Grade 4 rectal prolapse.

Oh thank you mumofmadboys
That’s very kind of you.

Oh my goodness, MOMB! How did you manage to stay civil (as I imagine you did!)?

Maddyone it’s really, really not what medics spend six years training for, is it?

The thing is, in A&E, each of these cases takes up a minimum of 1.5hrs. Doctors aren’t allowed to just say, ‘No, go away and buy some paracetamol for 35p from Tesco.’ The patient has to be checked over, a history taken, advice given and notes written up. All while juggling with other patients and responding to any crash calls etc. Dd says she’s lucky if she can get through seven patients during a 12 hour shift.

Hetty dd says the charge nurses are the ones who lay down the law! They will tell awkward patients exactly what’s what in a very firm manner indeed. She says it’s very impressive.

Thank you too Marydoll

Oh and best of luck with your preliminary appointment in a couple of weeks Marydoll
I hope you don’t have to wait too long for your operation if that’s what’s decided.

OH was a GP - he was once called out in the middle of the night by a panicking man to go miles and miles to a man who was "stuck on the toilet" - as it is not uncommon for elderly people to come to grief on the loo when they get up in the middle of the night my OPH duly set off. When he got there the man was sitting in front of the TV supping a can of beer - he was fine; just a bit constipated. I asked OH what he did and he said|: "I treated it by the direct route and I do not think he will be calling us in the middle of the night again!"

It was very common for people to ring during the night because they thought "It would not be so busy"!!!

Soop - I am very sorry you are facing so many stumbling blocks to get your much-needed surgery. It makes me despair that the NHS is in such a state that someone like you has to think of raising money for help. IN a much lesser way, I am in the same boat and have been seeking private treatment for a failed hip replacement - I can still walk with a stick so no help forthcoming from NHS. I sincerely hope that you will get the treatment you need soon.

It was very common for people to ring during the night because they thought ‘It would not be so busy’!!!

It just goes to show that some people not only have little respect for doctors but also that they think doctors don’t actually need to sleep!

JenniferEccles all good wishes for your hip op and a speedy recovery.

SueDonim
….it’s really, really not what medics spend six years training for, is it?

No Sue, it absolutely isn’t. Six years in medical school, followed by two years as a Foundation Doctor, then a year as a junior doctor in a psychiatric hospital (with a view to becoming a psychiatrist, but changed her mind) and then a further three years spent in GP training. That is what my daughter did in order to become a GP. And then she’s asked for sun lotion and nit lotion. She refused both, but told me that the patient would simply go to one of the other doctors in the practice who would probably prescribe it in order to get rid of them. They think nothing of wasting doctors time and don’t care about people like soop who desperately need the care of the NHS.

soop please go back to your GP and don’t be brave, tell him/her just how truly awful your situation is.

Thank you very much maddyone
The sense of entitlement in some people is truly unbelievable. It must be so difficult for doctors to remain professional in their dealings with such folk.

Ah yes, the night time patients. Where dd is working, A&E is at its busiest at night. People come in then because they think it’ll be quieter. There have been waiting times of up to seventeen hours for non-urgent cases in her unit yet people are prepared to wait that length of time to ask for some free paracetamol or a Tubigrip for a sore wrist. I find that utterly baffling.

Marydoll good luck with your appointment.

Soop, I was thinking about the lack of notes from your previous op. I can’t help thinking that that is a bit of procrastination on the part of the authorities. I’d have thought people quite often end up in hospital without their medical history being available - would they refuse to treat a heart attack victim from overseas because they couldn’t get the notes from the patient’s previous valve replacement? ?

JenniferEccles, yes, of course, you are quite right that ambulances are meant for emergencies only. However, an untreated rectal prolapse is potentially dangerous, with the ongoing possibility of gangrene, ulceration or haemorrhage.

Thank you for your continuing support. Especially for private messages that have helped me source useful aids of one kind and another.

I have just spoken to a nurse in Campbeltown who is to supply me with upgraded incontinence pads. They will be delivered to the surgery tomorrow. I then phoned Ross Hall, held on for some twenty minutes, because all the lines are busy, and my enquiry will be passed on to the consultant's secretary. I need written confirmation ASAP of the findings carried out under anaesthetic in order to take the crowd funding route forward. Also, my GP , away on other duties right now, also needs a copy in order to keep my case alive on the NHS. It's a nightmare. I dream about different scenarios. The frustration aspect of the dreams is akin to trying to run when my legs refuse to respond.

We've all experienced such dreams. My heart goes out to any one who is in a similar position. I would never call an emergency help line unless it was absolutely justified.

Please, if you have the patience, continue to add to this forum. It helps enormously.

Endless patience soop, no clever answers though. Sourcing the pads is progress, a small step to recovering some dignity, hopefully the consultant will respond promptly.

I can only say, soop, that you are in my prayers each night. I can’t imagine how awful your situation is.

Virtual hugs for every one of you. Your support helps me no end.

Please let us know when you have set up the crowdfunding and how to donate. I’m sure many of us will want to contribute.
In the meantime if I win the lottery I’ll be in touch.
All the very best to you x

You continue to be very much in my thoughts Soop. Hoping for the best for you.

Soop I've been reading this thread and feel so sorry/angry about your situatio.
when i was desperate for my hernia ops. we decided to go private as I was way down on theNHS listt. I rang the surgeon's private rooms and the secretary said he would ring back later. Which he did.
i described the problem but he said not to go private unless i had private insurance and there could be expensive complications.However he said he would put me as urgent on his own NHS list. I had the op. a month later!
However this was before the current NHS situation. And a much simpler op. but still £10,000.
So It might be worth making a personal appeal to the sugeon. if you can get hold of him/her.

Marmite I may be wrong but I think soop said that the surgeon who operated on her recently only does private work.

He doesn't do NHS work, Marmite.

Soop, I am so so sorry to hear you are battling with this situation. I have been trying to avoid this thread as it sounds just so awful.

Just read it to OH, who is also a retired GP, and he is appalled to hear, again, what is happening to the NHS he dedicated his life to.

I wish I could have an anwer for you, but all I can send is sympathy and hugs - not that either will really help.

Of course no-one would 'blame' you for going private- but it is SOOOOO wrong that you, and 1000s like you, will feel they have NO option. And tragically, and it makes me so angry, beyond angry, the waiting lists are designed to have that effect exactly. I know you have a wicked sense of humour, so I shall say it 'privatisation' by the 'back door' - and it is just terrible.

So many people are in so much pain, that they feel there is no choice, but to go private, to the point of losing all their savings, getttin into debt again, re-mortaging the house, etc. Just disgusting.

Sending love.

soop the consultant you trust only does private work- could you ring his secretary and ask her if she will ask him if there is anybody on the NHS he would/could recommend.

If you go to your GP to ask for a referral it is much better to have a named consultant. Your GP I am sure will mention the urgency and calls to the new consultant's secretary from yourself will not go amiss.

I do not think you should ring 999 unless there is a genuine need such as haemorrhaging.

As I mentioned previously it is the hidden costs if anything goes wrong which worries me after the £25,000 or even £30,000 is spent.

I am amazed that you good ladies continue to support me.

Kali2

We went through the process of setting up a crowd funding thingy and were on the brink of sharing it with any kind person who may be willing to participate. It was then that we noted any funds raised (short of the hoped for total) were ours to retain. No way! We cannot proceed unless any donations, short of what we require, can be returned to the donor.

Another day. Another challenge. We will look into other fund raising sites. It will keep us out of mischief. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Marmite The surgeon is 100% private.

Don’t be amazed soop. You are cared for as a good friend to so many. As regards the crowdfunding, I don’t think any of us or anyone else reading about your awful situation would expect donations to be returned. Please, please go ahead. You have so many friends on GN who want the chance to help you.