Reconstructive surgery at Addenbrookes
Reconstructive surgery at Addenbrookes I am due for a delayed Tram flap with DIEP in July at Addenbrookes Cambridge. When I first met my surgeon I asked if I could speak to any of his patients who had this type of surgery, and he agreed. That was back in January and I am now 7 weeks away from my op and I am still waiting to speak to someone. I have phoned the Surgical Care Practitioner and my surgeons secretary but still no joy.
Is there anyone who has had this op at Addenbrookes who can help please. Am getting a bit twitchy.
Bonny
ME ME ME Hi there
I was in Addenbrookes at the end of February, do you know who your surgeon is, mine was Mr Irwin and he was recommened to me and he’s done a great job, but i believe the surgeons in Addenbrookes are all pretty great. just to put your mind at rest I had no problems with the op, was up and walking in no time and everything is healing up nicely.
Dont hesitate to ask if youve more questions.
oh and Addenbrookes is great as it has own little shopping/food centre, you wont go hungry there, ha ha.
take care
Tracey
Reconstructive surgery in Addenbrookes Hi Tracey
Mr Irwin is my surgeon too, so you’ve set my mind at rest. It was one of the questions I was advised to ask at the initial consultation but was getting nowhere. I wish I’d found this website earlier!
Is there anything else you can tell me about the hospital stay: how long you were in and what was the programme, did you stay in a heated room after surgery (that should be fun in July!) how long before you were able to get out of bed. etc. Also I have been given an information sheet about firm control bras and pants. Was that straightforward?
Sorry to ask so many questions, I think it’s the fear of the unknown but I’m feeling a bit panicky. I’m probably a control freak and am much better when I know what to expect so I’d be grateful for any info you can give me
Many thanks
Bonny
Hiya
sorry i didnt reply earlier, just had a weekend at centreparcs, thanks to the willow trust.
Oh im so excited that youve got Mr Irwin, he has got such a great reputation, you couldnt get better, even the consultants agree.
When i got there i was put in a side room which is always great, right where do i start, after coming back from the op they put loads of blankets on you and the room is quite hot, but its for your own benefit and its not for to long, if you really cant bare it tell the nurse as i did and she was sympathetic and took some blankets of me, after about 24-48 hours they like you to move off the bed onto the chair next to the bed, which was absolutely fine, i had no pain i just expected to have some pain moving but i didnt. After the op the nurses would ask me what pain i was in but i honestly didnt have any, i used the morphine to send me to sleep. so after the initial move from bed to chair the following day they will do the same and its a little easier, after about three-four days your def moving around. The only unpleasant thing that i found was when they take the drains out, it doesnt hurt its just bl**dy weird. I had the op on saturday morning and i was out on the friday morning back at home.
As for the firm pants and bra’s, i got mine of ebay, there really isnt a lot of use at this point of buying expensive from M&S. Also with regards to the pants, buy a size up and get what you call panty girdle’s, these just pull/roll on because when your using the toilet the last thing you need is to be trying to pull down some stiff knickers because of the stitches in your tummy, if you can get them cheap enough buy a few and then the nurse will tell you which one would be the best after the op and she will help you on with it. As for the bra’s again ebay, i bought a cup and back size bigger due to swelling and bought the non wired one’s, they do these in all sizes, if you cant get one of ebay M&S do reasonably priced one’s.
Take some ear plugs as well, the nurses in the middle of the night are not the quietest.
Please believe me, you have nothing to worry about, i know it sounds massive but even straight after surgery when i came back on the ward my mum and the nurses couldnt believe how well i looked, im also a bit of a baby when it comes to pain and i really didnt have any. The food was quite good as well and you get to watch those pay tv’s which passes the time.
I hope ive put your mind at rest but please ask away if you have any more questions.
love Tracey
xx
P.S. I have reposted this on behalf of Twelch
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Oh by the way, his secretary Sue knows me so if you want to ring her and ask if you can have my number to speak to me about the op that is fine with me
oops sorry,
put my name! if you let her know my user name then she should know who i am.
take care
Tracey
Recon at Addenbrookes Hi Tracey
Thanks so much that is exactly what I wanted to know. I feel so much better about it all now. Thanks for the tips re earplugs and ebay, would never have thought of them myself.
Am on holiday for a week in Greece next week, sooo looking forward to it, and when I get back I will be about 4 weeks away from The Day unless it gets delayed. If I think of anything else or just want more reassurance I will phone Sue and ask for your number.
Can’t thank you enough
Love Bonny