gingeroots...how are you doing?

[Elibean]

I'm sorry, I looked for your original post but couldn't find it.

Hope the waiting is easier now, and that you get some reassurance soon xx

[gingeroots]

oooh a thread title with my name in it .

I must be important >>>preens

[FoodieToo]

Have been thinking of you too. Hope you get good news soon.

I would definitely be putting in a complaint about that consultant .

[gingeroots]

I've calmed down a little about the consultant .

I didn't like him at all .As I said he was rude to staff and patronising and unhelpful to me .

But I can see that the GP ( as she was clearly referring urgently and making use of a fast track appointment reserved for suspected cancer ) should have mentioned to me that they were investigating the possibility .

I think the consultant was insensitive and unkind ...but I guess he was erring on the side of caution .
I don't know.

[Elibean]

Sounds like sensible thinking to me.

And FWIW, you sound as though you are coping with the waiting as well as anyone can! Good for you.

Have a peaceful Mothers Day

[PeachyPossum]

Hi ginger roots, I lurked on your thread but didn't post for a few reasons. Just to let you know I'm thinking of you too. Xx

[gingeroots]

Oh Peachy - just done quick search on your earlier posts and see you have Chrons and dreadful gastric reflux .

Did you have that fundi whatsit op in January ?
Hope you are recovered /getting better ?

I'm hating waiting for my results . I'm trying to hold on until tomorrow - thinking I might get a letter - and will phone hospital I think to see if I can find out when I should hear .

[Elibean]

Poor Ginger, waiting is so horrible.

I would phone. If they don't know yet, fair enough - but if you can avoid five minutes of stressing, so much the better.

[gingeroots]

Oh elibean it's so nice of you to be interested .

It's so hard - I can't talk to anyone in RL about it as what's the point of worrying them when it may turn out to be ok .

So huge relief to discuss on MN

Anyway phoned endoscopy unit today to ask for clarification about results .

Receptionist couldn't help but said she'd put me through to consultants secretary - at which point I panicked and said I didn't want to run risk of speaking to consultant .

And then we had a bonding session about how rude the consultant is .

Put through to lovely secretary ( more bonding ) who said she'd ring me when results through - though said she couldn't say what the results are .

She was really lovely - said she had a list of people who she was looking out for results for and that she tried to think of herself in our position .
How nice is that !

[gingeroots]

Oh dear ,no phone call .

And secretary said results take 3/4 working days .
Today is day 4 .

Logically I know that maybe results are delayed or maybe secretary busy /ill / stuck in snow .

But a bit of me is going "well if results bad then she won't tell me they're in because she knows I'll get a phone call anyway " .

I'm sure no news is good news ,but can't help worrying .

Guess I'll ring consultants sec again tomorrow .

[PeachyPossum]

Hi ginger,

Sorry you've had no call today :( waiting for results is horrible when its not such a scary test. I'm glad the secretary is helping you.

I did have the nissen fundoplication at the beginning of feb, although the op didn't go as smoothly as it should have done. It has made a huge difference. I hope that your problems are caused by stricture and this becomes an option for you.

How are your symptoms at the moment?

Will be thinking of you tomorrow x

[gingeroots]

Thank you Peachy .

Really the hospital should have a clear protocol for releasing results so that everyone knows where they stand .

I know it's not that easy ,but they could try ....

I eat really carefully ,tiny pieces ,to avoid choking .

My throat still tightens up - feels like it's going into spasm ,but I think it must be strictures . The consultant said there was narrowing .

Sorry your op had problems - you're very thoughtful not to tell me details

[gingeroots]

I spoke to secretary at midday today and she said results still not back ,maybe in tomorrow .

It's been such a relief to have rest of day not on tenterhooks ,wondering if results are in and someone might phone .
IYSWIM .

( think I'm going a teensy bit bonkers )

[ssd]

thinking of you gingeroots, hoping for some good news for you soon xx

[gingeroots]

Thanks ssd .

I think it will be ok ,just that the consultant has put the wind up me and DP .

[ssd]

isn't it awful how these so called professionals just don't think before they open their mouths!!

[PeachyPossum]

Sorry it's another day with no news :( hoping no news is good news for you. What a silly consultant, causing distress like this.

[Inaminutenow]

All the best ginger, hoping you'll have good news soon!

[Elibean]

Aaargh, ginger, still no news? You poor love - hope you get a call today, and good news!

Couldn't get to computer yesterday, but was thinking of you. Generally speaking, the longer you go without news the less likely it is to be bad news - but still, nothing is going to make it better till its better, iyswim.

Am very glad to hear all other medical personnel bonding over consultant's communication dysfunction

[gingeroots]

No ,no news .

Consultants secretary told me yesterday that she was off today but would ask colleague to phone me if results in .

Hearing nothing I phoned at 2pm and got answerphone . Left message .

I'm not really sure how much more of this I can take .If only they'd arranged an appointment ,say 2weeks in future .

Then I wouldn't be on tenterhooks every second of the day .

breaking news - phonecall from consultants "special nurse " .

She says to come in next Tuesday for cat scan because consultant will be on holiday when orginal cat scan booked ie week following and "he doesn't want anyone else to be involved in my care " ????

She says technical problems at lab have delayed all results and is adamant ,despite my frequent protestations that it's best to go ahead with scan even though biopsy results not available yet .

She says consultant "very caring " ,kept apologising when I was relating his discussion with me and saying " we're all human ,it must have been a bad day for him " .

She says ( only because I asked her ) I'll get no news on day of cat scan .
Will take a "few more days " to hear any news .
But know she knows how anxious I am she'll try and push for quick results and will phone me on the Thursday .

What to think ?

I'm still sure it's not cancer and that they're being cautious but despite thinking that logically ,I'm beside myself .

[gingeroots]

In my heart I think it's just being caught up in the system - they're being careful and unfortunately that causes stress .

I do understand what the alternative could be .

And I just think I've been unlucky in the way a rushed and probably arrogant by nature ,consultant has spoken to me .

And then there's the DP whose response is anxiety and a deep desire not to discuss it .

Sigh .

[Elibean]

Poor Ginger, what a nightmare combination all those factors are

Its quite likely they want the cat scan done in order to a) satisfy the GP's fast tracking request for care and b) because they really are very cautious when anything remotely nasty is a possibility - however remote. I recently had a cystoscopy as I'd had some blood in my urine, even though the consultant said he thought it very unlikely I had bladder cancer: they HAVE to check. He then followed up a totally normal cystoscopy with an MRI of my kidneys and bladder - 'just to dot all the iiiis and cross all the tttts' though again, he almost knew it would be normal. It was.

So you see....good that they're being careful, but also normal that they're being careful. I'm glad they're scanning you fast, so you don't have to wait even longer, at least.

I would try and put the whole lot in a box labelled 'later' until you've had the scan - hard as that may be. xxx

[gingeroots]

That makes a lot of sense Elibean .

Just being thorough .

Shame consultant didn't mention that .

And isn't it a waste of resources to carry out CT scans if not needed ?
And ,... umm ....expose people to Xrays ?

Oh well I'll try and put it to the back of my mind .

Thanks again ,I do see what you're saying .And agree really .

[ssd]

I think hospital folks don't realise what the waiting does for some of us, I can worry for Britain and waiting for results almost does me in, sounds like you are the same gingeroots

[gingeroots]

I just can't get it out of my head that the consultant must suspect something .

To book CT scan before biopsy results back .

And then 10 days on when results should be back but supposedly are not ,to bring CT scan forward by a week .

Thorough ? Punitive ?

[Elibean]

I very very much doubt he'd lie about being away the following week (as reason for bringing scan forwards) - bad bedside manner is one thing, blatant dishonesty about results is another, and he wouldn't want to put himself that far into the medical wrong, so to speak! Even if he is a twit with no manners or sensitivity. Think law suits