How long does it take for biopsy results from colonoscopy

[SummersBreeze]

I had a colonoscopy 5 weeks ago due to being sick last year. My GP referred me. The paper I got after the procedure said may take two weeks for biopsy results. It's weeks past that now. Is the delay anything to worry about? Who talks to me about the results? Is it the GP or will an appointment be set up for a consult from the hospital? I rang the GP but the biopsy/ies weren't back yet. My GP is usually good at emailing me results but she didn't do that yet. Why is there such a delay?

It’s very odd that you didn’t get any explanation from anyone. I’m presuming because of Covid rules you didn’t have a relative or friend present at your discharge? You would struggle to remember what was said because of the sedation, which is why there should be a second pair of ears.
I wonder if you will get an outpatient appointment to discuss it all?

@MissyB1

It’s very odd that you didn’t get any explanation from anyone. I’m presuming because of Covid rules you didn’t have a relative or friend present at your discharge? You would struggle to remember what was said because of the sedation, which is why there should be a second pair of ears. I wonder if you will get an outpatient appointment to discuss it all?

I had my partner outside. They forced him to come up to the ward when I was done with the procedure. Once I was wheeled out from the procedure room I was awake and I was up out of the bed within minutes. I actually felt fine. It was only during the procedure it was a bit cloudy but I do have some memory of the procedure. I remember the nurse gave me the page and she said your GP should have adviced you on a eating a high fibre diet. She said to follow the advice my GP should have given me. I remember that.

There wasn't one medical professional to inform of what that diver condition is and what it means going forward. I found everything out through Google and support groups. I am going to be prone to gut infections and I am at risk for complications like a bowel perforation and other complications. There wasn't one person that will sit down and tell me that. I don't even know if I will even get an outpatients appointment. My procedure was over 6 weeks ago. If I was getting an outpatients appointment surely a date should be with me now. Where is it? At this rate an email would do me.

@MissyB1

Aaah ok so biopsies and a polyp will have gone to the lab. It’s a shame you didn’t get the report, it’s considered best practice to give the patient a copy of it before they go home. The reports are done in between patients usually so pretty much instantly, they have a computer program for it. The lab results should eventually make their way to the GP. You could ring the Endoscopy department though, as they might be able to access them, but do give it at least another couple of weeks.

do give it at least another couple of weeks

How many more weeks do they need? 6 weeks have already gone by?

You could try contacting the colorectal specialist nurses for your hospital. They might be able to get the information. Try calling the hospital switchboard and asking to be put through. It would be handy to have your NHS number for them.

@SummersBreeze
6 weeks should be enough. Phone Endoscopy and ask them how you get the biopsy results, ask if they can look them up.
You could also ask them to post you a copy of the report.
Make another appointment with the GP (perhaps a different one),to discuss the potential implications of diverticular disease, and the best ways to manage it.

@ThePontiacBandit

You could try contacting the colorectal specialist nurses for your hospital. They might be able to get the information. Try calling the hospital switchboard and asking to be put through. It would be handy to have your NHS number for them.

It seems as if the results were going to be sent to the GP so I presumed I would get the results from my GP but that didn't happen. I don't know if I should be phoning the hospital.

[quote MissyB1]@SummersBreeze
6 weeks should be enough. Phone Endoscopy and ask them how you get the biopsy results, ask if they can look them up.
You could also ask them to post you a copy of the report.
Make another appointment with the GP (perhaps a different one),to discuss the potential implications of diverticular disease, and the best ways to manage it.[/quote]
Do endoscopy departments hear these requests all the time?
I do want to see the report that's on my condition because so far for weeks I was given limited information.

There's so much that I want and need to know about this condition and managing it but I know myself like my GP will be useless. Eat more fibre will be all I will be told and that's not exactly what I am looking for right now.

The support groups that I am on are mainly American based. They run to the er at any sign of pains.

I want to know what the management of it is on this side of the water. I have a feeling doctors in Europe would be more conservative with antibiotics and rightly so. I want to know would running a low grade fever be something to worry about or would I have to wait til temperature spikes into a fever over 38. The groups I am on, some people have diverticulitis and complications without any fever and that's something that seems scary to me. There is so much more that I want to know too.
What should my steps be if I suspect a flare? Would I be able to wait a day or two for an appointment with the GP or would I need to deal with it more promptly? What happens if I suspect the diver is brewing at a weekend when GP surgeries are closed? Hell will freeze over before I go to a+e.
My doctor knows I am someone who generally avoids doctors and I only turn up once or twice a year or every two years when I know I am very bad (that was pre diverticulosis). I want to know if I will need a referral to a gastro or will it be managed closer to home from the GPs. I want to know if it will be good and safe for me to travel this year or am I looking at a bag type of situation at some point?

There's so much but I got no information from anyone except to eat more fibre.
There was no explanation from anyone about this condition. I had to find it all out through Google how there's no cure for the condition. The diver pockets don't go away and it's something I will have for the rest of my life to manage.

I am finding it very raw how I was informed with this condition on a piece of paper on discharge and how I was completely on my own with this over the past few weeks.

I am sore most days but I don't know if it's a flare or just me being hyper aware and sensitive to everything going on in my gut right now. I feel pressure in my lower left belly with every step I take. I don't know if that's a flare and to be honest I don't feel like going to any doctor after the way I was treated over the past few weeks of keeping me guessing and begging.

Honestly the Endoscopy department should be used to handling queries from patients post procedure. And if they had given you the report in the first place you wouldn’t have to ask for it now!
Make sure you have your hospital number handy (not serious if you don’t).

I'm finding it very difficult today. It's very raw how I wasn't given an official diagnosis and it was on a piece of discharge paper from the hospital and then there was nothing. I was just left hanging and waiting around and there was nothing.

If people here were to Google diverticulosis its likely you will read - many people have this and don't know it and it doesn't cause any issues except in a small percent of people it can cause diverticulitis where an infection develops.

I was sick last year and It was suspected I had a gut infection so this flared once already.

It's very raw knowing that I am going to be prone to gut infections going forward and they can come with complications and it's very raw how there hasn't been any medical guidance in any of this. I was completely on my own to learn about this. It doesn't fill me with much faith if I need any medical care going forward.

I was told to ring the colposcopy clinic if any questions and that's who I rang to chase results. The letter/report eventually came to me and a copy to gp

It was the diagnosis that wasn't ever really official and waiting around for results is what's killing me. I know it's not sinister but still some communication would be good. It's not like I was waiting over night or a week or 2. Weeks has passed now at this stage.

I can't take it anymore. I was at work all weekend and I made it home and just started to drink myself pure silly. I don't want to go into another week of waiting.

When yo get your confirmation of results make routine HP appointment to discuss your queries.it is unlikely that you will get hospital follow up for this.I am sure you have seen the NHS advice on line which although brief is fairly clear.

Gp

I have one every 5 years and get a printout there and then. My consultant writes a few weeks later.

My MIL and Aunt both had DV, both had different GP and both were given different advice as to what to eat. One was told 3 to 5 bananas a day. Both took fibregel each day. My DH now has the condition and has occasional flare ups, but has a far better controlled diet now, mostly wholemeal bread, very occasional cakes and biscuits. If you are having a flare up with a temperature you may need antibiotics. I would also ring the colostomy department to check on results. They will know how long results are taking.

@MuthaHubbard

I was told to ring the colposcopy clinic if any questions and that's who I rang to chase results. The letter/report eventually came to me and a copy to gp

My GP already got the endoscopy report and that must have been a number of weeks ago. Why didn't I get a copy of it? You would think I would get a copy of the report at the same time? My GP only gave me one word to describe the diverticulosis condition that I have and that was 'extensive'. That's all I got.

Is that how people are given diagnosises now? On a piece of paper with a one word follow up.

I'm still waiting on the biopsy results.

I am phoning my GP after lunch to see if there's any results in yet.

Do I ask them for a copy of the report?

At the time of the colonoscopy I found the hospital very poor. I was given a phone appointment for two weeks and the doctor/consultant who spoke to me said there will be mail in the post soon to me with a prescription. So I watched the mail for the whole entire week after that call which happened on a Friday. Nothing came and the procedure was another week away. It only came on the Tuesday of the following week, days before the prep and procedure.

I found that time scale very poor so it's no surprise I wasn't informed in any decent way of my results.

I was already in touch with my GP last week and the week before. At this stage will they get in touch with me when the results come in or do I need to keep phoning them?

GPs only get in touch about results if there is something worrying. If it’s all ok they don’t tend to contact you.

I was supposed to have today off and I was going to make some calls today but then I was called into work at lunchtime and it's been all go since. I am hoping to ring this week whenever I get a free patch of time but I don't know when that will be.

Will the hospital at least send me a letter with the results and the endoscopy report? Or has that ship sailed on the endoscopy report. I want to see that endoscopy report.

I doubt they are going to post it. You need to ring and ask for it.

The letter/report may be lost, before it got to the post or in the post. Just ring up and ask. The nhs is used to people ringing up and asking. Often it’s the only way.

@tothemoonandbackbuses

The letter/report may be lost, before it got to the post or in the post. Just ring up and ask. The nhs is used to people ringing up and asking. Often it’s the only way.

Who do I ring? The GP or the endoscopy department in the hospital I attended?

@MissyB1

It’s very odd that you didn’t get any explanation from anyone. I’m presuming because of Covid rules you didn’t have a relative or friend present at your discharge? You would struggle to remember what was said because of the sedation, which is why there should be a second pair of ears. I wonder if you will get an outpatient appointment to discuss it all?

Just found this on the back of my discharge paper. Looks like there won't be any outpatients appointment to discuss it.