Hospitals postpone procedures due to COVID-19

Anonymous

Hospitals postpone procedures due to COVID-19

littlesnail

It drives me fucking crazy that I barely made it outside the hospital from my 2 minute consult and the hospital went into lockdown, cause it will now serve as a coronavirus center. They couldn't book me for another procedure, cause the room that has all the book, asked me to call next week. I'm quite worried about the coming weeks.

(removed by Mods)

Beatmon

My facility has cancelled all non emergent surgical procedures and an hour ago posted all non emergent imaging will be postponed

sweetp6217

Not as drastic here, but I had my last mammo in February, had to make an appointment with my S.O. and they call to say that it's cancelled. They did manage to get me in on a different week. Think is, they did extra films on the treated side. She says,"You know what? I think I'll do some more images." Prior to that, my MO spent more time kneading the left one and the pit. I asked her why and she said, "Though something was there, scar tissue?". So, obviously no rush for the consult.

You also may ask what the radiologist said, "Looks good. See you in a year". Thing is, the 02/2020 mammo was for the left only. That means the right gal will be ignored for 1 & 1/2 years! Mammos have been iffy before, so I'm not swallowing that.

bcincolorado

Our hospital is locked down and only emergency surgeries allowed. No visitors except in the NICU or maternity who can have one person in there for delivery. Meanwhile those waiting on cancer growing wait.

Nana2-8

I'm scheduled for April 14th, and as we all know....NO ONE will know how crowded and busy the hospital may be by that time. Last week I was told that I would "not be in danger" if I needed to be delayed. Problem is....how long is "delayed"? A week? 2 weeks? A month? 2 months? I am a 'snowbird' and tho we are isolating, the weather is surely more pleasant in SC than Wisconsin right now. Buying food sparingly in anticipation of leaving....or should I be doing things for freezer if we end up staying south? It was a huge relief to hear I wouldn't be in danger. However, I am hearing that the hospital 'up north' will allow only the patient....no one else. Can't begin to imagine saying goodbye to DH in the parking lot and entering the hospital for my surgery. Be at the door w/IV placement and administer Valium immediately...wheel me up in a wheelchair! Wake me when it's over!!! ~ We're all going thru these trying times, and this just adds to the stress.

JRNJ

nana. That is very frustrating. What type of surgery? So glad I just finished chemo and radiation not delayed so far.

Nana2-8

JRNJ - I'm scheduled for 'partial mastectomy' - which I freaked out about upon hearing it during initial meeting with 'the team'. I've since realized that when they say that, it is, in their terms, a lumpectomy. However, I have two areas of concern and it is their hopes that the tumor would be accessed first with hopes of 'tunneling' the the other area. In my head, I have already come to terms that I may wake up with a mastectomy. In that regard, I have already expressed my desire to NOT have any attempt at reconstruction.

All in all, I really feel I will be delayed to some extent....just don't know when. May find out further details later this week. I am nervous about being anywhere near any hospital at this point, much less being a patient there! If I can be someone who waits, while the staff meets the needs of those dealing with the COVID crisis, I'll gladly step back and out of their way!

Spookiesmom

Florida governor ordered all “non essential “ surgeries delayed. Excluding cancer tumor surgery. Can’t get a knee replaced but can get the ca out.

JRNJ

Nana, you have to go with your gut. They say ILC does grow slow. But I am personally more afraid of cancer than the virus and don't want any delays. They kept minimizing my cancer, but I ended up with 2 positive nodes that didn't show up on any scans and only 1 showed up the day of surgery, and turned to 2 macromets on final pathology. I'm also afraid of having additional node involvement that hasn't been addressed because they only took 5. ILC is very sneaky and I feel drs. sometimes don't take this into account.

I had several appointments last week for me and my daughter, who had a minor surgical procedure due to an ear condition and went to Shoprite. My husband wouldn't take her, he had to work (angry face). I am immune compromised and got shots to boost it last week. But overall I am strong and 54. I had my surgery about 6 weeks after dx, but chemo was delayed as I went for 3 opinions. But that is because they didn't want to give me chemo and I wasn't comfortable with that. So it wasn't like I was delaying chemo, I was delaying not getting chemo. But surgery was 9/24 and now I don't want to delay radiation any more. I also had a hospital infection and tissue expanders removed and hate the hospital, but still ok with going there for radiation.

AliceBastable

Nana2-8

A lumpectomy is basically an informal term for a partial mastectomy. When I had mine, the tumor was in the upper outer quadrant of my left breast, fairly far over. The incision was along the edge of the areola so I'd have an invisible scar, and the tissue to be removed was accessed in a tunneling move. It's a pretty common method.

Moderators

Interview opportunity:

NPR in DC would like to interview someone who has had to delay their breast cancer surgery because of COVID-19 and how that has affected their care.

If you're interested in participating, please email Ella Chick at echick@breastcancer.org by Monday May 11, 2020. Thank you!

Nana2-8

I'm afraid what I would have to say right now would get them knocked off the air!!! I am so angry, annoyed, concerned, getting depressed, upset, becoming more and more fragile.......as delay after delay ticks on! The hospital where my surgery will (EVENTUALLY!!!) be done has had somewhere between 3 and 6 COVID 19 patients!!! And here I sit.....waiting. As are so many others.....for various other serious ailments......for no SANE reason. The very fact that what began as a health issue has become mingled with a political issue is mind-numbing! The lump in my throat from forcing down the tears gets more lingering with each passing day.

sweetp6217

Nana2-8,

I hope to God that the hospitals make new plans to coordinate covid. Some hospitals are only for covid and a handful are for people like you that need surgery and all sorts of things NOW. I really don't know why these medical centers didn't do it when they had the chance (when covid started trickling in. I'm not blaming the health care pros, too late for blaming. Praying for you.

Edit: I know that everyone is different, but when I had my lumpectomies (left breast, and 2 nodes in the armpit region), I got to go home that night, (after the anethesia wore off. That was my experience. I went in knowing that they were planing a lumpectomy, but could go further. In addition, prior to all of that, when I first spoke to my surgeon, she gave me a 50/50 choice, mastectomy or lumpectomy, for MY type of cancer.

Nana2-8

I'm sorry I haven't returned to this thread to up-date. I had my lumpectomy (plus 4 nodes) on June 22nd. Surgery at 9:30 AM and I was back home by 3:00 PM. They gave me a pain pill before I left the hospital; I took another before trying to settle down to sleep (no sleep to speak of!) and took one more in the morning. Then switched to Tylenol about 6 hours later and never used the remaining 3 pain pills. Not comfortable wearing the "straight-jacket" bra 24/7.....and still wearing a sports bra around the clock!!! However.......HEAR YEE......HEAR YEE !!! Yesterday I got the news during my appointments with my MO and RO = No Chemo......No Rads!!! Did we celebrate last night? You bet we did!!! One more appointment with surgeons NP, to address the 'nipple healing' which is still quite uncomfortable but very bearable. Over and Out!!!

sweetp6217

Nana2-8:

That is such happy glorious news! Sending virtual fireworks!

About sleeping though, and this is late, I've been sleeping in a soft rocking power recliner (at night) since my hysterectomy. I've tried the new firm mattress, but, no good. I fall asleep on one of my arms and in some sort of discomfort on the surgery side.Thank goodness for recliners.