Hello ladies, just thought I'd update you on the latest. I had an MRI scan last Friday and am booked to see the oncologist on 17th July. So this morning, out of the blue I get a phone call telling me I have an appointment for "something" which requires a general anaesthetic on 7th July and the pre-op assessment is on Tuesday 27th June at 2.30. Well, I was absolutely terrified and ran down the garden to tell my partner, obviously thinking they'd found something terrible on the MRI and I was going to have some hideous operation on the 7th. I made Peter phone the surgeon who was doing the procedure who said, no it's nothing to do with the scan, didn't know I'd had one. The useless oncologist who I saw on 17th April(!) said it would be a good idea for me to have an examination under a general as the last time she'd tried to examine me on 6th March! she'd been unable to do so because it was so painful. Why has she waited until now to ask for this examination - over two months and because I'd had a scan on the 16th, I assumed they'd found something terrible. You can all imagine how terrified I was. I rang my sister and frightened her to death - she'd passed out this morning already and she's had two or three tia's - so we were a right pair.
Anyway, the surgeon said, no, it's nothing to worry about, just so he can have a look at what's going on and why I'm in so much pain after all this time. I nearly told him to read this forum and he'd know why. I did tell him that from this forum I've learned that pain can go on for two years, but he said he just wanted to do this procedure anyway - so I suppose I should be grateful, but I'm not. They gave the worst fright I've had since I was diagnosed.
Hope everyone is getting on ok and look forward to hearing from you all Bee Xx
Hi Bee (Jester ),
It’s all down to chronic timing of different departments isn’t it? It would be too much to ask that they communicate regarding your case! I think we all may have presumed the worst in your shoes too especially with you still being in a lot of discomfort. Hopefully this EUA will give you some answers & fingers crossed a solution to your continuing pain.
On the subject of bad timing I wrote a couple of weeks ago about being discharged after my 5 years surveillance, I saw a member of the colorectal team opposed to my surgeon who wasn’t in clinic that particular day or busy with other patients, she had none of my notes with her she didn’t even have them on the computer in the room (that was switched off!) she proceeded to narrate the whole examination pausing to query (out loud) a ‘rough area’ that she then decided was either scar tissue or radiation damage. This unnerved me a little & I asked a couple of times before leaving the consultation room if she was sure that’s all it was to which she replied yes & that’s you discharged only for me to receive a letter on Monday for a further appointment in October!! Needless to say the panic began to rise, I presumed she’d since spoken to my surgeon who wants me back to make sure there really is nothing to be concerned about. I couldn’t just leave it until October so I contacted his secretary who said from my notes he’d definitely made this appointment himself but she’d speak with him & get back to me. She phoned a couple of hours later & said the appointment had been cancelled & he was happy for me to be officially discharged! Again chronic timing, lack of communication & I suspect clerical error but the distress these ‘errors’ cause is no joke is it?
Anyway aside from the panic caused I’m pleased it turned out to be nothing to be too concerned about & I hope the EUA goes well next month.
Nicola
