lab nubie

[koi1]

Could someone please explain what the percentage and cd4 numbers mean? My pharmacologist looked my cd4 count and didn't want to really tell me what it was but said, don't worry about it because your percentage stayed the same.

rob

[Tucsonwoody]

Hey Rob -

I am no expert, being pretty new to the situation myself.  Maybe you'll find some answers in this lesson from Aidsmeds which talks about the standard tests taken to see how you're doing.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/lessons/StartHere4.htm

Good luck - Kevin

[koi1]

Thanks for the tip. So what i see is that the percentage is more important than the cd4 count, but i'm still not clear.

rob

[J.R.E.]

Hello Rob,

Much of this information is probably in the link that Kevin provided :

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/F731C054-1B9C-4A8B-BB54-052E27C113DE.asp




Ray

[Ann]

Rob,

Your doctor has no right to withhold your numbers from you. My first hiv doc tried that - and I never went back to him. (He said "you don't need to worry about that [my CD4] - I'll take care of all that information for you.") I found a new doctor who would be a PARTNER in my health care, not a condescending "daddy"  figure (I've got a better name for him, but I'll be nice...) who would keep my health information from me.

Ann

[koi1]

Yeah, I know what you mean,

They would not even give me an answer about my ALT score. I asked well what is the low and the high for this test? The doc said, there are too many factors, it is different for everyone. Going online was no help because they said that each lab sets its own parameters. No info just makes me worry even more.

rob

[Christine]

Rob,
Just my opinion, but if you have access to another doctor, I would switch doctors.

Like Ann said, your doctor should be a partner in your health care. You have the right to all of your medical information, and the right to have all of it explained thoroughly in language (meaning not using technical medical terms which are difficult to understand) you can understand.

If you don't have access to another doctor, make an appointment with your existing doctor and go to the appointment prepared with a list of questions; print outs from the Lessons here on Aidsmeds, and another person who can act as an advocate for you if the doctor starts to turn into a condescending ass. And if he does start acting like an ass, call him on it, in a calm, professional manner, and demand that you have the care you want and are paying for.

Christine

[Tucsonwoody]

Hey Rob - something else to consider about your access to information is if your doctor or his clinic has a policy like mine does that states in part:

"YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.

Although your healthcare record is the physical property of the Health Center, the information belongs to you. You have the following rights regarding the healthcare information we maintain about you:

- Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of healthcare information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually, this includes medical, dental, prescription, and billing records, but does not include psychotherapy notes."

If your doctor won't give you the information verbally, ask to review your records if they have this type of policy.  After every weekly blood/lab test I get, I ask for and easily get my numbers - guess some doctors just want to act differently for some reason. Bet if they were asking their doctors for info they'd be pissed if all they got was a general statement!

[RapidRod]

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/ 
You can get all the information you need for HIPAA compilance, from the above link. Hope this helps.

[J.R.E.]

My pharmacologist looked my cd4 count and didn't want to really tell me what it was but said, don't worry about it because your percentage stayed the same.

rob

I must have glanced over that. Ask for a copy of all your blood test in the future !


Take care----Ray