Worried, blood in stool - having a meltdown!

[Deb350]

That would make sense, a hard stool
irritating the area.

I’ve had a letter emailed from the Consultants Secretary, no date for the colonoscopy though! Just xxxx where the date should be!!

[Munchlet]

Oh Deb, how frustrating!

Well at least they have sent the letter. Hopefully, they will be able to give you the date over the phone.

Keep me posted!

[Deb350]

I now have the date, 9th March. Now the panic has well and truly set in. I hope you are coping better?

[Munchlet]

Oh glad you got that sorted. That's the same date as my consultant appointment.

I must admit I've been getting more nervous as it gets nearer but managing to sleep a bit more which is good.

How are you feeling about things, apart from being nervous which is completely understandable? In a way it can't come quick enough for me, I just need to know what's going on.

[Deb350]

I’m a wreck to be honest. Absolutely petrified of going next week. So scared of a cancer diagnosis.

[Munchlet]

I totally understand where you are coming from and for anyone with HA it's usually one of their biggester fears.

However, we are both doing the right thing by being pro-active and getting things checked out.

Think how much more of a delay we would have it we were waiting on the NHS!

[Munchlet]

So I went for my consultants appointment today and starting to wish I hadn't. Honestly, I went because I was worried about blood in my stool and soreness/pressure in the rectum and he started saying how I needed an MRI to get full views of my pelvis and a sigmoidoscopy.

I queried this as I felt the sigmoidoscopy would be enough so then he said I need to have a pelvic ultrasound and a defecating proctogram!!! When I went back to reception they said "oh we don't do that procedure here".

I honestly felt it was all about the money. He ran half an hour late and just seemed focus on getting as many tests as possible. I asked if I could have just the sigmoidoscopy as whilst I have private medical insurance I hate the thought that someone is trying to abuse it and he said "oh that will take several weeks as we have to book theatre".

Does anyone know if I can speak to BUPA about this? I just feel he was ordering tests for the sake of it and ultimately so they can charge more money.

[Deb350]

Hi

Sorry to hear you didn’t have a great experience today. I was hoping you’d got on better than me!!

It does seem like they are concerned about the money to me. I haven’t complained to Bupa yet as I’m still in two minds whether to wait another 3 weeks for my colonoscopy or not.

Why would you need an MRI?! I asked for a sigmoidoscopy but the consultant was insistent on doing a full colonoscopy and I can see the logic behind it. Only he wasn’t so keen when I was the only one booked in that day!

I really hoped that using private health care was going to give us both quicker results but it seems that isn’t the case!

I would contact Bupa. It seems odd, I’m not medically trained but it doesn’t seem right.

[Deb350]

Did the consultant give you an examination at all as part of the consultation?

[pulisa]

I had to have a pelvic MRI as well as a sigmoidoscopy when I had investigations for chronic rectal pain a few years ago. I think it gives them the "full picture" so to speak.

I suspect the waiting is due to many people choosing to go private due to the NHS backlog?