Bilateral tram flap

Yes definitely going public. Much as I would like to have a spare 18,000 just lying around I think I could find plenty of other things to spend it on! Yes I have 3 boys who I love dearly but have a particular bond with the 17 year old . I don't think I could have made him stay at home if I had wanted too. He was only 13 when I was diagnosed but grew up pretty quickly and really was my rock then and now I don't know what I would have done without him some days my husband went to pieces a little and then decided he would try to do everything so often it was just Tim there to hold my hand. X

Small world, I was under Dr Lam also but after consulting with him I was in the end operated on by Dr Moradi. Are you going public too? My boy who is 17 was my main man too. Boys and their mums...gorgeous. Xx

Hi Louise thanks for your reply.i am going to Westmead too under Dr Lam.i live in Coffs Harbour so it is going to be difficult as our kids are still in school. I have family in Sydney but my parents are in their late seventies so my eldest son who is 17 is going to stay in Sydney with my parents while I am in hospital and spend his days with me to give me a hand. My hubby and the other two boys will travel down the day before the op and stay for a few days after before heading back and will return to pick me up when I can leave Sydney. Dr Lam has said he wants me to stay in Sydney for at least 2 weeks so we can keep an eye on the flap. Dr Lam receptionist said there is a pre admission clinic a couple of days before surgery so I will come down on my own for that. Your worries are exactly the same as mine developing pneumonia and the flap failing so I guess I will be as anxious about that as you were. As to my cancer I am 4 years post diagnosis I had stage 2 invasive lobular cancer with 1 node positive out of 18. and had a mastectomy chemo and radiation . I made the decision to have the reconstruction along with an elective mastectomy on the left because I couldn't keep dealing with the anxiety every time my mammogram was due or I had a pain or felt something odd in my breast. I still get emotional at different times but not as bad as when I was back in the time you are going through now. Louise it does get better but this diagnosis can't help but define you for a while you know I even have days now where I don't even think of breast cancer ! Lol seriously it will get better you have taken on this huge operation whilst still having treatment! I take my hat of too you I don't know that I would have found the same strength. I'd be more worried if you weren't emotional . Take care of you I'll definitely let you know how the op goes and may even need to bend your war again before hand if you don't mind. Also if you have anything you want to ask me or talk to me about I am more than happy to do so x

I think it's important to be aware of the risks, the main one being that the tissue flap will die. But I figured this was a 1% chance that I was prepared to take for more natural feeling breasts. It's such a long process though, while I was lucky to have mine done at in the public system within the 3 months of completing chemo, the second stage/revision will not be for 12 months, then another 3-5 months wait for nipples. I was in hospital for 11 days. I went to Westmead Hospital in Sydney and they did not want me to go home with drains. Otherwise I was ready to go home and feeling quite mobile by day 7. However, I was happy to stay to be monitored in hospital as I was terrified of the flap and the wounds going bad. If you read my posts after my surgery I was back at the hospital the day after being discharged due to a black spot. We live north of Sydney so my family stayed in Sydney near the hospital in accommodation specifically for families of patients. Your hospital should be able to give you information about possibilities for cheap accommodation nearby. My hubby works in Sydney and continued to work but visited each morning and evening. My adult children were with me everyday. I found I really needed someone around to reach draws, tissues, remote, help in and out of bed, to the loo, going for walks etc. The staff were less helpful in that sense. Then my hubby took some time off when I got back home which I needed more. We found that staff were fine if they visited outside visiting hrs so long as they were quiet. I was very emotional and a bit needy I think being still in treatment and the whole cancer thing being still so raw. But we have found from the start of the cancer journey that I was always better emotionally when not alone. You may well be different and in a better place emotionally. What hospital will you be going to, there may be someone else who has been there to suggest options too. Louie

I'm sorry to big you Louise but how long we're you in hospital for ? We have to travel to Sydney and are trying to work out the logistics of time off work kids etc

Louise thank you so much for your reply. A lot of what I have read has been so negative so I think I have been working myself onto a lather. My surgeon told me he would not be my favourite person for a while but as with all things it is the unknown which is the scariest . Again thank you south for getting back to me and I hoe your recovery continues. I will post again after the op x