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3rd time lucky

Posted , 2 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hi all, just wanted to share my experience of PS.

I have been suffering from this condition for 2 1/2 years and had my 3rd op last week. I had the first 2 ops done on NHS but decided to look at private this time round. I recently had a flare up whilst on holiday so decided to look into private care upon my return and joined BUPA (who surprisingly cover it as a pre-existing condition).

Anyway, it took 2 days to see the consultant, and he then booked me in for surgery for the end of the week, so a hell of a lot quicker than NHS! One thing that I found surprising is that the op only costs around £300 - £400, plus around £200 for the anaethitist. If I would have known this first time round, I may have paid it rather than going NHS.

The plan was to excise the sinus and stitch it up but unfortunately it was bigger than originally thought so had to lay it open to heal.

The consultant I saw was the most informative of all people I've seen over last couple of years. He told me that the reason it reoccurs is when the surgery has not been performed correctly and all the sinus has not been removed, and that the most common reason for this is that it is generally the consultants juniors that perform the op (i have had previous 2 done in a teaching hospital). He assured me that by inject it with a blue dye this time, he would remove it all and hopefully should be my last time (fingers crossed).

The previous 2 times I have had the wound packed with aquacel and changed daily by the district nurse, until I was mobile enough to make it to the GP's for the practice nurse to do it. This time I have had it packed with Sorbsan, and am having it changed every other day. I had the op on sat, went back to the hospital for it changing on monday, and agin on wednesday, and have now got the district nurse coming every other day. My 1st visit from the district nurse was yesterday, and was unpleasant to say the least! I was told that it was an inconvenience for them to come out and do something so minor when they have much more high priority patitents to visit! I was told I will get another visit tomorrow (sun) and will have to make my way to the gp's from next week!!!!!!! Well, I politely informed her that I don't enjoy being housebound and I'll make my way to the GP's when I'm good and f*****g ready!!!!

Anyone else had similar experiences with district nurse? Or NHS?

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Luke_Carey
    Luke_Carey

    Posted

    Hi, Yea i know exactly what you mean i have just had my 2nd op saturday just gone also NHS and also in a TEACHING HOSPITAL!! To be honest i think you are exactly right about teaching NHS hospitals messing it up because my last op was done wrong and suprise suprise it came back. I know what you mean about the district nurses though they are a strange and scary species that seem to hate anyone with a dressing change needed i am currently having to go to my local walk in center which is not easy to get to in my condition. No offene but its nice to hear someone else is in the same boat.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    [b:addaab319b][i:addaab319b][color=darkblue:addaab319b][/color:addaab319b][size=18:addaab319b][/size:addaab319b] hi i had my second P.S done in spetember on the nhs the surgeon i seen was very good he informed me everythin that was goin to happen and even drea a diagram of what he will be doin not that i wanted to know that lol, i was in agony when i came round from the anastetic due to me have problems in the theatre, which where unexpected!!! i fully understand the part on the district nurses i had the same problem i had a 30 minute argument with the sister at my local health centre who was at first refusing to come to my house to do the dressings in the end i said to her put your self in my shoes iv just had a chunk of skins cut out its on the base of my spine i cant sit down or lay on it never mind walk 20 mins to the practice as i dont drive n even if i could there was no way i could sit down to there, all she was saying was their priority was house bound patients i was like OMG i am i cant go nowhere u sill cow!! she eventually agreed for the nurses to visit me at home for the first week but after that i was to make my own way to them which wasnt a problem as i became more mobile i just couldnt sit down they cause my wound to become infected (i think they did it on purpose lol) i no longer use the distric nurses everyday as my partner now packs it for me with aquacel siver and i visitthem once a week and have check ups at the hospital every 2 weeks, hopefully this will be the last time i have this done , i do advise if u need any form of pain relief request tramadol and diclafenac works wonders for me helps me sleep through the pain aswell, good look people x[/i:addaab319b][/b:addaab319b]
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    An update on the post - I had the surgery done in July 09, it was laid open to heal and took around 2 - 3 months to heal. The packing was quickly changed to Aquacel and a daily change, rather than the Sorbsan every other day. This was recommended by one of the district nurses (who was very informative and helpful), she also changed the dressing from dry gauze and tape over the top to an adhesive pad called Allevyn. Anyway, the wound was very deep and took it's time to start healing but once it did it healed very quickly. The Allevyn pads were much more comfortable (and I was told create a better healing environment). These pads were then stopped as I was told they were too expensive (even though I had a pre-pay certificate) as the surgery only has a certain budget to spend (bloody NHS).

    Anyway, it opended back up a little bit right at the bottom of my scar (quite near the anus), went back to see the surgeon and he said he couldn't tell if it was Pilonidal or if it was a Fistula, and he would have to put me under general to have a poke a round and see what's what. Turned out it was Pilonidal and have been in this weekend for my 4th op. This time he said it was a lot more straight forward and has manged to stitch it up. Got out today and going back in a week to hopefully have stitches out. Must say, I feel a lot more mobile than the 3 times it has been left open and doesn't seem to restrict me as much. Hoping this is the last time and looking on the bright side - no district nurses!

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