Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Stitch
Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Rosey hi I have had the opp at the P.A. Last year - one year exactly last Thursday the 18th I live in Brisbane in Camp Hill - about 10 min from the hospital. Email me and I will send you my personal email & mobile no. Answer any questions you have :-) Best of luck with your treatment Stitch (Gwen)
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Delirium
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Hi Stitch, My partner has been recently diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei and he has been referred to a new specialist surgeon at the Princess Alexandria Hospital in Brisbane. I was wondering whether you were treated through the public system, or as a private patient and what sort of waiting period you experienced for the initial consultation and then for HIPEC surgery? My thoughts are with all of you affected by this terrible disease, patients and carers alike.
Rosey1045
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Well - I am still waiting for surgery. Admitted to waiting list in January. I am due at the PA Brisbane on 24th June for a review. Then what, I wonder. Originally told it could be midyear but nothing so far. Waiting, waiting....... One good thing - my husband has completed his chemo (for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma)and he feels a lot better. Due to see specialist tomorrow - Townsville Haematology. Fingers crossed.
Delirium
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

I'm sorry to hear you are still waiting Rosey. Please let me know how your review goes.
Stitch
Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Delirium Hi, sorry you and your partner are going through this. I was treated as a public patient. There is no difference between the private or public patients with this operation as its the only hospital that has a theatre large enough for the hipec etc, in Brisbane, is the PA - waiting time is same for all patients. The team there are lovely, but each patient will have their own journey. Swim and/ or Pilates before surgery to exercise the lungs and strengthen the stomach muscles. If you want to get in touch with me - that is fine - please send me a private message. I had my surgery in April 2012 Gwen
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Delirium
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

How long did it take you ladies to get the initial consultation with the surgeon? We had been waiting 3 weeks, only to find the referral not only hadn't been received but the referring specialist hadn't even written it or organised the tests requested by the PA Hospital!
Stitch
Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

hi, it didn't take me long to get a referral, as I had been admitted at emergency from the beginning, so it was with the correct people right from the start for me and all tests were done at the PA. It was caught real quick and early. Hope yours goes through very quick Gwen
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Delirium
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

My partner has been having severe abdominal pain for over 2 years now and has been going to the Dr every couple of months for all that time. He had 3 monthly CT scans, ultrasounds, x-rays and blood tests, all with no significant results except some fluid in his pelvis and around his liver. This was extracted via ultrasound guided aspiration and sent off for testing by pathology, but even that found nothing significant. He also had a gastroscopy done, which found nothing. It was only when the GP threw her hands up in exasperation and sent him to see a diagnostic surgeon that we got some answers. As soon as the surgeon saw the pathology report describing the fluid as gelatinous, he said it was likely to be a ruptured tumour of the appendix. He did a colonoscopy, which found a large number of polyps in the intestine, then scheduled a laproscopy, in order to remove the tumour via keyhole surgery. However, when he put the camera in , he found the tumour was much larger and more aggressive-looking than he expected, so the surgeon took biopsies and didn't perform any further surgery. One week later, we were back at his office, being told the tumour was malignant and beyond his skills to deal with. He said he was going to refer us to a surgeon at the PA Hospital, who was the only person in QLD who could perform this amazing surgery. But now, 4 weeks later, the surgeon still hasn't written the referral and my partner is going crazy from the waiting. We are so frustrated that now they finally know what is causing all this pain, things have stalled. If the surgeon hasn't written the referral by next week, we are going to ask the GP if she can write it instead.
Stitch
Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

Oh that sounds like a long road you have all been travelling. As far as I know the PA does one of the peritonectomy operations once a month (every 4 weeks) When they have more funds available, they do 1 every 2.5 - 3 weeks. They can only do this opp at the PA as it has a very large theatre room. They require two teams of surgeons and all the HIPEC chemo equipment to fit in as well. I was under Nick Lutton and Brian Mead. They are the two teams that work this opperation here. Get a referal off your GP to either surgeon. Best of luck.
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Rosey1045
Occasional Contributor

Re: Peritonectomy Operation/survival

I am under Nick Lutton and Brian Meade at PAH. Hoping to see Dr Meade next week at my review. Originally referred to them last October, and put on waiting list for surgery last January. Hoping for some answers soon!
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