizi · Aug 27, 2005

Then, take the advice of the other nurses and show up at the office and get your blood results.

A B12 deficiency can be determined from a CBC or a B12 blood test.

I do not think that it was frivolous of your doctor to do an autoimmune check. But Lupus and Scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis are difficult to diagnose. Many people with an elevated ANA are still not diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. In my estimation, not much has changed in rheumatology since the seventies.

Of course, my estimation is basically a layman's estimation. My first husband nearly died from an acute onslaught of Systemic Lupus before he was diagnosed in 1978. He ran high fevers and lost about fifty pounds. Got down to about one hundred twenty pounds at five foot ten from one hundred sixty pounds.

But my gut instinct tells me that it is doubtful that you have that but it was still a good idea to look at it.

I am sorry that you do not have good insurance. Unfortunately, it often takes a lot of time and a lot of testing to get at the bottom of a physical problem that is not obvious on the surface.

Have you had an ultrasound or CT?

If the practice is really that bad and that unresponsive, you do need to show up in person and ask nicely but firmly for copies of your blood tests.

Going there might be a pain but it is better than continuing to call and to get robot-ed around.

Get your blood test results and go to the other doctor.