The Wait That Changes Everything
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When a doctor says “you need an endoscopy,” your mind races. What will they find? Is it serious? And then the second question hits — how long will it take to actually get answers?
For patients in Canada, the UK, France, and the US, the answer is increasingly measured in months, not days. What follows are real stories from myMedVia patients who chose not to wait.
Sarah, 42 — Toronto, Canada
The Problem: Six months of unexplained stomach pain, bloating after meals, and a family history of gastric cancer. Sarah’s GP referred her for an urgent gastroscopy. The specialist’s office called with an appointment date: 19 weeks away.
“I remember hanging up the phone and just sitting there,” Sarah says. “Every time I ate, I’d feel this pressure in my upper stomach. My grandmother died of stomach cancer at 58. Nineteen weeks felt like a lifetime.”
The Decision: Sarah found myMedVia while researching alternatives late one night. She chose Fast-Track Access.
The Timeline:
Tuesday: Submitted her intake form at 10 PMWednesday: Spoke with her care coordinator, who reviewed her referral letter and medical historyThursday: Received three hospital options in Shanghai and selected oneFriday: Appointment confirmed for the following TuesdayTuesday (Day 7): Gastroscopy performed at a JCI-accredited hospital in ShanghaiThe Outcome: The procedure took 20 minutes. Results came back clear — no malignancy, no ulcers. Diagnosis: functional dyspepsia, manageable with dietary changes and a short course of medication.
“The relief was overwhelming,” Sarah recalls. “I landed back in Toronto on Friday, results in hand. My GP had them by Monday. A week later, I was eating without fear. The $300 service fee plus the hospital fee and a round-trip flight to Shanghai cost less than what I would have paid to go private in Canada — and I had answers 18 weeks faster.”
David, 58 — Manchester, UK
The Problem: David’s GP suspected gastrointestinal bleeding after routine bloodwork showed low iron and a positive fecal occult blood test. He was referred for an urgent colonoscopy. The NHS appointment arrived: 11-week wait.
“My GP said ‘urgent,’ but urgent on the NHS doesn’t mean next week,” David explains. “I’d wake up at 3 AM wondering if I had something serious growing inside me. Eleven weeks of that felt unbearable.”
The Decision: David had traveled to China for business before and felt comfortable navigating the country. He chose Fast-Track Access.
The Timeline:
Monday: Filled out the intake form during his lunch breakTuesday: Care coordinator call; hospital matched in GuangzhouThursday: Flew to GuangzhouFriday (Day 5): Colonoscopy at a top-tier Chinese hospitalThe Outcome: Two small polyps were found and removed during the procedure — standard practice in China for polyps under 1 cm. Biopsy results confirmed they were benign adenomas. The gastroenterologist recommended a follow-up colonoscopy in 3 years.
“The polyps were ‘precancerous’ — the kind you want to find and remove early,” David says. “If I’d waited 11 weeks on the NHS, those polyps wouldn’t have gone anywhere bad in that time, but the mental toll of not knowing? That was the real damage. From ‘you need a colonoscopy’ to ‘you’re fine, see you in 3 years’ — five days. I can’t put a price on that peace of mind.”
David’s total cost: $300 (myMedVia Fast-Track Access) + approximately $350 (hospital fee) + $780 (round-trip flight Manchester–Guangzhou) = ~$1,430. For comparison, a private colonoscopy in the UK averages £2,200 (~$2,800) (Source: Practice Plus Group, 2025）. He saved nearly 50% and skipped a 3-month wait.
Claire, 34 — Lyon, France
The Problem: Persistent acid reflux for over a year, difficulty swallowing, and unexplained weight loss of 5 kg. Claire’s gastroenterologist recommended a gastroscopy. In Lyon, the wait was 8 weeks for a public hospital appointment. Going private in France would cost €400–€600 and still required a 3-week wait.
“I was scared,” Claire admits. “The weight loss really worried me. My doctor was reassuring but said ‘we need to rule some things out.’ You hear ‘rule things out’ and your brain goes to the worst places.”
The Decision: Claire had never traveled to China and didn’t speak Mandarin. She chose Full Concierge.
The Timeline:
Day 0: Consultation with myMedVia coordinator (in French)Day 2: Hospital matched in Hangzhou; visa support initiated (France qualifies for China’s 30-day visa-free entry, so no visa was needed)Day 5: Flight booked; hotel confirmed within walking distance of the hospitalDay 8: Arrived in Hangzhou; met by her interpreter at the airportDay 9: Pre-procedure consultation and gastroscopy performedDay 10: Results delivered in French and English; follow-up call with gastroenterologistDay 12: Flew homeThe Outcome: Mild esophageal inflammation (Grade A esophagitis) and a small hiatal hernia — both manageable with medication and lifestyle changes. No malignancy. No Barrett’s esophagus.
“I cried when the doctor told me,” Claire says. “Not because of the diagnosis — because the waiting was finally over. The interpreter held my hand through the whole thing. The Full Concierge service made me feel like I wasn’t doing this alone, in a foreign country. It was worth every cent.”
Claire’s full trip, including Full Concierge ($1,000), hospital fees (~$300), flights, and a 4-star hotel for 4 nights, totaled approximately $2,800 — comparable to what she would have paid for a private gastroscopy closer to home, but with the added benefit of a supported, guided experience and answers in 10 days instead of 8 weeks.
The Common Thread
Sarah, David, and Claire came from different countries with different symptoms. But they shared one experience: the gap between “you need this test” and “here are your results” is filled with fear. Shortening that gap isn’t just about convenience — it’s about mental health.
Across all three stories:
Average wait in home country: 12.7 weeksAverage wait with myMedVia: 7 daysAverage total cost (including travel): 30–50% less than private care at homeCommon outcome: Relief. Clarity. A plan.---
Next Steps
[Contact myMedVia ]
If you’re in the middle of your own waiting period, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless. Whether you need a gastroscopy, a colonoscopy, or both, there is a faster path.
Visit [myMedVia.com](%23) and start your intake. From the moment you submit that form, the clock starts ticking — not toward another month of waiting, but toward answers.
A Word About Difficult Results
Sarah, David, and Claire all received reassuring news. But if you’re reading these stories and thinking, “What if my results aren’t like theirs?” — that question deserves an honest answer.
If your endoscopy reveals something that requires further treatment — whether it’s a condition that needs monitoring, a finding that requires a specialist, or a diagnosis that calls for a treatment plan — you won’t be left to figure it out alone. Here’s what happens:
You’ll understand your results. Your gastroenterologist will explain the findings in plain language, with a written report in English. No medical jargon without translation. No “we’ll send something in the mail.”You’ll have a plan. If treatment is available within China’s hospital network — and for most gastrointestinal conditions, it is — your myMedVia coordinator can help you explore staying in China for continued care, with the same JCI-accredited quality standards.You’ll have continuity back home. If you prefer to return to your home country for treatment, we coordinate a direct handoff to your GP or specialist: your complete medical records, biopsy slides, imaging, and a telehealth briefing between your Chinese gastroenterologist and your home physician. Full Concierge patients receive three post-procedure telehealth sessions specifically for this transition.You won’t face a second wait. One of the hardest things about getting a difficult diagnosis through a public system is the second wait — the wait from diagnosis to treatment. Because you’ve already bypassed the first wait by coming to China, you’re months ahead of where you’d be if you’d stayed in the queue. That head start can matter enormously.The worst outcome isn’t a difficult diagnosis. The worst outcome is getting that diagnosis months later than you could have. Every story on this page — even the ones that end in further treatment — starts with the same first step: finding out what’s actually going on, fast.
If you’re ready to take that step, we’re ready to walk it with you.