Contacting Consultant

elainebadknee

Hi

As many will know re me ive lost weight for a TKR and last saw my consultant in feb, he said wait 6 months for surgery as im 43, still very young, feels any delay will be of benefit (whose im not entirely sure)....
Anyhow had telephone appointment with my doctor yesterday (it should have been 4.10, instead it was 6.15) and explained to her that id fallen over three times in last 6-8 weeks, last time when was on my own in house and had to call 111 for ambulance people to get me up....
She listened to me and replied "is it cos of your knee you are falling"...Um yes what else? Then she talked all about how we dont want to pressurise him into doing surgery sooner than he had planned to....We did discuss that i have met my end of bargain, lost 3stone and definitely wanted and need surgery....So she is sending letter to see if he gets back in touch with me/her...Any bets he will ignore it.....
I know this may seem trivial to many but i feel life is on hold so much and wanted to have had this surgery and have been recovering.....Ive only got another 3 months to wait but that seems like an age away....

Watch this space!!Hmmm..

Elainex

Folara

You know what, I was literally just thinking/wondering how I go about talking to my consultant about doing something with my knees as I am barely able to walk now.

I really wish they would listen more to us as surely we know when we really can't go on anymore?

Fols x

elainebadknee

Fols

Yeah its all about them isnt it when it should be all about us! They do always seem to come up with an excuse that is very convincing and makes us (well me feel silent)...I got told yesterday also if I put it too emotionally that wouldnt help....I mean how else are we supposed to epxress ourselves...Sometimes im at a loss but I have lovely folk like you on here so Im not alone and very happy for that...

Elainex

Ps...Glad you didnt leave us all, wouldve got a petition!!lolxx

Folara wrote:

You know what, I was literally just thinking/wondering how I go about talking to my consultant about doing something with my knees as I am barely able to walk now.

I really wish they would listen more to us as surely we know when we really can't go on anymore?

Fols x

GraceB

Elaine,
firstly congratulations on the weight loss. It's so difficult to drop pounds when you can't exercise. Ithik you've done wonderfully well.

Now as for age - stuff and nonsense! I was 44 when I had my partial knee replacement. When I saw the consultant's 'underling' and it was agreed they'd do it for me, I used the phrase" this is now unbearable for me" and I said if they didn't replace the knee they were to take the leg off mid-thigh. Seems dramatic I know, but the pain was just too much for me.

Keep pushing your consultant; write to him yourself and then follow that up a few days later to make sure he received your letter. Make sure your letter mentions the number of falls, the fact you needed help from the emergency services to get up and that your GP feels you need this now not in 3 months time.

I wish you all the very best. Good luck and let us know how you get on?

Take care,
Grace.

mig

I really hope he replies,dont you just hate it when letters are ignored.Three months does`nt sound long but when you are suffering it seems like an age .(((()))) Mig

fowls48

Dear Elaine

i hope you will be able to get results you wish for , it can be a pain in the butt .I broke my foot and did not know it DOH, Untill i dropped a box on it , well after scan and a bone scan they could see a break and the bones had crumbled by then , its called frierburgs disease .i got that sorted and have now R A , I know that the bone in my left foot has crumbled don't know what they will do about that .I really feel for you as the next fall could be bad for you , its so annoying that everything takes along time to get processed , keep pushing them you need to to get sorted so you can have a better quality of living .All the best
karen.

elainebadknee

Hi Grace

Yeah it was hard to lose the weight and i thought my reward for working that hard was going to be put on the waiting list for surgery - didnt happen quite as Id hope...I therefore now feel as if the weight loss has been under false pretences a little bit, ie im not reaping the rewards of my loss as dont feel any fitter....
I agree they shouldnt penalise us for being younger, these things will happen in life, not everyone with arthritis is over the age of 60 with knobbled joints that the stereotype everyone seems to think of in my mind..
I did write an emotional email to my consultant before as he didnt tell me intially how much weight I needed to lose till he would consider me and when i see him now he said to me "i think i upset you a little the last time i saw you" but he apologised....
I do feel I need treatment now not in three months time....Its like im ina jar of preserving liquid at the moment not getting any better still limping along and so restricted in everything I can do..
Ive heard about partial knee replacement, did it work for you?

Thanks for your lovely message

Elainex

GraceB wrote:

Elaine,
firstly congratulations on the weight loss. It's so difficult to drop pounds when you can't exercise. Ithik you've done wonderfully well.

Now as for age - stuff and nonsense! I was 44 when I had my partial knee replacement. When I saw the consultant's 'underling' and it was agreed they'd do it for me, I used the phrase" this is now unbearable for me" and I said if they didn't replace the knee they were to take the leg off mid-thigh. Seems dramatic I know, but the pain was just too much for me.

Keep pushing your consultant; write to him yourself and then follow that up a few days later to make sure he received your letter. Make sure your letter mentions the number of falls, the fact you needed help from the emergency services to get up and that your GP feels you need this now not in 3 months time.

I wish you all the very best. Good luck and let us know how you get on?

Take care,
Grace.

elainebadknee

Mig

Three months is a long time when aint got no job or any sort of routine in daily life just ambling along and have done so for the past 2.5years....I hope he dont ignore the letter, wonder how quickly the doctor will compose it mind you?

Elainex

mig wrote:

I really hope he replies,dont you just hate it when letters are ignored.Three months does`nt sound long but when you are suffering it seems like an age .(((()))) Mig

elainebadknee

Hi Karen

Oh ouch your foot sounded really painful! I know myself that the next fall could be a bad one but wonder how many it would take for them to realise this is how it is...
Everyone tells me im young for this - let me get out there and start enjoying my youth till i hit 50!!GRR!!

Elainex

fowls48 wrote:

Dear Elaine

i hope you will be able to get results you wish for , it can be a pain in the butt .I broke my foot and did not know it DOH, Untill i dropped a box on it , well after scan and a bone scan they could see a break and the bones had crumbled by then , its called frierburgs disease .i got that sorted and have now R A , I know that the bone in my left foot has crumbled don't know what they will do about that .I really feel for you as the next fall could be bad for you , its so annoying that everything takes along time to get processed , keep pushing them you need to to get sorted so you can have a better quality of living .All the best
karen.

barbara12

Elaine I do know how well you have done, and your determination is faultless, I think you rang the secretary's and dint get a very good response, but if I were you I would ring again, I do think there are a few secretaries that work for all the consultants, I did get this impression when I rang, so you give it another go, or I would hound your GP till something is done.xx

elainebadknee

Hi Barbara

It wasnt his secretary was the patient liaison woman I got and just got told to talk to my GP...The main thing both have said is he doesnt want to be pressurised into doing the operation earlier....
Id just like to stress to him how I want this done and see how i recover, i need a chance.....
I can only wait and see..

Elainex

barbara12 wrote:

Elaine I do know how well you have done, and your determination is faultless, I think you rang the secretary's and dint get a very good response, but if I were you I would ring again, I do think there are a few secretaries that work for all the consultants, I did get this impression when I rang, so you give it another go, or I would hound your GP till something is done.xx

pinkbritishstars

HI Elaine

I would continue to hassle your consultant. They won't do a tkr or pkr on me as I'm only 35 :-(

thinking of you

Pink xx

elainebadknee

Pink

Its hellish aint it age shouldnt be in the equation if youre bad enough you need it....
I sympathise with you kid..

Elainex

pinkbritishstars wrote:

HI Elaine

I would continue to hassle your consultant. They won't do a tkr or pkr on me as I'm only 35 :-(

thinking of you

Pink xx

pinkbritishstars

It is - especially as the Dr I saw in November said I would be having a partial - then Dr in February says no more surgery.

xx