Operation tomorrow

Hi all

My apologies for not posting here since the operation, 2 weeks ago tomorrow. I didn't come back to reply as my experience wasn't good and I just couldn't post all that negativity here at the time. I am now able to look back on that first week and summarise rather than list each bad incident. I appreciate that not everyone gets a bad experience, and from what I have read of others experiences, some have much better experiences and we are all different.

There was a complication with my op, surgeon did tell me but it was straight after op and I can't remember, only that I have a long extra central wound and remember him saying he had to do a lot of work on my right side and not to turn down any pain relief. At that stage I still had anesthetic in me and all seemed fine. He was on leave after the op so I still don't know if it's what added to my awful pain the first week or so. I wasn't given the pain relief that I needed, it didn't seem to do anything and certainly wasn't the same I had read other had. I was brushed aside and made to wait or told it was my fault for not asking for it. I had to battle for it, which added extra upset. It wasn't just me but 2 other patients near me were complaining the same. It was pure non-stop agony. The 2 main ward sisters/some nurses were awful. I got to judge that by the difference in staff at the weekend and after, who showed compassion. I was pushed too far by some when I couldn't even get a breath or slight movement without intense pain.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I left the hospital on Wednesday, I was determined to get up and down those stairs to get home! I have been able to move about in my own time and apart from a water infection and upset stomach I am starting to feel I am getting somewhere. I am waiting to hear about the biopsy results, they have the meeting on Wednesday. My apologies to anyone reading this who is anxious about the op, I don't think my experience is the norm.

Thank you everyone for your support and kindness x

Oh I am so sorry that you’ve had such an awful time.  

You should never have been left in pain and I don’t think it’s your responsibility to ask.  Your major operation v the professionals seeing this every day means they should have been asking you if you were in pain and if you  needed anything.   I can only imagine how you must feel about it all. 

Pain is something they can manage and the difference is simply night and day.  

You probably should give feedback to the hospital.  I was asked to fill in a survey before I left.  I wonder if you were not? 

I hope everything goes well with the biopsy results. Xxx 

Unfortunately screaming for pain medication is a must. Don't feel you have to cope that's something I want to say for any operation these days! From someone who on their 17th operation I know that bit is becoming the norm you need to ask!

I'm sorry you got the water infection that can really knock you side ways to say the least. I got out with in 3 days in total. But I shocked the staff with how well I coped as I've said well practiced sadly! But it shows we can all be different. Hopefully  that makes the positive point I've had reaction to my blood thinners which I've never had in the past this sort of operation has a huge hold over our bodies. As for the upset tummy I have good and bad days but from reading up this can be the norm for a few months so best thing to do is not stress over it I think! 

Jilly1 I'm pleased your home that determination will get you far on your healing process I'm sure of it. At least you can have better control of your care at home. Key is to know the days to push yourself for that extra walk across the house or street and to know when tired to rest and sleep when the body calls for it. I swear every good sleep I feel a huge difference in me, I hope it does the same for you. I'm in the same boat waiting on Histology to know what's next hopefully after Friday MDT meeting I might know. I think the waiting is just as hard!

I truly hope you didn't mind me asking how you are? And wish you all the best my lovely 

Hi am so sorry to read this that sounds really horrible.  You absolutely shouldn't have been left in pain. I feel I was really lucky and got by with paracetamol and codeine but everyone's pain was being well managed.  What a dreadful experience. 

Well done on your determination to get out. I hope you are now in less pain and recovering well. Take it easy, all the best with biopsy results xx

Wishing you all the best for your results, waiting is really hard xx

Hi' Jilly, Sorry to hear you're having problems but yes it can be uncomfortable. I'm just out last October from my second op' which was no where near as big as my first in 03. I was only in three days this last time so recovered quite quick. I'm on scans every three month just now so I am being looked after quite well. Hoping you get over it and back to yourself very soon. I'm feeling quite my normal self now so you will be shortly. Take care and good luck for your future.

I didn't get given a feedback form. I had some really nice nurses, one spent time with me the day before I left and we talked it all through which helped so much, she gave me pain relief when it was due. It was such a difference. She acknowledged the problems I had and tried to give reasons why where she could. Otherwise she agreed with me where things went wrong. I will mention it to my surgeon when I see him, I feel I owe to future patients to not have to go through the same. For a few days after the op I was assigned 2 trainee nurses, I didn't realise at the time until the ward sister praised how good they were later in the week. They pushed me too far and I realise they were only doing what they were told to do but I believe it really set me back. I am feeling better for talking about it, thank you.

It might be worth googling your hospital complaint procedure huni most have a board to deal with the issue at least that way you know it will be looked into! I can't believe they leave training nurses with you after such a big operation that to me screams it needs questioning. I'm so very sorry.

I found it better to talk about it. I think my pals maybe got a little fed up with me. Feel free to talk on here we are here to help as others have helped us. We've all started at sometime. None of us volunteered to be here but here we are.

I don't know where you are but I was in Wakefield Pinderfields first time, then Leeds St James last time. I couldn't fault the staff in either hospital. The most annoying came from one or two ungrateful patients.  

I understand they do the accelerated recovery which means we have to get up and move around quickly but pain relief should be part of it.  Like others I was on paracetamol tablets by day 3.  I’m certain I was able to do it because I felt confident because I’d had no pain at all.  I was uncomfortable and I felt like a 100 year old doing my walks of the ward but I felt safe with the lack of pain.  

Even when I came home I kept saying to everyone I’ve not had any pain and will be eternally grateful to my hospital for that.  I have zero pain threshold I’m not one to complain and I wouldn’t know to ask because I’m not normally in hospital.  This was my first operation excluding my emergency c section with my daughter where my pain was not managed at all and it gave me trauma I know how badly that affected me so talk about it. Let people know.  Remember how amazing you did snd be proud of yourself.  ️.