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GP Asked Me To Book Appointment After Sigmoidoscopy

Tommyg123
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Hi,

I'm a 38 yr old male that has had a very bad period of an IBS flare-up. On one occasion I had blood in my stool. 

I was referred for a sigmoidoscopy and had the procedure 3 days ago. The consultant said I had a mild internal haemorrhoid which was the cause of the bleeding. 

However... he also found a small (4mm) hyperplastic polyp, which he said in his opinion is benign and common but will biopsy it to be sure. 

Today I had a text from my GP to say "please book a routine telephone appointment with your GP following a letter we received from the hospital following your recent visit".

Now i'm freaking out. The hospital said they would send a copy of the letter to the GP and they also said the pathology report would probably be at least a month. But why has the GP asked me to speak with her? The appointment with the GP is routine and not for another week. Even though my rational brain is saying its likely just to be a followup with me to talk through what the hopsital told me on the day, my panicky brain is thinking "have they got results in really quickly and they are bad?!"

Is it normal to have a chat with your GP in such a situation? I assume if they found precancerous cells they wouldn't have just asked for a routine appointment in a week?

Thanks 

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    Hi Tommyg, 

    I hope you're doing ok! 

    I cannot say for certain as it may differ from surgery to surgery but I can give you some insight being a GP receptionist. If the text said routine and they only text you, it's likely nothing to worry about. I would guess since they said it's about a letter they just want to see how you're getting on and/or offer to help in some way based on what the consultant told you. If it's serious they would call you themselves straight away or book an urgent same day appointment, they wouldn't leave you. 

    If youre overly anxious call at 8am and try for a same day appointment if you can, be honest with the receptionist and say your very worried, they'll hopefully be able to sort you out - atleast I would anyway!

    Holly 

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    I would expect that if there was something seriously wrong, particularly if the results were bad, it would be the consultant who would want to speak to you and not your GP. In my experience, having had thyroid cancer (and I also had a colonoscopy), I was told the results before the copy was sent to my GP. Plus, I am pretty sure that an appointment to tell you bad news would not be called a routine one.

    I actually think there was something in my paperwork about arranging a follow-up with my GP (which I actually ignored, figuring that if it were important, they'd have told me). I think it was mostly in case you had any problems after the colonoscopy or anything. I'd imagine in your case, it's likely to either be something like that or they want to check your IBS is under control.

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    Hi

    A routine appointment is a good sign although we always worry, maybe they just want to update you.

    I have been through this a few times thinking the worst.

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