Grade 4 rectal prolapse.

Good God Soop, £25,000 that is an awfully big amount of money but if the waiting list is very very long and you can afford it… But it’s just not fair, it should be able to be done on the NHS have you any idea at all how long you would have to wait?…?

soop I would make an appointment to see your GP face to face and take Mr. Soop. Ask to be seen by a consultant on the NHS stating you cannot carry on and as you are and telling him the reasons why in case he has forgotten.

I know the two of you have done a lot of work on the past surgical disasters- I would precis it and give him a printed copy.

We are all behind you, whatever you choose to do.

I

Even if £25,000 could be found, that is not the end of it. I am au fait with the surgery and its problems so it is not a case of seeing the consultant once post-surgery and waving goodbye.

There would be a few trips and private consultation is not cheap. You are in Scotland so I do not know if colostomy bags would have to be purchased privately or if they could be dispensed via the NHS. I am sorry to be so negative but I am being practical- what would happen if you required future surgery?

Sorry I was going to offer advice but decided it was perhaps not appropriate.

I sincerely doubt that there are 'countless people worse off' than you, soop. It seems to me that your condition has been mismanaged through the years by the NHS or surely someone would have spotted the need for a colostomy sooner rather than at this late date, I hope that you can make the case for NHS treatment on the grounds that you can't be expected to continue as you are. I wonder if you can find an organisation (Age UK?) to advocate for you.
Joyful news, Grandmabatty. A wee boy to cuddle once they release his mum. A wee celebration, I think!

I think I will offer my advice in case I was misunderstood.
I think soop should call an ambulance citing unbearable pain as she is almost totally unable to empty her bowel.
Once in hospital hopefully the seriousness of her condition will be seen for what is is and she will get her operation there and then.

Well, I was going to suggest crying to the gp but Ann has had a much better idea. That is genius Ann.

annsixty

I think I will offer my advice in case I was misunderstood.
I think soop should call an ambulance citing unbearable pain as she is almost totally unable to empty her bowel.
Once in hospital hopefully the seriousness of her condition will be seen for what is is and she will get her operation there and then.

Excellent advice. Please do that, Soop

Actually, that may be a good idea. My BIL had a similar problem, operated in the middle of the night in the very hospital, Soop may be taken too. However, bear in mind the nearest major hospital is at least three hours away from Soop.

There is always the helicopter!

As I recall it, soop has had no joy with NHS consultants on her problems in the past, largely owing to the notes on long-ago original surgery by a private surgeon having been lost (perhaps conveniently? who knows) when that surgeon retired and the practice changed hands. I don't know whether the NHS consultants would be any more expert on the case now. The current consultant appears to be a last hope.

Crowd funding seems the only solution, Soop ? People do that for less urgent problems

And do not, at any time, suffer in silence and say that there are countless people far worse off than you. If you are not totally honest and upfront about how awful it is, all those other squeaky wheels with lesser problems will be treated with the oil before you.

PS. I am sure that Soop and Mr S. will still be able to laugh at me telling you that when I first wrote my previous post, I found that I had typed Spoop. The subconscious at work?

Annsixty has an excellent idea but do it at a time when ambulances are not in demand.

Oh I am so sorry to hear this, having nursed patients with this I so empathise with you, and really cannot understand why you cannot be helped. I agree with other posters about seeing your GP, stamp your feet if needs be, nicely of course!! this is an awful situation for you to be in, and as well as a physical problem it must be causing you mental anguish. I really hope you can get surgery soon.

I agree with calling an ambulance, it is AWFUL you are not being treated. It really is not appropriate that you have been waiting 10 bloody years to have it sorted out properly

I’d like to get behind Annsixty’s good advice.
Please stop being brave, let them see your pain, your tears, your agony. Call 999 scream and thrash about, it won’t be an act, it’ll be you telling it like it is. What have you got to lose.

I used to work as a Carer, so helped many people with their personal care. I used to go to a lady who had a grade 4 rectal prolapse - it was the worst thing I'd ever seen (and I'd seen many things). She was in her 80s, in awful discomfort, and the NHS wouldn't operate because of various other conditions she had.

Soop £25,000 is a huge amount of money. Could you afford it? But why should you have to pay? I'm sorry, I don't know what to advise you, but I wish you the best of luck x

I suggest the same - call 999 - good luck x

I think you can see from this that none of us would blame you for circumnavigating the system!

You should not be having to wait with this dreadful condition. I think you should do whatever it takes to get this operated on pdq. It is possible to be too stoical!

I think I read on Soop’s Kitchen that the NHS don’t do the exact operation she needs and that it is only done by one private surgeon in Scotland where she lives.

I don’t know the details and if it’s true that the operation you need is not done on the NHS then there are two options.
Call the ambulance, scream in pain and hope for an operation that will at least make you more comfortable.
Or
Raise the necessary finance. A lifetime mortgage with a company such as Legal and General can be raised against your home. Let’s say £30,000 to allow an extra £5000 for incidentals. You can opt to pay the interest only for the rest of your days, currently 2.9% so less than £100 per month.
The capital would be paid back without further interest or penalty if you sell up, go in to care or on death, this latter comes to us all eventually but be reassured that you or your children would only owe £30k when you eventually need to sell.
The extra £5000 amounts to just over 4 years repayments if your finances were stretched.
Please don’t be offended as I have no idea of your personal circumstances.
I hope this doesn’t sound harsh but please explore all your options, it’s only money and you can’t take it with you.
I’m sure your children would want you to take every possible measure to have a happier, healthier and painless life.
Sincere good wishes to you.

From what I understand (and I could very easily be!) the op soop needs isn't doable now but there is an op she can have on the NHS eventually or immediately for £25,000 if she pays privately.

Hopefully soop will put me right!

annsixty

I think I will offer my advice in case I was misunderstood.
I think soop should call an ambulance citing unbearable pain as she is almost totally unable to empty her bowel.
Once in hospital hopefully the seriousness of her condition will be seen for what is is and she will get her operation there and then.

That sounds like a plan, annsixty

Surely someone is capable of performing this operation on the NHS, when we think of some operations that may be less urgent or necessary being carried out.

If they cannot do this at your nearest hospital, they need to refer you to somewhere where they can.
2nd opinions somewhere completely new might be more productive.

I think a posse of Gransnetters needs to accompany you, soop, who absolutely will not take 'no' or 'not possible' for an answer.