Health Results - why don't people ask?

[RosesAndHellebores]

Having had a health scare over the last few months (all well) I have looked more at health boards, here and elsewhere.

Very often I read, my Dr said my Thyroid bloods were normal or my cholesterol was up but I don't know what my actual results are, looks like I'll be starting a statin soon.

May I ask why people don't ask for their exact results or sign up for the NHS app, or ask for a print out. Instead they go on forums and say "I've got all the symptoms of thyroid but my GP says the results are normal" and then add after questioning "oh no, I don't know what bloods were tested or the exact results". You could insert Vit D, Iron, Cholesterol, diabetes, etc, instead of thyroid.

Why don't people ask for the exact results, what each test was for, and the reference ranges so they can ask about anomaloes and borderline results. Then they could think about various treatment options how appropriate they are and possibly consider alternatives. They can also keep copies of results to track changes and trajectories so they have a baseline and can ask informed questions.

Having said that, it's a poor show if drs don't give the precise results voluntarily.

I know this thread is a bit old, but I saw it and it is so important. I always ask for my results. Everyone should always see their own results and keep copies of everything.

the results include the reference ranges used by the particular lab.

I once had 2 doctors sign off on my results as on, a radiologist and my doctor. I got a copy and could tell that they were bad, really really bad. I took the copy straight up to her office. I got sent for an additional test immediately which is what she should have done in the first place. I had cancer. Both doctors missed it.

trusting an overworked doctor to read your labs is foolish. Trusting that they will notice trends in your labs is absolutely idiotic.

Because if its normal, why would I need the numbers? They mean nothing to me.

I can't have the app. Am not allowed. To do with mental health.

I realise this is an old thread but was wondering whether you followed up on this? When will they schedule your next colonoscopy?

I'm surprised the polyp was not removed during the colonoscopy. How big was it? AFAIK, 2cm or bigger is considered malignant.

I would not let this go.

I do ask, because before I was told my B12 was fine but actually it was really low.

BUT I hate asking! It’s usually a very rushed call from the GP, and I am trying to take in what they are telling me, and if I ‘interrupt’ to ask the number it stops their flow and then I often need to ask clarifying questions on other things they are telling me. It’s really not that easy!

What I’m saying is some of us are quite reserved people with no natural loud interrupting confident assertive training in our childhoods.

Getting accurate results from my gp is a battle. My hospital consultant prints everything and sends it with my letter. Thank goodness, as it appears nobody at the surgery has time to read letters.

I always ask.

I'd assumed everyone did or what would be the point of the test? How would I compare results over time?

I had the opposite problem last week when i went for a blood test. Heard nothing for a week. Decided to go on the NHS app, results were all there, PA had asked them to be repeated in 2 weeks, one of my results looked high. No one bothered to actually get in touch with me.

I can't see gp blood results easily. And hospital ones aren't on my nhs record.

I’m not in the UK, but every single test result is always in the online portal in great detail! Usually before the doctor even has a chance to call, so it can be upsetting if you don’t understand some of the terminology.

Not all areas of the UK have an app where you can see all this. Where I live you can only see Covid vaccines that you’ve had. I’ve never been told results by the GP - it’s always the receptionist (unless there’s a problem), who isn’t able to say any more than ‘they’re fine’. I once asked for a copy of my notes but was told I’d have to make an appointment to discuss it - it’s a struggle to get an appointment for an actual medical condition here!

I've been astonished how difficult it is to get the actual results from GP, specialist nurses and consultants.
I've been trying to get NHS app to show results since October and have raised this several times with the NHS app portal.
I did eventually get the GP to agree to print off my results (most of them won't be included because I'm now under the university hospital and GP has only got access to local hospital results).
They won't post the results. They won't accept my authorisation for anyone else to get them. I'm post operation and in absolutely no fit state to fetch them.
The complete lack of information has been absolutely systemic throughout my recent health " care" experience
Good for you OP that you have been able to fight and advocate for yourself. Not everyone is able to do this .

Get the NHS app and all your results will be there for you

No, only if your surgery has allowed this to happen! The NHS app does not work the same for all people/surgeries/hospitals - it varies hugely. Mine shows me nothing but repeat prescriptions, because my surgery doesn't use it for anything else, for example - they have chosen not to have appointments, results, letters etc on it.

Why are doctors reluctant to give the results?

My friend is now reluctant to go to the gp after her gp got short and snippy with her. She had been advised ‘test results normal’ but asked for the results. She was advised you need to come to the surgery. She visited the surgery, waited 1 hour for the results to be printed. To find that her white cell count is low as is the red cell count plus a couple of others results. So not normal as it said something like ‘lower than range’.

She tried to make an appointment regarding the results but the GP called and suggested my friend is a time waster and that an appointment isn’t required. Her tone was snippy and she wasn’t helpful at all. If she felt worse she was advised to go to A and E at the hospital! This is her only health issue in the past 2 years. The surgery doesn’t have the App.

After leaving an abusive relationship the way she was spoken to was hard to deal with and she was very upset when she got off the phone, she is now hoping the health issue just resolves itself rather than face an obviously angry/upset doctor.

The NHS is shocking. I wouldn’t speak to a dog the way I was spoken to by a nurse in hospital. It is also luck whether you get treated with dignity.

I’m lucky to have patient access and do glance at my bloods now. I am tested annually for a genetic condition I have. This year went for the test and got a message saying bloods all fine.

Which they were. But they hadn’t run the test for the marker of my actual condition! So back I had to go