Fear of consequences

Whilst waiting in the day surgery unit for my turn, I couldn't help but notice another patient who wouldn't stop talking and giving instructions. I was annoyed. However, I soon realised she wasn't trying to be annoying and that I give instructions as well, especially before and after my last surgery.

It's the fear of consequences that we, as patients, need to live with but medical professionals probably don't think much about.

I wrote a lot of emails and went on and on to the nurses, and later to the doctors, about how things need to be with my care. It was a new hospital, a new team and even though my team sent letters and gave instructions, I was scared things would not work out. Unfortunately I was right.

They practically ignored me and continued doing what they do for all as they said it's protocol. We are not all the same. We do not have the same bodies.

Do medical professionals even care?

When you have been thrown from left to right, gaslighted, told it's nothing but anxiety and depression and that we need therapy to be happier in life, and having dealt with the consequences of the actions of medical professionals, the fear sets in.

In my last case, I needed a catheter for a few days, I needed to not be moved so quickly, I explained many times that my wounds heal very slow. Yet I ended up with raging infections in the wounds and my bladder, and open wounds that wouldn't close for weeks on end. All because they chose to ignore me and my team.

I understand medical professionals have a lot going on, especially on the NHS, and don't have the time or sometimes the energy for 100% personalised care. However, ignoring patients and thinking you just cut into them and leave, is not the answer.

Is it lack of them caring or is it lack of education and knowledge?

Thinking they don't have to deal with what happens after so it's fine, is not healthcare.

Things need to change. We are not trying to be annoying or harass anyone and we also understand that you are healthcare professionals and do this on a daily basis, but we are the ones that suffer later, when we are ignored.