Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
Being diagnosed with a haematological condition can have an emotional impact on the individual and their loved ones. It can make them feel sad or depressed, anxious, fearful of death, or even angry. It is quite normal to experience a wide range of emotions. These emotions may be there a lot of the time or could even come and go.
Sometimes individuals or their family members may initially struggle to accept the diagnosis. It can, therefore, take time for those involved to come to terms with the condition, understand it better, and develop skills to reduce the psychological and physical impact on their lives.
Some people are able to deal with their emotional difficulties with the help of friends and/or family, or even with the support of their health care team such as nurses, GP’s, and consultants. Whilst not everyone will feel the need to see a psychologist, many people find it beneficial to meet with the psychologist for support and to discuss their worries and concerns.
Psychological support can help people to:
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understand the impact of the diagnosis on their mental and physical health
- manage difficult or negative thoughts and feelings
- make sense of their difficulties and explore different coping mechanisms to live more satisfying and meaningful lives
- manage some of the emotional, physical, and social changes that occur when someone develops a haematological or chronic physical illness.
- work on ways to effectively communicate problems or feeling to others
- cope with the uncertainty of life, health, or treatment
Having someone to speak to about your difficulties in a confidential and non-judgemental environment can help people focus on their strengths and resources, and also help them adjust to, or manage their lives better alongside, a physical illness. The psychologist may share appropriate or relevant information with the medical team to enable them to support you better. Additionally, if the psychologist is concerned about any risk of harm to yourself or someone else, then they are duty bound to inform relevant professionals.
Psychologists are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication. They are registered with professional bodies such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS) and adhere to their code of conduct.
Appointments
If you would like psychological support, please ask your consultant or nurse to refer you. If you are an inpatient, the psychologist will visit you in your room or ward. If you are an outpatient, an appointment can be made to meet in one of consulting rooms at Wexham Park hospital. Alternatively, you can also attend outpatient appointments from the comfort of your home via Microsoft Teams (video call) or over the phone.
The initial appointment can last up to an hour. It is an opportunity for the psychologist to get to know you better, and discuss the problems that you would like support with. The appointment may be a one-off or you may agree to meet again on a weekly/fortnightly/monthly basis. The service is flexible so that it meets the individual needs of patients, not ‘one size fits all’.
If you or the psychologist think that you may benefit from another service then you may be signposted or an onward referral can be made with your consent.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Haematology (blood) service.
About this information
Service:
Haematology (blood)
Reference:
R/015
Approval date:
17 August 2023
Review date:
1 August 2026
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.