GP won't do blood test

Hello Brian,

Not sure what you ,mean by you will not bother in future? You will.

So, to deal with your nurse, if it were me and I had been in that situation I would have asked whether practice was not complying with the NICE guidelines and the likelihood that I would need further treatment and that more frequent checks are recommended?

However, moving on I would now write a letter to the Head of the practice outlining pretty much what you have said above in support of you having another PSA test asap. You have put a good case "online", repeat that on paper.

So, to deal with "this anxiety label people seem to tag on me". If you present as anxious, look anxious and talk anxious, people will assume/believe/accept that you are anxious, no?

How many times have you posted here about your anxiety some time prior to your next scheduled PSA test? And how many times have you suggested that you do et anxious? FFS we all do, it's natural! And what have you got? Support. Acceptance and acknowledgement of your anxiety, but overwhelmingly support. That is what you are getting now, even from Lynne although she is seriously p****d off at the moment. Her Lovehoney parcel with a triple snout roly poly rubby dubby vibratey shaky ding dong shlong separating ball aching chimney sweeping sperm whale massager did not arrive in time?

Cut her some slack mate.

End message Bri, we are all here for you, so do continue to bother, please. :-)

atb

dave

You are quite right to be concerned at the apparent lack of knowledge by your practice and would highlight this failing to head of the practice. They cannot refuse you if you demand a PSA test. To give another example of this, my brother has been advised by me to have regular checks and as he is 66yrs old I suggested it may be wise to have these annually but even though the GP is aware of the family connection he is reluctant to allow this, so in 2012 his PSA was 0.049, in 2013 it was 0.048 and this year it has risen to 0.37 which in % terms is quite high but we aren't pressing the panic button yet but I am aware even though the figures for a man of his age are excellent I am aware of the trend and the doubling time so will keep an eye on him, but the GP has told him he won't now give him another test unless he has symptoms which we all know may be to late. So do what feels right for you demand your rights and don't take no for an answer.

All the best

Roy

Bri,

I would look at this from two angles.

The first is your oncologist, in their infinite wisdom and experience, believes you to be at a stage where your PSA only needs to be checked yearly.

The second is to have a PSA test on a more regular basis for peace of mind (something which I would want to do myself for at least 5 years). I would certainly try your GP again. I would also look to have it done privately. A quick search of the internet has come back with Medilabs who offer a super sensitive PSA test for £149, results back in 8 days. I'm sure there are plenty others.

Flexi

ps. I have no link with the above company so as usual, DYOR. I just reference it as an example.

The problem then would be that another lab will have slightly different machines with slightly different calibration which might create a false rise or conceal a real rise :-(

So if, IF you have to pay for it pay for it at your GP surgery.  I am surprised that they will bot , that Nurse would not, allow a test?  My new surgery allow me test 3 monthly to get their own record of my new normal, and I am 2 years 5 months post op.  

One issue with the 3 monthly testing is that the SBT or anxiety potential comes round 3 monthly.  Would I, you, be better worrying annually?

Maybe a letter accompanying you and making the request might be harder it refuse?

atb 

dave

I posted some time ago about whether I would decide to request a 6 month test rather than the recommended year. I left it as I didn't feel an urgency to have it done...not the actions of someone at their wits end with worry really.

I've discussed with my wife and she feels I should have one because if it's fine...crack on...if it's not get some early intervention..the niggle in my back was the deciding factor..nothing more nothing less.

My post was to point out the issue I faced when requesting the test.

So I phoned the urologists secretary and explained the situation. She agreed to send me a blood test form 1st class but the oncol would have to sign it. She would ring me if there was a problem.

So I nipped to DRI with the blood test form she had given me for next March. When I got home the oncol secretary had phoned so I guess the oncol wasn't going to agree...too late..They best sue me.

The test will be at a different lab ie Donny instead of Sheffield and I believe it's a standard test not sensitive.so I followed part of her recommendation. After reading Sweeps post about the stress the sensitive test causes I think I've done the right thing. So whilst there may be some variation due to calibration etc I would expect this to be minute..but if they only measure down to 0.1 I am expecting the <0.1

Hopefully my back problem is just a back problem or muscular issue...and that's not anxiety..its a just a reasonable thought process.

Bri

Edited by member 07 Oct 2015 at 05:55  | Reason: Not specified

Good to heart Brian,

and also good to hear that I have sent Lyn some batteries.

atb

dave