Dr Cameron Martin Edinburgh Spire - anyone had surgery with Dr Martin?

[mistygrey]

Hi I’m looking into seeing Dr Cameron Martin at Edinburgh spire for my first laparoscopy and wondered if anyone has any reviews they can share with me to help me make my decision. He seems nice from our initial chat via email but I need to make the right decision as surgery is a big deal for me. Thanks for any advice

[KM1986]

My endo specialist nurse recommended Cameron just a couple of weeks ago. She said that he's an excellent surgeon but the reason I decided against it is because he's primarily an oncologist - so he's amazing at cutting out things that shouldn't be there but I've opted to wait on nhs for the surgeons who only deal with endo day in day out. I just think you can be the best surgeon in the world, but if you don't specialise in one area, something could be missed. And i can't afford that to happen to me again. Its so difficult. Because the 2 year waiting list I'm on at the moment at Edinburgh is horrific.

[mistygrey in reply to KM1986]

Hi thanks for your reply, he does deal with a lot of Endo apparently as one of the NHS endo specialists advised me he does. I’ve seen Dr Dewart a few times before and although a lovely man he just kept pushing the coil and chemical menopause which I don’t want as I wanted to get diagnosed and know what was causing my symptoms not just mask them. The NHS waits are so bad in Lothian atm I’ve been waiting since Oct for an MRI which is shocking!! But I think if your on the list for the surgery at the NHS might be good to wait as they do have the whole wider team there if it’s more complicated. How long is the surgery wait list now? I was advised it was 2 years at my last appointment but my current nhs Gynae refused to put me on the list until I’ve had the mri I’m waiting on - why I’ve no idea but said she can backdate me. Don’t believe that one though!

[nikogirl18 in reply to mistygrey]

Hi! I had surgery with Dr Dewart and would recommend him! I saw him for a consultation and he recommended I have surgery to diagnose - surgery about 1 or 2 months after. I’d had a butt loads of tests on the nhs prior so didn’t need any additional ones. He confirmed endo and excised it and I’ve kept in touch about any concerns or further things such as physio since my surgery. I did have the coil fitted during my surgery but I did feel it was the right decision for me - personally didn’t feel pressured into it but I know everyone has different circumstances and that it may not be for them .

Lothian wait times are crazy, I waited around 2 years for my initial appointment before going for an mri after another long wait (I phoned to chase an appointment constantly) and at that point they couldn’t even tell me how long the surgery list was. Best decision I ever made was to go private

[mistygrey in reply to nikogirl18]

Hi I’m so glad you had a good experience I’ve heard so many good things about Dr Dewart. The last time I saw him was during lock down so I never got back to see him after that. How was the surgery at spire did you get kept in? Honestly the mri wait time wait time is shocking I can’t believe it’s so long! I might just try see if my insurance can cover it too. It’s a shame the waits are so bad in the nhs a lot of people are really struggling

[nikogirl18 in reply to mistygrey]

I hate how long the waits are, it’s so unfair to leave us suffering with possibly worse conditions that when we went on the list.

I felt the surgery at spire was really good - the staff were all lovely and made me feel relaxed and safe. I personally didn’t take to the anaesthetic well so ended up getting kept in overnight (got out of surgery at around 2pm) but I should have gone home same day. Only thing I’d say is make sure someone is with you to take notes and info post surgery because I was not able to take any info in due to painkillers 😅 dr Dewart came to see me after surgery to let me know what happened, my diagnosis, I even saw the pictures they had showing the endo - and somehow managed to leave without my discharge papers etc although we called and they get posted out to me the next day!

My surgery was only in November so still very fresh in my mind and body but it was worth it. My incisions also healed well and although a scar, it’s barely noticeable. Every medical person who’s looked at it comments how neat the incisions and stitches look!

[mistygrey in reply to nikogirl18]

It sounds like your surgery went really well! Maybe I should go back and see Dr Dewart again as it’s been a while since I seen him and he will maybe just go for the Lap now as I’ve tried alot of stuff since seeing him but not getting much better 😪 that’s a worry with the anaesthetic as I’ve never had one before and I’d imagine I’d be bad with it probably. At least with Spire it’s nice surroundings and abit calmer, it scares me the thought of surgery at the royal as everytime I’ve been there it’s chaotic just so busy. Do you have to see Dr D for a follow up again? I’ve got adenomyosis shown on my internal ultrasound so I know there’s not a lot they can do with that without a hysterectomy. Hope your feeling much better relief since your surgery 🙂 xx

[nikogirl18 in reply to mistygrey]

I reckon he might suggest a lap now if you’ve tried lots of other things - I was on the pill for 10 years with no gaps at all and was still struggling.

This was the first times I’ve had anaesthetic or surgery so I didn’t really know what to expect - I just found I felt really sick/dizzy afterwards with bad shoulder pain from the gas they fill your abdomen with to see. They didn’t want to let me home with how faint feeling I was because at least if I went down at the hospital, people could sort me easily. It did feel like a calm place though.

I had my surgery end of November and had a meeting with dr Dewart start of January to follow up, see how I’m doing (if I needed any further support) and go over pathology as well. I have also been able to keep in touch with him via email if I had further questions

Doing better since the surgery although I have struggled a bit recently so looking into pelvic physio as well - I just think my body now doesn’t know what to do with itself now the endo has been removed 🫣

Hope you find the right thing to help you! Xx

[mistygrey in reply to nikogirl18]

That is my worry with anaesthetic as I’ve never had one before either, I’d prob have to stay in also one night. Did Spire let anyone wait with you till you had your surgery? It really sounds like your surgeon did a good job and you feel better from it so the surgery is worth it I am just trying to build myself up to have it done as I’m really scared I know that sounds silly. I will keep doing research but I think Spire a good shout as it’s also near by too. Are you in any of the Endo Fb groups too? They are also very helpful for people’s experiences etc. Thank you, I hope you are feeling much better soon too Xx

[KM1986 in reply to mistygrey]

Just to address your concerns about the nhs facility you're referring to here and how manic it is. I had my first surgery here in 2019 and they bring you round in the labour ward 😪 when i woke up i was severely distressed as had a catheter i wasn't expecting, had reacted badly to the anesthetic and awoke to 12 newborn babies screaming. It was traumatic. To think my next operation there will be a hysterectomy in my 30s and i have to to recoup from surgery in this setting - it's beyond cruel and they should be ashamed.I'd be really keen to hear how you get on with this. I live in the borders and was added to the waiting list in October and was told its a 2 year wait. I can feel my disease progressing every day so God knows what it will be like by the time i get the op.

My gp however strongly recommends i wait for the nhs option as she believes that the after care and surgeons are better in this field.

Good luck xx

[mistygrey in reply to KM1986]

oh my goodness I’m so sorry you had to experience that, that is truly awful and very insensitive of them. Was it ward 210 at the Royal this was in or a different hospital? I agree re the specialists all in one place as that does worry me going private for example if any complications they don’t have any ICU or anything at Spire but unlikely that would be needed but never know. Are you waiting to see a new Consultant via the NHS? Are you in the sos endo Facebook by any chance? Xx

[KM1986 in reply to mistygrey]

It was at the infirmary on the endo ward. And I'm on the waiting list to go back😒 i would love to go private but the thought of paying all that money to someone who doesn't exclusively do endo surgery doesn't sit right with me. I believe they are all excellent surgeons and they do lots of endo ops, but bottom line is it isn't their chosen speciality. An oncologist who also does endo on the side just isn't where I'm at mentally anymore. I need this op to be as good as it can be. But at the end of the day, we just have to go with our guts. I don't think there is a right or wrong here. Its down to each of us to decide what's best for us xx

[BloomingMarvellous]

Hey everyone on this chat. Gentle nudge to remind you that discussing specific medics and their pros and cons isn’t something we can do on this forum. If you want specifics then please DM them!

[mistygrey in reply to BloomingMarvellous]

So sorry I will dm people now when mentioning Drs names I didn’t know we couldn’t do that apologies again.

[BloomingMarvellous in reply to mistygrey]

Think it’s to ensure we don’t end up with legal issues- don’t need to apologise lovely

😻 Hope you have a lovely Easter 🐣 x

[nikogirl18 in reply to BloomingMarvellous]

Sorry I didn’t realise this - will be mindful in the future 🌸

[BloomingMarvellous in reply to nikogirl18]

🧡🧡🧡🐣🧡🧡🧡