82-year-old Cape Bretoner afraid he won't last to get needed surgery

An 82-year-old man in New Victoria,Cape Breton, says he's living in constantpain while waiting for surgery to removehisgallbadder.

Lloyd Hogan says thatthe wait list is too long and he'safraid it's putting his life in danger.

"I got the pain continuously."

Hogan was rushed by ambulanceto the Glace Bay Hospital a month agoand spenta day and half there undergoing varioustests.

Then he was sent home, but hisson, John,says his father needs an operation.

Hogan was told he had a gallstone in his gallbladder and needs surgery, but that he had to be put "on a list," John Hoganrecalled.

"He's 82 years old. What kind of list are you going to put him on?"

No pain meds

John Hogansays his father wasreleased from thehospital with instructions to wait for a call for surgery.

"They told him to go home, force yourself to eat and drink, no pain medication."

Lloyd Hogan says he has lost more than 30 pounds over the past four weeks.

He says he can't eat and he's getting weaker by the day.

"I am down to 126 pounds," he said. "I am just going down the hill and I can't get around."

Months to wait

The wait time for mostconsults forgallbladder surgery at GlaceBay Hospitalis 87 days, according to the provincial government website.The wait time for surgeryafter the consult is 69 days.

That is roughly comparable to many other hospitals in the province.

The longest wait times for a gallbladderconsult at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, the Dartmouth General andtheCape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney areroughly six months.

Most patients in the QEII and the Cape Breton Regional get their surgery three months after that, while in Dartmouthit could be another five months.

The elderHogan is afraidhe doesn't have much time to spare.

"I figure I am going to die. I am going to rot away," he said.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority says if a patienton a waiting list needs medical attention, heshould see his family doctor or go to the nearest hospital.