Have had pre-op assessment but no surgery date?

That's not good Lessley!

If you had an MRSA swab - the test results are only valid for 6 weeks. I had a few questions that the pre-op assessment team couldn't answer as well - and they were to do with meds! I'm not holding out much hope of having a summer break this year - plus my work keep asking me when I am going in - as they have to make sure they are covered for when I am not there.

My op was supposed to be over with by Xmas but they have cancelled lots of planned surgery because the have no beds.  

I know what you mean though.  It feels like your life's on hold.

Would you have been staying overnight? They are supposed to do my surgery as a day case.

They booked me in for an overnight stay as they are putting a camera in first to have a look at my abdominal wall. It's my 4th abdominal hernia.  If everything is straightforward I'll be home the same day but if not I'll be in overnight

Mine is a hiatus hernia - so they already know what they are doing with me. It's a straightforward laprascopic op - takes about 60-90 mins - even the nurses in the pre-op said it was a 'low risk' operation. The first time I talked to the surgeon he told me 8 weeks - and it's over that now :-(

I was referred last February.  I don't believe anything that they tell me about dates now.  After the surgeon saw my scan he said that my case was quite urgent as it's a loop of bowel that's getting caught in the hernia and it's very painful.............but I'm still waiting

I'd be pesting that surgeons secretary - and saying where am I on this list - I'm not getting any better! The NHS has an 18 week start to finish policy - you are way beyond that! Unfortunately because of being rattled between departments - they could argue my time clock has been stopped and re-started a few times - I've been in the system since April last year - so I know how you feel! Give them a call on Monday - and be pleasent - but very assertive. You need an answer!

I will, Glennie.  Last time I mentioned the 18 week policy she said that there was a chance that my recent hernia is a complication from my last repair and consequently the rule didn't apply.

The 1st surgeon that I was referred to is "no longer with them" and so I had to be re-referred  to a different surgeon whch took time.  I'm sure a lot of this is a way of fiddling the figures.  

The secretary is usually very pleasant and helpful.  She moved my initial assessment by the 2nd surgeon forward by months.  However, last time I spoke to her (just after new year) she just sounded deflated and said that, as they were having to cancel admissions, she didn't know what they were gong to do.  However, I am phoning her on Monday as I spent best part of yesterday in bed dosed up on tramadol.

I hope you hear something soon though.  It might be worth phoning your surgeon's secretary just in case a letter has gone adrift somewhere, or you've somehow vanished from the system.  The latter happened to me a couple of years ago

 

I will be phoning her towards the end of next week - then my file is sure to be back at the surgeons office. I need to leave a question for the surgeon about meds I am on anyhow!

Let me know how you get on - and I'll tell you how I get on later in the week!

Ok.  Good luck.

Just phoned the secretary.  She knew who I was straight away.  She said that they are working their way through the cancelled ops now and my name is in a special file.  If anyone cancels I'm 1st on the list for a bed.  She said she'd tell the consultant that I'd rang again.

She couldn't give me any idea of an actual date though

Hi Lesley,

I'm glad they say you are on top of the list for a cancellation - sounds awful - but it would be good if someone caught a bad cold - and you could get your op! 

Isn't it so frustrating having no date though! I'm not even bothering phoning until Friday - as I'm sure the file will be back with the surgeon's secretary then - and all results should be back from the pre-assessment clinic - as I'm sure there will be some excuse that some results are not in if I didn't.  I think my surgery is classed as a low priority though - and I fear I will wait a lot longer than yourself!

I wouldn't bet on it.  I've waited nearly a year and was only made a priority in November after the new surgeon looked at my scan results.  If yours is new then the 18 week rule should apply.  I complained to PALS last time but it didn't speed anything up and only seemed to get their backs up.

Keep onto them though.  The reason for my long wait last time was because my file had been lost and that was after my scan!

Thanks for that Lesley,

You have made me feel a bit better! I really hope they get you sorted ASAP - you have suffered long enough! 

Let you know Friday night what I find out!

The secretary phoned with a surgery date today -  Fri 13th Feb which I assume is a cancellation by someone who is superstitious.  I don't care though.  At least I know when it will be now.

 

That's great news Lesley! 

I wouldn't care if that was my date either! I'll tell you how I get on with my call on Friday. 

Hope you get sorted this time!

Much better than a last minute cancellation too as it lets me get prepared.  I have a horse and organising care for him is harder than finding it for a toddler haha.  Plus, if few people want surgery on that day, I'll get plenty of care haha

One of my work colleages has a horse - and they do take a lot of looking after! They are lovely creatures though. I'm sure you'll get it sorted - I've just got cats - lot smaller - you can't ride them - but they give lots of loves - unless they are in a bitey mood :-)

I like your thinking with the surgery - I don't think you'll be turned away on that day somehow!

Hi Lesley,

Ok so I got a date today that was changed 3 hours later - luckily I didn't tell anyone at work - and just as well, I'll do this when the confirmation letter comes through. Anyhow - I'll be almost a month after you! 10th March - so a few weeks to go - but there's light at the end of the tunnel! Was a bit disappointed at first - but this date actually works out really well for my work - and for the fact Easter will fall when I am getting better - and it will give me a few more days to re-couperate!

Brilliant.  At least we both can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!  My previous repair dates were organised via a call from the secretary asking if I would go in a few days later.  This was good as there was less time to think about thngs but at least we can have everything prepared this time...........house sparkling (well, maybe), the fridge and freezer stocked up etc.

I hope it all goes well for you.

Hey hope all goes well for you too! I'm looking forward to not lugging heavy shopping bags and ditching the tablets that I've had to take for the past few years! Let me know how you get on! :-)

Hi Lesley,

Not long now! Just thought I'd send you a good luck message just in case I forget! I've tried not being on the forum so much - as I have found myself getting upset at nothing! I'm still waiting for my confirmation letter 2 weeks after getting my date! I hope they don't change it again - hubby got time off work and I have pre-warned my work too! All the best to you - stay well and get better x

Thanks but I' sorry to hear of your news.

It's all just so frustrating isn't it?  I actually cried when speakibng to my surgeon's secretary once.  I felt really silly but had psyched myself up for the surgery happening just before xmas.  I did my shopping early and everything, so I was all prepared.  I thought they would just phone me with a last minute slot as that is what has always happened in the past but, of course, they didn't.  It's like your life is on.hold. xx

Hi, Finally had my surgery and had to stay in overnight  They found another hernia and so 2 were repaired with 3 layers of mesh.  Seemingly, they also had to sort out bits of my insides and put them back where they should be too .

Anyhow I'm very swollen and sore but hopefully this will be the end of it.  Even the top of one of my thighs is swollen!  Apparently, this is because they had to cut tissue that supplies the nerve ends to it.  Sometimes you just wish you'd never asked the question haha

Hi Lesley!

Good to hear from you - fantastic it is done and over - now it just lots of rest and re-couperation and day time TV  . Sounds like them hernia's have been bullies - pushing other bits of your anatomy out of the way! It's amazing how these surgeons can sort you out! 

Not long now for me either! 

Take care you!!!