"A very positive experience"

I had a prostate enucleation operation in early March. This was largely a very positive experience. I am through the op and out the other side and improving, for which I am hugely grateful. Thanks to all concerned. I have a lot of positive comments followed by some comments about post-op worries from the patient side.

Got an early date due to a cancellation for a repeat of this operation (my first one was in 2012). The surgeon was reassuring and clear about what should happen and preop etc was all done efficiently and well... It is always amazing (in my very limited experience!) to come to afterwards and find yourself in hospital being looked after by experienced and skilled people.

The two nurses on the ward overseeing my overnight stay and then discharge the next day, could not have been more supportive - reassuring, caring, everything anyone would want from a nurse when you are at your most vulnerable - thank you! Their support was priceless! Thank you so much!

After the op I continued to bleed for quite a long time, but received helpful support and advice from my GP (by phone consultation) at Orchard House Health Centre and the bleeding eventually stopped consistently (my wife was anxious that the bleeding was going on a bit long, as was I). I am now improving daily.

Post-op I did get worried by the continued bleeding and a longer recovery than I expected from the general anesthetic. This maybe contributed to my and my wife's anxiety. I was advised to phone the ward after being discharged if I had worrying symptoms,, but I didn't feel it was right to bother them quite a few days after discharge and wasn't sure if my symptoms were only worrying to me or would be worrying to an experienced health professional, so I didn't contact the ward staff again, maybe wrongly, but I did make contact with my GP. I just needed someone to tell me 'this is normal, don't worry.' or 'come in and we'll have a look at you.' Perhaps it is inevitable that post-discharge patients will experience these kinds of anxieties, and the likely conditions are so varied as not to be able to offer 'in advance' advice on what might constitute a reason for concern (beyond the obvious dramatic post-op situation eg. Fever-type symptoms etc). You never want to raise trivial concerns, especially when the NHS is under so much pressure .. On the other hand you don't want not to raise concerns which might turn into something more serious if not attended to. I guess that's just the nature of the post-op situation and you just have to make what you think are the right judgments but where relevant post-op information is available, it can really calm anxieties like mine. For example, I would have found it helpful to have a post-op leaflet saying something like

'Call us if ....' and some bullet points' and then

'Dont' worry if....' and some bullet points.'

However, as I say, maybe the post-op situation is just too complex with too many variables, so relying on patients to make the judgement about when/if to call in is maybe the realistic / practical solution.

Once again, many thanks to all involved in my care. You do a great job. I'm so happy to have had you looking after me! :-)

I know you're all under a lot of pressure right now and want you to know we're all 100% behind you!