I never new Limbo would be so sticky

1 minute read time.

FormerMember

2 Aug 2010

Yes, wading through Limbo is truly energy-sapping, bit like being up to your shins in Grimpen Mire. I know there are people on this site who have spent much longer in Limbo than me, and my admiration knows no bounds. Keep wading folks!

Anyway, I spoke to Michelle, the surgeon's secretary again this a.m., and put the screws on a bit more than usual. (I am polite, but can be stern ). Anyway she is a lovely person, and said she was "more than certain" (I had to laugh) that I would be listed for Aug 20th. I pointed out that she had said I should expect August 9th, and she said yes, she knew, but apparently there are only two people per list, asnd etc etc. However, she did say that there was a possibility that one person on the Aug 9th list might not be OK, in which case I would get that slot.

In terms of knowing what's going on, this is great - and I did at the end, say I was sorry for being a bit more insistent than usual, to which she said that I could ring her as often and be as pushy as I wanted, because they don't want us to suffer from not knowing what's going on.

So from that point of view, I am reassured. However from the general perspective of the health service, is it right that a city of 700,000 people (the third largest in England in population) should have a surgery bottleneck of two lists per month with two places on each list? I'm guessing a lot of this stuff is done in other centres in the city area, but it still seems ludicrous. I shall be putting on my investigator's hat once I escape from Limbo (suck, suck)

Ah well, Michelle is ringing me back this afternoon, so I'll let you know....

FormerMember over 14 years ago

I hope she rings you back, I have found to my annoyance, they rarely do! But you could be that one in a million.

The waiting sounds awful, I appear to have been VERY lucky, told on Tuesday at my local hospital I had a brain tumour, sat in the brain surgeons office on Thursday. Given a week to think about my options and the following Thursday I was sat with my surgeon and his diary choosing MY own date! All on the NHS.......now my regular MRI scans, another kettle of fish and one I need not get seething about after my lovely weekend.

Here's hoping you get the 9th slot.

Debs xx
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

hmm well not sure if i should comment on this as lost my hubby to melonomas, not because of waiting lists ,i might add

but it was ridiculous were waiting months and we knew it was malignant ,so had to struggle and go private to have it removed ,

i honestly dont think they take skin cancer as seriously as they should, even my husbands consultant ! after it came back and he was terminal he couldnt even look us in the eye , the nhs needs to pull their finger out , yes 2 places per list ,was same here its ridiculous ,

sorry jim got on my soap box then , i hope you get the earliest slot possible , take care jenni xx
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

Hi Jim,

Why is it that I get this sneaky feeling going on between you and Michelle,or are you playing up to her, to get to the top of the list. I will have to keep an eye on you two.!!!!!!!!!!

Take care and be safe Sarsfield.
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

Phew - she rang back - so whatever it was Sarsfield, I said the right thing :0) And that makes me that one in a million Debs! Hoorah. Got listed for the 20th, definitely, paperwork in post today.

Thanks for climbing on the soap box Jenni - all support warmly received. Once I'm beyond the op, I'll have some stuff to say. Seems to me that the first thing they should do after diagnosis, especially of early stage melanomas, is get the wide area excision done ASAP. If nothing else, it's so much better for patient psychology...
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

Well Done Jim,

You where right my friend it worked good for you.

Take care and look after yourself. Sarsfield.
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