AIBU to not want to self-isolate before minor operation

[Astressie]

I was telephoned to day with a date for my minor op. Then told I had to self-isolate with DP for 2 weeks prior to procedure. This starts tomorrow!!! One day's notice. I do not have to go into work nor does DP but had no idea I had to do this when agreed to Op. Annoying thing is MIL has a more serious procedure at the same hospital and does not have to self-isolate. We both have to have a swab test 2 days before. We can't even go out to exercise!! Major upheaval with 1 day's notice. How do I give the dog his exercise? shopping thing etc etc I don't know if I can do this!!

Can't your DP walk the dog? You can get shopping delivered.

Tell them you can't do it and go back on the waiting list then.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Tell them you can't do it and go back on the waiting list then.

Sound advice honestly

Or call the hospital to check for next available dates?

Why risk taking C19 into a hospital of other patients? I think your MIL need to check why she hasn’t been given the same information.

I agree with pp, let them know you can't self isolate and wait for next appointment when you can self isolate. It's standard for surgeries where I am although patients are advised with more notice.

It sounds like the error/shortcoming has been made with your MIL rather than you. I agree, either phone them and ask for a later date or go and get everything you need tomorrow. Its only two weeks, versus you, other patients and staff contracting the virus. Honestly, I know it's different for you, but if someone advised me or this practice before I went on for an op (OK, a bit more notice would be better, but maybe you got a cancellation slot etc), I would actually be reassured. Hope it all goes well.

I've just had a operation and was only given a weeks notice, they fully test you the day before and keep you in that extra day, I knew I was on a list so was very careful haven't been to shops etc.

It's not unreasonable to speak to them and ask exactly what level of isolation is needed as I spoke to my surgeon with the same issues and he said as long as you've followed guidelines you'll be fine, I mentioned my son had been out on an bike ride with friends, my husband has been shopping and too work and we'd had two friends over for a BBQ, he was ok and said as the test is done in the hospital you'll wear a mask and keep distance and are fully tested all was ok.

And congratulations on getting your op!

I think not going out to exercise in open air is ridiculous. Why not just not tell them. FFS, if you go out at like, 9-10pm I doubt it will be heaving. The chances of getting C19 from walking a dog are vanishingly small, and then what if you do all that, then it's cancelled. It's a totally unworkable policy.

You do know that if you contract Covid post op, your risk of mortality (death) is somewhere near 20%?

They’re telling people to self isolate for a damn good reason

Honestly why can't you just follow the medical advice?

hmmm... I'm surprised you're on house arrest. Are you sure about absolutely no outings? I have a relative getting open heart surgery in California soon, and she doesn't have to stay indoors, although they are hyper at her about avoiding infections in general. She usually walks for about 2 hours/day so it would be horrible if she was so confined.

@anotherBadAvatar do you have the evidence for where that statistic comes from?

@velvetpeel

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31256-3/fulltext

@Velvetpeel

Or the full paper if you have the inclination

www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(20)31182-X.pdf

Please don’t put the staff looking after you at risk. It’s a minor op, I’m sure it’s very much needed and frustrating to have to wait, but if 2 weeks self isolating is too much, please reschedule. There are at least 20 people you can potentially infect, for some of them, getting Covid might mean certain death. Please don’t.

Is 20% the everybody-risk elective surgery statistic?

I imagine OP could be lower risk if female under 70, and that article says at end that basically must screen everybody before surgery to see if they have covid, is main precaution to reduce mortality (which NHS will do to OP).

Don't bother have the minor operation if you can't self isolate at this time. You are putting all of the hospital staff and medical team at risk by not doing so, that is not okay.

Jesus christ how can you be so selfish.

Every patient has to do this including your MIL, unless she has already been self isolating for the last 14 days?

Maybe MIL didn't listen/hear/acknowledge the advice.

Do you want the op done now or are you not fussed either way?

@anotherBadAvatar you need to quote your 20% in context , if you actually read the paper in its entirety you will see that of the post op group who died they were in the most at risk groups ie over 70 , with pre existing conditions having major surgery.
It is simply not true to say if you catch Covid post op you have a 20% mortality rate.

Look. The NHS is trying very very hard to get their normal services up and running. There are massive logistical nightmares to try and manage.

Some areas of the hospital will be designated covid-free. This is to protect the patients and the staff that are potentially vulnerable. The best (admittedly inconvenient) way is to ensure 14 days of isolation and a negative test before proceeding.

If you are unwilling to do that, step aside and let one of the millions of people backlogged behind you take your place.

My Mum has just had to do this - she had to arrange for someone else to walk the dogs for two weeks before she had the procedure, and she has to shield for two more weeks after the op. They were absolutely adamant about it, and her op was delayed because they hadn’t told her this initially (or procedure had been tightened up).

As pp have said, if you can’t organise it in time, ask for the date to be changed. Do t put others at risk because of your own inconvenience.

@Cupcakegirl13

Without knowing the OPs age, presence of comorbidites or nature of the surgery, of course I can’t say that the OPs risk of post op mortality is 20%, less or much, much higher.

The overall mortality in all comers is ballpark 20% IF they contract Covid post op. We are quoting this figure to patients in our hospital.

Obviously individual risk varies. I do not know the OPs individual risk.

"but had no idea I had to do this when agreed to Op"

You are obviously doing them a big favour having this OP

"Tell them you can't do it and go back on the waiting list then."

^This

^There has been much concern about the number of COVID infections caught in hospital
They want to eliminate all possible risk
Different hospitals may have different rules & infection measures, depending on infection rate in their area and their hospital^

It's just for 2 weeks
You would be very selfish and arrogant if you put your convenience before one of the hospital's infection control measures

Putting aside the risks to the staff, you may find you wouldn't be well enough to have procedure if you had Covid. Guess it depends how much you want the procedure.

Not sure about rules for dog walking, but my friend's family did it 6am and 10am when there were far less people around.

I guess you've built up a mini stash in case of isolation. That along with an online delivery should see you through. Iceland have loads of slots here. Not forget the essentials boxes some shops do, and you can order dog food from pet suppliers. A friend/family member/colleague would surely get you a bag some fresh essentials as well.

Hope it goes well if you have it done.