"Everybody I met was caring and wanted to help"

I attended the GP surgery in Motherwell with a swollen abdomen and frequent urination, expecting nothing more than a food allergy or similar. My GP, Dr Cargill, was thorough and I got the impression she truly wanted to get an answer for me.

She sent me for an ultrasound within 2 weeks of my first appointment, after my bloods came back clear. My ultrasound at Hairmyres Hospital was quick, easy and the staff were lovely. A 13 x 10 x 8cm ovarian cyst was identified. I was then sent for a CT scan within another 3 weeks or so. This showed the cyst had grown to 17 x 13 x 10cm - hence the swollen abdomen, frequent urination and now heaviness feeling in my abdomen.

I had a consultation with Dr Kellison at Wishaw Hospital in mid-November 2024. She was incredibly thorough and helpful, easing my worries and explaining surgery would be necessary given the size. There was also the worry of the cyst being of a sinister nature but Dr Kellison felt after reviewing the CT scan that this was likely not the case.

My main feedback comes of my experience regarding surgery and the stay at Wishaw Hospital thereafter. I arrived at the Day Surgery Unit in mid-December and was quickly taken in for admission. My nurse readied me for surgery and made it quick and easy. I then met my anaesthetist, Barry, who was such a kind man. He explained that I would be receiving a spinal anaesthetic as well as a general anaesthetic. I was incredibly anxious but didn’t show this to the team, although I think Barry knew as he administered my spinal and my hands shook uncontrollably.

Dr Kellison then saw me and explained everything I could ever have wanted to know, answering all my questions and making me feel at ease in general. This truly truly adds to an otherwise scary, stressful experience.

After Dr Kellison left, and I was taken to anaesthesia, I was greeted by a lovely lady whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch. She did say her husband used to work in Egypt though, which made me think she may have been Egyptian. She was fantastic! She ran through everything that was about to happen, wheeled me to anaesthesia making me laugh, put me at ease, held my hand and shoulders as I received my numerous injections/anaesthetic/cannulas etc. She was an angel and made my experience much easier.

Barry the anaesthetist, myself and my new friend who’d spent time getting me ready chuckled away and had a good conversation as Barry “sent me off to Phuket, Thailand for a couple of hours” and said they’d kindly stay in Wishaw looking after me while I went off on my adventure. A really funny time. 

I underwent a laparoscopy with midline incision, removal of an ovary and fallopian tube, as well as the cyst. 

My next memory is waking up after surgery to a really kind team of nurses who wheeled me to my own bed space where I spent the next 4 days and 3 nights. The team of nurses and doctors on Ward 13 at Wishaw University were fantastic. They looked after me kindly, making me feel like they truly cared. Everything was very routine so I knew when food was, meds were etc. I had a very positive experience in that they were supportive in getting me moving and out of bed, but wouldn’t push too hard if I was in pain.

Dr Kellison visited me three times to check in. The first was relatively soon after surgery, of which we weren’t sure I’d remember due to my lovely medication given after surgery! I did however, and I definitely came on a bit strong with the thanks and the compliments! She was lovely as ever though, assuring me everything went to plan. Otherwise, she checked in to look at my incision and was generally kind, caring and everything you’d want your doctor to be.

I wanted to write this experience to let people know that I feel the NHS aren’t getting the praise deserved at times. I flew through the system when something in my life arose that could’ve become a medical emergency relatively fast all things considered. I didn’t come across a single person who made me feel they didn’t want to be there helping.

Thank you to all the staff - Dr Kellison, the nurses and doctors in Ward 13, Barry, my good friend who prepped me for anaesthesia, Dr Cargill at Orchard Medical Centre. Please know your amazing work truly changes the mental aspect of a worrying situation.