Can I refuse to have a particular surgeon to do my op?

marie48

This post is not really related to my osteo-arthritis. I have a query and would appreciate some advice from members of this forum On the waiting list to have gall bladder removed, am petrified already. Hubby met an old nursing colleague yesterday and saw she has put on a lot of weight and she told him, she had her gallstones removed 5 yrs ago. Was meant to be key hole but in the end had to do open surgery as the surgeon did a blotch job and told hubby to tell me to make sure I do not have him. As if I am not afraid already and this is not helping, I told hubby everybody is different and he does not know the in and out of what happened. Hubby told me not to have that particular surgeon. I have been explained during my appointment that every op has risks. I have checked his profile, he does about 100 gallbladder removal a yr. What shall I do, I should be having it done soon? What would you good people do in my place? Thanks

Colin1

I was one of four people waiting to go into theatre, I had just had a heart attack and was getting the camera and wires through my groin into my heart to see where the blockage was. I was the last on the list. Number 1 was out in 5 minutes the doctor could not do him because of complications. I should add my wife and daughter where with me, although acting like the big man I was so scared thought I would S—t myself number 2 was in for over an hour the doctor had pierced her artery and she bled internally. Number three had complications and her artery was pierced twice. My wife and daughter told me not to have it done and on talking to the doctor he said its something that can happen and it is not without risk including death. Thank god I had it done without a problem I had 2 arterys blocked completely and was on borrowed time.
Had my Gal bladder out and hiatus hernia done in the same op had the gal bladder removed and hiatus hernia repaired and was only in hospital 24 hours. Doctor pointed out the risks involved including he might have to go from keyhole to open if there was a problem no problems and I was out of the pain I had been in for so long. I could feel the difference at once.
Anyone on anti TNF will tell there are risks involved and they are scary
Most medication you take has a risk involved.
All depends on how much pain your in at the end of the day its better to be fixed if they can do it.
Dont know where you are but there is a Mr Shrotri At Fazackerley hospital in Liverpool hes the guy who done me. He is renowned on Merseyside for being a great surgeon .
Cheers
Colin

lindalegs

Hi Marie,

I can well understand your worries but I think you need to talk this over with your GP and see what they advise.

Luv

elnafinn

Hi Marie

You are taking a very sensible approach to the negative things your husband has learned from this person about her op 5 years ago with the surgeon that will be doing yours unless you say otherwise. Of course you are scared about the forthcoming op without hearing something like this. Everyone is frightened of ops as it is the unknown.

You are right, you do not know the whole story, everyone is different on how they get on post op. Each operation must be different too and even if a surgeon is doing hundreds of similar operations in a year once on the operating table the surgeon does not know exactly what he is going to find until he begins. Unfortunately, the odd op does not go smoothly.

The operation the other woman had was 5 years ago, things must have moved on in that time and I am sure that this surgeon if having made a mistake once would be extra vigilant so as it did not happen again if it was at all preventable.

As to what you should do, it is a difficult one. You have met this surgeon and presumably you were happy to have this op performed by him. There is no guarantee changing to another surgeon that things would automatically go smoothly.

As Linda suggests, a chat with your gp may help you decide what to do. I am so sorry to hear you have been put in this predicament. It is a big enough thing to take on board having an op without hearing of one that went wrong
by the same consultant as will perform yours.

Elna x

marie48

Thanks, I have not met the surgeon, I saw one of his colleague, a young woman who did not inspire much confidence to me as she did not have the result of my ultrasound just a letter from my GP. I had a peeb when she was out, the letter mentioned my arthritis in my neck and high cholesterol, that's my medical history from GP, no other mention of generalized osteo-arthritis etc. I should be going for some tests and assessment before the op and will talk it over with the nurse. I do not see any point of bothering my GP. Like you say, every op is different. Hubby should not really have told me all these without knowing all the details. The gallstone is 18 mm and is not giving my much grief at the moment. I guess it will have to come out as it will not go away. I am 63 and getting on, I guess the sooner, the better. I have enough on my plate with the arthritis playing up and could do without this. Thanks for all your support and advice.

elnafinn

Hi Marie

Would you be able to meet your consultant in person before the op - I think you should be able to do so. When I saw a consultant recently, he said have you a letter for me? I said no, I saw your colleague, he referred me to you and he has my information. Oh, naughty doc, he had not forwarded my notes. :roll: Even so, I have the highest regard for this doc, he just forgot I suppose, I know he is very busy. So I told the surgeon about myself and my symptoms there and then.

Good idea to talk with the nurse and I must say again you are taking a very sensible approach to all this.

I hope all goes well for you,

Elna x

speedalong

Hi Marie, it is important to have trust in your surgeon. It needs to be up to you and not up to your OH. As you rightly say, some ops do have complications. My first hip op had complications, but I trusted that my surgeon did the best he could and trusted him to be my consultant again on my second op. Have you met your surgeon? Do you trust him? If not, I agree with Lindalegs, you need to chat to your GP for advice.

Speedy

marie48

I have not met him or know anything about him. I cannot discuss this with my GP as it is heresay and what do I say to her, my husband did not get any details. All he said, she said not to have that particular surgeon to do my op. On his profile, he does do private practice as well. I understand she has been left with a swellling stomach, my husband noticed how big it was. I am just going to leave it although I am more petrified. It will not be helpful if I find more about her op, I do not keep in touch. I will mention it to my GP if I have to see her for another issue but will not go esp to discuss this. Thanks

dorcas

Hi Marie

I'm sorry you're having this dilemma :roll: as you said it's enough to be worrying about having an op, without being scared by other people's experiences.

I had the 'open' version of a Cholecystectomy a number of years ago without complication. .... I'm sure for every scary op story there are a hundred positive ones!

It would have been better not to have been told about that woman's experience :roll: and it'll be hard for you now to put her remarks to the back of your mind....

Having confidence in your surgeon is important and it's good you have decided to talk it over with the nurse....hopefully she will be able to help you talk it through...before making any decision about changing surgeon.

Please let us know how you get on?

Iris xxx

frogmorton

Hi

I like your idea about having a chat with the nurse when you go for the tests and whatnot.....wise and sensible.

Listening to Colin's story (hello Colin ) if they think you need the op you need it and who knows what complication that lady may have had......she may have been a smoker or some other health issue like diabetes might have had an effect.

Let us know what you decide Marie...l feel you want to go ahead really and so wish you weren't in this position :sad:

Love

Toni xx

marie48

I have taken on board all your comments and advice. Waiting for appointment now, was told it will be about two months on the waiting list. I told hubby off for scaring me and without having any more details about that lady, I told him he should get some facts. I will see what the nurse says when I go for assessment. I will go ahead with it. I believe in destiny and what will happen will happen!! Sometimes hubby does more harm than good e.g I like gardening and will potter about but know my limitations but all he wants me is to lie in bed and rest. If I listen to him, all my joints will seize up, I guess I do complain a lot afterwards & he is the one who get my bad mood.

woodbon

Hi, I'd talk to my GP and tell them what you are worried about. I know its not nice having a discussion like that but, most of us worry before an op, but it sounds as if the friend has worried you and your husband so much, you need to discuss things. Every op is different and also, sometimes, doctors and nurses have a degree of professional jellousy between them!

I hope that all goes well for you, which I'm sure it will!!
Love Sue xxx

skezier

Hi Marie,

The simple answer is yep you can reuse someone.... I did my back cus I didn't trust them but this is a bit different.

As Colin said there is always a risk it might be a bit more complicated than the keyhole will allow and i kinda agree with iris that for every #wrong' op there will be 100's that went right.

I also know its important to trust the surgeon but don't let scare stories put you off or get you upset..... Talk it through with the gp and see what other surgeons would do it is the best idea i think.

So hope it will go well for you and let us know please? Cris x

marie48

This is an update of my gall bladder op. I have discussed the issue of the competency of the surgeon to my GP and she told me the practice has not received any complaint regarding this surgeon. I also discussed it with the nurse at pre-assessment and she told me I could have chat with the surgeon to alleviate my mind, obviously it would not be tactful if I mentioned this issue. Therefore I have said no as I do not wish to make an appointment to see him. I have decided to go ahead with the op next week. I am petrified, GP told me if it is not causing me loads of grief at the moment I could postpone but sooner or later have to have it to so have decided to go ahead with it. She said it is so big nearly 18mm and nothing is getting by although being a coward I can put up with the discomfort at the moment. I have also decided to go ahead now as arthritis is getting more widespread and better to do it now so that I can cope better.I believe in destiny and what will happen will. I am really anxious after the op and whether I will be worse off. At the moment, sometimes I get loose stools after a meal and was told in some case, pts do sffer from diarrhoea, just hope I am not one of them. I am also very burpy after a drink and meal. I am trying to be very brave but will most probably wet myself on the day. It is due next week, will be back to update. Thanks

salamander

Hi there, you can ask for a specific surgeon. However, it may not have been a 'botch' job, just a complication, which is one of the risks of surgery. People interpret things in a different way. All surgery, even 'routine' surgery has risk attached.

If I was in your shoes I would do a bit of research on the net to see if his name comes up in any negative way. Normally, surgeons who have high failure rate in operations are suspended and forced to retrain.

stickywicket

I think there are two issues here, Marie. (1)You are scared of the op and (2)You are scared of the surgeon.

Fear before an operation is a very rational reaction and even those of us who have had a fair few still experience it. My way of dealing with it is to ensure they know all the relevant facts (I know people who minimise their smoking/drinking, which I think is crazy), including the fact that you're nervous; follow any instructions to the letter; lie back and 'relax' ie consciously make an effort by playing soothing music or doing stuff that demands my full concentration and just refusing to think about it any more.

The fear of the surgeon - it's understandable after what your friend said but I think she was out of order. People do sometimes have a tendency to want someone to be blamed for everything that goes wrong. I think it's not unusual for keyhole surgery to turn into non-keyhole. It doesn't necessarily mean the surgeon botched things. It just means unforeseen - and maybe unforeseeable - things emerged. Your GP has had no complaints. I'd be reassured by that.

I hope it goes really well for you.

Poppyg1rl

Hi Marie,
I echo what Sticky has said, good sound advice. It is only natural to be nervous before any operation, especially so when you've heard a negative comment about the surgeon. I think you are being very sensible, it sounds like the chat with your GP and the nurse has allayed your fear a little? I wish you all best for your operation and I'm sure all will be well. X

marie48

Thanks for all your re-assurance. I have checked his profile not seen anything negative about him. Being admitted at 7.30 am next week for day surgery and hopefully will be back home in the afternoon.

Poppyg1rl

Hi Marie,
I'm in hospital for an operation too, I'll be in overnight for an arthroscopy on my shoulder next Tuesday :???: I've not heard anything bad about my surgeon so not checked up on him, but if someone has mentioned anything negative I'm quite sure I would have felt the same way as you.
Good luck and I'm sure we'll both be fine X

marie48

Thanks, will be in the same day like yours. Adult children know I am going but do not know whether to tell them the day yet. Good luck, will be thinking of you.