:-(
Can anyone who's been through this sort of thing advise me - I'm worrying a lot and I'm not happy about the way my care has been managed. I was referred on the cancer pathway towards the end of last year - I had a feeling of pressure in my abdomen around where my cervix is and radiating out towards my buttock, that didn't go away and the GP felt a thickening at the top of my vagina. I was referred to gynae oncology and seen pretty quickly. I had two ultrasounds and blood tests which have all come back clear, plus a hysteroscopy and a biopsy of my womb lining which has also come back clear. Also had an MRI which reported some endo and some possible adenemyosis towards the back of my uterus. All of these tests and repeated appointments with the consultant took 7 months. The last appointment was on July 7th when the consultant recommended a laparoscopy to have a closer look in my abdomen because the sensation hasn't gone away, and my lower back has become increasingly painful. I was expecting to get an appointment through fairly swiftly but nothing arrived and during the kerfuffle of the summer holidays I put it to one side and didn't chase it up - I know, stupid me. :-( It was just that the consultant hadn't suggested that it was really urgent and I assumed the NHS being what it is, that there would be a bit of a wait.
Anyway, I emailed the consultant's secretary yesterday and said I hadn't had a letter about the laparoscopy and got a slightly weird email back saying "I have looked on the system and your appointments have been made today. When you receive this email you may have been called up by one of our colleagues already to confirm with you, but I am just reassuring you that you will receive your appointment within the post."
So my appointment was, by chance, an hour after I emailed, after hearing nothing for 2 months? Nobody has called, but I had a letter this morning scheduling my laparoscopy for the 18th of October, more than a month away.
I'm worried that I should have had the laparoscopy sooner rather than later, that this secretary forgot to book my appointment on July 7th, and not wanted to report that she'd forgotten it.
Do you think I should make a complaint and try to get the laparoscopy bought forward? Is this something PALS would help with, or should I see my GP? I don't want to go back to the same secretary as it may be her fault that the laparoscopy wasn't booked in the first place though of course it could also be the consultant failing to give her the instructions in the first place.
Unsure what to do and worrying a lot. :-(