What non-essential medical appointments have you had cancelled?

[TwistyHair]

I’ve had my daughter prosthetic leg appointment cancelled until further notice. I understand that there are more urgent appointments but I’m still really still really upset that her leg is now hurting and she won’t be able to walk soon.

I was due to have a smear test and a routine dental check up this month.

My husband is going blind in one eye due to macular degeneration. They have cancelled his check up until further notice.

He also had a tooth out and was getting a new plate made which is now on hold so his mouth is very sore. He's allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen and can only take paracetamol which we can't get anywhere.

I'm still waiting for my smear test results.

Arthritis op. Understand why but sad I don't know when this can happen again

Ds saw his hepatologist the middle of March who said he needed a liver biopsy. The restrictions were just coming in and he told him he couldn't even put in a request for it. Not sure when that will happen now but his liver continues to deteriorate.

Younger Ds was meant to be having his top brace fitted in April, that has obviously been cancelled. Not the end of the world but Ds was referred late by his dentist and starts sixth form in September. Although it was going to be hard as he has lots of sensory issues we were looking forward to it finally being fitted as his teeth have caused him quite a few issues.

💐 For those waiting for appointments and are worried about their health or that of a loved one.

Some of these stories are so sad

These are the hidden costs of coronavirus. It’s really tragic.

I had my ivf cancelled after starting the meds. I know there is so much worse going on, but I'm struggling to get over it as I'd got myself mentally ready.

Also had the dentist cancelled.

Diabetes nurse pump appointment pushed back by four months and I expect the consultant appointment to be rescheduled any day. It’s fine for me as I’m doing well but there are times in the past where having to wait for months before getting help with my control would have been really hard both physically and mentally and I’m sure others are in that position now. Obviously it’s understandable though.

So many. For DT2 it’s SALT, OT, paediatrician, endocrinologist and opthalmologist (the latter most worrying as we are seeing new issues which concern us).

For me, having two teeth removed under sedation which I’ve been waiting for since September - it was supposed to be on March 16th but anaesthetist was off sick and now who knows when. Hope I don’t get another abscess.

OP- sorry to hear about your daughters leg. Nothing worse than pain and not being able to walk about- speaking from experience.

I was due to have a smaller leg brace fitted on my knee as current one does nothing as now too big (I lost 11kg as advised) . The pain prior to getting the brace was absolute agony- literally strapping a hot water bottle on it at night which did nothing, so now limiting my walks out to necessary food shopping only.

I don’t think anyone should feel guilty for being gutted at things like this being changed. No matter how “minor” it may be it doesn’t change the fact that you build yourself (and your child) up for these things and in such a time of uncertainty anyway it just adds to the stress.

We all know why it is needed but that doesn’t mean on a personal level it isn’t a knock we could do without

I've had my physio cancelled, am pregnant with bad SPD and now not really sleeping. As am consultant led, current appointments going ahead but not sure all my growth scans will happen which is concerning as DS had raised doppler and his placenta had stopped working so would really like them to keep an eye on that. No midwife appointments between 28w & 36w which seems like a big gap!

@Veronicat I have a box of paracetamol which I can post to you if you want? One box won’t last you all that long but might tide him over.

Have you tried asking in pharmacies? Appagently many have a supply outback for people who need them. Can he take codeine and if so can you get either co-codamol or paramol? As they’re behind the counter they tend not to sell out so much.

Sending to everyone.

It's so hard. Son has had dental work all cancelled as well.

I've had to cancel all of my NHS appointments with patients and am being redeployed for up to 6-12 months. The point at which everything stopped, everyone will be backing up behind needing input. It'll take years to get treatment to all the people affected.

Oh and my daughter's speech therapy has been cancelled.

And my acupuncture (for infertility).

I hadn't realised how much had been cancelled! The speech therapy (nhs waiting list was huge) and acupuncture are really expensive there is one little plus side.

Sorry to anyone who has had important appointments cancelled

@Elouera would something like this help? I have one for pelvic and back pain, definitely easier than trying to attach a HWV to yourself!

www.stressnomore.co.uk/beurer-hk-55-multifunctional-mobile-heating-pad-81028.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmpb0BRCBARIsAG7y4zZA53TEP5405S41jvaHSJ3_3CM809HzaNUEe6osefCuqEyP3asTUX4aApxwEALw_wcB

Due urodynamics and a cystoscopy - been waiting eight months. All cancelled and been told probably be a long, long time before I’ll be seen . Last cystoscopy (which I had to wait four years for) consultant told me due to all the nhs delays I have lifelong damage - and will never get better, will only get worse .
Have been told to self catheterise but that causes infection after infection , and can’t access reliable medical help if an infection does take hold - so it’s a bit difficult to know what to do !!

Having worked in a HDU you do wonder, every single week we had emergencies/urgent admissions eg encephalitis, brain bleeds, cauda equina, Guillain barre, seizures as well as about 30+ scheduled admissions and day case appointments ... none of these illnesses/needs will have gone away, so how will they still treat them ? Colleagues who still work in critical care and even on normal wards are saying it’s very, very difficult - as with some patients , that one postponed surgery for eg a brain tumour (when you’d likely need an ITU bed) could well be the difference between living and dying .

@Sirzy that's a nice way of putting it

I have had a follow up appointment cancelled for breast implants I had recently to correct a tuberous breast deformity. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but I would just like to know that they have settled properly etc

I had a mammogram (yearly thing) cancelled and kids have had routine dental appts cancelled.
My dad has had a kidney op cancelled. My daughter can’t get to the sexual health clinic for contraception and became pregnant once already due to condom failure and MAP not working for her.
I am very worried about the longer term health problems that will result from this pandemic and the subsequent lack of health care. Given that our GPS are no longer dealing with any covid related issues (when you call it says if you have suspected covid19 and your symptoms are worsening then you have to call 111) I don’t really understand why the GPs can’t be doing normal services over the phone.

Psychiatrist for me was supposed to see last Monday was changed to a phone call then completely cancelled last Friday. I usually see psychiatrist once a month as on a lot of medication and he likes to be able to up my medication temporarily quite quickly if I start becoming unstable.

DS Cahms appointment he has adhd and was put on xxagatin xl but we were supposed to be adding something to help him sleep better as I'm up until 2-3am with him most nights as he also has anxiety issues.

My asthmas bad at the minute and I just haven't been able to get an appointment at all. Other than a telephone one with a nurse who told me she didn't know enough about asthma to recommend anything other than to tell me not to go out.....

I have a dermatology appointment the week after next at the hospital, but I haven't received notice of cancellation yet. How did everyone else get theirs?

Nothing desperate or serious - Physio is closed but that's a private practice. I have a follow-up gynae appointment in May that hasn't been cancelled yet but it's private so not sure how they're currently operating. I expect it will be cancelled or go to a phone consultation. I was meant to book follow-up blood tests in May too but that won't be happening.

Smear , putting a note in my diary a few months away

I should have had an appointment letter by now for hospital treatment, it's due this month. I have chronic pain & if I don't get the treatment my life is really difficult & I'm at much higher risk of a stroke. I need to call the hospital to check; if it's to be postponed I need to get some better painkillers. I used to get through a lot of opiates before the treatment, I barely ever take any now. It was really rough stopping them.