waiting for test results...

[Kuma]

I did a medical test the other day. (An illness I am at high risk for, so I need to test twice a year). Lab results came back today. The doc called me to give me the results, but I missed his call. By the time I could call back (15 minutes later), the doc's office was closed. Now, there's no way to get results until Monday. Of course, the results are what they are. But I will be worrying about it all weekend, not be able to sleep well, etc.

In theory, the CBT I did about a year ago would help me deal with this. But I am not dealing with it very well....

[Dahila]

When you have some bad results they do not give it over the phone, they make the app at docs office. You have nothing to worry about:)

[Kuma]

Thanks Dahila. I hope you are right! But to be honest, I have these test results sent to the office of my internal medicine doctor and I don't have any confidence that they really know what is an OK result and what is not. It is a bit of a strange situation, but the standard reference range for the particular test is very much outdated -- so there are results that are well within the reference range, but are in fact potentially highly problematic. A competent specialist would immediately understand that, but the internal medicine docs -- who cannot possibly have substantial expertise regarding every lab test and every illness -- often look at the results, see whether they are within the lab's reference range, and if they are then they declare that "all is well." It is one of those situations where -- for better or worse -- I know substantially more than the internal medicine docs do. That is why I don't tolerate "everything is fine" responses from the docs, but instead insist on seeing the lab results myself.

This "being forced to wait the weekend" situation is a good test of my "coping with anxiety" skills. In theory, I should be able to convince myself that (1) there's a good chance everything is OK, (2) even if everything is not OK, I know what to do about it -- I know who the leading experts are in the particular disease and, thankfully, I have the ability to seek the best treatment available, and (3) the results are what they are -- and they won't change over the weekend -- so worrying won't serve any purpose.

BUT this is much easier said that done. Intellectually, I know the foregoing is true. But emotionally, it is very hard. This illness is my biggest fear, and it really tests my "ability to cope" and to control my anxiety. Could be a long weekend....

[Dahila]

Well you kind of right, they highlight the result in the lab, for docs. I prefer the specialists too, but in Canada we are mostly on mercy of not always so good family doctors. Everything is going to be all right

[Kuma]

Well you kind of right, they highlight the result in the lab, for docs. I prefer the specialists too, but in Canada we are mostly on mercy of not always so good family doctors. Everything is going to be all right


Here in the US, you can get whatever medical care you can pay for. As a general matter, lower cost plans require primary care docs to act as gatekeepers, while higher cost plans allow greater access to specialists. (There are exceptions; that's just a generalization). I am fortunate to have good private insurance and ability to see any doctor I want. The key is to know when you need to see a specialist and when a primary care doc will do. Increasingly, I am finding that primary care docs just can't keep up with the enormous amount of medical information. If I spend 15-20 hours reading up on a particular medical topic, I am likely to know more about that topic than my primary care doc does. That is not because he is dumb -- he is not. It is just because there are thousands of topics and it is impossible to be an expert in all of them. So I try to be a smart customer when it comes to using my primary care doc -- getting what I can from them, but not assuming they have more knowledge than they do -- and for anything that matters, doing my own research or consulting a specialist.

[Dahila]

u right, combining the practice with the knowledge, is a huge task for docs. I actually know more my does when something is happening. It is the benefit of internet and the access to information. I do not like docs with their arrogance, especially the older ones. They do not want to understand that people are generally very educated now. We have Universal health care but sometimes i wonder if the system is right...