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FITNESS TIPS : Be a Badger, Not a Mouse
When you are waiting for test results, don't assume that no news is good news. It's no news.

Topic: Remedies
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Too many people wait for the doctor to call them with results, figure that silence means everything's fine, or accept it when the nurse says, "We'll call you if there's anything abnormal." Ask when the results will be in, and then call the office that day -- and the next day, and the next, if need be. Your call will remind someone in the doctor's office to contact the lab if things are running behind. Be a nudge.

Next time your doctor orders a test, get the facts. You might save yourself some nasty surprises and needless worry. Here's a list of questions to ask before having any test:
What does this test measure?
Why do I need it?
What could happen if I don't have the test?
Are there any alternatives to the test?
Will my health insurance pay the total cost for this test? If not, how much will it cost?
How accurate is the test?
How frequently does the test return false positives (the results show a problem that doesn't exist) and false negatives (the test says there's no problem, but there is)?
How is the test performed?
What kind of pain or discomfort is involved?
What can go wrong?
How should I prepare for the test?
How will I feel afterward?
When will I get the results?
Which lab is processing the test, and why did you choose that one?
What's the ideal test result?
After taking the test and getting the results, what's the next step?

SOURCES: YOU: The Smart Patient. Roizen, M. F., Oz, M. C., New York: Free Press, 2006.

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