I have a doctor that wants guiacs done routinely every month when Pts are on a antiquaulant therpt. Are other docs doing this?
2006-08-01 06:11:04 · 7 answers · asked by Linda m 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
yes. but if you doubt your doctor then ask for second opinion
2006-08-01 06:24:17 · answer #1 · answered by seishinfuzen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think most do. Occult blood/guiac tests are done to assure that you do not develope an internal GI bleed. On anticoagulant therapy, you do not want to develope ANY type of bleed. If you do, you could lose a large amount of blood quickly. They would likely discontinue the anticoagulant therapy with a positive result, or at minimum, reduce the dosage.
Don't worry though. It is realitively unintrusive compared to other medical procedures.
2006-08-01 13:24:26 · answer #2 · answered by louxloux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - it is very important to make sure that there is no internal bleeding and this test may be inconvenient - but not nearly as inconvenient as an uncontrolled gi bleed. However, the test is only as good as the sample. Be sure to follow directions. There are things that interfere with the test and can cause a false negative - like Vitamin C and some things that can cause a false positive - eating a lot of meat (depending on the test used). They should issue instructions with guidelines about proper collection and dietary guidelines. If you are going to do the test then it is important to do it right.
2006-08-02 08:20:12 · answer #3 · answered by petlover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guiac testing of your stool is only common sense when taking anticoagulants. If you blood gets too thin, it is very easy to begin bleeding internally, one of the less expensive and effective ways to monitor for this is thru the guiac test. Your doctor is thorough and careful, bully for him.
2006-08-01 13:24:53 · answer #4 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Linda
Let me take a different approach to answer your question.
1) It's your health you are talking about !!!
2) It's only a test, and if insurance pays it then all the better.
3) It doesn't hurt and requires very little time.
4) Prevention is the name of the game
2006-08-02 05:43:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely required if you're on anti-coags, i.e. Coumadin, etc. You MUST know if your blood is getting too thin or not thin enough. The only way to do this is with the protime test every month.
2006-08-01 13:14:54 · answer #6 · answered by Amy N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I absolutely agree with the last answers ( of both RN's). Trust your doctor, don't worry and be happy....
2006-08-01 15:34:02 · answer #7 · answered by brujadel31 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋