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!?

I couldn't get my painful bunions done on the nhs either. I was told to pay private. I cant afford that so have to live with them. I agree the nhs needs to help people in pain.

Even if you go the NHS route it could be possibly years before you get seen.And a lot of hoops to jump through.In that time you could of taken a loan and paid it of.Is that not an option?

@Icannotcope

Hi everyone, Thank you all for your advice - I'll definitely be looking into all of your suggestions. I'm definitely wearing the right size bras but sometimes they vary as different stores just make them differently. Sometimes I'm as low as a 28 and sometimes my cup size goes up to a K - I just put 32H as it was easier to say one size and didn't want to sound like I was exaggerating. I've found my CCG requirements. It says I need "ulceration that does not respond to treatment" - does anyone know what they mean by this?

It basically means ulcers that refuse to heal.

I'm reading this with interest. I also have enormous boobs that make me miserable. I'm something like an L cup and so much of what you've said is true for me too.

On a side note, if you're sore under your boobs, I was told (by the kindly staff when I went for a routine mammogram) not to use talc, but cream for athlete's foot - because the problem is that the area is damp and warm, and potentially infected rather than 'just' sore.
I certainly found that it helped me. It won't solve your problem, but may make at least one bit less sore.

@Alsohuman I'm on the Bedfordshire/Cambridgeshire border but I'm with the Bedfordshire CCG. It sounds like it might be easier to access in Cambridgeshire because I'd wouldn't need to prove that I have ulcerations that don't heal. Maybe I should just register with a GP in Cambridgeshire and then I wouldn't even need to move? Is this outrageous behaviour? I feel a bit like I'm scamming them?

I just can't justify taking out a loan. We don't have this level of income and that money would be just much better spent on things that my family need.

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

You need to check out your local CCG. I've ask the practice manager (if the GP seems negative) about if the CCG does allow it on medical groups. Also ask the CCP direct yourself. If you meet the criteria -ask your GP to refer you do not - be fobbed off.

My DD had a unusual mark on her face -it grew with her age. No issue right now. But in years to come -potentially a huge issue. Referred to plastic surgeon -didn't think he was anything cancerous etc but he removed it on the basis that it was going to decrease and any large would make scarring more obvious and if much larger, surgery would be much harder and there might be complication with skin cancer and other things.

Guidance has changed in recent years and a GP can not necessarily refuse a referral. Although you can not self refer if you demanded a referral one should be made -you can certain ask another GP or swap surgeries. Personally I feel this is a form of sexism although men aren't normally allowed reduction either -this is clearly an issue for some women and it should be allowed on health grounds.

Perhaps lipo on the breasts might be better and less risks? It’s also cheaper

@monkeyonthetable it's not the GP that has decided it's cosmetic, it's actually classed as cosmetic surgery even privately.

I just can't justify taking out a loan. We don't have this level of income and that money would be just much better spent on things that my family need.

Dear OP, 'things that your family needs' is a pain-free parent.

Not saying take a loan, but saying please see you deserve a pain free life - don't give up.

Your band size generally is around your dress size + 20.

From a former la-senza bra fitter - that’s a very old myth. Everyone’s body shape is different, different skeletal size, carries weight differently.

@keepingbees OP has suffered nerve damage due to weight of breasts - so 100% not cosmetic

I would book a private BUPA consultant appointment and get them to make an NHS referral for you to sit down with someone to discuss what you can have. Often the loose skin can be removed without a reduction if they don’t want to do both.

@Custardcreamies101 I've never heard of liposuction to reduce breast size but I suppose that makes sense - I'm intrigued! My breasts don't appear to have much fat. My body fat percentage is roughly 12-15% and I can't feel masses of fat on them (I can feel all the glandular tissue close to the surface).
I also think that the rashes and infections are caused a lot by the excess skin - that might be made worse by liposuction.

They do provide breast reductions on the NHS. I had one!
Lots of chest pain after my son finished breast feeding. Got referred to cardiologist and after xrays, scans, etc was told my breasts were pulling my heart out of shape.

Three weeks later, 36JJ to a 36C.
Best thing ever!
Get a second opinion

A friend of mine had a reduction on the NHS about ten years ago so times may have changed but I think you should try another doctor.

You can definitely move CCG by changing surgery, that's totally legitimate. I can't see the procedure in their clinical thresholds page for Cambridge and Peterborough though, but I might be going blind.

I think liposuction might well make things worse too. I wouldn’t recommend changing to a GP in our CCG area @Icannotcope. Not only do you have to meet all those criteria but the GP has to apply for exceptional funding as well. C&PCCG is genuinely underfunded for its population and an application would be very unlikely to be approved.

Here you go @Nacreous.

www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/9552.pdf

A friend of mine had a breast reduction on the NHS a couple of years ago because of back pain, so it can be done if things are bad enough.

But, as with many things, the rules seem to be different in different locations.

Absolutely push for it. This isn't a vanity procedure.

Now you have the CCG policy and criteria, book another GP appointment and discuss how you meet/do not meet the criteria and request a referral.

Don't get fobbed off, if you believe you meet the criteria you should get this funded by the NHS. If the GP will not refer you, write to the CCG setting out how you meet their policy threshold and ask for advice on how to proceed to get a referral.

Finally found my CGC criteria (SW London) and you would meet them.

My friend had this done on the NHS.

Change GP.

I agree with PP who've said the NHS should cover them as I know a couple of people who have had reductions.

My only advice is to maybe not mention the excess skin and drooping so much and focus on the back pain and sores - as a breast lift/excess skin removal are cosmetic procedures (I think) so you need to make sure that you are getting across that you need it because it's a medical procedure and not for vanity (it sounds like your GP might think this). Definitely get a second opinion! Mine are 36DD and I sometimes get back pain and find it hard to find clothes that fit so I can only imagine what it must be like for you every day.