orthapaedics at west middlesex hospital

[Fiona-Jane]

does anyone have any experience of the outpatient orthapaedics dept at west middesex hospital? i finally managed to make my dr realise that my pain etc is real (ive been trying to make various dr's believe me for over 10 years!! ) and im scheduled to see a consultant on the 24 jan.

ive not been told who im gonna see, i guess it'll be whoever is free.

fi xx

[sarahh]

Hi Fi

Just a thought:
You could try phoning the hosp appt office to see whether they know who the consultant is as they probably sent the appt letter to you.

Sarah x

[Sue New]

mod edit - link fix

Hi Fi,

Not sure if this will be of any help, but here is the Dr Foster's link to the West Middlesex Hospital for Rheumtology. It lists the consultants within this field at the bottom:

Dr. Foster Link

I think Prof Pope used to work out of West Mid as well, but it looks as though he has moved on now .

Good luck with you appt

Sue.

[Fiona-Jane]

hi all, rang the hospital to confirm the appointment and the consultant im seeing will be Mr H //////. he has a web site and he looks to be very qualified, and also does a lot of work in paediatrics, especially developmental hip displasia (hips that disclocate) so hopefully he wont be too shocked by my loose joints!!

fi xx

mod edit - name removal

[Fiona-Jane]

hiya all, just a little update before i go to meet a friend in london for coffee...


i saw the consultant today, well actually i saw a member of his team. i was seen on time, which was a nice change!! he was lovely and really helpful and didnt automatically assume that i was making it all up. he sent me for a ton of xrays and saw me again after them, fitting me in between his next clients. the xrays showed that all my joints are shallower than they should be, but not massively so. he called it multiple displasia, i think. he was concerned that one hip is much looser than the other, even though they look identical on xray and so im going for an MRI scan in 4 weeks. and there is a consultant in the dermatology section that also deals with mulitple joint laxity. so im going to be sent to him too. he was amazed at my back- there was massive gaps between the vertebrae and he said i must be a pretty impressive contortionist!

he wasnt sure what to do with me after the xrays came back so he rang his boss (and let me hear the conversation). thats always a good sign! a consultant that is happy to admit that he needs help! he was very polite and friendly, even though he was very busy. i was very impressed. and he was rather happy that i brought him i some notes!


so im feeling happpy, and a little sore from the poking and prodding but much more relaxed that ive finally been believed. he also gave me the diagnosis of 'multiple joint hypermobility' and said it with a little smile, as if to say, 'well heres the diagnosis, but i expect you knew that anyway!' he was cool!

oh and xray had a chuckle at my expense too.. i had to wear one of those lovely gowns that are open at the back. no indecent exposure as the one they gave me was massive! wrapped round me twice and it almost reached the floor. i walked in to xray, looked at the hem of the gown and pulled a face and they burst out laughing!



so , all in all, im very impressed by my local hospital. i didnt wait for longer than 15 mins (and that was when i was waiting to see the consultant again and didnt actually have an appointment....). im happy today!

back to work tomorrow.

fi xx

[sarahh]

Hi Fi

Glad your appointment went really well and that the consultant was really helpful and understanding abot hms and sent you for xray's. I hope you had a nice coffee with your friend and have a good day at work tommorow.

Sarah x

[Sue New]

Hi Fi,

I am so pleased you had such a wonderful appointment. Your consultant seems really on the ball about everything and it is great they are taking things so seriously (well, not that you have the problems, but you know what I mean ).

To get the MRI in 4 weeks is good news too.

Please keep us updated on what happens next.

Best wishes,

Sue.

[Fiona-Jane]

and i just found out at work that one of my collegues knows the consultant! he's the dad of her son's best mate, and so she knows him well. its a small world!!

fi xx

edited to add- apparently im going to be seeing Professor Pope sometime in the future.....anyone got any experience of him?

fi xx

[Sue New]

Hi Fi,

What a small world eh?

It's great that you will get to see Prof Pope. I have only seen him once when he gave a talk about all his current research at the EDS conference in Leicester last October. He appeared to be like a typical academic professor. Really knowledgable. I am sure you will be in good hands when you get to see him. Lucky you!!

I think you should be really pleased to be treated by such an expert in the filed of HMS/EDS. With all you extra bendy joints, I am sure you will make an excellent case study for him He may even end up naming a new Type of EDS just for you (only kidding ).

Take care,

Sue.

[sarahh]

Hi Fi

Wow what a small world. You are lucky knowing someone who knows a top prof. I hope the appointment with him goes well.

Sarah x

[Fiona-Jane]

i think im just lucky that i get to see prof pope - he does a dermatology clinic a few days a week at my local hospital!! so my consultant knew all about him, and what areas he specialises in etc


i used to moan about my local hospital.... not anymore!

fi xx

[Fiona-Jane]

another little update-

i got my appointment to see prof pope!! its on the 7th march. i expected to have to wait months to see him as he's probably a very busy man..... its even a week before i go for my mri, i fully expected to have my scan, and probably several more appointments with the orthapedic consultant before i was referred to prof pope!


i think i must be the orthapedic surgeons pet project at the moment! he must have helped get the appointment with prof pope to be this soon, and he did get a little twinkle in his eyes after examining my xrays!! im probably the only interesting case he's had in ages!!


i must be the luckiest girl in the world at the moment...... maybe its time i bought the lottery ticket....

fi xx

[hannah]

That is brilliant to hear Fi. I am sooo glad for you.

[Shadowlady]

Brilliant! I have my job interview the day before, so if you like, I can distract you from worrying about your appointment, by phoning you up and going on and on and on for ages about how worried I am about my interview? Honestly, it would be no trouble hun!

I'm not one to condone gambling, but buy a ticket, go on, and when you win, remember who encouraged you.

Best of luck with the Prof!

S

[sarahh]

Hi Fi good luck with your appointment I hope it goes ok, He sounds really nice.

Hi ShadowGirl good luck with your job interview, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Sarah x