What Could Be Amiss?

[lady-janine]

What does it mean when Doc arranges for hospital appointment because he suspects a bleed somewhere in the body and also gives leaflets on cancer?

If you know please tell me.

[Samuraisan]

That's a pretty rotten thing to do without any explanation. Why didn't you ask ?

[barry1010]

This is understandably causing a lot of anxiety and instead of asking for wild guesses please contact your surgery and ask the doctor to explain.

[bhg481]

I'm assuming it was a response to a consultation where you told him some symptoms you had.

[lady-janine]

Not me but OH. He recently had blood test and this was follow up. When I ask what doc said he replies 'could not hear him properly through mask' and then says 'I don't really understand what he is on about'. Doc will not tell me. Feeling very concerned and worried.
btw not paper leaflets but messages on mobile so difficult for me to get a good look at.

[Sqad]

This sort of thing infuriates me as it brings down medicine to tick box ,automatic,thoughtless and depersonalisation of what medicine used to be........a very personal situation.
I don't mind, education, information and knowledge, but on a human level.
I understand it but I don't like the anxiety and worry that it may cause.

[Bobbisox1]

Ohh lj no wonder you're worried, could you ring Doctor and ask him / her to explain rather than just leaving you both like this? Good luck

[lady-janine]

Sqad. I would much rather know as then I can deal with it and any worry OH has. At the moment I am in limbo and very concerned and don't know what I may have to face.

[lady-janine]

Tried that Bobbi and will not let me know. Just get told by receptionist that doc has requested a hospital appointment.

[woofgang]

Would your husband talk to the surgery and say to them that they can tell you what they would tell him? I did this when my husband was ill and it worked but my surgery are lovely.

[rowanwitch]

It means he suspects cancer could be a cause, and wants you to be well informed if it is. Lots of other things can cause bleeds but in older people it is a possibility that the GP must not discount. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best but everything crossed it's one of the other treatable causes.( there is a lot of evidence that patients do far better if they understand more about their problems and it may help if you need to look at different treatment options)

[Sqad]

LJ of course you would rather know ,everybody should be offered that,but on a personal, face to face situation, I object to cyber medicine of which a lot is useful,but in you case it is failing you.
You give no details but I guess that your husband has had a blood test and was found to be anaemic and now the hunt is on for the cause.

[lady-janine]

Thanks Woof but that is not an option at the moment. I don't want to worry OH by making too much fuss and he just says 'I feel okay' and refuses to talk about it.

[rowanwitch]

They won't mind if you phone for more information, maybe your OH can give permission for the doctor to explain to you as well. The main reason they mention cancer early now is that investigations may take place in a dedicated cancer unit, suddenly finding you have to go there, without any warning can be really distressing especially if you see people there who are in the final stages of the disease. I will keep fingers crossed it's something else entirely.

[Sqad]

LJ if you could give us some of his presenting symptoms perhaps the replies could be more meaningful.

[lady-janine]

Yes Sqad that is about it. He has regular blood tests and after the last one was told he was a bit anaemic and a surgery appointment was made. I can understand his hearing problem as he is quite deaf in one ear (he has a hearing aid) but local doc is wearing both mask and face shield and does talk quite softly. He has also had a couple of bouts of diarrhoea recently but said the doc was dismissive of that.
I always prepare and cook from fresh and we rarely eat out because he is a coeliac.
I know I may be being over-concerned.

[Sqad]

Doesn't sound like malignancy to me.

[Bobbisox1]

LJ, I do not for one minute you are over reacting , like Rowan has suggested ask your husband to phone your surgery and tell them he's giving you permission to speak with his GP on his behalf

[lady-janine]

Presenting symptoms: weariness and saying he is tired but sleeps well for 8/9 hours a night and sometimes quite a bit of the evening as well.
Has complained of a headache a few times recently so takes paracetamol and sits quietly.
As I said has complained of diarrhoea a couple of times recently. Taken lopermide for that.
Bp seems to be okay. We have a home kit he uses regularly.
Smaller appetite. Eating regularly but not quite as much as he used to.
What else would you need to know?

[lady-janine]

Rowan and Bobbi - have tried but got told very firmly told that he was quite capable of doing what the doc said and doesn't need anything like that from me. Don't want any arguments and so this is why I'm asking here.

[rowanwitch]

Any bloating,pain, or darker poo