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Original poster

Surgical abortion gone wrong

27 replies

Mumofthree92 · 22/07/2018 19:08

Hi all so I came to decision to have an abortion it was difficult but I have 4 beautiful kids already and I am in too much pain to care for another one.

So I was booked In for a day procedure. Hoping to be going home the same night. Boy was I wrong.

6 days later I was allowed home after 4 hours of surgery to repair my womb.

So what was a simple operation turned into a major one where I nearly died.

They punctured my uterus in 2 places hitting a blood vessel so I was bleeding out. The 1st surgeon couldn’t fix the damage so they had to get someone else.

They tried key hole to fix it but they couldn’t do that way so they cut me open.

So know I’m home can barely move can’t even pick my 8 month old baby up feel so useless.

Sorry for the essay just had to let off steam.

But I can’t help thinking am I just the unlucky statistic or was there negligence part to play.

OP posts:
Roomba · 22/07/2018 19:20

You poor thing, what an ordeal you've been through! That sounds horrendous. Hope you are feeling stronger soon Flowers

I honestly have no idea of how often things like this happen statistically, but I imagine it's very rare? I've certainly never come across or heard of anyone who has had this happen. I imagine the only way to find out is to request a copy of your medical notes and ask someone at the hospital to go through them with you, explaining what they all mean and why things happened the way they did. I think PALS would be the organisation to contact to arrange this?

BubblesPip · 22/07/2018 19:26

I’m so sorry, what an awful ordeal. I hope you have a speedy recovery Flowers

Helpmehelpmyself1 · 22/07/2018 19:28

Are you entitled to any compensation for your ordeal OP? Speak to a solicitors.

Original poster
Mumofthree92 · 22/07/2018 20:10

Hi thank you for the support. They kept apologising saying it’s very rare and sorry it happens to me.
I read the notes myself but it must of been bad for them to get a second surgeon involved.
I ended up having 2 blood transfusion but I still feel knackered.

I come home my baby is crying for me and I can’t pick him up I feel awful

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumofthree92 · 22/07/2018 20:12

As for compensation I have know idea how to go about that I wouldn’t know who to speak to

OP posts:
Helpmehelpmyself1 · 22/07/2018 20:57

There is 100% compensation for you over this. You need to contact a local soliciter with medical claim experience.

PerverseConverse · 22/07/2018 21:18

I'm sorry you've had this happen to you.

I am a nurse who used to work in medical negligence and there is no way to say for certain if you are entitled to compensation without someone reviewing your medical notes.

Surgery of any kind involves risks and if these risks were explained to you and normal procedure was followed from admission to discharge then it is unlikely to result in compensation. If it's obvious the surgeon was negligent then of course that's a different matter.

The solicitor I worked for charged to obtain medical notes. These would include hospital and GP records and I would go through them all with a fine tooth comb.

I wouldn't necessarily conclude anything from having a second surgeon assist as all surgeries I was involved in had the main surgeon and then someone assisting.

It's worth requesting a debrief from the hospital and then considering whether or not to take it further.

Hope you make a speedy recovery.

Really79 · 19/08/2018 00:59

Oh my goodness!!!!

Same happened to me last week. 3 perforations and blood transfusions, had major sugery.

Oh I'm so sorry and shocked, you too.

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/08/2018 11:44

When I had a polyp removed womb perforation and emergency hysterectomy were listed as possible outcomes.

Original poster
Mumofthree92 · 19/08/2018 12:11

I know there are risks involved with any surgery.
It just that everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
It’s been 4 weeks since it happened I’m still in a lot of pain sneezed earlier I could of cried it was that bad.
Still feel quite weak in general Im probably not resting like I’m supposed to but I have 4 kids to look after ages 8,5,3 and 8 month. So I life doesn’t stop because I’ve had major surgery.

The kids are getting annoyed with me as it’s the holidays and I can barely get around the house let alone go somewhere fun.

OP posts:
onetimeposter · 19/08/2018 12:13

I do believe perforation of uterus is a risk, albeit rare, which is on the consent form.
I'm so sorry for your experience.

Really79 · 19/08/2018 12:35

Oh mate. I'm sorry can totally relate to the pain when sneezing.

I've been home for 1 week. They couldn't fix me with laparoscopy so they cut me open to repair.

Hospital took a photo of 1/3 perforations which I have. And the surgeon write down what he'd done during the termination when the ambulance came. I have tons of paperwork, incomplete and not tine consistent record of the drugs given to me at the time of termination. The cqc report from the clinic which is s disgrace.

What's happened to me/us is very rare. I'm still considering legal advice it's been hell. Still on tramadol and need to go back for scans.

I remember risks of infection, abortion not working, retained products, nothing about perforating my uterus once or even 3 times.

They left 1/2 the "tissue" inside and half of my unborn child, which I saw.

Feel free to pm me of you like xx

Really79 · 19/08/2018 12:41

Forgot to say, same about other children and holidays.

I've only got 2 kids, my 3 year old is registered disabled, partner back to work tomorrow and I'm dreading it, kids are bored and fed up, got no support xx

StrawberryStar · 19/08/2018 12:44

Any thing that appears abnormal should be reported by Staff and reviewed to see if it is a complication of surgery or if something has gone wrong. If something has gone wrong and the hospital has potentially caused harm to you they have a duty (of candour) to inform you and they should hold a review.
Maybe your first step could be to ask the hospital for a debrief to help you understand what happened.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 19/08/2018 12:46

Risk of perforation and subsequent operations is the consent form. It's rare, something like 1 in 1000, if I recall it correctly, but it happens.

Hope you feel better soon.

HidingFromDD · 19/08/2018 12:47

Wasn't the QE was it?

30hours · 19/08/2018 12:48

Sadly when you abort you take the risks of the surgery going wrong. I’m sure you signed the consent form.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 19/08/2018 13:14

I am so sorry this has happened to you. Could you speak to your health visitor / discharge team from the hospital? Maybe they can get some help for you? Even someone to bounce your baby for a few hours and cook a meal or two would help. Do ask your friends / neighbours / parents of the friends of your children for help. I had surgery earlier in the year and when people asked if I was OK or needed anything. . I asked. It's hard to ask but people will be glad to help if they can.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 19/08/2018 13:18

That was uncalled for, 30hours.

There are risks with every single surgical procedure.

Really79 · 19/08/2018 13:25

Just because there are risks involved, it doesn't give people the right to be careless, to not fill your medicine record chart in properly during the procedure. To not give me the racket I needed before surgery as I was 12 weeks and should have had it.

If you read the cqc of where I went you would be shocked. They've still not taken onboard the warning they were given on the last inspection.

They could have killed me.

The hospital were so shocked they photographed my insides after the gyne team saved me.

This isn't all about risk, the risk is tiny. It's about below standard treatment .

Really79 · 19/08/2018 13:31

*tablet nor racket. The tablet I should have had before surgery re being 12 weeks.

Not a risk.

Carelessness that I'm sure caused them to perforate my uterus x 3 because I didn't get the pre medication.

Original poster
Mumofthree92 · 19/08/2018 15:56

I knew the risks before surgery but because they said to me it’s very rare it won’t happens.
Then to wake up in recovery in absolute agony and having all these scars for what should of been a straight forward procedure.

Then the recovery from the surgery and not being able to be a proper mum makes me feel useless.

Plus being in hospital for 6 days after because of needing a blood transfusion, antibiotics via drip, injections to stop my blood clotting, having a drain in.

Ahhhh rant over just had to let it out sorry people.

OP posts:
onetimeposter · 19/08/2018 17:09

I know it's awful, but could you look at it from another perspective perhaps?
You're alive. You have scars and are in pain but that will get better in time. Some people don't come out of hospital at all.
You aren't useless. Be kind to yourself, it will take a while to get better.

Original poster
Mumofthree92 · 19/08/2018 21:27

That is how I feel onetimeposter I’m am torn between feelings yes I could of died but I didn’t I came out alive, but have that niggling feeling of was there a mistake or negligence involved. It’s an awful feeling.
Because I’m totally grateful they did everything to save me but now I’m left with scars and constant pain.

It’s just awful mix of emotions.

OP posts:
onetimeposter · 20/08/2018 12:45

Could you be referred for a debrief? I should imagine it would explain a lot.