good news (and not so good)

Thanks - I just checked the consulants page on the local private hospital. It says I need a letter of referral from my GP. Getting a GP appt can take over 2 weeks here! I would happy to wait for surgery on the nhs, if necessary, I just would like to get the new problem confirmed. Even if I then had to keep the nhs consultation in October and then go on the surgery waiting list from then.

?My husband does have an appt with the GP in a week or so. I was going to ask him to ask the GP if he felt this a new problem or a follow up. At my post op I did ask the consultant re the new bulge but, to be honest, he didn't really check. He looked at the wound site and said it was healing well ( true)..

Some private hospitals allow self referrals but that's obviously not the case in your area which is a shame. Would you be able to ring the surgery and ask one of the secretary's (not the receptionist) who usually does doctors letters and referrals if they could speak to your GP and ask him for a referral?  Or you speak to the GP on the phone yourself? 2 weeks is a long time really when you just want a diagnosis. I can't understand consultant's not doing a thorough examination at the post op check because doing an internal examination is the only way to confirm the surgery has worked or not. I know they aren't pleasant but after prolapse surgery our dignity has gone out of the window anyway! I hope you get it sorted out very soon.

The consultant works at 2 other hospitals; one is the local private and the other is the private wing at the nhs hospital. they may have different  criteria ,  i would have to  check. i'm happy to ring  if necessary .

?at the post op I did say about the  new bulge. he did do an internal. but i was lying on my back so everything was flat as it were! At the original consultation was very clear  that , in order to make a proper diagnosis, I needed to be on my side and asked  to 'bear down' etc. At the post op he didn't ask any of those things he just checked the wound. I did ask about he bulge but he said it was just the lumps and bumps of heaing. I wasn't convinced and kicking myself for not pursuing more. I have stress incontinence too and we talked more about a TVT or physio.

?I went back to the GP as I knew it wasn't right - I can feel the bulge again. I think this is in a worse positon - the original prolapse was a neat bulge in middle of the vagina as it were. This is at th entrance the introitus (?) and down to the perineum. In order to have a sucessful bowel movement I have to splint both the vaginal wall and the perineum - this  is worse than before!

Sorry having terrible trouble with my keyboard - or typing on ths forum board  tonight  -so apologies if some words are missing or contracted!

I always say women know their body better than anyone, even consultant's and I've even said that to them. You're absolutely right about the position you should be in to be examined, that is so important but I'm amazed at how many doctors still don't exam that way. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I think we've all walked away from an appointment thinking of all the things we could have pursued but it's not easy to be forceful in that situation. A private appointment would give you more time to ask questions and get answers as well and I wish the NHS allowed for the same amount of time. Sometimes you just have to think about yourself and if you can afford it go for the initial private appointment because that is the most important. I benefitted so much from mine. I hope you get this sorted out trizwizz, splinting is awful, I had to do it and I'd hate to have to go through it again. Let me know up how you get on x

Gave up on my keyboard last night - seems to be better after a night's rest!

?I know what you mean about asking questions at a consultation. I work with parents who have to see consultants for thier children and I am full of advice "write everything you want to ask down, don't leave until you've got answers, don't be put off, take someone with you, etc etc! I've even gone with parents to appointments!! But hey when it came to myself I found myself being ushered out gently when I really wasn't happy! At the time the consultant said he had had a complicated surgery list in the morning so maybe he was tired too. Anyways I will try to get it sorted.

?Though when I went to the GP he examined me when I was on my back - he did ask me to bear down and had a good look around - there was a bit of soreness on the wound site so he checked that thoroughly - just sore though nothing else. Even when I was on my back he could feel a bulge which is why he felt it was a new prolapse rather than a failure of the first repair. Gynae is not his speciality though. He did refer me back straight away - he dictated the letter while I was there. He did say he wanted to be tactful as he didn't want to upset the surgeon!

Didn't want to upset the surgeon? They are still held in high esteem even now. I hope you get this sorted out quickly trizwizz and do exactly what you tell your parents to do! Take care.

In fairness to the GP - his speciality is bones/orthopedics. I think he didn't want to upset the consultant by inferring he had done a bad job - which I don't think is the case. (Although interestingly the GP felt the original prolapse was greater than 4cm and would require mesh repair. The consultant felt it was small - less than 2cm). Or teach hime to "suck eggs" as it were!

?I emailed the private part of the nhs hospital today to ask if I could have a consultation there - they have not replied as yet.

You'll get a response quite soon trizwizz, everything moves along much more quickly in private practice. 

I hope so matron. Partly because of the physical aspect but also because there is a possibility of a new job in the new acemic year. I would like to know what is going on before I consider changing jobs or talking about the new one seriouslywould find it difficult, in conscience, to change jobs and go off sick immediately or to stay in the one I've got - go off sick then hand my notice in. So I need to think carefully about this.

?Physically I think there has been a deterioration in the last few weeks and it's not going to get better.

I'm sure you'll get an appointment quite quickly although July and August are popular holiday months so that could delay an appointment but only by a few weeks. I know when I requested a private appointment the consultant secretary rang me a few days after the referral and I was seen within a week.