Feel like giving up!

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Hi all

Yet another post from me!

Well, too cut a long story short, I had a left mastectomy two years ago and was fitted with tissue expander at the same time.
Had the expander implant exchanged last June.

One area of my recon side has split,as the the skin was so thin, and there is a hole in my chest, implant exposed!

I was referred to a new surgeon back in April. He warned me this would happen (i was originally referred to him for a nipple recon when original surgeon realised he could not do it himself because of the thin skin).

The funding for the new surgeon to do my surgery has yet to be approved, and the waiting list is six months. My wound will not last that long for sure.
I am told the implant will need to be removed, and that will delay my recon for months.
I will be left with horrid over stretched skin from the stupid expander and it will be ugly!

What do i do?
So so fed up right now.

Naz x

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Sorry, forgot to say, that i am on the waiting list for an LD flap, as this is the only option available to me now.

How can i ensure that my surgery gets done quickly, as i really will not be able to deal with the mess once the implant is out.

I just can’t wait six months, i have a hole in my chest!

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Oh Naz, I am just so sorry you are in this horrible situation. A big gentle hug coming your way from me, right now!

I don’t have any definite answers for you, but just a few thoughts/suggestions, although I dont know how possible it would be for them to happen - here goes!

I think I’d be wanting to write to the surgeon and plastic surgeon, saying how I’m feeling and what I was worried about, so that they know how it’s affecting you emotionally. Also, would it be possible to ask if they could treat you as having special circumstances cos of the break down of part of your wound site, then that should “bump” your name further up the list for the LD surgery. Also, maybe you can ask for you to be considered for surgery at short notice, if there’s a cancellation. That way, you may only get say, a week’s notice of the surgery date, and that might be difficult for you as you have young children dont you?

Also, could you ask for a referral to a tissue viability nurse? They deal with people’s skin problems, for example with pressure sores, ulcers, wound problems such as infected wounds, wounds that won’t heal, or that have re-opened after surgery. I was thinking that if you could get one of these specialist nurses involved, maybe they could speak on yr behalf.

Another thing - has your hospital got a PALS service - they advise and support patients to get hospital services. would they be someone you can approach for advice/support?

Finally, is your surgeon the only person locally who can do your LD flap op? I dont know where you live, but wondered if you could be referred to another hospital in your region where the waiting times may be less.

You’re right in what you say Naz - you can’t wait six months1 It’s too long, and you need your wound site sorting well before then. I know from your posts on some of my threads that you’re a lovely caring person - please let us know how you go on, and keep posting here.

I’m thinking about you Naz - take good care of yourself, and I really hope that the surgery waiting time for the LD flap can be brought forward.

“Dear NHS, our friend Naz needs her LD flap operation VERY SOON please!”

With much love,
Shelley xxx

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Hi Shelley

Thankyou so so much for your reply.

Well,the orginal surgeon who did the work, referred me on to another hospital when he realised he was out of his depth.
The new guy put me on the waiting list for LD at the end of July, but obviously this can’t wait now.

I made a formal complaint against my hospital three months ago, as the original surgeon did not give me all the recon options, neither did he pick up on what was happening to my skin, even when he was about to do the nipple recon, he backed off at the last minute.
Totally unhappy with the way i have been treated by him…

I will ring the new hospital today and explain what has happened, and see what they say. Obviously i want to know what the implications are for me , if the implant does need removing, before full recon can go ahead.

I had the woudn checked on Saturday and so far it is not infected and I am on antiobiotics for now.

I just want it all sorted asap as it is really affectine me mentally at the moment. Yes i do have young children and all of this is affecting them aswell.

Just spoken to the breast nurse and she is going to make some phome calls on my behalf - thank god!

How are you Shelley?

xxx

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Hello Naz,

Oh, I really do feel for you at the moment! Am really glad the bcn is taking things up on your behalf - you just can’t go on like this, can you? I’m glad you’re on antibiotics, and hope you hear something positive really soon. You’ve been through so much and am sorry it’s taking its toll on your children too.

Please keep posting here, n I will keep my fingers crossed for you. A big gentle hug to you, n little hugs for your children too from all of us on here!

With much love,
Shelley xxx

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Thanks Shelley.

My funding for the new surgery has been approved, which is good news.

Bad news is that my plastic surgeon is away for two weeks now, so won’t get to see him for ages now.

I am on the antibiotics for another week, so i just hope and pray that i can last until the surgeon gets to see me. Otherwise the implant will be whipped out, and that will be it as far as recon goes for some months then.

What a drama - i could write a book on this! :slight_smile:

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Hi Naz,

Am really glad you’ve got the funding approved! Oh gosh, so sorry that the plastic surgeon is away for two weeks - such bad timing for you, but hopefully the antibiotics will keep things at bay. Will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you as regards the implant, so that yr surgery can go ahead as soon as possible.

Naz - you should write a book, but the question is… what would you call it!! :slight_smile:

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Ha ha Shelly, what would i call my book indeed!

‘My incompetent surgeon and I’

‘BREASTS’

‘The story of the breast that went wrong’

Ha ha…would make gripping reading for someone i am sure!

Don’t think plastics team should be allowed holidays at all…very inconvenient for people like me i can tell you…!

Got to get back onto his secretary again on Monday and rattle their cage…just for a change!

xx