Been there....Yikes. It's very frustrating to have blood drawn or tests done and not get any information back. One time I had an exercise stress test and, after six weeks, the results were still not available to me. I complained, gave the doc 2 more weeks, told them that, if I didn't get the results in 2 weeks I was going to file a complaint to the hospital. Two weeks later I had heard nothing, so I filed a complaint. They finally got the message!
My doctors also don't call to give the results of PT/INR tests unless there is an indication of the need to adjust blood thinners. They tell me that they are simply too busy to be troubled with this kind of call when the levels are within acceptable ranges.
You don't mention how long you've been on the blood thinners. In my case, when I first started them I was taking blood tests weekly. Then it became, bi-weekly, and eventually I was stable and to the point that I was only taking them every two months. I'm wondering if it's possible that eventually you will be able to stretch out the time in between blood tests.
I think you have a couple of options. One would be to talk to your current doctor, be honest, explain your frustration and concern. In most places in the States your test results belong to you and you have the right to have the information. Sometimes you have to scream and yell....or be assertive....or demand that your rights be taken care of. Maybe you could take a self addressed, stamped envelope to your doctor each time you have the tests done and ask them to send you the results. Or maybe it is a matter of contacting the laboratory which does the actual testing to request that you be notified each time you have a PT/INR.
Another thing would be to try to find a new doctor. That's a tough process. There may be a physician referral service at your local hospital. Perhaps you could ask family and friends for recommendations. Maybe it is a matter of making an appointment at a number of doctor's offices and going to interview them and find out how they deal with their patients and how they respond to your needs and concerns.
In the meantime, of course the main thing about blood thinners is to be vigilant on your own to watch for symptoms of your blood being too thin. This involves checking your urine for blood. You also need to watch your stools to see if there are any dark, tarry looking blood deposits. The other sing is easy bruising, or extremely excessive bleeding if you cut yourself.
I have also, on occasion, purchased a home fecal occult test kit at my local pharmacy. It was easy to use and the pharmacist told me that it was considered fairly accurate as a way to test if there was blood in the stool.
Good luck!
Bill
Posted on Mar 1, 2002, 9:46 PM from IP address 63.29.95.237