The scan is done, the results are due “within five working days,” and your mind has already attended three imaginary consultations. Waiting for medical results can be hard: there is nothing to do and a lot to feel. These six practices are for the in-between. They are ways to get through the wait, and they say nothing about what the results will be.
1. Name the waiting as its own thing
The wait is not the diagnosis. It has its own feel, which may include poor sleep, a busy mind or checking your phone. You can track what the waiting is like for you, in plain words: “restless,” “distracted,” “fine at the moment.” This gives you a way to describe the wait without guessing at the results, which may still be incomplete.
2. Catch the rehearsal
The mind runs scenarios: the good call, the bad call, what you will say. Each time you notice it, you could look at three things in the room and feel your feet on the floor. One slow, comfortable long exhale is optional, and you can skip it if breath focus makes you anxious or dizzy. Rehearsing every outcome can be tiring, and you are allowed to put it down.
3. Keep ordinary life going
Continue ordinary activities, such as the coffee, the walk, the film and the work, only within your clinician’s instructions and any restrictions that apply while results are pending. Doing ordinary things is not denial. It gives the waiting somewhere to sit. If a plan feels too much, swap it for a smaller one rather than cancelling everything.
4. Limit the searching
Late-night symptom searching can raise worry without adding answers, because search results list many possibilities with no knowledge of your case. You might choose one brief window a day, or none, and keep the rest of the day search-free. The answers will come from the clinicians who have your actual results.
5. Tell one person you are waiting
Tell a friend or partner who knows what this week is. They do not have to fix anything. Having company may help the wait feel less lonely. You can say exactly what you want: “Can you text me on Thursday evening?” or “Can we watch something and not talk about it?”
6. Prepare your questions, then close the notebook
Write down what you will ask when the results arrive, on one page. Examples might be: What does this mean for me? What are the next steps? Who do I call if I have questions? Once the questions are on paper, you can stop rehearsing them. Consider asking someone to come to the appointment or be on the phone with you, and take notes.
Small ways to use the time
If the hours drag, try something with your hands or your attention that has a clear end: a puzzle, cooking, tidying one drawer, a short walk. Choose activities that you enjoy, not ones you think you should do. Avoid heavy alcohol use as a way of getting through it.
Questions to ask the clinic about the process
It can calm things to know how the process works. You could ask who will give you the results and how: a phone call, an appointment, a letter or an online portal. Ask what happens if the results are delayed, and what to do if you have not heard by the date you were given. Ask whether you should have someone with you, and whether you can record the conversation or write notes. Some clinics will also say which results usually come first and which take longer.
If the wait falls over a weekend or holiday
Waiting can feel longer when the clinic is closed. Check the clinic’s opening days, and ask whether there is a number to ring if you are worried and whether results can be released outside working hours. Plan something for the days that will feel longest, such as a meal with a friend or a long walk, and keep a short list of people you can message. If you develop new or worsening symptoms, follow your clinical team’s advice or seek prompt medical advice, and do not wait for the clinic to reopen.
If you cannot wait
If the wait is unbearable, call the clinic. Ask when results are due, whether there is a way to hear sooner, and who to contact if symptoms change in the meantime. For new or worsening symptoms, follow your clinical team’s advice or seek prompt medical advice rather than waiting for results. If symptoms are severe or you are in immediate danger, use your local emergency number. If you have no out-of-hours contact, use local urgent medical services. Seek prompt professional support for panic, persistent sleeplessness or distress. If you are thinking of harming yourself, feel at risk of acting on those thoughts, or cannot stay safe, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line immediately and stay with someone you trust.
Related: tools for blood-test nerves.
