No consultation pre hysterectomy

If you are not happy, you can, I believe, ask for a second opinion. However, I suspect the work of the surgeon didn't differ but the aftercare may have been worse where they are so overworked.
Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you so much everyone for your replies and input. It’s been really helpful!
What is strange is that I also had an NHS op two months’ ago (gallbladder removal) and had a full consultation with the Consultant operating well beforehand which was both informative and reassuring.
I have this hysterectomy tomorrow and obviously won’t be able to give “informed consent” until I’ve spoken to someone in detail about exactly what the hysterectomy will comprise of, which may take some time……. I’ve tried to get in touch with the surgeon’s physician assistant, PALS etc but just impossible.
I’ve had friends who’ve had private work done by this surgeon who all report good things, plus met with a couple of women locally who’ve had work done by the same surgeon under NHS and it’s a bit of a different story. I just hope I’m doing the right thing by turning up for the operation tomorrow - but to say I’m nervous would be the understatement of the year…..

Do you have access to the NHS app or similar where your records are held. It may be that the information is held on there and your questions are answered.

Have you tried to email their secretary? It's what I had to resort you when trying to contact a consultant recently.

Consent will
All be done on the day so will be discussed then
There’s no option really to choose your surgeon in the NHS so unless you go private you get what you get.
Waiting lists/increased demand/lack of staff/services/facilities are what causes this.

Do talk to your GP. I had a procedure where the doc hardly said a word; the nurse doing my post-op check did not even speak English! I spoke to my GP and she had all the plans, notes and follow-up info sent to her; she assumed that I had also been given it.

They are desperately trying to get waiting lists down, so the surgeon is busy doing rather than informing and it does look as if his team have let you slip through the net.

It would seem as if you are urgent BUT surgeons often see primary solution as surgery, so you do need to be given the options

About 40 years ago I was told I needed a hysterectomy but after a consultation with the consultant's understudy when I asked a lot of questions it was agreed that it would not relieve my symptoms . I had endometriosis and the deposits were on my kidneys so hormone therapy would " feed" my complaint. I have never had the operation . I wonder why you have not been involved in the decision and suggest you keep trying to get an appointment to discuss if you really need the operation.

The groups I mentioned are on Facebook.

I wish I could answer your question but I can't. I am due to have a hysterectomy in France. Unfortunately I couldn't have it done when he suggested as we are away for a few months. So he has arranged for me to come in and see him in August to do paperwork and set a date.

What is have found helpful (I'm quite anxious about the procedure) are support groups for anyone going to have a hysterectomy/pre and post op. Hysterectomy Sisters. Hysterectomy Healing. Hysterectomy Support and Shared Experiences. I tried to join a support group in the UK but they saw on my profile that I live in France (even though I'm British.) I think that group is Hysterectomy Sisters UK or Hysterectomy Support Group UK. I have found them helpful and sympathetic.

Good luck!

LOUISA1523

knspol

I would not go ahead with such a major op without seeing the consultant first. You have questions to ask that you need answers to and that's reasonable. I would contact the secretary again and say quite calmly that you need a consultation before you're willing to go ahead even if it means having to wait for the op.
I would not rely on getting accurate answers at any pre op meeting with a nurse. My experience is that these pre op apts for bp checks etc are sometimes done by clerical staff or else very inexperienced nurses.

So how so you define inexperienced nurse? You think all inexperienced nurses work in pre op assessment clinic?

I would define an inexperienced nurse as one who doesn't know what she's doing! I have been to several pre op sessions with my late DH and the pre op person hasn't even been able to answer questions as to which meds should be stopped before an op leading in one case for the serious op being unable to proceed on the day because one med should have been stopped weeks before. In other instances less import and matters eg visiting or where exactly patient would go after op answered incorrectly and answers such as 'best to ask the nurse/doctor on the day really unacceptable!

Probably all the testsscans etc you have had have mapped all the problems that need addressed hence the plan for surgery. We are accustomed to speaking with a person, not necessarily the person doing surgery but someone who would outline the process eg how long hospital stay, recovery, follow-up. Perhaps all that will be done when attending for op. Even contact your MP suggesting system leaves a lot to be desired, no communication especially. Or any political opposition person as they love to stir it and can get better results. Awful situation to be in.

Yes indeed, I agree wholeheartedly. I've seen the same gynecologist consultant three times this year, he is wonderful. Told me to contact his secretary and by-pass the GP if I wanted to see him again (NHS not private) he would see me a.s.a.p.

I got better pre-op info from both consultant and anaesthetist before an oral biopsy to test cancerous cells - all NHS.

Good luck with it all.

That's a big operation to have without any discussion. Do you know why you are having it - the results of the scans, biopsies etc? They should have explained why you need it, what you will need in the way of care and if you will need hormone replacement or other treatment. Also the consequences of not having it or only part of it. I'm so sorry you have not been told properly.

KIMSKI I sympathise with you. I had my ovaries removed about five years ago. Cysts were detected. I was told it would be keyhole surgery and I would go home on the same day. I waited in day surgery from 8.30am til 2.30pm, getting more and more anxious and feeling ignored. Eventually, the surgeon came. I had never seen him before and didn't even know his name. Later in the recovery room while I was still very groggy, he told me that keyhole surgery had not been possible and I had had a major operation. Then he disappeared and never came to the ward to explain what had happened.

I had an operation some years before that and how different it was! I met the Consultant beforehand, he was very reassuring and explained everything. He came to see me after the operation too.
I would not ever have another operation without having met the Consultant and the surgeon. I still feel traumatised by the memory.

I only met my surgeon and anaesthetist on the day of surgery, and then subsequently a few times afterwards.

I do think it’s quite normal.

Good luck

knspol

I would not go ahead with such a major op without seeing the consultant first. You have questions to ask that you need answers to and that's reasonable. I would contact the secretary again and say quite calmly that you need a consultation before you're willing to go ahead even if it means having to wait for the op.
I would not rely on getting accurate answers at any pre op meeting with a nurse. My experience is that these pre op apts for bp checks etc are sometimes done by clerical staff or else very inexperienced nurses.

So how so you define inexperienced nurse? You think all inexperienced nurses work in pre op assessment clinic?

I think that is extraordinary.
They surely need your informed consent? They (a consultant) should explain your biopsy results, treatment options and explain any risks, and an anaesthetist (possibly technician) talk you through that side of things.
Did you say a nurse did your biopsy? That also sounds odd to me.
I would politely request an appointment with the doctor who is handling your case.
Best wishes. x

Big …

It’s major surgery but your pre-op nurse should have answered your ?s
I had total hysterectomy and removal of ovaries @45yrs old .. immediately into menopause..
It’s not unusual not to see consultant/surgeon now before your bid day.. wishing you all the best🤞

I would not go ahead with such a major op without seeing the consultant first. You have questions to ask that you need answers to and that's reasonable. I would contact the secretary again and say quite calmly that you need a consultation before you're willing to go ahead even if it means having to wait for the op.
I would not rely on getting accurate answers at any pre op meeting with a nurse. My experience is that these pre op apts for bp checks etc are sometimes done by clerical staff or else very inexperienced nurses.

WelshPoppy

I had bowel cancer and had surgery for removal of part of my bowel and a stoma formed. Well informed beforehand by surgeon. I was told that the stoma would be reversed in the future and one day received an appointment for my surgery. I hadn't met with the surgeon regarding this since my first surgery 10 months previously. I didn't want the reversal but needed to discuss this with the surgeon so rang his secretary and asked he contact me ASAP. He rang me the following day and after discussing the proposed surgery agreed with me not to go ahead. Try the secretary again and suggest that if you can't have a chat with the surgeon before the day of surgery you might not be in a position, mentally, to go ahead.

Thank you. So yes, have tried this again today and left a message on her answerphone ……. I’ve got to the point where I’m trying not to think about any of it now!!

I had bowel cancer and had surgery for removal of part of my bowel and a stoma formed. Well informed beforehand by surgeon. I was told that the stoma would be reversed in the future and one day received an appointment for my surgery. I hadn't met with the surgeon regarding this since my first surgery 10 months previously. I didn't want the reversal but needed to discuss this with the surgeon so rang his secretary and asked he contact me ASAP. He rang me the following day and after discussing the proposed surgery agreed with me not to go ahead. Try the secretary again and suggest that if you can't have a chat with the surgeon before the day of surgery you might not be in a position, mentally, to go ahead.

Casdon

Not every patient is seen pre-operatively by the consultant themself, but you should have been seen by one of the senior doctors in the team who would be able to address any concerns you have. If no senior doctor from Gynaecology has seen you, something has gone awry, and to rectify that the secretary should be able to arrange for them to do so either before or at your pre-operative assessment.

Yeah, no, I haven’t been seen by or spoken to by any other Doctor (apart from initially by my GP) just her assistant, who is a nurse, and did my biopsy. Although it’s all quite quick, (so I assume it’s very precancerous, as this is the NHS we’re talking about) there would have still been enough time for a quick consult. I wish I’d paid for a private one now.

Thank you for your replies (which sort of confirm that I have a reason to be anxious!!). I don’t normally suffer from anxiety about anything, but I am really worried.

The pre op assessment was the other day and I asked then about it; they gave me the phone number of the secretary but she couldn’t really do anything and just said she passed my questions on. The PALS, again I called, and they said they’d pass a message on as well. I left a message for them again today on their answerphone. (But that says they’ll get back in three working days - which is all that’s left before the operation).

I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot over this operation but I guess I will have the option to “cut and run” on the day from the hospital if I feel it’s not looking good…. I have heard rave reviews about this surgeon but also a couple of concerns (one very serious) so don’t know what to think.