Not much of an update but might be worth following up with your own hospital. I spoke to the breast nurse today about timescales. There are still no plans as of this moment to start reconstruction but what she did say was as of next week they were starting to do some ops as a trial in one other hospital (using metrics like the patient self isolating for 14 days, all staff to be swabbed prior to ops etc) and if this was shown to be successful they may consider restarting some operations using this technique at my local hospital. Obviously there is no guarantees that this would include reconstruction but at least its a move towards progressing surgeries. She told me to ring in a couple of weeks time and check in. I know we are all living under different Trusts but you would assume they all think along the same lines. Might be worth asking?
Thanks for the update. I have a phone appointment with my surgeon next weds to make a plan. They have not been given the go ahead for reconstructions yet so I guess it will be Hobson's choice. Do I go for mastectomy with reconstruction much later (who knows when?) or wait for immediate reconstruction to resume and risk more invasive disease developing while I wait? It's horrible. I am stopping clinical work after today (though will still be doing admin from home and teaching) as my head is now done in.
It's terrible that due to the pandemic you are having to make such a choice when all you want is one operation to get it over with. I guess all you can do is take direction from your consultant tomorrow and weigh up the risks along with your own sanity.
I finally have a date for surgery! They have resumed implant reconstructions. 1st July, 2 weeks from today. What a relief. I have to self isolate now so am trying to find ways to keep fit at home whilst helping my husband not to go stir crazy.
OH MY GOD I am sooooo happy for you truly, what a relief!!
No I don't have any news from my end other than they are trialing ops this week so it looks like my trust is behind Burnley by a few weeks. It's good to hear that other areas are now starting up. Hopefully I won't have to wait too much longer.
I'm sure all will go well tomorrow x Did you have to go for a sentinel biopsy today before your op? Not sure if they do that in every case but I will have to.
Can't really say I'm OK. I experience a range of emotions daily....sadness, anger and frustration. It's 9 weeks on Thursday since I last saw the consultant. I have contacted the breast nurses 3 times (two times due to a question about letters I had received). Not one person has contacted me. I feel like I've been left, and the longer this goes on the worse my mental state. Why can't they just ring me and say.........it's still not happening because of this or that. I feel embarrassed now to call them....hey me again, any news? It's equally hard and frustrating that each Trust seems to be enacting different strategies and getting on with it. I know from a colleague that there are no covid patients at the hospital and yet............(silence).
I mean just EURRGGHHHHH!!! FOR GODS SAKE, WHERE'S THE COMPASSION?? :)
I am re-reading this and laughing..............you gotta laugh......(she says clutching her head rocking back and forward)
Anyhoooooooo rant over. Let me know how you get on after the op xx
I so totally get what you are feeling. I've been living in that exact same world until 2 weeks ago. IT SUCKS!
One thing this whole experience has taught me is how my patients feel when we don't communicate with them adequately. I'm an old age psychiatrist so I diagnose a lot of people with dementia and sometimes it takes ages to get the diagnosis confirmed. I now have a lot more empathy for how that waiting must feel for them.
I would say keep ringing the breastcare nurses and tell them how you feel. Sod it if they sound *** off that you are ringing yet again. You have every right to!
I also called the breast cancer now helpline when my hospital still hadn't got the go ahead for reconstructions and the woman I spoke too had some really helpful practical advice about how to apply a bit of pressure in the nicest possible way. It also helps that you feel you are a bit more in control!
Your mental health is as important as your physical health and sometimes I think it helps to emphasise that side of things to the breastcare nurses. The lady I spoke to on the helpline was really good at getting me to talk through my feelings as well as making some practical suggestions.
Anyway, sending "kick up the backside" vibes to your hospital and plenty of empowerment energy to you.
