To ask anyone in the NHS how day surgery lists are determined?

[ScuderiaSedici]

As above

See this is where my head goes though. It says I should have one, I’ve not, so now I’m worried I’ve gone something wrong.

Don't chew gum either i have no idea why but I was asked this before surgery once

You've done nothing wrong iv often had them the day of

Thank you for this post. It was really needed. . Can I just say well done to everyone who works in the NHS who has to put up with complaints and crap about nothing. Be grateful you are getting the treatment you need and accept others may just have more urgent need. And I don’t work in NHS myself

Yes, my paperwork says not to!

Definitely the paeds surgeons would make more of an effort to come and speak to you afterwards! Different in adult life I think.

Yeah I get it but it definitely won’t be your fault if there is an issue. They may well have decided they’re not necessary or just do them on the day. That’s much more likely. Try not to obsess over such a small detail, I know it’s hard. I agree it might be good to get stuck into a book or TV show or something to take your mind off it all for now. It will be fine!

Am sure that’d be fine!

Most of what you're worrying about you don't need to.

I had emergency surgery earlier this year. Started out a normal day, I washed, used deodorant, lotion, went for a walk and then started to feel in agonizing pain.

Within 2 hours of a doctor seeing me I was being taken into surgery that I had no idea I would be having when I woke up that day. They scraped my consent and I scrawled some papers as I was being wheeled away off my nut on drugs. I was kept waiting those two hours as I'd eaten multiple times that day, but it was still only 6 hours since my last meal at the point I went under. Id been drinking from a bottle of water whilst in the car being driven to hospital.

I tell you this for two reasons:

1. You don't need to be so worried about food and drink and wait from the previous afternoon. Have some toast before bed, sip water when you first wake up. Don't worry about showering and grooming just don't go overboard.

1. The surgeon who operated on me almost certainly was lined up to operate on someone else that day. But then I arrived, and without the surgery I had, on the day I had it, I would have died. Not could have died, would have died. I would be dead. That is the reality of hospitals, things move, plans change, priorities shift. I've had some absolutely terrible NHS experiences but the day they saved my life was insane in the best way and it really showed me that actually, for the things that are life or death, they are amazing. Sadly that is usually at the expense of being amazing at routine stuff. Id rather they be amazing at both, but id rather it be the way it is then the other way round.

Yes, with paeds and major surgery much more routine to be seen afterwards. Day surgery where I’ve had surgery and have worked it’s just not feasible for them to see everyone and get everything else done and there is the hope that you can be discharged quickly and then have a post-op follow up in clinic if needed.

I've had numerous days surgery operations ranging from the simple to the complex. I was always on the morning list, but for one (removing part of my meniscus) the operations before me all overran and I was eventually operated on about 3.30 pm. I've only ever once supposed to be first on the list but as soon as the anaesthetist saw the list I was moved to last because it was a "dirty operation " (Botox for an anal fissure) and it was easier to put me last so that there was longer to clean the operating theatre completely before the afternoon list. As far as I'm concerned there will be a million factors for them to consider and that's their job. If you're really worried about fasting that long, could you not change your habits for one day and eat later, even if it's just adding a slice of toast late in the evening?

Thank god! This is why im struggling - because it’s all the little details I obsess over, but I’ve had little to no guidance. It literally just says “shower the night before”

They would have known if you needed them . You don't always need an MRSA swab it depends on the hospital trust policy. In my trust it's only if you've been admitted to a different hospital in a different trust in the last 12 months. Also I've read through the thread and if you suspect you have autism I'd reccomend talking it through with a gp to get a nhs diagnosis ( it's a long process but free) . I'm currently an inpatient and when I spoke to the nurses about it they've made adjustments for me .

You really dont need to do anything just turn up clean and with an empty tummy and you will be grand and they will take it from their

That’s because they just want you to be clean. If you’d not showered for a week you’d have all sorts of germs on you and be more likely to get a wound infection, so they want to make sure you’ve showered recently.

I’ve just not found my GP surgery very helpful when it comes to anything even close to mental health related

mere anaesthetist rather than a surgeon! No idea what the sticky stuff in the drapes is I’m afraid (not latex though because the packs aren’t marked) - it’s not that uncommon to see a bit of a mark afterwards, but I’ve never seen a proper allergy to drapes. I’ll look it up when I’m back at work…you’ve got me thinking now! Did they use chlorhex skin prep? That’s quite dramatic pink so can make skin look more irritated….or chlorhex allergy’s more common in HCPs? Just a thought…

Well you should have asked all this on your pre op appointment over the phone. Autistic or not, you don't just get to decide the way that you think the lists should be organised is correct. And I say this as autistic myself and having autistic children. Rather than sit there and spout vitriol why don't you actually do something and contact the department for the information you require.

you dont need a private autism diagnosis
go to psychiatry.uk
right to choose, via your GP
some people only wait weeks

I wasn’t given a chance - I was just taken through the questions. I wasn’t aware at that time that the surgery would be so close!

How does that work? Do I put a form in?

Because it stimulates the gastric juices

patients fast before an operation to prevent vomiting and aspiration once you are anaesthetised. We don’t ask patients to fast for shits and giggles.

That makes sense. I only have experience with my son so paeds and his first few surgeries were major and sudden.

Not in my hospital... children and adults are on the same lists as the same surgeon operates.