To be getting panicky about heel prick results?

[CandleRigg89]

I have a 3 week old DD and a 3 year old DS. DS was found to have congenital hypothyroidism picked up via heel prick. We had diagnosis and medication by 3 weeks old. He’s thriving and totally unaffected by the condition.

Had some extra thyroid testing during pregnancy but it was decided standard heel prick would be enough for DD. This was taken on 2nd Nov, and midwife said results would take 2 weeks. We’re now 18 days later and Health Visitor said results still aren’t up.

I googled it and apparantly CH must be treated in first 21 days of life, but cystic fibrosis must be on a clinical management to diagnosis by 28 days of life. DD is on day 24 and I’m so worried we’ll be blindsided over the next few days by yet another unexpected diagnosis.

I asked the HV if there was a lab number I could call to chase up but she’s said to leave it with her, although I think she’s a bit miffed at me asking about it again.

Has anyone else taken ages to get the results back and all was ok? Would you feel worried like this too?

You can't phone the lab,its not something they can talk to you about, but please stop googling, It will not help your anxiety

I think you are quite within your right to be thinking about this, given your past and that the treatment should be started early.
And quite within your right to chase the HV again and take it further if necessary.
If the results should be back within 2 weeks then they should be back.
(Nothing against the HV but rather the system).
Chase it again. Report the slow result outside treatment guidance to PALS (who can hopefully take it further for you.)

And fingers crossed for you that everything is ok.

Where I live and work if the results are all ok you get a letter in the post within 6 weeks, so the fact you haven't heard anything yet would be reassuring for me. But I haven't had a child diagnosis through the blood spot test so I appreciate the anxiety you're feeling.

I hope the results are back soon

This isn’t anxiety. This is a reasonable response to a late test result outside the window it should be returned, when there has been issues in the past. And a logical response to the system not being supportive.
The system is broken. But this worry isn’t illogical.

I have always been told with results like this that not hearing anything is usually a sign that there’s nothing to say. Letting people know everything is fine isn’t the priority so takes longer, whereas communicating an issue is done very quickly. I therefore suspect no news is good news.

That said, you’re not at all unreasonable to want clarity and if they said two weeks it should be two weeks. Don’t be afraid to make a nuisance of yourself and keep pestering the health visitor. Squeaky wheels get oiled etc.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I think part of the issue is that most people don’t notice late results but we’re specifically waiting for them. Don’t get me wrong the HV is lovely, but obviously I feel an urgency that maybe no one else does.

I was trying to take the ‘no news is good news’ approach but I need the answers! I can feel worry about it building!

@Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic thank you for your comments! It’s hard to tell when worry is justified vs mum worry sometimes so thank you for saying it’s not unreasonable!