After a right hemicolectomy in 2021, I was due a colonoscopy in January this year. My Macmillan support worker just kept saying there's a backlog when I queried it, even though I was having abdominal pain and other symptoms. These are worse, so I rang this week and my blood test has been brought forward and I'm getting a fit test. As an afterthought, the support worker said that she can't chase the colonoscopy ??? But gave me the number to ring Pals at the hospital. I rang and a lovely lady said I have been on the list for a year and it's too long. She is now chasing it for me. I'm rather annoyed about the lack of help. And very worried that the cancer has come back.
Hi Drama
I know the feeling I think Colonoscopies are really struggling.
I was Aug 4th 2021. so I should have had one Aug 22
Here we are 2023 so my reversal was thirteen months after op.
A friend spent two weeks in hospital with rectal bleeding he’s been sent home waiting for a colonoscopy
Seems like the system is well and truly broken
I hope that your appointment soon
Ann
That’s good news that you have your appointment
Theres an older post with tips on Anxiety it’s scanxiety but the feeling the same
Hope it helps
Ann
Congrats Drama on getting your colonoscopy appointment and glad that PALS helped it happen.
My hospital also struggles from backlogs and resource issues - I've found asking the booking teams to alert you if they have late notice slots from cancellations helped, along with simply making sure you are on waitlist in 1st place.
My 1st 2WW saw me fall off various teams' radars due to procedural and resource clitches, meaning my diagnosis was a few months late. I was (at the time) too polite to challenge.
I've tooled myself up now with various consultants' secretaries and booking teams contact details, so it shouldn't happen again.
All the best for Monday and hope you've got lots of lovely distraction activities planned for the following 2 weeks - it really does help!
