Borderline hypochondriacs, in my opinion, should not have easy access to health records online, health records that don’t come with a doctor’s calming explanation.
After being continually prodded to create an e-health account with the Saskatchewan Health Authority so results of various tests would be immediately available for my viewing pleasure, I gave in to the pressure, simply because the account was needed to access my COVID vaccination records.
Obtaining an account was a frustrating experience but once success had been achieved and vaccination records were printed and photographed, I turned my attention to other aspects of the account. I could check out my prescriptions, my recent lab work and other tests such as CT scans and X-rays. Some easy reading for a lazy fall afternoon.
I verified the information under prescriptions as correct and moved on to lab results, quickly discovering the requirement for a medical dictionary to explain how medical personnel speak in a language all their own. My newly-discovered definition of some things medical now allows me to follow along with television hospital shows when doctors spew out a series of capital-letter-testing orders: CBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, MVP — and so on. I have yet to hear VIP.
The lab results show the acceptable levels of what’s in one’s blood along with the levels that were present during the most recent blood test, using one of those butterfly needles for less painful access to veins that seldom co-operate with the person collecting all those tubes.
Upon scanning the results, I learned my contents were within acceptable levels from top to bottom of the chart — with the exception of three alphabet terms in the centre. On those, the results registered as “above high normal” which immediately triggered some unease and concern — those hypochondriac tendencies coming alive.
Should I call a health professional for an opinion, should I book an appointment with the Mayo Clinic, should I update my last will and testament — all scenarios prompted by having access to this health record and forcing me to use Google to figure out definitions for some of those capital letters.
With some limited research, I figured I wasn’t in immediate danger. My doctor, when I saw him, looked at my lab results and showed no concern. Cured already!
With some trepidation, I clicked on the icon for other test results and found once again that I might have some unexplained diseases. Again, although, most of the language and terms were incomprehensible to a lay person, Google came through on a level high enough to calm most of the fears of this low-level hypochondriac.
I was concerned about a phrase discussing the atlantoaxial interval and odontoid peg until I read further and learned whatever they are they “appear intact.”
At that point I decided ignorance is bliss, that if I have something seriously wrong with me, my medical team will call and tell me what to do. So far the phone has been silent. But, I wonder in hypochondriac fashion, should I call just to make sure the results have been reported accurately via e-health.
Instead, I try to access my e-health record to see if anything has changed, even though I haven’t had any tests in the past month. My need to know is continually thwarted by the message: “Oops, we are sorry. There is a problem with the page you are trying to use.”
Now how will I know if I’m suffering from some serious capital letter disease? Maybe the SHA should call a website doctor so I can check on that odontoid peg.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
