This topic is about understanding a consultation letter received after undergoing a Hartmann’s procedure, which is a type of emergency surgery often performed due to a bowel perforation. The person who received the letter is feeling anxious because it mentions a "colorectal surgery" appointment but does not provide details about any planned tests or the purpose of the meeting.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. Reach out to the surgeon’s office, the consultant’s secretary, or your stoma nurse to clarify the purpose of the appointment. This can help alleviate anxiety caused by the lack of information.

2. These types of letters are typically standard follow-ups after a Hartmann’s procedure. The appointment usually aims to:
- Review your overall recovery and current health status.
- Discuss the possibility and timing of a reversal surgery.
- Determine if any further tests or treatments are necessary.

3. If you are interested in a reversal, use the consultation to express this desire. The doctor can then inform you about any prerequisites, such as scans or a colonoscopy, that may be required.

4. Don’t hesitate to ask for clear and simple explanations. You have the right to fully understand your medical situation, and vague letters should not leave you in the dark.

5. Many people who have had similar emergency surgeries have shared that their first "colorectal surgery" clinic visit was often just a routine check-in without any immediate tests.