Anaemic and positive FIT but told up to year wait for colonoscopy

[Sassy306]

I went to the Doctors in April feeling rundown. Wondered if it was maybe the start of Peri (F,39)
Had a load of tests, hormones, thyroid, diabetes etc. All clear, but turned out I was low in Iron and anaemic so was prescribed iron tablets and asked to do a FIT test and urine test (clear) and one for H.polyri (clear)
FIT was positive at 260 (anything over 10 is positive)

Doctor then sent an urgent referral to Gastroenterology.
I waited 6 weeks and heard nothing so gave the hospital a call to in case I had missed the appointment letter.

They told I am scheduled for both endoscopy and colonoscopy but there is up to a year wait for them 😑They suggested I ask my Doctor to write to them and ask them to separate the procedures. If I was only getting a colonoscopy for example, it would be approx 16 week wait.

Now waiting on another Doctors appointment to see what they can do but just wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with this?
According to Doctor Google ( which im trying to stay off), the Nice guidelines say I need to be seen within 6 weeks.
Surely they are not going to leave me wondering for up to a year?

This doesn't seem right to me. I had a positive FIT test (35) and I got referred for a colonoscopy on the 2 week fast track basis. I'm in West Yorkshire if it makes any difference. Hope you get sorted soon. x

I might be wrong here but I believe that this 'two week pathway' has now been scrapped.

news.cancerresearchuk.org/2023/08/17/breaking-down-nhs-englands-changes-in-standards-for-cancer-care/

Thanks for the link. Even reading that, a year is surely still too long to wait :/
I'm in Scotland so not sure if that makes a difference.

Will see what the Doctor says on Friday

In Scotland privately at Circle Health you can get both procedures in one appointment and they i/v sedate you. Your GP can refer you as a self-funding patient if the NHS lets you down. A year seems a totally unacceptable wait.

Those with abnormal results / abnormal qfit tests - within 28 days i think

I had them seperate

Colonoscopy was urgent
Within 2 weeek wait

Endoscopy was also quite fast

I think given your abnormal poop test
And the new system - i think you get seen within 28 days.
If you have any bowel cancer fam history - tell them .

Fatigue wise - / run down wise - have you had b12 and vit D checked?

Thanks for the reply. I had everything else checked and all in normal range.
I spoke to the Doctors again this week (never get the same one twice).
This Doctor asked if I had had follow up bloods since starting the Iron tablets which I haven't. She said I should have had this done and apparently should also have been given a rectal exam (fun)!
I wouldn't have known any of this if I didn't phone back to ask what to do about the long wait for the gastro Appointment!
Getting all this done on Friday and I have to hand in another FIT.
Hopefully this will get things moving one way or another

I’ve waited 9 months so far for endoscopy with no appointment. And the NHS waiting list for autism assessment is 4-5 years, even though NICE guidelines say it should be done within 3 months. Waiting lists for everything are insane nowadays, NICE guidelines don’t apply any more. The NHS just shrugs and says sorry but we can’t meet those timescales.

@Sugarcoatt it seems to vary a lot depending on location / trust
I was seen within a month 4 endoscopy

@Sugarcoatt have u spoken to them to ask if yours has been triaged / to check your on the list (/ to check no admin errors ?)

Oh yes they know I’m on the list. I even had a phone call to say we know you’re on the list but waiting lists are very long, please don’t call us because we can’t handle all the calls.

It's so inconsistent!

I'm similar age and also found out recently I'm anemic. They're sending me for an ultrasound to check for fibroids. I had never heard of a FIT test, not did they offer to do a urine or h.pylori test.

First GP said re-test iron levels in 3 months, then another one has overridden that and wants to retest sooner.

One GP told me to take up to 3 ferrous sulphate per day, another said just take one.