Help, missed calls from GP about test results

[Unfittested]

I had a couple of tests last week for bloating/GI symptoms.

I had two missed calls from the Gp tonight and a voicemail saying it was to discuss my results so now I am freaking out.

I can see the result of my ca125 blood test was posted on NHS app and his normal so I am guessing the issue is with the FIT stool test.

It was only done on Friday, can the results be available so soon?

I know 9/10 a positive FIT test doesn't mean anything bad but if the result wasn't crazy off the scale would the GP have tried to call twice?

To make things worse I can see I have a GP telephone appointment scheduled for Wednesday night so I won't get any answers for 48 hours (GP not in on Tuesdays).

I know noone can tell me but how worried should I be? Does this sound fairly normal process for a fairly standard positive FIT test?

I hadn't even been that worried so it has blindsided me.

Don't be worried. It won't change the results and if it's all clear, then you've wrecked your own head for no reason. Be your most Zen, try and put it aside and in 36 hours you'll know Actual Facts.

Could another doctor give you the information tomorrow? Is it not showing under results on your NHS app?

A lot of sensible people will call twice in an attempt to actually talk to the person they’re trying to call.

Not because there’s a major drama, just because people are so bad at answering actual phone calls these days.

A relative of mine had a positive FIT test and went to the hospital and it was all fine. They were just constipated, and it had caused a tiny little bit of abrasion inside.

I think it can definitely still be fine and they might just be being careful.

Thanks @ScaryM0nster i was by my phone as well but had two cases of fat fingers that somehow hung up the call instead of picking it up as I was panicking. Unbelievable.

@Questionsquestions121 I will certainly be phoning to ask but am not holding much hope. And nothing on the app, which makes me worried it is so bad they want to talk to me before I see it. But equally I can't see any referrals in there and if it needed a 2 week pathway referral they wouldn't delay it until they had time to speak to me hopefully?

I don't know, it's all just guesswork 😥

My FIT test was very slightly positive recently after some GI symptoms. The GP called to tell me & referred me for a colonoscopy. I had the option not to have it as it was way below the cutoff for the routine tests the over 60s are sent but I decided better safe than sorry. It was all fine, most are. I understand your anxiety though, good luck.

The GP probably had a list of people to ring and was trying to speak to as many as possible to cross them off the list, so they tried more than once just in case you couldn't answer the first call.
I know you're worried but just think, the GP would be just as likely as anything to say Your test results were fine but here's what I want to try next........ or something like that.
I hope you can relax. It's hard not to worry, but do try.

I hope you get some answers tomorrow. I would be the same and want to know asap.

Thank you that is somewhat reassuring.

I should add I have had a bowel polyp in the past and my symptoms were SO MUCH worse than they are now, which is why I wasn't very worried. I've always had crappy, IBS-y bowels.

My symptoms this time are actually more stomach related so now I am worried it is actually stomach cancer or something like that 😥

Hi OP I’ve just had a year of hospitals and tests. This year I’ve had two positive FIT tests. In February I had the pill camera that you swallow and it travels around the bowels and is connected to a WiFi box so they hospital can watch the recording of it. Only found a haemorrhoid. Then in May restested and it was clear. Had to retest again in June and it had shot up again along with a slightly raised ca125 marker. I had a full colonoscopy and still nothing wrong with my bowels. I then had scans for ovarian cancer due to the ca125 marker and nothing was found. Just had a brain scan recently and nothing too bad either. So I’m a walking mystery! Having more bloods this week to see how things are going Have a family history of chrons so was half expecting to come back positive for that. I still have the occasional bleed but I know now it’s either the haemmoroid or a small fissure I have near the opening that will bleed if I’ve been straining. Sorry about the delicate information. I hope you manage to find out your results and put your mind at rest. I can go onto my nhs app and look at all my test results, can you do that? X

Thank you @WingingItSince1973 and sorry you have had issues too. I can see my test tesults on the app usually but can't see the results of the FIT test, is it possible they are being withheld until the GP speaks to me?
Can I ask how long it usually takes to get your results after a FIT test, and what are your symptoms?
I have hemorrhoids too and had a polyp before so I am hopeful that there are a couple of non-cancer things it could be, but the burning stomach symptoms are new.

I contacted the surgery and they confirmed my GP was in today but as I was already scheduled for a call tomorrow I have to wait until then...

I don’t understand why you’re worried about stomach cancer when your ca bloods came back fine and you’ve seen the test results indicating that.

In primary care we always ring twice, a few mins apart. It’s just policy. They’ll have been ringing to offer a f-up appt to run through the results and discuss any next steps by way of dietary changes or whatever. It was probs the admin team who were ringing. Sounds like because they couldn’t get hold of you they’ve just popped you in for wherever there’s a slot. It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just good practice if someone’s complaining of symptoms and you rule stuff out with bloods to then have a f-up appt to look at other possible causes.

You do sound very anxious about your health. Have you tried the Headspace app to maybe help with some relaxation / anxiety strategies? It’s very good.

I think my FIT results were withheld until.theyd spoken to me. Everything else (ca125, other bloods) were ok & were in the app.
If it was urgent they'd be making sure to speak to you quickly.

Haemorrhoids or stomach ulcers can both give a positive FIT, and burning pain in the stomach area is quite characteristic of a stomach ulcer.

A FIT result often comes back in a day or so. If it's positive they will probably want to refer you on for investigations appropriate to your symptoms. That's a good thing, and the vast majority of positive FITs do not reveal anything sinister.

Re post above, CA-125 is not used to screen for gastric conditions in my experience, but obviously good that it's normal.

Two attempts is normal courtesy, OP. If they were very concerned you'd have had more attempts than that on all your numbers. Breathe

A burning stomach is also typical of gastritis- I had that, diagnosed by endoscopy. I felt that my stomach was on fire but the endoscopy showed mild gastritis. I was prescribed 8 weeks of Lansoprazole, which healed i

Yes that is my understanding too, that the ca125 is more an indicator of ovarian cancer so good it was normal but doesn't mean there is no gastric issue.

I am pretty sure the call is about the FIT test and hence the result not being on the app yet.

@Fionasapples did you have back pain with your gastritis? I had that gnawing burning stomach feeling overnight and upper back pain.

Overall, I'm equally bothered by stomach and bowel symptoms so I'm hoping it points to an overall functional issue rather than something acutely sinister somewhere.I have a sore spot just under my ribs and when I press it it makes all sounds of gurgling sounds and feels like gas pockets. Hopefully we get to the bottom of it.

I can get a bit anxious, I have terrible family history unfortunately. It was more the shock of getting a couple of calls and having to wait to hear more. I am fairly level headed today but obviously keen to get to the bottom of it.

Yes I had both stomach and back pain. No reflux, just a gnawing pain front and back, a feeling of fullness and just very uncomfortable. My GP suspected at once that it was gastritis and referred me for endoscopy. I felt much better after a few days of Lansoprazole.

Thanks @Fionasapples it sounds similar to my symptoms.

The GP did call and unsurprisingly the FIT is positive and I am being referred under the 2 week pathway. The level isn't crazy high but still double the limit😔, I can see the referral letter on my app clearly states "referral for suspected cancer". WTF, how is this my life.

I had a positive FIT after stomach issues but after a stool toxicology test h pylori was confirmed. Currently being treated for that before retesting. Please don't panic just yet.
PS. Just discovered that Boots now sell h pylori and gut bacteria tests so will try that when the treatment finishes before NHS comes back.

Thank you, h pylori was the GPs initial guess so I already had a test for that and it came back negative.

Glad you heard back sooner than expected, the waiting is awful.

This referral is absolutely standard with a positive FIT, in my area the lab will actually add the direction to refer under 2ww as part of their report, before the doctor even touches it. It means you won't have to wait months to be seen and get an answer. Again still the vast majority of 2ww investigations do not find cancer.

But it's a stressful shitty few weeks so be really gentle with yourself.

I don't know if personal anecdote will be comforting or not, but I had 2ww investigations done last week for a FIT with a much higher result and they've come back absolutely normal. I was relieved to get it all done with so quickly, it's one thing the NHS really tries to do well. Hand-hold from me.

I know it’s a worry op but I was in a similar position earlier this year and the hospital advised only 9 out of 100 cases referred for colonoscopy turn out to be cancerous. Hopefully it’s just the haemorrhoids triggering the FIT test.

Our GP told my DH that to get him seen within the 2 week pathway, he has to put suspected cancer, otherwise he would be waiting for months. He was diagnosed with diverticulitis and the following year colitis.

Thank you all. My worry is also that I had an IBD test too and that was negative. So was the hpylori. So this rules out two potential alternatives to cancer that could cause a positive FIT test, there aren't so many left, hemorrhoids and polyps I guess.

Today my symptoms have been much more in my stomach than my bowels, burning pain, sore spot under ribs, burping and a lot of gurgling sounds and back pain, so it is all very confusing.

Fingers crossed for gastritis!