Am I stupid? I'm confused by hospital call

[Brokengutter]

I did a FIT bowel screening test as could see blood in stool.

This was a month ago.

I chased it today and the lady on the phone said that my result was in but she couldn't discuss it, I'm on the list for a phone consultation with the DR who will discuss 'the next steps of my care' and a letter will be sent out in a few months.

I was on my lunch break and didn't have time to talk and they're closed now.

Is this the normal protocol? I expect my fit test shows blood (which I knew anyway). I'm nervous because of the language she's used with 'care'. But I queried the letter timing and she said it will be likely more than a couple of months, which made me think it can't be that urgent?

I'm sick with worry. It's been going on since November.

If it was urgent I’d expect you to have been contacted and referred under the two week rule.

Yes @DustyLee123 and my prolactin test came back clear.

The hospital had me down as an urgent referral she said, but it's still a few months. So it can't be that urgent!

It says online wait times should be no longer than 6 weeks

Did the hospital do your fit test then?

Mine was done by GP and I was referred on the 2 week pathway the day GP got the results (subsequently had colonoscopy, no nasties just haemorrhoids).

GP did warn me when referring that 2 weeks is usually more like 4-6 due to backlog/winter pressures.

@JoyeuxNarwhal I'm not sure. I did a FIT test and handed it to my GP, who sent it away for testing (maybe at the hospital?). She said maybe not even in a few months. I think it's ridiculous, I've been waiting 4 weeks for my letter already so I'd feel over the moon with a 6 week wait.

If you're in England and have the NHS app you should be able to see your result on there if it was done via GP. I posted my fit test to the lab (policy around here) and had the result the following week.

In fact have just looked through my app and my colonoscopy was 4 weeks and 1 day after I first discussed symptoms with GP.

I was told visible red blood is much less likely to be concerning as well, likely due to piles or fissure (though GP told me he didn't see either of those when he examined me).

@JoyeuxNarwhal I'm in Scotland sadly.

@bleughgreen thanks, that does help. It's the waiting time that scares me though. I wonder if fit tests have scores and mine wasn't that alarming, that's what I'm hoping.

@bleughgreen is 'your care' a normal term to use in your job? This is what made me think there's further treatment required.

Sorry @Brokengutter I should have checked that when I first shared my experience.

Hope you get some answers soon

Thanks reassuring thank you @bleughgreen 😊 yes, I think I'll give it the 6 weeks before contacting again if I haven't heard anything. I feel like a pest but last year my GP surgery forgot to send a letter to the hospital and it added on a 6 month wait, which they apologised for but they're so busy things just fall through the cracks and it's an added stress trying to make sure you aren't forgotten about.

Update on this is that I've been to out of hours tonight and the DR there said my colonoscopy has highest level of urgency and I shouldn't be waiting longer than 2 weeks and should call them on Monday to chase up because they can't make me wait a few months apparently! 🙃