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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Some outpatient treatments should still be going ahead.

18 replies

Spanglebangle · 13/04/2020 00:30

I have gallstones. I need an MRI scan and then an operation to remove my gallbladder. Because of coronavirus these two things are now on hold indefinitely.

I have been suffering for several months with gallstones my last attack was earlier this week and I ended up in a and e on morphine to ease the pain. This attack was the worst one I have had so far I was writhing around in agony on the floor of the shower in a pool of my own sick begging for help when my husband found me and called the ambulance.

My husband is a shielded patient so every time I have to go to hospital exposes him to risk, when the ambulance crew arrive and when I get home from the hospital potentially infected.

If I had the operation I would be in and out of hospital in a day and would then need no further contact with ambulance or hospital personnel. Reducing my husbands risk of contracting the virus and stopping me taking up a bed in a and e. AIBU?

OP posts:

IntoTheUnknown89 · 13/04/2020 00:34

Is there absolutely no way you can diet control it a bit until things get a bit better re the Corona virus?

I'm not trying to make light of it because I have gallstones and the first time I had and attack I actually thought I was dying. No lie. I have completely ditched dairy products and fatty foods and I haven't had an attack in months. I've had a few occasions where I have slipped up and had near attacks but so far fingers crossed.

I'm not a Dr and obviously if it's a medical emergency it's an emergency but if there's any way you can hold off then maybe give it a go?

Like I said, I'm totally not making light of it!

nocoolnamesleft · 13/04/2020 00:36

Most operating theatres are now emergency covid19 ICU areas. They have to keep the tiny bit of theatre capacity that is left for truly emergency cases.

Waveysnail · 13/04/2020 00:36

Thought they weren't doing keyhole surgery at the moment? So would be slice and dice job which would be more than a day

MooseBreath · 13/04/2020 00:36

The country's healthcare service has unfortunately turned into the country's COVID-19 service. Other illnesses and serious conditions are unfortunately being pushed aside due to massive underfunding.

I truly feel for anyone who requires medical attention right now, as it is nowhere near as good as it was even a month ago (through no fault of our phenomenal frontline workers).

Original poster

Spanglebangle · 13/04/2020 00:37

I have cut out all fat from my diet. All I eat now are fruits and vegetables. In a and e they said this attack may have been caused by losing too much weight too quickly. I can't win!

OP posts:

Bufferingkisses · 13/04/2020 00:40

Gallstones are horrendous - but not life threatening. Sadly, and understandably, yabu.

I do agree that some outpatient work should be allowed to continue but not in the way you're meaning.

TimeAintNothing · 13/04/2020 00:40

I had my operation cancelled too but the consultant contacted me to say that if I get worsening symptoms and it becomes unlikely I can wait then it would go ahead as an emergency admission, apparently will also still be done as a keyhole surgery and day case. I was given a list of symptoms to look put for and told to contact his secretary directly if I have any of them.

IntoTheUnknown89 · 13/04/2020 00:40

@Spanglebangle Yes, I wish that when we are all bring told lose weight that they would explain that if you lose weight too quickly you can get all kinds of problems! I lost weight quickly two years ago and now have gallstones because of it! I sometimes wish I'd just stayed bigger!

I wish I had something useful to say to help x x

LonginesPrime · 13/04/2020 00:41

If I had the operation I would be in and out of hospital in a day

In a normal situation, that policy might make sense. But given that most NHS depts have had staff, equipment and beds redeployed to deal with CV, there wouldn't be a safe environment for you to have the op in.

And how would the govt choose which non-emergency patients to prioritise?

Sorry you're in pain, OP, but most non-emergency procedures that have been cancelled were necessary for the person due to have them - they wouldn't have been booked to be performed on the NHS in the first place if they were unnecessary.

Original poster

Spanglebangle · 13/04/2020 00:50

Thank you everyone for your opinions. I know iabu in wanting my operation when plenty of other people are in the same position. However I think ianbu in thinking I would take up less NHS time and resources if they just did the operation.

OP posts:

peppermintcapsules · 13/04/2020 01:20

Gallstones are horrendous - but not life threatening. Sadly, and understandably, yabu.

They can very quickly indeed become just that, and there's no way to know in whom, stones can move to cause pancreatitis or to block the duodenum, a life-threatening condition.

Trying81 · 13/04/2020 01:54

I agree, waiting on an op to remove my skin cancer (bcc) it was cancelled at end of March and won’t be rearranged until after the pandemic

It’s frustrating, and my mental health is struggling with it - all we can do is hope people adhere to the rules and that lockdown can be over as quickly as possible

Tattiebee · 13/04/2020 01:58

YANBU. the effect delays will have is terrifying. Gallstones is bloody painful, feel for you OP.

Readytogogogo · 13/04/2020 07:51

However I think ianbu in thinking I would take up less NHS time and resources if they just did the operation.

OP, that would hopefully (and most likely be the case), but you do not know that for certain. Anyone can have serious complications from surgery; rarely these require an intensive care bed for a period of time. At present, we need all of those beds for Covid patients.

NeverTwerkNaked · 13/04/2020 07:55

Yanbu. It is devastating that you and so many others are missing out on care they badly need because of this.
I don't know what the answer is but that doesn't mean it isn't awful for you and everyone waiting for treatment

TheGoogleMum · 13/04/2020 07:56

Some outpatient appointments are still happening but it seems perhaps not surgery. Cancer treatment appointments are still going ahead in most cases (the cancer would be at risk of spreading and killing the patients otherwise)

leckford · 13/04/2020 07:58

A surgeon I know is operating on cancer cases. In the very large hospital near us, he is not involved with the virus treatment. There need to be some hospitals taken out of the virus system so some people with cancer etc can be treated before it gets worse

Original poster

Spanglebangle · 13/04/2020 08:55

@Ieckford that's good to know. I appreciate that there are much more important operations than mine (life limiting and cancer for example) and I think you are totally right. If some hospitals stayed business as usual then at least a proportion of patients would get treatment. The way things have changed will almost certainly mean waiting lists are much longer than they were previously and lives will be lost because of it.

OP posts:

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