"Total hysterectomy"

First off I would like to say that the staff that took care of me before theatre were amazing. They made me feel at ease and nothing was too much effort. Also when I was first taken to the gynaecology ward the staff in there were lovely, friendly and caring.

At the weekend things changed. I buzzed for help as I couldn’t get up for the loo and also needed pain relief. A nurse came through and told me I would have to wait for another nurse to eat their breakfast, they would be 15 mins. I waited 20 mins and buzzed again and the same nurse came back and told me I still had to wait because the other nurse still hadn’t finished eating apparently. I waited a further 20mins buzzed again and the same nurse came through and told me the other nurse was taking care of someone who was poorly. So it’s now been 40min and I’m in agony and also need desperately to pee. I waited another 20mins and buzzed again and this time it was a student nurse who came through to me and I explained that I’ve been buzzing for help for an hour and I’m being ignored.

Finally a student nurse helped me onto a commode. I asked for pain relief and was brought paracetamol I couldn’t believe it. I was told then it’s all I could have at that time. I had been without proper pain relief for hours by then. It felt to me that the nurses didn’t want to do anything to help me.

There was 2 patients in the whole ward. My self and one other so it wasn’t like the ward was overflowing and they were extremely busy. The nurses that were on learned that my family member is in fact training to be a nurse. When my family member came in they were going above and beyond and being overly nice.  It felt like th is was a change from their behaviour earlier.

Next thing I know I have a dr coming in to tell me I need counselling because I couldn’t stay awake and was unable to get up. I have another condition so I couldn’t help it and was very fatigued. Perhaps if it looked like I was depressed and that they could say it was all in my head. Disgusting behaviour for people who are medical professionals.

When Monday came I was still unable to walk and still in a lot of pain. The ward dr came to see me. There were another two drs possibly students. I explained what was going on and by this time I was very upset as I felt no one was listening. A nurse came in and then my own gynaecologist so there was now 5 of them. This felt very intimidating and I felt that as if they wanted me out their ward, bear in mind there was only myself and one other patient.

I gave in and said I would go home so the nurse was told to arrange physio to come see me before I was discharged. They all left and almost immediately the nurse came back with a clear bag with ibuprofen in it and my discharge letter. I asked what was to happen with my wound and was told just tear the wound dressing off after it’s been 7 days. I asked if there was stitches to be removed and was told they didn’t know what under that dressing so they had no idea. If feel it would have been wise for them to go and check and arrange the appropriate wound care if needed.

This nurse then told me that I would not be seeing physio as no one was available. I know that physio should have came over and signed me off as fit to go home, but I don't think they would have done that because I couldn’t walk. I feel that they showed a lack of care for my well being.

No one helped my family member by getting a wheelchair or helped me into the car. As soon as the family member came they all disappeared. It ended up that I had to stay with a family member for two weeks. After 3 and a half weeks post op my walking still wasn't great..

Now for the reason why I was in so much pain. While in hospital I didn’t have a bowel movement. No one told me anything about getting my bowels moving. So after 9 days I became very ill and screaming in so much pain. I was sweating, being sick and almost passed out it was so bad. I didn’t want to go into hospital because of how I had been treated so I tried to deal with it. Eventually I called NHS 24 and it turns out I had a bowel obstruction. A dr had to come out and help me and then nurses. This went on till 3:30am. The dr that came out was very angry that this had happened and nothing had been done to prevent this.  I think the staff should have known after 5 days of no bowel movements that they should have given something to help and stop that from happening. My bowels are still not working properly. No wonder I was in so much pain and for a dr not to think of this and just tell me I shouldn’t be in so much pain is crazy to me. 

I just want to reiterate that the majority of the staff were kind, caring and friendly. I appreciate everyone who looked after me. It’s a shame that it ended that way.