General Medicine
Fecal Occult Blood Test
- redback
- P_Al
- tinuviel
- P_Al
- tinuviel
- redback
- P_Al
- redback
- P_Al
- P_Al
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» redback - changed bowel habits
In response to Melena posted by P_Al:
Tis funny how I can see the difference between practice and theory...and still be passive re my own health.
Maybe my GP is just going on a fishing expedition but as far as my involvement, I'd already forgotten about the PSA. It seemed reasonable to toss it in even if as a routine measure given the need for other blood tests.
The FOBT I've had before involved a scraping onto a 'stick' but this time I'm given a little tub to fill? This in conjunction with blood tests, all bar one I can read. I'm putting what I know here for any interested posters:
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*Stool C & S (is this like an FOBT? or to rule out non-cancer infection)
*Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test
*Liver function test (LFT)
*Full blood count (FBC)
*Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
*There is one that looks like maybe ERC, EIC, FRC etc but no luck in searching.
*BSL and HbA1c for diabetes
It's not a very convenient time to have this problem. This coming weekend, I'm looking forward to a weekend away with indulgent eating. I intend to spoil myself every 60 years whether I deserve it or not. But I need a toilet within coo-ee. 
-- posted by redback
» P_Al - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by redback:
Have a great weekend!. Surely you didn't wait all of 60 years
In terms of your tests, these seem pretty standard.
*Stool C & S - that's stool cultute and sensitivity, checking for infectious agents
*Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test - a tumour marker
The latter three are probably routine checks. However, they could be deranged in cancer patients e.g. LFTs with liver mets and FBC when there is anemia
*Liver function test (LFT)
*Full blood count (FBC)
*Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Not sure what the other is. Doctors' handwriting...
-- posted by P_Al
» tinuviel - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by P_Al:
"Not sure what the other is. Doctors' handwriting..."
You crack me up.
-- posted by tinuviel
» P_Al - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by tinuviel:
You would be amazed at how many mistakes are alleged to occur from poorly written orders - some fatal.
-- posted by P_Al
» redback - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by P_Al:
So, it seems the FOBT is not needed/overlooked? Crikey...I just think when we go to THAT much trouble, they could check my produce out for a wider range of things. At least the pathology testing is 'free' as per previous explanations.
Was told the unknown one when I made my "deposit" today:
EUC - Electrolytes (Sodium/Potassium/Chloride)/Urea/Creatinine
Here's where I found it online and the site looks like it may list 'em all:
http://intensivecare.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/fi...
"Surely you didn't wait all of 60 years"
My prior life of indulgent living is probably what agitated my diabetic bone. Nowadays, it's like an anticlimax. It just doesn't taste as good as it useta. An Argentinan hot chocolate drink in a strange shaped cup with a small cake with 3 different chocolates...icing, drizzle and a little cup to pour over the cake. Very exotic production but tis sick I am!
I agree re the doctor's handwriting. Even after many years of translating, I've found 7 years out of it, I've gone rusty. And it's not only handwriting. Have you seen the doozies that get typed by secretaries and not checked properly by the doctor? Tis amazing what a misplaced single letter will do...let alone a missing word.
-- posted by redback
» P_Al - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by redback:
'So, it seems the FOBT is not needed/overlooked?'
Who told you that?
Diabetes really does cramp the sweet tooth - or should at any rate. Glad you got the let your 'palate' down a bit.
-- posted by P_Al
» redback - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by P_Al:
"...Who told you that?"
The FOBT isn't part of my current testing??? Tis what I was asking...that the Stool C & S wouldn't do the same job? At least blood was not visible to my naked eye.
My lifestyle cramping is sure going to be tested this weekend although I don't plan on anything too silly. My next door neighbour wants to join me in a bubbly toast...pink champagne? I'm not sure what this really is. France got us to change the 'champagne' label as only their produce is legally 'champagne'. Fact is, Aussie wine is so much better anyway.
-- posted by redback
» P_Al - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by redback:
My understanding is that a stool culture doesn't substitute for an FOBT. The latter detects blood that is not visible to the naked eye while the former checks for bacteria that may cause GI symptoms.
Alternatives would include colonoscopy, barium enema and a newer option called fecal DNA testing which has been found to have a higher sensitivity than FOBT for invasive tumours. You could have a look at the following article.
-- posted by P_Al
» P_Al - changed bowel habits
In response to changed bowel habits posted by redback:
The link requires a Medscape account. As you may not have one I have included the reference - Abstr Hematol Oncol. 2005;8(3):5-7
-- posted by P_Al
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