This Sunday gone my husband was due to go into hospital for his AVR. Rang the hospital before leaving and it was cancelled. I was told to ring the secretary who said that the surgeon will let her know when my husband can be fit in. So now he has been cancelled twice, been at home unwell for the last 3 month, we have both self isolated ready for his procedure. I’ve sent an email the last time he was cancelled stating that at least if they are not going to do the procedure yet could he not have another Echo to compare how his heart is doing as his symptoms have got worse, the surgeon said he just needs the valve done?? It’s so worrying, one way or the other they need to do something I feel and promises or having his procedure and then cancelling are just demoralising him.
Kind regards.
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Jewel7
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Hello and welcome to the forum! Unfortunately delays in the overstretched cardiac services have been common for years. My journey was punctuated by delays everywhere from a six week wait for the Urgent Chest Pain Clinic to my bypass being cancelled a few days before. It will happen but it probably meant they had an emergency.
If his symptoms worsen noticeably ring 999 straightaway.
I cannot imagine how you both feel. I had to wait for over 15 months for my op last June, so it was known in October 2017 that surgery was necessary. But the long wait, getting slowly more and more symptomatic was pretty grim. What is your GP view...can your GP do anything by way of pressurising on basis of clinical need (mine did, successfully) and, as Michael says, do not hesitate to call 999 if worried.
So sorry to hear this. I guess there must have been an emergency. Before my op I was warned that they would not proceed unless there was sufficient ITU space.
Maybe try ringing the surgeons secretary. They often can be helpful.
Hi Jewel7, I know exactly how you are both feeling as I had the same. I had my first two dates cancelled on the day I was due to go in, third time I actually managed to get a bed, next morning showered and ready for my op and was told it wasn’t going ahead but they hoped to do it in the afternoon, finally got told at lunchtime, having not had anything to eat since 10pm the night before, that they weren’t going to do the op that day, but I was listed for the following week and could stay in hospital (for 5 days) or go home - I went home. Thankfully I had my op the following week. My only consolation was that I had been ‘bumped’ because of an emergency and obviously that person was more in need of the ICU bed than me.
I would give the cardiology secretary a ring and explain that the stress is making his symptoms worse and hopefully they will make sure he gets listed ASAP. Hope it’s all over soon for you both and he can start his recovery.
It often happens with cardio procedures due to the emergencies that obviously take precedence. My hubby was kept in for a week once whilst waiting, they kept saying he would be having it soon...……….by the time he had it he was 'starving'.
I was due to have a procedure in January and then it seemed as though it would not be happening with Covid 19 rearing its head but they got me in at the beginning of March just before they pulled ops. I was very lucky.
Most hospitals are now starting ops. again so it will hopefully not be too long until you hear from them. Did you explain that it was really affecting him and getting him down? Sometimes it can help if they are sympathetic. Good Luck and I hope you hear something soon.
Hi Jewel7. I feel your frustration. Although my husband finally had his quad bypass late 2018, this happened after 4 cancellations. The last cancellation was when he was prepped and on the trolley going down to theatre!!! An emergency came in so he was wheeled back to the bed and was told to phone me to collect him!!
Oh my goodness as if getting yourself up for AVR wasn’t bad enough, to then go and have it cancelled is awful. I had mine a year ago and had better luck with the scheduling. Covid-19 must have complicated matters too as far as getting the theatre staff together for big operations like AVRs. Fingers crossed for you both, I truly hope it’s done very soon and you can both enjoy the new lease of life it will give you!!!
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