Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Support thread for those awaiting medical appts,tests and surgery

999 replies

ohyouBadBadkitten · 16/03/2012 18:13

It seems that there is probably rather a lot of us who are impatiently waiting to see consultants, have tests or waiting for surgery. So a thread for you to vent in or post your 'hooray's'

me. Am waiting to see my cardiologist. been a bit of a catalogue of delays and getting lost in the system. I have a wonderfully supportive gp who has just calmed me down after me losing the plot a bit when I found I wasnt on the appt system.

How about you?

OP posts:
Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 10:28

:) good, it will be ok.

Doing ok, rather sleepless after 4:45. Our milkman needs a new float, it was sounding very rough, as was his cough! Managed to trigger my 'episodes' very easily. Part of me is worried though - if the tests dont show anything they are going to think I'm bonkers! but if they do show something that might not be good either. well, I guess what will be will be.

OP posts:
Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 10:31

Very well today. I'm about to take the dog for a walk, and hope that he behaves himself. The park will be rammed.

I did just call cardio rehab to ask for a cancellation, as OYBBK suggested. Unfortunately, they did not have any, but worth a cheeky ask.

BM - I'm glad you are feeling positive about GP appointment today.

Backpack is in my thoughts too. I hope that her op went well, and she is on the mend.

Reenypip · 27/03/2012 10:54

Just had phone call asking if I can go in tomorrow to have my wisdom teeth out by general anethestic. Of course I've said yes been waiting ages. Not too nervous only a day case and I've been through so much worse and waiting for other scarier surgery.
I'm having it done at hospital (not dental hospital) because of all my health problems plus they gonna have take part of my jaw away as wisdom teeth going sideways into it.

Reenypip · 27/03/2012 10:59

Got a feeling things may start moving now, all surgeries are going to come at once / close together.
Do they have to leave time in between ops or can they just carry on ? (I mean before one wound heals and in the space of a few weeks)
So if I have my breast surgery, then get a call for my spinal surgery one month later, can it still go ahead or do they have to leave a certain amount of time?

Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 11:40

I have no idea Reeny! Good that you can go in tomorrow. So I guess you need to make the most of eating today!

OP posts:
Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 12:10

I'm very pleased that you are getting your teeth done too. It's nice to have one surgery out of the way.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 27/03/2012 13:40

Reeny hope tomorrow goes well. I find the old adage about long-awaited buses coming in threes, but I don't know about surgeries. But I do hope tomorrow is as painless as possible. I admire, admire your resilience.

Mad I don't think it was cheeky to ask about cancellations. It's in their interests as well to fill up all available spaces - if they'd had a slot to fill, you'd have been doing them a favour.

kitten Well, if the tests don't show anything... at least the tests have shown nothing. Honestly, you should not be dismissed as bonkers. As you're probably aware, there's currently an increasing focus within the NHS on treating patients with 'medically unexplained symptoms' - not as mad or timewasting but just as having difficulties beyond what existing medical structure have the capacity to understand, often through the use of clinical psychology and various complementary therapies.

I managed with the GP, and coped with seeing the scar for the first time Shock.

Everyone outside seemed to be wearing little strappy dresses. And then a group of local Muslim teenagers walked past, also in little strappy dresses but with high necklines and long sleeves underneath...

Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 15:04

Well I can't quite believe it, but my cheeky enquiry about cancellations has worked Smile.

I've just been called by the rehab nurse and offered an appointment this Friday. May that be a lesson to myself that there is no such thing as too pushy. Now, next problem is what to wear? I don't really have any proper trainers, but I have some filthy walking trainers which I could put in the washing machine. I think I will have a treadmill test hope I don't fail it miserably.

LargeGlassofRed · 27/03/2012 16:27

That's really good news mad good to get it started.
Well done for coping with the gp breastmilk your anxiety is completely understandable.
Good news about the wisdom teeth op reeny one more thing ticked off.
I saw the neurologist today, I'm going to have three sats IV steroids to try and halt the neurosarcoid. Luckly I can go in each day though so dont have to stay in. He's also going to up the methotrexate he's ringing me later to tell me the dose as he has to check my liver tests first.
Feel glad something's happening just hope it works

Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 16:54

Lots of good news :) well done everyone.

Raises glass of non-alchy Wine to everyone :)

BM I'm convinced it is the meds causing it as this all started a couple of weeks of starting the amiodarone. But whether it is a side effect that they can measure, that is the question...

OP posts:
BackPackBackPack · 27/03/2012 17:40

HI just a quick update.#

I am now home.

I had a programmable VP shunt placed and Decompression Surgery on Sunday Afternoon.

The Surgeon is hopefull the VP shunt will last for at least a year, The decompression should last longer. As long as it lasts for more than 2months I'm not bothered.

I very nearly got kept in again today as I had a big headache and felt sick when I stood up but Dp bought a big can of Red Bull and that helped me get home. The nurses and DR's knew what we did but as I was very anxious they decided to let me go as long I phone them as soon as I have a problem and take things easy, so I am in bed on this warm afternoon :(

Hope everyone else is doing ok and pleased you have an appointment on friday mad

Also thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers. Hope everyone is doing well.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 27/03/2012 18:00

BackPack Welcome home Grin [redbull] Brew

So, so pleased to hear from you. Although what you did with the Red Bull was probably inadvisable... honestly, I'd have done the same thing. I'm pleased they're taking your anxiety into consideration.

Let's hope the shunt does last a year.

kitten

Yes, that's it. I've been back and forth many times with 24-hour (and 72-hour, and 7-day) monitors for the purpose of trying to correlate symptom X with clinical sign Y...

Mad LargeGlass Things sound like they're moving... hopeful :-)

Thanks to everyone

Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 18:00

Really glad to hear from you backpack :) promise you will phone them if there is a problem?

OP posts:
Reenypip · 27/03/2012 18:12

5 hours after having phone call asking me to come into hospital tomorrow, I had another phone call, cancelling it.
Bit annoyed really. Wished they never rang at all today now. Got worked up and started preparing myself and making / re arranging plans.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 27/03/2012 18:14

Oh I'm so sorry :( I would have been annoyed too.

crashdoll · 27/03/2012 18:26

I've been referred to a neurologist to see why I'm having balance problems (have had a few nasty falls lately) and tingling finger tips and toes. I didn't expect my GP to refer me, so at least she doesn't think I'm a hypochondriac. I really don't think there's anything a neuro can do as I think it's part and parcel of my rheumatoid arthritis but as my GP says, it's worth getting it ruled out. I was born with a neurological condition but was discharged with a clean bill of health when I was a child. I doubt it's that but again, worth checking given my history.

Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 18:45

Hello and welcome to the thread. I'm glad that your GP is taking your neuro symptoms seriously, it can be easy to be fobbed off. However, it can also be annoying to be marked down as a sick person, and be over investigated, which sometimes happens to me.

Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 19:17

Backpack So pleased to see that you are at home recovering. I really hope that you do not need any more surgery for a very long time.

Reeny Having your surgery cancelled really sucks. I'm so sorry, and I hope they give you a new date soon.

OYBBK I'm confident that your monitor will show up your arrhythmia. No-one is going to think that you are bonkers! Hopefully, the cardiologist will be able to fast track you into treatment quickly. Not long now until Friday. Do you know if the results of your 24 hr test will be ready for when you go to the hospital?

Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 19:34

Reeny, that's really rubbish, I'm sorry :(

Welcome to the thread crashdoll.mit is probably good to get things checked out. I hope your referral comes through quickly.

Mad, yes it will (unless something has gone wrong!) the cardio asked for it to be done before I see him. I know that my original arrythmia isn't a problem on this medication. HR ranges between 56 and 100 (only when I'm at the docs and feeling anxious!!) my uneducated guess is that it is too low for me as normally when I'm not tachy it's about 80) gp thought that theory was a bit rubbish!

OP posts:
BackPackBackPack · 27/03/2012 19:44

I will deffinetly phone them if there is a problem. I know I shouldn't have drank the red bull but I could not take another hour on the neuro ward, I asked to be moved to any other ward and I would stay but they couldn't do that. I feel okish just hurts more when I get up but apparently it is normal to sometimes feel like that as my head will be getting used to the new pressure. It is time to worry when I need my head lower then the rest of my body like last time.

Sorry to hear about your op being cancelled hopefully they will get you in soon.

HI crashdoll welcome to the thread, hope you get your refferal through soon :)

Original poster
ohyouBadBadkitten · 27/03/2012 19:57

So far you sound like you are doing better than last time you came out.... So the red bull really did give you wings!!!

OP posts:
Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 20:07

Largelass I'm very pleased that you have had a productive day. I'm having a glass of Wine in your honour Smile

Madsometimes · 27/03/2012 20:40

Woo hoo! Today has been a really good day for me in terms of waiting for results and appointments. I have just been called by my surgical registrar (8 pm, he works killer hours, I remember he does ward rounds at 7.30 am each morning).

He said that tomorrow they are having a big multidisciplinary meeting with different doctors, where they review cases, and one of them will be mine. They are going to show my echo and discuss if any action needs to be taken. As I thought I do have a hole in my heart, but he said it is very small. He wants the opinion of other doctors as to whether the hole is related to my temporary vision loss. Hopefully, they will dismiss me as a malingerer. He said the most likely outcome would be that I will not need any further treatment, but he will let me know.

I'm so glad that I'm getting all this wrapped up.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 27/03/2012 20:58

Yes, I find myself getting extremely Confused and Hmm by the contradictoriness and frankly quite headfuckiness of how I often seem to draw both reactions almost simaltaneously. When I was pregnant with DS I had the most fantastic, wise and level-headed midwife who advocated and negotiated a very thoughtful and well-considered middle ground and I want her here now to look after me and managed neither to dismiss nor overmedicalise my symptoms. I overheard a really tough conversation, though, the other day betwen DH and a friend who's a doctor... she had always been convinced that my symptoms were stress related (and to be fair, so was I for a long time) which meant that I'd kept my cardiac diagnosis from her for which meant telling her about my surgery (which I didn't want to do, but DH kinded of needed to explain why I was completely out of action) was so awkward, even though she took the news with gentleness and grace.

Welcome and have a Wine or Brew (or a Red Bull donated by Backpack's DP) Really wishing you a smoother and more straightforward passage through the system than others on the thread.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 27/03/2012 21:03

Mad Just seen last post about your phone call ... glad things moving forward there!

I really hope the team can reach a straightforward (and non-invasive) conclusion...