An NHS worker says she desperately needs a breast reduction, as she claims her size 42JJ boobs mean she has to take painkillers daily.
Erika Contu said she suffers from back pain so severe it ‘radiates’ into her shoulders, neck and head, but claims she has been refused surgery on the NHS.
The 34-year-old, who is an NHS operating theatre worker, says her breast size causes issues with exercise and work.
Erika, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, said: “I can’t sleep properly because of the position – on my side, back or tummy are almost impossible to sleep, I have to turn all the time.
“I can’t jump, I can’t run, even when lifting weights I have to be so careful because my back is so painful.”
Erika Contu says she wants her breasts to be ‘as small as possible’ (Kennedy)
She has to buy £70 extra-large bras, which leave her with bleeding rashes.
“I’ve tried wearing a tank top under my bra to avoid the bra rubbing the skin, but in summer time I come home soaked, it’s no life for me.”
She says there ‘are days when it goes into my shoulders, neck and into my head and I’m physically sick’ and ‘it’s getting worse’.
“People comment on my boobs”
At work, x-ray protective gowns will not fit around her chest, meaning she has to leave the room when x-rays are being performed as she cannot be adequately protected from the radiation.
Then there are uncalled-for comments, which mean she doesn’t want to leave the house, even to walk her dog.
Contu says her boobs leave her with bleeding rashes (Kennedy News and Media)
“When I wear large clothes people say ‘you’re wearing all these baggy clothes’, and when I wear tight clothes, people comment on my boobs.”
Erika said she has been denied life-changing NHS surgery, claiming she was told her BMI is too high to qualify.
In a desperate attempt to shed the pounds, Erika claims she has had to resort to using the weight loss drug, Mounjaro, and has since dropped 1 stone and 5 pounds.
But she says she still needs to lose six more to allow her to qualify, as her BMI of 35 is higher than the NHS target of 27.
She explained her pain (Kennedy)
Erika said: “I’ve lost weight, I lose inches everywhere but my breasts are still the same size. Most of my BMI is my breasts. I’m just short (5ft), that’s why my BMI is so high.”
“I can’t deal with the pain anymore”
She said of the impact her breasts are having on her: “I didn’t know what else to do and that’s why I opened the GoFundMe.”
Erika is now trying to raise £5,500 and hopes it’ll leave her breasts ‘as small as possible’ so that she can ‘start living a normal life’.
Erika said: “It’s not about appearance, it’s about my pain. I don’t want to be in pain anymore, I want to be comfortable. It’s not about looking good, it’s the pain that I can’t deal with anymore.”
Contu wants to raise £5,500 for surgery (Kennedy News and Media)
A spokesperson for NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “We are sorry to hear about Ms Contu’s experience. While we cannot comment on individual cases, breast reduction surgery is available on the NHS in Norfolk and Suffolk where clinical criteria are met.
“Clinical criteria are based on national evidence and include a BMI threshold, because surgery carries a significantly higher risk of complications at a higher BMI and health outcomes are better when weight is stable.
“Where a patient’s circumstances are clinically exceptional, their clinician can apply for funding through an Individual Funding Request, which is considered by a clinical panel.
“We would encourage Ms Contu to discuss this with her GP, or to contact our Patient Experience Team if she would like us to look into her case further.”
You can donate to Erika’s GoFundMe here.