Hep C Discussion Forum

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Chatbox
Please log in to join the chat!
Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Doc won't give me lab results over the phone... is this normal?
Post Info TOPIC: Doc won't give me lab results over the phone... is this normal?
Omnamahshivaya


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 107
Date:
RE: Doc won't give me lab results over the phone... is this normal?
Permalink  
 

Thank you Isicat! :) Now let's get this virus out of me for good!



__________________

OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
Permalink  
 

Omnamahshivaya wrote:

I now Love my doctor. he is truly a great one. If anyone needs a great doctor in the Los Angeles area please don't hesitate to ask me for his info! He really cares about his patients.

 LOL  I knew he was a keeper.  :)  

He's clearly on top of things.  He meets with you in person regularly (rather than having an NP monitor you), he scanned you for the Q80K, and last but not least, he managed to get you on the S/O combo when you are an F0-F1.   You would be surprised at how many don't even stage liver fibrosis, which is pretty important, imo. 

I'm happy for you, Omna.



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
Omnamahshivaya


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 107
Date:
Permalink  
 

I now Love my doctor. he is truly a great one. If anyone needs a great doctor in the Los Angeles area please don't hesitate to ask me for his info! He really cares about his patients.



__________________

OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Huey


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 678
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hi,, With me I have my lab results on the web from the network I am in, Tri-Health it is called. The trick i found is if i get my lab test done at the Hospital's lab I have a co-pay for Hospital charges but if i make a app with the lab person at my Tri-health primary care Dr. They don't charge me a office visit for that and there is no charge. My insurance covers it . You might be able to find some kind of trick like this, The Dr. that are telling me to go to the lab at the Hospital don't even realize I can get this done at my primary with no cost to me. You have to ask. They won't tell you. Good luck./

__________________

  HCV Genotype 3a , now Psot-Tx was on S/riba. First VL was 5.8 mil on 7-5-13 then "und" at 3.8 weeks. 06/13/14 still und. off meds 3 days back on 7/29 Last pill 08/10/14 SVR+4

 
Omnamahshivaya


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 107
Date:
Permalink  
 

I'm trying to go somewhere where my insurance will cover most of the lab. Going directly to the lab may end up costing me a fortune because my doctor is not in my Provider's network. Insurance companies confuse the heck out of me! Their policies are like a labyrinth. 



__________________

OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Tig


Admin

Status: Offline
Posts: 9284
Date:
Permalink  
 

I had most of my labs done at Quest. I asked my doc to enroll in their online portal and his office wouldn't do it! Fortunately I didn't have a problem getting the results from him directly, and I was told that he didn't like the patient getting the results before he had the opportunity to view them first. These online portals are a nice benefit, providing you know what you're looking at when you see the results. We're fortunate here on the forum because we have access to information and knowledgeable people that many don't. 

Tig



__________________

Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

Hep C FAQ   Lab Ref. Ranges  HCV Resistance

Signature Line Set Up/Abbreviations   Payment Assistance

 
longld


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 134
Date:
Permalink  
 

Why don't you do what many of us do, use a large lab and access your lab reports over the internet?  I use LabCorp with their LabCorp beacon service and always get my labs in time to review them before taking time from the doctor.  On two occasions I have had lab results in my binder that the Doctor did not see yet.   She used them on the spot and was grateful.    I saw that I was undetected at 12 weeks before anyone at the doctors office even noticed.  Quest also has a similar service but I could never get it to work.....

cheers, lee



__________________

62 Yrs Old, CHC Geno 3, Cirrhosis, Kidney Transplant (13 yrs), On Sovaldi/Riba Treatment (24 week) since Feb 01,2014

Viral Load 7M on 1/8/2014,  UND at EOT 7/18/2014
jimbob


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 247
Date:
Permalink  
 

I agree with Isis, and you might consider yourself fortunate. After my meds were ordered, I didn't see or hear from my NP until the 8 week appmt, and I tried reaching her. I have to call them after every lab to get the results. I wish my med personnel would take a greater interest.


__________________

jimbob: 64 y/o, GT 1A, F1-F2, diagnosed 1996. Since 1970. SOT 3.5 mil VL on 3/10/14 with Sov/Rib/Peg for 12 weeks. Tx naive. UND @ week 4,8,12. EOT 6/2/14.
Omnamahshivaya


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 107
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thank you everyone for your valuable feedback. No need for anymore. I'm just grateful to be getting treatment but hope tomorrow I hear some good news. Yes, I think it's best to see the positive and assume he's being careful. Also, he's not (hopefully) my doctor forever - just for a few months to .... freedom.

Thank you all. This forum has been invaluable! I never talk much about my Hep C b/c I think people will judge or misinterpret for obvious reasons. I would  too if I knew nothing about it. But it's such a relief to be able to know I'm among people who have lived through the very same thing I have.

Thank you all. I'll post my results tomorrow. Please hold me in the light.

 

Jill



__________________

OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
Permalink  
 

P.S.  Also, keep in mind these drugs are still in the early/experimental stages, and this combo is off-label.  He is being careful, that is all.



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
Permalink  
 

I think it is good that he meets with his patients who are on treatment.  He probably wants to eyeball you to make sure you are doing ok, taking your meds properly, etc.   He probably also wants a face to face  for your benefit in case you have questions and concerns.   (He doesn't know you have a whole boat load of people here to talk to about tx.)

Don't worry, he isn't just doing it for the dough.  Doctors aren't short on patients these days.  

He likes to check in with patients on this tx either periodically or after lab work is done.  Nothing nefarious going on here.  

To answer your question, unfortunately, this isn't as "standard" as it should be.  Many docs have relegated patient monitoring of hepc tx to their nurses or nurse practitioners.  You are fortunate. 

 

 



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
optimistic


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 15
Date:
Permalink  
 

hi i am in my 10th week of solvadi and olysio my doctor has his assistant email my lab paperwork. i print it and go to quest diagnostics three days later the doctor calls me at my home and we discuss the results. i only have two more weeks of treatment all of my results have been undetectable. this is very unusual i know but this doctor is very much of a humanitarian and does not bilk my insurance . after my 12th week i will go to him personally to discuss further, and he wants to see me in three to do more very extensive blood work but we expect this THING to be eradicated. oh i forget to mention i live in south florida. good luck to all.



__________________
Enavigo3891


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 154
Date:
Permalink  
 

I think it might be a state to state thing or even doctor to doctor.  I am originally from NY... you get NOTHING over the phone, from any doctor. They charge you an office visit and you pay your copay to get lab results, that's just how it is. However here in NC - any doctor it seems will give results over the phone. While I was on treatment, I went to local lab for my 2 week blood draw - doc called 2 days later with the results and then just mailed me a hard copy even though I could pull them up online (LabCorp). I had to get 2 week labs rechecked at my PCP, he called me with the results also.  Then saw my liver doc in person for 4 week check up and had blood drawn, he called 2 days later again w/results.  Then I had to go to the Cancer Center to get my high WBC checked out - they get most of the results asap but even he called me a few days later with the rest. So... you may want to google your state laws, maybe they're not allowed in Cali or maybe it's just his procedure to make sure he's adhering to Hippa.  Good luck!



__________________

Born HepC + in 1983 ... diagnosed @ age 13 ... GT2 ... 12 wks of Sovaldi/Riba from 2/11/14 to 5/5/14  #ribazombie

1/30/14 - Starting VL 1,922,967 * 3/11/14 - UND @ 4 wks * 7/29/14 - SVR12 * 11/6/14 - SVR24 * May 2015 - SVR52 * MAY 2016 - STILL UND * FEB 2018 - STILL UND

 
Omnamahshivaya


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 107
Date:
Permalink  
 

I'm not about to get into any sort of conflict with my doctor (who seems to have a large ego when he says, "I've cured 100 patients...etc" - I just want to heal but I'm wondering if it's normal that he's making me come into his office to find out my lab results instead of letting me know over the phone? We're only at the 2 week marker and he wants me to come in now and then every time we do labs. I'm hoping it's not for his pocket-book because between lab tests and his office visits we're already getting in debt. I'm hoping he's truly insisting on seeing me for my welfare and best interest. His nurse or receptionist says he does this with all his patients on these drugs as he wants to make sure I'm okay and see in person. Just wondering if this is normal. Not sure why he can't just give me the results over the phone and via mail....? 

I'm hoping this is standard. I'm not in a clinical trial.

 

I'm taking only Solvaldi and Olysio.

 

Thanks everyone! I was dying to hear some news from him today, but alas, I have to wait to go in tomorrow. Uggggggggggggggggg

Oh, I started treatment on April 25th and took labs at 2 weeks.



__________________

OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Doc won't give me lab results over the phone... is this normal?
Legal Disclaimer:

THIS FORUM, IT'S OWNERS, ADMINISTRATORS, MODERATORS AND MEMBERS DO NOT AT ANY TIME GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE AND IN ALL CASES REFER ANYONE HERE TO SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ADVICE FROM THEIR DOCTOR.