I woke yesterday morning all prepared for the afternoon flight to Inverness and an evening in Raigmore Hospital's "accommodation block" called `Kyle Court I had already thought up the blog post on the joys of 'Kyle Court', hoping that I might eventually get a meal in the hospital (several hundred yards walk away across a gravel car park possibly in the pouring rain) and return to my room (not even with en-suite facilities) and, hopefully, sleep until this morning when my uretic stent was due to be replaced.
However, early yesterday afternoon my cellphone rang. "Mr Edwards. where are you?" Panic. Had I made a mistake? Was I supposed to be in hospital in Inverness having my operation? I answered that I was still at home just about to go to the airport for the afternoon flight to Inverness. "Thank heaven for that!" was the reply. "Your operation has been postponed." It would appear that there was no theatre available because she then said that she would have to phone the surgeon (who was apparently not in Inverness) and tell her the operation had been postponed.
I had already been told that it was important that the operation took place "on time" because of my "habit" of getting sepsis if the operation was delayed. Not that long ago when the op was delayed I had to be flown on a Sunday afternoon by helicopter across The Minch to Inverness and have an operation the next morning before the infection really set in.
So here I am a day later waiting for a new date when I should be resting after surgery and contemplating another 3 or 4 months before the next stent change,
Ah well, c'est la vie. There is nothing I can do now but wait for the new appointment date.
ReplyDeleteWell, that stinks. Still, could be worse, you could be far from the comforts of home. C'est la vie. I'm sure they will reschedule quickly.
Provisional date over the phone is 6 February. A couple of days before I'm due to go to Glasgow to see the specialist for my cancer review. Hey ho. C'est la vie.
DeletePossibly you'll be able to go to Glasgow on the same trip..save shuttling across the Minch?
DeleteIt's something I'm looking at, Gwynneth, particularly if I take my car instead of flying.
DeleteI hope the knew surgery date is very soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Red. Provisionally 6 February.
DeleteI suppose worse might be spending more days in the smart accommodation on offer at the hospital, and having paid for the flight yourself.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I assume "smart accommodation' was ironic! And yes....another couple of hours and I'd have been on the plane.
DeleteOh dear. As much as I love our NHS, I do think someone will have to take serious control. Even my totally unnecessary doctor's appointments are now being postponed!
ReplyDeleteI gather, Cro, that there was no operating availability. Whether that was staff or theatre I'm not sure but the surgeon herself was available.
DeleteI hope it's re-booked very soon!
ReplyDeleteProvisionally 6 February, Kylie.
DeleteOh dear. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and a timely rebooking.
ReplyDeleteThanks JayCee.
DeleteHope you won't have to wait long! I suppose as long as you're feeling ok, better to be waiting at home rather than in that hospital accommodation room, though...
ReplyDeleteMonica, it'll be three weeks if all goes to plan.
DeleteIt must be somewhat discomforting to say the least given your previous history of sepsis. Perhaps another appointment will be booked soon. It makes me realize that there are benefits to the hospital being only twenty minutes away!
ReplyDeleteDavid, I've been given a provisional date of 6 February.
DeleteOh, I'm sorry you have to wait until February. It just adds a layer of worry that you certainly did not need. Hope all goes smoothly now.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ellen, it makes ordinary life just that bit more complicated. But a lot of people have far bigger irritations in life.
DeletePhew! Luckily they caught you in time, before you were up in the air on your way to hospital! Feb. 6 will be around quickly, and hopefully all will go well then.
ReplyDeleteThanks Meike. I'm hoping that is the case. Ayr Hospital was meticulous because of my propensity to get sepsis if it was delayed. I was pre-sepsis a couple of summers ago when it was delayed and on a Sunday afternoon I was taken from Stornoway to Raigmore by the the air-sea rescue helicopter. Doubtless at considerable expense.
DeleteGoodness me, It is always a drag to be all prepared for something, only to have to start all over again. Still, as your friends have said above-good thing they got you in time before you left. x
ReplyDeleteTes, Kay, it's always good to look for something positive in a situation.
DeleteWishing you the very best Graham! We hope your new appointment goes ahead ok.
ReplyDelete