frustrated2

Welcome Ladies, glad that you found us but sorry that you had to look for us.  There are a lot of great threads here that should lead you to experts of sorts to answer your questions.  I have not gotten all of my test results back yet so I am not too informed on treatments but I can tell you that the MRI is easy but can be uncomfortable due to having to lay on your stomach with a lot of the weight on your chest but again it is fairly easy.  I had a mastectomy on the left side in May and in a couple of months I will have the other one done.  This was a personal choice for me not wanting to wait for the other shoe to drop sort of speak.  The mast was not as bad as I thought it would be but everyone has a different response to it as you can read in the threads.  Please hang in there  and ask as many questions as you need  to and get as many opinions as you need to to feel comfortable.  Always remember this is your health and the doctors work for you.  Hang in there and let us know if we can help.

Hi everyone hows your week going?  Just a question about the expanders.  Are they uncomfortable from start to finish?  Does it get more comfortable with the fills or worse?  After the drains came out the first time I found that the expander was very uncomfortable.  That could have been due to a complication but I was just wondering what I had to look forward to.

Well Hope everyone is doing well!!  Have a great week!

Lin, Don't let your family get you down they just don't understand.  Hang in there and prove them wrong about it all.  The doctors too.  I was diagnosed with DCIS on the left side and had that breast removed.    The MRI's pre surgery showed two spots in the left breast.  Post surgery there was way more than they could see.  The breast tissue in both breasts were so dense that it was hard to see.  Should I trust that there is nothing in the other one?  My doctor refused to the the BM that I wanted.  Like you I don't want to do this again in a couple of years.  He did say however he would take the other one just in a later surgery.  Always do what's best for you and not anyone else.  So now I am waiting the wort part so far for me.  Again hang in there.  You will do whats best for you so try not to worry too much.

Holly, after my mast I did not attempt the bra till the drains came out.  I admire you trying to it with them in.  Once the drains were out I did want a bra due to the pulling that the other breast was doing made me sore in several areas.  I found that a light support sports bra that closed in the front was some help.  I also thought that the tank tops with the bra built in was good.  I just bought a little bigger than I was to leave room for padding and swelling.  I still go lop sided most of the time but I will be looking for more permenate filling this week.  Good luck and let us know if there is anything else.

Diane, Sounds as if we are both in the same boat.  I was more uncomfortable from the expander with a zero fill than I was from the surgery and I too have no idea how to make a flat side of my chest look like a large C/D cup!! I think thats what make me feel like a freak more than anything else.  Flat on both sides would be easier.  Since they took the expander out and are now delaying any reconstruction for 4-5 months after they do the mast on the other side I am just even more frustrated.  The last of the drains is coming out tomorrow the PS promised.  I can't wait to not have to wear all these bandages and such.  I am glad that you have the support of your daughters and there fashion knowledge to help you get your look together.  Good luck tomorrow when you go back to work.  It will be easier than you think so don't worry too much. 

totaldo--So sorry for all the confusion on your doctors part.  They just don't often know until you have had surgery.  When I was diagnosed they told me just these two small lumps but when I had my mastectomy there was so much more going on in there that they could not see on the MRI etc.  I had the mast because they said they would have to take so much of the breast anyway.  You have every right to be angry!  I have not been told if chemo or rads are recommended but at first look they said no.  I am now waiting for final path reports.  Hang in there you will get through this. 

Thanks Mizz for starting this thread.  I was also wondering about the tightness I was having on the very edge of my arm pit.  The pictures were aslo a great tool.  You all rock!

Thanks Kathy I will try the ace.  It has to be better than the four dollar rolls of tape.  So tell us how did you spend your first day free of drains?

Hello everyone how are you all doing today?  Things have been hot here so the computer has not been on much.  We have also been getting a lot of thunderstorms also not that the rain has helped the heat any.  I am doing ok having some discomfort in the muscle department from the open area reattaching skin to muscle.  I still have the drain.  The PS said it will come out on Monday for sure.  So for another week I have to deal with an open and draining wound.  I am so tired of having to dress this thing.  Four weeks now and my skin has had enough and so has my pocket book.  Bandages are not cheap.  My body has had enough and now the tape wont stick so.....I keep plugging along the best I can.  Out of work for another three weeks.  I could have been back to work already if it were not for this open drain.  He said I could go back but hospitals are the best places to pick up an infection so I said I would not go back until it was closed or at least till the drain comes out. 

I know how LIBERATING it is not having the drains and I am so happy for you Kathy!  Sheila what kind of enhancers did you use?  Hope you are all doing well.

I had a left mast on May 16.  I had the expander put in at the time of surgery but it came out after three weeks due to complications.  I am about to go back to work but need some ideas on how to look somewhat normal with only one breast.  Does anyone have any ideas?