How to go about a private GP appointment.

[Alphabet1spaghetti2]

Would be grateful for any advice as I think my brain has glitched.

How do I go about booking a private GP face to face appointment ? It is for suspected stomach cancer. Is bupa better than Nuffield, do I need to find one that specialises in Gastric or pain relief? Or are they generalists? Google is giving me the impression that I need to book a face to face at a private hospital as opposed to a clinic based GP.

Dh has seen his Nhs GP and has been referred on the two week pathway, but is in pain and needs to know what he is facing. Nhs GP has refused pain relief other than paracetamol and has refused a sick note for his work. Apparently they are two separate issues and need two more appointments - the next available appointment is a month away. He only managed to get an emergency appointment after 2 weeks of daily phoning. Dh was prescribed antacids. He had been referred for blood tests, (2 weeks for results) stool tests (2 weeks for results) and endoscopy. Our local A and E has some of the worst wait times (18+ hours) and understandably Dh would rather be in pain at home rather than on the floor of an and e. The hospital wait for scans which are around 26 weeks.

@Mischance @TraitorsGate ive no idea why it was said. I’m going with either a glitch in the matrix or twilight zone. I’m choosing for laughing at it rather than a ‘woo’ moment. Although it will be something that is on top of the list of lists, rather than a something continually bumped down the list.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 ,

You sound like a really strong and happy couple.

I have got to the age where I have known many who had cancer scares, some which turned out to be cancer.

Cancer, by its nature, mimics many less serious conditions. We are all cancer-biased, as everyone has heard of cancer but we haven’t heard of a lot of the other weird and wonderful conditions that can afflict us as humans.

Even in the very worst cases, though, good palliative care has given my friends (and late mother) some quality time to enjoy with loved ones.

I have my fingers crossed for you both!

I am please your Dp was finally admitted and investigations are progressing. Keep being the squeaky wheel for him and push to find out all the results adn next steps . Try and speak to senior staff if possible.

Hopefully the endoscopy will give you some more immediate answers tomorrow. It sounds like now you guys are being helped everything is moving at speed which is great , but must be equally unsettling with so much new information to take in .

I’ve spoken to his consultant. Whatever ‘it’ is has caused his stomach lymph nodes to swell. Biopsy during tomorrows lunchtime endoscopy. His now severe back and shoulder pain is thought to be connected. Not good news.
Still a tiny bit of hope that it is an infection and just shadows with ulcers needing some modern treatment.
I have got them to increase his morphine to try and control some of his pain. He cannot walk to the end of the ward today, yesterday he managed the corridor.

I'm sorry to hear your update. Hoping for a peaceful night for you both and better news tomorrow.

Hope his endoscopy goes well tomorrow

I'm so sorry reading your updates but am relieved that your DH is in hospital. Thankfully he has you to advocate for him - don't agree to his discharge unless you're really happy that you have some answers.

I hope you got some answers from the endoscopy and that your DH is now getting the treatment he needs.

endoscopy done. Dh thinks tomorrow now for me he results. Now the sedation is wearing off he’s in pain and I think constipated.
The nurse has delivered morphine and is looking into a laxative. (I was so pleased he actually wants to go)
He is coping better than I am.

🌹 thinking of you and sending good luck 🤞🏼

Good luck for the results, Alphabet1spaghetti2. I really hope it is good news. xxx

Keeping everything crossed, Alphabet.

I hope you get some good news tomorrow .

Been thinking of you @Alphabet1spaghetti2

glad the testing has gone ahead and pain relief is more available.

we saw another specialist tonight. They are now on the hunt for several blood clots. Apparently his bloods have elevated levels of something (I didn’t catch what) but basically his blood is on the upper limit but still normal on the clotting scale. I am really glad I insisted he started heparin injections on Sunday night. No clots found in his legs, abdomen or lungs but they are still looking for them.

My thoughts are that his blood is thicker because he’s not eating or drinking (even with the drips) anywhere the same amount he normally does -
less liquid in, but still peeing equals dehydration and it isn’t surprising that other bodily fluids would also thicken slightly??

They also are concern as he as breathing very shallow /panting in the an and e on Sunday but not now. - I have tried to explain that he was in pain and terrified and stressed, this always has caused him to stiffen up and hunch over - which I turn makes him breathless, and on Sunday the entire thing got out of our control. Pain, stress and worry along with the breathlessness caused by pain, tension, stress . and it all just escalated beyond our capacity. Like a circle with no end point. We needed pain killers to break that circle. Which has now finally happened.

endoscopy results tomorrow possibly morning.

small wins. Dh pain is manageable, he’s farting!! And he has managed to eat half his dinner. Milky hot drinks are also being drunk, plus lots and lots of juice and water. We managed a walk through the entire ground floor of the hospital.

That sounds like progress, and even small progress is good. Fingers crossed that the endoscopy results clarify things and you know what you're dealing with then. Just having decent pain relief should make a big difference to him for the moment, I'm sure.

@BlossomToLeaves its small wins we are clinging too. He had another ct scan at 1:45 this morning though.

It much be such a relief for his pain to be under better control.

It does sound like they are really investigating thoroughly.
I hope you are able to get some rest OP, you’ve had a difficult few days.

I hope you begin to get some answers and a plan today. But as a pp said, you must look after yourself too (easier said than done I know).

Blood clots found in lungs. Biopsy results now pushed back two weeks. Been told not to expect good news as it is serious. Being sent home tomorrow.

I thought the didn't see any clots before, this must be really difficult for you both, what do they mean the results are pushed back two weeks. Does he feel well enough to go home, what's their plan, what's the next step.

Oh gosh, what a worry for you. How's he coping with this news?

Don't agree to his discharge unless his pain is well under control, and you could push for a referral to the pain management clinic.

The trouble is that when you go into the outpatient system it's really hard work getting the departments to liaise with each other.

@TraitorsGate the told us last night they couldn’t see or find any clots. Just an issue with his bloods.
1:45 am not hey took him for another ct scan. The hey have found a small clot in his left lung. His breathing has deteriorated since I’ve been with him this afternoon.
the endoscopy done yesterday : they have been unable to get the scope into his stomach and couldn’t get to his lymph nodes. They took a biopsy of the (now called a tumour) growth on his oesophageal strictures. Having repeatedly told us we would get a diagnosis the same day. They are now saying it will be two weeks.

dh is being sent home tomorrow with tablet warfarin and sodding otc paracetamol. No plans for anything until the biopsy results come back.

Exactly the same thing, same time line, same everything has happened to his ward neighbour who was told he had terminal stomach cancer - he had walked into the ward only two weeks previously.
it’s like a bloody cruel drip feed and we witnessed the other orient being told he had cancer, it was terminal and did he want a hospice bed all in the space of five minuets - on the ward in the open. Fucking cruel if you ask me.

no I’m not coping at all well. Dh now thinks there is hope.

Have nothing useful I can add , but didn’t want you to think I’d deserted the thread as I know you said it’s really just the two of you . Bloody hell @Alphabet1spaghetti2 I’d be raging at the unfairness, so please rage here as needed .