I just contacted the booking line for an appointment at the hospital for Hepatology (liver) clinic, as advised by my GP practice to phone. I have the scan Monday. They say I am on the urgent list so my follow up after scan, will be up to 8 weeks time ( I did use a minor swear word and apologised) from 17th November when my GP booked the specialist. They say a non urgent wait is 18 weeks. Very concerned I am considered an urgent case. My ALT was 205 had higher than average platelets and Eosinophils. It is worrying waiting for diagnoses.
Urgent I am considered by hospital. - British Liver Trust
Urgent I am considered by hospital.
Hi Smarter. Be grateful, many people would be to get an appointment so rapidly. The sooner a diagnosis can be made, the sooner any treatments which may be needed can began. In the meantime stay calm and try not to worry, you will be well looked after.Take care
Laura x
Hi it’s good to see your case is dealt with as proactive as possible. Ive certainly seen the benefit of having someone in your corner. You are just going have to be a patient patient.
Anymore concerns down the line I’m happy to offer you my advice /support
It’s frustrating I know, but rest assured your scan will be looked at by a professional on the day it’s done. I'am sure if there’s anything deemed urgent showing on the scan you will be contacted long before your eight week routine follow up.
It happened to a friend of mine just recently she had a scan in the morning and by 7pm that night she had a call from her GP explaining what she needed to do next. So try not to worry. Take care.
My ALP was 800 and my ALT 450, high eosinophils and bilirubin and I was also urgent. The booking line at my hospital said it was a minimum 6 month wait for urgent cases. Liver issues tend to move slowly over years and 8 weeks isn't that long a wait from a clinical view, though it's very hard for you. In the end I didn't actually wait, as soon as the consultant saw my file I was called in the next day. Waiting is tough, but if they see anything that needs dealing with quickly they will call you in sooner.
That is appalling 8 months. I am pleased you got sorted sooner than that. I suppose it depends on what the scan finds as to how long you have to wait after the scan. Thank you for your reply.
My scan was clear, it was really to rule out anything else going on and they told me it was fine during the scan. Do you know if you were tested for antibodies, AMA or ANA? Were your other liver enzymes also raised?
I asked for the first hard copy of my bloods that was when I saw ALT 205 and elevated platelets and Eosinophils. When I had second blood test five weeks later I asked for copy again to be sent on an email but didn’t receive that or when I had about 20 glass phials on last set of tests. So I assume they don’t want me to have them.
They aren't allowed to withhold results, that was probably human error or the pressures they are under at the moment. That's an impressive amount of blood. I had full liver, kidney, thyroid, antibody, vitamins, and immunology done and it was only 5 vials!
She asked me to hold the cardboard tray as tray was getting filled up, she usually rests it on arm of the chair. As I looked down at tray I used a minor swear word as so surprised at amount of phials, I apologised for that !
I sent an Email asking for my last two blood tests they have now sent them. Twenty pages there really were lots of phials, I have to study them, but a quick look stated Hepatitis E detected bit scary my ALT Had gone from 205 to 500.
E mailed to ask for my last two blood tests, they sent them straight away 20 pages. I am going to study them so that I can ask questions when I see the specialist. I apparently show I have had Epstein Barr Virus and Hepatitis E higher ALT also ANA potentially abnormal. Thrombo clotting time a bit raised. Platelets high and Eosinophils going up and down. My scan Monday. You were quite right hells it was probably an oversight, not sending when I requested the hard copies before.
when I have had scans they were done by Consultants and I am sure if they see any abnormalities they will highlight them quickly to your Dr! These are very specialised Consultants who are very thorough🙏
Thank you for your reply. So far I haven’t had to wait that long for my scan. I originally contacted the dr for my restless legs keeping me awake at night that was why I got the first lot of blood tests. The ALT came up as high platelets and Eosinophils were high too, so I was sent for 2nd set of blood tests they must have used about 20 little glass blood bottles, two armfuls I had to hold the tray for phlebotomist. So my Dr has been very much on it for me. Thanks to my RLS I got blood test in first place.
Hi,
It is very stressful waiting for tests. Unfortunately, the NHS is still under strain and that is impacting on lists.
Hopefully you can have your scan and get the results soon.
Keep us posted.
Thank you for reply, yes quite right the NHS is working so hard and this site is very helpful.