Cancelled Surgery

[Lancs-one]

I have been waiting for a triple CABG since November. I have been given 4 dates for surgery and each has been cancelled, due to no ITU beds, or no staff.

I have a date for tomorrow but have been told to stay at home until I get the green light from the hospital.

This constant juggling with pre-op medication and preparation is causing me a lot of anxiety.

Has anyone else on here chosen NOT to have the bypass done? If so - how have you managed your everyday life? Do you feel your health is the same/worse/better?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Yes, the delays within cardiology are unacceptable and unlike it seems there are no targets like in other areas. I was referred for a quadruple bypass in August 2017 that only happened in June 2018. Not having it done in my view was not an option as for the six months before surgery there was no way I could exercise as I could barely get to the end of the road (and it is not a long one). There are people who have opted not to have a bypass but I prefer to put my trust in the experts. All I can suggest is chill out and be a patient patient.

[Lancs-one in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks MichaelJH. The delay is impacting on my life - I can't plan for anything in advance "just in case" - and I've missed a few good cruise deals!!!

[Fortepiano]

This is so frustrating for you and I do hope you have your surgery tomorrow.

It's worth people remembering that if your surgery is cancelled on the day you have the right to have your surgery within 28 days, or you can choose another hospital - which can be private, and the first hospital must pay for it.

[Lancs-one in reply to Fortepiano]

The dates I have been given have all been within this month, so I don't think another hospital is an option just now. I was thinking about alternative sites, but lack of ITU beds and staffing issues seems to be affecting many hospitals. It might be a case of "out of the frying pan ......"

[Fortepiano in reply to Lancs-one]

Yes, they are clearly trying to fit you in. I had a very long wait and then was cancelled the day before due to a lack of an ICU bed. It was stressful , but a week later I had my op and the care was wonderful - and I was so pleased to be having it I went off to the operating theatre with a big smile! Hospitals are under so much pressure now.

All the best for today

[Hidden]

I was due to have a CABG x 2 in August. I was cancelled at the last minute. I was the second op schedualed for the day and a nurse came to tell me at 3 pm the op was cancelled. I was devastated. I’m not sure what the reason was, I assume either the procedure before mine took longer than expected or there was an emergency patient. I was sent home after waiting for another slot for 4 days. When I had my op a week later it took longer than usual, maybe the op after mine was cancelled..... I’ll never know. It was a stressful time but all worked out in the end. Every member of staff I met at LCC did their best, I can’t fault everyone.

[Handel]

This happened to my husband in October and November last year. 4 cancellations and I had to ring at 1 pm on the day of the planned admission to make sure it was 5th time lucky.

It was 5th time lucky thank goodness!!! Good luck and don't despair.

It's helpful (but not ideal) to think that someone else's husband, child, wife is the poor soul who's grabbed your operation spot.

We cancelled a planned holiday with the family based on hospital dates. I'd agree wholeheartedly with MichaelJH and just say be patient. It'll happen.

All the very best and keep us all up to date xxx

[Hidden]

I have no doubt that if you have been advised that you need a CABG - triple heart bypass operation, then you do need it. This is a life saving, life altering operation and although you may be apprehensive, the plus side greatly outweighs the negative. If you were with the greatest respects - foolish enough to cancel the scheduled operation, I feel sure you WOULD regret it and with having done that, your priority place would have been re allocated to someone else. Please remember that if your operation has been delayed - not cancelled - you can rest assured that some poor person needed the ICU bed more than you did. Once you do get called in, they will not let you go until the operation has been completed. Please hang in there and be pragmatic about your situation - your need is a priority and you will not get moved aside for a heavy cold - it will have been serious to have had to delay a CABG procedure. Good luck - mine was June 3rd last year and never looked back!

[walktheboston]

There was an article in the Times at the weekend (I think) about the need to complain to the NHS about things in order for it to improve.Evidently very few do.

I would flag up the stress and anxiety you are feeling and how it is not helping your health and well-being. I would still stay on the list for the operation.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hopefully the fact that Lancs-one has not posted further means the bypass went ahead and he now heading towards the next phase - recovery...

[Lancs-one in reply to MichaelJH]

Oh - if only MichealJH. Just posted another rant. Might feel better after a night's sleep!!

[Hidden]

My Angiograph report showed recommendation of CABG, but my cardiologist and myself agreed to do stenting instead, after a month's waiting for MRI scan and availability of facility to stent. I am happy that we avoided CABG by-pass operation and did what is more nearer to natural treatment, it's quite healthy and avoids future risk of difficult blockage as it happens in artificial CAGB implant