I'd just like to know

[Chips4tea]

Hi, I had a terrible cough over Christmas, gradually got better over the next two weeks but still had some rib pain mid Jan so saw my GP. I'd stopped smoking because of the cough but had smoked most of my adult life. (still stopped, will never again)

I had no cancer symptoms except the rib pain but had a chest xray, GP said for reassurance, on the Friday, got a call on the Monday for CT Scan, into straight to ct pathway. CT thorax and abdomen with contrast done two days later and Nurse rang next day to say the CT suggested basal pneumonia but query a small focus behind the diaphragm so repeat CT in 6 weeks.

I had the repeat scan on 4th March, results on triage meeting on 8th March, and apparently a letter was prepared on 11th March, but not yet sent.

I'm in bits trying to work out what's going on. I've not been given any contacts for anyone, nurse xall came from a can't call back number.

I've gleaned what I can from the medical secretary who's number was on the initial result on my GP Record on the NHS App, which is how I know about triage and letter prep.

Any suggestions about how to find out what the letter says?

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear of your worry with your symptoms. It can be challenging not having contact details when you are having investigations.

You could either try contacting the GP to see if they have any information, I assume when you said secretary that it was the GP secretary, they could tell you where the referral went to, if it was respiratory at the hospital. It could be that the letter is a letter of appointment or any further tests required.

You could perhaps ask to speak to the respiratory secretary via the hospital switchboard to ask about the letter. You may have got a call from the lung nurse specialist , so you could perhaps ask to speak to them.

Anything abnormal in a scan would be referred to the specialist lung team and they will decide if you require any further investigations, or they will allocate an appointment to discuss with you.

If you are unable to get any information, your hospital may have a booking appointment system that you could call via the switchboard to ask if an appointment has been allocated to you.

The waiting can be understandably a very anxious time for a lot of people, not knowing what is going on or who you can speak to during the investigations.

You are welcome to contact us on ask the nurse helpline 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600, alternatively you can email us at [e-mail]

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team