Stool sample- positive indicators for IBD

[Thismummyrunstheshow]

Hi all

Hoping for some general experience around bowel issues. Had a GP examination and blood/stool samples sent away. I received a phone call the following week from the Doctors confirming that indicators had shown for IBD and a referral had been sent through for an appointment with a Gastroenterologist at the hospital.
Now by any means, I don't expect to be seen next week, I know it doesn't work like that but my appointment date has come through and it's for a years time in 2023.
Following another bout of horrendous diarrhoea this morning, I just don't know how to manage what's possibly going on with me. I've got 2 young children and try to exercise as much as I can. I went for a long run this morning to rush back home to use the toilet and I've remained sat here for 30 minutes unable to move.
Is this my life for the next year? I could cry.

Poor you. Sorry you're suffering.

Is it possible to pay for a private consultation? Usually the consultants at NHS hospitals run private clinics, so it would be the same person as you'd see in the NHS hospital, only you could see them next week.

If you're able to do this, you could say that once a diagnosis has been made, you'd like to switch seeing them on the NHS. It might bump you up the queue.

Do you have the consultants/clinic office contact details? If you do and were in a position to just drop everything and go to an appt. I would ring them and say I am available to take a cancelation if one arises. I did this recently and an 8 month wait turned into a 2 day wait , I got a call at 5pm for a next day appt. At the moment they do have a lot more cancellations due to covid symptoms

Just to add if you are thinking of paying privately and how much it could cost - I have just had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy followed by an MRI as I have been diagnosed with IBD following an NHS colonoscopy, and the cost is just under £3000 so far.

That's awful. IBD can be totally life changing. My DH has it and when controlled you forget he has it, when it is not he becomes unwell very quickly. Do you know what you level was. It used to be that if your symptoms were controlled then the consultants were happy but, research now shows that faecal calprotectin levels indicate disease severity and therefore damage.

I second contacting the secretary and asking to be put on the list for last minute appointments otherwise PALS might be worth a try, explain your symptoms. Do you work?

Agree with all the other posts about contacting them and asking for a cancellation.
Sometimes seeing a consultant privately just for one appointment can get you moved up the NHS waiting lists. One consultation will cost you around £180ish.
As a fellow IBDer I know how awful it is when not under control.
The only other suggestion which may not be great is if it gets unbearable is to present at a&e, they maybe able to give you a course of steroids to get it under short term control and ask for you to be seen quicker.