Topic: May 08 reconstructions unite!

Maryann -

Would love to join you.  I had 23 month delayed reconstruction started March 17th with expanders.  I had 150cc on the day of surgery, followed by 140cc 3 weeks later and another 120cc last week.  I have my fills done on Friday and am in pain till Sunday - then I'm good to go.  We are going to wait 2 weeks for the next.  I'm thinking maybe another 100cc and I will be done - then it's the waiting game for the exchange - I can't wait to get this over with.

I am really having problems dressing.  I usually wear fairly tight fitting clothes, but with this bump under my arm and above a natural breast I can't figure out how to camoflauge it.

Best wishes to you 

Maryann - The expander surgery only took about 45 minutes as it was a delayed reconstruction - no drains, just a large guaze bandage which he took off 2 days later.  My dh stayed home with me the day of surgery and then I was on my own after that - no big deal with a little help from pain meds for 2 days.

The worst pain I have is in my back and shoulder blade area.  I used a heating pad on it several times a day which helped.  I can't wait to get a lower breast!!!! 

Hi,

I thought I was going to have to join the June Recon Group when I got a call from my PS today in which they moved up my exchange surgery. I am now scheduled for May 29th.  Had rt mast on 11/26/07 for multi-focal DCIS with necrosis, grade 3, along with SNB which was clear.  Expander was placed at that time, along with a fill of 120cc.  I had spasms for a couple days, but after that it was just a general discomfort, no real pain....even after my fills which were 60ccs each and sometimes weekly and sometimes bi-weekly.  Other than having problems sleeping with this brick, it's not been too bad.  Fills stopped first week of March and the PS wanted to wait at least 2 months.  Three months actually worked better for my schedule.

I'm getting nervous now as I need a mammo next month on my "good" breast.  My  gyn wanted a 6 month check (biopsy of left breast was done at the same time as the mast....benign plugged milk duct found) so will get that done prior to my exchange.  Here's hoping nothing is found as I really want to get my my implant in and the expander OUT.  

My goal is just to match my remaining breast. I am a "nearly" B so not that big...in fact the PS isn't even sure I'll need a lift on the good side.  She expects a very good outcome.  I'm told they scheduled 3 hour time slot and it will be an outpatient procedure.  I have requested a week off from work although I may not need it.

Sam & Maryanne...wishing you well in your surgeries....you are at the beginning of the month.  Me... I'll have to wait awhile but at least I'll be on vacation for a week of that wait.  Will be thinking of you.  Phyllis 

I guess I am in this group for the Lovely Month of May

Having Bilateral with Expanders on May 22nd

Hi Maryanne,

  Thanks for the welcome.

I was just thinking last night.  Gosh its only been 2 months since I went in for my Annual Mammo!  Boy life sure has changed.

So far this wait has been easier then waiting for my Lumpectomy (that was a 3 week wait)  But then I think the last week of that was the hardest...So maybe it will get alot harder as surgery gets near.

I do feel very ready for it- Wish we were going together on may 1st!

I am still deciding on my course of treatment.  I will probably be getting Herceptin & Zoladex.

(if you look at some of my Last posts under the Herceptin thread- it tells a little bit more of my background)

Wishing you well on May 1st!  

Maryann

Just wanted to wish you well on Thursday getting your expanders.  I only had one so don't know what to tell you to expect with two.  It wasn't too bad for me.  I go in Friday for a fill and possibly my last, then will pick a date for the exchange and augement of the "good side".  

Let us know how you are doing. 

Maryann,

Lots of Well wishes from me for Thursday!

Maryann,

Thinking of you and wishing you well on May 1st.  Can't believe May is here.  You'll be out and about and showing off your matched set...with your "fists up" by the time I go in.  Hope you can relax those four days you're off.  Take good care of yourself and let everyone else take care of you!  My best.  Phyllis 

HKitty,

So sorry things have not gone the way you expected.  If you explore this site you'll find lots of different threads.  I'd suggest the Just Diagnosed, Surgery, Breast Recon to start.  When I was diagnosed back in Oct 2007, I just started exploring different areas.  The women here were very welcoming and there is just a lot of information.  One thing...nothing is Stupid.  It's a very, real scary thing, but also very treatable.  I'm at the end of my reconstruction (rt mast in Nov, expander placed and my exchange is May 29th).  I opted for implant as I wanted a quick a recovery (although it does involve several operations) and since I had DCIS (no invasion) I didn't need rads which can make implant with expanders more difficult.   You'll find lots of answers to your questions.  I would also bring a long list with you when you see your PS and take a trusted friend or relative who can "hear" for you...I found being stressed I didn't always hear everything. That should be a good start.  Wishing you well. Phyllis 

Tina...

Welcome to you, too.  Sounds like you and your PS are doing things "right".  I was very lucky to have very little discomfort with my fills, but there are so many girls on this site who have.  The most common advice has been to take the fills nice and slow.  I had 120ccs placed when I had my rt. mast on 11/26/07, then had to wait three weeks (had bruising) for my first fill of 60ccs.  Then I went every week or every other week for 60ccs each time.  Sometimes they would feel tight, but no real pain.  My main problem is sleeping...I can't  - as it feels like a giant brick and I'm a right sided sleeper and haven't been able to sleep on that side in months. I'm fairly small so the fills stopped in March.  Now I've just been waiting for the exchange which will be May 29th with cohesive gel implant (yipee) and maybe (?) a lift on my good side.  Believe it or not the time will pass.  Take Care. Phyllis

I will be having bi lat exchange to silicone  on May 30.

I can not wait to get these turtle shells out!!! I had them put in at the time of bi lat mas. (12-12-07)

Inger

Dejaboo

Just wanted to correct mine - unilateral exchange with augementation to good side - hopefully will get a date tomorrow!!!

Thinking to you Maryanne 

I guess I am in this group.  I had a bilateral mastectomy April 9th and it was supposed to be one step with alloderm and silicone gel implants but they had to delay the reconstruction.  The muscle tore when they were trying to create the pocket and I lost a lot of blood.  I also ended up with a collapsed lung.  After they patched me up the surgical team decided to not do the reconstruction.  My new date is May 29th @ 9am.  So you can add me as delayed bilateral reconstruction with alloderm and implants.

Just checking in. Surgery is done...yeah. Hard to see the results but I definitley have cleavage again. Yahoo. And no drains...double yahoo.

Had bilteral expanders placed....The last 24 hours have been painful ,thank goodness for painkillers.

Tina you are next. Hope you are getting your head geared up. 

maryanne, I'm glad your surgery went well. No drains are definitely a plus! Your avatar cracks me up! My chest already feels like someone gave me the ol' one-two! I will get my head geared up for the fill, but you better keep those mitts to yourself!

Today I visited a friend who has agreed to photograph the reconstruction of my breasts. My incisions have healed well and it's three weeks post surgery, but it still took my breath away when I first saw the initial pictures. I know I have become a work in progress, but there's an incongruency between how I think I look and how I actually look. I must be weird, because I'm so relieved to be rid of my DCIS that I've been walking around thinking life is just so wonderful. I haven't thought much about the loss of my breasts -- I did plenty of that for three months before the surgery. Rather, I've been focused on all the positive things that have come out of this process. Anyway, I must be having some kind of reverse ego thing, because when I look at myself in clothes as a flat chested woman (I'm not packing) I think I look good. It's only the pain and swelling that remind me things are different. Those pics today were a strong dose of reality. I do want to look good and have fabulous foobs, but I already feel I am a complete woman without my breasts. It's only when I judge myself with a critical eye (like a picture you'd see in a magazine) that I recognize I look a little war beaten. I'm just an average 51 yr old woman, but in my mind or when I look in the mirror, I still think I'm beautiful. Actually, I'm kinder to myself now about how I look than I was before I had BC. Crazy, huh?*

I'm next in line? Aaack! I'm a little nervous since I've been feeling uncomfortable lately, very tight. PS has me taking valium to keep my chest muscles more relaxed, but I've also had to supplement occasionally with some pain meds when I can't sleep. I hate feeling drugged like this. (*Maybe this is why I still feel beautiful!)

Phyllis, thanks for the warm welcome and reassurance about my turtle race! I like to rotate between sleeping on my back and then left and right sides, so I've been feeling a little stifled and wake up often. I'm still sleeping in the recliner chair I borrowed from my SIL, but it's starting to get to me. Now that I'm feeling stronger, I think I may be more comfortable in bed with pillow props. The recliner has been great because I could independently get up and go to bathroom and get meds in middle of night without assistance. I found any weight-bearing was brutal on the pec muscles during the first three week, so getting out of bed involved waking my my husband, which got old real quick! On the other hand, I hear the recliner is good during the day of or after fills, so maybe I won't be so quick to return it!!

Hkitty, originally thought my summer would be more carefree, too, with "only" a lumpectomy but ended up with a bilateral mast and expanders. It's not just a breast, it's your breast, and a very personal part of you. It's normal to feel sad and mourn the loss. I really believe that tears are healing. Phyllis has some great points about the forums on this site. I wish I had found the site sooner, but was grateful to find it when I did -- only a few weeks before my surgery. There are so many wonderful women who are supportive and knowledgeable. Each diagnosis is different and decisions about surgery and reconstruction are personal and individual choices, but everyone will be here for you whatever you decide.

MsSherry, I'm sorry you had such a difficult surgery. I am sending you positive thoughts of healing and for good results on the 29th.

Gail, these decisions certainly are tough. My mother had breast cancer, too. The oncologist I consulted with suggested genetic testing to help with making a decision. Everyone has a level of risk with which they are comfortable; they know whether they will be overwhelmed with anxiety between follow up tests (remaining breast); whether they can live with the unknown. For me, after 6 biopsies in both breasts in two months, I knew I couldn't take the stress and would cope more easily with the loss of my breasts. We're all different -- think about the info you've gathered, and then listen to your heart.

Dejaboo, thanks for updating the list!

Hugs,
Tina