dVH/RALH: Thinking about cancelling 2/23 surgery

Help! I need advice. After Wednesday's terrible pre-op appointments, I am ready to cancel my surgery. My surgeon's office was very busy due to back-to-back blizzards. I had an appointment at 1:30 and didn't get seen until 4:45! When the resident and surgeon came back to see me both thought I was there for a post-op check up! After seeing them I was supposed to see the nurse for pre-op instructions. When I got dressed and left the exam room, everyone had left for the day and the lights were out! I called back the next day to get the instructions, I just heard from her today! Also, yesterday when I went to the hospital admissions to get pre-op blood work and interviews and they kept me in the waiting room for 2 hours before letting me know that I would have to come back because they didn't have my doctor's orders. I am supposed to go back again tomorrow and they told me to expect another long delay. I know they are busy because of the backlog from the snowstorm but I am worried about the outcome of my surgery if they are that busy. I would appreciate any opinions on this. Should I keep my 2/23 surgery date or should I cancel? Thanks!

I would be inclined to reschedule as well-- unless it is a medical priority to go sooner. I wouldn't want any errors! Good luck!

Hi Firefly62.

Personally, I'd cancel/reschedule unless it's a medical emergency. Often, people are on their best behavior before the surgery; OR, they just have bad customer service, which is scary in and of itself. Maybe the snow storms backed them up to the point that they need to clear their backlog. What you don't need is to have surgery, need these people, and find that forgetting about patients--which is the case here--is common practice for them. Then you'd find yourself seeking help and finding none. Not a lot of docs are willing to touch others docs' patients unless the patients have actually changed geographical locations. To add some comedy to this drama... it seems that unless the doc presents some orders to the hospital/surgical center, you won't be having the surgery anyway Any other docs you can see if this is an emergency?

I agree with the other ladies. It sounds like they are overwhelmed, and I personally would not want them operating on me when they are that overwhelmed. I would reschedule, maybe for some time in late Spring when there is no chance of snow related issues. Hugs sorry it is turning into such a headache.

Me, too. That's kind of scary.