I could cry! NHS trying to change my op date.

[Cat247]

For anyone that knows the battle I've had to get an op date this is the latest! I got my letter for op to be 7th may. The gynae sec had rung me last week and accepted the date on the system as she knew how poorly I've been and that I was desperate for a date. The letter said to call and confirm and I thought I know the gynae sec already confirmed but best be safe and ring anyway! The bookings lady says the bowel surgeon has double booked so not looking like 7th may anymore. I actually had a breakdown on the phone. She was lovely and said she was trying to sort it as she'd read my email before and knew how poorly I was. She said the endo surgeon is fine with that date it's the bowel surgeon. She gave me name and number to call the lady who does the bookings for the bowel surgeon. I did call but her voicemail says she only works mon, thurs & fri! I left a crazy voicemail in tears. I also left a voicemail for my endo surgeons secretary asking if there's anything they can do like maybe get the endo surgeon to talk to the bowel surgeon and get a date set in stone.

I just don't know what else I can do. I'm feeling so crap daily and now this has really deflated me.

A couple people I know said to contact PALS at the hospital. I have left them a voicemail too asking someone to call me.

I just don't get how they can come forward with a date and then say oh sorry he double booked!!! I wasn't even given an idea of another date.

I really wish I could've afforded to go private

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. I've been messed around for so long now. It's nearly 6 months since my diagnostic lap where they found severe grade 4 endo and frozen pelvis. They couldn't do anything at the time hence needing this next op. I guess I am just a number to them though not a sick person who struggles with day to day life at the age of 30!!

Sorry for rant.xxx

[Sheri26]

OMG, poor you, sounds like you have covered as much as you can as in contacting whom you need to. It's really not fair playing with people's lives and messing them around , I really feel for you. Where are you having op done ?? X

[Cat247 in reply to Sheri26]

Thanks sheri yeah I guess I have done all I can for now. I just have to hope the other person the bowel surgeon has booked is not urgent so they cancel them not me. I'm in Plymouth.xx

[Sheri26]

Keep ringing daily till you get a flipping answer (I would) x

[Impatient]

Be patient - you may even get a date sooner. Patients have to cancel for all sorts of reasons not least because they too get their ops brought forward, but also because they get ill in other ways - chest infections, or family bereavements or all sorts.

So yes it might mean waiting a few days more -but it could mean getting seen to sooner rather than later. You just don't at this stage know what the two surgeons can arrange between them. Ot indeed it might mean a switch of surgeons.

Don't panic - it is not unusual at all to have op dates moved for a host of reasons.

More urgent cases - docs get sick too, breakdowns of equipment in operating theatres, previous ops in the day's schedule for theatre time over run their allocated time and so on.

I know you get geared up to a deadline date and it becomes your main focus - but really this does happen a lot and yes it can work in your favour too.

Just be patient and see what can be sorted out for you.

it's not great at all being in so much pain and having to wait a bit longer, but it is something that we all may have to face every now and then and it is beyond our control.

Hang in there, you will get your op.

[Cat247 in reply to Impatient]

Thank you Impatient. Yeah I'm hoping it will mean a sooner date but the way things have gone I doubt it. Fingers crossed though.xx

[bomberkl]

I actually had mine brought forward completely unexpectedly - was scheduled for the 30th April then they called me on the 27th March to say they'd had a cancellation for 6 days later on the 2nd so I went for it. Was a complete surprise and had to cancel a trip for my birthday but definitely worth it. Fingers crossed yours gets brought forward - good luck x

[Cat247 in reply to bomberkl]

Thank you it's good to hear they bought yours forward. Did you have one surgeon or two? I need endo and bowel surgeon so I doubt they'd both have a cancellation. But you never know.xx

[Clem01]

I'm so sorry I understand how hard it is I went in for an op in December only to be there got a bed, gowned up the works for my consultant to come & say he over run on his last op so it can't happen today. I burst into tears as in my head I was ready for it. The op then was rearranged for Jan. My mum said at the time everything happens for a reason. I didn't think much of it. However when I had my op in Jan I had post op complications got readmitted to hospital for a week. Didn't stop bleeding then got an infection from the coil it went missing ended up back in hospital. We are now in April & I'm now recovering from my second lap this year. Basically the way I see it everything happens for a reason & if I did have the lap in December I would of spent Xmas in hospital. At least this way I go Xmas at home with my family. I really hope it gets sorted soon for you I really do. You may not know the reason why yet but life has a funny way of doing things xx

[Cat247 in reply to Clem01]

Thanks clem01 I agree everything happens for a reason I just hope I don't wait too long. I can imagine you must have felt so upset having your op cancelled on the day but glad you got to enjoy Xmas.xx