Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

Exchange City

1…112113115117118…1387

Comments

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne - That is so great! I'm so glad everything turned out well and you are happy.  Make sure to rest.

    Peg

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne---Doing the Happy Dance for you!!!!  Thanks for letting us know!

    Hugs,

    Karen

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne,

    I just had to come back to say that the Lord remembered you and what you did the last time you were called in for standby.......so let us give thanks to HIM

  • skippyrcis
    skippyrcis Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2009

    Digger, I hope that everything is okay with you.  I can understand your concern.  I have no advice to offer just good vibes.  

    I have to wait a month to see if we need to redo my implants.  My breasts are two different sizes.  I,  of course, like  the larger of the two.  I think the shape looks more realistic.  My PS at the last appointment thinks the smaller one looks better.  He said that I needed to remember that we could not go up in size only down.  I know that they have their own approach, but does this seem crazy.  Even if it is only 50 to 100 ccs.  I had no expansion at all before my augmentation.  There is a weird line down the middle of my breast too that sort of dents in.  I wish this was easy.  

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2009

    oh Yvonne- that is great news.  I am so happy for you!!  JUDY

  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 90
    edited May 2009

    Yea Yvonne!!! I am so happy for you. Rest and enjoy it!

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited May 2009

    Thanks so much everyone for your kind words!! 

    Linda - I am thanking the Lord in a big way!! All my prayers were answered today. All things come to those who wait!!!

    Laura - Waiting lists do suck and you certainly do need patience to be a Canadian patient!!! LOL The upside is there is absolutely no cost for any test or procedure and you don't have to get approved by an HMO if you want more extensive testing.  Fortunately the system works very quickly if you have a life threatening issue but anything that isn't going to kill you does move you way down on the urgency list.  I guess there is a good and bad to everything. 

    Back to the couch....

  • golfingb
    golfingb Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    This question is for anyone that has exchanged or preparing for exchange. My PS is not a very social person. He really doesn't discuss much of anything with me. I am now filled to 800cc's each and think I could go more. I do not really want large breast, but I do want more than I originally had. I was a 38C prior to surgery and he tells me that after exchange I should be a small C. I wanted to at least be a large D. He told me that the implants do not come in sizes larger than 800CC's. I don't think I believe that. He did explain to me that I would be getting the original gummy bears because he is a part of the study. Could that be why I can't go larger? Will the implants look smaller than what I am filled to now? Also, I asked about projection and profile and he actually doesn't want to discuss it. He says that he chooses what fits and will look the best on my body. I had my last fill today and he will not even over  fill. I thought all surgeons overfilled, to compensate for a little droop and jiggle after  the exchange. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Kathy

    P.S Scheduled for exchange 6/29/09

  • looper
    looper Member Posts: 61
    edited May 2009

    Thanks to all of you for your support--I know we all say that in almost every post, but I know we all mean it so sincerely!  I've been looking forward to having my revision procedure tomorrow morning, or at least to having it finished, and wearing my deep V neclines again!

    The next couple of days at my house should be interesting with both my daughter and myself recovering from surgery and on some really good meds!  She had surgery in Miami on 5/1 for a perforated ulcer and came to Wisconsin for the six week recovery.  Lucky for us we have other family members and friends coming by to check on us.

    Deborah--hope your procedure was a success and you're recovering nicely--looking forward to exchanging notes with you!

    Congrats to Yvonne--so happy you're happy!

    Skippyrcis~~Your issue is very similar to mine, as my implant side is smaller and I like my bigger, natural side much better--I'll let you know how the fat grafting works for me--I wouldn't accept the option of a reduction on my natural side, as I'm only a 36C, small C at that.

    Off to bed for me--hospital at 8 AM--at least it's not the crack of dawn!  Best wishes to all with procedures this week. Suzie

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited May 2009

    Kathy, can you change to another PS?  From what I've been told and read on this site, others will chime in, silicone implant only go to 800ccs.  Saline can be filled much more but are less naturally feeling than silicone, and Deborah mentioned a combo implant silicone and saline that can go larger. 

    I personally think it is important to have a doctor you can talk to and who will answer your questions.  Ladies, thoughts?

    Karen

  • smmr
    smmr Member Posts: 34
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne - so happy for you!! You might be pleasantly surprised in the morning if you're still feeling great after the pain meds wear off.  I was amazed at having no pain with the exchange surgery.  What a wonderful surprise, hopefully that will be the case for you too!  You deserve a painless surgery!  Isn't it such a huge relief, and you're even happy with the results!!  That's awesome!

  • golfingb
    golfingb Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    KEW,

    I  may at least get a second opinion about these issues prior to exchange. I think I would feel much better about the whole situation. Thanks for the info about the silicone implant. I do not want to go much bigger, but I really had my hopes on being at least a large D and I really don't think I will get there after exchange if the implants appear to be smaller.

    Thanks for you thoughts,

    Kathy

  • sam59
    sam59 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2009

    Way to go Yvonne, found out this morning that you were on your way.  Congratulations, I told you, you would look great.  See on Sunday.  Love Karen

    Hope all you ladies had a great long weekend, being Canadian we had our's last weekend.  Never fails after an occasion like a long weekend, the warm balmy weather comes calling.

    Can someone tell me how many procedures one can have on the same sight?

    Signing off with lots of love and prayers for all TaTa Sisters

  • cil326
    cil326 Member Posts: 27
    edited May 2009

    Ladies,

    I have a question about exchange surgery and the port.  I have very tiny veins on my left arm, my right arm is off limit due to sentinel node surgery.  I have exchange surgery coming up next Thursday, have any of you used the port for IV hook-up?  just wondering!

    Cil

  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne- I am so happy for you- I can NOT wait until it is my turn to celebrate that!!! 

    Digger- I would get that checked by your breast surgeon but have had no experience with it!

    looper- how nice to be recovering with someone- you guys can lie in bed and watch movie's together!!!  I love it.  Congrats on your surgery too!  Let us know how it went!

    OK-  My PS wants to take out my TE and put in new ones and or move mine because they are too high at the top and not enough fill at the bottom.  Also I have a divot he wants to look at.  Help!!   Should I be concerned that he still wants to use this random brand of implants no one has ever heard of (ssp's)!!!  Should I get a second opinion and risk ticking him off if the second opinion PS knows him and tells him I came???  I don't want to have this extra surgery and feel like maybe it wasn't done right the first time!!!

    Any advice from anyone? 

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 916
    edited May 2009

    Hi all, just checking to say hi quickly and Yvonne, how wonderful it all worked out for you!!! I am so very happy for you!

    Cheri2; you should certainly get a second opinion.  I would ask that a consultation be deemed confidential ahead of time.  I believe unless they work together, there is no reason they should or would share anything, but I can understand your concerns.

    Alternatively, you could try telling him you are not comfortable with his using these implants, and would he consider using a brand you prefer.  If he will not budge, then I'd perhaps change my PS. Your body, after all.  No one needs to stay with a PS if they feel in their gut any doubts.  You should feel free to chat, exchange ideas, and he should be open to your feelings on procedures, in my opinion, anyway. 

    Good luck!

    Hi all my girls!  Have fun in Vegas for me.  xoxo

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited May 2009

    I agree with Annie.  We are consumers and are under no obligation to stay with any doctor unless our insurance tells us so.  We can doctor shop just as we would for anything else.  It was important to me to find someone with the highest credentials AND be able to communicate with that person.  I didn't want to feel like something was being done to me that I didn't understand and couldn't ask about.  I wouldn't even worry about one doctor knowing about the other.  I have a main onc who I love and trust, but got a second, and third opinion, and actually made sure he got copies of their dictation.  I keep the first onc, and go to the third for another opinion when I feel I need it.  Both men are confident and professional enough to understand that I'm trying to do what I think is best for me.  I am open with them and they great about it.

    I know it is hard to question doctors sometimes, especially when we are scared.  I work at a medical school--although not in medicine--we have an oceanography (we study human health an the environment) department and that is where I work, but I see the new med students each year and they are just like us, but did really well on the MCATS--kidding.  They have simply been trained and worked very hard to develop an expertise which can say lives. Don't allow their expertise to keep you quiet, a good doc will answer your question to the best of his/her abilities, and a great doc will let you know when they don't have an answer but researches it and gets back to you.  We all deserve great docs and won't get them unless we press for it.

    I'm pretty mellow about most things on these boards, but feel very strongly that we get the care we need from someone who will listen and be respectful.  If a doctor refused to answer a question for me, I would politely leave his office and never return.  OK, so that is about as fired up as I'll ever get.

    Hugs,

    Karen

  • misty123
    misty123 Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2009

    cil326- YES, you can use the port for IV hook up if it won't be in the are they are working on. I had that choose but instead I asked that my port be removed at my last surgery.

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited May 2009

    Just wanted to let my  surgery sisters know that I have posted pictures of my revison that I had done 3 weeks ago.  Check them out....

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited May 2009

    Cheri - I PM'd you about your expander issue. 

    skippyrcis - Ridiculous.  Of course you can go "up" in implant sizing!  50 cc's is a minimal leap if you want to be the same size as your larger breast.

    golfingb - 800 cc's is indeed the maximum in silicone implants.  You can get up to 1000 cc's - maybe a tweak more - with saline implants.  If your PS is using the Allergan 410's, there is only one in that matrix which approaches 800 cc's and it is largest at 775 cc's.  I do like the dimensions of that implant!  Wow!  15.5 width by 16.0 height by 7.1 projection.  Sufficient width for your frame [if your ribcage circumference is at least 34 inches] and very nice projection.   It is a tall implant and so you need to have sufficient sternal notch to nipple [imagine where it would be if yours was not nipple sparing] distance. Go to Page 99 of this thread to see how to measure for this. 

    Looper - My thoughts and prayers are with you today!  PM me when you feel like doing so and we can compare notes!

    Sandy - How exciting that you are rooming with us!  Hooray!

    Linda - I am going to check out your pictures right now!

    I will post separately about my revision surgery.  I feel as though someone ran over me with a rototiller.

    Deborah

  • SaraJane
    SaraJane Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2009

    Oh How I've Longed.... 

    To have my 'Name On The Exchange City List'!!!!!  And I just got my date!!  PLEASE add me for 07/17 for my EXCHANGE!! :):)  I've been through the wringer with my PS and insurance company... the drama is overwhelming :| and the end result is that my PS will no longer be 'IN NETWORK' with my ins co after 07/31!  She was supposed to do my exchange the first week of Aug and I was frantic that I would have to switch PS mid recon!

    Thankfully we met yesterday and she said that she'd already been approached by the other girls in her office who were aware of what was happening and looking out for me so I didn't fall through the crack!  She moved my surgery date up and also said that she'd do my nipples 'free of charge' if it came to that...

      I knew I was fortunate to have great people looking after me but I didn't realize just how 'fortunate' :)

    YIPPEE!!  Squishy boobs straight ahead :):)

    Lisa :) 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited May 2009

    I am not quite sure my PS and I were on the same page with reference to fat graft placement.  I think that she placed fat a little too high on my chest wall - above the upper pole.  I really only wanted her to fill in the step off defect on the left and give more rounding definition at the top of the pole.  So I have some natural sloping to my breasts now.  They look more realistic but I am not sure I was after realistic.  Maybe that plumpness to the chest will settle down and I will see more definition.  Apparently there was not enough belly fat and so she went for the outer thighs. I doubt she got much there.  I would have preferred the inner thighs.  Now there she could have hit paydirt. 

    I am absolutely miserable in my compression girdle.  I bought one size too small and I feel like I am being squeezed to death.  I am not taking narcotic pain meds b/c I fear constipation more than I fear pain.  I feel like a train wreck right now.  I'm sure it was all worth it and I will be happy at the end of all of this.  I am just a real weenie when it comes to pain, and being housebound again is adding insult to injury.  I am glad my sister is coming to stay with me - my hubby is going to No. Cal for a few days to see our niece graduate from HS and visit his family there.  My sis had her BLM in March and she has had two fills since I last saw her...cannot wait to see her.  

    Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers and well-wishes. 

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited May 2009

    Yay, Lisa!  See, there are angels among us.....

    Cheri - so sorry to hear your troubles.  I can't imagine starting the whole TE thing over again.....No doubt whippetmom gave you great advice.  Keeping my fingers crossed and prayers going your way.

    KEW - Very well said.....being married to a doc, I can safely say they are indeed human! Just because they were good at science in school doesn't mean that they are good with people.  Sometimes that can be developed, and sometimes it can't.  We certainly deserve to be treated by the ones who have the whole package - brains and compassion.  It just may take a bit of hunting to get there.  As for second opinions, I think most don't have problems with them.  Medicine, as my husband says, is art AND science, so there is definitely room for varying ways of looking at the same situation.  Sometimes it takes some experience, though, for the doc to get to that place.......

    Hugs and healing to all those with surgeries this week!

    Valerie

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2009

    Yvonne - Congrats on  your exchange! You  must be thrilled ! Take it easy and rest like your DH says!

    Whippetmom - Sorry to hear about the fat graft situation. Hopefully like you said, things will settle down and you'll be pleased with the outcome then. So disappointing to go through all of that and then not really see a difference. As for the inner thighs - they can take all they want from me! It would make wearing a pair of shorts more comfortable....lol!

    So glad for all you ladies that have had your surgery or are having surgery soon. I'm still not there yet and by the time I have my BM all of you will be well on your way to recovery and moving forward. Hopefully I'll find some ladies to chat with that have been as helpful as all of you have been with helping me understand more about TE's and implant sizing.

    Terri

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited May 2009

    Deborah, So glad to hear from you.  I'm sorry that you are unsure of your results.  Give it a little time.  You are taking on a great deal, trying not to use pain meds, and dealing with expectations. As wise women on this very thread encouraged me to be patient, now I will encourage you to be patient and let yourself heal. Can you get another compression garment?  I bet a friend or your sister would be happy to take care of that for you.  I'm glad she is coming, I hope you have a great time together. You are not a weenie, and being housebound is a real nightmare.  Hang in there, I'll be thinking good thoughts.

    Hugs---Karen

  • DENRulzBC
    DENRulzBC Member Posts: 99
    edited May 2009

    Hi Ladies,

     Congrats to everyone on their procedures this week.  YOU all are among the strongest women I have ever come across.  Every time I log on and read your posts I am completely amazed at how in control you all are.  I hope than when I finish up chemo in 2 months I'll be so lucky to be as knowledgeable in what I'm doing for recon.  Thanks to you all I think I'll be.  Hugs to everyone!

    Whippetmom:  

    Hope you're feeling much better soon!  I saw your pics and they are amazing!Wink

  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 90
    edited May 2009
    Deborah, sorry to hear of your pain and uncertainty. I wish you the best. Take your pain meds and rest - that's what your body is telling you to do so it can heal Laughing
  • golfingb
    golfingb Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    Whippetmom,

    THANK YOU. I am not sure what kind they are as of yet. My PS is really not a people person. I don't get much information out of him. He did tell me that he chooses what profile and projection based on my build. I have no say in it. I guess that can be good so long as he knows what he is doing!!!! I will check out pg. 99 as you requested.

    Thanks again and hugs to you,

    Kathy

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited May 2009

    Thanks again to everyone for the good wishes!!!  You are all such special people! 

    Congratulations SaraJane!  It does feel better to have a date doesn't it?

    ((((((((((((((Cheri))))))))))))))))))) I'm so sorry for what you are dealing with.  It is certainly not fair.

    Deborah - I'm sad that you aren't happy with your results so far.  Hopefully time will make a difference and you'll have the look you want.  The compression girdle does sound horrible!  You are very brave not to take the pain meds.  I am taking mine regularly and am keeping the pain down to a bearable amount.  The pharmacist suggested a stool softener too so I'm hoping that helps. I too hate being housebound...especially when it is finally nice outside.

    My local anesthetic wore off about 10:00 last night so things were not as rosy as they had been earlier.  I'm not complaining though as a few pain free hours are better than nothing.  I'm keeping pretty close to my bed today but thought I'd check to see what was going on here.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited May 2009

    Some of my rantings are for comedy relief.  Wink  Don't take me too seriously.

    I will have my sister take some photos and I will post them this weekend. 

    You all are so sweet to me.

    The ironic thing though about this fat grafting - my arms are as restricted as they were when I had my BLM.  More restricted than they were with the exchange to implants. I can barely lift them. How bizarre.  How am I going to get my upper arms in shape for Vegas?

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.