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Biopsy Results in Patient Portal

Posted by slaw61 @slaw61, Aug 8 4:10pm

Hi. I had a Bronchoscopy/EBUS on Tuesday due to some enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes and a lung nodule that grew this past year . My lymph nodes were enlarged when the nodule was found 2 years ago (both found incidentally after having a Cardiac MRI). They were being monitored and the nodule was found to have grown after getting a CT I had in January due to possible pneumonia (ended up just being a bad case of bronchitis).

I go to the Mayo in MN and just received a notice that I have a phone appointment set up for 8/19 with the doctor who performed the biopsies. I’m wondering if the biopsy results will show up in my patient portal before my phone appointment? I have a lot of health anxiety so now I’m wondering if this is normal procedure or if it means I’m getting bad news. I’m not even sure they would have results yet so I’m probably freaking out for nothing.

I will say that when my PET scan results showed up in my portal I managed to not look. I waited until I went to my appointment to hear the results from the doctor (inconclusive so that’s why the biopsies were done). But I don’t know if I can not look at biopsy reports if they show up before my phone call appointment almost 2 weeks away.

I’m also a little concerned that I’m still coughing. I don’t usually cough much and I can never expel it so I have no idea what is coming up. I feel fine otherwise.

Anyway, if anybody has experience with the Mayo Patient Portal and biopsy results, I’d appreciate some insight. Thank you!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 8 9:49pm

@slaw61, typically results show up in the Mayo patient portal as soon as they are ready. I'm tagging @lls8000 @roch @loribmt who can share more about the patient portal and test results.

As you know, the pathology description of the biopsy results is only one piece of the puzzle and not the whole picture. It is best intepreted by the specialist who has all the pieces of the investigation, including your medical history.

Some people find it helpful to review the report before hand to look up the terms and create a list of questions. But it can also be anxiety-inducing and you may be led to an incorrect assumption for the next 10 days. Given that you're experiencing health anxiety you may wish to repeat the "don't look" strategy you used with the PET scan results. What do you think? What can you do over the next week (especially the weekend) to distract yourself and just have fun?

REPLY
1 reply
slaw61 | @slaw61 | Aug 8 11:20pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@slaw61, typically results show up in the Mayo patient portal as soon as they are ready...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@slaw61, typically results show up in the Mayo patient portal as soon as they are ready. I'm tagging @lls8000 @roch @loribmt who can share more about the patient portal and test results.

As you know, the pathology description of the biopsy results is only one piece of the puzzle and not the whole picture. It is best intepreted by the specialist who has all the pieces of the investigation, including your medical history.

Some people find it helpful to review the report before hand to look up the terms and create a list of questions. But it can also be anxiety-inducing and you may be led to an incorrect assumption for the next 10 days. Given that you're experiencing health anxiety you may wish to repeat the "don't look" strategy you used with the PET scan results. What do you think? What can you do over the next week (especially the weekend) to distract yourself and just have fun?

Jump to this post

I think you are correct, I should stay away from the results at least until the day before my phone appointment. I have plenty of things to do around the house and will find fun stuff, too.

I do appreciate your suggestions. Thank you for your response.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Aug 9 8:15am

@slaw61
I think the no-look and stay busy is best approach. When I try to figure out test results, it just causes more confusion and anxiety. Phrases that sound terrible often turn out to be nothing.

I had multiple biobsy while being diagnosed with breast cancer few years ago and the best I can remember is the results were always given by a provider either in a phone call or in person appointment.

I looked back at my portal biobsy results and they were dated few days after procedure, In addition to the initial report most were amended with additional information days later.

Enjoy your weekend.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Aug 9 8:17am
In reply to @slaw61 "I think you are correct, I should stay away from the results at least until the..." + (show)
@slaw61

I think you are correct, I should stay away from the results at least until the day before my phone appointment. I have plenty of things to do around the house and will find fun stuff, too.

I do appreciate your suggestions. Thank you for your response.

Jump to this post

Hi @slaw61, I agree with @colleenyoung that it’s maybe better to not peek at your results until right before your meeting with the doctor. From experience, I can tell you, if someone isn’t familar with the wording on some tests it can be taken out of context or misunderstood, leading to some hefty unnecessary stress. 😉
In your case, I understand that you’re not seeing the results up on your portal yet but already have an appointment scheduled with your doctor for review. So you’re concerned that it means there is bad news.
Again, from experience, pretty sure that’s not the case. Results are posted when they are complete with or without review from the doctor. Here’s what happens…it can take time for some pathology reports to be completed because they are complex. The appointment with the doctor is scheduled in advance of the results so that you’re able to have that review in a timely manner. Otherwise, let’s say, if a test took 10 days to process, you may have to wait yet another 10 days for an appointment for review after the results are posted on the portal. By having the appointment pre-set, the results will be ready in time for your appointment without a long wait time after. Does that make sense?

REPLY
1 reply
slaw61 | @slaw61 | Aug 9 11:35am
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @slaw61, I agree with @colleenyoung that it’s maybe better to not peek at your results..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @slaw61, I agree with @colleenyoung that it’s maybe better to not peek at your results until right before your meeting with the doctor. From experience, I can tell you, if someone isn’t familar with the wording on some tests it can be taken out of context or misunderstood, leading to some hefty unnecessary stress. 😉
In your case, I understand that you’re not seeing the results up on your portal yet but already have an appointment scheduled with your doctor for review. So you’re concerned that it means there is bad news.
Again, from experience, pretty sure that’s not the case. Results are posted when they are complete with or without review from the doctor. Here’s what happens…it can take time for some pathology reports to be completed because they are complex. The appointment with the doctor is scheduled in advance of the results so that you’re able to have that review in a timely manner. Otherwise, let’s say, if a test took 10 days to process, you may have to wait yet another 10 days for an appointment for review after the results are posted on the portal. By having the appointment pre-set, the results will be ready in time for your appointment without a long wait time after. Does that make sense?

Jump to this post

Perfect sense! Thank you so much. Sometimes I start going down a rabbit hole and make things more stressful than they need to be.

I need to just go back to living my life and understanding that the results will be the same whenever I look at them. Better I wait and go over them with the doctor since she knows what she’s talking about.

I appreciate your great advice!

REPLY
slaw61 | @slaw61 | Aug 9 11:35am
In reply to @roch "@slaw61 I think the no-look and stay busy is best approach. When I try to figure..." + (show)
@roch

@slaw61
I think the no-look and stay busy is best approach. When I try to figure out test results, it just causes more confusion and anxiety. Phrases that sound terrible often turn out to be nothing.

I had multiple biobsy while being diagnosed with breast cancer few years ago and the best I can remember is the results were always given by a provider either in a phone call or in person appointment.

I looked back at my portal biobsy results and they were dated few days after procedure, In addition to the initial report most were amended with additional information days later.

Enjoy your weekend.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much. I will take your advice. I hope that you also have a great weekend.

REPLY
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Aug 10 8:45pm

@slaw61, I have had a few bronchoscopies over the past four years. Some results come to the portal quickly, and others take more time. I have seen most of my reports before talking to a clinician (even those with 'bad news') but not all of them.
The coughing that you are/were experiencing is somewhat expected. Irritation of the windpipe is a normal side effect of the procedure. The cough should have improved after a few days, has it improved at all? You'll want to reach out to your care team if it is getting worse or if you are coughing up any blood.

REPLY
slaw61 | @slaw61 | Aug 11 12:13am

My cough has lessened. It also seems like I’ve been a little phlegmy this year (due to allergies I think) so I’m hyper aware of it.

Thank you for your response. I think I’m fine from the procedure itself. It’s just the waiting now.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Aug 11 7:57pm
In reply to @slaw61 "My cough has lessened. It also seems like I’ve been a little phlegmy this year (due..." + (show)
@slaw61

My cough has lessened. It also seems like I’ve been a little phlegmy this year (due to allergies I think) so I’m hyper aware of it.

Thank you for your response. I think I’m fine from the procedure itself. It’s just the waiting now.

Jump to this post

@slaw61 , The waiting is difficult. Deep breaths (as long as that doesn't make you cough) :).
I hope you hear something soon. Hugs.

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