Seeing consultant next week. What do I need to know apart from kidney function which was 51% a few months ago.

[runningjohanna]

Up until now I have just gone along with advice because my situation has been fairly stable. Now on bp tablets to improve kidney function and protein loss. I want to go armed with a list!

[lowraind]

This is a list that I copied several months ago. I believe it was Mr. Kidney who posted it.

QUESTIONS FOR DRS.

I use labtestsonline.org for any questions I have regarding my labs before I speak with my Care Team. They sent me this information about what questions you might want to ask any of your doctors and since this is something we could all use I thought it a good idea to post it here. This is an excellent set of questions to ask, especially of your doctors who are wanting to do diagnostic tests on you.

Getting the conversation started: Questions to ask your healthcare practitioner when laboratory testing is recommended

When testing is ordered, you should feel comfortable in finding out why the test needs to be done, how it will be done, and what your healthcare practitioner expects to learn from it.

Here are some examples of questions you might wish to ask your practitioner to get the conversation started:

• What information do you expect to gain from this test? How could it change the course of my care?

• What are the risks and benefits of testing?

• What are the risks and benefits of acting on the results (undergoing treatment)?

• What is the evidence that supports this screening and how does it fit my situation?

• What do I need to know or do before the test?

• What happens during and after the test?

• What are the normal results? What do abnormal results mean?

• What factors may affect the results?

• What course of action may be next, after the test?

• If results are not normal what are the next steps?

This content is an excerpt from Lab Tests Online patient resource article, Making Informed Decisions for Better Health.

About Lab Tests Online

Lab Tests Online is a peer-reviewed, patient-centered web resource on clinical laboratory testing. It is produced by AACC and is the result of a collaboration of professional societies representing the laboratory and medical communities. Since its launch in 2001, Lab Tests Online has helped millions of people learn about lab tests and discuss them more clearly with their healthcare practitioners.

If you do a search online, you should be able to come up with several other examples.

[runningjohanna in reply to lowraind]

Thank you lowraind. Really kind of you and very useful

Best wishes

Jo