Just wondering if anyone who has had elective surgery in the UK can answer this one! I am supposed to be having hiatus hernia/ fundoplication done in just over 2 weeks time. I have done the pre-op assessment and given my date via the surgeons secretary by phone, to which she said the confirmation would come to me in the post. I have asked twice now for a confirmation letter - as I have been given no details for the night before or what time to go to hospital, ward or anything! Wonder how long you had to wait to get this - I'm convinced they are going to cancel at the last minute - and I've waited almost a year to get sorted - going through test after test and 3 different hospitals! By the time I get to given surgery date I will have been on the surgeons list for 16 weeks!!!
Hi in my area is southend hospital essex they are only aloud 1 op per month for this type of op so i waited 3 mouth before i got my letter yes it took me about a year before i had my op with all the tests so i hope this may help.Also you normally have a lot of wind after the op i had mind op 3 months ago still getting wind problem thyr say in time it will settle down.
Hi Mick,
Thanks for that! Did you get your letter within 2-3 weeks before the op? I would have liked to have had confirmation by now (it's 2 weeks on Tuesday) and there's my work - they want to see the letter as proof I am going through this operation! Just adds to the stress. I don't know if they have the same protocols here in Cumbria - but if they only 1 op a month for this condition - it would make sense I have waited as long as I have.
yes i got my letter 4 week before my op have you met the surgen if so find his or hers admin person is and ring them my one gave me all the info i needed.
Hi Mick,
I have met my surgeon - and I have spoken to his admin twice last week asking for my admission letter. The first time his secretary was off, but the acting admin said she would see to it - the second time - she was in but was on lunch - again they said it would be dealt with. Still waiting! They may think it's OK to send it last minute - but that's no good if you work full time and your boss it breathing down your neck asking every other day for a letter!
hi there Glennie68 i have had my umbilical op done just 11 days ago, i had my pre assessmet done mid January with no idea of a date, but i have my date come through a week after the assessment for an op two weeks later, i am from the UK and if i were you phone the secretary to see if the letter has been sent, if they say yes again then ask for a copy as it may have got lost in the post...good luck
My letter came through today - major relief! Just 2 weeks away now!
I did know the date - just had no info of ward etc. Got a morning slot too!
Thanks for the replies Mick,
Out of my misery today - as the letter arrived - could see why it was delayed - the address was so far up the window section you could barely read it!
Hi Glenne i am glad you got you letter i hope your op goes well.
I'm glad your letter eventually came, Glennie. Good luck with the op
Thanks Lesley,
I've been making clear soup to freeze today. Next weekend will be a big house clean - as I won't be doing much for a couple of weeks after the op.
I did the house clean, although you wouldn't think it to see it now haha. My son's doing the shopping and it's costing me a fortune because he insists on gettig big name brands instead of shop's own haha
I saw you were having a bit of bother - I've just put a reply on your discussion! I'm dreading my hubby doing the shopping - I'll get pork pies, motoring magazines, cheap loo roll (I don't skimp on loo roll) and microwaveable curries! I'm going to do a big shop next weekend too! Hopefully by the time we need more things I can direct him - and watch him pack it all :-)
i'm probably worrying about nothing but when you're sitting around a lot I think you tend to. I've been incredibly bored!
I write lists for my son and I sometimes get some of the things on them haha. He's actually been very good. He's not a bad cook when he tries but the mess he makes...............!!!!!!
What date's your op again?
Hi Lesley,
10th March - a week on tuesday. Got myself a pair of new slippers - didn't think my comic cow slippers would be too safe on a hospital floor!
Ha ha ha! You have just reminded me about shopping lists - a few weeks ago I went out for the shopping and my hubby says I will text you some things that we need. He didn't check the auto correct - and I almost wee'd myself laughing! He wanted speculated coffee (perculated), crutchy rolls (crunchy) and the best of all - quasions - I had to ring him on that - he wanted croissants!
Haha, my texts often read like that. My new phone has a very avid autocorrect
Had my date cancelled today - now going in on Thursday 12th instead - ok so just 2 days - but now a pm op - at a different hospital - same surgeon. Not happy at all - firstly I don't think that my op is all that 'minor' and secondly more likely to be cancelled as a pm op due to operations overrunning and lack of beds. I'm running out of patience!
Hi Glennie68,
Hi Hernia Group,
I am stopping in my process of tests to have my hiatal hernia repaired. I had another discussion with the Dr. lady who did my upper endoscopyand she mentioned that the surgeon may not want to do the surgery because she found some Esophageal verices (varicose veins) Grade A in the lower part of my esophagus – where the surgeon suppose to wrap some of the upper part of my stomach – to repair the hiatal hernia.
Because if he did that causing the blood pressure increase in parts of the varices after a while when the pressure of the blood gets higher than what the esophagus blood vessel wall can tolerate bleeding would start. Internally. Stopping that kind of bleeding is not a minor task. The mortality rate with this circumstance is high.
Anyway, I told the people in the doctors office, scheduler, surgeon's assistant, about the endoscopy result warning and I gave them a copy of the World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines publication on “Esophagel Varices” dated Jan 2014 by an international board of professors, (that I googled off of the Internet). I also told them that unless the doctor tells me that it is OK to do the surgery regardless, then, and only then will I take the last test whish is endoscopy with Bravo procedure measuring stomach acid in the bottom of the esophagus or beginning of the stomach is a hard and painful action on my part because it has to be done in the absence of any antacid which should be there to protect my esophagus as usual.
I think this is something a surgeon should do : categorically tell the patient waiting for the surgery finally taking place that
a) I will not do your surgery because of the risk involving the verices
b) I will do your surgery because your varices are so small that are completely negligible as far as this procedure is concerned.
So I need to have another word with the doc while I still have the time and I am not in any immediate danger.
By the way, are all of you fairly familiar with the intricacies of your case?
It is your life, you know. Beware.
Sorry. I didn't get a notification of this post and have just seen it. Hospitals are terrible for messing you around aren't they. You psyche yourself up and get prepared. It might only be 2 days but it just puts everything out. Especially so close to the date.
I don't think it's minor either. And if it's any consolation, my surgery was last on the list for that day. It was scheduled for 1.30 but I didn't go to theatre until 3.30. I did say that I hoped they wouldn't cancel and they said that they only cancel as a very last resort as it has a knock on effect on subsequent listings.