Question about test results

HI Dee,

well,  I"ll try to answer a few of your questions....I am a nurse and work in a clinic,  so I have an idea how results/records/etc works.    If you want copies of your test results,  you are entitled to have copies of them...either ask the doctor at your appointment,  or call in and ask for copies of your last results.  Usually they can just give you copies of one or two tests without a problem...but if you want a whole bunch,  like the last years worth or all test results,  most places will charge you for your records.    Also,  for more than a few results,  they may ask you to sign a records release as well.   

When you change GI docs,  the new doctor does not automatically get your records from your past doctor.  You need to sign a records release form.   You can do it either at your new doctor or at your old doctor,  but you need to sign for them.  Then they will get them to the new doctor either by mail or fax.  Depends on there policies.

In regards to infection,  yes,  usually its determined by an elevated white count,  but it is possible for it to be masked.  For example,  if your on steroids ,  it can often mask the infection and show a normal white count when in fact you do have an infection. 

In terms of Crohns,  I"m not very knowledgeable about the theories that are being said to cause it...as a matter of fact,  I"m trying to rack my brain as to what MAP is?       lol.  But i hope I was a help in other questions......

Thanks ChristieAnn67 for replying mighty nice of you. I think i will ask for my test results but i cant believe i might have to pay for results that came out of my body i think hospitals are not there to help us anymore and just to drain our pockets. I just want all my tests to see if they are in fact normal. Because i find it very strange that up to now including my biopsies came back not revealing anything. Either the hospital im currently being treat at are a bunch of retards sorry for the word but im starting to think they are just taking me on for a ride.

Thanks for answering about the white blood cell. My white blood cell came back normal. But in an auto-immune disease would it come back elevated?? or would it stay the same??

As for MAP its actually a bacteria that is being found in crohns patients. Now im not saying its being found in all crohns patients but from what im reading in some of them and some of them are being treating with anti-biotics.

When you sign a release form that does mean your file is officially closed or can you still keep on seeing that GI ??

Well guys have a nice weekend

The law varies from state to state, but in most, the information in your record belongs to you and you have a right to it, but the actual physical record belongs to the provider. The reason they charge is that it costs them in supplies and staff salaries to make the copies and get them to you. You record may not take much time, but when 100 people want their records....

I periodically show up at my doctor's office with a signed letter asking for copies of specific records. I try to keep my important stuff on file here on home, in case I move or need to change doctors. When I changed GI's, I took my records to the first visit with me, they made a copy for their records, and we were ready go.

Because I ask for just the important stuff (lab results, surgery notes, procedure notes) every once in a while, it usually isn't a lot of paper and they don't charge me. My ortho and my GI always give me copies of labs, studies and prodecures without my even asking.