BLOOD TEST RESULTS

[AlwaysConfused]

I reluctantly went to the docs last week after suffering from wrist pain for nearly two years. After answering questions about other dodgy joints etc my doctor sent me off for blood tests for arthritis, liver function and other blood tests that the names escape me. The hospital said the docs will get the results Monday afternoon. Am I required to phone up for the results or will the surgery call me? If so, how long should I wait to call? I don't like to create a fuss, so this is a little alien to me!

[redman41]

Just ring the Surgery up and ask if your Blood Test results have come through.
If there's a problem they will ask you to call in to see your Doctor in person

[Smowball]

My surgery always asks me to phone them and ask for the results.

[AlwaysConfused]

thanks redman41 and Smowball - been told to phone them back tomorrow. It's the silliest things that worry me (not the results but who phones who!)

[pdq1]

I would have thought any surgery worth its salt would contact you first especially if the results are really bad rather than waiting for you to ring them.

[jno]

my surgery invariably forgets to notify me of results, and hospitals often forget to notify the surgery. Do chase them up, they can't always be relied on to do things properly unless your doctor is extra attentive.

[Smowball]

I think if there was anything really important on the results then yes a surgery would call you, but generally you should call them.

[Eve]

Depends on the surgery and the results. My doctor has rung me with some before now for things like when a test came back suggestive of glandular fever.

I'd ring in any event to check. My surgery have someone who gives results out once the doctor has seen then and you have to select a specific option on the phone line which is only open certain times.

If something shows up though I imagine they will want to speak to you about what happens next. No blood test can conclusively diagnose arthritis - even if a rhumatoid factor is done and shows up then it isn't necessarily conclusive as it can show up in a number of conditions. Other tests can show up inflammation (eg ESR/CRP) but not where, why etc...

Let us know how you get on, there are quite a few of us arthritis suffers on here.