Hey all NHS Broomfield Hospital?

[ChristianS]

right, after suffering from my breasts since i was 10 (11 years ago now) and now finally having the balls to talk about it and do something against it. I went to my GP last week to get refered which happened pretty quick, today i went for my interview with the plastic surgeon and i had to fill out a few papers and he poked around on my chest etc, he also told me how they would do the procedure and the possible side effects that can happen... at that point i was terrified  this is the very first time i ever speak about my problem. as most of you guys will most prob know and we all do it is we try to hide behind jackets and jumpers... i was actually impressed by the effort that where made by the nurses! such lovely ladies! I am an apprentice so i am not lucky enough to afford 4k to go to a private surgeon so i have to go to the NHS... Do you guys think there is any kind of a downside? is there a high risk of things going wrong? omg I AM SCAAARED 
can you guys give me some advice for what to do and how long i will have to wait now? Since my mum had cancer i am petrified of hospitals so it is very hard for me to even walk through those doors 

Reading through your stories makes me feel good about going ahead and having the surgery! you are all a great inspiration, thanks for that!

[enuff]

Hi ChristianS

Glad to hear you're on your way to get it sorted....Did the surgeon explain how he does the procedure? E.g Does he use Lipo and incision? Did he explain where the scars would be? Has he done many similar procedures? Did you get to see some examples of his work? before and after etc? Could you afford to go and have a consultation with one of the private guys, just to see the comparison and ask further questions?

The NHS doesn't often get good reviews on this site but that's probably because most people here elect for the private route. Might be worth putting the surgeons name up in your post to see if there's anyone out there who has experience of him.

Good luck

[ChristianS]

Hi enuff,
i have already read your post and i am glad you had such a success!!
The Doc said he Would do a lipo and incision, through the bottom of my nipple. he has not shown me any before and after pictures nor do i know how often he has performed this op but he did seem to know what he was talking about. His name is Dr. Iwuagwu he is a big tall black man. I really like the nurses and the pre op though as i got quite alot of leaflets explaining about what gyne is, what effects it has and others that explain about the general anesthetic and infections etc so i am quite happy about that.

I am not really in the position to afford to go to a private surgeon... sounds weird but unfortunately it is true, i am paying for my rent and my misses as she goes to uni, so i pay the bills with the little money we get and there isn't alot left over. Cant even afford a car at the moment.

What do you guys reckon i should do then?
What did you say to your boss why you had to take time of? i am a HGV mechanic so i need 2 weeks of but i only get 1 week payed... HGV mechanics would take the piss very very bad so i dont want to tell them WHY i am going for surgery...

Thanks for all of your help and advice its much appreciated

[Jock]

As it's NHS then your doc will give you a line for work, they generally show it as 'post op' you could then make up your story, i.e. broken ribs bad back or even a hernia? or ask your doc as he/she will understand, as you may have to watch lifting for a few weeks?

Re your surgeon, well from all I have read it seems to be an op that the surgeon needs regular experience of doing a gyne op. But as you say it is your only option, and since it is ZERO cost then go for it. I tried the NHS route an found them very unhelpful, despite my problem developing from a side efect of a tablet that the NHS prescribed. So I am going with Dr. Karidis in 26 days time   but I'm not really counting.

[enuff]

I'm assuming you don't want to delay the op till you can afford it? How long till you become qualified? What about a second job to save up for it? As jock says this op has is more successful with Doc's who do this procedure alot..... e.g. Dr K has done over 500, levick probably more!

If not then I don't think it's unreasonable to ask if Dr Iwuagwu has some photos of his work or testimonials and how many similar operations he's done. Will he take ALL the gland? How big is the nipple incision? Does he Lipo from the arm pit or from your side? Also did you ask what happens if you're not happy with the results? What will you do if you're not happy with the result? Will you end up paying to get it sorted privately anyway?? 

I booked 2.5 weeks leave but I had to wait a year to take this amount of time off. That did my head in! No one apart from my partner knows I had the op. I can understand you not wanting to tell work and at the end of the day you're entitled to some privacy - so don't worry about lying your @ss off!  You've seen your GP and the surgeon which is brave enough- I didn't even do that!

As for work, I like the Hernia idea - you could even tell your boss you need two weeks off to get it sorted, but you're willing to take half as leave half unpaid?!? In my case I didn't have full movement back for two weeks and you won't want to lift anything for atleast a week.

There must be some people reading this who've done the NHS thing? Maybe they can give more guidance......

[ChristianS]

ure all a great help!!
i have to call the hospital on monday and ask for another appointment. the nurses said that they see alot of men having this done... i dont know if they have all been performed by my surgeon or not OMG i dont know what to do as i dont want it to go wrong specially not with my kind of a job as heavy lifting is daily.
HAS ANYONE GOT EXPERIENCE WITH NHS?? What should my next steps be???

[enuff]

... And if you use the Hernia excuse, when you go back to work you can milk it and say you can't do any heavy lifting for a couple weeks after you return. Also, tell 'em its a hernia in your groin. That way no one will want to see the scars 

[ChristianS]

Thats a brilliant idea with the groin hernia!!
Im trying to get hold of anyone at the hospital but no luck for some reason... What do you guys think i should do?? how long will it take for them to get back to me?

[enuff]

They probably got hit by the snow today mate so give 'em a couple of days and try again.....

What's the plan? You going to ask for another consultation or just book it?

[ChristianS]

Hey everyone, i just called in the hospital and left them a message to call me back ( Mr Iwuagwu's secretary)
I will just go ahead and book the OP as Iwuagwu appears to be very good at what he does plus his specialty is hand, scars and breast surgery. he has his own web page and there is quite alot of information i found on google today. His full name is Fortune C. Iwuagwu
the best page describing what he does i found was this one

http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/privatespecialists/find-a-doctor/plastic-and-reconstructive-surgeons/fortune-iwuagwu/


The procedure will be done through the nipple and he will try to leave the least visible scar possible more or less 7mm i was told


what do you think guys?? should i just go for it ??

i mean what have i got to loose? i have been draggin this around for long enough now 

[Jock]

Nothing financially to loose so go for it. Only thing is with the NHS, you may get to agree a suitable date if you speak to the medical secretary but if not they will just allocate you a date.

Just as well he is not private with that name "Costa Fortune" 



Jock
23 Days to go

[enuff]

If you've decided you're going the NHS route then "Costa"  looks as good as any.....

Nipple and 7mm sounds promising too - GO FOR IT DUDE

Let us know how you get on. Good luck 

[linkin]

Hey mate,

I'd go for it. He is a member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons which is really what you should look for in a plastic surgeon. Also, he does do private work in Brentwood and Ilford so to be honest you are quite lucky to have been allocated him I think. You should def go for it!

[ChristianS]

Thanks alot guys,
I am just waiting to hear back from them... how long will this take?? im going mental i dont even know what dates to expect 

I will let you guys defenately know how things will go! cheers fellas

[ChristianS]

Hello everyone, its been a while but i have been very busy at work and studying for my exams.
I finally got the letter through the post confirming the date of my surgery, it will be on the 28th of march so NEXT SATURDAY! omg im so so so nervous!
never had a operation and i am scared of needles :S will i notice the anesthetic? i mean how does it all work and does it take long till your gone? is there any side effects after waking up ?
i been told that i might have to stay in the hospital for up to 3 days?? omg they said due to it being a big procedure :S this makes it all worse for me lol
will i be in pain when i wake up? im quite a big lad but im afraid of the pain i might have lol

i just hope it all goes well 

thank you very much, you are all a big inspiration!