Hi all
Just wondered whether anyone else has come across this? I have a cataract op booked for 24/1, at a private hospital contracted to the NHS. They insist on a self isolation period of 10 days before the op - which feels punitive in these times of 5-7 days 😟 Has anyone else had to do this and above all, can anyone explain why??
Sorry, not directly PMR/GCA related but v annoying x
It might be annoying, but if they are applying same procedure to all patients and staff (?) then just accept it’s for your benefit - and be grateful it’s going ahead. Good luck with it.
Thanks DL 😊
As far as I know, it applies to all patients - but it can’t apply to staff as they’d only be in work one day in eleven!!
Yes, I know it’s for my benefit and I should be grateful - guess I’ll just have to make a plan for what to do with myself over the next couple of weeks….am particularly concerned about one of my daughters who leans on me a lot (by her own admission) x
Yes comment about staff was tongue in cheek! …and not being unkind, but think we’ve had this discussion before, your daughter will need to make other arrangements. You don’t have a choice.
I was told last Sunday at my NHS Pre op Assessment that when I get my date in next three months, my op will go ahead after I have a negative test plus three days of isolation. I live in Scotland. If they asked for 10 days I would still do it though. Really need them doing.
It is standard procedure for anyone having surgery or inpatient procedures and allows a margin of error for a long incubation period - because that does happen.
The 5-7 day isolation is an average - and there is evidence that something like 1 in 6 are still potentially infectious at Day 7 - sorry, can't give a reference, I read it earlier today and I can't remember where. So I really think a 10 day isolation is reasonable.
Thanks Pro 😊 The NHS standard here is a PCR test four days before op and then self isolate- in fact a friend who went private with another company had this just last week….
Anyway, I guess it is reasonable and I should make the most of it!!!
Varies I suspect - my daughter was definitely more than 4 days.
I had steroid injections at a private hospital in November and they had just changed from requiring 3 day’s isolation to having lateral flow tests 3 days and 1 day before the procedure. It is a shame that your hospital doesn’t seem to have moved with the times.
I had to shield for ten days before having a replacement hip privately. They, very sensibly, were paranoid about Covid.
I had to isolate from the time of my hospital based PCR test until day of op , as did my husband but fortunately it was only 3 days x best of luck with the opxx
Thanks all 😊 Evidently it varies between providers - and I happen to be with a longer isolation one 🤷♀️ It does feel a it weird in these days of LFTs etc . However I think I’ve come to terms with it now 👍Thanks again for your support xx
A lot of questions are being asked about the accuracy of LFTs in the world of Omicron. A friend's grandson has a positive PCR - the LFT is still negative and has been all along. Here, they reckon a good 40% of quick tests are false negatives.
My OH tested positive on return from Tenerife and the lft tests showed positive for 5 days following! So, some must work?
Yes - approx. 60% do, more than don't. But I know quite a few who had negative LFTs and positive PCRs within a very short time. And missing 40% of cases does cast doubt on their role.
To be quite honest, I don't know how I haven't caught it! I am the one who is classed as Clinically vulnerable. I did an NHS PCR and it came back negative.
Similar situation here JanboC
My husband tested positive on Christmas Eve and for a full 10 days from the onset of symptoms- I took two PCRs over the period (long story) and both were negative. Also don’t know how or why I didn’t get it - glad though 😊
I more or less live like that anyway. It’s probably wise for everybody.
Me, too! We’ve lived like it for over two years, & I kind of thought most people who are vulnerable were still being very careful, especially in connection with socialising with people outside their household. I’m afraid I’m very happy to hear of your hospitals rules. I think it’s right to try & protect their patients. There may well be very elderly& extremely vulnerable patients in there. Plus it may only take one patient to get omicron & the spread will mean huge delays to surgery, staff off sick etc. look at the poor NHS & how they are struggling. I understand you think it’s extreme but I would be grateful to get it done!
Hi Pixix 😊
Well, that’s me told then! 😉 You have convinced me that the hospital rules are right - it’s maybe some other settings that are getting a bit lax….
Re being careful….. on reflection I think that’s the underlying point of my post. We’ve all been so careful for nearly two years now. Personally, I’ve hardly been out anywhere, certainly not to a cinema or theatre for example, and our one holiday was in a static caravan so no contact there. Even on the phone there’s much less to say to friends now, because we haven’t done anything. The isolation and loneliness is getting me down, even though I’m generally regarded, I’m told, as a resilient person. I think seeing the “ten days isolation” requirement in black and white brought all this to a head somehow. Plus, there’s the second eye op, and two separate foot ops coming up, so that’s 40 days isolation due to surgery, plus recovery time, plus whatever else comes up in 2022.
Sometimes it’s hard to stay positive, even though you know you should!
Many thanks for your very grounded reply x
Glad you took it well, (LOL!) I meant no offence, nor disagreement! We all have our breaking points! We haven’t had anybody in our cottage in 2 years, except the Aga repair man. Haven’t been to a cinema, pub, cafe, or a single shop. I have other issues as well as polymyalgia, & hubby has asthma & COPD! My down point was Christmas. My husband gave up computers when I got sick & cooks while I admin/Facebook/email & couldn't buy me any presents, not even a card, for two years. First year was a novelty, this year it was simply depressing! So I do understand. I’m resilient too, but I think it’s gone on toooo long! I’ve got three hospital appointments I don’t want to go to, & my cataracts are worsening. But I think you won’t have to isolate so much for the next ops, they’ve just cut Covid isolation ‘norm’ rules today, for example. Better that all patients at your hospital do isolate for ten days, really, than you get Covid, or somebody gives it to others, or you! It’s tough that you have a daughter so reliant on you (I assume she’s older & doesn’t live with you), that puts extra pressure on you, & maybe time she has to learn to be a little more independent…she will need to be while you have those surgeries (which I also understand as I had 7 in one year in my past!!) Take care, & I hope all goes well, S x
No offence taken Pixix, in fact I was grateful for your straightforward honesty 😊
It’s been a pretty grim couple of years, hasn’t it? Like you, I have a husband who does a lot of cooking, and I’m the admin in the partnership. I also have a lot of other health issues and PMR/GCA being diagnosed on top of them, in the middle of a pandemic and its restrictions, isn’t easy. But I’m very aware that I’m not alone, and there are so many of us with these, or other, problems…You’re right, it’s gone on toooo long, and yesterday was a mini breaking point for me….. I now feel much better, though, due in no small measure to the understanding replies on here 😊
My daughter is adult, yes, a single mum who had the option to live with us, but chose to tough it out on her own with her little boy (our lovely grandson). She’s getting more independent all the time, which is great 😊
Thanks again and I hope your year improves from now on xx
Glad you’re feeling a bit better now, that’s good news. Think there will be more ups & downs to go through yet, I'm sad to say! Ah, your daughter has a tough path right now as a single Mum during Covid. Im sure she will continue to grow in confidence & become independent, but I understand why she’s ‘leaning’ on you. She needs to appreciate your needs, too, as, like me, PMR dropped in at a time when we already had sufficient other medical issues (one of my friends asks me why im so greedy & shouldn't I let somebody else have ‘it’…when I add something new to the mix!! Take care, & hope your op goes really well, S x
Hi I had to do the same when I had my op last November, I was just grateful i could have the operation as other people with more urgent cases could not.Hope all goes well for you.
Thank you Blackcat x
Someone else I knew had a procedure and had to isolate for ten days too. It will be worth it.
Thank you whitefishbay x
Feel grateful they are taking things seriously. I have to have three skin cancers cut out at the end of next week and the only thing asked is to not attend if I have tested positive or have symptoms. I am going to isolate anyway but feel anxious that others won’t be.
Hi keeptalking 👋That’s interesting. My friend in Devon had a small skin cancer removed on Monday and all she had to do was hand in a pcr test on the Friday morning then isolate until the op Monday afternoon. Straight home afterwards.
Maybe it depends on how serious the op and how long you will be with them. But always good to be cautious eh. Hope you both get on ok 🤗
Certainly makes a difference here whether you are to be admitted or it is a short-stay thing.
Mine is a day case - they say to allow three hours in the building before you’re picked up
Good luck with your op keeptalking and I agree, the guidelines your hospital has set are not so reassuring especially for those of us who are vulnerable. Wishing you well xx
My husband had to do this before a hernia op. I thinkit’s pretty standard in private care.
Yes I also had to isolate for ten days prior to cataract op. Also couldn’t wear make up or exercise for three weeks afterwards.
Thanks Bonbows. My guidelines say no makeup for six weeks! Will have to wear a paper bag over my head in the unlikely event that we go anywhere!
I had my first cataract op a week ago today, Just had to go in there for a PCR test and then self isolate for 3 days, which I don't think is very long, I would have preferred the longer time. As I pretty much self isolate permanently, but hopefully as I have survived a week I'll be OK. Oh dear the only thing they said about no make up was for the op. But I guess I haven't got anything to worry about, when I do very occasionally venture out to things like C&C I wear a mask so don 't bother with make up. I bet they looked at me and decided it wasn't worth mentioning it, my wrinkles are beginning to show now I'm on lower Pred. My only concern is if things improve drastically will I still want to leave the safety of my home .
Thanks for this 67Blue and I’m glad your op went well 😊
“My only concern is if things improve drastically will I still want to leave the safety of my home “ ……certainly know what you mean, I for one am somewhat less confident than I used to be…….but oh my goodness, I do hope we’ll get out and about again before too long 🤞
Take care xx
Yes. My friend was asked to do that. Exactly same cirumstances. Private hospital. She was very impressed with the treatment she recieved
Sorry should have said good luck with the op. They gave me a yellow booklet at the Pre Op appointment and I'm pleased to say I didn't have any of the possible injections, so worried for nothing, just drops and a "pellet" they called it under my eye lid, which just looked like a little tablet.
I wish they did that in the states and maybe some do....my DIL was scheduled to have a lung biopsy this past Monday. She was tested two days before and tested positive for covid. Now..if they had the 10 day rule, it would be behind her. Good fortune with your surgery, you will be so pleased.
Thanks for that Grammy 😊 I hope I’ll be pleased - I also have macular degeneration so they’re not sure how much benefit I’ll get. Some at least, I hope 🤞
Hope all goes well for your DIL x
Cataract surgery 
Cataract op while on pred?
Cataract operation after effects
Sulfabdrops after glaucoma op
