They butchered my breast!

[BellaMamma]

Hello everyone, just letting you know how my breast surgery went, and what the doctors did to my precious breast!  This is my third surgery to get lumps(non cancer) removed from breasts.  The first one, I had two lumps in both breast, and all four lumps were the size of golf balls.  The incision (hope that is spelled right) in each breast was only 1.5 in long, but the stitching was horribly done.  Later I learned that the stitching should have not looked like that, and at the time they should of fixed my scars properly after looking like that.  By the time I had found out that they could of been fixed at no charge to me, it was too late.  The second surgery was just to remove one lump on right breast...it was only 3 cenimeters and around the nipple, so the scar wasn't easily seen.  This time, they said that the lumps were under 2 centimeters, one in each breast about the same place (to far left of nipple).   So, I underwent surgery for both breasts on tues...but when I woke up from surgery, only my left breast had  been operated on.  I asked them why, but since I had just come out of anestheia and under pain meds, there answer was short and they told me to ask my mother because they had spoken to her.  When I asked my mother, she said they had told her it was because they thought that maybe if they had done both breasts, I would be in too much pain, and to discuss it with the doctors at my two week check up.  My mother believes in the doctors, so did not question.  But when I got home, I naturally checked the incision.  Holy ****!!!!  The actual incision is 4.5 inches long!!  The lump was under 2 centimeters!!  It stretches from the bottom far left of my breast all the way to the top left, peaking out of my sports bra.  I called the hospital to get some answers, and they couldn't tell me anything, except to take it up with the doctor on my next appt(Nov. 19th).  However, the nurse did tell me that in the middle of my surgery, the doctor left and went to the desk to ask to see my cd of my ultrasound again.  Also, before surgery, the doctor had to mark on my breast the incision spot.  But he came into the room 1 hour later after marking me already, and asked me if I had brought my ultrasound disc with me.  I told him that they already had it.  I shoulda put 2 and 2 together and questioned why he had marked me without looking at the ultrasound.  He came in later and said he had found it, but kept the markings the same.  What the heck did they do?  I am not one to over-react.  Hopefully they just found more lumps, or it was bigger than they thought...hopefully.  But I am not happy.  This is my breast, I only have two, and I have to live with these two forever.  I am only 25, and now have this huge scar on the left, along with the three other scars.  I am happy that these lumps are out, but I will not be happy if they made a mistake...such as marked me wrong before surgery.  Plus, it was already scheduled to do both breasts at once, so why change that?  It makes me think that they messed up the left breast, and after messing it up, they decided not to do the right breast until later.  I'll tell you guys tho, if I go to my appt, and I find out that something went wrong, or they did not do what they were supposed to do, I will demand that they fix my scar.  I do not want money, I do not want a lawsuit, I just want my breast fixed.  And I want my right breast done right.  BY A DIFFERENT DOCTOR, obviously.  I am upset, plus this interferes with my pegasys start date.  I mean, what the hell...but like I said, hopefully things were just not explained thouroughy to me and I am over reacting.  Has anyone else had a similiar experience or know someone that did???  This is crazy, I want my boob back!!

[BellaMamma]

Alot of your information was totally helpful to me.  I sound alot like your girlfriend, but hopefully I won't get anymore tumors.  I have large breast, and they do keep growing in the fatty tissue.  I will get records, as you and someone else posted.  I will def keep you updated...the follow up is Nov 19th.  Thanks dears

[Isobella]

Oh Poor Bella....I'm so sorry you have had to go through this.  My heart goes out to you.  I have only had to have 1 lump removed, so my experience is limited, but I have seen a girlfriend go through the removal of many fatty tumors and I know it is hard.  

I have some different thoughts based on her experiences and my (limited) own.  First of all....the doc/hosp may have discussed your info with your mother because she was designated on your admission forms when you filled out the confidentiality/contact stuff??? If not, yeah..be pissed.  At the very least, the doc should have come in to talk to you.

As far as the markings go, he may have had written reports of your lumps and knew the approximate location from them.  Plus you told him.  He then looked at the films and confirmed that the location was the same, so no need to re-mark.  When I had my lumpectomy, they consulted my films many times during the procedure.  Not because they were clueless, but because they were being really careful.

The incision is a lot larger than you anticipated, it could truly have been that once he got in there, the lump was larger or more involved that first thought. That's what happened with my girlfriend.  She had a tendency to grow tumors in her fatty tissue.  She had large breasts...and they would randomly grow tumors.  In the end, after several surgeries, rather than undergo surgery after surgery to remove them as needed, she had the fatty tissue removed and had a reconstruction done.  Upside was that because it was medically necessary, insurance paid for it-and a great plastic surgeon made it all look awesome. Downside is having to go through all that to begin with.

Just playing devils advocate.....the guy could totally be a dic of a doc, but sometimes things are what they say they are.  On the other hand.....this is what is sooooo important as a patient.  The way to handle it is this....get copies of all records.  Just call and say..."Um, yes I would like to have copies of all my records for my file. Would it be possible to pick them up on say...Friday by 10?"  No big deal.  They may not yet have the hosp records yet, so you can call medical records there and do the same.  

It is such a good idea to do that with all your medical records.  (getting in the habit will serve you well as a hep patient.)  Just ask matter of factly...they don't need to know you're asking because you think they are total butchers.  And you will have everything you need for that second opinion.

When is your follow-up?  Please keep us posted.  I know you are anxious to get started with tx...that alone is stressful.  Believe me we all understand that part. I'm just sorry you have to deal with this krap on top of it.

Hang in there, baby

Isobella

[Proactive]

You should be able to call the records dept at the hospital and request an "operative report" of your surgery, this probably would be a good place to start. Might give you some answers to some of your questions before your next appt.
Pro

[BellaMamma]

Thanks guys.  Question...how do I go about this?  I mean, as soon as I get into the doctors office for my check up visit, they are going to give me the run around.  Nobody is going to admit that they did something wrong.  

[nygirl7]

If you are over 18 they legally cannot tell your parent ANYTHING - believe me no test results nothing.  You can sue them if they do.

You seriously need a new doctor I am so sorry this happened to you!

[GreatBird]

I'm so sorry!

So the doctor who did the procedure didn't come to see you after? You haven't seen him yet?? That's wrong.

And they told your mother so she would tell you? What's up with that?

I would talk to an attorney. Sounds like the nurses and hospital people are circling around the doctor to protect him. You need someone on your side. This is wrong.

And yes, you need a different doctor. Do you still have your ultrasound CD?

[Marcia2202]

Oh Bella, I'm so so sorry that you have been and are going through this. I cannot even imagine what you must feel like. You have my deepest sympathy and I hope that you will be able to have this sorted out and the scars fixed. I think that I would file a law suit, at least you would be able to get the money to have it fixed.

Hugs, Marcia