@nsnipes11
Greetings! Don’t you love all these complicated lab reports that you get on the patient portal? One of the tricks that I have learned is to coordinate my appointments and labs so that I go in and get the lab work done a few days before my appointment with my hematologist/oncologist. That way I am sitting in the room with him as he is looking at them and he can explain them all to me. I also make it a practice not to look at the patient portal ahead of time so I get all my questions answered when I’m actually in the room with him. That works for me but it’s hard to control the impulse to look ahead of time.
I have learned enough in the last three years to cut to the chase and look at the elevations that would definitely be a red flag. I think most of us are reluctant to interpret somebody else’s lab work, however. I’m sure that there are people that are well trained or self educated enough to do that, but it’s really best that you get your interpretation from your actual physician.
You can call and make an appointment for the express purpose of going over your lab work and having a conversation about what it all means and concerns, if any, that the physician might have. This can be done on the phone, but I personally prefer to sit in the room with my doctor and have a conversation. It’s important that you advocate for yourself so that you get your questions answered. If your physician is reluctant to do that, maybe you have the wrong doctor.
Having said this, I’m glad that you elected to join the forum and I hope that you get back to us and let us know how you’re doing from time to time. This is a very compassionate and interesting group of people. It’s always good to have support from peers.
Best wishes for good health outcomes and a happy new year.
Patty
.