Health - - Botched procedure and Dr's closing ranks

Thanks Sue. I certainly had a case to sue for negligence but even though I was a solicitor I just wanted to put the mistakes behind me. I didn’t even make a complaint, I think I was just so shocked by it all. I was lucky that I had my baby who almost didn’t survive. The pain lasted a long time and I have depression to this day. I will never forget what happened, though nearly 40 years ago it’s as clear as yesterday, but the big difference between our experiences is that I had a baby to show for mine and sadly your experience is purely negative. I do hope you’re improving and that if you do need further surgery everything goes well and cures the problems for good. Always remember you have lots of supportive friends here.?

No worries GSM I've no idea why that is. Can I also say that I'm sincerely sorry about your own very sad and traumatic experience. ?

Sue, just to say I tried three times to reply to your pm but GN wouldn’t let my reply be sent for some reason. Don’t want you to think I was ignoring you.

I brought up the thread to make it available for someone who posted with a simular issue and have then got drawn in, out of politeness, to reply to recent posts.
The health condition they causedis still ongoing and unresolved so difficult to draw a line under it completely.
I will say no more but thankyou to all who've been kind to express concern.

I understand. But try to stop replaying it in your mind if you possibly can. You’ve written about it at great length and I hope that helped. I will never forget my experience or the pain I suffered, and the consequent depression, nor will you, but try your best to put it to the back of your mind whenever it surfaces Sue. I don’t mean to be harsh, it’s just the only way not to be totally consumed by it.

Thankyou GSM
The tiny fibroid was not giving me any bother and had been noted by a Gynaecologist 9 yrs before in a routine Hysteroscopy for spotting and had been sensibly left alone. That particular Gynaecologist being much more experienced.
The one that messed it up thought it was a polyp which I had signed up for. He got it wrong, hence incomplete resection.

Unfortunately medics can’t admit guilt without the consent of their union and insurers. Rather like if you have a car accident, never admit liability. No win no fee lawyers are only interested in cases that will provide a decent payout because that’s how they get paid. They’re not charities.

I would imagine that the consent form may have also extended to things the surgeon considered necessary to do when carrying out the procedure.

I hope you’re feeling better by now. The best advice might be to try as best you can to put it behind you. I know from personal experience (mishandled childbirth) how difficult it is, yes it should never have happened, and I know what it’s like to be in pain and be told there’s nothing wrong. But ultimately it’s the only way forward. I send you my best wishes going forwards.?

Thankyou Pepper59 and Daisymae.
It is so true that never before have our Dr's been under extreme pressure.
I don't know what the answers are but I do know that if the surgeon had admitted mistake and everyone had been honest, although upset, it would have been all easier to deal with. At times it felt like being in a horror film where no one believes you because
Dr's would not be anything less than honourable would they?
A GP supported me from the beginning and encouraged my formal complaints but obviously is limited in her involvement.
I will always know that Dr's will close ranks and cover up mistakes and the patient is pretty helpless in that situation.

So sorry to hear of all you have been going through. My friend had a similar devastating experience. However she did sue and was eventually received compensation but it took years. It is really difficult to deal with the fact that things have been covered up. I think that the issue is that in the medical area there is a blame culture when what really needs to happen is a clear investigation into the facts of any case with the intent to learn and make sure that lessons are learnt, to quote an off used phrase. I hope that you get the help and support that you need.

Im so sorry you have been through all this pain and distress. It's a disgrace how some patients are treated by supposed ' health professionals'. I think there is too much arrogance with many of them and they don't listen. Ive had the quickest phone appointments ever with my surgery and I can understand that staff are under immense strain. I don't know what the answers are and I do hope you can recover not just physically but mentally as well.

ThankyouPammiel I went through the Pals route earlier.
I signed for investigative hysteroscopy and possible polypectomy. NOT fibroid removal. A polyp is just fatty lump. Fibroid tissue is vascular and partial fibroid resection can cause lots of problems. I understand fibroid should be graded before any removal.
My fibroid was not causing any problems.
He called it a polyp in some of his letters to wriggle out of it.
Histology report says part of fibroid.
He didn't know what he was doing and has caused me to develop Adenomyosis. I bled every day for a month with terrible pain.
They All covered up and lied.

So sorry Sweetpeasue that this has happened to you.
My answer to your question is YES! Guess I should have complained but did not want to waste my time on the 'closed ranks set.' I felt it was better for me to move on and take better care of my own health. Unfortunately a similar situation happened to my dog at the VETS and again I draw the same conclusion.

I don't believe there are any truly independent investigations in our hospitals. Both of the investigations were carried out by the Director of the clinic who was also Gynaecologist.
I was meant to be going to him for a second opinion actually suggested by my consultant long before I'd sent for medical records.
I was elated. Someone would tell me what was wrong.
I arrived at my appt only to be interrogated about my first formal complaint. He had my letter in front of him. No examination. About 1 or 2 mins of questions about my general health.
We knew something was very odd as I'd had to attend all appts alone(covid rules) and he'd started the appt by telling me I could bring in husband.
I found out later this should never have happened.

Contact PALS and ask to discuss your records with one of the consultants’ team as a first step. It depends on what the consent form you signed would have specified - I imagine this type of surgery can present surprises and there will be a disclaimer somewhere for anything that was necessary. If you’re not happy with the answers, consult a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence. Hope you feel better soon ?

Thankyou for all of your kind words and concern.
It is now just over a year since the 'simple' investigative hysteroscopy. I was extremely distraught so my many long posts can make difficult reading Someone else posted of Dr's closing ranks so I bumped the thread I started.
I did send for Medical records which showed the 10 min procedure lasted over an hr. They hadn't taken away full fibroid so second consultant kept this from me. So 2nd complaint which resulted in recorded meeting with dept manager and head Gynaecologist of clinic. After nearly 2 hrs of fighting my corner was told they didn't think it was Gynaecological!! I was still bleeding! A woman of 64. She agreed with my plea for MRI but didn't believe it would show anything then she'd pass me on to pain management.
I did show Adenomyosis. The newly qualified Gynaecologist had messed up a simple Hysteroscopy investigation for post menopausal spotting, tried to take away a tiny fibroid, unsuccessfully, that wasn't the problem and caused me months of pain and bleeding AND caused such psychological anguish with me trying to find out what was wrong with me.
The final straw came when I sent for a copy of an ultrasound report and realised that the vaginal ultrasound that could possibly show up Adenomyosis had been stopped and the radiographer was told I'd already had one! It had been an innocent consultant that had stood in for my usual one that had initially arranged this.
Sorry, this is far too complicated I know.
I left the clinic, I just couldn't go back. I took OD. Felt I was losing my mind.
Am under new consultant in another hospital who doesn't want to know how Ive felt about what's happened.
Only way to see if I've also now got Endometriosis (remember, I'd never had endometriosis) is Laparoscopy. I've so far resisted, I'm terrified of any other procedures. I don't trust any of them. Still waiting for counselling. Long waiting list.
I get pain at times BUT no bleeding for last couple of months! Yay.
Also have bowel probs which I think can this be bowel endo. I'm often anxious and get depressed.
So sorry this was not meant to bore everyone. I was trying to explain what's happened as it seemed appropriate.
Thanking you again for reading my experience. I also thank Gransnet for being my distraction on many sad and anxious days.

Many year’s ago I was involved with patient’s complaints. That was in the days when Regional Health Authorities were responsible for policing what happened in hospitals. We would write to the local hospital board for an explanation. Doctors would never reply until they had consulted their Medical Defence Union. They were afraid of litigation. I suppose it’s no different today but you have no higher authority to oversee what is going on or to organise an enquiry as we used to if the case warranted it.

As well as PALs have you thought about the GMC (General Medical Council) ?
Also, finding a solicitor who specialises in medical issues?
Having worked for the NHS (in theatres) I have witnessed many closing ranks stories, lost notes and re-written accounts.
So sorry for your ongoing battles. Don’t loose heart or give up.

No not a pollyanna sweetpeasue, just like most of us, trying to find bright spots along the way. I'm glad you can do so. It can be completely overwhelming, to be in a position such as yours.
I hope you have a reasonable day

You have every right to see your medical notes. Unless the rules have changed since I retired from the NHS 18 months ago, you could get access for free if you had been seen within the previous six months, otherwise there is a fee which was £25, not sure if this has increased. Hospitals also have some form of complaints process. In our hospital it is PALS (Patient Liaison Service) who would investigate your case. I would go down this route first.

I see there is someone else who has suffered in medical hands. Just bumping these posts for her benefit.

And now, as of yesterday, bleeding again. I'm so scared of what is ahead. Sorry if its TMI.And I sounded a right Pollyanna in my last post! Chocolate and Robins! Before GN never publicly posted before, so just getting used to what I should and shouldn't put. See Consultant for MRI results in another week so will find out soon.
Thankyou Visgirl. I signed consent form for biopsy and possible Polypectomy. Not fibroid removal which I believe is Myomectomy. He messed that up and left me like this.
Anyone out there with problems with Dr's deliberately concealing mistakes have my heartfelt sympathy.

Thankyou all for your words of support and your wishes for my recovery. It is heartening to know that many of you have taken the time to care and offer suggestions.
I wouldn't place myself in the same category as those poor souls who've had mesh bladder support surgery - - but how is it that we women are expected to put up with this sort of stuff in the field of Gynaecology?
At moment waiting for MRI results at appt at end of this month. If Adenomyosis still shown I'll take advice from this new Dr who I've started seeing in different hospital Trust. It does feel, even now, a bit like walking on eggshells. He doesn't want to talk about previous Dr's and problems under them. I knew this would be the case no matter how further afield I went for treatment. If I keep on having bleeds something will have to be done. Some small things have helped - - and they can be noticed in the blackest of moods. In the beginning of summer 2 Robins nested in my back garden and I fed them while they brought up their young. Chocolate! Reading Gransnet (when I wasn't googling medical stuff ?) Thankyou again GNs.

I knew someone who had the mesh operation for a prolapse. All went horribly wrong and she's still not completely over it some years later. She consulted a solicitor but was told that the surgeon had used the technique that was accepted at the time. The hospital retrained the surgeon and my friend's consultant had to arrange appointments for days when the surgeon wasn't working because my friend certainly didn't want to see her again.

I am so sorry to read you are in this very difficult situation. I have had a few run ins with the NHS myself although not quite on this scale and I do appreciate how difficult the psychological side of things can be to deal with as much as the physical stuff and how even the loveliest family and friends don't always realise how difficult it can be mentally. I hope the physical side is sorted out soon and wish you all the best.

have you approached a law firm that specialises in medical negligence, there are several n london, and probably other cities too.