DAD LEFT CRIPPLED AFTER OP
When I woke up, I could not walk
HE HAS been left unable to walk properly, with crippling pains in his abdomen.
He also cannot work because of the condition.
This is Benito Mthembu ’ s plight since he had his prostate removed in 2005 at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Durban after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Mthembu, of Mzumbe in Port Shepstone, said he was a healthy man before he went for the prostatectomy.
“When I woke up from the operation I could not walk. I had to use a wheelchair for three months.”
Medical records, which Sowetan has seen, state that Mthembu, 66, had paralysis of his right lower limb and was ordered to undergo physiotherapy. There is no explanation for his leg paralysis.
“I have been using crutches [to walk] ever since [I had] my operation, ” Mthembu said.
He said in addition to his right leg not functioning properly, he had sharp pains in his abdomen that he did not have before.
“I suspect that they [doctors] either left something in my stomach during the operation or they cut my intestine.”
He said he now suffered from constipation and only had bowel movement every five days. He also suffers from erectile dysfunction.
After he was discharged, Mthembu tried going back to work but found he could no longer perform his duties.
“My manager had to let me go as I could not work. He tried to keep me for two years but he eventually had to let me go.”
Mthembu said he went to a private doctor but the doctor referred him back to the hospital, which he said refused to help him.
“I ’ ve been to the hospital many times, but they refused to give me a scan.”
Mthembu lives in rural KwaZulu-Natal, and was the sole breadwinner in his home.
His wife does not work, and some of his 13 children are still in school.
“I lost a lot of money when I was let go from work, and now I live on my pension money.”
The KwaZulu-Natal department of health did not respond to queries sent last week.