How long did you wait post pre-op?

[Sazzy_K]

Hi all,

Just wondering on average how long people are waiting for their laparoscopy post having the pre-op done?

My preop was almost a month ago and I still don’t have a date for the op and struggling. Really worried I’m going to have to wait for ages. Phoned this morning to chase and they just keep saying will add a message to my notes

[AllthatGlitters]

Hello I waited 8 months then heard nothing, couldn’t cope with it so decided to go private. It depends on the area you live I think. You could phone up the gynaecology secretary and get your GP to write to them too. I done this but I had no luck. Hopefully you will x

[luthien]

I think your pre op is only valid from 12 weeks before your op. So you should have your op date within that time otherwise they'll need to repeat it. Keep pestering them, it does depend on waiting times in your area though; you could ask to be put on the cancellation list.

I had my lap done privately so it's all different as I chose my lap date and my pre op appt came through for two weeks before which is the norm.

[wanwood]

Honestly it completely varies from hospital to hospital. Your best indication of when you’re going to get a date is by speaking to the secretary who organises the theatre list. Xx

[Penguins_81]

It’s meant to be within 3 months, however, keep ringing. I rang nearly daily and eventually got my op 4 months after the pre op. Ring your consultants secretary and the theatre clerk. If you can, say you are happy to be on the cancellation list too.

Good luck and don’t give up. Xx

[hm89]

I was within a couple of days of the 3 months that it is valid for.

[Chrysta123]

Hey,

I had my post op mid November and then my op wasn’t until 1st March, I thought like others are saying that the post op was only valid for 3 months but maybe as I was only a couple of weeks over it was ok. Have you told them how worried you are about waiting/how much it is affecting you? As I done that and was then offered a cancellation spot a week later but u fortunately I couldn’t make it as was the day after the call and didn’t have personal/work things ready at that point, but you can certainly ask them (or your consultants assistant) to inform you if there are any cancellations. I hope you don’t have to wait too long x

[Peebles2sarah]

I’ve never had a pre op without having my surgery booked :/ that doesn’t really make sense to me. All my pre ops have been 1-2 weeks before my surgery! Pre op is normally meant to be soon before the surgery so that they have relevant labs, info, etc.

[dundee70]

A Pre-op assessment in my hospital (where I work as a waiting list secretary) is valid for 3 months if you need blood tests and 6 months if you don’t.

[Sazzy_K]

Hi all

Thanks for all the replies - really appreciate it.

I called again yesterday and have been added to cancellation list and they said they will add a note onto my files. I hate being that person that keeps pestering but just desperate to have it done now

[ccsmith in reply to Sazzy_K]

It’s a tough one I had my pre op November and still not had op 🙁 I’ve phoned several times and they said that the is separate lists for op & pre op so sometimes they don’t match!

[A1239]

Hey, I was really lucky- mine was 3 days later. I rang to speak with the surgeons secretary and asked to be put on the cancellation list. I then said I was on holiday for a month so didn’t want it to come through whilst I wasn’t in the uk. I got off my holiday to find the letter for my op in 7 days! I’m sure the secretary must have wrote down my holiday and pulled some strings because I couldn’t believe my luck! Worth a try! X