I confess (a sleep deprived cynical post)

you paint a vivid picture, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading your first post, but it actually makes me really angry because so much of what you went through in hospital is completely avoidable. Regardless of NHS cuts or staffing levels you should at the very least be able to rely on basic care.

So glad you're at home. Not giving you the very expensive dressings you need is a false economy, they can't compare with the cost of a hospital admission. It's appalling that you can be given RT and then NOT  given the appropriate treatment for severe complications. I would jump up and down, stamp your foot and demand some more of those dressings.

I hope you're feeling much better and getting some proper rest. Sending you a big hug. xx

Dearest maz

i have had terrible problems with my breast wound ,infection and had to have an op under general anaesthetic for total debridement ,could see my ribs 

have been dressing it for a year ,it is now a pin prick ,at the beginning you could have fitted a fist in there ,anyway I digress. I have been looked after by tissue viability nurses ,both in the hospital and at home . My wonderful nurse at home prescribed all sorts of dressings from our local pharmacy,including the silver ones ,ag is organic formula for silver , can you ask your gp for this dressing or ask to see a tissue viability nurse to sort you out ?
i 

not sure where you are in the country ,the irony is I have spare dressings ,no one is allowed to take them back ,( hospital,nurses,or pharmacy ) and you need them

hope you are sorted ASAP 

my problems started from seroma after mastectomy ,not helped by radiotherapy,but not originally caused by radiotherapy 

remember to keep the package your dressing came in ,so if it is good you know which one you need prescribed ,there are so many dressings it is easy to get confused

i was a pharmacist in my former life but was a long time ago and dressings are a minefield

hope you are improving

positive thoughts as always

janet

xxxxxx

That was what I was given by radio therapy department when it was decided I needed admitting. But they did not have anything to hold it in place with and as soon as it got covered in gunge it just moved about and fell off. Apparently it is very expensive so I was told like I could do anything about it but I did try to hold it in place. On the ward however they didn't have any and after 3 days they managed to go back to radio therapy who would only give them 2 small dressings even taped together they did not cover quarter of the area. Again I tried to hold it o. As they did not have a bandage to fix it in place. 

The pad I got from my chemist on prescription was far superior and I was able to buy a bandage for £2 to keep it in place. Again apparently they are super expensive as they contain silver and I was only given 2 but they cover the whole site and already the site is dry and no more blisters have formed. 

Not quite sure what is going on now as I am not bouncing back as quickly as I hoped and don't feel well with one unusual / embrarassing  symptom. 

Rather irrelevant but it is my 2 year anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer ,don t think I ll light candles on a cake !,,,!!

I had the same problem ,but kept it in place with my front fastening  recco mastectomy bra ,it is quite tight and being front fastening I can sort position of dressing easily 

I had to buy the bra but it has been worth it s weight in gold ,bought it on line 

sometimes they have them to give away in breast department 

hope you feel better soon

xxxx

No chance of wearing a bra just yet the burns were quite extensive. Under the armpit being the worst so it would just flap over the edge of the bra armhole rather than going into the depression. 

Sorry maz,really feel for you as i had similar problems,but not as bad 

accentuating the positive ,the air is good for wounds ,as long as you are warm enough and wound is not dripping (horrible picture ) 

xxxxx

janet

Just thinking about that, there was a time when me going topless might have been a welcomed sight by quite a few but after a lumpectomy, mascectomy and radiation burns the sight would probably instill nausea rather than lust. Probably enough to make the window cleaner fall off his ladder. 

I have to say though I had a bath today and got rid of quite a lot of the dead skin and the new dressings are definitely working. In fact it is these cold like symptoms and chestiness that is causing the most problems now.