Would you self-pay for an operation?

sharon.1969

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782028#Comment_118782028

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782028#Comment_118782028

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782028#Comment_118782028

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782028#Comment_118782028

sharon.1969

I have had the MRI done which i paid for myself in Clane hospital. Now i just need to see a consultant tha takes paying customer for his opinion on what needs to be done. I dont mind paying for the consultant but then going on the waiting list to get the procudure done if that make sence

Dempo1

So a curious update. Having had an MRI done in a public hospital, June 2021, results were a mixed bag , register 99% sure osteoarthritis evident , there was issues reading and accessing scans due to cyber attack . Some weeks later letter received by my GP saying wear and tear evident but nothing conclusive.

Pain in left knee and side excruciating for a number of years, gradually worsening before MRI . Prior to MRI it was thought I might have torn ligaments, went for physio but it actually made situation worse. So my GP early in 2022, decided after a number of failed attempts for an update from hospital to seek in writing a face to face appointment, this happened today.

So first I was greeted by a request for for another X-ray on the knee before seeing registrar. I knew full well what this would show, wear and tear under knee cap. The examination followed but much more thouragh , Doctor clearly saw I was in pain, did a few nerve and movement tests etc . Immediately suspected there is something further up, possibly pelvis or back actually causing the chronic pain in my knee which included pins and kneedles and stiffness in entire leg when I lay down, pain has also spread to hip but not as bad as Leg. Second X-ray done on pelvis area , some wear a tear but doctor now convinced there's an underlying back issue all along which has been the cause of chronic pain in my left leg for a few years now. To be fear my pain was always in my knee and leg , it never dawned on me it could be a back problem.

Now he's requested a full MRI on my back which will take a few weeks to get done. I'm still baffled as to why my knee and leg in constant pain and just a slight pain in hip and lower back area. Doctors believe it's primarily because the knees support a lot of body weight.

So still none the wiser but hopefully a full back MRI might give an answer finally and almost for years into this Journey now.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118819195#Comment_118819195

Has your GP seen MRI results or a specialist to determine what has been found 🤔 based on those results you will still need a referral , I believe from your GP , wether it be to private or public consultant. If you actually have the results, images , I would think public or private would take the same amount of time albeit a private operation, if required may be faster if private but very expensive.

sharon.1969

Yes my Doctor has sent a referral after the images of scan did show a tear in the knee but unfortunately when I ring to see has the Department in Tullamore received the referral they tell me not yet so I seem to be going around in circles.. referral sent a few times to Department but each time they say not up on system yet and that there is a backlog... so could be 1.5 years before I even get a consultation publicly... and that's even without anything being done. Seemly you can't pay to see a consultant private and then go public for the operation... its one way or the other. This is why I asked if anyone has been able to do what I am trying to achieve to pay private for consultation and wait to go public for operation?

On the public vs private argument, I had horrendous waits as a private patient to see an ENT. I have issues with an ear that crops up once in a while (due to surgery I had a long time ago). I needed access to someone who could do a slightly complicated micro suction and cleaning job. Audiologists wouldn’t touch it as it’s too complicated. Took 4 months to get an outpatients appointment and I’ve on of the highest VHI plans.

I was considering going to the continent and presenting in A&E as it was ridiculously painful.

The Irish healthcare system just doesn’t work. It’s literally dangerous at this stage.

phormium

I would also understand that you cannot privately go to consultant and then based on their findings go on to public list for the treatment, it's one or the other. There used to be some way of doing this but it results obviously in people 'jumping' the public queue so think that loophole was sealed off few years back. This used to be a subject of discussion a lot online in various places.

As for the knee pain coming from somewhere else this is I would have thought fairly common too, referred pain especially from hip. I know when my father had a problem with what he thought was his knee doc discovered it was a hip problem he had, he needed a hip replacement, he never so much as had a twinge in the hip!

That said I can see how you would be driven to pay for an op rather than wait when in pain but I'm not even sure if hospitals would allow that option unless you have a fairly hefty bank balance as the risk is complications. What should have been a routine hip op for my father with a 5 day stay turned into a month in hospital with 2 further surgeries and a bill of over 40k many yrs ago, now he had health insurance but that was the cost back then to VHI

It's hugely depressing to be living with constant pain and the delays in the health service, unfortunately I don't know what the answer is, the cataract set up the Healy Raes have going on is great but don't know if that translates in any way into the type of treatment you need.

PS found an old discussion on it on AAM https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/can-i-see-a-consultant-privately-and-then-go-public-for-the-procedure.192547/

PoisonIvyBelle

Hey OP. I've mostly self paid for my consultant appointments and procedures so I can hopefully help a bit. I think this will be easier to arrange than you think.

My dr is good but what I did was went in with a list of surgeons I'd found from my own research and then he offered suggestions too and we chose one out of that which he referred me to. He can't not refer you but if he does then just go to another doctor. I then called them to see what the average waiting time was for an appointment. You could even do this in advance before getting the referral sent. My most recent referral was a few months ago and my appointment is next week after about a 3 month wait (orthopedic surgeon). I've never been waiting longer than that for private.

PoisonIvyBelle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118860491#Comment_118860491

I've been able to do the private/public switch for things like getting a consult and then being switched over to the consultant's public service. I think it depends on the consultant. But the problem is you still end up with public waiting queues.

Fionne

I have an update - I have an appointment (finally!) tomorrow to see a consultant neurosurgeon at the private clinic in CUH.

Having asked in October for my GP to refer me to someone, it took until July for it to be done properly (he had referred me in February but as a public patient, NOT what I asked for).

I'm petrified. No matter what I'm told, it's gonna be hard. If he says he can't/won't do anything surgical to help, then I'm doomed to this state of constant pain I've been in for 14months now.

If he says I need surgery.....well that's just terrifying.

Anxiety is through the roof just thinking about it.

Gremlinertia

@FonE with your post here and another thread I strongly suggest you see at least a different GP for a second opinion on these issues

Grem

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118169056#Comment_118169056

That is something I remember very well in the Uk, with the NHS, as a short cut...

Fionne

Update - I saw a consultant on Saturday. He has said he will operate on October 21st, a disk decompression. 4-6 weeks recovery time all going well.

It's spinal surgery and general anaesthetic but because of bed shortages in CUH, it will have to be done as a day procedure which means I'd be sent home that same evening. Kinda concerned about that because he made a point of asking how far away I lived which I assume means the closer I am to the hospital the better just in case of post-operative complications. He also works in the Mater Private and there would be no question about an overnight stay there but my insurer won't cover me for that hospital.

I'm 35 miles away if I go home. I'm wondering if I should book a hotel in Cork city and stay there (my boyfriend would be with me) just in case I did need an ambulance or doctor during the night.

On another note - my GP decided to cut back my pain medication from 60 a month to just 40 without even consulting me and very condescendingly told me "not to get excited" when I challenged him on it and asked why a simple phone call to discuss it with me hadn't been done. He even asked me "Why are you on them?" - Do doctors not EVER read your file on the computer they sit in front of? So angry I could've throttled him. He's agreed to prescribe the missing 20 but it's the principal of it, changing medication without telling the patient is a joke.

Thoie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119670769#Comment_119670769

Besides post-op complications (rare), a long drive after surgery is never particularly fun, particularly on bumpy roads. I suppose you want to weigh up the advantages of being in your own bed (not having to get up and out at a set time in the morning) vs the bumpiness of the roads home.

As mentioned above, it sounds like a change of GP might be in order, if there's another one nearby you can see.

Fionne

I finally got word that my health insurance will cover the operation so at least I don't have to fret about that anymore.

I was talking with a friends husband who had similar surgery 8 weeks ago in a private Cork hospital as he has higher level health insurance than I do. He was kept in until 1pm the following day. He also had his pre-op assessment in person and had bloods taken, etc whereas mine is being done "virtually" via phone call.

I have an option of staying with my boyfriend which is 17km from the hospital rather than the 50km to my own place. I could stay with him for a few days and then make the rest of the journey home.

Noeldock

Hi FonE

Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this thread, but after years of suffering with lower back pain which morphed into painful sciatica down my right hip and leg for past 2 years something changed 2 weeks ago leaving me barely able to walk with the pain shooting down my right hip and leg. I was sent to A&E Immediately by my GP with a request for urgent Mri and an evaluation by a neurosurgeon. I spent 4 days there and was well looked after. Received pain meds and got Mri done. Although I was not seen by neurosurgeon he did review my scan and diagnosed Severe Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis. As he judged this did not require emergency surgery I was discharged back to my GP and will be called to the Neurology out patient clinic for ongoing evaluation in 6 weeks, and also a recommendation to engage with a Physiotherapist.

My GP has advised me that this scenario is probably entry to a merry go round of out patient appointments where nothing will probably ever be done and has set about getting an appointment for me to see a neurosurgeon privately

I have no medical card or no Health insurance, could never afford the later a d never qualified for the former.

I am in constant searing pain and even with pain meds can only spend a few minutes sys time on my feet.

As a farmer my lively hood is at serious risk so will have no choice but to proceed privately and suffer the costs.

Can you let me know which surgeon you dealt with, was the outcome successful, how are you now and what the final costs looked like

Thank you Noel

Da_Timo

Would be interested in finding out more too as I’m going through similar issue last few years.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118173978#Comment_118173978

I see your point, however A&E is for far more then ‘life threatening’ issues…. Accident and emergency

Fionne

For anyone interested - I had my operation almost 8 weeks ago now. It all went ok thankfully, I was very nervous as it had to be done as a day case (not normal procedure - no beds in CUH) so I had surgery from 9am-11.30am and was sent home at 4pm. If I told you walking along the seemingly endless hospital corridors and maneouvring myself into a car seat was an ordeal that would be understating it. The surgeon wasn't able to insert a titanium mesh that he'd hoped to but he did nevertheless remove ligaments from my back to make space for the impinged nerves that were causing me pain. I vaguely remember him speaking to me while I was still groggy from surgery so I'm not even sure I'm remembering all that correctly. There's been zero follow-up and yes, I know I could make an appointment to see him but it would cost me another €100 to do that so I'm not going to.

I still have some pain, different to what I had before though so hopeful that the surgery worked and the pain I have is part of the recovery process and readjusting to sitting down again - which I hadn't been able to do since June or July 2021.

Graces7

So sorry for all the ....there is no word. I am English and most of my life with the NHS which has appalling problems too but not on this scale. And so glad you are through as much as you are - and thank you for posting as I wondered if you had had better treatment.

apache

You really should make a follow up appointment. You should be checked by the consultant. And €100 is very cheap! Try and get the money from somewhere.

After 8 weeks post op your pain should have decreased dramatically.

Try and go get yourself seen. The whole thing was very rushed.

gazzaman22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119999162#Comment_119999162

How are you now FonE? Hope all is good with you

Fionne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134054#Comment_120134054

I am good thank you. I am now able to sit down for long periods, although I'm still alternating with the standing desk at work because I just don't want the problem I had to return (or at least not for a long time - it may well do as the issues I have are not fixed entirely by surgery). I travelled by train a few weeks ago and did 2 hours sitting without being in pain or going numb - it's all progress. My only limitations now are bending, I can tie my left shoe for example but can't do my right. If that's all the issue I have though, I'll take it anyday over what I went through.

CreadanLady

Take a week off work. Present in A&E and be prepared to spend the week camping out there until you are seen to. And call into every national and local liveline type show you can think of while there. Dig in refuse to budge, even if they threaten to call the Gardai. Let them call the Gardai. Good fodder for Joe Duffy and will work in your favour when you've to tell joe to hold because the HSE have the Gardai here to take you away.