The NHS

[Lyn and Malcolm]

After two and a quarter years, Lyn is still suffering from pain in the corner of her eye near nose, above her eyebrow and up onto her forehead.

To start with she had numerous visits to the eye hospital over a period of 9 months. They then said there was nothing wrong with the eye.

We asked if she could have a scan, they went away and came back to say if it makes her any happier, then yes.

Scan taken which showed an anomaly in her sinus.

Four ENT appointments then followed over a period of nearly a year. On the last appointment, they said go to the Pain clinic.
We kicked up a bit of a fuss, because wqe wanted to know what was causing the pain, eventually they agreed to see a specialist in Southampton hospital. Appointment made for 3 months on. During that time we did go to the pain clinic to see a consultant anaesatist and pain man.

This visit turned out to be the first sensible answer to what could be the problem. A nerve called the Supra Orbital Nerve exits your skull exacty in the corner of eye/nose and follows a route identical to Lyn's pain above the eyebrow and up the forehead. Why all this time for anyone to come up with this suggestion. Lyn had an injection in the forehead to block the pain. Which it did for 10days then wore off.

So at least we had something to tell the Facial pain specialist in Southampton.

The day came to see the specialist, his first words were that he was an ENT man, but didn't do the E or the T. Which made our hopes drop somewhat.
To crown it all, he had none of Lyns records from Bournemouth hospital, or any pictures of the scan she had had, so we had to fill him in with the details.

He did think it could be a blood vessel laying near the nerve in the head, which may have moved, and now touching the nerve.
He sheduled a proper MRI scan and wrote a letter to Lyn's doctor asking if she had had certain blood tests.
He said when we get the appointment for the scan, to ring the appointments dept, and make an appointment to see him about 15 days after the scan.
The scan appointment details duly arrived in early January, and Lyn rang the appointments dept to return to see the specialist, they said, they were still dealing with OCTOBER appointments.

Lyn has now had the scan, and is waiting for the appointment to go back and see the specialist,          sometime.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Persistence has paid off, to get a diagnosis Malcolm.
That is a ridiculously long wait to see a specialist.
We've paid into the NHS scheme all our working lives and we deserve better.
We look back and say how much better it was in the old days, when we had MANY smaller hospitals with MATRONS.
Now its all centralised in larger hospitals with the specialised equipment but the service has deteriorated to totally unacceptable levels.
Thing is, the old days are not that long ago!

[Lyn and Malcolm]

After ringing the appointments desk another two times and being told they were now on November and then December appointments.

We wrote to the Chief Executive of the hospital trust. Three days later Lyn had a phone call to say there was a backlog which was plainly obvious.
And if they were to move Lyn up the list, someone else would be moved down.

We have now received an appointment through the post for the 15th of next month. Which will be 3 months and 2 days after the scan.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Over here (N Ireland) it seems that once you get the initial appointment, then follow on tests and consultations are quicker.
Getting the initial appointment can be slow.

I hope all goes well on the 15th Lyn. What an ordeal.

 

[NightHawk]

Best wishes from us too Lyn.

Hope all goes well.

Laurie.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Thanks George and Laurie.

Malcolm

[roiphil]

hope all goes well from me aswell, not been round much past couple of weeks so may have missed on some postings and catching up

[Eric Hardy]

Like Phil, I have only just tuned in. That sounds terribly bad service. Good luck on the 15th, Lyn. I think a lot depends on the Health Authority. Here in South Buckinghamshire I must say we have been fairly lucky so far (touch wood, fingers crossed and all that  ).

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Thank you Phil and Eric.

Yes a long time waiting for someone to come up with what might be wrong.

I really do hope they can sort this.

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Well last week we attended the appointment with the ENT man.
Apparently Lyn's sinuses are all not normal, there are many different sinuses in the head. Where there should be cavities in the sinuses which should show on the MRI scan as black ie nothing in them, they show that they are full of liguid or are deformed. Also where there should be drains in some of the sinuses, he cannot see them on the scan.

This may be causing the pain Lyn has, they can't be sure. So the ENT man is suggesting she has an operation on the sinuses, which entails cutting or clearing the sinuses, all done with an endoscope up the nose, and of course the cutting instruments etc.
Anyone interested, read this http://www.entuk.org/patient_info/nose/fess_html as you can read it is not a particularly easy operation and carries some nasty risks.

Mr ENT is a specialist in this operation and has said he will carry it out himself, he has a four month waiting list, which may just about be after our last garden opening this year 

At the moment Lyn has said she will go ahead with the operation, hoping it does take away the pain she will have had for three years by then.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Its a worry that they cant be more positive in their diagnosis Malcolm.
The whole ENT business is very complex.

I hope it fixes the problem for Lyn. Its apparent that she is at her tethers end after 3 years of pain.

[NightHawk]

Very worrying and frustrating times Malcolm.

I hope everything works out OK.

Laurie.