Waiting for lab results

[MooseMom]

I just can't stand it.  I have been getting my labs done for 6 years now...every 2-3 months, go to Quest, talk to the same nice Polish lady, have blood drawn, leave behind a pee sample, then wait for a phone call from the neph's nurse to tell me that OMG such and such a number looks funky, or if there's no panicky phone call, then go to my appt and get the results a week later.  Tomorrow is lab day, and next Thursday is my appointment.  After all these years, I still get so horribly anxious.  I'll never get used to this feeling.  I never know what sort of results to expect.  I have no idea if my gfr has plummeted or my creatinine skyrocketed.  I try all sorts of things to ease my anxiety, but it is always there lurking in the background.

I don't expect anyone to have any answers; I know I am not the only one to feel this way.  I just wanted to post about it in the hopes of better dealing with it.

[boswife]

one thing i LOVE aabout Kiaser is that you can check that very day you get the test done, on your own results (some results take a bit longer)  I too am a "result" checker and worrier ..for hubby.  Now, he gets his done during dialysis, and only monthly, and it drives me nuts waiting for them to get the results back..  I think im the only one there though that gives a darn.  I anxiouslly wait for reportcards for him too.  Im sorry you go through it.. At least you know someone out here truly understands..

[RichardMEL]

oh MM I know that feeling SO well. I had it for 13 years between when I was diagnosed and when I finally started D. The quarterly (and then closer to D every month) labs and "wait" were insufferable at times. Wondering when they'd finally say "yep, you have to start now" and every time going in, anxious as hell, waiting for the doc to say "We'll leave it for another month" (the sigh of relief probably could be heard on your side of the world).... i totally am with you on that one.

Dare I say in this respect it was almost a real relief when the decision was made and that process wasn't happening anymore....

And just think, the same thing will happen for those of us who have/will have transplants, and the lab work associated with that (is it working ok? how is the creat? do I have to panic?) oh dear.... 

[Jean]

Waiting is probably the worst or one of the worst things we have to go thu. Every 3 months, I go thru the same routine you do, except, I really think I would fall over dead if my nephs nurse ever called me. Now I am waiting for my angiogram appt with possible heart surgery to go along with it. Damn, it is making me physically ill. Altho I do try not to worry, I know my poor little heart is only getting 50% of the blood it needs and it is letting me know now. Sorry did not mean to take over your post, but just wanted to let you know, you are not alone. We all hate the waiting process.

[MooseMom]

RM, believe me, I've thought about the fact that even if I do get a transplant, my life will forever be filled with waiting for lab results.  But this sitting around and waiting for my kidneys to finally fail...well, I don't have to tell you.  There is something uniquely tragic and horrible about that.  Knowing there is just nothing you can do about it.  Just waiting.  It makes me physically ill.  If I had a transplant, at least there would be some hope.

Jean, I know you are going though a really difficult time right now.  I think about you often and about how anxious you must be feeling.  Knowing that I am "not alone" in this feeling just makes me feel worse for you.  I don't like knowing that there is anyone out there who feels this way, know what I mean?  I so hope that things will work out for you.  Please keep us informed on your situation; let us know when you get your angiogram.  I am so sorry and so angry that you have to go through this, I really am.

[Stoday]

You can get your results online in the UK. See what you missed leaving the UK MM? 

log into an example report with user ID "testhd" and password "testhd"

https://www.renalpatientview.org/login.jsp

[Stoday]

Just click on the "results" tab. I just tried the login and it gets a hickup.

[MooseMom]

Stoday, actually, I can get my results online here, too; I signed up on the lab's website, but it requires my neph to give his authorization, and I haven't gotten around to asking him about it.  Everytime I see him, I'm so eager to get out that I don't bother asking him half the questions I have written down (I usually decide to just ask IHD members! ).  But then when I think about getting the results online, for some reason I balk.  I still have to wait for the results, but I agree that the length of my agony might be decreased.  But then I think about how for the first few days after I have blood drawn, I feel relief...I usually get it done on a Friday knowing that the nurse isn't gonna be calling me on the weekend with any bad news (ok, this has happened to me only 4 or five times in 6 years, but it's something you don't forget), so I get a peaceful weekend out of the deal.

I know...I'm my own worst enemy.  The week before a neph appt is always hard for me.  That's just the way it is.

Stoday, how does it work in the UK?  Everytime any renal patient gets labs done, all results go to a central databank?  Is there a same type thing for anyone getting any sort of labwork done?

[Stoday]

It's set up nationally by the NHS and renal units can choose to upload their results to it.

It's not universal. The NHS does not operate all NHS dialysis units; some are operated by an outside contractor for the NHS. They can choose to use the system too.

[monrein]