I Don't Want to moan all the time!

2 minute read time.

FormerMember

8 May 2010

I Didn't want to be writing my blog and be moaning about the NHS all the time but so far they have left me no choice!!

This week i collected a tennis ball full of fluid under my arm (seroma) I tried to grin and bear it for 24 hours but then decided it hurt so rang up the ward that i was treated on, they got in touch with the surgical team that advised me to go in for draining. After dropping the kids off with kind neighbours we got up there half an hour later 4.45pm and waited and waited and waited, over the next 3 and half hours the nurses bleeped the surgeons 7 times with no response. OMG! They contacted site manager to find surgeons, none appeared to be in theatre or on wards. At 8.10pm surgeon rang ward to say they would come sometime after handover no specific time. I said i needed to get home as kids at neighbours and they needed bed (still with fat armpit).

I rang at 11.30 next day and was told surgeon said i could sit and wait at 5pm again sorry what?......are you being serious? I said i wouldnt as didnt see kids previous night and isnt fair on them or kind neighbours. So the alternative was to try breast nurses at a clinic, left 2 messages no call back (they usually are very good). Pain by late afternoon was getting bad so arranged for my partner to stay with kids and my step dad took me to A&E where we waited 2 1/ 2 hours and finally to much relief a surgeon drained 175mls out (nearly 2 full drains worth) home for 9.30pm kids asleep. Although i saw 2 of them in night sleep walking it has an impact on them.

It really does take the piss, I find the hospital well geered up for the emotional side of cancer breast nurses etc and im not that emotional about it.... but i would actually prefer some decent physical care when i need it! The hospital so overstrected and understaffed but when i look at the vacancies for nurses drs advertised there are barely any so some big fat cat pen pushing directors are quite happy to let nurses run themselves ragged for 12 hours a time but wont spend money recruiting more to improve care. Are they saving money for the compensation claim that will be necessary when a patient gets into serious trouble because of lack of care?

PAH! RRRGGGHHH! Rant over Thank you! xxxx

FormerMember over 14 years ago

So sorry you are the victim of what I can only call NHS NEGLET AND NEGLIGENCE. If they want to give you emotional support, now is the time to get EMOTIONAL, although if your specialist nurses are anything like the one G was lumbered with, they only work nine to five weekdays. You cannot be expected to put up with such negligence. I can only suggest in sit-in on the ward until you are treated. When you are feeling better, I suggest a very strongly worded letter to the hospital CEO with a copy to your local newspaper. This situation should never happen, however stretched the NHS

Hope you are soon feeling more comfortable

Daffie xxx
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KateG over 14 years ago

Oh, you poor thing. I had a series of seromas so I know how painful they can be and how desperate they make you feel. To be messed about in the way you have been is inexcusable. Your hospital should have a department named PALS which handles problems. I don't know whether they can help you but it might be worth a try.

Good luck and I hope the darn thing doesn't return!

Best wishes,

KateG
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

So sorry to hear about your problems. I can't offer any advice but I really feel for you and hope you don't have to go through anything else like this.

Love and gentle *hugs*
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FormerMember over 14 years ago

Dear Kate,

{f you dont get any satisfaction from the hospital

about your drainage. Walk in to the ward with a very large pin and say if somebody doesnt come and drain my armpit.I will do it myself,and you lot can clean it up. See what happens.

The reason Im asking you to try was about ayear ago I had been walking around with a Nasal Gastric Tube up my nose and into my stomach,for six months,one night I felt a dripping feeling just above the stomach. So I phoned the ward and they told me to come in and they would insert a new one, I sat for 3 hrs waiting for someone to come and put a new one in. I got Pissed off went up to the sisters desk and explained the situation again and told her

if they didnt change it. Iwould come back tomorrow

she smiled and said thats fine you do that.

There upon I pulled the plaster that was holding the tube to my nose off and pulled what was left of the tube out. I had a new tube fitted within the hour and went home to bed. So there you go.

But as they say dont try this at home.

Take care and be safe. Big Hugs. Sarsfield.XX

P.S. I hope your oxter is feeling better.
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