AIBU to think the NHS should cover this?

[Icannotcope]

I know I'll probably get slated for this but I just don't understand it.
I've always had large breasts and a small frame. I'm 5'1, 50kg, size 6-8. My breasts are a 32H. During pregnancy they got absolutely massive, I have no idea what size - but huge! Now they've settled back but they're still massive.
I have severe back pain and neck pain. I have injured traps from trying to support them and this has caused nerve damage so I get shooting pains down both my arms and have a loss of sensation in my left hand. I also get twitches in my hands. The pain on my neck/shoulders means I can't do things that involve having my arms forwards for more than a few minutes at a time (like typing, cooking, writing, driving etc). I've been to physio multiple times and done so many exercises but nothing helps. They've all suggested ensuring my bras are properly fitted but that hasn't helped either. They've ended up all saying that the only option is to have my breasts reduced.
Because they got so big during my pregnancy and have now deflated a bit, I have a tonne of excess skin. So, they hang down almost to my belly button. The excess skin gets irritated and infected because there's so much of it. I have to wash it multiple times a day, use aloe vera to try to keep it cool and talcum powder to try and keep it try. I take baby wipes, aloe vera and talcum powder everywhere I go because it gets so hot and sore.
On top of all that, it's affecting my career. I work in a professional field but there are no outfits that I can wear that don't look unprofessional because of the size of my breasts. Anything that's button up either bursts over them or is so large on the rest of me that it looks sloppy. Anything too high neck makes them look even larger and draws more attention to them. Anything low neck is obviously a problem too.
I simply cannot afford to have them reduced - it costs so much money and I just do not have it. Every time I've spoken to my GP, they've just said "it's a cosmetic procedure - you can't get this on the NHS". Surely it's not fair that I'm in agony all day every day. It I were experiencing this pain and these symptoms because of any other body part then the NHS would help but there seems to be some kind of decision that breasts are exempt from help.
AIBU to think someone should be helping me!?

[2bazookas]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-reduction-on-the-nhs/

If there is another GP in your practice, make an appointment, explain the medical issues and ask what is the policy of the local clinical commissioning group (CCG) regarding breast reduction.

If they don't fund cosmetic reduction, yours is not cosmetic.
But they might still fund it on medical grounds.

I would request a referral to a breast consultant for a second opinion on the medical problems (pain etc). I hope you can get it done. My neighbour had BR on the NHS for problems like yours and it brought her huge relief.

Some CCGs do not fund breast reduction surgery at all, and others fund it selectively if you fulfil certain criteria.

[Runnerduck34]

A friend of mine had similar issues, she did manage to get a reduction on the nhs due to the impact on her physical health/ back problems but this was nearly 20 years ago,maybe they no.longer offer it or its a postcode lottery but they definitely should offer it on nhs if it causes medical or pyschological issues

[june2007]

I know someone who got on the NHS, so may depend on your area, also on your overall health. The person I know did have loose weight first.

[janetmendoza]

So each Ccg gets to choose what they purchase, based on what they can afford, what they think they can cut without people noticing, local needs, and quite honestly whatever is flavour of the month. My speciality relates to adults with learning disabilities- so an easy target as they are not articulate campaigners themselves and lots of their parents are too elderly to fight the battle. So in one local ccg they get no service from us at all. All very depressing. The contracts get renegotiated each year so things can change. Obviously professionals try and influence the ccgs but we are all up against each other for a limited pot of money.

[Forgottenagainst]

[quote Alsohuman]Here you go @Nacreous.

www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/9552.pdf[/quote]
This url is very apt! Assets /attachment/ full

[nettie434]

Don't forget height too Clearyweary. OP said she was 5' 1". In my view, a tall woman can carry off large breasts better. I am surprised that a tiny minority think such pain and discomfort is ok.

[P0lka]

@Clearyweary

32H isnt huge though. I’m a 32GG and its only a cup size bigger than mine. Although the cup size sounds big, it isn’t that big? I would t expect the NHS to fund a breast reduction for a 32H

The difference between you and the op (according to www.hourglasslingerie.net/blogs/hourglass-blog/how-much-do-your-breasts-weigh)is 0.6lb.
Stick that in your bra for a few days before deciding it's not too bad.

That's before you get started on the ops loose skin and wound care issues

[Clearyweary]

32H isnt huge though. I’m a 32GG and its only a cup size bigger than mine. Although the cup size sounds big, it isn’t that big? I would t expect the NHS to fund a breast reduction for a 32H

[Poshjock]

You have persistent ulceration, I would argue that this is NOT responding to treatment and therefore does meet the criteria. Please do make sure that ALL the issues are documented in your notes. Don't treat the sores yourself - go the the Dr for each and every one. You mention other symptoms - ask for referrals for them too - the more people you have to see builds the case on how serious and debilitating this is for you. Seek further help for the tingling - there may be something else going on (related to the weight of your breasts) and this may be another angle.

It has gotten harder and harder to access NHS funding for breast reduction over the years. I had a fear about going for surgery but I wanted it from mid 20s on. When I eventually decided this had to happen I knew I no longer met CCG and didn't even try. It took years to get it lined up - research, appointment, waiting list. I had some time to save and the rest went on a 0% credit card. I paid 5.5K 2 years ago (in my mid 40s) and I wish I'd done it years ago. Seriously do not regret one bit and I still love my new shape. I had a big problem with spending that money but I know now it was worth it.

Do some research - read up on the surgeons local to you (Realself was a brilliant website for me). Consider meeting them and having a consultation - you are not committed to anything. It is a time consuming process anyway. Most surgeons are NHS anyway and may be able to give you good inside information. The surgeon I chose was an NHS surgeon whose speciality was oncology breast reconstruction. He was genuinely passionate about his work, helping women regain their confidence post cancer and he told me the private work was because he understood the impact that large breasts had on women and that he had the skill and ability to do something about it - and it was less emotionally involving than his oncology work. He did a wonderful job and I got exactly what I expected and paid for. Worth every last penny.

[Warpdrive]

OP I havent read the full thread but stopped by to say I had a reduction done about 25 years ago. Honestly it changed my life. If the NHS wouldn't have paid for it, and I knew how wonderful it would be after surgery, I'd have got a loan to pay for it.

Clothes fit, I walk tall, I am no longer ashamed when I meet new people, I can bear photos being taken now, my self-esteem has lifted. Without doubt it was one of the best decisions of my life, I havent looked back.

Don't give up with the NHS, keep trying to find a sympathetic person to help you. If you can get a loan, go for it. And best wishes for a speedy recovery and a new lease of life!

[Alsohuman]

I suspect if that happened there’d be something pretty catastrophic wrong with him so you’re probably right.

[thenightsky]

Its shocking really. I suspect if a bloke went in, complaining about his 10lb apiece bollocks that were hanging down to his knees and chaffing his thighs red raw, he'd get a surgery referral no problem.

[ChikiTIKI]

I'd also be attempted to ask for the following, repeatedly in between pleas for surgery:
Physio
Chronic pain management support
Counselling
Wound care with nurse
All on repeat, literally a phone or calendar reminder to get to the GP at least once or twice a month.

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

You have my sympathy, 34J cup here. I'd love to get mine done. See if you can find your NHS trust guidelines, I know my NHS trust point blank won't do it. If I ever come into sandy money I'm having a boob job and buying a camper van.

[Alsohuman]

One word @Icannotcope - money. The waiting lists for hip and knee replacements is massive now and you need to be virtually immobile to get a referral. Where I live people are quite literally going blind as they wait to meet the criteria for cataract operations. There isn’t enough money.

[Icannotcope]

@janetmendoza Thank you for your honesty. I'm honestly just so shocked that this is something that the NHS don't care about - and can't understand why. There seems to just be a very arbitrary decision-making on who can get help and who can't. Would you be able to shed any light on why this is?

[1Morewineplease]

I’m sorry to hear of your suffering OP but I’m not surprised to hear that you have been refused treatment. Painful hernias, unless life threatening, aren’t being treated either as well as varicose veins and a whole host of other ailments.

Try and find another GP , if you can.
I’m sorry to hear of your suffering.

[janetmendoza]

Sorry to hear this op, but can people not read the full thread?! The ccg decides what will be funded. The specialist will not accept a referral that will not be funded. No point in changing gps unless you move miles away to a different ccg.
We all know this happens all the time. My specialism is not funded AT ALL by a local ccg. I cannot accept referrals. If one slips through the net, my nhs trust will not be paid for the work I do for that patient and pretty soon I will be disciplined possibly even sacked eventually, for taking my Trust into debt. Op the only way forward is to evidence that you meet the ulceration criteria- take photos and expect a lot of knock backs. Sorry this is happening- it will happen more and more x

[IndiaMay]

I know a few people who have had reductions on the NHS!

[Gottobefree]

Go to a different GP. NHS do cover breast reductions if they are a certain size and do cause all the issues you have described. I think you would qualify.

Keep asking and asking !!!

[keepingbees]

@Tigersneeze I know, I've been agreeing with the OP. I was saying that it's not the GP who has labelled this as cosmetic, the procedure is classed universally as cosmetic surgery. It is wrong.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

In the criteria for my CCG, you won’t get surgery if you’ve got breasts of very different sizes, even on mental health grounds.

Without wanting to minimise mental health grounds, being very self conscious about different sized breasts, is different from major back problems and repeated serious skin infections. Are these also not considered? (I have hugely lopsided boobs after one stopped producing milk with my last DC, so I have at least some sense of how upsetting this can be, but also see that this can be addressed without surgery, unlike OP's issues).

[SummerDayWinterEvenings]

[quote Icannotcope]@janinlondon Thanks for this, it's a good point. The doctor has never asked this question, I'm only 24 but I cannot have any more children after some complications during my last pregnancy. You may be correct that the GP is assuming I'd like more children, but I do feel this is something that they should have asked rather than assumed.[/quote]
Make sure your GP knows this -take someone with you and take the CCG gui and say I meet it in this grounds and this ground and this grounds. Also take and print off loads of photos of the split skin infections etc -take them over the 4 weeks or more period of time -but keep taking them and take a daily picture and log -and keep a book. In my experience the people that are successful is the people that 'prove' with evidence not hear say -how difficult the pain, infections etc are. The appeal if needed puts most people off, then expect some push back -be factual. The tops for this size - do not do it. Email M&S ask if they make bras in that size -if they don't then that's a high street unable to cater for you. Having to go to a specialist bra shop -where is the nearest one to get measured etc But the main bit for me is the log -log the pain, log painkillers, measure the length of any split skin etc write down how long it takes to heal etc. All evidence.

[Nat6999]

You have to have a BMI of 25 or less, there is a group on Facebook that can advise you on getting a reduction on NHS grounds & how to apply.

[Alsohuman]

I think everyone who knows someone who’s had a breast reduction on the NHS is living in the past. It definitely won’t have been done in the last five years.

You can’t apply for exceptional funding yourself. Your GP has to make the case for you. You may find a GP prepared to do this but you’re going to have to convince one firstly to make a referral and secondly to apply for exceptional funding if the consultant agrees the surgery is necessary.

There’s a very skewed view here of how the NHS works. In the criteria for my CCG, you won’t get surgery if you’ve got breasts of very different sizes, even on mental health grounds.

I’m so sorry @Icannotcope, I agree with you but there are lots of posters here giving you false hope and I think you need to be prepared for disappointment.