• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Cancelled operation

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Sals75

Sals75

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I was meant to be having a total hysterectomy on 3rd July. This had been planned by the hospital to fit in with my work (I am a head teacher) so I would only need to take off three weeks from work and I can use the summer holidays to recover. (There is no way I would take 6-8 weeks off in term time!!!) Went last week to have all my pre-op checks done and they have now said I can't have my op as my diabetes isn't under control enough. I am gutted. They have referred me to the diabetic team now. I'm guessing they mean a team at the hospital as I already have a specialist nurse I see regularly.

Has anyone else had experience of having an operation cancelled due to their diabetes? I've only been diagnosed as type 1 since November so my BG levels do tend to be a bit all over the place. Not sure what they expect from me before they are prepared to operate. Have had no communication at all from the hospital. They didn't even tell me my operation wasn't going ahead. I only know because I rang today to ask a question and it all came out. Realise they need to keep me safe but so frustrating...
 
I've only had 2 operations, both under general anaesthetic, in my life, both in the 21 years since diagnosis. One was as a result of an accident - a 9cm gash in my upper arm, caused by a driver opening his car door without looking for me cycling. At A&E, I said I'd be happy to have wound cleaned under local anaesthetic, but plastic surgeon insisted on GA, then I was kept nil by mouth for most of the next 56 hours, as more serious emergencies kept coming in, and naturally took precedence. I needed an arthroscopy (keyhole investigation) of my knee after a posterior cruciate ligament injury. After investigation revealed extent of problem, I was offered repeated stretching and plastering under GA or sedation every 2 weeks, but decided to try painful physiotherapy twice a week, which worked, without stopping me driving and cycling and not requiring crutches for a straight leg. My blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure etc were all checked, as it was nearly 6 months from injury to arthroscopy. I was also due to have an op on my frozen shoulder, but it resolved itself between pre op clinic and op date, so I cancelled.
That's a long way of saying that any operation involves weighing up the benefits and risks of the procedure and various types of anaesthetic. I'm guessing your hysterectomy is not for cancer, as that would have to go ahead.
My guess is that you will be offered support from diabetes team, so that you can get your diabetes under better control. Perhaps consider you and gynae surgeon will consider hysterectomy in a year's time, so you can make use of the summer vacation for your recovery?
 
Sals75 said:
I was meant to be having a total hysterectomy on 3rd July. This had been planned by the hospital to fit in with my work (I am a head teacher) so I would only need to take off three weeks from work and I can use the summer holidays to recover. (There is no way I would take 6-8 weeks off in term time!!!) Went last week to have all my pre-op checks done and they have now said I can't have my op as my diabetes isn't under control enough. I am gutted. They have referred me to the diabetic team now. I'm guessing they mean a team at the hospital as I already have a specialist nurse I see regularly.

Has anyone else had experience of having an operation cancelled due to their diabetes? I've only been diagnosed as type 1 since November so my BG levels do tend to be a bit all over the place. Not sure what they expect from me before they are prepared to operate. Have had no communication at all from the hospital. They didn't even tell me my operation wasn't going ahead. I only know because I rang today to ask a question and it all came out. Realise they need to keep me safe but so frustrating...
Click to expand...
What's your hba1C?? I've never had an op cancelled and my control has never been perfect....far from it tbh! x
 
It may be that getting referred to the hospital diabetes team will help. They have so much more experience to draw on than the nurses at a GP practice.

Whilst I know that it is tempting to put your school first, and I really do understand that after many years as a teacher, your health is important. Is there a deputy champing at the bit who could cover you and gain useful experience? Look after yourself.
 
BrokenPancreas1994 said:
What's your hba1C?? I've never had an op cancelled and my control has never been perfect....far from it tbh! x
Click to expand...
Is that when they do your levels from a blood test? If so, then 8.5.
 
I
SB2015 said:
It may be that getting referred to the hospital diabetes team will help. They have so much more experience to draw on than the nurses at a GP practice.

Whilst I know that it is tempting to put your school first, and I really do understand that after many years as a teacher, your health is important. Is there a deputy champing at the bit who could cover you and gain useful experience? Look after yourself.
Click to expand...
do have an amazing deputy and I know everyone would be fine...I am perhaps a bit of a control freak though!!!!
 
Sals75 said:
Is that when they do your levels from a blood test? If so, then 8.5.
Click to expand...
Ah that's the reason your op has been cancelled, they like the A1c to be below 7.5 The reason being you wont heal very well with syrup running through your veins. Also being inactive plus the stress of surgery will increase your levels as well.
Sounds like a good plan of action to see the hospital diabetes team who hopefully can iron your problems and help get your numbers down.
 
I was due to have major surgery on my bowel which has been "suspended" due to having been diagnosed with D. At the moment I don't know what type I am or what will happen next.

It is worrying me.
 
Sals75 said:
I

do have an amazing deputy and I know everyone would be fine...I am perhaps a bit of a control freak though!!!!
Click to expand...

So look after yourself, work with the hospital team and have the op when you are in range and they can fit you in. School will survive, and you will be back feeling healthier. ( Easier said than done .. I know)
 
Bill Stewardson said:
I was due to have major surgery on my bowel which has been "suspended" due to having been diagnosed with D. At the moment I don't know what type I am or what will happen next.

It is worrying me.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that Bill. Have you been referred to the diabetic team?
 
Sals, take a leap of faith and dare to loosen the reins a bit and give your deputy responsibility whilst you tackle your health issues. I remember needing a hysterectomy and was in a high octane profession managing other professionals. But it had to be done and the team survived. Many years of severe stress has taken its toll on me though and sometimes we just can't fit operations around work schedules. I'm afraid I'm a bit cynical about these things now because occupationally we are all so replaceable.

Hope you can get your BG's down soon and the hysterectomy sorted but don't make your own health fit round term times to your own detriment. I tried to get to work far too soon after a hysterectomy and it did me no good. I know it sounds a bit preaching but I've been there and now I'm not I realise nobody has 'I wish I'd spent more time at work' on their tombstone!
 
I adored my job - but there again I enjoyed every day I had off after my hysterectomy - I had it done in mid May, we had a fab summer and all over me (literally very nearly including above and below the thin red line) had a wonderful tan ! (Most of which - I feel I should add - no-one back at work ever saw LOL)
 
Sals, I was diagnosed D on May 16th, since then not been referred to anyone, only D person Ive seen is the nurse.
To be honest it seems that being D counts for not much at all round here.
 
Bill Stewardson said:
Sals, I was diagnosed D on May 16th, since then not been referred to anyone, only D person Ive seen is the nurse.
To be honest it seems that being D counts for not much at all round here.
Click to expand...
it is unusal for Type 2 to be reffered to hospital teams.
 
Good news-diabetic team at the hospital have given me the go ahead. Having my op 18th July which is a relief. They were satisfied my waking levels have been 6-10 over last 2 weeks. Got to keep them steady til then!
 
Sals75 said:
Good news-diabetic team at the hospital have given me the go ahead. Having my op 18th July which is a relief. They were satisfied my waking levels have been 6-10 over last 2 weeks. Got to keep them steady til then!
Click to expand...
That's great.

I was going to say that my HBA1C is usually high. I was a secondary maths teacher for a years and I never had good control (I'm easily susceptible to stress). Since I quit teaching though they've been better. But my point is that I had an HBA1C of something like 9.1 and was still okay to be put under general anesthetic for an operation.
 
Sals75 said:
Good news-diabetic team at the hospital have given me the go ahead. Having my op 18th July which is a relief. They were satisfied my waking levels have been 6-10 over last 2 weeks. Got to keep them steady til then!
Click to expand...

Great news Sals...but don't be rushing back before you're ready! 🙄
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top