"Feeling Frustrated and consumed by pain."

I have been a patient for the past 2 years or so, of the Kalgoorlie Health Campus Gynaecology. 

Recently, it was established after many appointments and many failed treatment options that I require surgery. My pain and symptoms were originally assessed as a priority 1 status, but due to being the full-time carer of my child who has multiple health issues and disabilities, I requested to opt for a priority 2 due to already booked urgent medical appointments for my child.

At that stage, I was advised the wait time for priority 2 was 60-90 days and at the time my pain was less than it is now. If we were not faced with the current situation then I would have probably already been operated on or at least have a surgery date.

I was in less pain then than what I am now and I felt supported by the team and was comfortable with the decision made by us all. I understand due to the current situation that these time frames have blown out and priority 2 patients have been delayed, however, recently, my symptoms and pain have become unmanageable. My symptoms are affecting my everyday life and my ability to care for my family and to be able to continue to work at full capacity as an essential worker.

I contacted the Gynaecology Outpatients clinic and enquired about my surgery status. Marg was very friendly, understanding and helpful. I was then transferred to the day surgery nurse, who was beyond amazing, helpful, understanding and sympathetic. She then transferred me to the theatre nurse, who listened to my changed situation and was very informative and guided me through the steps that needed to happen to be reviewed because she didn't have the authority to change my priority status.

I followed her advice and contacted my GP to request a letter asking for my case to be reviewed urgently. My usual GP was unavailable and I booked a phone appointment with another GP within the surgery. They wrote a letter and faxed this through to contribute to my potential review. I then contacted the lovely Marg again in the Gynaecology Outpatients to enquire if they had received the letter. Marg advised me that the clinical urgency wasn't documented by the GP and so she listened to my change in circumstances and put notes on the letter for Dr Lilli to review over the weekend and advised me to phone her back on Monday for the outcome.

I contacted Marg on Monday who was the bearer of some, not so, good news. The information provided by the GP was insufficient to change my status and the best she could do was book me in for an appointment with the Gynaecologist in 6-8 weeks. I was dumbfounded and upset, as I am already a current patient, who's situation has changed dramatically since my last appointment.

I totally understand the current situation and the scale of assessing patients on their needs, however, I feel that these are black and white and right now I fall into the grey area. I booked another phone appointment with the GP who did another letter as my pain is consuming me. They have done another letter to support my updated status and change of pain levels and I will call the lovely Marg tomorrow regarding this. I appreciate Marg for her assistance and for dealing with my persistence to be seen sooner due to the change in my circumstances. She has been wonderful.

Hoping to be able to be reviewed in a more realistic time frame as a current patient. The option from the GP to take Tramadol is not ideal for my current situation. 

The 2 options given to me:

1. having to wait 6-8 weeks to be reviewed and 

2. taking harsh pain killers - which are not suitable for my situation of being a carer for my child with high needs, as well as functioning at full capacity in my role as an essential worker.

I do still feel frustrated that I am stuck in a system that I am already in. Why can someone who is already a current patient and a change of circumstances not be seen sooner? Why is it, in my opinion, so frustrating?