My 3 men contd

FANTASTIC NEWS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.  It's amazing how one small bundle can bring so many smiles and so much love.

BFN

Julie X

Congratulations to you both grandma and grandad
Grandkids are so good I wish we had had them first :-)

It seems there has been some sort of policy change at our GP practice. John rang for his latest PSA result on Friday and the receptionist refused to provide it - said that it needed to be reviewed by the GP first. He must have been a bit worried about this but didn't mention it until last night. He phoned again today and was told the same thing - he explained that he has this test every three months and needs the number so that he can inform his onco and urologist but the receptionist said that it had been referred to the hospital for advice. You can imagine the scene - a now anxious husband got cross - they could only offer that a GP would phone him back.

GP phoned back this evening - "result is fine"
John - "what is the actual number?"
GP - "It's fine - nice and low"
John "what is the number?"
GP says 0.09

Now, the GP may not have known that John has no prostate. She may have no idea that he has had prostate cancer. He says that she and the receptionist both spoke to him like he was a child; my instinct is that they may have assumed - because it was prostate-related - that he was some doddery old man. I have suggested that he e-mails the practice tomorrow to point out (politely) that he has a brain and to ask whether thye have changed their policy on giving results over the phone.

I am away but John sounded stressed on the phone - maybe too many hours thinking about it and getting cross which is unusual as he is normally the most calm, placid guy you could ever meet. I said that 0.09 is still undetectable and nothing to worry about so hopefully he is now reassured until we see the onco. Privately, I am a little disappointed for him - was really hoping that the last rise to 0.08 was simply to do with cycling in France. In fact, as I type this I am thinking that he may have had a big bike ride the day before the most recent test - I must phone him back and ask.

Shoot as in not what you wanted to hear, or shoot what is happening with John's psa or Shoot the receptionist either way I wouldn't want to be in your way when you get off that train. http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

BFN

Julie X

Doh - I don't press any numbers when I get those kind of messages ... if you don't select anything, a real person has to come on the phone to talk to you which I find much more efficient

Hi Lyn
Sorry the PSA wasn't perfect. As for the practice this has happened for me too !! If I have the test done at the surgery itself , then I can get the result no problem over the phone or printed. If I use the surgeons printed cards then the result stays in the hospitals system and my doctor has to access said system and print it off !! It then goes in an envelope and I have to pick it up. WTF It's like an espionage thriller.
As for your one withering look shrivelling any living thing , I can see the pressure John must have been under those 1st years 😀😀😀😀
Chris

I don't think the receptionists understand trully how stressful it is for our lovely men and knock on effect, us wives!! Sorry to hear of the unnecessary added stress for you both.

Maybe this is calling for a polite letter to the practice manager to put an effective protocol together to relay blood results to patents better. And ensure all reception staff know about it.

Hope you've had a nice break away

Lesley x

I can't imagine John rattled, so it must have really got to him. I am sure all the Men have anxiety enough around test time without red tape and seemingly unnecessary beurocracy.

I had to go to my GP surgery today and whilst I was waiting they had quite a lot of information on the screen about the cutbacks in funding to the GP surgery. Our blood test result line can now only read to you word verbatim what the GP has commented on. If he/she has said "All within margins all OK" that is all you get. If there is anything of concern then the GP will ring. They are not allowed to give actual figures.

Now I get a bit mad at that, but I suspect this is all down to the litigious society we now live in. If some clerical or even medical staff read you the wrong information, transpose figures or get anything wrong the practice Managers are terrified of complaints or comeback on them.

Our surgery charge 75p per sheet for a pintout of the results so now, when I see the consultant after my 3 monthly blood tests for RA, He just shows me them on the screen which I find sufficient for my purposes.

I wonder if John could arrange for a note to be put on his file that gives permission for him to be given the specific result each time?

Not sure how much impact cycling actually has when the prostate has been removed or irradiated but I do hope John's figures stay low enough to avoid any further treatment for as long as possible.

Lord help the receptionist that stands in the way of Lyn in dragon mode , if the withering look doesn't do the trick then the fire of tongues certainly will. Rather her than me !!!

xxx

Mo

Very frustrating sometimes. I posted previously about one of the nurses at our surgery saying I didn't need a PSA test as I didn't have a Prostate.

Interesting about the cycling still being able to effect the PSA post-op....will bare that in mind when I next go for my test

Hope it drops soon

Bri x

Onco called - we are seeing him on Tuesday.