Thanks gang, for replying to my 'empty blog'. Well, I thought I'd try again so here goes: Three weeks before my appt with lymphodema nurse on 2nd Aug. I noticed a kind of lumpiness, swelling on my mastectomy scar. I'd given up wearing my sexy arm stocking as it was causing a lot of shoulder pain and stabbing in my op. site so was looking for a bit of reassurance. Turned up at the hospital, no-one there, sat like a wally for 30 mins, re-checked my appt card twenty times then asked a nearby nurse if she new anything about my appt. "Its cancelled" she said. Nice one, no-one bothered to ring or send me a new one but hey these things happen. But I was hoping for a little reassurance re my lump, she said there wasn't anybody around. This is a hospital, there must be someone so I went to the radiotherapy suite to see if there was a breast nurse around - nothing. Went to Macmillan suite to see if there was someone who could just cop a feel for me - no one! Off home then. Received another appt. through post saying as I didn't turn up for my appt. they were willing to give me another one for 27th October!!!!! Too long to wait so rang breast care nurse "go and see your gp". Went to see gp Friday before Bank Holiday, she could feel the lump too and mentioned it may be nothing but she wasn't prepared to make that decision so faxed a letter to my constultant, Mr. Frecker that evening. Thursday after Bank Holiday rang Mr. Frecker's secretary re the appt. "there's no letter here" she said. Good job I've got nothing better to do, so chased up all angles and finally get to see Mr. Frecker on Mon. 13th Sept. at 4.30! I didn't want to waste anyone's time as its probably nothing, so something that could've been sorted in 5 mins has now taken up so much nhs time. Mr. Frecker, I am sure, will say "its okay, nothing to worry about". Why does it take so long? I still feel the lump, my arm is like dunlop and I feel like I'm holding a sausage under my arm at times with the swelling. Hey ho. In the meantime, that little bit of reassurance sure has caused a big stir and have resorted to eating the entire contents of house out of worry. God bless you all, love Annie. XX
