The Bad Side Of The Health Service

This evening I experienced the bad side of the Health Service.  I noticed late afternoon that I was getting much more discomfort than usual, actual pain in fact.  I thought maybe I had done the exercises too strenuously.

I went in to have my second shower of the day and noticed that my breast was very swollen, then a found a large lump under my armpit and over the scar.  Just my luck, it was too late to contact my doctor's surgery, it was closed.  So, although I had been signed off by the district nurses, in desperation I phoned them.  They could sense I was distressed so a nurse came out to see me.

She said it was an accumulation of fluid and was caused by the lymph glands being removed, fluid had nowhere to drain.  I was warned this could happen but it was most likely in the first few days after surgery.  I had done everything correctly, not overdone things so it was strange it should happen at this late stage.  Anyway she could see no sign of infection.  To double check she telephoned the ward I had been on and spoke to the ward sister.  Explained everything, told her it was very painful and also very hot.  The sister agreed that it was almost certainly an accumulation of fluid but warned that because it is in a pool there with nowhere to go, it can get infected and therefore I needed to see a doctor to see if I needed antibiotics over the weekend until my appointment at the clinic on Monday.  She also told me the swelling will need to be drained, it will not disappear on its own. She said my surgeon will arrange everything on Monday and it is not too long to wait and it was only the possibility that I might need antibiotics that worried her.

The district nurse was very good and phoned the out of hours service doctors.  She was told they would phone me back within two hours.  As I was very distressed by the whole thing she told me to relax in bed and try not to worry.  Two hours later the doctor did phone me back.  He wanted to know the whole story which I repeated to him including what the nurse had done, what the ward sister had said and that the nurse was not able to prescribe anything for me and I needed to be seen.

He informed me they did not visit patients at home for something as trivial as that.  I told him I did not think that breast cancer was trivial and I was in severe discomfort.  He told me that I had to come to the out of hours clinic at the General Hospital.  By this time I was going frantic, you all know my problems with travelling and I had so wanted to stay calm for Monday.  He told me I could take it or leave it.  I could see my own doctor on Monday morning.  I pointed out that Monday morning I am due at the Breast Clinic to see my consultant.  Well, you either come down here or you have to put up with it.  I had no choice. So I set off for an appointment at 9.40p.m.

Becky had to rush over to help keep me calm.  We get to the hospital.  They had not been told I was coming even though everything was supposed to have been faxed through.  They could not find my records as the computers were down.

I go in to see this doctor.  To be honest, he could have been Joe Bloggs off the street.  First he asked whether it was correct I had a lump or swelling.  I told him I had.  He asked me why I had been crying.  I told him because I was agoraphobic and any journey was difficult for me and also because I was in pain and even riding in the car hurt.  He then asked me to strip to the waist.  I did so but then had to point out to him we were on the ground floor and his blinds were open!!!!!!  He reluctantly closed them.  He examined me (remember my wounds are still fresh) without even washing his hands and God only knows who he had seen before me. 

He asked me what the operation was for.  I told him breast cancer.  He poked and prodded and agreed it was a cyst or an accumulation of fluid.  He examined the scars again.  Again he asked me what I had had surgery for.  He took my bp and my pulse.  Wrote a few notes then just stared blankly at me.  I asked what would be done.  He said he could do nothing.  I pointed out I was at the hospital and there must be some hospital doctor on hand who could give me a local anasthetic and drain it so I could have a pain free weekend.  He said he was not authorised to do anything, he was just an emergency general practitioner from an agency and had nothing to do with the hospital.  I told him in that case he should get a second opinion from someone in the hospital.  Blank looks.

I asked him whether thenotes he had written would be sent to the breast clinic for Monday morning so that my surgeon could see them.  No I was told, they go to your own doctor.  I told him that was no good, my own doctor would not be able to do anything.

He said go home and take paracetamol.  I told him paracetamol were not touching the pain.  He said words to the effect that I was not actually screaming when he touched me.  I told him I have a fairly high pain threshhold and what good would screaming do.  He said it was not red or inflamed and he could find no sign of infection, so in his opinion antibiotics were not necessary especially as I had just finished a course.  I asked what would happen if the swelling continued to grow over the weekend.  He then said I would have to go back to Accident and Emergency and it would be arranged for someone to drain it for me.  I told him we are right next to Accident and Emergency, is is only feet away, give me a note and I will go in there.  Blank looks.   He then asked a third time what I had the operation for. 

I almost shouted by now that I had had a lumpectomy for a tumour and the removal of the lymph nodes under my arm.  He asked if I meant a lump in my breast.  I seriously wondered whether this man had ever qualified.

So, we came home.  I am still in as much discomfort, pain killers do not touch it.  Now I am facing a miserable weekend and when I go to the clinic on Monday I now not only face the results, the date of the commencement of my radiotherapy and anti-cancer drugs, I also face having to have this cyst drained plus any antibiotics that are needed.  As if I needed more pressure than I already have!!!!!!  I only hope it does not put my treatment back.

To say I am disgusted with the way I was treated tonight is putting it mildly.

I know my surgeon is not going to be best pleased with the way I was treated or the fact it has been left over the weekendbut it is up to him to take it further if necessary.  I only know that I feel very low right now.  There is nothing worse than pain, worry that it could get worse, worry that I might have to go rushing back over the weekend and they will have to drain it anyway.  Then I have Monday to face.

They say it never rains but it pours.  I wish it would stop raining in my life.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that the situation will not get any worse and that on Monday, my surgeon will drain it for me or arrange for it to be drained and it will not delay my treatment by much. 

As for that doctor I saw, I am glad he is not my GP. He was about as much use as a chocolate teapot.