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How long to wait for a colonoscopy?

Posted , 12 users are following.

lynne80805
lynne80805

I went to my GP after seeing blood on my stools. She got me an appointment to see a Dr at the local hospital in just over two weeks (the national guidelines). I saw a 3rd year medical student at the hospital who relayed my condition to the doctor and he said that I needed a colonoscopy and that an appointment would be sent to me. That was over two weeks ago. How long does one usually wait and should I be chasing this up with my GP or someone else?

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  • lynne80805
    lynne80805

    Posted

    Thank you for all the discussion that my original query generated. Here's the outcome: After waiting just over two weeks (the national guidelines) from my GP referring me to the hospital, I got an appointment and saw a third year med student who relayed my symptoms to the doc (blood on stools but no other symptoms). I waited five weeks before I had a call from the hospital asking me to come in for the colonoscopy a few days later. As I was going on holiday that morning I couldn't take up the appointment. The clerk who rang me said that I had to take the appointment or I would breach the two week timeframe. I said that as I had already waited five weeks for the call they had breached their timeframe by three weeks already. Anyway, the top and bottom of it was that I had the colonoscopy on Monday. I had it at the Royal London hospital. I was treated with the utmost care and courtesey and for such an undignified op it was handled very professionally.  Two tiny polyps were removed, which the consultant said didn't look at all suspicious, but, of course they have been sent for analysis.  I had the colonoscopy with sedation. It hurt to begin with but then not at all. Felt headachy and sick afterwards but as I had not eaten since breakfast on Sunday and the procedure was Monday late afternoon, it wasn't surprising. Two days later  - feel okay - no lower wind but pain seems trapped in the right side of my chest and I have one almighty bruise on the inside of my forearm, where the canula was inserted.  Any questions, just ask.       
  • Okiedokie
    Okiedokie lynne80805

    Posted

    A lot of you guys are being seen very quickly. You'rr quite lucky. I had to wait 3 months just to see a specialist in colorectal and I had to chase it up. I. My expererience GPs do not order colonoscopies to be done so to get sent in for one by a GP sounds pretty odd. Maybe in an emergency, I dunno.

    The rule is 18 weeks limit to start consultant led treatment. Average wait at my hospital is 69 days and it's a good un.

    Neurology is much worse. Been referred twice and earliest appointments were 4 months away theb 2 month ish wait for an MRI.

    • stressedstomach
      stressedstomach Okiedokie

      Posted

      I think you are right about GP's being reluctant to order Colonoscopies etc.

      I visited my GP about 3 weeks ago as I had been having pains in my stomach for over a week, a slight change in bowel habits etc.  I've had various IBS/Stomach problems for the past 10 - 15 years (stomach pains recurrent over the past 4 years or so).  The GP was pretty certain that it is just an IBS flare up (possibly correct), however for some reason I was extremely anxious about my symptoms and suggested that I have a colonoscopy to check everthing out.

      The GP was reluctant to make a referral to gastro, she said given my symptoms it was possible that the referral would be rejected (she went through some form of flowchart giving referral guidance and mine ended up with "GP Treat for IBS"wink 

      I pointed out to the GP that I have been having IBS issues for so many years it was probably wise to have it investigated further so she reluctantly made the refferal.

      My anxiety got the better of me so rather than waiting for the NHS to give me an appointment in who knows how many weeks or to reject it altogether I decided have a private Gastro consultation.  I managed to get an appointment the day after I called them!

      I had my appointment with the private Gastro consultant who felt quite certain I have nothing serious going on but we agreed that a colonoscopy would be worth doing just to settle my anxiety about the whole thing.

      The consultant said I could have the colonoscopy done privately within a week or two (this would be about £1500) or wait for the NHS. With my paranoid anxiety now reaching all time high I said I wanted to get it done privately as I couldn't cope waiting any longer.  The consultant said he would call me a few days later to advise on a date for the colonoscopy.  A few days came and went but had heard nothing back so I left a voicemail with the consultant's secretary to call me to advise what was happening.  The next day a large package came though the post containing some Moviprep and an NHS appointment letter for a colonosopy appointment for the next week.

      So to sum things up I managed to get a colonoscopy appointment 4 weeks after seeing my GP however if I didn't have go for the private consultation I would probably still be waiting for my initial appointment letter. 

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