Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Hi, I am in a dreadful state at the moment. Last week I did a stool test and had a blood test. The background to this is I was having floating stools and saw the doctor who examined me and said all felt normal. She order two stools tests, one to the hospital and one to the surgery, also a blood test. The hospital stool test was posted three weeks ago, and I took the other one into the surgery when I went for my blood test a week ago.
The nurse said if I hadn't heard anything by Monday to ring the surgery. After being afraid every day of a phone call from the doctor, and not hearing anything I calmed down and rang. The receptionist said the stool tests were back and the doctor had seen them, but she didn't understand them and said the doctor would send me a letter if she wanted to see me. She said the blood tests weren't back and then again said if the doctor wanted to see me she would write. She told me not to ring again, but to wait to see if I got a letter. She didn't say how long to wait, but I would just have to wait and see.
This has terrified me as I don't know what the results are and can only find out by waiting and see if I get a letter some time. I am worried there is something terribly wrong now. I had a stool test a few months ago and when I rang for the results the receptionist said it was normal. So this is different, I think if it was normal she would have said.
My bowels seem to have settled down and I've not had the floating stools for a while and everything looks normal, I had felt better about it and thought the tests might be alright,but now I'm sure they are not.
I don't how I'm going to get through every day waiting to see if there is a letter. I am sitting here shaking.
Has anyone had this sort of scenario where you are not told the results and can't ring again but wait worrying.
Please help I can't cope!
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
It’s a horrible situation to be in when you’re waiting for results. Sometimes I think that receptionists don’t appreciate the angst, but then sometimes I think they’re just having a bad day & forget to show tact.
It sounds like your results are probably ok. You haven’t received a call and there was no flag to call you. But you could always call back tomorrow and ask for the doctor to call you.
It’s best to ignore the receptionist comments to be honest. She didn’t know what she was talking about so she did the right thing by not giving you any information.
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Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chinadoll19
The receptionist said the stool tests were back and the doctor had seen them, but she didn't understand them and said the doctor would send me a letter if she wanted to see me. She said the blood tests weren't back and then again said if the doctor wanted to see me she would write. She told me not to ring again, but to wait to see if I got a letter. She didn't say how long to wait, but I would just have to wait and see.
Who didn't understand the stool tests? The doctor or the receptionist? I can't imagine a doctor not understanding a stool result? :unsure:
Some surgery receptionists have the people skills of a wheelie bin and also appear to confuse their job description with that of the GP - despite having done no time in medical school.
I've phoned up for blood test results before and the receptionist/'doctor' informed me that my blood tests were normal only to have to phone me back once the GP had looked at them because I was severely deficient in Vit D and required a high strength supplement. :whistles:
You can speak to your GP. It's what they're there for!
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My bowels seem to have settled down and I've not had the floating stools for a while and everything looks normal, I had felt better about it and thought the tests might be alright,but now I'm sure they are not.
Floating stools is very common and everybody gets them from time to time because it's most likely down to diet/gas etc.
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I don't how I'm going to get through every day waiting to see if there is a letter. I am sitting here shaking.
Phone the reception and request a phone consultation from your GP asap. Don't take any crap about 'not ringing'. A receptionist telling a patient they can't ring up the surgery? I'd be putting a complaint in if it was me...
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NoraB
Some surgery receptionists have the people skills of a wheelie bin and also appear to confuse their job description with that of the GP
I thought that WAS the job description of a GP's receptionist... :roflmao:
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pamplemousse
I thought that WAS the job description of a GP's receptionist... :roflmao:
Ours used to ask me what I wanted to see the GP for. After a few 'no filter' replies - she doesn't ask anymore. :emot-prettywink:
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Some GP receptionists just like to have a sense of power and they enjoy keeping the patient on tenterhooks...They thrive on being the "gateway" to the God-like GPs..
Basically I think the message to take away from your abortive call would be "The doctor will contact you if he/she wants to take further action". No letter equals normal results. Not great for people with anxiety who just want clarity NOW.
I hate it when receptionists bring out the "I'm not medically qualified to give out test results" but are quite prepared to leave you in the lurch by doling out a few "hints" that repeat tests are needed..Not that this applies to you, chinadoll because I think that no news is good news and you would have been contacted by now if anything had been seriously wrong with your tests.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
The fact that they're sending a letter to give you the results is a good thing. If there was an issue, you would have been called immediately.
Positive thoughts
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Thank you all for your replies. It is much appreciated. I have been trying to think a bit more positive. It seemed almost every question I asked got the reply 'If the doctor wants to see you, she will send a letter'. I wondered if this was her stock reply. I am still worried but a bit less.
NoraB it was the receptionist that said she didn't understand the stool test results but pointed out the doctor had seen them.
If I don't get a letter, I hope I don't that scares me, I will rling again in a couple days despite what the receptionist says, I have a right to those results.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chinadoll19
NoraB it was the receptionist that said she didn't understand the stool test results but pointed out the doctor had seen them.
It's not her job to understand them.
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I will rling again in a couple days despite what the receptionist says, I have a right to those results.
Yes, you do have a right to know, and she is out of order for telling you not to phone up.
Meanwhile, I agree with the 'no news is good news', so try not to spiral.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Update: I had a fright this morning. The doctor phoned early, I didn't get to the phone in time. I was thinking the worst as usual, and I rang the surgery. It took me an hour and a half as I kept getting a message saying there were not taking any calls at that time. When I finally got through I got a much nicer receptionist (or so I thought) she said the doctor had rung and all that was on the note was that she had rung and there was no answer. She said she would send a message through to the doctor to ring me back.
I had to wait until about 4.30 for her to ring back. The first thing she said was 'There is nothing to worry about you know that don't you?' I said no and she said she had stressed to the receptionist that she was to tell me that. She didn't want me worrying all day. She apologized several times for me not being told that. The results were: the blood tests were perfectly normal, the stool test for blood in it was clear, no blood. The other stool test had something slightly raised, I'm not sure what, something about inflamation I think. It is borderline and nothing to worry about but I have to do another stool test in two weeks time.
I am trying to not worry, she must know what she is talking about. She did try to explain but I couldn't quite understand it. I am relieved really. It seems borderline can be normal for some people.
Thank you again.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
What a kind doctor..Glad to hear that you have been reassured but try not to ruminate on the "slightly raised" aspect..."Borderline can be your normal" as she says.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chinadoll19
. The first thing she said was 'There is nothing to worry about you know that don't you?' I said no and she said she had stressed to the receptionist that she was to tell me that. She didn't want me worrying all day. She apologized several times for me not being told that. The results were: the blood tests were perfectly normal, the stool test for blood in it was clear, no blood. The other stool test had something slightly raised, I'm not sure what, something about inflamation I think. It is borderline and nothing to worry about but I have to do another stool test in two weeks time.
Painkillers (especially aspirin and ibuprofen) alcohol and all sorts can slightly raise Calprotectin levels (I presume that's the other test?) so I wouldn't worry about this.
I would be inclined to leave off painkillers and alcohol for a couple of weeks and see if it affects the result? Or, as your GP has said, it could just be that it's 'your' normal.
Sounds like you have a good GP there. :yesyes:
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Hi NoraB, I'm sure the test was the Calprotectin as she mentioned inflammation. I'd not heard of that and stupidly googled it, it said cancer. I don't have any bowel symptoms at the moment not even of IBD. I feel well. I haven't taken any painkillers for ages, and I don't drink, practically teetotal. However I do have glaucoma and have read that the drops i am on can make symptoms worse in people who actuially have IBD. The leaflet does say the drops can cause digestive issues. So don't know if that would have any bearing. I have been on the drops for a number of years but have never had a Calprotectin test before only the blood ones. I was diagnosed with IBS years ago, but don't get many symptoms now, only very occasionally.
My worry now I've read about it is what if the levels have gone up next time. I have to keep telling myself that the doctor said it is nothing to worry about.
Re: Very Afraid, receptionist scared me about test results now I'm terrified
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chinadoll19
Hi NoraB, I'm sure the test was the Calprotectin as she mentioned inflammation. I'd not heard of that and stupidly googled it, it said cancer.
It's generally associated with gastric disorders like IBD etc and the reason cancer is at the back of the list is because it's the least likely cause - especially if the levels are only slightly raised like yours.
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I don't have any bowel symptoms at the moment not even of IBD. I feel well. I haven't taken any painkillers for ages, and I don't drink, practically teetotal. However I do have glaucoma and have read that the drops i am on can make symptoms worse in people who actuially have IBD. The leaflet does say the drops can cause digestive issues.
Realistically speaking, if you had cancer - you would be having symptoms which would only get worse.
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I have to keep telling myself that the doctor said it is nothing to worry about.
That's because he/she thinks there's nothing to worry about. You're expecting the levels to rise, but they just as easily go back to normal range - which happens all the time..
