Exchange City
Comments
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Goldie, I completely understand how you feel. I'm not happy with mine either, and I'm nervous about my upcoming surgery on Wednesday. If I'm not happy with the results, and the discomfort doesn't go away, I don't know what I'll do. I hope you'll have success with the diep. I think after this surgery, I'm done with trying to fix things. Stupid BC.
Has anyone heard from Elsie? I hope she's doing okay!
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Cheryl...thanks for the update! I have been interested in how you did because I will be having the same thing in April. So far the few people who have posted about the fat grafting have been so positive...I can definitely do this and you have relaxed me!
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Thank you all for letting me vent like that. It was pretty ugly now that I look back on the post. We all have frustrations, and bumps in the road. I will get there. Right now I have boobs, they just hurt...ugh. I will get it worked out. Some how.
You all are the best!!!!!!!!
Andrea, I pray it works for you. If it does then that means there is hope for me, and other's too. Keep us posted, please.
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Monis: I agree w/Sweet & w/Sandra. If we have problems & questions we post - otherwise most of those w/no problems move on. Thanks for Sweet - and for people like Whipetmom and numerous others who continue to give of their time & experience.
Goldie & Andrea: Sorry you both are dealing w/pain. I think it's important to have a 2nd doc confirm what is causing the pain. There can be a lot of discomfort for some time. I was absolutely sure my PS had nailed my implants to my rib cage - sides & bottom. I attacked him. I attacked the BS. I pushed the MO and got bunches of tests & scans. I am NOT a patient person. Sometimes PT helps. Sometimes LE treatments help. I don't think that should be confused w/whether we're happy with the way the reconstruction looks - which originally pissed me off too. As one of our long time ladies said recently, the 'look' changes for at least a year. Patience is so hard even when we're not in pain. Wishing you both some answers.
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I still have hives. Today was day 2 of a 6 day taper of prednisone. My left foob is red, warmer, and swollen. Have a tender area on right side where mudflap was removed. Thinking of all you guys and hoping we all can get on the road to recovery with good health and results.
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Elsie - So good to hear from you! Sorry the hives still exist. Just know that you're in lots of prayers every night. I hope at the very least you're able to get some rest... Keep fighting!
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Hi....I also wanted to post based on my experience. First off, I have not been a regular for several months although I have been family for 10 years. I lived on these boards the first time round, and after the seond time, I came here as I felt needed.
I had my exchange in June 2013 and in general, it has gone okay. At times since, I have felt the muscle spasms which the PS said would get less and less. I think I am okay with my size Cs (was only an A before and the PS made the decision, not me!) but still hate to look at those scars in the mirror when I do. My PS said he did not want to do nipple reco becuase he was afraid he "would F it up" (his words not mine). So I am gong with the 3D nipple tattoes with Vinne, in late March. Scared.
I am glad I went thru the reconstuctive right away, with the M in March 2013 and the exchange in June 2013. But it has been a long road for sure.
I am sorry for my sisters that have not made it this far in their reconstructive process. But I did want to give you positives to go along the way. Hugs.0 -
goldie - This is the best place to vent. We all get it. We all have good days and bad days. I know I sometimes post that I had a relatively easy time during the TE phase and that I'm happy with my outcome. However, if you were to go back to my past posts here and on the picture forum you would find me frightened and frustrated as I dealt with post-mastectomy healing issues, necrosis, tissue resections, wound packing, nipple surgery for symmetry, and loss of skin and part of one nipple. It was stressful and scary, but I was lucky enough to end up with a most wonderful PS who helped me through. I post my "success story" not because I want anyone starting out to think it's an easy process, but to know that it's a roller coaster ride and it can have a happy ending.
I'm sorry you're struggling right now. I don't understand why some of us have a tougher time and unsatisfactory results. It sucks and it's not fair. I feel for you and I truly wish you all the best.
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So sorry to her Elsie, I hope your docs can get this figured out soon, they will figure it! (but soon would be great
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Elsie--I dealt with chronic hives for about seven years before I got it under control. I developed asthma a few years after the hives started and although I was taking Claritin to control the hives somewhat, it did not totally keep them at bay. Only when I was given Singulair for my asthma that my hives totally became controlled. My allergist said that there had been some studies suggesting that the combination of Claritin and Singulair MAY control chronic hives and for me it was a miracle! I had even made several emergency trips to the doc for epinephrine injections because the hives got so bad before I started Singulair. I had hives all over my body, except my face. I have been on the Claritin/Singulair combo for about 15 years and they are keeping my hives and asthma non-existent. My allergist has suggested that maybe I should try going off the drugs to see what happens but the hives nightmare is too vivid, to this day, for me to risk reliving! As a bonus, I read somewhere that Singular may help prevent/treat the early stages of capsular contracture for breast reconstruction/augmentation patients.
I hope your hives situation gets resolved quickly. With everything else that you have been through, hives are the last thing you should have to deal with!
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Goldie.....nothing wrong with venting, ....you have PAIN.....
I vent because of the mental pain of this journey.....I thought I was in "FINAL APPROACH" to being done BC/reconstruction! ......with much too much surgery in the last year and a half: 11 surgeries!!!! (5 BC/recon so far and now another in the future)
then my PS F***** Up ...my nipple placement and fat grafting didn't take..... I do love my fipples (fake nipples), NOT thelocation!
Di
my tablet...
giving
me me
gggrgrigr! grief
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Elsie...hives suck!
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A lot of people have mentioned gives and itching after a mastecomy. What causes this? Is it a reaction to meds? The tape used?
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mommyathome, I got hives from my meds. Antibiotics (abx) and codeine give me horrible hives. Lori, I've been there. Hives on the bottom of feet so standing hurts and the same with internal hives in the throat and um elsewhere! Not fun. Elsie hugs. I had cortisone shots to relieve me when that happened. Geeze sometimes life sucks. Goldie I never expected for it to take 7 operations to get implants that stick. Mine don't project as far as my old ones did but not too bad. They stick out over my arimid ex tummy so I guess it's all good. My Mud Flaps OR Side Boobage IS NOT TOO GOOD On My Right side. Still hanging there a bit. The left side is much better. But I HAVE FOOBS! And since I wasn't sure thus day would come I'm happy. Minor things not quite as good as I hoped but for me, Hey, FOOBS!!! LOL. Di, , you are definitely a certified member of the Surgery of the month club! Sandra too. Myself and who else? Anyone who had at least one operation in 2 consecutive months. My longest streak was 3 months of course I am also a member of the hospitalization of the month club. That was also 3 months as the longest streak. But i had 2 other times as well! LOL. We sometimes have to laugh at this kind of sh*tty stuff because otherwise we'd be drowning in the tears. LOL so who else is a member of either club? .
Hugs to all and Much Love!
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Moon - I had one surgery on 7/26 and the next on 8/20, so less than a month apart. As you know, not something I'd recommend, but that's just the way it worked out.
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Maybe we should start a thread for surgery of the Month people? LOL. Not that we wanted to be in it but hey we are! LOL
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Naw, I don't think it would be a very popular OR very positive thread. LOL!
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Moon.....yes....I had too much surgery Nov 18 face lift.....
Dec 2 brow lift( that did not work) and lower eye lift....
and Dec 31 fat grafting (5 holes to put fat in, 2 holes to take fat out) and installation of Hi/Lo nips.....
but you certainly have had your share of surgery tooI !!!
saw my hospital bill for Dec 31 was over $44,000.00....
Medicare (yes ladies, I am OLD!!!!!!) changed rules and I could not have my surgery in PS's surgical suite, as it has to be a separate BUILDING, rather than a separate sterile area in the SAME building as his office/pratice, that would have cost around $1400.00......for the PS's surgical suite
What an absolutely waste of money .......medicare choose this ruling!!!!
Di
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I love the idea of the Surgery Club or maybe the Hospitalization of the Month Club - we'd have lots of members unfortunately. I was back in for two days at the beginning of January and had only been out from surgery #3 twenty five days. My husband has saved all my hospital bands - I get 6 each time now - and I have enough to wallpaper a small room from 4 hospitalizations in 4 /12 months!
We left on our vacation this morning. I'm writing from our hotel room in Galveston, TX, a 4 hr drive from San Antonio. Our cruise ship leaves in the morning. We're going down to Belize, an island off the coast of Honduras called Roatan, and to Cozumel. We've been to Belize before and this will be our 6th time in Cozumel, but Roatan is new. It really doesn't matter to us. We just love to relax and cruise. Sea days are the best. This is cruise #9 for us and I booked an Alaska cruise for August. (A bucket list entry.) I learned the hard way that you can never tell when your number will be up so we're not waiting anymore.
We walked a lot in the beautiful Victorian downtown this afternoon. They were having a Chilli & Beer Festival, with lots of booths and music. It was fun but a little too much for me since I've been a virtual shut in for a year. I'm piled up on the bed with a Diet Pepsi and the laptop. (Missing a kitty though.) Might have to take a nap to have the energy to wash my face and get ready for bed.
The laptop stays in the car while we are gone so I won't talk to you until the 26th when we get back. I'll be thinking of all you all week and praying my heart out that everybody is ok.
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sandra4611 - Have a truly wonderful time on your cruise! We'll try to be 'good girls' in your absence.
And I thought I was the only one who saved all those hospital bands!
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Sandra, have a wonderful cruise.....take a deep breath when you finally step .....then RELAX!
Our passports came today
(we renewed them on Friday Jan. 9th and expedited them so not really a long wait).....we're going on a 10 day cruise in March to Mexico....I hope to see mama whales and their babies in the Sea of Cortez......can't wait to relax!!HAVE FUN!
Di
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Moonflower I guess you could say I am a member of the surgery club as well. Since July 2013 to January 2014 I have had four surgeries. When I write and see it on paper it is unbelievable what I have been through. The surgeries have taken a toll on my body. The last two were within three weeks apart. Thank goodness only one hospitalization. I really should have had more but was too stubborn to go to the ER because I new they would admit me..... Lol. I just want to live and let my body heal for about six months before I start again with the madness. Will be trying again for the implants so will have at least two surgeries in 2014...... Ugh. Trying to get use to no breast is tough...... Ugh. Gonna start living my new life.
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Sandra,
Enjoy your time away from reality, soak up some rays and relax!
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When you have an exchange do you get drains put in again?
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I didn't get them again, but some do.
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Mommy from what I understand tear drops yes drains silicone round no but every ps is different this is my experience with 2 different ps's.
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had tear drops last Fri, no drains.
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Sandra, have a great cruise. Relax and put all this behind you. We do expect to see a few pics when you get back.
Togetherness, keep up the good fight. You can get through this. I am so sorry. I know it's tough. We are here!!!!
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What are the benefits for specific implants? My ps only said she was definitely going to use silicon implants
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My husband had back surgery last April and then all of my cancer stuff last year, so we decided to treat ourselves to a cruise! We are going the first week of April to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cozumel! I've never been anywhere outside the US so I'm very excited. We are also using this as a 30th anniversary gift to ourselves. September will be 30 yrs
. Have a wonderful and relaxing time Sandra!0
