Can I vent a little?

Maybe most of you will understand.
I gave blood two weeks ago today and I still do not know my PSA. I want to the onco one week after I gave blood and learned that they simply forgot to order the PSA test. I can see all the other blood readings but not PSA. The onc just said that I had to give blood again, and I could log on to the patient portal in a few days to get the PSA. He said he would call if there was a big jump. This was last Tuesday, 6 days ago, and no results yet. The waiting is not fun, and having to extend the waiting period sucks. My PSA test is every 4 weeks.

And something similar happened at my Primary Care doctor office with my cholesterol. I went in a week ahead of time, they took the blood sample, then I went back the next week and sat in an exam room for over 30 minutes before the nurse came in and told me that they did not have the results back yet. I finally got that a few days later and had to step up my Crestor from 20 to 40 mg daily.

Rant over. Thanks for listening.

I say we do not have to look far to find someone worse off. I have a friend in Mississippi who was complaining about back pain and weakness. Now, about 3-4 weeks later, she is in the hospital and can barely move. We learned three days ago that she has lung cancer and cancer on the spine. They do a biopsy today.

I am so thankful for the treatments we have with PCa to cure or manage the disease.

That must be incredibly frustrating. Sadly, it shows you are just a number - a $ sign. I'll bet when you went back the second time you/your insurance were charged for a second visit. Ugh!
Now you know you must check that the PSA box is selected BEFORE you leave. They will think you are being a PIA but tell them they missed it last time and you had to return and be stuck a second time and you do not enjoy the process. Repeat and remind them at every visit.
Tell the Doc that you'd like to get the results sent to GP. If that office is web-enabled you will get them as soon as your Onc gets them. That is what I do now. I used to get the results sent directly to my home but there is no need for that now.
You have enough other stuff going on in your life. Incompetence and indifference should not be a part of it.
Good luck,
Jeff

Par for the course. Its not just labs its permeated every facet of our lives. I discovered long ago when I was in a traffic jam, that the delay might be keeping me from a worst problem down the road. I have over the years incorporated that mentality into as many nooks and crannies of life I can. It ain't easy but eventually becomes a good habit and can eliminate BP pills for the daily task of fetching the various pills out of those god awful bottles without spilling one or two and bending over to get them that early in the morning. I do empathize with your struggle

The waiting is annoying to be sure. I recently had blood drawn for the usual battery of tests and I haven't heard anything yet. And it's been hours...

Thanks everyone!  Logo's comment about being stuck in a traffic jam sounds familiar.  When that happens to us, my wife says that the delay could be saving our lives.  Same logic. It is an inconvenience but maybe there is a reason or something on the positive side. 

Still no PSA results.

Well, my PSA is 4.86 which is up from 4.22 five weeks earlier.  I hope this is a temporary rise and the Zytiga can keep working.

60Michael- I started Zytiga in August and it has kept my PSA "at bay".  I have to take it on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning ( and it is 4 sizable pills), then nothing to eat or drink for 1 hour.  And oh, how I  want that coffee early in the morning.   Along with that is 5 mg of prednisone twice daily with food.  SE for me was unexpected constipation big time.   Fruit and more fruit has taken care of that problem.

And there are groups and programs out there to help with the cost of this very expensive med, if you don't already know.