Another cancelled CABG operation

[chrsfrm]

Second NHS cancelation for me. Attended hospital, waited 4 hours in ward dayroom, no bed. Next day back at 0730 hours, waited 7 hours in same dayroom. Next to no contact from hospital staff, until a matron broke the bad news. No ICU bed available, previous operation took longer plus an emergency needed my bed (understandable). So sent 50 miles back home for another 3 week wait and then.......back to try again. Very hard mentally!

[sassy59]

I'm willing a bed to be available next time and wishing you well. X

[Heather1957]

OMG how awful for you!! You are told not to get stressed but this is causing you more stress than anything. My op was cancelled initially, I had all my antiseptic showers and had taken the premed but like your last example the case before me took longer that expected.

They eventually told me that I would be operated on Friday (This was Wednesday) and I just stayed on the ward (I had been admitted Tuesday evening) I was also told I was first down on Friday so barring an emergency I would get done, which I was.

I know how much stress that one cancellation caused me so goodness knows what it must be like for you to be cancelled twice AND having to make the 50 mile trip.

As you say for emergencies you understand but the bed situation is dire UK wide especially with the rise in heart operations.

I do hope it is 3rd time lucky for you and your family as they go through all the stress with you.

[chrsfrm in reply to Heather1957]

I see you can understand the stress aspect Heather, from your own experience. The other thing I felt was, as I spent so long close to the ward, seeing the outcome of the operation, patients in various stages of recovery, hobbling along, with tubes hanging from their necks, looking less than well.......it is hard to force yourself back into that environment voluntarily. But I know I must!!

[Heather1957]

On the heart ward it seems there was a lot of valve issues so I didn't see anyone who was the same as us. It seems as if it was a game of chess as far as the beds are concerned, I was the told the night before I left that there was a bed for me on the ward but the next day I was told that the woman admitted was given a bed on another ward (not the cardiac ward) but if I hadn't been fit to go out then her op would have been cancelled but it meant there was no bed for me to go back to which was why (unusually) I went home directly from ITU.

I feel sorry for those responsible for sorting it all out - nightmare!!!

[Madgranny2]

I am waiting to go in for valve replacement and artery surgery.

Your stories sound the stuff of nightmares.

[chrsfrm in reply to Madgranny2]

Hi Madgranny2, I hope my story did not scare you (more than you probably already are). That was not my aim, for you or any other reader. I only wanted to flag up the difficulties in getting into a bed being the first step. I am sure that once the treatment/surgery starts then all will be good. The staff I saw are lovely (and highly professional). You will be OK.

[Madgranny2]

No don't worry, I was warned this can happen but, it must mess with your head.

Good luck

[Sina-6491]

Oh you poor thing, that is horrible, fingers crossed for the next trip. Hope you are successful this time round, hugs Jo......

[Sina-6491]

And yes, having been through it, I know it must have looked horiffic to you sitting there waiting, like in the dentist when you hear the drill from the waiting room.

But really, it looks much worse than it really is, you're gonna do ok, both of you xx

[chrsfrm]

Just had a call, cancellation available next Tuesday and Wednesday operation. I said YES!!!

[Shopgirl in reply to chrsfrm]

Wow! What a relief. Good luck and report back afterwards.

[Sina-6491 in reply to chrsfrm]

Great newd, good luck on it going through this time

[skid112 Heart Star]

good luck and fingers crossed for this week chrsfrm

[chrsfrm]

Bag now packed.....let's be hopeful, thanks for all your goodwill messages and understanding.

[Jeanvaljean24601]

Hi Chrsfrm, I had a couple of cancellations due to the post op process. As you correctly say it’s the ICU bed availability and not surgeons that cause cancellations. I wish you the best. I can relate entirely to the psychological side of things. Stay strong 👍