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Still waiting for gastroscopy biopsy results after 7 weeks

io123
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Hi everyone, 

I had a gastroscopy in June and my Consultant said she saw inflammation and put me back on PPI’s. I had an outpatient appointment just over three weeks after and she told me it was gastritis and oesophagitis. At the time, the biopsy results weren’t back. When I got home that day the report was uploaded. I had a telephone last week from the endoscopy nurse saying they don’t know how to explain to results to me and she would email my consultant and ask her to contact me and also send the report to my GP.  My GP hasn’t received it yet. 

Am I right to think the biopsy results must be ok if I haven’t heard anything? 

  • Hello io123,

    It's difficult to say at the moment, as delays can occur for all sorts of reasons. I'm sure you'll know more soon, but it might be a good to chase your consultant or your GP, if you haven't already. Waiting for results can be a worrying time, but there are some tips to help with the wait here, which I hope might be useful.

    All the best,

    Moderator Anastasia

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Anastasia

    Thank you. I telephoned my GP surgery and the admin team said the biopsy results and report is still with my Consultant and depending on what is discussed between my Consultant and GP, my GP will then telephone me with the results. I’m quite confused whether this means it is bad news or not as the appointment with my Consultant was booked prior to the biopsy results being released to her and it’s not until mid October. 

  • Offline in reply to io123

    Please don’t assume anything.

    I’m not being funny but in general the NHS runs faceless processes which take just as long to deliver good news as they do to deliver bad news. I’m speaking from experience here as both a cancer patient and as a former NHS manager. 

    Best practice would be for your consultant to see you in person to discuss your results as soon as they are available, but services are severely stretched and sometimes results are given over the phone to save patients a prolonged and agonising wait. 

    Good luck with your results!

    Dave

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Thanks so much Dave. You are probably right! I had an appointment with my Consultant three weeks after the gastroscopy but at that time she never had the biopsy results as it was intended for her to be able to discuss them then. I just suppose I have to wait and try and distract myself in the meantime. I hope you are well!

  • Offline in reply to io123

    Don’t hesitate to chase them up for your results. In a similar situation, I contacted my consultant’s medical secretary and asked for first refusal on any cancellations, saying I only needed 20 minutes notice. 
    The processes are faceless but the people aren’t - I always start phone calls with “I wonder if you could help me?”
    Most people start their NHS careers because they want to help people, morale is at rock bottom, you’d almost be doing them a favour giving them the chance to go home feeling they’d made a difference for someone today. 

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