Doctor Inexperience

[bunkywoo]

Wanted to share this funny/irritating story about my dr who treated me for 6 months. Doctor returned my call yesterday (while I was at work) about my Heptimax and SGOT results. He said he had the SGOT results & asked me what the other test was. I told him Heptimax and I swear I had to repeat myself 3 times because he didn't know what I was talking about. When I first requested the Heptimax test 6 months ago he had never even heard of it so I faxed him some info from Quest's web-page and then he wrote my script. Being at work and not wanting to blurt out exactly what it was, I had to say HEP C under my breath. It just blew me away that this guy still didn't know what the Hepitmax test was, even though he should have had the previous test results in my chart and he sounded totally clueless as to what this test could possibly be for, even though HEP C was the only thing he ever treated me for.

I guess my point in posting this is to tell everyone that some dr's do not know all and if you can help educate them from information you gather from other sources, the better it is for you. My doc is a GI and I would have hoped he would stay current with research, meds and tests. My whole tx I had to monitor my blood counts and request Neupogen to stay on tx when by WBC got too low. And not once did I ever hesitate to keep calling for my test results if they didn't call me first. I figured this is my life and if they get pissed off at me for calling so much - so be it!

Test results weren't in anyways so the wait is still ongoing...

Feel Good --- Laurie

[bystander2002]

ps- pull out the old websters and look up the word FRAUD

[bystander2002]

ps- do that thing where you post as return... or scott.... or tnhepguy.... or beathepc... or poor woman....
(it looks like others agree with you when you post under other names) LOL
thanks for the comedy relief

[bystander2002]

No, you've turned what used to be a supportive board (for all types of people)into a narrow place-- littered with comments about _______ on every thread.

If one were to take your advice (about not reading your comments)-- I guess they'd have to skip this entire board. LOL

You yap even when you have nothing supportive to say (every thread)

[donAlfonso]

After lurking for weeks (flaming on this site is such a big turnoff), this is a topic I can't keep silent on. Here's a couple of my doozies.  When I asked my doc for the 2 sets of bloodwork done since beginning tx (Pegasys/Rib week 15/48) he was obviously annoyed and condescending.  When I looked at reports I found the first gave my name but described me as a 60 year-old female.  I am male, 55. And the SS# was not mine.  Since the second report appeared correct, I'm just ignoring the first one, as some of the results were senseless.

2 years ago I had prostate cancer.  The urologist who performed the biopsy grimly told me I had cancer in both prostate lobes, and reported to my GP that cancer had progressed too far for me to be a good candidate for surgery.  I got a copy of the bx report which clearly stated there was cancer in the right lobe only.  I had surgery and my PSA remains undetectable after 20 months.  Same urologist sent me for an MRI with a referral that gave reason as "bladder tumor".  He said the PA made a mistake, the PA said he had nothing to do with it.  Guess who I believed.

Friends in Italy tell me that there, all lab reports etc go directly to the patient, who is responsible for keeping them, and you bring your own file to the doctor.  Sounds good to me.

[valger]

Thank you guys so much for that information!  Very reassuring!  I tested negative on a qualitative and a quantatative, those were the ones that the specialist ordered, I just know that is what they said, I'm not sure of the exact test.  Then, I tested negative on the Heptimax.  I don't know if that means PCR or not.  And, to answer that other question, I don't think I have my iron or ferretin levels, they might be included in the blood tests that the specialist gave me, and I should be getting those next week (copies from over a year ago).  Yea, I thought the Heptimax page said something like that, it was like, there was not sufficient RNA to do a quan, and that there was none detected or something like that.  I know I probably should do another qual, but it makes me very nervous, since a mistaken (we think) blood test is what put me in this nightmare in the first place.  Anyway, you have been so much help, thanks so much!!  Val

[tina b]

There was an anticel in the news a few weeks ago, I think it is here,

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040319-111131-3362r.htm

about a lab at a hospital messing up several thousand  HIV and HCV tests and sending out wrong results. Labs do make errors. Sorry, you will have to copy and paste it.