Hi there ..

I have scoliosis and stenosis and trapped nurve in spine as well as ostio arthritis.... I also sleep sitting up .. with an out 8 cosy pillows supporting me .. and I had a grade 3 breast cancer ... and the nurses are really good, in making allowances for it .. so don't worry to much .. I'm fine after my total right masectomy in July 2017 .... 

This is a great place to come .. there's usually someone here to chat too .. and we know what it's like ... so any time you want a chat, or vent ,  or ask anything ... just feel free .. your not alone on here ...

Chrissie xx

Hi Chrissie,

Thankmyou so so much for your lovely words. I admit I am feeling a little devastated at the moment. Trying not to be but it’s just so out of the blue. I am encouraged by your news that you had such good care with your spinal issues, which are a nightmare to have I know. I am with Kent and Canterbury hospital and so far they have been wonderful. I am trying not to worry over what they’ll find but have to be reassured by your kind words that things will be ok. I had a very negative upbringing so it is the default position of my thinking to think of the worst case scenario but that is not a helpful thing to do so I am lifting myself out of it by thinking of positive things like my hubby, who is loving but seems to not want to discuss anything about it until we know for sure and even then I think if it’s anything that needs taking out he will worry even though I ask him not to. It’s only me and him and so I have to be strong for him and our lovely Husky who we’ve had for coming up five years now. Both are a blessing, as are you and this site. It really does mean a lot to have somewhere to chat, vent and hopefully help others if I can.

I am very grateful,to you Chrissie and hope you are well now and still doing ok, it is an horrific time to go through all this but with your help and those other ladies here who have done the same, I feel I will also get through. You are a very kind lady and I thank you again for your kindness and support.

take good care and much love,

Claire xxx

Your most welcome ..

Think wer around the same area...  so if ever you want a chat .. or you want to talk, if you do get a positive diagnosis... just let me know and I'll friend you ... but still got everything crossed for a better result .. let me know how it goes .. I pop on here most days ... nice to chat to another Kent lass ...

Chrissie xx

Hi, 

i just noticed your post and had to pop in. I can't lay flat either due to positional vertigo ( the room spins) I had my lumpectomy in January and was virtually freaking out, but the staff were wonderful, even giving me my pre med and general anaesthetic while I was sitting up, and they promised me they would sit me up before I came to...and they did! 

Even during rads the staff accommodated me as much as possible, I did struggle with the vertigo but they were so patient and lovely with me....

im confident you will be taken good care of, and I'm also confident you won't be the first patient with these sort of needs....let us know how it goes? Xxx

I’m about to hit the big 60 next month but still feel around 25! Thanks for that kind offer Chrissie I will let you know. I am hopong that as the last one was marked c,ear 18 months ago at Medway then kt may not be that disease but it can come on quickly I think. I am trying to do anything to take my mind off it but it is hanging round like a bad smell. With hubby’s mum, she would have been around the same age as me too, she survived kt but it came back, so have to work on not thinkkng that way. Are you in ashford? We’re over Canterbury way bjt have access to Medway, Maidstone, Dover, QEQM, William Harvey or K&C. 

Take care xxx

Hi Marlyn,

Good to know that they will accommodate disbility to do these things but my main worry is that something presses on the artery or whatever it is that takes blood to the brain, when I lie flat it cuts off so if they lay me flat even for a minute under a GA then I won’t wake up. I am scared at the moment over what they’ll say but so far it is much better than one of the other hospitals I went to for a mammo. The nurse there, despite me saying my spine won’t let me bend one way kept pushing me into position and I nearly went over. Just wouldn’t listen, so I am hopeful they will listen here as this is a nasty development of my degenerative scoliosis. I noticed it geting into the dentists chair and had to quickly sit up but if I’m under a GA then I can’t. I am so frightened of them doing that without thinking. Is there a way do you know of having lumpectomies or other surgical,procedures done under Local Anaesthetic?

Many thanks for your kind response, I am grateful,

take care,

claire xx

That sounds pretty scary! But you get ample chances to talk to your surgeon and anesthetist , even as your getting wheeled in , it will also be in your notes....a local is worth asking about , you could always ask the question on the ask The nurses thread? 

Talk about the dentist chair! My poor dentist has to see me almost standing up....I can't even go to the hairdresser as I can't lean back in the basin....it's amazing how much it affects our lives.....I'm dreading ever being told I need a ct scan ! 

Just a thought, when I called them up to talk about this letter, the radiographer said she had looked at my previous mammo and noted a change in the present one. I haven’t had a mammo at XX and XX, but I had one at XX. These two hospital trusts don’t usually share info as theirnsystems are incompatable, so I’m wondering if that is what they are talking about, or whether they have the wrong person. Although the mammomwas sent from X I had it at X for some reason. I will find out next week.