My mom has Huntington's disease diagnosed Sept 09. She was admitted to New Cross hospital in early Oct this year with rectal bleeding. They did blood tests, observed her and debated camera tests for a week. She was discharged a week later. In less than 48 hours after being discharged she had become bowel incontinent.
Late last week she was admitted to Walsall Manor hospital with PR bleeding and a rectal prolapse. A consultant told me that a camera test would be needed to determine where the bleeds were coming from and what options were available for dealing with the prolapse. It was then decided that a barium enema test was needed rather than a camera test and that this would be late this week.
I asked what about the prolapse and the nurses told me each time a doctor checked my mom the prolapse was not visible. However, each night I was in to see her, I saw the prolapse on each occasion.
After much persistence I managed to get an appointment with the registrar, who said that he had checked my mom himself but hadn't seen the prolapse and so in his opinion surgery was not necessary. No reason was given as to why surgery or any other treatment was not needed.
I asked him to check my mother again while I was there and when he did the prolapse was visible. He pushed the prolapse back in and agreed to speak to the consultant. He said my mom could be discharged from the hospital and be seen as an outpatient for a rectal camera investigation.
He said if the prolapse appeared and did not retract that I would have to manually push it back inside my mom - not being a qualified medical professional and having been told the prolapse can't be out for long this upset me greatly that all responsibility was being pushed on to me and I said I couldn't do it.
As of now, my mom could be discharged from hospital by the end of this week and I feel that my mom has been treated very poorly. Whether or not her existing Huntingtons has had any bearing on how she has been treated I don't know but I would like a second opinion as my mom spends the majority of her day at home on her own. I do not live with her though I live nearby with my two small children so am limited to the time I can devote to my mom. Also my mom's benefits do not cover the cost of paying for additional care from professionals so I am very scared as to what will happen now.
"I feel that my mom has been treated very poorly."
About: Manor Hospital / Colorectal surgery Manor Hospital Colorectal surgery WS2 9PS New Cross Hospital / Colorectal surgery New Cross Hospital Colorectal surgery WV10 0QP
Posted by Nanny plum (as ),
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference
››
Responses
See more responses from Jamie Emery
See more responses from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust