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Scaredy_Cat
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01-05-2012
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06-02-2014
11:31
Hi, Please can anyone who has had either an extended ld flap or ld flap reconstruction tell me of any problems they experienced getting a bath after the op. Helen xx
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25-11-2013
02:32
Hi everyone, Just to let you all know that I had my procedure on 16 Nov 13. I had a call from the BCN on the Thurs saying would I like to go in the next day for my op. Apparently someone had not been for their pre-op assessment so therefore could not have their scheduled op and it left a spare slot. Prior to getting the call from my BCN I had spoken to the hospital's CEO's secretary a couple of days earlier on an informal basis. She had been asking heads of departments to investigate what had happened that Fri so it make me wonder. What happened that Fri brought back all the old battles I had to fight at my previous hospital. Apart from the bruising the op wasn't too bad and with being on my own I was glad that I was able to stay in hospital over the weekend. I see my surgeon on Wed so she can review her handiwork and to schedule in my reconstruction. Thank you all for all your support. Kevin, I hope Marg's op goes ahead as scheduled. Warmest wishes, Helen xx
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12-11-2013
11:13
Hi Kevin, I really feel for you and your wife. I don't know if they gave you reason as to why they cancelled but to leave it until the new year is not fair. My heart goes out to you both and will be thinking about you. Warmest wishes, Helen xx
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11-11-2013
10:43
Hi Mary, Thank you for your reply. It's warming to know that I'm not totally alone. The first op to do some lipofilling under the mastectomy scar to try and free it from the underlying muscle and at the same time build up a base layer of fat. About 12 weeks after this I will be having the main reconstruction which will be a LD flap one and the other boob will be lifted to match the new one. The final op will be some more lipomodelling to smooth out any lumps or bumps. I had a call from my breast care nurse earlier this morning and she told that my surgeon is trying schedule a list for either Mon or Thurs next week and that I would be first on the list. I'm keeping my fingers and everything else crossed in the hope that it will happen. Thank you again. Love and warm hugs, Helen xx
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11-11-2013
10:36
Dear Joanne, Thank you for your reply. It as helped me to know that I'm not totally alone. I had a call from my breast care nurse earlier this morning and she told that my surgeon is trying schedule a list for either Mon or Thurs next week and that I would be first on the list. I'm keeping my fingers and everything else crossed in the hope that it will happen. Thank you again. Love and warm hugs, Helen xx
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10-11-2013
09:36
In August I had a lipomodelling procedure scheduled as the first stage of my reconstruction but the week before my surgeon called me to say that because of a sudden increase of 30% of breast cancer diagnosis in the area she had had to cancel my op. Logically I understood the need for this and accepted it even though I was upset. She promised me that when she re-scheduled the procedure it would be definitely be done. That day came Fri. I was told the day before that I had to be at the hospital for 07.30 which I was. By 08.00 I was all gowned up and by 08.30 I had seen the anaesthetist and my surgeon. At about 09.30 my surgeon came to see me to say that she had moved the list around so that she could take time over my procedure to try and prevent causing or aggravating any of the nerve damage caused by the surgeon who did the mastectomy and lymph node clearance. She said that I be would called down to the theatre between 12.00 and 13.00. 13.00 came and went. By that time I was getting rather upset and would have been more so if the breast care nurse had not spent time with me. At 16.00 the breast care nurse went to see what was happening and when she came back to me I was told that there would be no op. That news really upset me so very much that I couldn't talk at first. My surgeon came to me to explain that the previous op had taken much longer than anticipated and that the anaesthetist had run out of time for scheduled ops as he was the on-call anaesthetist. In fairness my surgeon was prepared to carry on and the powers that be did try to get another but there was no other available. The logical side of me understood the situation and after a few tears I would normally be ok but my emotional side cannot accept the situation. It has made me feel very low and utterly worthless. I have no one to talk to at home and as all major things in my life I've had to cope alone and now feel so very alone. I'm sorry to pour out all my feelings, Helen
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08-10-2013
10:05
Hi Aroha, If you want a second opinion you need to go and ask your GP for a referal to a surgeon of your own choice. From reading your post you need to do this rather quickly. I changed surgeons after I had my mastectomy and lymph node clearance. I don't want to scare you but I did this because the resultant appearance was more like butchery than surgery and I was also left extremely severe nerve damage. I had to go to a different hospital for radiotherapy and whilst I was there I got talking to one of the breast care nurses who was singing the praises of one of the breast consultants. I went to see my GP and asked to be transferred to that surgeon and there were no problems in doing it. It was the best thing I could have done. Don't be afraid to change surgeons if you have no confidence in your current one. It may delay things a bit but I don't know how crucial your op is as you did not say in your post. I hope this helps you. Lots of love, Helen xx
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16-09-2013
08:56
Hi, I have a problem and I'm wondering what do do about it. I saw my breast surgeon last week and I have now got a schedule for my reconstruction. It involves three ops which are basically 1) lipomodelling under the scar tissue to try and free from the muscle, 2) the extended LD flap reconstruction and other bits, 3) lipomodelling to smooth everything out. My real problem is when I have the lipomodelling is that because it's done under a general anaesthetic and according to the info I was given you need someone around for 48 hrs afterwards. I don't have that and I don't think they would keep me in for the 48 hrs. What do I do? Do I cancel everything? I'm so upset at the moment because I don't know what to do. Can anyone suggest anything. Helen
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29-08-2013
09:34
Hi Poemsgalore, Osteoporsis is defintely a hereditary thing because both my mum and her mum had it too. Also, my sister is osteopenic too. You don't say if you're taking alendronic acid as well as the adcal. Helen x
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29-08-2013
07:45
Hi Yonyon, No you are definitely not alone. I know that a great many husbands/partners have been really supportive which is very heartwarming to hear but it’s very sad for those that don’t. It certainly sorts the men from the boys. Unhappily, I come in the second category. After a 14 year relationship with someone I thought would be there for me through the worst of times as well as the good times only to be told in a text message the day after my op (Feb 12) that he didn't want to know anymore. The op was a mastectomy and lymph node clearance on the left side. I had been very positive up until then, thinking I had his support, but for him to do that has left me very emotionally scarred. He hadn't got the guts to come and tell me in person. All I can say that the he is a coward of the worst kind. His actions have made me very insecure and made me lose all my self-worth. Without the help of a wonderful counselor I believe I would have had a complete breakdown. I know that I will never be able to trust a man ever again because I had my love and trust broken in a text message. Who ever invented the mobile phone has a lot to answer for. Enough of my moaning. I know my situation is different to yours but as I said you are definitely not alone. It's lovely to hear that you have found a good man and I wish you all the best for the future. Lots of hugs and warm wishes, Helen xx
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25-08-2013
10:00
Hi Anne, I'm no HR whizz kid but before you see your boss next week I would definitely contact your area ACAS office or your local CAB. You don't say if your boss is male or female. A female boss may have a little more empathy than a male one. Also, when you go and see your boss take a trusted colleage or a friend who has been supporting you through the cancer in with you or if you are in a union take your union rep in with you. It may sound a bit melodramatic but you may need someone who can back you up about what is said during the meeting. For your self, I would try and write down how you are feeling both physically and mentally - even if it's just in note form. I did a similar thing for my counsellor and I found it really helped. A friend of mine who is recovering from mouth cancer sent me an extract from a paper published by Dr Peter Harvey, Clinical Psychologist at Leeds Teaching Hospital which puts into words how I was feeling and I keep refering back to it when I'm feeling particularly low. I hope I have helped a little. Also, I'm going to send you a friend request so if you are interested in reading it I can e-mail it to you. Lots of hugs and love, Helen xx
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25-08-2013
12:03
Hi Cherry, When I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago my surgeon and oncologist immediately put me on to anastrozole and Alendronic Acid (a bisphosphonate). I had a base line DEXA scan done in the Oct which showed I was already osteopenic. During radiotherapy they also prescribed Adcal3. Apart from the hot flushes from taking anastrozole, which have now seem to have subsided, I have had no problems with any of the medications. I had another DEXA scan in Mar this year and the results were roughly the same as the one 18 months prior. I nearly forgot to say that I am 63. Have you had any DEXA scans? It may be worth taking to your oncologist about your medication. I hope this has helped. Lots of hugs and warm wishes, Helen xx
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24-08-2013
11:34
Hi Vejovis, If you had any nerve damage from the surgery it will have been aggravated by the radiotherapy. After my mastectomy and lymph node clearance I was left with severe nerve damage and wasn't warned about the possibility of the pain being increased by the radiotherapy. One doctor described as being "the icing on the pain cake". During my radiotherapy I ended up in hospital overnight due to a minor heart problem but because of the amount of pain I was in they kept me in for a few more days to sort it out. The Chronic Pain Team certainly did that with a combination of gabapentin, zomorph, a thoracic epidural and oramorph for breakthrough pain. 18 months later I'm still having to have this treatment because of the amount of nerve damage caused by what I can only describe as butchery. Pregabalin is prescribed in this country for neuropathic pain as I was prescribed it for a damaged sciatic nerve 4 years ago. I think your best bet is to get your surgeon or oncologist or breast care nurse to refer you to the Chronic Pain Unit. If the one at your hospital is as good as the one I go to then you couldn't be in better hands. When it comes to pain control they are really ace. I hope this has helped you. Lots of best wishes, Helen x
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23-08-2013
03:03
Hi everyone, I still suffer with anxiety but with the help of a lovely counsellor it is getting better. I would say to anyone with these feelings that they should definitely go and see a counsellor. I still have good days and bad days which are now getting fewer. I did have a really bad day last Thurs. Unfortunately, I was in hospital for some tests as I had some rectal bleeding and the ward I was on was the same ward I was in after having my mastectomy and lymph node clearance. Seeing some ladies come onto that ward for breast surgery as Thurs is the day for breast ops brought all the bad feelings back. Luckily, I saw my counsellor two days ago and she helped put things back into perspective. It does help to know that you're not alone. I'm sending lots of hugs and warm wishes to you all. Helen xxxx
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28-07-2013
10:02
Madjock,
I'm so very sorry to hear your news. What happened to me pales into insignificance in comparison. As GIJane says, your feelings of guilt and anger are normal and if I were in your situation I think I would feel the same. Although you feel angry and guilty try to remember that your OH must have loved you so very much and hope that as time goes on you will remember that love, albeit with some sadness.
As Jane says, this is a safe place where you can scream, shout and rant on and where there are people will send you lots of hugs, love and support.
Helen x
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27-07-2013
02:14
Hi everyone,
I know that a great many husbands/partners have been really supportive which is very heartwarming to hear but it’s very sad for those that don’t. It certainly sorts the men from the boys.
Unhappily, I come in the second category. After a 14 year relationship with someone I thought would be there for me through the worst of times as well as the good times only to be told in a text message the day after my op that he didn't want to know anymore. The op was a mastectomy and lymph node clearance on the left side. I had been very positive up until then, thinking I had his support, but for him to do that has left me very emotionally scarred. He hadn't got the guts to come and tell me in person. All I can say that the he is a coward of the worst kind. His actions have made me very insecure and made me lose all my self-worth. Without the help of a wonderful counselor I believe I would have had a complete breakdown. I know that I will never be able to trust a man ever again because I had my love and trust broken in a text message. Who ever invented the mobile phone has a lot to answer for. Enough of my moaning.
All my thoughts and prayers are with those who have found themselves in a similar situation and for all of you who are having treatment, of any kind.
Lots of love and hugs (careful ones in some cases), Helen xx
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25-07-2013
04:22
Hi Vezza,
I'm not sure how I would feel in your situation but I know when I have my LD flap recon on the left side my surgeon is going to do some work on the right one to perk it up to match. It may mean I lose a cup size but since I have never had big boobs it doesn't bother me.
I don't know how much faith you have in the surgeon who did the op but if you don't, you have the right to see a plastic surgeon of your own choice anywhere in the country. If you live in the South East or London there is the home of plastic surgery at East Grinstead so it wouldn't be too far to travel.
What ever you decide, you must make sure it's the right decision for you.
Please let me know how you get on. Lots of love, Helen xx
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25-07-2013
04:03
Hi Soosie,
If you can manage to use a step into bra Sloggie do a really nice one. There are no fastenings to catch any tender areas. You can get them from a firm called Just Sloggie. Their service is excellent and the pricing is not as cheap as Asda but I think their price is worth the comfort.
I hope you are healing well. I'm due to have the same op in the not too distant future.
Lots of hugs (careful ones), Helen xx
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20-07-2013
07:36
Hi Jo,
Will keep my fingers crossed and everything else that I can. Please let me know how you can on.
Love and hugs, Helen xx
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20-07-2013
04:32
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your reply. As you say the LD flap op is quite a long one. I think that normally they use an implant for LD flap op but I think why they called it an extended LD flap op is because they do the lipo filling before they do the main op so they don't have to use an implant. I know it will take two or three sessions before they do the op which means three or four general anaesthetics but usually I'm ok with them.
Luckily I'm self-employed and work from home so I don't have to take time off work. How did your arm, shoulder and back feel after the op.
Love and hugs, Helen xx
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