Speed of GP appointment is worrying me.

[MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]

I was filling in an online GP appointment form at about 4.45pm this evening with a view to getting an appointment in the next few weeks.

I explained that a mole had grown and was sharp and itchy.

I submitted the form and within a minute had been contacted to send a picture.

Which I did - then by return, was asked to send another one for scale.

Five minutes later I was contacted by a GP to go to the surgery for 8am on Monday.

The speed of the appointment is quite shocking with regards to the current pandemic restrictions.

And now I'm worried ....

No sleep for me this weekend.

Are sharp, itchy moles anything to be concerned about?

This would be normal in my practice. The online system is very efficient!

Changes in moles could be a sign of skin cancer so best to get it dealt with

Very common to have moles cut out - simple procedure that can avoid really nasty stuff

The speed of response is in relation to the symptom you reported, rather than what is actually happening to your mole iyswim.

It is important that changes in moles are checked out as quickly as possible, so great that the surgery was on it.

Stressful, but try to remember that it's now as 'in hand' as it can be.

Hopefully, it's nothing serious but there's no way of the doctor confirming that until s/he has found out more.

At our practice the responses take either 3 mins or 8 hours. If you email while a doctor is on the system it seems to queue junp you.

Rub some rich moisturiser into the mole over the weekend. They can build up a layer of dead skin.

They may have a mole clinic and you accidentally timed it perfectly!

Agree with pp. Any changes reported would be investigated. Sometimes its literally nothing, sometimes the hospital photograph them and keep them on file, and sometimes they cut them out. Try not to worry.

@Postdatedpandemic

It's not dead skin/dry/flaky.

When I enlarged the photo it's quite clear and shiny and brain like.

I've had it covered with a plaster to stop it catching on clothes for a couple of weeks.

I've noticed it's grown over the years, I was a dark brown mole which has appeared to loose its colour. An analogy would be - a dull flat cap turning into a shiny top hat. It's standing out quite high from the skin.

Since the GP rang it feels even sharper. And time has slowed to a stop.

Sure it's not a skin tag?

@iloveyankeecandle

Don't think so. I'm a skin taggy person and tie them off with cotton so they drop off. 😬

I think I can see a little spot underneath where it might have bled.

I think GP would have said 'That's a skin tag.' and I wouldn't need seeing.

Never had a painful skin tag.

It's looking like I'll have to shave my legs and bikini line to get ready for the appointment. 🙄 Just in case they want to search for other 'blebs'.

@GreenLunchBox

This would be normal in my practice. The online system is very efficient!

This. What else are they going to do that day if they don't quickly deal with the on-line approaches from patients which must save so much time-wasting.

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche hope it goes ok for you. Have everything crossed

My DH has had the opposite problem with a suspicious mole. He can’t get a gp appointment to have it looked at. Phoned on Friday couldn’t get through so submitted an on line e consult form. E Mail back from surgery at 3pm saying no appointments but to ring Monday at 8. Rang dead on 8 this morning, no 46 in queue took 50 minutes to get answered to be told no appointments, ring back tomorrow at 8. Paid for a private GP appointment at 3pm this afternoon who confirmed needed to be looked at asap under the nhs 2 week protocol. Phoned GP will not provide referral without seeing dh first can see him Saturday. Luckily, dh has private healthcare through work so he will pursue this instead tomorrow.

@cassgate
This is what my surgery are normally like. That's why I was worried about the speed of the appointment. I had sent in photos and this must have been why I was seen quickly. I have seen similar images online which are not benign.

Unfortunately, I don't have private insurance, so your husband is lucky in that respect. I hope he is seen quickly. This should not be a postcode lottery.

Thank you @iloveyankeecandle

I have been referred under the two week wait protocol. I had some more high resolution photos done at the surgery today which are going to the dermatologist.

I also did urine and blood tests today.

My mother had cancerous lesions removed and I also have cousins who have had lesions which have involved removing a piece of tongue and bone. (One was thought to be a cold sore on the lip originally, the other was thought to be an age spot on the forehead.)

I'm calmer now. I think I have a better perspective. My cousins have recovered and my mum is 90 yrs old. They've had about 18-20 lesions removed between them.

I'm waiting to hear from the surgery - hopefully won't lose any more sleep.

My brain still races though at quiet times.

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche glad you're feeling calmer about it all. Try to keep yourself busy in the waiting time