Why am I read the results of my blood test when I can read it myself?

Hi there, I don't know if this helps, but I have worked with my doctor to do labs only appointments during the year with the understanding that if I have a concern I would set up an appointment. Then once a year, I have an in person visit with the doctor. I am trying to manage my high platelet counts naturally.

I'm only a few months into this journey so I still don't know what most of the numbers mean. I read them in case I ever DO understand them, but I am working to get to a mental place where I know I can't change the results of a test, so there's no urgency to hear from the doctor immediately.

I've decided I'm never reading the PET scan (4 so far) results again since every single one makes me FREAK OUT and I can't sleep for the few days waiting for the doctor's response. Even my second and third ones that showed my treatment was working excellently beyond all expectations freaked me out because I simply didn't know what I was looking at. I learned my lesson at the last one, where I thought it was all good, and the doctors were like, well, these pictures indicate very miniscule disease progression so we're delaying your ASCT and starting chemo round 2. I was pretty depressed! And I realized I would be just as depressed had I waited and not read the thing.

I am a massive worrier, always have been, and I will still continue to worry about my family members, but I am hopeful that this small measure will help me a little bit with my own case. We'll see if my resolve not to read PET scans pans out!

Everyone's experience is so different but I really value your question and these replies - they make me feel less isolated in my own trauma and drama.

I get copies of all my test results and X-rays because telling me something is "fine", doesn't do it for me. I have had several things come up that were not addressed by the doctor only to find out later that it should have been. Also, it's good to show the doctors that you actually look up your results. Most patients don't. They just go by the doctors word. You are your own advocate!

@yesibeleive
You are so right about advocating for yourself. I don’t read my blood analysis ahead of time but I do print it out and take it to my appointment with me. We go over it together.
If you insist on getting your blood draw a week before your appointment you can do that. Like @meg1685, my anxiety gets the best of me if I read the reports ahead of time, even though three years post diagnosis, I have a good layperson’s grasp of what they mean. My doctor knows I’m going to do this and he happily instructs me as we go through the pages and we talk about research and his thinking about my options.
Thanks for your post.

I have surprised 2 doctors, my PCP and my oncologist, by bringing charts over time of selective results. For my WBC and lymphocytes, trend lines are included. My PCP saw the chart and even had that one scanned into my file. My oncologist did not go that far but she did look, not just glance, at it.

@normahorn I have lab draws from three different sources. My oncology center every month. And for my dialysis, it is either the dialysis clinic or at Quest labs. I maintain a handwritten spreadsheet over the values, noting date and where labs were pulled. It is clear to see the trends this way. Yes, it takes work, but being able to see things, compare, and discuss is important to me and the rest of my team! They do not share records management systems.

@pmm Patty, anything we can do to advocate for ourselves and garner the best care for our particular situation, is a positive. I have found that my medical team values the patient insight.
Ginger

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