A Bettws resident in her fifties has described her two-year ordeal after being forced to wait eighteen months or more for emergency surgery.
Helen Price, 53, received a diagnosis of a substantial fibroid and was categorised as requiring urgent hysterectomy treatment back in 2024.
The growth, which tipped the scales at 17 kilograms, caused constant discomfort and dramatically diminished her daily existence throughout the extended waiting period.
She was not operated on until August 4, 2026.
According to Ms Price, two years previously she discovered an unusual mass in her abdomen while showering.
She sought medical attention and was referred for an MRI examination, which was conducted within one to two weeks.
The imaging revealed a fibroid measuring 23 centimetres during the initial scan.
She was then referred to a specialist who recommended a hysterectomy as the appropriate course of action, placing her on the urgent surgical list, though the anticipated timeframe stretched between six and twelve months.
Despite assurances that the procedure would not exceed twelve months, her operation did not take place until more than eighteen months had elapsed.
Throughout this period, she made numerous attempts to contact the medical facility seeking additional consultations or imaging to track the growth’s progression. However, she was informed that requesting further appointments might result in removal from the surgical queue.
She made repeated phone calls to request assistance, requesting either an appointment or another MRI to better understand her medical situation, only to be warned that any additional consultation would mean losing her spot on the waiting list.
She described how her existence was effectively frozen for two years, during which time she suffered constant pain and struggled to perform even basic tasks. She could not lie on her back, experienced breathing difficulties due to the size of the growth, and was unable to dress herself independently.
She suffered from continuous bleeding for eighteen months, stating that her life was at a standstill. She joked that the experience of carrying the fibroid was comparable to being pregnant with triplets.
When her operation date was confirmed, she was assigned a new consultant who examined her on the day of surgery and expressed amazement at the size of the growth. She lay back on the examination table and the consultant uttered words of astonishment. After consulting with her daughter, the specialist acknowledged that she had never encountered anything of such magnitude. Three additional surgeons were summoned, and four medical professionals in total were required to extract the growth.
Following the procedure, the surgical team discussed her case extensively as no one had previously encountered a similar situation.
She explained that she was never informed about treatment options to reduce the fibroid’s size prior to surgery, despite discovering through patient support communities that such alternatives were available.
She expressed her desire that others would not have to endure similar experiences, urging people not to accept negative responses from medical professionals. She emphasised that individuals understand their own bodies best and should trust their instincts when something feels incorrect.
She expressed profound relief at no longer having to carry the growth and frustration at having been left to suffer for so long. She admitted that at the time she believed she was simply complaining excessively, wondering whether her symptoms were simply part of the expected experience.
Despite her difficult journey, she offered praise for the staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital, describing the surgeons, ward personnel and nursing staff as wonderful.
The South Wales Argus reached out to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for comment.
A spokesperson for the health board responded that they were delighted Ms Price had now received her required treatment and wished her well with her recovery. They acknowledged that waiting for treatment could be challenging, particularly for patients experiencing ongoing symptoms. The representative noted that conditions such as fibroids could have a substantial effect on patients’ everyday lives. They encouraged anyone awaiting treatment who experienced pain or changes in their symptoms to seek guidance so their requirements could be reassessed. The board’s teams were continuing to work diligently to reduce waiting times and ensure patients were prioritised according to their clinical needs.