Operation Date 1!: Called by hospital... - British Heart Fou...

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Operation Date 1!

willsie01 profile image
31 Replies

Called by hospital today and asked to come in on Sunday in preparation for the bypass surgery I've been waiting for. I know a lot of you guys have been bumped from scheduled operations and I guess you've had emails with statements like this in them:

"...However, as a specialist chest hospital all our patients have serious health conditions and we also admit a lot of patients from other hospitals on an emergency (not planned) basis. This does mean that there is a possibility your operation may be cancelled. Most patients are cancelled once or twice, almost always to accommodate emergency cases..."

As if having a dodgy heart isn't enough we have this to contend with!

Still, musn't grumble :)

John

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31 Replies
Fredders profile image
Fredders

Hi John, all the best for your op.

I was lucky for my first AVR, got in first go. Unfortunately they made up for it the second time - twice cancelled on the day I was due to go in; third time managed to get in, spent the night, showered and dressed ready for op and got punted into the afternoon; by about 4pm it became pretty clear I wasn’t going to get my op that day (I hadn’t been allowed to have anything to eat or drink since 10pm the night before!), eventually surgeon came and told me it wouldn’t go ahead and would be the following Monday - four days away, said I could stay in hospital or go home - I went home. Thankfully it went ahead on the Monday. Was very frustrating, especially as both my husband and I work full time, so constantly mucking work about, but at least I was in a better place than the people I had been bumped for, who needed emergency surgery.

Keep us posted, I found this forum very helpful in therecovery period, lots of great support.

Wendy

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to Fredders

Thanks Wendy 😉

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Hi John... I actually believe that more scheduled operations get cancelled on a Monday than any other day. My reasoning is that weekend emergency patients are often stabilised and undergo surgery on the Monday. I will have to see if I can find some statistics. My Monday date was cancelled but my Wednesday one went ahead but did slip from first thing to the afternoon. Boy, could I have done with a pint I was that dry! 🍺

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to MichaelJH

I trust you got that pint sooner rather than later :)

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

Not for six weeks but only drunk a half as it didn't taste right. For quite a few weeks some foods tasted fine but others not but at three months all back to normal!

Fredders profile image
Fredders in reply to MichaelJH

You’re lucky Michael, I still can’t eat chocolate chip shortbread biscuits that I used to love 😢

Wendy

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to Fredders

😔

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to MichaelJH

Eventful day. Car written off in the morning, side swiped by a car crossing over to our side of the road, and got operation date in the afternoon while still in a dazed state. No injuries to anyone fortunately.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

Not what you really needed. We were T-boned three years ago by someone who sailed into a stream of traffic. Shakes you up for a few hours! Try and relax as all this could prey on your mind in the small hours.

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to MichaelJH

My wife was shaken up but I was so calm I was surprised. Wondering whether that was the beta blocker. In which case that’s something I should bear in mind for the future.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

Probably, beta blockers work by reducing the effects of adrenaline. Besides heart related issues they may also be prescribed for anxiety and migraines.

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

Oh dear Willsie01. I’ve just got my car back repaired after a shunt a few weeks ago. I suffered injuries to my back but I’m receiving treatment. I’m sorry to say that when I was given my angioplasty with stent it was as an emergency on a Monday and, although someone had been cancelled for me, I had been in hospital for a week. I hope you get your op soon and you get transport sorted soon.

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to Maisie2014

I hope your back improves rapidly 😊

Nic25 profile image
Nic25

Good luck John. That sounds like a pretty standard disclaimer to me. When I turned up at St Thomas's for my AVR I was told "you're first on the list tomorrow but it could get cancelled and if that happens you may have to come back in a fortnight". Hardly what I wanted to hear. But in the event it all went smoothly. Hope it does for you too and you're soon out the other side and on the road to recovery. Fingers and everything else crossed for you. Nic x

John ... wow! You have had an eventful day! All the best for Sunday and look forward to hearing from you soon. Kristina

All the best , you will be fine , just don’t rush recovery

Neptune54 profile image
Neptune54

Hi Willsie, I was lucky. Had my CABG booked at Wythenshawe for 28th May. Booking rang the week before with the dreaded phonecall saying the surgeon has an emergency case and yours is being cancelled, however, there is a slot at the BMI Alexandra hospital on the same day if you want it. Yes please says I so it was all done two weeks ago now. Recovery is going well although had a couple of 'down' days. Still we have to look forward and the best day will be when I can do without the compression stockings !! Good luck and best wishes for the op

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to Neptune54

Hmm...compression stockings ☹️

PhilGM profile image
PhilGM in reply to Neptune54

Hi, had my CABG two years ago at Wythenshawe, very good treatment but still have problems with an inoperable artery. Did you stay at the Alex for your recovery? Didn’t know they did this and had an intensive care unit. You will have good and bad days but will feel a whole lot better. Yes it is nice to lose those stockings! All the best for your continued recovery!

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72

I was lucky. My valve replacement was an emergency but due to weekend and new year I was in four days. Performed on 2nd Jan which was actually my birthday

I wish you all of the best John, I feel rather guilty now because I probably caused someone’s operation to be cancelled at short notice too. It wasn’t my choice, I suppose we just have to trust the experts because our lives are truly in their hands.

Elaine x

Rosei profile image
Rosei

Fingers crossed that there will be no cancellation, and that your operation is high to successful, good luck.

Handel profile image
Handel

Hi John. Just keep everything crossed. My hubby had 4 cancellations so 5th time lucky. It was a pain getting to the hospital as it was a 60 mile round trip. It was a real bugger to get close to the operating theatre having been starved and shaved etc. only for the trolley to be turned around to go back to the ward!!! We just went home and waited for another call!

Just got to be positive and think of the poor soul at death's door if you do have a cancellation.

Thinking of you and keeping our fingers crossed for you xxx

Handel profile image
Handel

Just read about your side swipe. That's all you needed!! My Golf was written off when my husband was driving and I was in the passenger seat. Idiot, according to witnesses, was doing 70 when he smashed us in the back of us on a 30mph road! Uninsured of course!

Good job I had GTN in the car!!

Good luck again for your operation date xxxx

Ymail65 profile image
Ymail65

Fingers crossed x

willsie01 profile image
willsie01

Cancelled 😔 electrical fault in theatre ventilator. Ho hum

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

Sorry to hear that! However, the ventilation system must be 100% to minimise infection risk and for the comfort of the staff (and therefore focus totally). Any indication of a new date? Mine was rescheduled quickly.

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to MichaelJH

I was told to expect a call from the consultant’s secretary on Monday.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

You should get a date within the next two weeks. They will be pulling out all the stops to fix it to avoid creating a serious back log. Just chill for 24 hours; watch your favourite film or listen to your favourite CD!

willsie01 profile image
willsie01 in reply to MichaelJH

If I watch Cool Hand Luke and then listen to Sgt Pepper my wife will leave me 😔

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to willsie01

Maybe Shawshank Redemption and Dark Side of the Moon! 😎

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