"Treatment of an acute kidney stone episode"

I was admitted into A&E pre-christmas 2023 with acute abdominal pain and diagnosed with a renal calculus residing in my ureter. Pain relief was given.

I was discharged to Craigavon for ultrasonic blast treatment which was unsuccessful. I was re-admitted to RVH A&E with recurring acute pain and had a general anaesthetic and uroscopy (on the emergency list) not long after.  A ureter stent was inserted alongside the stone which was left in my  ureter. 

I was told that stent and stone would be removed 3-4 weeks later following a short course of antibiotic treatment.  Although the wards were extremely busy over this period, overall my care was good and the staff, although short-staffed and busy, were very hard working and attentive as they could be.

My problems arose after discharge in trying to get the indwelling stent and kidney stone removed.  I was called for pre-op assessment at City Hospital urology department the next month.  Then I received a letter 2 days later from Belfast City Hospital Waiting List Manager stating that my surgery date had been cancelled.  I had no notification of this scheduled surgery appointment and if I hadn't received the cancellation letter I would have been oblivious to the date and would have missed my operation slot and been labelled as a non-attendee, thus wasting valuable anaesthetic and surgery resource. 

I have since contacted the secretary of the consultant, who I have never met but was listed on my cancellation letter, to enquire re the proposed date for a re-scheduled op.  I have been told that consultants have no control over operation scheduling and was advised to contact the waiting list office.

I contacted the urology waiting list office and was told I was on the list but no date could be offered and I would have to wait until notified.  My medical condition has worsened in that I am now in constant low grade pain, producing regular blood stained urine and if I undertake exercise in excess of 10 minutes walking I incur acute pain and significant haemorrhage and blood clots in next urination.  I have informed the consultant (via their secretary) of these developing symptoms  but have been advised not to be concerned and to wait for the notification from waiting list office to schedule surgery which is outside the consultant's control. 

I am on desk duties only for work, have increasing clinical signs associated with the presence of the temporary indwelling stent (i.e. pain, frequent blood-stained urination, resultant nocturia and lack of sleep) all of which would not have occurred or would have been resolved with surgery and I have still no indication either from Waiting List office or Urology Consultant's office in City Hospital of a proposed date for this surgery.

My life is presently in limbo (and in pain) and I am naturally concerned re the consequential trauma being caused by this temporary ureteric wire implant and the large kidney stone which have both been in situ for 12 weeks now (when planned removal was 3-4 weeks), with no obvious indication of a date for removal and frustratingly no communication from the Belfast Health Trust waiting list office or City Hospital Urology department. 

As it has been several weeks since I attempted contact with the City Hospital, I will try again shortly and if unsuccessful again with gaining information, I will attempt to get a referring letter from the consultant to seek private options for removal of the implant (stent) and kidney stone before further damage is done to my urinary system and my mental health. 

In hindsight if I had realised the severe difficulties with second operation scheduling, long waiting lists and absence of patient involvement in communication of appointment scheduling, I would have strongly pressed initial surgeon to not insert implant and attempt stone fragmentation (laser) and removal at initial surgery.  To be continued......