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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the hospital/surgeon could be a little more apologetic??

34 replies

fattiemumma · 09/04/2009 12:23

i had a growth on my jaw just below my teeth. I had an op 3 weeks ago to remove it. it was nothing sinister, just some wierd extra tooth or something.

anyway, had the op and it all went ok. they had to remove quite a large part of my jaw which he explained will make that side of my face very week so try not to fall over (well derr)

My face was still very numb but he explained that they had used a lot of anaesthetic because it was such a relativly large op.

went home. the next day my face was still numb, like it is when you go to a normal dentist and they inject you. you know when you dribble out of teh side of your mouth as you just can't feel anything. well this was the entire right side of my lower jaw, my lip and part of my cheek.

at firt i just thought they had topped me up a little too much to prevent pain when i got home but after 3 days and still no feeling i rang the hospital to speak to my surgeon.

when i explained he kinda sucked in some breath like a plumber about to give a quote.
he said that because my op was very close to a nerve that runs along my jaw line it sounds as though they have damaged that nerve during the op. that they had no way of knowing whilst in theatre and that whilst given time i may get SOME MILD sensation back, the damage was permenant.

So now i am left with half of my face numb. i bite my lip whilst eating, dribble whilst drinking. i can't feel my teeth when i brush them, if i drip a bit of food i can't feel it so just look like a mad woman, i can't put on lipstick properly as i can't feel half of my lip....... its awful.

I know its nowhere near as bad as some medical cock ups can be but im just a bit miffed that the attitude im getting from the hospital is one of " oh well, whats done is done"

OP posts:
TrillianEAstraEgg · 09/04/2009 12:25

Oh no!

I'm really surprised they haven't had you back in to assess the damage!

morningpaper · 09/04/2009 12:25

You need to DO SOMETHING

TrillianEAstraEgg · 09/04/2009 12:25

and YANBU, obviously

JemL · 09/04/2009 12:26

I think you need to take it further. Were you advised that this was a potential risk before you had the op?

I wouldn't be happy with such an "oh well" attitude either!

nametaken · 09/04/2009 12:27

Did he not explain that that type of surgery comes with risks before you agreed to it? Did you sign anything?

FioFio · 09/04/2009 12:28

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EasterBunnysWizzskas · 09/04/2009 12:29

. Can you ask to see another specialist? You poor thing.

nametaken · 09/04/2009 12:31

Sorry if my post sounded harsh OP. I had the exact same procedure myself last October and it went fine so I just wanted to say sorry you're nerves are damaged. Sometimes the feeling comes back.

It's just that I used to work in the NHS and people used to try and get money out of them for the slightest possible reason it used to really make me sad.

Original poster
fattiemumma · 09/04/2009 12:33

he did reel it off as one of the risks prior to the op but it was a bit of a "obviously there are risks involved like death and stuff but that comes with every op. we might hit a nerve whilst we're in there but thats pretty rare......
it was all a bit, im only teling you cos i have to as its really nothing to worry about.

stupid me i trusted he'd know what he was on about.

I know i have no chance of suing them or anything, im just a bit annoyed with teh way they have been about it really. an apology would have been a start.

thankfully the muscles all still work so although my lip is slightly blue at the corner its damaged you can't really notice anything but a very slight droop at the corner of my mouth. im able t talk ok.

glad im not just being a drama queen over it.

OP posts:
FioFio · 09/04/2009 12:33

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nametaken · 09/04/2009 12:35

x-posts fiofio, the OP says this was described as a potential risk. It's just that when surgeons say there's a 1 in 100 chance of having nerve damage, people always assume it won't happen to them.

I doubt if the surgeon will apologise - to do so would be an admission of fault.

MadamDeathstare · 09/04/2009 12:35

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadamDeathstare · 09/04/2009 12:39

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BalloonSlayer · 09/04/2009 12:40

Nametaken is right, Doctors never apologise or admit fault if they can help it. They must be taught not to at medical school or something.

(I often wondered if the reason the McCanns refused for so long to acknowledge that they should not have left three children alone was that they are Doctors . . . but that's another debate.)

FioFio · 09/04/2009 12:41

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CMOTdibbler · 09/04/2009 12:50

You can't tell about nerve damage straightaway though - unless they know that they have had to cut through a nerve, any symptoms are the same as the anaesthetic, and can also be due to inflamation from the surgery.

Nerve damage was a known risk, was explained to the OP, and there isn't anything that can be done about it unfortunatly - and I don't think the surgeon has anything to apologise for

FioFio · 09/04/2009 12:52

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SoupDreggon · 09/04/2009 12:58

I'm surprised they didn't warn you of this before the operation. I had a lump removed from near the facial nerve and was warned that there was a 1% chance they would damage the nerve during the operation.

SoupDreggon · 09/04/2009 13:03

Before I was released, the doctors made me smile at them to check that both sides of my face responded the same (they did).

There is a spot on my face which used to be numb but is now a cross between numb and hyper sensitive if that makes sense. It only notices if I touch it. IIRC, this started out numb and the sensation did return until it got to the stage it's at. I guess there is no way of telling how much your nerve will recover - I would imagine they are reluctant to be over optimistic hence the comment re mild sensation.

GentleOtter · 09/04/2009 13:19

I had a very similar op about 25 years ago which left me with no feeling in the lower half of my jaw and tongue - it is still without feeling to this day and interferes with the way you talk, eat, kiss etc.
Sorry, but I would not be dismissed so easily by the surgeon and would advise that you consult a solicitor asap.

nametaken · 09/04/2009 13:25

A solicitor don't waste your time or money. You signed a consent form. The risks were explained to you. You haven't got a leg to stand on.

I'm sorry you've had nerve damage but there is every chance it will slowly start to come back - it also sounds like the surgeon was not very sympathetic but what can you do? He got rid of the growth didn't he. If the growth wasn't cancerous presumably it was removed for cosmetic reasons.

Original poster
fattiemumma · 09/04/2009 13:30

i was told that i had to have the growth removed as it was breaking through teh skin and was starting to cause problem for my other teeth.

I have no intention of suing anyone. whilst incredibly frustrating and inconveniant i can live with it. but this attitude of "your not dead so what more do yu want" is whats pissing me off actually.

whilst i know that this wasn't done deliberatly i'd like to be treated with a little more than annoyance because i call worried that im permenantly damaged!

OP posts:
GentleOtter · 09/04/2009 14:15

fattiemumma - it is still a fairly short time since your op and the sensations may yet return. Speak to your GP about your concerns and perhaps later on you could try something like acupuncture to help the nerves.

lindtbunny · 09/04/2009 14:21

don't worry, nerve damage is very rare.
u should request a review appointmnt. they usually give u a follow-up appt to check for healing etc.
operation of the type u had, usually carries a risk of nerve damage to the lower jaw on the side u had the op (as u already mentioned and that u consented for).
the nerve supplies sensation to that side of jaw (teeth, lip, gums etc)
the nerve and surrounding tissues can be left bruised/ swollen/ stretched/damaged after an operation and so this can alter sensation. this can vary from tingly/ change in sensation to complete numbness. it can also take time for sensation to return back to normal from weeks to months.
best thing to do is request review appt and see what they say.

lindtbunny · 09/04/2009 14:25

sorry, meant to say permanent nerve damage is very rare