Had an abdominal ultrasound 4 weeks ago.. worried

[KurtWildesChristmasNamechange]

Had an ultrasound last year because of suspected gallstones. Radiographer said I had sludge, showed me the scan, and GP said to see how things went. Symptoms are 'baby's foot' feeling under the right rib but occasionally both sides, noisy tummy, but otherwise nothing major.

I had a flare up during October and was referred for another ultrasound in November to see if I had more sludge/bigger stones. This time the radiographer didn't say anything other than 'And you were told you had gallstones? Who told you that?' I said the previous radiographer had shown me them and it was confirmed by GP. I asked why but he juts continued the scan and when he finished he said results would take about a week.

It's been 4 weeks now and I've called the GP every week only to be told my results weren't ready yet. Today I called and was told the GP had received my results this morning but wanted to discuss them with the radiographer before speaking to me about them. I asked why but the receptionist didn't know.

I'm terrified. I've jumped to the worst possible conclusion and now I've got to wait for the GP to get in touch - no idea when that will be but they're closed til Monday now - after already waiting 4 weeks. Symptoms are no different to the ones I had last year, just a flare up, so now I'm wondering why did this radiographer react differently to the first one, and why does my GP need to discuss my results with them? Just really worried now!

Don't know anything about gallstones, but just wanted to say don't panic! Anything super serious and you really would have heard by now.

Thanks for replying @Rosamond35 I do keep telling myself if it was anything serious they wouldn't have waited 4 weeks to tell me, but then I think maybe it's covid slowing down the process! Trying not to get myself in a tizzy this weekend.

I agree with rosamond. It's hard to not worry OP, but if it was serious, they would have contacted you before, probably even the next day.

I've told this story before under another name, but when I had my first smear, I got a letter saying I needed to see the dr. Phoned for a GP appointment and the receptionist said she couldn't tell me over the phone, so my mind went into overdrive. By the time I went for my appointment, I'd gone through scenarios where I had cancer and HIV. I almost fainted with relief when he said it was thrush!

One might almost think they enjoy making you sweat but even with covid etc, it's highly unlikely they would have left it four weeks to get in contact.

Thanks @PaulRuddsWife Logically I know this is probably the case, but today I've convinced myself this is my last Christmas. I don't normally worry about my health but this has really knocked me for a six.

I'm still waiting for the GP to receive the report from an urgent (within 2 weeks) ultrasound which I had almost 3 weeks ago. The radiographer verbally told me I had gallstones and I have seen a private consultant already on the strength of that but I am still waiting for the NHS written confirmation that I do indeed have gallstones. I was told the report would get to my GP within 7-10 days.

So with the whole system so shambolic, I would advise you to try not to worry until you know you have need. Probably the radiographer noticed that your condition would now qualify for treatment on the NHS rather than expect you to live with it as they seem to do with gallstones judging from posts on here. Good luck

@gallbladderpains I hadn't thought of that. I've jumped to the worst case scenario which is quite unusual for me! When I had my initial ultrasound last year the radiographer showed me the gallstone sludge, maybe it's actual stones now and needs dealing with rather than leaving to 'wait and see' again. The pain was intermittent before but it's almost constant now like having a stitch all the time. It doesn't stop my day to day life but it's certainly not pleasant!

Sorry to hear about your experience and worry.

My best guess is: mind in overdrive?- you think it's cancer. It almost 100% isn't. The big plus of being ultrasound scanned nowadays is that the scanning person the radiographer/ultrasonographer is reporting your images. They won't leave a 'oh crap, what's this?' -potential diagnosis to fester for 4 weeks. That sort of result gets you back in, in days.

The NHS is utterly, utterly on its knees. But in my experience that part of it isn't fucked (yet).

When my gallstones were detected incidentally on an ultrasound I was told that many people can have them without them causing any issues, and that nothing needed to be done unless they were causing problems.
About a year later BOY did they cause problems and I ended up having an emergency cholecystectomy.
I know you might be quite worried but a few weeks delay in your circumstances shouldn’t be an issue.

gallbladderpains I'm sorry about being as blunt as I'm about to be, but, what did your MP say when you contacted them about 'the shambolic' nature of 'the system'?

You know where I'm going with this.

I imagine that you moaned on MN, thought 'useless NHS' and left it at that?

Please, please, contact your MO. Especially if they're Tory.

People have no idea of what a mess the NHS is in.

@Fordian yeah that's exactly where my mind is at. I think what really set me off was with the first ultrasound last year the radiographer said oh yes gallstone sludge and showed me it on the screen. This time round he didn't say anything other than to ask who had told me I had gallstones, and that my results would be back within a week and to contact my GP then. It really worried me that he didn't say what he'd seen but he clearly saw something! What's worrying me is that my results have been delayed for whatever reason and if they found something bad it's a month worse than it was! I also don't understand why my GP wants to talk to the radiographer before discussing my results with me.

I've gone from mostly level headed to a bit of a mess this weekend.

@Fordian

gallbladderpains I'm sorry about being as blunt as I'm about to be, but, what did your MP say when you contacted them about 'the shambolic' nature of 'the system'?

You know where I'm going with this.

I imagine that you moaned on MN, thought 'useless NHS' and left it at that?

Please, please, contact your MO. Especially if they're Tory.

People have no idea of what a mess the NHS is in.

I think with waiting lists at record levels across the UK post-covid, people know. It's not even a funding problem anymore, I think it is a lack of qualified staff problem. There are lots of vacant posts in the NHS after all.

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange I totally sympathise as I’ve currently got myself dead and buried with the same symptoms. My anxiety is through the roof.

I have the stitch pain, it’s been practically constant the last few weeks, sometimes moves a bit from under right rib to more central under sternum, or even beside my belly button on the right. Varies in intensity and quality. Getting back pain too. GP doesn’t know if it’s gastritis or gallbladder, so I’ve been put on omeprazole, but it doesn’t seem to have done much, apart from make my stools loose and yellow (sorry). Have lost weight too, so now I’m in a right state.

Seeing a private gastro on Tuesday who will hopefully arrange for an ultrasound to be done privately. Was told it could be a while on the NHS and the thought of waiting and worrying is too much. If I know what it is, even if gallstones, I would be fine….it’s the not knowing and thinking the worst.

Let us know how you get on tomorrow! X

@WilsonMilson it's horrible isn't it! With them telling me last year that I have gall sludge I was ok with it, but now with the GP wanting to discuss things with the radiographer before speaking to me about the results my mind is all over the place. I'm not usually this dramatic but for some reason I'm terrified it's cancer and I won't see my youngest DC grow up etc. I've got some back and joint pain too and felt the need to cough when I breath in occasionally, so now I'm pinning all that on it being something really nasty. I'm on lansoprazole and it does help so maybe I'm worrying needlessly.

I hope you get some answers soon Wilson, will hopefully know what's going on tomorrow and update.

I remember being phoned up by my surgery just 48 hrs after a blood test that I needed to see the doctor. Panic, couldn't sleep, turned out I had low potassium and just needed tablets.
Good luck for tomorrow and don't forget to come back and keep us up to date.

@Theoldcuriosityshop I've had that before with a blood test, really freak you out when they do that!

I'll be sure to update when I find out what's what, thanks all

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange did you manage to get your ultrasound results?

@WilsonMilson thanks for asking, I meant to pop back earlier but it's been a busy evening. The doctor hasn't called me, yet again. After being promised I'd hear back today. I called the surgery this afternoon and the receptionist said she isn't sure what the hold up is and she'd leave a message for my GP - again

This is over 4 weeks of waiting and I'm barely sleeping because I'm so bloody worried!!

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange you have the results by now. I got my stool sample result back and I’m positive for H Pylori which may explain some of the stomach symptoms I’ve been having. Been prescribed hefty antibiotics that the doctor said were likely to make me feel quite sick and horrible for a week. Am thinking of putting them off until after Christmas as I simply don’t have time to be out of action before then.

@WilsonMilson I'm glad that's sorted for you, leaving off the antibiotics until after Christmas sounds like a good idea.

Still no results for me. I phoned again yesterday and they said my GP hasn't looked at them, which is different to what they told me last week! I've asked for the 8th time now to please leave a message for my GP to get back to me as I've been quite bad with sickness and shivering after eating this last couple of days and I just want to know what's going on

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange that’s so dismissive and crap, I’m sorry your doctors are so bad. I’d absolutely phone back every day and I would complain to the practice manager. That’s just not on, especially as you continue to feel rubbish. Sending hugs x

@KurtWildesChristmasNamechange also, you might want to request an H Pylori stool test yourself if the isn’t showing up anything much. X

Thanks @WilsonMilson I've been phoning every 2 days for 5 weeks and dismissed every turn. I made an official complaint yesterday but the response was '..due to covid it may take some weeks to deal with your complaint..'

I'll get them to check that out, I'm going to call at 8am and ask for an appointment because as it stands I can't eat without being sick. I'm taking DC to the deepest darkest rural wilds to visit relatives straight from school on Friday and back Sunday night, so
I'd at least like a few answers before then so I can enjoy the weekend away.

Oh @KurtWildesChristmasNamechange this sounds rubbish! Really hope you can get seen quickly for this latest issue and get some clarity on the scan too. Fingers crossed for some answers and some relief.

That's so rubbish, you poor thing.
Your symptoms do sound like gallbladder, (I've got sludge)
@WilsonMilson, I had h.pylori years ago, the antibiotics are the worst thing. Your stomach will feel like it's full of cement. I found peppermint oil helped.

Thanks all, it was diagnosed as gallbladder sludge about a year ago so I'm guessing just more of it now? But the wait has sent my imagination into overdrive, not knowing what the results are is physically driving me spare!