Arm lump, phone appointment. Will I likely get seen in person?

[Itsprobablynothingbut]

Hi all, I am a regular user and have name changed.

Basically, I have found a lump on my upper arm about 5cm diameter. I know it is likely to be one of several benign things so am not unduly worried but I have booked a GP's appointment to have it checked.

With covid, they are doing phone appointments which I expected.

However when I asked the receptionist whether I would be able to get it looked at in person she didn't sound sure.

Without doubting my GP's clinical judgement, I would not be confident with a lump being diagnosed as for instance, a harmless lipoma without being seen in person, however much it may sound like one from my description.

Does anyone know what the procedure is likely to be here? Are in-person appointments routinely offered for this kind of thing after the initial phone consultation?

I'm a GP - I would ask you if you think it would photograph well/if you're happy to send in a photo and if you said no would bring you in for a F2F appt. Don't believe what you read in the papers that we're not seeing anyone.

Thanks sparemonitor that's very reassuring.

To be honest, I'm not sure there's much to.see on a photo unless I can get my rubbishy phone camera to show a slight bump so would hopefully get seen as I'm not sure a photo would be much help.

I've had both vaccinations and work from home so would hopefully be a low risk to staff

You would where I am. I had a lump in my armpit last year, I had a phone chat with the doctor and then a same day appointment, so he could touch and evaluate it.

I’m a GP too. I’d happily see this FTF.

My husband had a phone appointment with the doctor, who then saw him face to face, referred him to the hospital, who did ANOTHER call to vet the referral before seeing him for a scan.

It was dealt with in person, but it seemed ridiculous that both stages involved phone consults.

In contrast, I've been going in weekly for MH issues, and have only had two phone consults.

Dh had a lump on his chest last week, gp phone appointment Monday morning, had a chat, sent a photo, got called in, dispatched to nearest hospital, surgery first thing Tuesday morning (would have been Monday but he’d eaten). It was ‘only’ an abscess but I was impressed at how fast it was dealt with.

2tired glad it was nothing serious! that's a really quick turnaround, especially at the moment

Thanks, it wasn’t quite how we expected last week to pan out, but there you go!

I think it's fine to have initial appointment on the phone.

But you need to make sure 1 of 2 things happen. You either get a follow up appointment in person booked with same GP or you get a referral to either a specialist, a scan, hospital, something.

This is something that absolutely cannot be diagnosed over the phone.

The default opinion when you see a GP in NHS is that a lump is benign.. (I know it shouldnt be like that) because most are. But they can't tell you it's benign until they've scanned it at the very least (But most will try to get away with telling you it's benign and to go away with a physical inspection).

Our GP would do tel appt initially and then invited down for FTF to have a look if it couldn't be photographed properly which obviously a lump can't be xx

I'm in a similar situation. I have bad ovary pain really uncomfortable all day, dull ache goes down my groin and backache.
Been like it a while.
Previous endo and pcos.

I just don't want to get palmed off over phone. And going by experiences with my baby, where he had CMPA, skin bleeding, bad nappies etc and no one would see him all diagnosed over the phone with different meds, creams, ointments and milks prescribed.
I know it's hard for GPS but it's really put me off.

I have a scabby lesion on my knees that won’t heal (since July last year). I had a GP phone appointment and then sent a photo. Was referred to the hospital four weeks ago but have heard nothing back yet, so it still has not been seen in person by anybody. Doesn’t really seem good enough.

"The default opinion when you see a GP in NHS is that a lump is benign.. (I know it shouldnt be like that) because most are. But they can't tell you it's benign until they've scanned it at the very least (But most will try to get away with telling you it's benign and to go away with a physical inspection)."

What medical training do you have, then? To assert what tests OP needs so confidently? GPs have years of experience and I don't think any of them go to work on any given morning thinking 'hey, I really feel like missing something today'.

I had a lump on my foot looked at at the GP last Friday. MRI scan this Saturday coming.

I had a phone appointment for an armpit lump yesterday. Doctor phoned me, quick chat and fitted me in for a FTF within 2 hours (and confirmed it was just a blocked sweat gland.) I was really impressed. I had prepared my arguments about not accepting not being seen, prepared to go to hospital etc but I didn't need them, thankfully.

At my doctors, nurse practitioners are doing FTF appts so I booked to see the nurse instead of a doctor. I’ve no idea why it was safe for her to meet me but not a GP, but she was able to assess my limp and reassure me it was innocent so all in all, an efficient use of time!

@StewardsEnquiry

"The default opinion when you see a GP in NHS is that a lump is benign.. (I know it shouldnt be like that) because most are. But they can't tell you it's benign until they've scanned it at the very least (But most will try to get away with telling you it's benign and to go away with a physical inspection)."

What medical training do you have, then? To assert what tests OP needs so confidently? GPs have years of experience and I don't think any of them go to work on any given morning thinking 'hey, I really feel like missing something today'.

I have been misdiagnosed like many others and only got correctly diagnosed after advocating for my own health.

I understand lots of medical professionals prefer an uneducated patient who is quiet and does as their told but that will never be me.

Thank you.

hello did you ever get results x