Re: lab tests - is this normal?

[Guest guest]

Well in the big picture of normal lab reference values those are NOT

normal...but here is the thing. You need to know where you started at

before meds before dx? How that has changed since starting meds? If

your sed rate was lets say 150....and now its dropped to 86 and you

have been on meds for lets say six months....then that might be were

its settled and a norm for you. Still an abnormal lab reference value

but still normal.

I will use myself. Before official Dx my sed rate ran over 100. After

dx and a few months of meds it was in the 70s and now after a few years

it now runs in the 30s. When you look at the lab tests over time..you

see the trend....so 30s is my norm. If a doc had no clue about my

history and looked at one test he would think hmmm...that is HIGH...

Toni

>

> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests were

> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP

was

> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little research,

> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said, well,

> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>

> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to worry

> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or known

> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want to

> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>

> Thoughts?

>

[Guest guest]

I know that the first Dr. (non-rheumy) brushed my symptoms off as a

virus...eventhough I had elevated numbers on one of the tests that

he took. I went to another Dr. who referred me to my Rheumatologist

who later diagnosed me with RA. Maybe you should try another doctor

and don't mention anything about disability until you talk about

your test results.

(I don't remember the test)

>

> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

were

> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP

was

> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

research,

> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

well,

> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>

> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

worry

> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

known

> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want

to

> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>

> Thoughts?

>

[Guest guest]

Your lab tests are far from normal. Elevated sed and CRP indicates

you have a lot of inflammation

going on, which could be causing damage. You have the right to copies

of your lab tests and if I were you I'd ask for copies of all of

them so that you have a record of them and can see for yourself what

is going on. I cannot understand

why your doctor would sign off on them as normal. I think that he

probably wants to see if he can find

medication that will bring down your inflammation and keep you

working, which is his ideal goal.

a

On Jan 2, 2006, at 9:02 AM, eemalawyer wrote:

> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests were

> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP was

> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little research,

> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said, well,

> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>

> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to worry

> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or known

> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want to

> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>

> Thoughts?

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Toni,

A sed rate of 0-20 is considered normal. Anything above 20 is

considered abnormal.

Medication may bring down a sed rate, but if it's still over 20 it

will still be abnormal in

spite of medication. My sed rates used to be over 100 but with Enbrel

it brought it

down to the 40-50 range but will still go up in the 80-90 range when

I flare.

Even though it brought my sed rate down to the 40-50 range, it is

still not considered normal.

I am still having damage to my joints in spite of Enbrel. That is why

my doctor added MTX.

Hopefully the addition of MTX will bring down my sed rate even

further. It's great that your

sed rate is now in the 30's. It means you still have a low level of

inflammation. I hope you continue

to do so well and it lowers even more.

a

On Jan 2, 2006, at 11:32 AM, Ms radar wrote:

> Well in the big picture of normal lab reference values those are NOT

> normal...but here is the thing. You need to know where you started at

> before meds before dx? How that has changed since starting meds? If

> your sed rate was lets say 150....and now its dropped to 86 and you

> have been on meds for lets say six months....then that might be were

> its settled and a norm for you. Still an abnormal lab reference value

> but still normal.

>

> I will use myself. Before official Dx my sed rate ran over 100.

> After

> dx and a few months of meds it was in the 70s and now after a few

> years

> it now runs in the 30s. When you look at the lab tests over time..you

> see the trend....so 30s is my norm. If a doc had no clue about my

> history and looked at one test he would think hmmm...that is HIGH...

>

> Toni

>

>

>

>

> >

> > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests were

> > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP

> was

> > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

> research,

> > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

> well,

> > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> >

> > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to worry

> > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or known

> > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I

> want to

> > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> >

> > Thoughts?

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is why you need to ask them to send you a copy of the lab results.

Then you can see for yourself if things are normal or not, as the

reference range will be on the report. Maybe he meant that they were

normal for someone with RA.

Sue

On Monday, January 2, 2006, at 09:02 AM, eemalawyer wrote:

> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests were

> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP was

> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little research,

> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said, well,

> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>

> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to worry

> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or known

> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want to

> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>

> Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

I haven't seen all my labs, but I think that's the highest my sed

rate has ever been. More importantly, this new doc has never seen

ANY of my labs, I know that the old doc hasn't sent my records over

yet. Makes me think that either 1) the doc didn't the labs

correctly read carefully or his staff didn't read his note

correctly, or 2) they're pretending to be very open about results

and all that, but they're actually misleading patients about the

severity of their illnesses.

--- In , " Ms radar " <aclavern33@a...>

wrote:

>

> Well in the big picture of normal lab reference values those are

NOT

> normal...but here is the thing. You need to know where you started

at

> before meds before dx? How that has changed since starting meds?

If

> your sed rate was lets say 150....and now its dropped to 86 and

you

> have been on meds for lets say six months....then that might be

were

> its settled and a norm for you. Still an abnormal lab reference

value

> but still normal.

>

> I will use myself. Before official Dx my sed rate ran over 100.

After

> dx and a few months of meds it was in the 70s and now after a few

years

> it now runs in the 30s. When you look at the lab tests over

time..you

> see the trend....so 30s is my norm. If a doc had no clue about my

> history and looked at one test he would think hmmm...that is

HIGH...

>

> Toni

>

>

>

> --- In , " eemalawyer " <eemalawyer@y...>

wrote:

> >

> > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

were

> > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate?

CRP

> was

> > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

research,

> > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

well,

> > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> >

> > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

worry

> > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

known

> > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are

all

> > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I

want to

> > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> >

> > Thoughts?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, sounds like it's time to get another rheumatologist.

It all depends on the lab's reference ranges, but I have never seen values

such as those (in units of mg/L and mm) considered to be normal.

>From: " eemalawyer " <eemalawyer@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: [ ] Re: lab tests - is this normal?

>Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 19:53:41 -0000

>

>I haven't seen all my labs, but I think that's the highest my sed

>rate has ever been. More importantly, this new doc has never seen

>ANY of my labs, I know that the old doc hasn't sent my records over

>yet. Makes me think that either 1) the doc didn't the labs

>correctly read carefully or his staff didn't read his note

>correctly, or 2) they're pretending to be very open about results

>and all that, but they're actually misleading patients about the

>severity of their illnesses.

>

>

>--- In , " Ms radar " <aclavern33@a...>

>wrote:

> >

> > Well in the big picture of normal lab reference values those are

>NOT

> > normal...but here is the thing. You need to know where you started

>at

> > before meds before dx? How that has changed since starting meds?

>If

> > your sed rate was lets say 150....and now its dropped to 86 and

>you

> > have been on meds for lets say six months....then that might be

>were

> > its settled and a norm for you. Still an abnormal lab reference

>value

> > but still normal.

> >

> > I will use myself. Before official Dx my sed rate ran over 100.

>After

> > dx and a few months of meds it was in the 70s and now after a few

>years

> > it now runs in the 30s. When you look at the lab tests over

>time..you

> > see the trend....so 30s is my norm. If a doc had no clue about my

> > history and looked at one test he would think hmmm...that is

>HIGH...

> >

> > Toni

> >

> >

> >

> > --- In , " eemalawyer " <eemalawyer@y...>

>wrote:

> > >

> > > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

>were

> > > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate?

>CRP

> > was

> > > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

>research,

> > > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

>well,

> > > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> > >

> > > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

>worry

> > > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

>known

> > > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are

>all

> > > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> > > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I

>want to

> > > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> > >

> > > Thoughts?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Get those lab reports! After all, you're paying for them and have a

right to have them.

Sue

On Monday, January 2, 2006, at 02:53 PM, eemalawyer wrote:

> I haven't seen all my labs, but I think that's the highest my sed

> rate has ever been. More importantly, this new doc has never seen

> ANY of my labs, I know that the old doc hasn't sent my records over

> yet. Makes me think that either 1) the doc didn't the labs

> correctly read carefully or his staff didn't read his note

> correctly, or 2) they're pretending to be very open about results

> and all that, but they're actually misleading patients about the

> severity of their illnesses.

[Guest guest]

>

> > I haven't seen all my labs, but I think that's the highest my sed

> > rate has ever been. More importantly, this new doc has never seen

> > ANY of my labs, I know that the old doc hasn't sent my records over

> > yet. Makes me think that either 1) the doc didn't the labs

> > correctly read carefully or his staff didn't read his note

> > correctly, or 2) they're pretending to be very open about results

> > and all that, but they're actually misleading patients about the

> > severity of their illnesses.

>

OK JUST DO NOT GET PARANOID AND READ THINGS INTO LAB RESULTS---GET THEM IN

YOUR HAND--THEY ARE YOURS--YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE OFFICE AND SIGN A RELEASE

SOMETIMES--THATS NO BIG DEAL---JUST BE PLEASANT AND REMEMBER FROM THE SEAT

BEHIND THE WINDOW AT THE OFFICE THEY ARE USED TO MISERABLE PEOPLE--A LITTLE

HONEY GOES A LONG WAY---ALSO SOME OF THE LAB RESULTS THAT YOU GET BACK MAY

BE IN THE ABNORMAL RANGE BUT ARE REALLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND NOT

REALLY CONSIDERED ABNORMAL UNLESS THEY ARE VERY HIGH(VERY )....LYNN8953

[Guest guest]

I've thought it humorous that a couple of doctors have told me that there is no

way I can be disabled due to my RA. One never said hello or touched me in any

way, and also asked no questions before making his judgement. The other was a

real uppity big surgeon and made the diagnosis that my lumbar stenosis was just

too tight clothes pinching a nerve in my back. Thank goodness there are others

to get real opinions from.

The rummy I just fired demands that the patient stop taking all meds that can

cause the 'out of normal' readings on blood tests, even if they are one point

high. There's no followup and the patient is on his/her own. Not good...

Dennis

[ ] Re: lab tests - is this normal?

I know that the first Dr. (non-rheumy) brushed my symptoms off as a

virus...eventhough I had elevated numbers on one of the tests that

he took. I went to another Dr. who referred me to my Rheumatologist

who later diagnosed me with RA. Maybe you should try another doctor

and don't mention anything about disability until you talk about

your test results.

(I don't remember the test)

>

> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

were

> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP

was

> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

research,

> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

well,

> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>

> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

worry

> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

known

> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want

to

> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>

> Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

a,

It looks like in the 30s is a low as it have ever gone. I know what

you mean about 0-20 being the lab referance value of normal range.

What i was trying to point out. That many of use with RA many never

achieve the lab reference value of normal. But we may achieve what

is normal for us with RA. I think the lowiest I have ever seen my

Sed rate is 27...and funny thing is I was feeling horrible. But then

again I have seen it close to 100 and my rheummy was freaking...and I

felt fine.

I hope MTX helps you..as it did nothing for me but make me horrible

ill.

I got a message of my voice mail today left on Friday that my doc

approved Humira. Now I need to call the speciality mail order

pharmacy for my insurance to make shipping arrangements as well as

find out how much this is going to cost...and that I can't afford it.

LOL

I am NOT looking forward to this! I did call when he said he wanted

to start humira to find out do I have to get a three months or can I

just get one month to try and see if it works and I can tolerate it.

They told me I can get one month at a time. When I was on Enbrel

after I stopped it I ended up throwing three months of it in the

trash.

Toni

> > >

> > > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

were

> > > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate?

CRP

> > was

> > > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

> > research,

> > > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just

said,

> > well,

> > > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> > >

> > > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

worry

> > > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

known

> > > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are

all

> > > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

> > > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I

> > want to

> > > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> > >

> > > Thoughts?

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I would demand a copy of all lab tests and xrays you have had related

to your RA. You doc may give you a hard time. Some docs even try to

charge you to get the records. Sometimes you can sweet talk the

nurse to get you your records. If the nurse ask..just let her know

that you are trying to cooralate how you feel with your lab

tests...plus you maintain your own file incase you need proof for

disibility.

If that does not work and you are seeing a rheummy let him know you

are taking a copy back to your PCP or OB/GYN doc or vice versa.

My old rheummy use to give me copies of all my labs for my records.

This new one does not and so far I have not asked for copies..which I

will do at my next appnt.

Toni

> > >

> > > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests

> were

> > > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate?

> CRP

> > was

> > > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

> research,

> > > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said,

> well,

> > > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> > >

> > > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to

> worry

> > > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or

> known

> > > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are

> all

> > > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so

that

> > > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I

> want to

> > > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> > >

> > > Thoughts?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I've had the same thing happen Toni. I've found out that I can't

correlate how I feel with

what my labs say I feel. I hope the Humira works for you. It's to bad

they can't give samples

to see if you can tolerate it before buying it.

a

On Jan 2, 2006, at 9:41 PM, Ms radar wrote:

> a,

> It looks like in the 30s is a low as it have ever gone. I know what

> you mean about 0-20 being the lab referance value of normal range.

>

> What i was trying to point out. That many of use with RA many never

> achieve the lab reference value of normal. But we may achieve what

> is normal for us with RA. I think the lowiest I have ever seen my

> Sed rate is 27...and funny thing is I was feeling horrible. But then

> again I have seen it close to 100 and my rheummy was freaking...and I

> felt fine.

>

> I hope MTX helps you..as it did nothing for me but make me horrible

> ill.

>

> I got a message of my voice mail today left on Friday that my doc

> approved Humira. Now I need to call the speciality mail order

> pharmacy for my insurance to make shipping arrangements as well as

> find out how much this is going to cost...and that I can't afford it.

> LOL

>

> I am NOT looking forward to this! I did call when he said he wanted

> to start humira to find out do I have to get a three months or can I

> just get one month to try and see if it works and I can tolerate it.

> They told me I can get one month at a time. When I was on Enbrel

> after I stopped it I ended up throwing three months of it in the

> trash.

>

> Toni

[Guest guest]

a,

Thanks..that is so true about humira...a sample or two would be

nice. If this is too expensive or not covered I may try and see if I

can get assistance from the drug company. At least it won't hurt as

bad I hope! LOL

Toni

>

> > a,

> > It looks like in the 30s is a low as it have ever gone. I know

what

> > you mean about 0-20 being the lab referance value of normal range.

> >

> > What i was trying to point out. That many of use with RA many

never

> > achieve the lab reference value of normal. But we may achieve

what

> > is normal for us with RA. I think the lowiest I have ever seen my

> > Sed rate is 27...and funny thing is I was feeling horrible. But

then

> > again I have seen it close to 100 and my rheummy was

freaking...and I

> > felt fine.

> >

> > I hope MTX helps you..as it did nothing for me but make me

horrible

> > ill.

> >

> > I got a message of my voice mail today left on Friday that my doc

> > approved Humira. Now I need to call the speciality mail order

> > pharmacy for my insurance to make shipping arrangements as well as

> > find out how much this is going to cost...and that I can't afford

it.

> > LOL

> >

> > I am NOT looking forward to this! I did call when he said he

wanted

> > to start humira to find out do I have to get a three months or

can I

> > just get one month to try and see if it works and I can tolerate

it.

> > They told me I can get one month at a time. When I was on Enbrel

> > after I stopped it I ended up throwing three months of it in the

> > trash.

> >

> > Toni

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Noreen the lurker here. I work in a lab, and CRP's are considered high over

2, and sed rates over 20, so you are not normal. But you may be the same or

lower than you were last time, which is possibly what the doctor meant.

Either way, you are definitely inflamed. Since I have access to lab tests, I

tend to do sedrates and CRP's whenever I feel achy, and I know when my CRP

was 5, I felt lousy. At 21, you must have been extremely swollen.

Noreen

Re: [ ] lab tests - is this normal?

> Your lab tests are far from normal. Elevated sed and CRP indicates

> you have a lot of inflammation

> going on, which could be causing damage. You have the right to copies

> of your lab tests and if I were you I'd ask for copies of all of

> them so that you have a record of them and can see for yourself what

> is going on. I cannot understand

> why your doctor would sign off on them as normal. I think that he

> probably wants to see if he can find

> medication that will bring down your inflammation and keep you

> working, which is his ideal goal.

>

> a

>

>

>

> On Jan 2, 2006, at 9:02 AM, eemalawyer wrote:

>

>> My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab tests were

>> all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed rate? CRP was

>> 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little research,

>> as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just said, well,

>> the doctor signed off on them as normal.

>>

>> Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing to worry

>> about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers or known

>> enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs are all

>> completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so that

>> patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that I want to

>> go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

>>

>> Thoughts?

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Dennis, something like this angers me. Some of these Drs don't have a bit of

sense.

My husband was in excruciating pain and disabled to the point he had to have

help

to go to the bathroom. I had to take medical leave from my job to help him. My

husband weighed 250 lbs once then dropped to about 145lbs. One Dr. (not a

Rheumatologist) told me he thought Tim (my husband) starved himself to death.

Apparently he never heard of atrophy of the muscles. Well his death certificate

said he died of RA.

Joyce from Texas

Re: [ ] Re: lab tests - is this normal?

I've thought it humorous that a couple of doctors have told me that there is

no way I can be disabled due to my RA. One never said hello or touched me in any

way, and also asked no questions before making his judgement. The other was a

real uppity big surgeon and made the diagnosis that my lumbar stenosis was just

too tight clothes pinching a nerve in my back. Thank goodness there are others

to get real opinions from.

The rummy I just fired demands that the patient stop taking all meds that can

cause the 'out of normal' readings on blood tests, even if they are one point

high. There's no followup and the patient is on his/her own. Not good...

Dennis

[Guest guest]

He responded to my email last night and said that my RF, ANA, etc

were all normal and that my CRP and sed rate were similar to what's

in my records, that's what he meant by normal. The problem is that

he doesn't HAVE my records, these are my first labs with him and I

know for a fact that the old doc hasn't sent the records yet.

He knows that I'm looking over his shoulder now, which is probably

the most important thing.

Regarding Humira, they have a program now where they'll pay up to

$300 a month for six months. It's technically for psoriatic

arthritis, but I asked them about it and they gave it to me anyway.

If your doc has the cute little flyers that they give to patients

with info about the drug, there's a card in there, call that

number. If you don't have insurance, there may be even more help

available.

> > > >

> > > > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab

tests

> were

> > > > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed

rate?

> CRP

> > > was

> > > > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a little

> > > research,

> > > > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just

> said,

> > > well,

> > > > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> > > >

> > > > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing

to

> worry

> > > > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers

or

> known

> > > > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs

are

> all

> > > > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so

that

> > > > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that

I

> > > want to

> > > > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> > > >

> > > > Thoughts?

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Whenever I have any lab done I ask the tech who draws my blood to send me a

copy of the results. They usually have me sign a " release of information "

form and I get my lab results in the mail about 2 days later.

They have never charged me for this service.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

I would demand a copy of those tests. I would also tell him after

you get them...is doc how can you tell that MY labs are in-line and

consistent for me when you have NO previous labs for me yet? My PCP

has not sent records yet. I would then ask him are you comparing me

to ALL your current patients...because I prefer to treated as an

individual.

The next thing is that I would remind him of your profession.

Sometimes that keeps docs on there toes when they know you are a

lawyer. Even if you do not do mal-practice law. The threat that you

have access to the resources may be enough to keep him on your toes.

Toni

> > > > >

> > > > > My new rheumy's office just called to tell me that my lab

> tests

> > were

> > > > > all normal. Great. I asked, what were the CRP and sed

> rate?

> > CRP

> > > > was

> > > > > 21, sed rate was 86. I'm not a doc, but I've done a

little

> > > > research,

> > > > > as we all have, and these are NOT normal. The nurse just

> > said,

> > > > well,

> > > > > the doctor signed off on them as normal.

> > > > >

> > > > > Am I crazy? Or is " normal " just his way of saying " nothing

> to

> > worry

> > > > > about " ? It upsets me because, had I not asked the numbers

> or

> > known

> > > > > enough to know what they mean, I would think that my labs

> are

> > all

> > > > > completely normal now, and they're not. Does he do this so

> that

> > > > > patients will think they're not really sick? He knows that

> I

> > > > want to

> > > > > go on disability and he thinks it's " premature. "

> > > > >

> > > > > Thoughts?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >