Hi everyone I don't come on that often although I read mostly all the posts, anyway I have been living with my wee Cancer pal for nearly 18 months, I eventually seen the robotics consultant on 14th December 2023 Dr May wasn't too happy about my weight (go figure what new to us fatties ) so he said that he was " not to happy about the operation as you have to be tipped and all my middle weight would be pressing on my chest" he then checked when my last scans were, so I was getting new ones due to the last ones being over a year and I was to have an appointment with the anaesthetist.
The anaesthetist was on the 21st December 2023 and she was a right Debbie downer my husband noticed I had zoned out a couple of times and was worried I would just get up and walk out !! In fact I nearly did, the anaesthetist went on and on about my obese weight and that there were high risks to my operation (stroke heart attack death) she also informed me they would have to put a central line and I would be taken to ICU she then rabbled about my weight and that if I didn't have the bad food in the house then I would lose the weight and it's a fight for my health and life she also was getting In touch with diabetic consultant asking about the weight lose injection and my GP about my anxiety and low mood, wouldn't you have anxiety and a low mood whilst living with all the outside issues such as being disabled being obese having diabetes which is very well controlled pain 24/7 that wakes you up and so much more.
The following week I had my MRI & CT scans on 27th December 2023 felt like a square getting pushed into a round whole and that MRI was for fat people and what made it so funny was someone got stuck in it before me so my hubby was telling me. Christmas and New year went kept my worries at bay. I started to worry not long after so I left a message on 16th January 2024 for my useless nurse specialist asking when my results will ready as there had been two MDTM each on Thursday and I new my scans were already in got a phone call on Friday 19th January 2024 from one of the secretary's from gyna NOT FROM THE NURSE SPECIALIST AS USUAL anyway after the phonecall which gave me an appointment for Thursday 25th 2023 my hands were shaking and I just burst out crying this has never happened to me before especially my hands shaking like a leaf, hubby came over and cuddled me and said " You are under so much stress I have seen it in you for the last 4 or 5 weeks, Stress about your weight stress about the results stress at not seeing Alysha this year and the pain you are in everyday".
SO last weekend I done nothing but binge and make homemade chicken Noddle soups homemade chicken pie with own pastry and no fat cake (jam roll) homemade custard, my hubby says it's brilliant as my cooking is far better than the rubbish you get out the shops lolo I tend to bake when stressed.
If the Cancer hasn't spread or changed then it buys me more time to loose weight, before the operation but if the Cancer has changed then times up what I would like to know from any of you wonderful ladies is " WHAT QUESTIONS DO I ASK THE CONSULTANT OF THURSDAY 25th JANUARY 2024". If anyone knows what to ask please let Me no.
Kind Regards.
Hi Wilma08
I am sorry it's been 18 months now and you still are having issues with getting your cancer sorted. You have asked about questions and these are some that I would consider asking............
a) What stage and grade is the cancer currently and has there been any change since the last scans. If there has been any change do they expect it to continue to change and how quickly.
b) If it is still low grade and low stage (contained) can you use the mirena coil to keep it at that stage or is that only suitable for a short time.
c) With the surgery- they say that you have to be tipped and this is an issue with larger ladies. What is the actual risk and is there an alternative position they could use- to adjust maybe. What is the risk vs benefits of having surgery. Larger ladies have surgery and sometimes as an emergency so what would they do in this situation. With it being a planned op then would they not be able to do anything to offset the risks. Could the type of anaesthesia etc be adjusted. So more epidural, sedation etc? I am not medically trained but just wonder if there is some sort of alternative.
d) If the weight loss injection is prescribed, will you get additional support to manage the emotional aspects of eating, support generally with your mood. Is it safe for you, what side effects can it cause. Will it affect your diabetes. How much weight would they expect you to lose and roughly how long would it take. Am thinking along the lines of whether it is a short term measure for you to lose enough to be safe for the anaesthetic or whether it can be safely used for longer. What BMI are you and what would they like you to be.
e) Have you seen a dietician/ or is it worth seeing one? Losing weight is very hard but with the diabetes and other health issues would this help. I am not sure whether you have been able to lose any weight yourself but I know for most people it is hard. Is there any NHS weight loss services that could help. You seem to be stressing about the weight and that is making you turn to food to deal with it and that is a vicious cycle to try and get out of. Your home cooking sounds delicious by the way.
f) What can be done to help with the pain you are in?
g) How much weight do they need you to lose to make surgery a possibility? And how long would they expect that to take? What are the risks of delaying surgery until you lose some weight.
h) What sort of exercise could you safely do to help with the weight loss. Is there any help with this locally. Social short walks, exercise classes/gym etc. Where I am the GP can prescribe supported exercise- so seated stretching etc, low impact, gentle swimming. What sort could be done taking into account your pain levels and would this do more harm than good or would it be worth a try.
i) You say that your diabetes is well controlled- is there anything you can do to improve this and is the diabetes preventing the op or is it just the weight they are concerned about.
j) What is the central line they want to use and how long would you need ICU care. How long would you need to be in hospital.
k) What would they expect your recovery to be like? What would you be able to do, what do you need to avoid. Would there be blood thinning injections etc.
l) What are your bloods showing? Am thinking of low iron etc when you have bleeding and other symptoms from the cancer.
m) What sort of surgery would they do and which would be the safest for a larger lady. Does having a higher BMI effect healing or is the main issue the anaesthetic.
Hope this helps a bit. These are the sort of things I would be asking. You can probably think of others that are important to you. I hope that they can do the surgery for you and get things sorted. It must be so tough to still be waiting after 18 months. If you want to talk things through with one of the nurses then please do give the Support Line a call.
Jane
Glad they helped. I always took lists in with me and they never seemed to mind.
I hope the dietician is helpful and can offer some practical support.
Good luck for tomorrow and let us know how you get on.
Jane
Hi Wilma
That sounds more positive. 6 weeks is not too bad and with support from the diabetic clinic and possible weight loss pills or injection it does sound more hopeful. It is good that it is stage 1 low grade as this means it tends to be slow growing.
Most people do seem to have keyhole rather than open surgery and having a look with a camera to see if it is possible seems a good plan and that they have not discounted it completely.
During my own radiotherapy I met a lady who was having radiotherapy for the bleeding and she only had a few sessions and it pretty much stopped it.
Good Luck with the diabetic clinic and weight loss support. You can do this- its seems this is the closest you have been to getting it done.
Jane
