Forum Discussion

Kimee's avatar
Kimee
Member
9 years ago

Unilateral Stackable DEIP Reconstruction

Hi All

Hope you are all doing well.

Well went to the plastic surgeon yesterday. WOW what a daunting experience that was. The good news is that what needs to be done for my case can be achieved however we will need to take as much of the abdomen skin and tissue as we can to build just one breast, doesn't help much that I am slim he says in a nice way. The first priority is to cover the hole that will be created when they take almost all of the skin and tissue from the breast due to the cancer spread being mostly in the skin. If we have enough skin and tissue left over then they will use it to make the mound. May or may not waken with a breast after surgery but will need to deal with that as it happens I guess.

Still trying to get through the shock of the out of pocket costs quoted and yesterday I let it bring me too tears but not today. Today I'm taking control and telling them what I what them to do for me. The first request was to go private in public hospital as I don't want to be too far away from my family as the will play a big part in my initial recovery right from the beginning and secondly the financial pressure is just such a burden and I don't need to add that on top of everything else right now. Why they have such costly gaps if the fees for women in situations like ours I don't understand. If this was something I chose to make myself look prettier then sure I could understand those costs but not in cases like ours. So frustrating!!!!!

I need to get some sort of plan in place even if it's only a guesstimate. Chemo is driving everything at the moment and as yet we are not sure if we are going to do 6 or 8 cycles so for this reason the PS says he can't book anything in to the public system and when we know when it will be finishing there may not be any places available so quickly regardless of whether or not I am a high priority. Just one more thing to worry about.

Maybe I need to consider another PS as not sure about my first visit yet. Nice person but show some compassion to all of us. Anyone out there had a Stacked Deip Reconstruction done? I'd love to hear from you.

Roll on the end of this journey. This is one rollercoaster I want to get off.

Cheers to you all

Kim

Reconstruction

9 Replies

  • LouiseTurner's avatar
    LouiseTurner
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi Kimee,

    That first conversation with a plastic surgeon is tough, it is etched in my brain. Like you I was also going through chemo at the time which compounds the whole experience.

    A second or third opinion can be a good idea, you'd be surprised the variation in techniques, ideas and costs.

    Take heart...some plastic surgeons will do recon gap free. I know two in the Sydney region...its a good question for the community in Reclaim Your Curves Facebook group and also the Breast Reconstruction Online Group here on BCNA.

    Stay the path to get what you need for you...you sound like you are taking control of the situation, XXXLouie

     

  • jd48's avatar
    jd48
    Member
    9 years ago

    Make sure you check with both the surgeon and anesthasist if they will have assistants as assistants will also have put of pockets...

    Also all / any pathology, scans, physio consults etc have out of pockets when private in private hospitals... In public they often are willing to negotiate and forego the out of pocket there but you have to ask directly...

    Also some Surgeons oush you to go private hospital as many public hospitals have no out of pocket policy even for the surgeon so can be the reason why they push...

    Anyway make sure you do the letter and give it sufficiwnt time for the big guy to get it and review it bfore your surgery - all sooky and humble and really need help, reduced income.or income for ages due to cancer, loyal, gratefull etc  just in a desparate need of any help... Just may work..

    All the best

    Jel.

  • Kimee's avatar
    Kimee
    Member
    9 years ago

    Thanks Chris

    I must have been in the wrong head space yesterday as this is where I thought I had posted to as I am already a member of this group. Bugger.

    I will post it again to this group and see what happens.

    Regards

    Kim

  • Kimee's avatar
    Kimee
    Member
    9 years ago

    Thanks Jel

    I have the private health insurance which is comprehensible cover so I am covered but not for the prices the PS want to charge that are above the rebate. So $8000 for him $3000 for anesthetist and I haven't even got a clue what the breast surgeon will charge yet but for a guesstimate am allowing $1000 - $2000. So we are talking about $12,000 - $13,000 out of pocket which I just can't understand if I opt to go his preferred way.

    He also works in the public system and this is the way I'd like to go for the reason also that it is closer to home and more likely to be no out of pocket costs.

    Will consider writing the letter but first I have pushed back a little on the surgeon and said how I felt and have left it with him to make a call on having no gap or a much smaller figure when using the private system which won't be as close to home but will do what we have to.

    Thanks for the advice it is much appreciated.

    Kimee

  • jd48's avatar
    jd48
    Member
    9 years ago

    Donyou have any type of Private Health insurance. If you do write in to the CEO and ask for special.cnsideration and financial help / coverage for the procedure...

    I used to work for a Private Health Fund donkeys years ago and those letters work. They do not publicise it BUT they work. Needs to be tug on the heart strings and remind them you are a loyal customer, situation beyond your control, been to Hell and back with zreazmwnt, affec ting your life and self esteem horribly, you understand tey are not.obligazed in any way to do it and you get it would mean goins above and beyond for you etc... All humble gratefull and hoping against hope and must be to the CEO so fins the correct name and address of his/her office...

    If no Health Insurance worth writing for the Dep of Health / Relwvamt minister as well your parliament member. These letters do work...

    Worth a try...

    Best of luck

    Jel.

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago

    Nothing to add Kim just wanted to say that I hope it all goes well. Have you asked if there is a plastic surgeon in the public system that can do this procedure ? Just a thought.

  • Doll's avatar
    Doll
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi Kimee,

    Have you joint the breast reconstruction group on this site?  What about Reclaim Your Curves?  There is a wealth of information available form the other ladies who have had or are considering reconstruction.  Second opinions are good and ask for a list of all out of pocket costs.  Depending on your surgeon and your fund you may still have a substantial out of pocket cost as a private patient in a public hospital. 

  • rowdy's avatar
    rowdy
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi when I visited my PS for the first time I wasn't real happy so I booked another visit and was much happier as I had time to digest everything and made a list of questions. I'm going on 2 years next month and I was very happy with my PS. When I was in hospital he was in every day and when I needed to go back because of a bleed he was there, Ask for a second opinion, if you are still not happy your body your choice. Good luck