Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Two hoots on March 28, 2020, 04:49:44 PM
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Coronovirus is all the news is reporting at the moment, it is and will affect a huge number of people in this country. My SIL is in her early 40's with 3 children, last year she discovered she has a brain tumour, unfortunately it's in a delicate area and could damage nerves to her face. After lots of discussion the consultant decided to scan her every six months and check how fast it's growing before reviewing her treatment.
The scan is due to be carried out next week, but it's cancelled because of the virus :( fortunately she was the last patient seen in a private hospital yesterday as this hospital has also now stopped scans.
The family have been shocked that unless you have coronovirus you are being turned away. How long will people have to wait, how long will waiting lists be when they re-open >:(
I feel sorry for anyone with coronovirus but I don't agree with all other illness being sidelined.
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Honey, I read that in the USA some states are denying ventilators to those CV patients that have cancer or mental health issues.
The world has gone mad.
But in your sister's situation and others like her, they are safer staying away from hospitals, in the short term at least.
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It's a shitty and very sad situation, isn't it.
My mum has cancer and is due to go in for a op this coming Thursday and on Monday i have to drive her DH to Papworth hospital to have the batteryin his pacemaker changed. I am waiting for the phone to ring saying both have been cancelled.
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My aunt has cancer and was due to start treatment the week before last but it's been put on hold. I understand that she will be at increased risk of cv due to the treatment but also if she doesn't have treatment the cancer could/will kill her. it's a no win situation.
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They are pulling all staff into areas that need intensive care. Hopefully many of these patients that have had treatment put on hold will be put forwards once the crisis has peaked, currently due to be around Easter.
It's about evening out the spread of C-19. It is dreadful that other medical needs are put on hold but A&E will be remain busy with accidents, drunks, drug over doses, heart conditions .......... babies.
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I have to say that I am a bit confused by some of this. I can understand operations etc. being cancelled in hospitals where they have cases but where we are they're only now reporting a couple of hospitalised cases, yet they stopped operations a week or so ago. Surely if they didn't have anyone hospitalised with the virus they could still have been carrying out other treatments?
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One would hope that once these field hospitals are set up, essential scans and surgery will go ahead, but we have to realise that in a 'normal' year, many operations are cancelled during Season Flu which we don't get to hear about. Due to icy weather when people fall, due to intake of those with 'flu who will die due to underlying conditions ....... those statistics are not released until the next Autumn because they are spread over many months.
It will depend too on how many medical staff are self isolating due to cold symptoms: on an 'in case' basis. Once testing becomes more available and thorough, these 'in case medics' will be able to return to work.
People with low immune systems have to be shielded hence the cancellation of many treatments. Although when I had radiation treatment I wanted to get it out of the way, I felt that I was getting rid of the tumour, there have been over the years, thoughts that the profession may be over treating with chemo - that it could be given in less amounts over a longer period of time to lessen side effects. But no one in the Oncology World has, as yet, been brave enough to suggest it for fear of repercussions. So although some treatments have been cancelled, it may be that some patients will have had enough chemo to stave off any problems. But Oncologests simply do not know.
The 'C' word still has the power to frighten.
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I have to say that I am a bit confused by some of this. I can understand operations etc. being cancelled in hospitals where they have cases but where we are they're only now reporting a couple of hospitalised cases, yet they stopped operations a week or so ago. Surely if they didn't have anyone hospitalised with the virus they could still have been carrying out other treatments?
I think it's the recovery period that they will be concerned about and complications, as this can be unpredictable so they want to keep space and staff available for the "tsunami" of sick patients (from Covid-19) in the coming weeks.
I too think it is very scary that the lives of these patients are seemingly taking priority over other equally high priority conidtions like cancer which may not kill within days as the virus does without intervention but potentially a lot more people may well die due to delayed diagnosis or treatment.
However I can understand why though. We have all see the pictures from Spain and Itally (but not in this country) of hundereds of sick people being taken to hospital and it is the sheer scale of the crisis and trying to keep it under control is what is driving this, rather than valuing these people's lives (from Covid-19) over other less immediate illnesses.
Hurdity x
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However turning this on it's head: the people in the UK with chronic conditions or those requiring chemo are more likely to survive long term than many who are being rushed into Hospital with possible C-19.
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Well, i'm glad to say that both my Mum's and her DH's ops went ahead as planned. On Monday i took her DH to Papworth and he was in and out in 5 hours and my DH took Mum in yesterday morning at 06.30 and she had her op at 09.00. I know we all have a moan and groan about the NHS sometimes, but i feel very, very fortunate to live in a country where we have access to the service they provide.
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:tulips2: :tulips: for them both !
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Just a quick update on my Mum's cancer treatment. She was discharged from hospital last Monday, 4 days after her op, as they felt that she would be safer at home and yesterday afternoon received a call to say that no further treatment will be necessary.
The care she received and the ongoing support she is getting has been fantastic and i am feeling so, so grateful to everyone involved.
My thoughts are still with everyone waiting for appointments or receiving care and treatment at this crazy time xx
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:medal: tnx so much for the update, I feel a party in the offing :cheer: :cancan:
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Thanks CKLD, a party will be had when the time comes, i'm sure. I certainly slept better last night x
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How far is the journey Teresa - could Macmillan give you a one-off payment for a Taxi there and back? There are probably various one-off gifts to help in your situation. If you don't ask ;)
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Thank you Teresa x
Do you go to Addenbrokes? My DH works as a Private Hire driver and is taking quite a few patients for appointments (oncology and dialysis mainly) at the moment. He has a contract with the West Suffolk, but maybe the same thing is supplied by whatever one you go to.
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Coronovirus is all the news is reporting at the moment, it is and will affect a huge number of people in this country. My SIL is in her early 40's with 3 children, last year she discovered she has a brain tumour, unfortunately it's in a delicate area and could damage nerves to her face. After lots of discussion the consultant decided to scan her every six months and check how fast it's growing before reviewing her treatment.
The scan is due to be carried out next week, but it's cancelled because of the virus :( fortunately she was the last patient seen in a private hospital yesterday as this hospital has also now stopped scans.
The family have been shocked that unless you have coronovirus you are being turned away. How long will people have to wait, how long will waiting lists be when they re-open >:(
I feel sorry for anyone with coronovirus but I don't agree with all other illness being sidelined.
I was due for a hysteroscopy under GA (had one with local anaesthetic in February but too painful to take a biopsy). My first one showed no polyps or fibroids and the lining looked healthy and was only 5mm but they insisted that a biopsy must be done. I had a pre op appointment on March 7th. They rang me with a question on the 19th, just before the lockdown and confirmed that the delay was due to Corona. I have heard nothing since. They did try to ring me yesterday but I missed the call. I tried to ring back but only got a recorded message with no voicemail options.
I am happy to wait a month or so. My bleeding is minimal now. Extremely light and regular once a month like a period. I don't need any protection during the night. I am hoping it will just stop on its own. If I did have it done, I couldn't satisfy their requirement to have someone drive me home and stay with me until the next day because of the current contact/stay in your own home and travel restrictions. I originally planned for a neighbour to collect me and put me up in her house overnight.
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I honestly wouldn't worry katejo.
Interesting that it comes cyclically isn't it?
This business of everything being sidelined for the virus must be very worrying indeed for a lot of people with serious conditions. As you say TwoHoots how long will the waiting lists be once we get back to normal and how will they prioritise? It almost feels like it should be done on a nationwide basis.
The aftermath of this could be worse than the crisis itself.
I am not too worried. The thing which bothered me was the consultant insisting that ALL bleeding must be checked even though I quoted a study saying that bleeding can continue for up to a year not just 6 months. I didn't get any until last September. Mine has been very cyclical.
I feel sorry for patients needing cancer treatment who have been told it will be delayed or suddenly stopped/not offered at all.