Exchange City
Comments
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Sandy...AWESOME about the article!!! YOU ROCK!!! And you are just plain AMAZING! Such an inspiration to all! p.s. your pics are great! I am very jealous!
Karen what a wonderful thing your friends did for you! You must be some kind of wonderful yourself to have people want to do that for you!
Getting a complex here beginning to think I'm the only chunky gal who got breast cancer! All you girls are so tiny! urgh! Thats ok I'll get over it...some day.
HUGS! JazzyJ
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Judy - I love your picture. What a pretty face you have.
Jazzygem - I hope you are healing well my dear!! You also have a beautiful face.
Deborah - When we all get to LV we will need to have little face pictures so that we recognize one another.
Take care. - Jean
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AW gee, thanks, but truth be told, all of us are beautiful. We have the glow that comes with knowing life is a gift and we are enjoying it. JUDY
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Deborah: Wasn't holding out - just thought the fur babies were cuter!
Sandy: An inspiration as always!
Hope y'all had a great weekend!
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Judy, love your avatar.....I want eyebrows like yours.....
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Well all you lovely ladies.......another quick update........another trip to the city on Saturday to meet my PS for some more stitches as my small hole became a bigger hole with the expander showing.........again..........I am beginning to think that I may never get to the exchange.......she has asked me to start thinking about how I would feel about being smaller than my goal of a C......ugh......I've always been a C.......infact before kids I was always a nice D.......I loved my boobs.
I'm going to ask her if we can keep trying to expand.......and if things do fall apart......we could put in the biggest implant that would fit at the time........and then maybe a year from now could swap out for a bigger pair.........what do you think?......do you think that would be a possibility?.....I could handle being a b cup for a year........but don't want to settle for the rest of my life.
Good luck to all our ladies with procedures this week.......and strong healing vibes to those who are recovering!
Cheer and hugs to all!
Jax
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Jazzy--I am not thin. I'm 5'8" and was 172 when diagnosed, and today I was 157. I was however, very fit and muscular, which I don't have now. I do have a goal of about 145, to bring my BMI lower--I want to get to 22. If you ever want to meet for lunch or something in Portland let me know, or forget food, let me know if you're going to do Race for the Cure in Sept. maybe we can meet. It would be great to get the Washington/Oregon ladies together at the race. I think I just have been blessed with special people in my life, but thanks for the compliment.
Jax--Geeeeez, you are handling this so well. If you can handle what you've been going though so beautifully, you can handle being smaller for awhile, if needed. Remember, implants don't have to be forever, if you go smaller now and give things time to settle down, you can always decide to go larger later, while you are living out your long and happy life.
Hey Vegas Girls--I hope you post pictures for those of us who don't get to go!!!
Karen
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Jax: Well, yes you could get a smaller implant and then a year or two from now, when you are completely healed, switch out to a larger implant. You would want to confirm that your insurance would cover this....and get it in writing.
However, I wonder if you should talk to your PS about giving up the expander and having a latissimus dorsi flap procedure instead. You could augment the LD flap with a small implant and get the volume you want. I just worry about your skin integrity and ability to provide coverage with all of your complications. Here is an excerpt from "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Breast"
Referable to the latissimus dorsi procedure: "This operation is the one of choice in cases where severe complications have arisen during the course of reconstruction by some other methods."
The LD flap procedure actually provides some of the best cosmetic outcomes for breast reconstruction. It is worth exploring.
The other option would be to have your PS put in a one stage implant - an expandable saline implant. This would be your permanent implant, but your PS would be able to continue to expand it over the next six months and then seal it off when you are where you want to be. There is no need for a second surgery.
You might need referral out to a new PS ....but start researching some other options. I just think we have to start thinking outside of the proverbial box for you!!!
Deborah
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Karen - You might not be thin... but you certainly are bodacious!!!
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Vinogal: Sending hugs and lots of healing light your way. Hope everything works out for you.
Terri
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Hi Jax I am SO SORRY for your troubles! I have had the very same experiences! After going in for the last time being sewn up once again, my ps suggested the lat flap surgery. He got me into surgery within a few days! He was able to get rid of the newly aquired implants (march 10th exchange) and put in bigger ones which I wanted. I am just now out of the hospital and trying to recover, but like you I was very fed up with all of the ripping and sewing up. My ps was sad that I wasn't happy and he just wanted to make me happy.
I hope you can find some happiness through all of this crap! We are all here pullin for you and praying all the way baby!
Karen you are thin! You are tall I'm short and we weigh about the same.. urgh...see I swear I'm the only chunky gal to get bc...All of the pics in the gallery...all of you are so thin and trim which makes Jazzy jealous. But I'm hoping I will be losing weight and with the tummy tuck I will have more self confidence. I use to be a fitness instructor so I use to be very fit and lean, once I retired after 21 yrs I started to gain weight. yuck my own fault. Now I guess it is a big focus for me and I hate that I can't get over it. At least I know I have tons of support here to help me through all of these feelings! Thanks girls!
Mega HUGS! JazzyJ
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2 28
my PS gave me the foam pieces
the 1st 2 were a lot bigger but when I went back and commented about how wide my nipple was she gave me 2 new ones which were smaller
Yvonne I caught your coming to Vegas with us... whoo hooo
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Deb I saw your body and your pretty hot also
but thanks for the nice complements
today I went for a bike ride I did 40 miles with my friends than went on my own because it was just so nice out and I didn't want to stop
I was going to do a total of 75 but instead ended up doing 95. 1st time I have ever done that many miles on my road bike. I will admit I really could use a lower back massage about now.
Judy thanks for adding the new pix you look great : ) I also want to say well said about everybody being beautiful. You took the words right out of my mouth
Jax I hope you get what you want...
thanks for all the nice words ladies...
now time for some rest
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Thank you, Deborah. How do I get rid of the ripples that are showing up? Did you and sis have fun?
Sandy, I told my cross country son, who gets the mag, that you are going to be in it and he thinks you must be "very cool."
ON A DIFFERENT NOTE
So ladies, I need some advice and it is tough. I mentioned in an earlier email that the neighbor of my friend who was taking care of me was diagnosed with leukemia the same time I got mydx in October. She died Thursday night and left a husband and a 16 year old daughter and 11 year old son. The kids want to meet me, since my friend has told them of my journey kind of paralleling their mom's, just as she was telling me what was going on in their house. I have to be honest, when I think of them I cry. I don't understand why I'm here and their mom is gone, and at the same time I'm so grateful to be here for my kids. I'm angry that families have to go through this. I feel at a loss as to how to support these children, so if anyone has any experience with this can you please PM me? I don't want to come on too strong, or motherly, how can I best contribute to these kids going through the loss of their mom? I feel like before my dx, I could do it easily, but now I'm doubting myself. I don't know why I'm finding this so paralyzing.
Dad and kids are unwilling to meet with grief counselors, therapists, or social worker. In fact the kids want to finish the next two weeks of school without anyone knowing their mother has died.
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Karen
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Kew. how tough. I can see the kids not wanting other friends or kids to know, but would think at least their counselor or a teacher should know in case one of them starts getting seriously depressed and needs help. I'm not qualified, however, in any way to know if that is good advice or to help you in what to say to them. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you and how hard that must be.
Jax: our PS's here are very conservative. They would have removed the expander and waited 6 months before attempting any type of reconstruction in order to decrease the risk of infection. Your PS seems much more open to trying new things and working with you. I think I'd take their advice on the best way to proceed and work on revising down the road. Get some coverage that works (smaller, flap etc) then if you don't like it revise later. You've gone through so much my heart aches for you in this.
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Karen:
Just be yourself, and relax. You are a very caring loving person, and that is bound to come out.
I agree with the fact that someone at school should know, but it is not yoru place to say, since you don't even actually know them. Perhaps your friend can say something. But again, don't worry. You'll do fine. JUDY0 -
Hey- I had to share. I'm a Pink Angel, the first one for a magazine called WQ. A friend, unbeknownst to me, nominated me and I won! I get a day of pampering and my 'story' on their magazine's website. Cool.
If you want, the story is posted at
http://www.wqmagonline.com/forum/topic/show?id=2298959%3ATopic%3A13506
(if you have a problem with the link, just copy and paste it) JUDY
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Congratulations Judy! We here on the forum knew you were special to us but it sounds like you have a lot of fans! May God continue to Bless you & all you do!
Joyce
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Judy I didn't know you are a tatoo artist
I know where lakewood Ranch is. Congratulations and enjoy your pampering session. 0 -
Jamieh: Thanks, I do nipple/areola tattooing in addition to scar camouflage and traditional permanent cosmetics as a permanent makeup artist. Now you know!! Funny article isn't it? Especially the doll's eyes! JUDY
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(((((((((Jax)))))))))))......am so sad to hear of your news of another "hole"
I too have another spot that isn't healing,,,,,but this time it doesn't seem to be going full thickness ....I am flat on the right side.....I go back to see PS on Wednesday to see what plan will be. I am having all kinds of musscle cramps on that side....which can't figure out as there is nothing to stretch that pec and I have been on lifting restriction since surgery
Jazzy.....hope everything is going good for you this time.
Sandy......WOW....you make me tired just reading how active you are.....hope you get a back massage.
Kew.....you are such a caring person that you will know the right things to say.....just speak from your heart. Those kids are going thru alot and may just need to know that there are people "out here" that are there for them.
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Elaine - You TOO! Has your PS ever discussed autologous graft such as the latissimus dorsi procedure? Read what I wrote about Jax's possible options. This is something to really investigate for you also....
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Karen: You are going to know just what to say when you meet these two kiddos! Just wrap your arms around them and hug them. What a blessing it will be for you as well as for them!
RIPPLES: Well, fat grafting. That is your next procedure I guess? It does work.....rather amazingly so. It took care of 90% of my rippling and helped correct my step-off. I think I will have to do this again, although I do not intend to do so until next fall. I am not about to wear a girdle in the middle of summer. That would be sheer stupidity on my part. I would say that the 24/7 girdle is on a comparative level of annoyance with that of surgical drains.
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Thanks everyone for the supportive words about the kids. Someone mentioned survivor guilt and I think I may be experiencing a little of that. I'll be meeting them this weekend. I hope I can give them some support.
Deborah, yes, my lift is in November and I guess I'll have the grafting then, glad to know if fixes ripples, I didn't know it did.
Take care all,
K
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Good evening ladies,
I am having my exchange in the morning! I can not believe everything went so fast! I have been reading your post and they have been helpful. My PS told me to buy Warner bra #2085 and wear it everyday except when showering (sleep in it also) for 3 weeks. He wants me to bring it with me and he will put it on me before I leave the hospital. He estimates that the surgery will take about an hour.
As you all know this has been a journey. I thank God for all of you. You all have touch my life in a special way. I can discuss my issues with women who understand what I am going through.
God Bless
Carolyn
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Carolyn best of luck in the morning
I'm sure you will come out with perky soft boobys : - )
do take it easy for a few days and if you take pain killers don't forget those stool softeners
oh the things we say too eachother
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rockwell_girl,
Thanks for the advice. Should I have someone cooking for me, or will I be able to cook for myself? I didn't think to ask my PS these questions.
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Best wishes to you this week ladies. You will be in my thoughts for successful surgeries and fast recoveries
6/2 - choward183 - Exchange surgery
6/2 - Txbadboob - Exchange and oopherectomy
6/4 - Cil326 - Exchange to Natrelle style 15 300-350cc
Peg
Choward183 - I got home around 4:00 and slept until 9:00 that night. Then went back to sleep shortly after.
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Ilovemykids
here was some of the stuff we posted to you on page 7,8 & 9 I think...
Okay, so your maximum fill on the Mentor expanders is 510 cc's and at that, the measurements would be WIDTH: 13.7 cm and PROJECTION: 4.8 cm. Projection is an important factor....with a "moderate" profile you would match your width but lose your projection. Projection is one of the problematic aspects of reconstruction after mastectomy. Here are the Mentor silicone implant style/dimensions:
Moderate Profile: Note how the "projection" numbers diminish but the implant base widens...
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mentor_specs.htm#smooth_round_gel
Moderate Plus Profile: [Still not able to meet your projection # w/o getting too wide a base but perhaps still a good option]
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mentor_specs.htm#smooth_mod_plus
High Profile - Where you can keep your projection but you will have a narrower base width than you have currently - so you would need to go over this with your PS. Most of us want to keep our base width also....]
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mentor_specs.htm#smooth_hp_gel
I will add to say that your expander/implant is almost filled to the max volume so I think that is why it is hard and the silicone implants should be softer. As you said if you go with high profile 500cc implant that would give you 13.2 by 5.3 and right now you have 13.7 by 4.8 with your expander/expandable implant
I think you will want to go with 500cc or your implant will be too narrow
you could possibly look at mod plus profile 450cc which would be 13.6 by 4.2 if your worried about being too big but I think 500cc high profile should be fine since you say you are a C with your expander dim you have now
I will PM you this also in case you don't catch this...
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choward 186
if you can get away with it I say have someone cook and clean for you for 6 weeks or even longer if you can lol : - )
for me I'm just really tired for 3 days after surgery
if you could get someone to help out for those 1st 3 days that would be great
or have some easy TV dinners or can soup or something that doesn't take a lot of effort (chicken patty's, tator tots)
But after 3 days I'm happy to say most of us feel pretty good and most of us are even able to go back to work
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