Guest mollie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I have just been to my local hospital to see the consultant and I was somewhat bewildered by his attitude. I kind of get the feeling he wasn't in the loop. I had my SAH at the beginning of July and this is the first contact I have had with anyone apart from my GP. He asked how i was so I explained about still getting headaches and that at times they are still quite severe although they are lessening. The look on his face sort of showed he didn't understand about headaches and SAH. Then I told him about the palpitations which he said had no bearing on my "condition" as he put it. At the time I took ill I had 2 anuerysms one of which was coiled, I still have 1 which has remained untreated. By this time I was getting agitated at his lack of concern as it had occured to me that he hadn't even read my notes......at least not properly. I asked when I could return to work and he said.......well I see no reason why you can't return to work. Then i said to him...I still have an untreated anuerysm and I still haven't seen my neurosurgeon in Liverpool. His reply was Oh well maybe you should wait till you see him..............when is your appointment so told him I don't have one....I have had no contact......then he read the notes and realised that Walton should have sent for me some weeks ago...........I was livid and wanting to laugh at the same time....it was an unbelievable scenario. Hi is now going to contact Walton and also suggested that I do as well........told him I had on 2 occasions and got no-where. I just feel like I am in limbo and don't know what to do next. Has anyone else had this kind of treatment.....i really hope not as its so frustrating Mollie xxx whinge over......sorry folks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi Mollie, I have never seen my Consultant (apart from the initial SAH and hospital experience).....hence, another reason for setting up this website..... Can I ask, how good is your GP? I feel that it's essential for anybody that has suffered a SAH, to make sure that their GP is also up to scratch with the needs of anybody that's suffered this... I had to change mine, as the first one I had, even though he had a great bedside manner, had less of a clue than I did.... I now, have a very good GP, who's willing to go that extra mile for me..... Mollie, my advice to you, is go and see your GP to discuss your palpitations....and any other concerns.....he/she should be able to write a letter/phone any of the other institutions that are dealing with your medical care. Did your Consultant tell you how large the 2nd aneurysm was? ..... Unfortunately, sometimes, you have to kick and scream..... and think of no.1 here.... If you feel uncomfortable with the outcome of your visit to your Consultant, question it ...... you have every right to do so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mollie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi Karen and thanks for your response. To your question about my GP. Well unfortunately none of them at my practice are up to much. I have done the rounds with them all over the past 6 years for various ailments and also on a work related basis. Sadly none of them seem to cut the ice and thats not just my opinion. I can normally be quite persistant with the medics. That may be because of my job. I have worked in hospitals and care homes for most of my working life but at the moment I cannot be bothered with arguing and fighting with medics. I told my Daughter what had went on and she rang Walton..............was told to ring back and an appointment would be ready for me, She rang back at the given time and was told the secretary had gone home for the day......would you believe that. Anyway she persisted and now i have an appointment for 13 november. Hope I get PTS else i'll have to swim..........lol I will go and see my own doc about the palpitations which was my intention but I told this specialist (I use the term loosely....lol ) and he never even said see your doc. just brushed it off.....unreal really. Mollie xxx Thanks for listening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasbo Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi Mollie I've had similar experiences apart from my GP who is really sympathetic, helpful and excellent. It's quite a dilemma as I feel the hospital and consultant where I was treated for SAH saved my life and therefore I should be (and am) extremely grateful; however my experiences with the staff there (not consultant) such as for appointments, test results (for fluid on the brain) lack of bedspace for second aneurysm clipping etc. has been abysmal. I'm due back in tomorrow for this second aneurysm and just hope there is a bed this time around. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to change anything other than just hope they realise they're making us suffer even more than we need to - my GP agrees and is quite resigned to the whole poor state of the admin procedures of the NHS. It's so sad but true. Good luck with everything. My aunt was recently in Walton for suspected heart problems - she found them really good and was happy there (apart from her illness of course!). Cheers and chin up Sarah xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Wishing you the very best of luck Sarah......I shall be keeping everything crossed for you ..... xxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi Mollie That must have been distressing for you. I would follow Karen's advice. I always say to follow Karen's advice because she is so good! My GP sighs heavily when I arrive - I wouldn't mind but it's not like I go there very often. Hi Sarah, good luck for tomorrow, I'll have all my fingers and toes crossed for you. love Blondie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Mollie, None of us should have to struggle with this .... unfortunately, I've been on the receiving end of good/excellent and bad care ... but that's probably the same for most professions .. it does beg the question why some people do decide to take up a career in the so called "caring profession" when they frankly don't seem to give a damn....or care more about their pay cheque at the end of the month and just go through the motions ..... call me cynical, but I can only speak as I find .... I would always advise somebody to take their partner with them .... whether it be a GP appointment or hospital .... Write down a list of questions that you need to ask and don't be fobbed off .... A SAH isn't like a common cold and should be treated seriously......if they can't give you an answer, then ask them to find out..... Mollie, you really need to follow your gut instinct......if you're not happy with any response, then follow it up ...... if you don't feel up to it, just make sure that you take a family member with you .... post SAH, many of us can lose the plot pretty quickly with our memory etc and forget to ask the right questions .... we shouldn't have to struggle, but unfortunately, it's not uncommon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mollie Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi everyone and thanks for all your support and advice. When I was in Walton they were fantastic, they saved my life. They were, to be truthful beyond excellence. What i can't understand is, why have they got such a marvellous treatment centre and no after-care for people like us. There is nothing on the Island for myself and people like me. Anything serious or life threatening are sent to Liverpool, Manchester or elsewhere for treatment so I guess most of the Docs and Medics here have no hands on experience. As I said my Doc is worse than useless as far as my SAH goes but I am sure he will sort me out as regards to the palpitations. Will make an appointment tomorrow. Something funny did happen yesterday though. I had a dental appointment so duly went to see the dentist. He refused to do any work on me until I had clearance from Walton that it was ok for him to drill my teeth. He wasn't taking any chances. He gets my thumbs up. Thank you all once again Mollie xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hi Mollie, I can remember somebody on this website quoting what a GP had once said to them and that was something like " we know a little about everything" ... GP's don't specialise in one subject, which is something that we all realise .... however, I believe that a good GP, who knows only a little about SAH, should be able to find out and will endeavour to do their best for you.....whether it's referring you on for physio, counselling or contacting the Consultant/hospital on your behalf. My newer GP has been great with carrying out referrals and I've probably had more blood tests than the norm, to rule out other problems, but at least now, I feel as though I've got somebody that will listen to me and who I have faith in. It means a heck of a lot....and he holds my hand at the end of each session and tells me how well I'm doing, bless him.... I think that we are all thankful to the neuro surgeons and specialist hospitals that save our lives, but unfortunately, once we are "fixed", we're kind of left in limbo once we're discharged..... Dentists do seem to be pretty good on the whole .... I've had two dentists since the SAH and they seem to know the score and were happy to delay any non-urgent work, until I felt up to it. I still can't handle the thought of a drill buzzing/vibrating through my head ..... I need to have a crown, but I can't face it at the minute, as I know that it will involve root canal treatment....I can't stand the thought of anything messing with my head! Yep, I'm a big baby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rampmama Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I too have had some lax treatment from my docs. I chaulk it all up to being a quick recoverer. I am young (35) and healthy, appart from the bleed that happened in my head. And post SAH I also have been having palpitations. Now I have always had them and was tested in 2004. They found that 3 of 4 of my heart valves leak. My docs answer... "Almost everyone has this problem", but when I talk to others, they ave never heard of this and they don't have palpitations. I too told my neurosurgeon about this problem because it hit me very bad after an angiogram and he said it was unrelated. Now I have demanded a visit with a cardiologist becasue people with heart valve problems need to be on antibiotics when they visit a dentist. So my guess is that when I got an infections after my craniotomy, some of it was carried by my blood to my heart, make my valves the worse. Of course i don't have a medical degree so my docs don't care much for my theory, but it seems reasonable to me. If a dentist can worsen my valves, why couldn;t and angiogram? Stand you ground with your docs and don't be afraid to be a *****. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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