DD’s blood test results “abnormal”. AIBU to be worried??

[MyRareCritic]

DD has had a range of medical issues, mainly gastroparesis that affected her long term, resulting in weight loss. Alongside this, she has had many other issues and we have been looking into some lingering joint pain that has been affecting her for quite a long time. The GP organised some blood tests and I called up to see if the results were ready.

I was told by the receptionist that there are a few abnormal results so I need to talk to the GP. I will be speaking to the GP tomorrow. I asked if it is anything serious and they said they can’t say.

I am obviously now very worried about what this could be. The fact they said “a few” are abnormal has concerned me.

I am really struggling with “what if” scenario is running wild and hoping for a handhold.

I tried to reassure myself by the fact I didn’t automatically receive a phone call, but I’ve no idea if that means anything. The tests were done on Monday morning.

Im very grateful for any support.

At our surgery the receptionist isn't allowed to say what the actual result is, because they are not trained to interpret them.

They are only be able to say normal, not normal and book an appointment. Sone say routine appointment, others don't say routine or urgent.

Current method of appointment booking is that you are added to a list, and they work through the list. It saves the repeated scramble of trying to get through and being told there are no appointments for 2 weeks time. They also allocate to a specific gp if they have more of a knowledge in that issue.

Either way it sounds as if you will get to wolfram to someone before too long, so I wouldn't worry too much. ( easier said than done, but it won't change the outcome of what they are going to say - which may not be as bad as you are fearing anyway)

Thanks all… this wait is awful. I feel like such a useless mum for not being able to keep a handle on my worrying.

Doctor here - if the results were alarmingly abnormal and needed immediate intervention or action, the lab would’ve contacted the requesting doctor and they would’ve contacted your daughter/you directly.

Appt on 12th March sounds like yes it’s picked up something abnormal but it’s nothing that is going to do serious harm in the intervening 7 days.
Breathe.
I know it’s horrendous when you’ve been battling and gastroparesis is horrible illness and both of you must be exhausted.

I hope when you’re seen you can get some answers and your daughter can start to feel better x

Thank you @Houndsahollering ❤️

Also some can be ‘abnormal’ ie out of range to a receptionist but ‘normal’ for the Dr’s opinion in the context of your daughter’s age/ situation/ symptoms (as ranges can change depending on age etc). Any that are worryingly out of range should have been picked up and a phone call/ sooner appointment arranged, so hopefully the Dr can reassure you at your appointment.

The receptionist is not allowed to comment

If it was “bad” you would have had a call already and been fitter in sooner than the 12th

I have recently had a blood test for this and the dr called me back, which worried me as they said no news is good news. I do have some abnormalities that suggest high inflammation and am on a dose of phenoxymethlpenicillin. Not sure what happens after that though. It could be a similar scenario with your dd. I’m surprised your dr didn’t phone you with the results.

My experience is that although you can access your own bloods and it’s great for that, I can’t access children’s blood tests regardless of the fact that I have them linked to my NHS account. So even with the app, assuming OP could use it, it might not work.

Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious, OP. I’ve had this recently for my child and the first step was to wait 2 weeks and repeat the bloods.

My dr called me back two days after, which did get my heart racing when I saw the name on my phone. I’ve been given a course of penicillin and that’s it. He said he doesn’t need to see me after even if I’m not improved (which seems a bit odd). If he took the bother to call me less than 48 hours after the test why was he so casual?

I was surprised by that too, but am hoping that’s a good sign.

Yes. My heart dropped when he phoned back so quick. Good luck for your dd, hopefully it’ll be no more than a course of meds. 🤞

High blood calcium can lead to pseudo-gout IE inflamed joints

If it was that bad they would have phoned you straightaway.
My sister died of cancer 2 years ago. Immediately before being diagnosed, she had routine blood tests as she was fatigued. She got a call from out of hours GP telling same night telling her to get to hospital for a blood transfusion (dangerously low red blood cells)
GP also phoned me x2 when I had red blood cells in urine. If GP was that worried about the results, they would have made contact first

Try not to worry OP, if it was urgent and something really concerning they would have called you soon as the results came in .

It’s such a worry when your child’s been unwell. x

Thanks all. I’m really clinging on to the fact the more urgent the issue, the quicker I’d have been phoned.

I think I’m just struggling with being in this cycle of worry that we have been in for 3.5 years now. We find an issue, we try to fix the issue, we make progress, we find another issue, and so on. And then there have been the other issues we have struggled to fix, which I thought we were coming through the end of. The final puzzle piece has been the joint issues, which prompted these tests, and now we potentially find another issue.

Like I said upthread, I know it’s not about me, it’s about her, but I’m trying to prop her up and pull her through all of this, but there’s no one propping me up and pulling me through and I’m just finding the weight of it is feeling heavier and heavier, the more time that passes. I’m just spent!

I have just been contacted by the surgery and given a face to face appointment, but it’s not for another 2 weeks. The receptionist categorically wouldn’t give me any information on the phone, and said they can’t give me a print out of the results. I understand that, but also am now wondering why the doctor can’t give me the results today by telephone, and why it needs to be an in person appointment.

The receptionist said that if there had been anything drastically wrong, they would have booked me an urgent appointment. But to be honest, I’m now not sure why they are booking a face to face appointment, rather than the phone call today that the receptionist promised yesterday.

Anyone know why it would have to be face to face, but not require us to be seen sooner?

Can you log in to your NHS app as they updated results on there for me. Not sure if they will do it for your DD.

They may want to examine your dd physically in light of the results.

I would ask Dr for a call back today.

Op, if you're really worried, you could take her to a walk-in blood test centre. Won't be cheap, depending on the scope of the tests, but may be worth it if you're very anxious. Unless you are very rural, there will be somewhere to see you today. You will get the results on the same day. It will highlight any results that are outside of 'normal,' possibly with an explanation. I also find Chat GPT is quite good for interpreting blood test results.

Even if you could see results I would bet that anything the GP wants to discuss wouldn't be on there yet
The fact that you haven't been given an appt sooner indicates that is not an emergency.
I hope things get better for your DD

Why won't the reception email her results to you? Our GP reception will always do this straightaway.

i have no idea. I asked the question and was just told that isnt something they are able to do.

But the fact they won’t tell me on the phone and we need to be seen in person… doesn’t that indicate it’s fairly important?

Maybe ring back and ask again for the results to be emailed? It could just be that particular receptionist. They are your results and I don't think they can withhold them?