A cautious tale about anxiety due to GP receptionist's giving out test results

For future readers anxious over the interpretation, disclosure, or lack of disclosure of blood test results by receptionists.

Crossing the 40 barrier, being very very overweight for 3+ years, having very minor drug use in my late teens, and having elevated triglycerides, my GP has been concerned about the risk of NAFLD, and Hepatitis

I had a liver and multi-organ ultrasound in late 2020, which came back slightly fatty, but not too worrying. I need to lose weight to avoid future issues, and had a stern warning that a liver fibrosis test could potentially reveal reversible fibrosis.

I also had a late blood test of multiple things, including HIV, Hep, FBC, LFT, and essentially the ELF test. in April. (I haven't had the results for Hep or HIV yet, I'm not expecting HIV, and would be very surprised for Hep)

On the 23rd of April I got an urgent phone call from a receptionist saying I needed an appointment immediately, this afternoon, within hours. After asking if I could schedule Monday as I had a therapy session I was told no, this cannot wait.

After agreeing the telephone appointment (Covid) I got called back 15 minutes later with the receptionist repeatedly apologizing and saying Monday morning would be fine.

Obviously, at this point most people would be starting to seriously worry. During this callback, I asked if they could reveal the results and why the call. I was told my "cir ascides" (Not a thing) were 11.something

I immediately called back after not finding anything for this mystery phrase, but being very concerned this was an unexpected 11.something on the ELF. I was told by a different receptionist they wouldn't give me any information and I had to wait all weekend until Monday morning.

Monday morning came and by this time I had translated the only possible interpretations of this word as:

1. serum ascites (indicative of stage 4 liver disease, possibly progressing to end stage liver disease, or late stage cancer)
2. obfuscated term for ELF score (indicative of an absolute best outcome of stage 4 advanced liver disease, or liver cancer)

When Monday finally arrived, the call came in and my ELF scores were low, there were some mild elevations on liver gGT (I think) and already identified Triglycerides both of which were lower than my last blood test. I have another one in 3 months.

So, either:

a) somehow the word Triglycerides was mispronounced or garbled by the phone

b) The receptionist panicked after interpreting something incorrectly.

c) The receptionist accidentally pulled up another patient record prior to calling me about the results.

d) The surgery is lying to me, or is trying to scare me into trying harder on weight loss (which would be wild paranoia and very unlikely)

It's hard, but its best not to get into a thinking pattern of "predicting the future" based on my experience, I hope this can possibly help someone with anxiety over results in the future.

I'm too relieved to be angry x

Apologies for the "receptionist's" use, instead of "receptionists" bad habit when typing.

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