Page 7 | How strict are hospitals after sedation

AutumnDance · 2021-12-31T23:51:44+00:00

I was given a date for a hospital procedure. It's a day procedure. I will need sedation for the procedure. It's said that I need to have someone come to collect me. How strict are the hospitals on this measure? You see my partner will be working or at the rate that covid is flying about he will probably have covid and will need to isolate. I don't have anyone else to help me to meet me after my procedure and take me home. With covid, I doubt they will request to see your lift stand that on the ward to pick you up. I reckon they will have to remain outside. Would I be able to get the procedure done without a lift home? How strict are hospitals on this?

Original poster

AutumnDance · 07/01/2022 14:21

My appointment is next week and so far I only ever got a phone call about it.

I never had one of these done before. I was never sick before so I don't know much about hospitals and running of them.

I presume people are given written instructions or an information pack before procedures? Is that done at all?

I was supposed to get mail in the post including a prescription but it never came in the post. I rang the hospital and I was referred to the outpatients unit but my appointment wasn't there so they referred the call onwards to the endoscopy unit.

The nurse I was talking to wasn't concerned about me not getting mail and she said to phone back next week on Wednesday if I don't get any mail.

This is ridiculous imo. Its left right to the very last minute and I have limited information as to where I'm supposed to be going. I don't even know if I have the right hospital. I am presuming it's the public hospital but sometimes some public appointments are sent to the private clinics too.

So far the only information I know was from a brief phone call that really only went in one ear and out the other except for the date and time.
The only information I know of the procedure and the workings is from reading online. There's nothing available from my own hospital but I read a pdf from online from another public hospital close by. In that information pack, it instructs the patient to bring a dressing gown and slippers. I don't know if I need to bring this stuff with me for crying out loud. I really got no information about it at all.

It's not fair from the hospital leaving everything to the last minute.

At this rate if it goes ahead at all, I will get a taxi when I'm done in the hospital and that will be that.

OP posts:

LIZS · 07/01/2022 14:27

Don't you need a prescription for the prep? You need to start it about a day ahead. Dh had a text followed by letter about his last appointment.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 07/01/2022 14:32

@LIZS

Don't you need a prescription for the prep? You need to start it about a day ahead. Dh had a text followed by letter about his last appointment.

My mom sometimes has hospital appointments and she usually gets texts too.

I never got any text. I presume a text might come in next week. The nurse said to phone back next if I don't get the mail by Wednesday. It's very late and poor form. I'm going in with my eyes shut.

OP posts:

Iamkmackered1979 · 07/01/2022 14:59

You need moviprep or similar to clear your bowel prior to a colonoscopy or they’ll struggle to see much. This alone can make you feel quite rubbish - first time I was fine second one I really felt dreadful. No one came into the hospital with me, but boyfriend took time off to pick me up afterwards and stay with me. I slept in the afternoon and had tummy pain in the next few days didn’t drive at all but was fine and glad he was there. I am also independent and a parent of 4 but sometimes you need someone to be there for you in case you need them. The procedure is uncomfortable, first one wasn’t as bad as the second and I Felt all the biopsies and that’s with sedation!!

Phone the endoscopy unit explain the situation and ask if you should’ve had medication and that you have no one to pick you up. Also if your boyfriend has covid do not go, I had a swab 48 hours prior to both of mine then had to isolate (the whole house did) so perhaps you’re missing a letter?…

Whatdramain2022 · 07/01/2022 15:14

I had a gastroscopy recently. They wouldn't do it until they had the name and phone number of the person collecting me. When it was over they asked him to come into the department and quizzed him about staying with me for 24 hours.

The Moviprep I had a few months ago for a colonoscopy came in the post with the appointment details. The sedation didn't work, so I had gas and air.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 07/01/2022 15:16

@Iamkmackered1979

You need moviprep or similar to clear your bowel prior to a colonoscopy or they’ll struggle to see much. This alone can make you feel quite rubbish - first time I was fine second one I really felt dreadful. No one came into the hospital with me, but boyfriend took time off to pick me up afterwards and stay with me. I slept in the afternoon and had tummy pain in the next few days didn’t drive at all but was fine and glad he was there. I am also independent and a parent of 4 but sometimes you need someone to be there for you in case you need them. The procedure is uncomfortable, first one wasn’t as bad as the second and I Felt all the biopsies and that’s with sedation!!

Phone the endoscopy unit explain the situation and ask if you should’ve had medication and that you have no one to pick you up. Also if your boyfriend has covid do not go, I had a swab 48 hours prior to both of mine then had to isolate (the whole house did) so perhaps you’re missing a letter?…

I only got a call last week giving me the appointment. I think it was a cancellation appointment. The doctor I was talking to on the phone said he will send me a prescription in the post. I presumed an information letter would come with that. There's no letter. I rang the hospital but they weren't concerned that I didn't get the mail and I am to ring back next week if I don't have it by then. I don't live with my boyfriend so I don't have an exposure from him.

OP posts:

Original poster

AutumnDance · 07/01/2022 15:29

@Whatdramain2022

I had a gastroscopy recently. They wouldn't do it until they had the name and phone number of the person collecting me. When it was over they asked him to come into the department and quizzed him about staying with me for 24 hours.

The Moviprep I had a few months ago for a colonoscopy came in the post with the appointment details. The sedation didn't work, so I had gas and air.

I don't have any appointment details except for a phone call last week.

OP posts:

Stomacharmeleon · 07/01/2022 15:33

Your flapping and you don't need too.
I had a procedure Monday and only found out the Thursday before.
Prep is day before generally and what exactly do you want to know?
Slippers and gown is normally because you are in a bum no back gown and you might prefer not to flash to all and Sundry.
Phone unit and ask which hospital?

emmathedilemma · 07/01/2022 16:45

I had a similar saga for a (very short) GA as a day case. I read the instructions and would have happily gone home in a cab given I've had a long GA and major surgery previously with no ill effects. I was even prepared to ask a friend to come over and stay with me that night but I couldn't ask anyone locally to pick me up as they all work fulltime. They were so reluctant and threatened to keep me in overnight if I didn't have someone with me. In the end my mum travelled the length of the country on the train to come and meet me and we walked 10minutes and got the bus home! She then got off before me to go in the shops, leaving me on the bus to go the rest of the way home such a ridiculous waste of time and money.