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PSA anxiety first time in a while

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Posted 7/19/2012 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
So, I purposely waited 2 weeks after my last PSA test to convince myself that I am not so anxious as to pester my doc's office for the result. cool

I finally call in and ask for the result. I have signed disclosures that allow my wife, etc. to be provided with the info, should be no issues with a nurse reporting the results to me (they always do). The nurse says, "I have to have the doc give you these results. She'll call you in the next day". Unusual, I think to myself. Well, there you did it, gave me PSA anxiety. I started bracing myself for bad news. Trying to think about anything but this, I spent the next day mulling over how my life will be changing. mad

I finally get a call the next day from another nurse. My PSA is the lowest it has ever been, 0.02. Whew!

Why do they DO that? shocked
Jeff
Posted 7/19/2012 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Because they can.

The following has been edited in:
It was probably an error on the part of who you were talking to. This person was probably not that well trained in his/her job and didn't feel secure in giving you the answer.

The "because they can" is kinda of a saying among repair techs when talking about how stupid something is designed by an engineer. I swear some of these engineering groups give out bonuses for Rube Goldberg designed crap. In reality cars and such are over designed by the engineers to make the engineering department more important and to get their department more funding. On one four cylinder Ford engine they added cam phasing on the exhaust cam to eliminate the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve(EGR). To replace the cam phasing components it would cost the consumer about three times the cost of replacing the EGR valve. I don't mean to pick on Ford. They all do it.

Post Edited (Desertrat1) : 7/18/2012 9:23:32 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/19/2012 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
To mess with your head, Jeff? Just kidding, congratulations on some great results. My next test is next Wednesday, and haven't given it a serious thought, and that's with a post-SRT reading in April of 37 and rising fast. I settled the whole business of PSA anxiety a long time ago. It will be whatever it will be, its as simple as that to me. Good luck ahead to you,

David
Posted 7/19/2012 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Desertrat - I'm an engineer, but I'm sure you meant present company excluded ;) Fortunately, I don't design cars.

Yep, I'm sure she didn't mean to mess with my head, she just accomplished it artfully.
Posted 7/19/2012 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
My medical plan includes a secure web site were I can go and email my doctor, look up lab test results, check instructions from past appointments, make appointments, and all kinds of good stuff.

Except they won't post PSA results on my account. The doctor has to call. I'd like to know WHY?
Posted 7/19/2012 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Jeff - Congrats - Awesome news!!!
I'm sure there was no malice - stuff just happens sometimes.
Sure adds fuel to the anxiety though!
Glad it was a zero – hope you have a lifetime of them!!! :-)
Now go CELEBRATE :-) :-) :-)

(btw, I have an online account with my hospital and can check my PSA results online. Still get a call, but the last couple of times I already knew the results before I answered the phone.)
>
Posted 7/19/2012 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
Im_Patient, congrats and yeah I don't know what goes through their heads at the doc's office.
Posted 7/19/2012 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
All I had to do was to fill our a simple form to let the lab know that I wanted to know the results of the test along with my Dr's. I get blood work early in the morning before work and drop by the hospital after and pick up the results. When/if the Doctor calls I have all the results at hand to discuss as needed.

Now, I'm_patient go celebrate those great numbers!!!  Also, try to put the cancer crap out of your mind and don't let them mess with ya.

bertb  nono   

Posted 7/19/2012 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Speaking of PSA anxiety and "messing with your mind"... I recently moved to a new town and had to find a different urologist to follow my situation. Last May, I had my first appointment and PSA with the new doc. When not hearing from them with the results after a week, I finally called. The lady on the phone told me they "don't call unless something is wrong" (I forgot to ask about protocol when I had my appointment).

I then asked her to look-up my PSA result. She found it and said, "It looks good." I then asked her specifically for the number and her response was "0.1." I told her that was NOT "good" in my case and asked if there wasn't a "<" sign before the 0.1. She then paused and said, "Yes, your PSA is negative 0.1." I realized she had no idea what she was telling me so I told her I was coming right over to get a copy of the results. The paper actually said, "<0.1."

I would assume those working in a urology office would understand these situations for cancer patients; apparently I am wrong. From now on, I will ask when having the blood drawn when I can come by to get the results on paper!!
Posted 7/20/2012 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the good wishes, guys
Given that several of you can get your results online, I am going to look into that. I'll be surprised if they share that, though. Even though I am getting the more sensitive tests, I only get "<0.1" from the nurses, and have to specifically ask for the actual number.

Kark, I share your pain. I guess you needed to describe what a "less than sign" actually looks like.
Jeff
Posted 7/22/2012 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on the good news! On my last test, the Uro nurse did the same thing to me. The next day when I got the news,it wasn't the best of news.
Congrats again!!!
Posted 7/23/2012 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I think this disclosure stuff comes under the Hippa laws, my onco doc's wife is the office manager and she cannot tell me my psa numbers, until she conffers with the doc first, then she can disclose such. That's the kind of story I have been given.
Posted 7/23/2012 4:00 PM (GMT 0)

zufus said...
I think this disclosure stuff comes under the Hippa laws, my onco doc's wife is the office manager and she cannot tell me my psa numbers, until she conffers with the doc first, then she can disclose such. That's the kind of story I have been given.

I believe that is pretty standard procedure. I never get the results of a PSA test until the nurse assistant confers with and gets permission from the oncologist.

San Carlos
Posted 7/23/2012 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Im_Patient,

I am on staff at our local hospital and to my knowledge HIPA only requires you to verify your identity. That being said, the lab will only report to the doctor's office unless they have orders stating otherwise. Many of the Dr.'s offices don't like to give out the results because they want you to come in for your appointment. That happened to me once. I told my Dr. that if I ever requested lab results from them again and they refused, I would cancel my appointment and find a new Dr. Never had a problem after that. And I really like my Dr.

Ken
Posted 7/23/2012 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I get results directly from the lab (Bostwick). I had blood drawn last Thursday and I self-address an envelope that the doc sends to the lab with the blood sample. A week later Bostwick sends me a nifty report including a graph of all the tests they have done. Thus I never talk to the nurse or anyone at the Urologists office regarding the results. If it ever goes up, my doc knows I will call him before he can call me.

Also had a six month shot of Lupron...butt is still sore!

PSA anxiety...I have had it at times. For whatever reason, absolutely none with this one. Go figure.
Posted 7/24/2012 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Next time the doc writes the order for the Psa, have him include the instructions to fax the results to his office as well as to you, if you have access to a fax machine. I did this a couple of months ago and they faxed the results to me at 4:00 am the next day. I guess the lab folks work late. This stopped all the nonsense of me having to call the office and go through the menu, the waiting while they looked it up, checking with the doc to authorize release of the info.,etc.

Give it a shot,
Bob
Posted 7/24/2012 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kark60,

Are you located in New Orleans too? Sounds like the same kind of health care personnel I have to deal with for my PSA results every 3 months.

Steve

NolaVette

Posted 7/24/2012 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
 My Uro does the psa test in house... he draws the blood and I wait 20 minutes then he comes in with the results.
Posted 7/24/2012 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
Good news. I have my blood drawn before I see the doctor. By the time he comes into the room, he has the PSA results. I did go to the gp a few weeks ago and received a PSA. He machine started reading at a higher level. That freaked me out. Wouldnt think the patient would like to know they changed the machine!
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