"The failure of care from different departments"

Over the past several years, but mainly the last 3, I’ve been let down multiple times by the devices provided by Ayrshire and Arran, mainly within Gynaecology and the pain management clinic.

A lot has gone on but my main issue is the lack of communication I had over my care pertaining to numerous prolapses and then an unknown issue that was causing me a lot of pain. Not only was my concerns not taken seriously, after 6 surgeries in 5 years, I had to listen to comments from my specialist that were not only unappreciated but impacted my mental health. Things like saying it’s a mess down there - said during an internal examination! I was also told I had a small vagina and whilst trying to have a smear done, the nurse doing it invited a colleague to have a look and commented that they had never seen anything like this before.

As you can imagine these comments have stuck with me and has altered the way I view myself. I was referred to pain management regarding the constant pain I was in and unaware to me, they declined to see me due to my Mental health, despite them never meeting me, never talking to me or even writing to me! For 7 months I waited for an appointment to see them only to be told when I had a check up with Gyno that I was declined - they then declined to see me 3 more times. I was repeatedly told there was nothing wrong with me and I was making it all up and it was a problem with my mental state.

In Jan 2023 I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, and that was seen to be the reason for most of my pain, however it didn’t explain the pain I was getting around the surgical sites! Whether or not the prolapses were caused my SM or the prolapses triggered the SM they don’t know, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m now living with chronic pain and muscle weakness from being left lying in my bed for over a year as they ignored and dismissed my pain. I am now in a wheelchair and having to make major changes as I adapt to living with this condition

The lack of communication was appalling but the mere fact I was on antidepressants automatically meant I must be a suicide risk is not only reckless but is extremely uninformed. I am a mother of 2 and have lost many family and friends to suicide, so it is something no matter how low I get, I would never consider. If anyone had taken the time to talk to me they would have realised that, instead they left me suffering for over a year, and have made my mental health a lot worse. Despite my many pleas, my voice was ignored and decisions were being made about my care, without any input from me, and unless I contacted them I wouldn’t find out what was decided! The lack of care and basic decency was missing and I began to feel as if I was just a pest they were placating the hopes I would stop calling! 

The impact to not only me but my family has been immense, we have been impacted financially as my husband is now my carer, emotionally and mentally and I worry about future care of procedures as I have no trust in them as I have been repeatedly let down.