Why the long wait between go decision and surgery?

I am wondering why most of you ladies are waiting so long after the decision is made to have the surgery to actually get it done. Are there long waiting lists for OR time? Is your doctor all booked up for surgery? Also why is the pre-op appt done way ahead of the surgery? Are you gals in Canada forced to wait because of the "system"?

I am still a lady in waiting with a week and a
half to go. I was given a seven week wait.It
is a long time, but I don't mind. It has given
me the time I need to mentally prepare my-
self and the family. Also to get things in order
so to speak. I like to be very prepared, and for
me the waiting so far has not been agony. I
know the main reason I've had so long to wait
is because I specified to the doc. that I want
a gynoncologist on call or standby as they call
it in case of cancer, which in my case is a pos-
sibility. I told my doc. if there was cancer I did
not want further surgery down the road so take
care of it then and there. He agreed, so they
had to coordinate their two schedules.Best of
luck to you.

Hi Sis,

I waited until April to have my surgery for several reasons. I am a teacher, and wanted to wait until the end of the school year in case I decide to take my full 8 weeks, then the summer to recover. I chose not to have my TAH during summer vacation, because I'm going on my honeymoon at the end of July and want to be (hopefully) fully recovered. These reasons may sound a bit selfish, but there's more to life than work!

My pre-op appt was a week before surgery. At that time, my DR told me that his surgery schedule was already filled into June. He's been a wonderful DR and I'm glad I was able to schedule it the way that I did.

Tara

I think my story was a bit different than many of the ladies here. Because I start a very strenuous summer job in late May, my doctor got me a surgery date very quickly so I could be healed for my job. Because I have no insurance and had to get on MediCAL, there were some weeks of dealing with massive paperwork, all pushed through very quickly for a govt beauracracy. Once I waded through all that I thought there would be another wait while the surgery was pre-authorized. But suddenly my doctor called and told me my surgery was scheduled for one week later, but that it was contingent on getting that pre-authorization in time. I went through several days of agony, not knowing if I was going in or not. 4 days before my surgery date, the authorization came through. I had my pre-op appointments the day before surgery. That was a very crazy week. I am so grateful to my doctor. I would have had to wait until August or October, and I lived in fear of having a big pain episode during my summer job (in the middle of nowhere).

I went to my Dr. and told him I was ready that was the end of March. We was going on a vacation - one of my husband's dear friends had breast cancer and he wanted to be able to help her. So for all of us it was best for the beginning of May - 5/8. My last day of work was with week so I will not be working for 2 weeks before my surgery which I am happy about. I wish you luck!!

I'm also in Pennsylvania; my wait was just over 8 weeks. Would have been sooner, but surgeon took two week vacation!

However, being English by birth I'm used to hearing about an average wait of (unless dire emergency) between 3 and 6 months for an elective hysterectomy. Just the way it goes, I think....that's the payoff for free (government subsidised) healthcare. My Mum's was emergency (she had cancer), and still waited four weeks (back in 1990-ish).



Tess

Hi Folks! Here in England the waiting list is currently the end of February.

As I'm now classed as urgent I will be offered a cancellation if someone backs out at the last minute. This will mean only 12-24 hours notice maximum though.

To pay for the treatment in this country is equivalent to a years salary.

I'm hoping for May, early June (no guarantees though) as I teach and would like to think I could return in September.

I had a six week wait between scheduling and the date, and for similar reasons others have already mentioned.

I wanted to get past Christmas, then wanted time to get the house in order, had to wait til DH could take a weeks vacation to take care of our grandson, and when DS would be available for a week before or after DH's vacation to babysit for his nephew.

I had about a 5 week wait. It was strictly because of the dr's busy schedule. My pre op was the day before surgery. I liked having enough time to get my house and everything in order. So while I had time to get nervous, I still liked having time to get everything I wanted to done.

Most of my waiting has been due to having to schedule around work - I have a very physical job from Nov - Apr and did not think I would be recovered enough to do my job. I would originally only have had a 4 week wait for my elective surgery at that time.
I knew that Apr would be the best time for me and was able to get a date of 30 Apr and this should work out well for me.
I also think it depends on the area you live in - some areas are underserviced and sometimes it is the waiting for OR time that makes for a longer wait. The area I live in is rural and that might have a different wait time than someone in a more urban area.
I don't regret having put off the surgery now - I am more prepared and well read on it and all the more cheesed off with my silly uterous and ready to bid it "farewell"! I go in for a blood transfusion next Tuesday and get my TAH the next day - can't wait!