Support thread for those awaiting medical appts,tests and surgery

[ohyouBadBadkitten]

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?

Wonder if it is the same bug as dds Mad, sounds very similar. Hope she has a comfy night.

Backpack, I hope she has a lovely birthday. She sounds a bit out of sorts and at that age it could be lots of things.

Its DP's and my birthday tomorrow :) DD wanted to get us a Birthday Cake out of her pocket money (She give us the money out of her money box but when she went to bed on Sunday we put it back in :) )

DD is much happier this morning she is busy singing a made up song about my Neurologist She always sings and laughs about his name, The more I tell her "No" the more she does it I must remember to get someone to look after her when I go and see him

I hope your DD had a comfy night last night and your DD's feels better soon, OYBBK and Mad.

That sounds a bit nasty. What I meant is the Neuro's name is a main character in a popular Story Book. DD loves this book so she has changed the characters name to DR XXXX instead of XXX and she sings about it..

I was referred to Dr Tigerwhocametotea last year, I think. Small world

I'm so sorry everyone's kids are so ill and/or stressed.

I've just had a phone call off the Surgeon and I'm going to see him on Monday to discuss things.

If my pressure is high again I wont need the Bolt and we will discuss the next steps. If it seems "OK" I will need a bolt he will discuss it more on Monday.

So it seems to be another Lumber Puncture is due.

ugh to the lumbar puncture but hopefully its good if it means avoiding the bolt????

Very sweet that your dd wanted to get you a cake. I hope you both have a lovely day tomorrow :)

Had a run of tachycardia yesterday for a couple of hours - nothing too drastic and it settled itself down, but I guess it means that the effects of the amiodarone are starting to wear off. Something to discuss with the gp tomorrow.

Sorry about needing yet another lumbar puncture. Will that be done on Monday? Fingers crossed for no bolt.

OYBBK, it's a shame the effects of the amiodarone are wearing off. I suppose not completely unexpected, my EP said that ablation is the only cure for flutter, the other treatments being more of a temporary fix. I'm sorry that you are no nearer getting a date to see a specialist. Maybe your GP could chase it for you. I know that as my ablation date nears I'm going to be whining and bleating .

Yes the LP will be done under a General Anesthetic this time so I need to be at the hospital for 7:30am. I'm pleased the surgeon is going to do it under a GA as it means I wont feel it but I will be sore when I wake up.

The Surgeon has promised he wont do the bolt there and then if its needed he said that for a shunt though and I woke up with a new shunt, when I was just supposed to get a LP.

Hope it all goes well at the GP's tomorrow OYBBK.

Hope everyone is doing good.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Backpack (and Backpack's DP)
Happy Birthday to you

Everyone will be mightily pleased that they can't hear my singing. It would put people off their cornflakes.

Now, where's the cake?????

What do you mean it's only 7 am

I'll leave the singing though to mad. Not my forte but HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACKPACK

Thinking of you today and wishing you a year without pain. Sending lots of love.

Would anyone like a slice?

Happy Birthday Backpack!!!!!!
Yes, i would like a slice please :)

GP was in a bit of a rush but lovely. She is writing to the EP consultant to ask him to hurry up. More tachy today, (for much of the day I think) but not too high a level - around the 108-115. Seems to be settling down now I think. GP took blood pressure and said that was too low as well. Rather sadly GP is going off on extended leave. Lots of the other gps in the practice are pretty good but mine has been so supportive.

I hope you are enjoying your birthday Backpack

OYBBK, I hope that your GP has some success in getting you into the EP. You have been waiting a ridiculous amount of time to not even have been given a date for an initial consultation. At least with a date, you have something to plan for.

I hope the GP's leave doesn't slide you further into the gaps between systems. Really hope EP appointment comes through soon.

Thank you for all of the Happy Birthday's.

I hope there is some cake left for me? as DD decided to take it upon herself to do us breakfast in bed this morning (at 5am) and as she was carrying the cake up she dropped it downstairs and it bounced off every stair, so the bin got the cake :( aswell as the new carpet that has just been down for 6ish weeks So pleased it is a black carpet. I like how she thought cake first thing :o, least she has something off me :).

I really enjoyed my Birthday we went out for a family Lunch at a Chinese restaurant it was disgusting but never mind we had fun it was nice to have the family there (well Dp's family who are much better then mine I never even got a Happy Birthday off my dad as he does not want a Blind daughter which he so kindly told me this morning-- )

I hope you get your appointment soon Mad and hope everyone else is doing good.

Backpack, sorry about the cake. Don't worry, there is plenty of the MN cake left, and it is scrummy. Here, have a slice plus a in bed. Your dd sounds like my kind of girl, cake for breakfast.

I'm even sorrier about you dad though. I know that you can't choose you family, but they should be supportive.

your poor dd backpack :(
I'm glad you enjoyed your birthday lunch but I'm sorry about your Dad. Does he always behave like such an arse?

Hi everyone

I saw the neuro-opthamologist today and got a clean bill of eye health. He said that people with heart problems often experience transient vision loss because of circulatory problems. He asked what I was doing when I lost sight in Feb, and I answered truthfully - driving, but that I was able to see fully out of of the other eye and pulled over immediately. He was fine with that. He didn't mention stroke or TIA, so a good day for me.

The drops that dilate the pupils are a pita. When they were put in, I felt really panicky, hot and nauseous, but I knew it was me and not the drops. I couldn't read for 4 hours afterwards, because focusing is hard, not good for my MN habit

My "Dad" is a waste of space really, he has seen DD twice in 3 years then moans that she does not know him and she knows DP family.

Pleased the appointment went well Mad and you have a clean bill of eye health :) .

I agree re the drops I get them every time I see my ophthalmologist and it never gets easier. My ophthalmologist calls them "Onion" drops because of the sting.

I got another call off the Surgeon as he has had to bring my appointment forward to Sunday as he wants the possible Bolt in on Monday then possible Shunt revision on Wednesday, he has put me on the list for theater first on Monday for the possible Bolt and second on Wednesday for the possible shunt revision. I explained I don't know if I want another Shunt but apparently he will keep me down and I can decide when I have the bolt in. He explained that there will be 2surgeons working on the Shunt this time and he will be keeping me in hospital longer after surgery as he is unsure if I am over-doing it after Surgery and not giving my body time to adjust to the Shunt. I have some faith in the other Surgeon as he only specialises in my illnesses and Shunts.

They will be doing the LP under a Local first then if they get nowhere then
under Xray if that does not work it will be under a GA. I told him I really really DO NOT want to try under a Local but apparently they have to try through new Guidelines.

I suppose I just have to trust the Surgeons, I was told it would only be 1 chance under Local and Xray then I will be put under to get it done.

I'm hoping this time I get better, I know my sight won't be saved and it is getting worse daily now but I know when my sight does go, I will still be able to have a normal life as Blind People do have a good life.

I went to the RNIB group and I was really surprised how happy everyone was, I didn't cry but I realised I am soo lucky I have saw my DD face as some Mums and dad have not seen their DC face or their Smile. I have so much respect for the people in that group. After 2 hours of meeting them I have learned so much about being Blind. I am pleased I went, I was nervous about not being accepted but they accepted me straight away and even made me a cup of tea. I feel ashamed how I have cried about not being able to do things but this lady had no vision and she managed, So I should be able to. :)
I am still petrified of going blind but now I know I can live a normal life I'm starting to accept it.

Backpack, I'm sorry that you need the bolt. At least if it is done on Monday, then it will be over and done with quickly, and you don't need to think about it happening for too long. I always find that worrying about things before they happen is often the worst part. As for the shunt, you have said the one that you have now isn't working, so maybe the op with two surgeons will be more successful. It does seem that they are taking your illness seriously. I know that a longer hospital stay will be a pita, and that surgery is scary.

The LP under local, I know how you feel about that .

I'm so pleased that you went to the RNIB group, and that it was positive. I hope you have a nice day today, to make up for going to hospital tomorrow.

Backpack I really admire you for making it to the support group... I'm sure many people who are losing their sight are unable to face up to it until it has happened. I'm glad they were positive and helpful in demonstrating how you'll still be able to live a normal life.

It sounds as though your surgeon is thinking beyond the crisis management of immediate pain and shunt inadequacies and is working towards the long term... though certainly the LP, bolt and yet another surgery sounds awful. But in terms of them 'needing' to try the LP under LA first... well, the guidelines don't say how hard they need to try so if the surgeon deems you to be in too much pain, he will be able to offer you a GA.

mad Great bout the neuro-ophthalmologist... finally, some good news for you. It must be a relief to know that you can keep your driving license and conscience as clear as one another too. Interesting, too, to hear what he said about heart disease and visual disturbances... though I've never had the complete lapses you've had, I've noticed since the surgery that I'm not getting the blurry wobbly hazy grey spells I was having and ignoring beforehand.

I'm in pain today, and so tired. I've been arguing with DH about ridiculous things and feeling an utter c*nt about what I posted on the AIBU board yesterday. Still no news from the hospital about the elusive post-op follow-up, despite my email telling them how ill I felt.

But on a more positive slant, a friend is here helping with the housework. What a star. And DH has just brought me a cup of tea.

Hello, can I join you? Madsometimes sent me in this direction. I am going in on Monday to have a hole in my heart closed. Not an open procedure but first surgery for me. Was fit and well til December when I had what turned out to be a small stroke. Trying to distract myself by organising lists of children's activities, food, washing etc... Trying not to worry about the 1 in 100 risk of having a stroke during op or needing open heart surgery. Just want to wake up with everything working ok.

Hi gingerwine welcome :) Hope it all goes well on Monday.

I have spent the day in hospital today as DP Granny had a Stroke during the night last night amongst other problems she has :( she is in a critical condition at the moment and DP is with her as she is not expected to make it through the night :( I have had to cancel the LP tomorrow and all of the other treatment next week as I can't leave DP at this time :( I just hope she pulls through as she a Granny to me and I love her, I've only known her 4 years but she is lovely, I just want her better.

Backpack, I'm so sorry to hear about your dp's Gran, she sounds like a wonderful woman. I'm thinking of you all.

Ginger, all the best for tomorrow. It is a really lovely day where I am. I hope it's the same for you too, and that you get to do lots of fun things today with your family. Hopefully your hospital stay will be short and you avoid the bad food and confused patients. In a few days you should be putting this time in your life behind you, and getting back to where you were before December .

You sound ultra organised with the food and children's activity lists, so hopefully your dh will cope while you are out of action. It is hard on partners though. It's hard on everyone really, especially when you are normally the one in charge. Having to rely on others, whether it is doctors to treat you or partners to collect your children from Brownies, is very humbling. Me, control freak?