I met a man today who has made me a very happy lady.
His name is Mr Javaid and he is my plastic surgeon.
I was given a booklet by my Breast Care nurse explaining the different types of reconstructive surgery that is available. There are 3 main types from what I could tell;
1 - straight forward silicone implants - relatively easy procedure, easy recovery, end result just ok.
2 - Latimus Dorsi flap - using muscle and skin from the back- bit more complicated, slightly longer recovery, end result very good.
3 - TRAM flap - using muscle and skin from the stomach (basically a tummy tuck!), very complicated procedure, long recovery, end result amazing.
I had gone in to the consultation with the idea that I wanted option 2 as I wanted a good result but as I would like to have another child in the future the scarring across my abdomen could become stretched and nasty looking.
So the surgeon asked me what my current size is (34 A) and I asked him if there would be any possibility of me getting larger boobs with this operation, he looked unsure and said he'd have to examine me to see what he could do.
After pulling and poking at my fleshy bits he said I was suitable for all 3 types of procedure however as I had already decided that the lat dorsi was my preferred choice he would be happy to go with that. He also confirmed that as I was clearly "depressed" with my current boobs (he said this with a wink) he would be able to do the augmentation on the other boob aswell. Big smiles from both Jay and me!!
This would work by them putting a silicone implant in my good boob to bring it up to a C/D cup and putting an expandable silicone implant which they insert under the tissue this has an internal chamber which is filled with saline to allow it to be adjusted to match the size of the other breast.
I will be left with a diagonal scar on my back which will lay under my bra strap and some weakness in that shoulder for a few months but otherwise will be fairly straightforward.
I will be left without a nipple for approx 3 months when I will be able to go in again and have that reconstructed in a similar way to the lady on 'Embarassing Bodies' a few weeks ago.
Currently my operation is scheduled for one of two dates 10th May 2010 or 24th May 2010. I will post on here as soon as I know.
In the mean time I am genuinely excited about the whole thing. I see this next trip into hospital as me going in to get my boob job and nothing about the Cancer. (Which I should explain is only non-invasive now as all the invasive Cancer was sucessfully removed).
I expect to be in hospital for 5 days and will have a recovery period of 4-5 weeks however may be able to drive after 3-4 weeks if I feel up to it (me thinks I might!!)
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
The Results of The Lump and Lymph Nodes
The 2 weeks following my discharge from hospital before I got my results passed surprisingly quickly.
The main thing we were waiting to find out was whether or not the Cancer had spread to the Lymph nodes as we knew this would lead to more complications and Chemotherapy which I had previously been told would be unecessary.
This time both Jay and my mum came in to see the consultant with me (Mr Agarwal again).
The Breast Care nurse Gill was also present to help explain anything we didn't understand.
The first thing he said was "We found 2 types of Cancer present" I took this to mean the lump and the Lymph nodes and couldn't hold back the tears.
However it turned out he was just reclarifying what we already knew - invasive and non-invasive.
He went on to say that they had removed 6 lymph nodes and they were all clear - thank God.
However, to be classed as a sucessful removal, the tissue needs to have at least 5mm of Cancer free cells at the perimeter. This was not the case in 3 areas of my tumour.
My tumour ended up being 4.1cm in diameter and was classed as Grade 3 Cancer.
What this means is that as I have such small breasts they would not be able to go in and "shave" any more tissue without major disfigurement and potentially be unsucessful anyway. So the only option was to put me forward for a Mastectomy.
For me this immediately brought images to my mind of the typical diagonal slash scar, however it was quickly explained to me that I would be suitable to have an immediate reconstruction i.e. in the same operation they would remove my boob and build me a new one at the same time! This way I would never be awake with only one boob - hooray!
This bit of information filled me with a surprising feeling - Joy
I can't explain it other than I have never had particular love for my breasts they have always played second fiddle to my bum and I do not have any emotional attachment to them as some women do.
When I asked my Breast care nurse if there would be any possibility of them making my boob bigger than it currently is when they rebuilt it (and obviously do something to the other side to keep me balanced) she said "almost definately" I was elated - honestly - a free boob job!!
It was explained to me however with this new information I would now need to have a course of Chemotherapy, but the Radiotherapy that I was initially told I'd have to have would no longer be necessary. So Swings and roundabouts - Chemo I hear is the better option of the 2 so lucky me!
I left the consulting room with a smile on my face that day :)
The main thing we were waiting to find out was whether or not the Cancer had spread to the Lymph nodes as we knew this would lead to more complications and Chemotherapy which I had previously been told would be unecessary.
This time both Jay and my mum came in to see the consultant with me (Mr Agarwal again).
The Breast Care nurse Gill was also present to help explain anything we didn't understand.
The first thing he said was "We found 2 types of Cancer present" I took this to mean the lump and the Lymph nodes and couldn't hold back the tears.
However it turned out he was just reclarifying what we already knew - invasive and non-invasive.
He went on to say that they had removed 6 lymph nodes and they were all clear - thank God.
However, to be classed as a sucessful removal, the tissue needs to have at least 5mm of Cancer free cells at the perimeter. This was not the case in 3 areas of my tumour.
My tumour ended up being 4.1cm in diameter and was classed as Grade 3 Cancer.
What this means is that as I have such small breasts they would not be able to go in and "shave" any more tissue without major disfigurement and potentially be unsucessful anyway. So the only option was to put me forward for a Mastectomy.
For me this immediately brought images to my mind of the typical diagonal slash scar, however it was quickly explained to me that I would be suitable to have an immediate reconstruction i.e. in the same operation they would remove my boob and build me a new one at the same time! This way I would never be awake with only one boob - hooray!
This bit of information filled me with a surprising feeling - Joy
I can't explain it other than I have never had particular love for my breasts they have always played second fiddle to my bum and I do not have any emotional attachment to them as some women do.
When I asked my Breast care nurse if there would be any possibility of them making my boob bigger than it currently is when they rebuilt it (and obviously do something to the other side to keep me balanced) she said "almost definately" I was elated - honestly - a free boob job!!
It was explained to me however with this new information I would now need to have a course of Chemotherapy, but the Radiotherapy that I was initially told I'd have to have would no longer be necessary. So Swings and roundabouts - Chemo I hear is the better option of the 2 so lucky me!
I left the consulting room with a smile on my face that day :)
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
The Ward
I was wheeled up to the ward after my shivers had subsided and found myself in a bay surrounded by OAPs - I was apparently on the stomach ward due to the need for extra women to fill the beds?!
I was fortunate enough to be awake in time for Jay and my dad to come and visit they seemed surprised to find me as my usual upbeat self and I think went home feeling quite reassured that I was going to be ok. (which of course I was.
I struggled to locate anything in my bags as I had had to chuck everything in so quickly after being relocated - previously it had been painstakingly packed so I knew exactly where to find everything when I needed it (obviously).
I proceeded to eat nearly a whole pack of caramel chocolate biscuits (delicious) and an alpen bar (so so).
I played on the ds for a bit listened to some music, read my book etc etc and decided to try and get some sleep.
My bladder had other ideas however and every hour it decided it was full and I needed to empty it - quickly!
The first time I was given a comode (a chair with a toilet in) but when I got out of bed and sat on it I fainted and after this I wasn't allowed to get out of bed and had to use a bed pan.
This is not a glamourous manouevre and I have a shy bladder so the nurse would help me up then would leave me until I buzzed again. (A very poor thought out strategy in my mind as I was left uncomfortably perched on a cardboard bowl until they got round to coming back for me).
Every hour until about 4am this carried on.
At about 1am I called the nurse for some sleeping tablets as the OAP opposite - I think her name was Avril? was snoring her head off and the lady next to her was punctuating every 5th snore of Avril's with an enormous grunt of her own.
I am a very light sleeper at home and even with my earplugs in and Jay's headphones over the top I could still hear the symphony of snores which brought me close to tears.
I managed about 1h30 sleep at about 1.30pm but at 3am they came round to check everyones blood pressure and I couldn't get back to sleep again after that.
Needless to say by the time morning finally came around I was exhausted. I wanted to get out of bed and swing for Avril when she quite boldly said "That's the best night sleep I've had since I've been in here". (A bit later that morning I did tell her that she had been snoring really loudly after she moaned at the lady next to her for doing the same!).
The doctors came round at about 10am and he said I could possibly go home that afternoon or at the latest the following morning as my drains were quite empty. I must have had a desperate look in my eye when he said there might be another night in hospital as by 12pm I'd been told I could go home as soon as my drains were taken out.
This procedure was very sore and they had to give me some Morphine to get through it. Along with the codine I was taking I became rather sleepy and managed to get another 90 minutes sleep before Jay came to collect me.
I walked out of the QEII at 3.30pm exactly 24 hours from the time I was anaesthetised for the operation.
I was fortunate enough to be awake in time for Jay and my dad to come and visit they seemed surprised to find me as my usual upbeat self and I think went home feeling quite reassured that I was going to be ok. (which of course I was.
I struggled to locate anything in my bags as I had had to chuck everything in so quickly after being relocated - previously it had been painstakingly packed so I knew exactly where to find everything when I needed it (obviously).
I proceeded to eat nearly a whole pack of caramel chocolate biscuits (delicious) and an alpen bar (so so).
I played on the ds for a bit listened to some music, read my book etc etc and decided to try and get some sleep.
My bladder had other ideas however and every hour it decided it was full and I needed to empty it - quickly!
The first time I was given a comode (a chair with a toilet in) but when I got out of bed and sat on it I fainted and after this I wasn't allowed to get out of bed and had to use a bed pan.
This is not a glamourous manouevre and I have a shy bladder so the nurse would help me up then would leave me until I buzzed again. (A very poor thought out strategy in my mind as I was left uncomfortably perched on a cardboard bowl until they got round to coming back for me).
Every hour until about 4am this carried on.
At about 1am I called the nurse for some sleeping tablets as the OAP opposite - I think her name was Avril? was snoring her head off and the lady next to her was punctuating every 5th snore of Avril's with an enormous grunt of her own.
I am a very light sleeper at home and even with my earplugs in and Jay's headphones over the top I could still hear the symphony of snores which brought me close to tears.
I managed about 1h30 sleep at about 1.30pm but at 3am they came round to check everyones blood pressure and I couldn't get back to sleep again after that.
Needless to say by the time morning finally came around I was exhausted. I wanted to get out of bed and swing for Avril when she quite boldly said "That's the best night sleep I've had since I've been in here". (A bit later that morning I did tell her that she had been snoring really loudly after she moaned at the lady next to her for doing the same!).
The doctors came round at about 10am and he said I could possibly go home that afternoon or at the latest the following morning as my drains were quite empty. I must have had a desperate look in my eye when he said there might be another night in hospital as by 12pm I'd been told I could go home as soon as my drains were taken out.
This procedure was very sore and they had to give me some Morphine to get through it. Along with the codine I was taking I became rather sleepy and managed to get another 90 minutes sleep before Jay came to collect me.
I walked out of the QEII at 3.30pm exactly 24 hours from the time I was anaesthetised for the operation.
The Operation
I was admitted to The QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City on 3rd March 2010.
I arrived at the hospital at 9.30am as requested only to find out my surgery wasn't scheduled until 2.30pm so I had a long wait in store.
My last meal was a bowl of cereal at 6.50am and I spent the morning fighting the urge to eat a chocolate biscuit out of my bag (as is habit if my belly grumbles and there is a pack to hand!)
At about 1pm Jay went home to relieve Grandad of Amber and I set out to finish my book before I was called for surgery (I managed it just!)
The lady in surgery before me over ran causing me to be "kicked out" of the EAU (in the nicest possible way) as it was the end of their shift. So I was taken to the ward I was to be on after my op.
Lovely I thought, I unpacked everything so it was all easily accessible to me when I was stuck in bed. Only to be told 10 minutes later that actually they'd had to move me onto another ward and I'd need to repack!
I then got taken over to theatre with all my bags etc and found it so much less stressful than I imagined as instead of being wheeled in on a bed I was able to walk into the pre-op room and get myself onto the operating bed. It was all a bit surreal to be honest.
I don't remember much except what felt like a 10 inch needle being pushed into my vein (I later discovered this was actually a very tiny needle and the anasthetic burns the vein as it is administered which is why it felt like a really long needle).
I woke up after the operation with a terrible case of the shivers and a very sore lip. I think the first words I said was "why does my lip hurt". It appears that when they had put the tube in my mouth to enable me to breathe they had trapped my poor little lip under the tube and it had been stuck there for the 2h 30 operation. It then increased in size for the next 10 minutes and made me look like I'd been punched in the face (great).
I should say at this time that apart from my lip I felt no pain whatsoever!
I arrived at the hospital at 9.30am as requested only to find out my surgery wasn't scheduled until 2.30pm so I had a long wait in store.
My last meal was a bowl of cereal at 6.50am and I spent the morning fighting the urge to eat a chocolate biscuit out of my bag (as is habit if my belly grumbles and there is a pack to hand!)
At about 1pm Jay went home to relieve Grandad of Amber and I set out to finish my book before I was called for surgery (I managed it just!)
The lady in surgery before me over ran causing me to be "kicked out" of the EAU (in the nicest possible way) as it was the end of their shift. So I was taken to the ward I was to be on after my op.
Lovely I thought, I unpacked everything so it was all easily accessible to me when I was stuck in bed. Only to be told 10 minutes later that actually they'd had to move me onto another ward and I'd need to repack!
I then got taken over to theatre with all my bags etc and found it so much less stressful than I imagined as instead of being wheeled in on a bed I was able to walk into the pre-op room and get myself onto the operating bed. It was all a bit surreal to be honest.
I don't remember much except what felt like a 10 inch needle being pushed into my vein (I later discovered this was actually a very tiny needle and the anasthetic burns the vein as it is administered which is why it felt like a really long needle).
I woke up after the operation with a terrible case of the shivers and a very sore lip. I think the first words I said was "why does my lip hurt". It appears that when they had put the tube in my mouth to enable me to breathe they had trapped my poor little lip under the tube and it had been stuck there for the 2h 30 operation. It then increased in size for the next 10 minutes and made me look like I'd been punched in the face (great).
I should say at this time that apart from my lip I felt no pain whatsoever!
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