Op date changed, I am so down.

petmad

I was due to be admitted on 19th Feb to have my op at Southern General, I got a letter today stating it has been postponed due to emergencies and now have new date of27th for post op checks, to go in on 29th and op on 30th, if no further emergencies.

I am so disappointed that I have ended in floods of tears, I have been waiting since November 2007 when I fell and injured myself in a fall. They then discovered a bulging disc and bone spur at C5/6 which is causing sever nerve pain in arms and spinal spasms. Since then my OA has deteriorated considerably and I have not worked, though they have to date continued to hold my job open for me.

I know it may sound silly to get in this state, but I had seen a recovery in sight for at least one of my problems and was all set for the work my physio had planned for the initial 12 weeks post op.

As usual though I will just have to put up with it, I think this is the biggest problems, the feelings of powerlessness. Everyone is in control except me. This goes all the way from the surgeon who decides when I get my op to the OT who has been promising me a raised toilet seat since December. Linda

joanlawson

petmad wrote:

I was due to be admitted on 19th Feb to have my op at Southern General, I got a letter today stating it has been postponed due to emergencies and now have new date of27th for post op checks, to go in on 29th and op on 30th, if no further emergencies.

I am so disappointed that I have ended in floods of tears, I have been waiting since November 2007 when I fell and injured myself in a fall. They then discovered a bulging disc and bone spur at C5/6 which is causing sever nerve pain in arms and spinal spasms. Since then my OA has deteriorated considerably and I have not worked, though they have to date continued to hold my job open for me.

I know it may sound silly to get in this state, but I had seen a recovery in sight for at least one of my problems and was all set for the work my physio had planned for the initial 12 weeks post op.

As usual though I will just have to put up with it, I think this is the biggest problems, the feelings of powerlessness. Everyone is in control except me. This goes all the way from the surgeon who decides when I get my op to the OT who has been promising me a raised toilet seat since December. Linda

Hello Linda
I am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain and that it has been going on for so long since you fell.It is not silly to feel so upset. Anyone would feel the same in your place. When you are in pain, even a week can seem like a very long time. Some times the doctors don't fully appreciate this because they are seeing people in pain every day, and they just get used to it. Sometimes you wish they could feel what you are feeling; they wouldn't hang around then!!
You are not powerless though. Be persistant and keep impressing upon your doctor how ill you feel,especially if you are becoming depressed. Get your GP on your side and ask him to ring the hospital on your behalf to tell them that you are in severe pain and that it is not acceptable to keep you waiting for your op.There is no need to make a nuisance of yourself, but you sometimes have to be polite but assertive. After all, you are only asking them to do the job they are paid for! You can also ring the hospital department yourself amd tell them that your pain is intolerable. I would keep ringing anyone and everyone until someone listened. At least you would feel that you were a bit more in control, and hopefully it could speed things up. You don't just have to put up with it!

I am appalled that you have been waiting for a simple thing like a raised toilet seat since December.Ask to speak to the OT's superior or write a letter of complaint. It is unacceptable to wait so long. Just remember that we all pay the wages of these people and it is up to us all to make sure they give us value for money.

I hope things will improve for you soon, but in the meantime, start shouting loudly for the service you deserve!!
Joan

lindalegs

Oh Linda that's awful You get all pysched up for the op and then the goal post's moved - it's so frustrating. I, too, cried when my operation was postponed - I think we're allowed the luxury of a bucketful of tears after such news.

............as for the toilet seat - sounds as though they need a bit of nagging - they may have forgotten you're there

Luv Legs

woodbon

Hello, So sorry you've had your op put back. Still, on the bright side, at least it'll be a bit warmer, (if we're lucy :!: ) and you'll have the spring to recover in. Its horrible when you've got yourself ready to go, and then get let down at the last moment. :? Still better late than never :!: Sue

nearlybionic

Hello Linda
You are quite justified to feel upset about your op being postponed. Apart from the continued pain, it is the emotional turmoil which surrounds the build up to much needed (and wanted) surgery. I hope that the wait for your new date passes quickly for you. And I would get onto OT again about your toilet seat, anything to make life a bit easier, its not much to ask is it? :shock:
Take care
NB

petmad

Thank you all so much for you kind words, lol guess what I cried at your kindness. I just absolutely hate feeling so vulnerable. In terms of the op my GP is of the opinion that sadly everyone in our area has a long wait as there is only one surgeon who does this op. I understand this and have occupied my time rattling on and being seen regarding my OA and have met all the team except the Rheumatologist, Now however I have had to cancel and cannot see him until April. Even worse I cannot see my liver specialist till August though I am OK about this as my liver enzymes are going well just now.
In terms of the toilet seat I feel over a barrel as I work for social services and it is the senior OT who is dealing with my case and the email came back today informing that she is on holiday. I don't want to get her in trouble so will try and reach the assistant tomorrow, if I can't I am meeting management re my absence monitoring on Wednesday, they always ask if I have everything I need, I am afraid I will need to ask them to intervene.
Anyway thank you again Linda

skezier

petmad wrote:

Hi Linda,
I'm so sorry they have done this to you, it's mean to do it really as you do get your self into the part of excepting you going under the knife etc and then you don't get it. You mustn't take it personally. I don't know how you feel as I have been lucky and not had it happen but I was so hoping they would opp on me and when they said they wouldn't I felt crushed. You date is fairly soon still and I so hope you get there. Hang in there and I promise you the opp will be worth it, I haven't had my neck done but they did do a lot of work to my lumber and it made so much difference. You hang in there and don't let the disapontment up set you too much. All hospitals are buldging under the lack of beds problem but it's so wrong to cancell people who are vunrable. I'll be thinking of you the end of this month and it will all be worth the wait. I hope this is readable I am doing it over several cats who just wont move! Take care, Cris
ps maybe we could start a name and shame forum, I nominate Treliske hospital as well as yours!

mash65

hi,im sorry ur down about the op.
if it helps ive also been waiting since dec 08 for my shower rails & 2nd bannister rail for stairs. the red cross came just before xmas & promised it would take a wk to get them fitted,bareing in mind the xmas holidays.then i rang housing ****( end of jan) to report a problem with back door to be told we already have work out standing on ur house,it turns out the rails had been sent to them to be fitted. i wasnt told this by any1 :x so supposedly tomorrow there to be fitted. no1 tells us anything,even though it affects how we can manage to get around. hauling urself up the stairs by 1 rail takes alot out of u once, let alone the rest of the trips u need to the toilet.
sorry if i ranted then,but im fed up of others ruling our lives too.
good luck with the op. debsx

eckstardeluxe

Hi I'm sorry to hear this, you build yourself up for it then get a disapointment. I know how bad your pain is, I have 3 bulging discs at L4, L5 and S1, they won't operate on me as the deterioration to my spine is too vast. The day I was told they would not operate I was in floods of tears. Just keep your chin up and remember that at least you will get your Op. My Aunt, Uncle and Gran have all had it and said it's like a miracle. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Take care x

petmad

Oh Chris I know the trouble with cats though I have only one he makes his presence felt.
Debs I hope you get your work done soon, I so understand how you are feeling.
eckstardeluxe I am so sorry you can't get an op, wont they even consider any intervention to deal with your pain?

I have decided to buy my own toilet seat, they can shove theirs ...any where they chose...I am also going to tell it as it is at the meeting tomorrow and on a personal note email the OT to confront her with the fact she lied to me then avoided all contact. If I don't do it as her so called colleague who is going to stand up for all the other clients. Linda

eckstardeluxe

Hi again Linda

No they will only refer me to the pain clinic to manage my pain. I contracted MRSA in 1988 and it caused a spinal abscess & Osteomyelitis. It invaded all my bones & disc spaces from L4 down to S1. Usually the bone material regenerates, mines never did, I always had bad back pain but assumed it was par for the course from my illness. I never knew arthritis developed back then & progressed, they say it is between advanced/end stage and the bones have basically crumbled, they say surgery may make me worse or cause paralysis. At first they never said the arthritis was bad, they just mentioned the discs & also I have spinal stenosis. I went to the Consultant expecting the op to be told how bad things were. Pretty devastating but since coming on here I've became more positive and returning to work next week after mat leave. I'm a bit worried but I can't give up without trying first. Hopefully everything will go well. Keep us posted on the Op, Alex x

sueandted

Hope you get it done soon , I know from my own experiance how frustrating it is

denpen

Hi Linda
Sorry to hear you are having problems, everything comes at once doesnt it and then it builds up so that you feel like you are being ignored by everyone on the medical profession and that they dont care. Lets hope you get your op without it being postponed again!!
and as for the toilet seat you are entitled to it so let them provide it for you, you shouldnt have to go out and buy one. Why is it that we have to fight for everything whether its someone to take notice of our health problems or provide us with the mobility aids that we need. At least we can get support from the people on here, which is a help to know we all care about each other.
Take care
Denise