Hi Mael
Sorry for delay and hope this is still in time to be useful! Overall, my experience of Charing Cross was good - some admin problems, but quality of care was good. I haven't had many problems, especially compared with others who have posted on this forum.
There was a delay on the day of admission so I didn't get into theatre until midday (after arriving at 7.30am!) and then because my surgery was unusually long at 11 hours, I didn't get onto the ward until nearly midnight that night. But that is all a bit of a blur because of the effects of the anaesthetic! I was a bit surprised at having to walk up to the operating theatre or rather the anaesthetists room (I have no recollection of going into theatre!!) from the Riverside wing, through various corridors, and up in the lift.
Anyway, there were 4 people who had the DIEP the same week as I did, so they have lots of experience in doing this procedure. They do make you get up quickly - in my case on day 2 although the surgeon wanted me up on day 1, mainly because of the DVT potential. We were all on ward 10 which has the most spectacular view in London - I could see all the main landmarks from my bed or rather the chair next to the bed. Just as well as I couldn't concentrate on anything for the first few days. So didn't read anything on Kindle or even managed to play games. I was relieved that people brought me Hello magazine and also the Evening Standard as that was all I felt up to.
At Charing Cross they leave you in your gown throughout, so I didn't need the pyjamas or even the dressing gown I took in. They give you non-slip socks to wear so you don't need slippers either. And I only put the bra and Bridgets on to go home. I had taken dry shampoo but on day 4 one of the health workers washed my hair for me, so I didn't need that either.
What I found really useful were the eye mask and ear plugs. For the first night it was me keeping everyone awake with my hourly flap checks, but after that it was someone else. Also the wards are mixed healthwise (female only) so there were people with all sorts of ailments and some of them were up and about at night. Eye mask also helps if you want to doze during the day, assuming nurses have let you go back to bed!
Food was dire!! The menu looks good but the reality is different. It was the main reason I wanted to go home. So, have people bring you some snacks that you like - in my case cherries and grapes, as well as nuts. They also seem to have overlooked the laxatives in the first few days, so I ended up pretty uncomfortable as the pain killers give you constipation! A friend brought me prune juice which helped and then they started on the laxatives.
A physio will visit you with the BCC exercises and I was also told to do deep breaths to help with the tummy. For the first couple of weeks, the tummy was really tight like a drum and you have to be careful getting in and out of bed. One the nurses rolled up a towel for me and secured it with micro tape and that was really helpful. The breast was just a lump on my chest at the beginning, though once the pain killers wear off, I agree with someone else on this forum that it feels like a bowling ball strapped to your chest!
The nurses, as with anything in the NHS, were really mixed. The was very experienced in mastectomy care - she gave me lots of tips and also did the towel thing for me. First couple of days I had Nimco (?) who was also good. But there were agency nurses at different stages and some of them had no experience of looking after the flap so that was a bit worrying.
I had a friend stay for the first week, then have been fending for myself since then. Friends have helped with shopping and also taking me out. Recovery has been pretty good - all the consultants seem very pleased with the healing. I take vitamin C and zinc anyway, but that has been attributed with helping the healing process. Have also done the exercises religiously and have been massaging the scars with bio-oil. Physically, it is going well. Though I was a bit disconcerted to find that I have a 2 inch bald patch on the back of my head - I cannot see it, but others can! Turns out it is the result of lying in one position for 11 hours of surgery and I am assured the hair will grow back eventually! I have also had problems with my ankles, again because of the length of surgery. And last week the tummy scar bled a tiny bit. I was advised to stop massaging it for a while and to cover it with gauze so that the scab isn't rubbed off repeatedly by my underwear.
Speaking of which I am still wearing the bridgets and bras 24/7!
Main problem has been fatigue. For the first few weeks I took naps every afternoon and have spent quite a few mornings in bed, but then found it disrupting my night sleep. So am trying to stay up through the day. I still get up around 9am and potter. Seems ot vary a lot - I was quite exhausted last week, but have been more energetic this week (perhaps the sunshine helps!). However, I went into town yesterday on the tube for the first time, and did get rather light-headed later in the day. So am trying to be more realistic about what I can do.
Sorry, have a rambled on a bit, but I hope this was helpful. Overall I rate Charing Cross highly.
Do send me any other questions you might have and I will try to answer. Good luck! xx
