A safe pair of hands at last.

[Moggie]

Hi All,

Wanted to give you an update on the on/off situation of my pending operation to remove an ovarian cyst and the complications that are arising due to my thyroid condition.

Went to see my anesthetist yesterday and want an interesting appt that was. Have never felt so understood and relaxed with an NHS doctor in all my life. He started by asking me how I felt about operations and my thyroid condition - yes thats right folks he asked my opinion - and then listened to my reply. He didn't try to interrupt or dismiss what I was saying and looked at the many test results in my folder with interest.

His asked the normal questions like "do you drink" - No.

"How do you feel your weight has been effected" - Used to be a size 10-12 now I'm a 16-18.

This sort of questions went on for a while until he felt satisfied that he had a good picture as to what inpact my thyroid condition was having on me and his conclusion was:-

"Its been a good few years since I met a thyroid patient who is so unstable whilst on thryoid medication, which may cause a few problems for me". At this point I felt like directing him to this site to let him see exactly how many thyroid patients were unstable on thyroid medication but managed to hold my tongue.

We discussed TSH levels and how useless they are/are not.

We discussed T4 and T3 and how they have/are effecting my heart issues.

We discussed the sudden death of my brother last month (a big factor towards my nervous attitude concerning this pending operation).

After a further 20 minutes of his fact finding mission, which covered pulse rates (which he wasn't impressed with) to low VitD, he then went on to say that he would be posponing the operation until I had been referred to the hospitals endo dept. My face dropped at this point as my local hosp has a bad reputation regarding thyroid issues, and he asked why. When I told him that the feedback I had read was not good and that the endo's reliance on TSH levels was the be all and end all of their treatment he said "well I hope this isn't the case, I hope they will take into account your symptoms and treat according to them" Felt like telling him that their wasn't much chance of that but he then explained WHY my unstable thyroid conditions was really worrying him.

Apparently its all to do with the recovery and the problems could start in the recovery room and this is why he wants a record of me in their own endo dept so that if he runs into any troubles he can pick up the phone and get advise inhouse. He's words were:-

"If your heart starts doing all sorts of weird and wonderful things whilst in recovery (adrenals?) I need to be able to pick up the phone and get advice quick, I will also be taking the precaution of giving you pain killers through an epidural and NOT in your anestetic. Morphine will be a big no for you as it will put to much stress on your body (adrenals?). Your unstable thyroid conditions could also have an inpact on the length of your recovery and if it is not sorted out it could be months and not weeks before you are really well again".

Although I was a bit shocked at his evaluation of the situation I could have kissed him for the care, attention and kindness that he had shown me and he left me wishing that all NHS doctors took thyroid issues so seriously. I also am left in no doubt that I am in safe hands as far as this man is concerned and know my brother Davey is watching over me and guiding me every step of the way.

Moggie x

[ChemicalAngel]

Hi Moggie ((((hugs))))

I am delighted and amazed that there is someone willing to listen, lets hope he passes on his concerns to the endo and it makes them see the patient and problems, and not just the TSH levels.

Wishing you the very best of luck babe xx

Ann xxx

[Moggie in reply to ChemicalAngel]

Thanks for your kind wishes (and hugs).

Moggie x

[GuardianAngel]

Hi Moggie,

Oh this doc sounds great and I am sure you could not be in better hands. Wishing you well and sending you lots of hugs

Karen xx

[Moggie in reply to GuardianAngel]

Thanks Karen.

Moggie x

[nightingale-56]

Hi Moggie,

Do wish you well when your operation eventually takes place. I too am awaiting a gall-bladder operation and have learnt so much about what to question at my pre-op assessment from reading all about your experience. For now, until these antibiotic side-effects have been sorted (in the process of seeing a senior dermatologist and will report on outcome when he gives me an answer) I will just defer the operation. Best of luck, Janet.

[Moggie in reply to nightingale-56]

Glad you found my blog useful - if I think I might have helped just one person through my experience the it was worth blogging.

Good luck to you to with your pending operation.

Moggie x

[shaws Administrator]

A great blog Moggie and the fact that you have a kind. sympathetic and knowledgeable gynaecologist.

We will wait with bated breath to know what the Endocrinology Dept says.

[Moggie in reply to shaws]

Sorry Shaws it wasn't a gyna, it was an anesthetist I was talking about and he was like you have said very knowledgable.

Moggie x

[Hidden]

That's great Moggie, he sounds knowledgeable and kind, just what you want. So you know that you are indeed in safe hands. Funny he should mention the Morphine. I flatly refused to have this after my op because once when I had it it made me really really ill, sort of crazy and like I'd been drinking a lot. Can't stand that so I always make a point of putting a great big NO to Morphine if I have to go for an op, now I know why I reacted like that. I expect you feel a whole lot better now?

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

I certainly do - now waiting for, what I think will be, a useless endo appt.

Interesting to hear about your exerience with Morphine and it just confirms that he really does know his stuff.

Moggie x

[Cassandra]

Hi Moggie

Great that you are being taken good care of - I had same operation in 2011 - told by consultant that I would be back in the ward at 9 am but I didnt get taken back until 1 pm - I asked why I had been so long but was fobbed off - I have thought that it may have been something to do with the anaesthetic but my own gp told me this was rubbish and it must have been due to staff being busy - I know for a fact the time I was anaethised and that my coming round took longer than anticipated - wish everyone had the same experience as you. Wishing you well with your op and know that your brother is looking out for you. xx

[Moggie in reply to Cassandra]

Thanks Cassandra - interesting that your instict was telling you that something wasn't right and almost having it verified by my blog. Just a shame (and quite dangerous) that your medical team at the time didn't own up to anything untoward happening for any future operations you may need.

Moggie x

[bertiesmum]

Hi Moggie

Very interesing comments you made, and the other comments too.

I tore a cartilage in my knee last Sept. Other joint issues made my GP do blood tests when Hashimotos was diagnosed. GP decided to wait and see before treating this. My other cartilage then tore (apparently this is common due to more pressure on well knee from limping). Then similar to your case my operation was cancelled due to unstable thyroid and anaesthetic risk. Another factor was the place the op was going to be carried out was a private fast track clinic used by NHS. These places don't have intensive care facility or even access to your NHS records should things go wrong. I have had to restart the process for my knees...first appointment Friday. But since my GP has only just put me on 25mg levrothyroxine and no blood test for another month I dont hold any hopes for my op to be booked. Strangely one pain killer I was prescribed were morphine patches for knee pains.

[Moggie in reply to bertiesmum]

Thanks for your interesting comments, expecially about the private clinic's (its amazing what you learn on this site isn't it). I think the Morphine may only be a problem in a larger quantity and put directly into the system (that's only my private throughts and I could be wrong).

Hope you get sorted soon.

Moggie x

[Hidden]

I had Fentanyl transdermal patches (a narcotic 100 times stronger than Morphine) for 18 months before I had my hips replaced. I could tolerate the first dose but I could not go any higher as then I got the nasty symptoms same as the Morphine. I was on them because I was too scared to go and have the operation when I should have had it, before the pain got unbearable!!

What annoyed me was they told me that this wase not addictive... After the operation I cut the patch in half and then a quarter and then nothing and then suddenly got all this stuff happening, the shakes and restless legs like you have never had before, cramps and muscle twitching, I couldn't sleep. This went on for days and gradually subsided, that was the withdrawal from the patches. My GP says "why didn't you tell me, you could have had some Valium to help you get off it", I told him, I don't need one nasty drug to get off the other nasty drug!!