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  • cateyz2
    cateyz2 Posts: 253
    edited October 2013
    YIPPEEE! I got my exchange date, Tues Nov 26th. I guess my husband will have to step up and make the turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Hehehehe :)
  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Posts: 1,467
    edited October 2013


    cateyz2 - congrats! Let the countdown begin!

  • myers421
    myers421 Posts: 145
    edited October 2013


    Awesome Katie!

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited October 2013


    Cateyz2....congrats on your date....


    reminded me that last turkey day, I was in a slump as I found out only a few days before I had CANCER.....


    I had BMX just before Christmas and so I was the director of food for the holiday eve buffet and director of Christmas dinner....


    I fell asleep before dinner was over....


    I now have my surgery dates:

    • Nov 18 my "LIFT"
    • Dec 2 for FOOB revision with fat grafting for my dents and divots, (maybe alloderm too) and nips ....so far away!


    Di

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Congrats cateyz2!!!


    Di2012 - my Thanksgiving last year was like your Christmas. BMX/TE placement was early November. Thanksgiving is always at our house for my husband's side of the family and I really wasn't even able to be the director last year......I attended in my BC pink PJs. My son's girlfriend did the turkey (her first!) and was so excited about helping out - it was very sweet. I ate a little and went back to the lazy boy for the rest of the day. Good luck with your revision!

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Posts: 572
    edited October 2013


    congrats cateyz2! It'll be here before you know it!


    Last Thanksgiving, I was in the middle of my radiation treatment. DH did the Thanksgiving meal, but I made the pies, since I didn't trust him with them. I think I conked out really early that night. I can't even remember!

  • Katlebbie
    Katlebbie Posts: 722
    edited October 2013


    Congrats Cateyz I hope all goes well for you!

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Andrea623 - There is sooooo much about those first few weeks post BMX that I don't remember! There's lots that I do remember but I think I was in a pain and drug-induced haze for a month!

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited October 2013


    I've used Bio-Oil twice a day for a week now and have already noticed an improvement in how my skin feels and how the healing incisions look. I am trying to keep the skin on one side in particular very supple. That's the side that lost so much tissue to necrosis after the BMX 6 wks ago that the implant on that side had to be removed 4 wks ago and a TE put in. PS is not sure the skin will be able to be expanded enough to put the same size implant back in. Hope the Bio-Oil helps me like it has helped so many of you. Thanks for recommending it.


    Also want to share some good news. I met with my oncologist for the first time today to review my case and hear her recommendations. Love, love, love her! She answered all my questions - dumb or not - and didn't rush the appointment. She says my DCIS and LCIS is gone permanently and there is no chance in it reoccurring in the 1-2% of remaining breast tissue that might still be there. She says since the ducts and lobules are gone, it can't come back somewhere else. They gotta have ducts and lobules to grow. So no radiation, no chemo, no hormone therapy! I'm so happy I went with the BMX.

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Good for you Sandra! I hope you get great results with your expansion also :)

  • mamasixtaz
    mamasixtaz Posts: 156
    edited October 2013


    What great news Cateyz2- It makes it sooo much better to have a date! Moving on to the squishie side! I really love my squishies-no comparison to the TEs. I was so uncomfortable with them, never knew how much till now. What a long summer working with them. I am 2 weeks out and still really swollen on the left but sports bra helps support underarm boob. So far pleased with the results, little flatter and smaller than originals but happy to have my health, and be able to take care of my family. I was so worried at the beginning what I would be able to do, could I work? I support my family and care for my disabled DH, would I be able to do that? Well, yes I can and I look good too. Are they perfect, no, but neither were the originals! Ready to move on to life after cancer! So many of us are looking at where we were at a year ago. I had my mammogram a week before Thanksgiving and had a biopsy on Dec 5th. On Dec 10th got the news "you have bc" many tests went on during the Christmas holiday including an MRI the day after Christmas after working night shift all night! Then on top of it the MRI machine broke down, had to reschedule! I look forward to a much happier holiday season this year!


    Sandra-what good news for you too!-no chemo, rads or hormones, can't beat that! congrats!!!!

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Sandra,


    I love bio oil. It has made a world of difference for me. At first they thought I would not be able to be expanded at all because the BS took too much fat when she took my breast tissue. I had expander's in for over a month before they even considered putting anything in. They started very slowly, and that was only to give my PS some extra skin to do a diep flap they were so sure the expanders would not work. I had the diep delayed for some other reasons I won't bore you with, but I kept getting expanded and massaging with bio oil twice a day. I met with my PS and he was absolutely amazed at the change in my skin, and scars. I love that stuff!!!!!!! Also, I had the same dx as you. No treatment except bmx. And, of course recon.


    Hope everybody else is doing well. Just stopped in to say hi.

  • cateyz2
    cateyz2 Posts: 253
    edited October 2013
    Sandra-Absolutely wonderful news!!!!

    And thank you ladies, I agree I will be so happy to get 2013 over with and look forward to 2014 being a better year
  • GreenCowgirl
    GreenCowgirl Posts: 80
    edited October 2013
    Sandra That is amazing news! So thrilled for you! Yes I agree, ready to put 2013 behind me too.
  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Posts: 465
    edited October 2013


    Andrea, PS & I are trying to get the revision done before end of yr. Reason is that after that, my insurance would require another deductible for the 2014 yr. I had my second set of implants and capsule release in July so we don't thk the foobs are gonna do anythg else on their own. When were you going in for your revision? We were gonna try and squeeze a few days for a Xmas vacay in, my PS and I are always plotting. All my drs are women except my dermatologist. My primary clinic uses a man and a woman. The man dr is always taking off to go to the gym so I see the lady. She stares at the computerized med records while I talk and ignores me.


    Do you cyber sisters think the male PS are not sympathetic to our case?

  • Camillia
    Camillia Posts: 34
    edited October 2013


    Thank you for so much good info and tips, ladies. I had already ordered the silicone strips but I will also get some


    bio oil after reading how much it has helped some of you :-)

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Posts: 335
    edited October 2013


    Cam,


    I just got the strips too...;)


    V

  • Camillia
    Camillia Posts: 34
    edited October 2013


    Cant wait to see how well they work! So this may sound stupid... but when do you start using them? After they put the TE in (seems useless since they will have to cut again for the exchange) or after the final exchange?

  • peanutsgal
    peanutsgal Posts: 64
    edited October 2013


    Camilla,


    I started using them after the BMX. My incisions for exchange were not as large as my BMX incisions and now you barely notice about 1/2 of my original incisions. Now if I can just get my exchange and revision incisions to look as good I'll be in great shape.

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited October 2013


    Mama,


    LOVE your comment "Are they perfect? No, but neither were the originals." Way to go, girl. Love your fighting spirit and determination to move past your horrible year.

  • Camillia
    Camillia Posts: 34
    edited October 2013


    I had my UMX over a year ago and did not know about the stripes then. I am glad that I do now.


    I too loved the comment; "Are they perfect? No, but neither were the originals."


    Way to put it!

  • gottabefree
    gottabefree Posts: 6
    edited October 2013


    I've got the scar strips too, (plus Mederma gel / Bio Oil / Palmer's Coco Butter, etc..) the Mederma gel smells just like aloe juice. I wonder what would be the best combination, and how long and when you would wear the scar strips???

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited October 2013


    Saw the PS today for fill #3, only 80cc's this time. He said he can tell when to stop each week by lightly pressing on the skin and watching the capillary refill response. Last week I got 240 cc's and the first week 180cc's. I'm up to an even 500 in the TE with no problems & no pain. I realize I might be singing a different tune in weeks to come, but for now it's all good. You can easily see the TE side is a lot smaller than the implant side (800cc) but it doesn't look bad at all. Three weeks ago I had one nicely healing foob and one less than flat, concave chest half on the other side with fresh incision and a deep dent under the arm where all the necrotic tissue had to be removed. Now I still have the big dent but am up to 1.62 foobs. In clothes you can't really tell. It's fascinating to watch the process and see myself grow so fast.


    The nurse and PS commented on how great my skin looked and how fast the incisions on both sides are healing. Thank you Bio-Oil.

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Posts: 572
    edited October 2013


    Layla, I'm not thinking about a revision this year. I'm trying to decide how much faith I have in my PS, or if I want to pursue a second opinion. I don't think my PS has a lot of experience with radiated skin and I'm not sure he really understands my concerns. I'm glad you'll be able to have your revision done before the end of the year. Because my memory is shot, can you remind me what you're having done? Are you having any contracture this time? I think I'm getting it on my rads side, but was told if I develop it, I'll most likely have it happen again if I have the capsulectomy. Not very encouraging!

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Sandra - love the '1.62 boobs' comment! I tease a friend of mine here at work that had a lumpectomy a couple years ago that I'm jealous because at least she still has, like, 1.85 nipples....lol. They had to take part of her nipple because of the tumor location.

  • myers421
    myers421 Posts: 145
    edited October 2013


    Hi all,


    I have been following your posts daily, and appreciate all of them. After being on antibiotics for 10 days and an 80 cc deflation the redness round circles on my left side went away. I was then filled at 30 cc's (I was getting 60 cc's every week 3 weeks after bmx). 4 days later red circles came back, conclusion is thin skin. I saw my ps yesterday he deflated me 60 cc's and scheduled my exchange for October 25th (tentatively I'll find out def on Monday). However, if it gets worse he will schedule an "emergency" exchange to get the TE's out. He says he can put in smooth round high profile at 600-700 cc's and he is going to suture in an "insulation" on the thin skinned side during surgery. anybody hear of this "insulation" ?

  • 2ns_Jenn
    2ns_Jenn Posts: 95
    edited October 2013


    Good morning ladies. I have just started reading this thread (thanks Katie) and wanted to say that you can add me to the list. I am scheduled for my exchange on 11/29. Happy Thanksgiving to me!!! Can't wait to be rid of these TEs. I am currently filled to 650/600 (lefty with radiation needed more help) and believe that the PS will be going with Allergan Style 20 550cc. So excited!!


    Amy - Hopefully you won't have to do this as an "emergency". Is it possible that the "insulation" is Alloderm? I think using that is kind of common. Who is your PS & where are you having your surgery? Good luck to you.


    Jenn

  • myers421
    myers421 Posts: 145
    edited October 2013


    Hey Jenn,


    Congrats on your surgery date = ) my surgery will be at Sherman my ps is Dr. Szczerba in Hoffman Estaes. HBU?

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Posts: 836
    edited October 2013


    Sherman has beautiful patient rooms :)

  • peanutsgal
    peanutsgal Posts: 64
    edited October 2013


    Amy,


    I've never heard of it called "insulation" but yes I would also assume he was referring to alloderm or a similar substance. Hopefully the red circles will stay away.


    Congrats, Jenn on a surgery date. You'll be soooooo much more comfortable with those TE out.

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