jumping through hoops to get blood test... venting

Hi all -
In the scheme of things, this is not a major issue, but I am feeling both angry and sorry for myself. I am primarily ticked at the people who work in a variety of "patient support" places, and maybe with the structures that make them do what they do......

My GI filled out a form for me to get a Prometheus test (enzyme) on Monday. And also he requested a bunch of other bloodwork. His office girl said I should call Prometh. to see what my insurance would cover and what the cost would be. So I did that (not covered, $220 for this test.)
Then I went to the local lab.
They did the regular bloodwork but said the needed a "kit" for the Prometheus.

I went home and called the Prometheus folks who said they would "overnight" me a kit.
Then I called the GI's office just to tell the nurse/receptionist what I had found out. "Oh, yes," she said; I can put a kit aside for you to come and pick up...." well, the office is 20 miles from me and I am pretty busy with work this week. So I told her I was getting one from Prometh.

It came yesterday morning and I took time this afternoon to go back to the lab. The woman there opened it and said, "Oh! You needed to freeze this cold pack for us to ship it in!"

I had planned to put in a full day at my other job tomorrow, which would mean I couldn't get back to the lab until Friday. Grr! I feel as if the world is making this difficult!

There. Just had to vent. Thanks for listening.

it does seem the office staff should have mentioned a kit was needed and that they had them and that you had to prep the kit.

i think part of issue is because it is an odd test only done at one lab and your lab has to send it off.

i hope it helps with your treatment after all the bother

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 4/14/2016 7:29:06 PM (GMT-6)

OK, so... the cold pack for the Prometheus is in my freezer.
This afternoon, just as I was settling in after work and thinking about heading to the lab again, the GI's office person called to say "all" my bloodwork from Monday had come back fine... except the TB test, which was indeterminate. SO he was sending orders for me to have that one redone.

I had a PPD for TB 2 1/2 years ago, when I first took a part-time hospital job, and it was negative. It is possible I have been exposed since then, but more likely the test was just unclear. Nonetheless, I decided to wait until tomorrow to get both blood tests at once.

Jumping through more hoops for this thing.....

My day turned unexpectedly busy.
I went to the lab right after lunch and asked the desk clerk if having blood drawn for the Prometheus, to put in with the cooler pack, would be an issue on Friday afternoon. Sure enough, the FedEx pickup had already been there.

So I will go back Monday to have the Prometh. and the TB re-test.
I glanced at some online articles and the one thing that stuck with me is that if the c-react. protein is elevated there is a higher chance of a false positive TB test,

I will try not not think about all this for the weekend!

Ugh taxes. Yeah due to HR putting too many deductions on my W4, I ended up writing uncle sam a rather large check for mine, ouch, but narrowly avoided an underpayment fee (you know like when you don't have enough money in the bank, so they charge you a fee, same thing). Fixed the W4 for this year, so hopefully no repeats...