Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

HCP should not have told me frightening things when appointment is still months away.

21 replies

minimidge · 01/03/2024 13:51

I might be terminally ill. I have an appointment in a couple of months when things could be clarified. But prior to that I have had some test. I've had a phone call saying the test results are worrying. AIBU to think that was a totally ridiculous thing to ring me up and say? Why not just leave me to live my life in ignorance until the appointment? I am struggling now. Every time I remember the call I feel like I am being plunged into icy cold water. And I have to carry on and live normally without anyone knowing about this for weeks and weeks until I get definitive answers. I am upset with the person who called me.

OP posts:
TiIIyM · 01/03/2024 14:08

I'd call the consultant and tell them you want answers now, not semi answers leaving you in limbo. Sorry for what you're going through 💕

MojoDojoCasaHouse · 01/03/2024 14:11

Leaving you to wait months with this fear hanging over you is awful. Are there any specialist nurses working in the disease area you can talk to?

DistingusedSocialCommentator · 01/03/2024 14:14

Hello OP
Not sure why some are voting against you but IMO, YANBU un reasonable

There was no need to say that as HCP should know better and not say stuff like that until they meet you. It should not have been said IMO, not in the language they used

IMO, you can have a word with them, and at best, possibly someone has a word with that HCP to be more vague and just talk about appt.

KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:15

I'm sorry, I don't agree. And I'm speaking as someone who got a cancer diagnosis last June. And I have an incredibly rare type so I haven't even got a full treatment type yet. I've had countless tests to try to determine exactly what it is and what to do next.
For me, it's all about time. It takes time to come to terms with this and how to deal with it. And to make preparations in case the worst happens. You can start this now instead of possibly waiting months more and then wishing you had more time to deal with it.

DistingusedSocialCommentator · 01/03/2024 14:16

TiIIyM · 01/03/2024 14:08

I'd call the consultant and tell them you want answers now, not semi answers leaving you in limbo. Sorry for what you're going through 💕

Call the secretary and tell them re your concerns and you want a chat, reassurances etc or an earlier appointment if possible

Just call the switchboard and ask for that doc/consultants secretary

Good luck

EdgarsTale · 01/03/2024 14:20

KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:15

I'm sorry, I don't agree. And I'm speaking as someone who got a cancer diagnosis last June. And I have an incredibly rare type so I haven't even got a full treatment type yet. I've had countless tests to try to determine exactly what it is and what to do next.
For me, it's all about time. It takes time to come to terms with this and how to deal with it. And to make preparations in case the worst happens. You can start this now instead of possibly waiting months more and then wishing you had more time to deal with it.

But there might be nothing to worry about or it may not be as bad as feared. It’s terrible that the OP has been left in limbo like that. It won’t help her at all.

Notinthemood12 · 01/03/2024 14:22

I don’t understand, do you have a diagnosis already that has progressed? Why are you waiting months? Contact PALS and chief exec of the hospital if PALS don’t help. All this needs speeding up, completely unacceptable to leave you in limbo

GoosieLucie · 01/03/2024 14:23

KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:15

I'm sorry, I don't agree. And I'm speaking as someone who got a cancer diagnosis last June. And I have an incredibly rare type so I haven't even got a full treatment type yet. I've had countless tests to try to determine exactly what it is and what to do next.
For me, it's all about time. It takes time to come to terms with this and how to deal with it. And to make preparations in case the worst happens. You can start this now instead of possibly waiting months more and then wishing you had more time to deal with it.

But the problem, if I have understood the OP correctly, is that there has been no diagnosis yet, so the OP doesn't actually know what it is that they have to deal with. All the OP has been given is some sort of "hint" that the test results were worrying. OP now has to wait several weeks to be told what the results were. I find that appalling, to be honest. It's downright cruel to phone someone with a message like that and then leave them hanging there in limbo for weeks before they can find out what's wrong.

Datafan55 · 01/03/2024 14:25

Does it make it possible for your GP to expediate the appt though (ie as you know)?

minimidge · 01/03/2024 14:27

well, I do have a diagnosis of cancer, these tests were to see if it has metastasised. I've been treated for the primary cancer. I have tried ringing various people in the hospital to talk to someone, or get the appointment moved earlier, but nothing yet, although I have chemotherapy going ahead as normal next week. I don't know if anyone in the chemo suite will know anything.

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:27

I've been in limbo since June as nobody knows what to do yet. I still think it's better to have more warning. The OP has been told the results are worrying. I would prefer to be told that sooner than later.

KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:28

I've just seen your update. I'm sorry to hear that.

Bigbiggirlinabigbigworld · 01/03/2024 14:31

OP, sorry to read your update. It may be worth contacting PALS for help at the hospital if you don't have success reaching the secretary.

minimidge · 01/03/2024 14:41

KrisAkabusi · 01/03/2024 14:27

I've been in limbo since June as nobody knows what to do yet. I still think it's better to have more warning. The OP has been told the results are worrying. I would prefer to be told that sooner than later.

I don't want more warning! Especially as its all so vague- I don't want all this uncertainty.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 01/03/2024 14:42

That's a really odd way to approach an appointment that's so far away. I agree with PP that you should speak to PALS, this isn't acceptable.

minimidge · 01/03/2024 14:44

I will try and speak to PALS. I think one of the issues is that it is I am dealing with so many different departments. This "worrying" thing is now in a different body part with a different consultant - not the people I know and am used to dealing with.

OP posts:
Notinthemood12 · 01/03/2024 14:48

They need to be communicating with each other so that you are not bearing the mental load, you’re going through enough.

marathon123 · 01/03/2024 17:47

Do you have a nurse specialist you can call?

DistingusedSocialCommentator · 01/03/2024 18:02

minimidge · 01/03/2024 14:44

I will try and speak to PALS. I think one of the issues is that it is I am dealing with so many different departments. This "worrying" thing is now in a different body part with a different consultant - not the people I know and am used to dealing with.

Ues, PALS, go for it. I often mention them but it can take a few days but they are very good and stuff done

Do ring the secretary, most are pretty good.
Email them as well and possibly there is the secretary's email online - i've been able to find minne online - but do ring as well - send the emails tonight so they
will see it early Monday - and follow up with a phone call late morning - try pals phone but often its on voicemail - so email them tonight

Keep email brieft inc your full details inc hspt number if poss but not improtant

good luck

TeenyTinyCrocodile · 01/03/2024 19:32

I voted YABU. But I do understand, I think, where you are coming from, because someone very close to me died from a terminal illness.

The problem is that staff also have patients like me who would not personally be at all happy if a HCP didn't give me my test results promptly, and in full, and indicated to me anything they thought I needed to know about them.

But YANBU in some respects, as it would have been better to ask you to come in to discuss the results than call you without adequate support for bad news. And if they are merely speculating and are not really involved in the core parts of your care, then that is not on at all.

And if you have already told them that you do not want to discuss interim results, or that you only want to discuss your potential prognosis with your hospital team and not anyone and everyone at your GP surgery, for example, then YADNBU.

IloveAslan · 01/03/2024 19:50

I'm more shocked that you could possibly be very ill but have to wait a couple of months to get more information. That is beyond appalling.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page