Exchange City
Comments
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robinblesse..can you share what they told you about AI's and how they should be used. I didn't get much info from my MO other than the Fermara would be the biggest bang for my buck.
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Revision Completed, no drains yah...got home @ 230pm. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
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Vettegirl, I am + + - My MO wants me to go on Tamoxifen but I wouldn't be able to start until after them chemo. I am sorry if my information scares you. It knocked the wind out of me. She was being pretty aggressive. She told me that if I wasn't moving out of the country, she have me start now. What ever I do it won't be until after July. I hate CANCER!
Leslienva, thanks and what are cold caps?
Robinblessed54, I am going to get a 2nd opinion in Zurich with my new oncologist.
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Thinkingpos,
The first MO gave me Arimidex first. Horrible joint pain. Then Aromasin, even worse! Gave myself a break and switched MO. She said no AI should be started in cold weather months. They "peak" between 3-6 months. Cold weather affects your reaction to SEs. So I started Femara 3/14 and doing ok. Still have residual trigger thimbs and ring fingers especially bad on awaking. I take 2.5mg in the am. I got that bit of advice on this board. I take a statin and the ladies here found out that taking Femara opposite of statin worked best. My MO suggested either turmeric or ginger for arthitis symptoms. I also take liquid B complex, liquid D3, coral calcium, CoQ10, and Aleve. Seems to be ok so far. Hope this helps, and yes, she said better drug fmy ILC.
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Thanks for the info robinblessed!
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Thinking: t-rex arms are keeping your elbows touching your torso. You can move your arms from elbow to hand. So you look like a t-rex waving tiny arms around.
You are going to be fine. This surgery is a quick recovery even with pocket work.
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what to do if nip recon fails!
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I'm taking a break from working in hopes of some sort of consolation or reassurance. I'm 2 weeks out from my exchange and I'm certain my doc wouldn't approve of what I'm doing. I'm a landscape designer and often help with installations. It's really difficult for me to just be a spectator. I'm trying to keep my arms close to my body and not to lift anything too heavy but I lose sight of this necessity and keep moving pots and raking soil and lots of other motions that I know I shouldn't do. So now I'm sitting on my client's steps with a little sweat in my cleavage, fretting about what irreparable damage I might have already caused myself.
So--I'm seeking some words that might make me worry less. Please.
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It sounds like the exchange surgery and reconstruction on my good side might be a little more to recovery than my mastectomy. I seemed to recover with minimal pain and really didn't have any issues with the MX. The drains and not showering was a pain in the butt, but i was only on pain meds for maybe 4 days after I came home. Didn't have too much of an issue with moving my arms. Mostly held my arm against my body...but now I have two sides to deal with. I am getting more nervous as I get closer to the Wednesday. Keep thinking maybe I should just leave the good side drooping and a little bigger...
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Iwannacookie: you need to treat yourself like a queen and delegate all the heavy lifting! You deserve a little more time, listen to your body. Just stay on the porch and direct the activity. You probably didn't do any major damage but you might be sore and tight tonight. Take care... hugs!
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ThinkingPos--Of all the time I have been reading here and sharing stories with other bc women, 99% of EVERYONE says that their exchange was so much easier than the BMX/MX. Given that you had a very easy recovery from your MX, I would place odds in your favor for an uneventful and easy recovery from your exchange on your left and the lift on your right. Your name on these boards really says it all... THINKING POSITIVE IS POWERFUL. Anxiety before surgery is normal. Try to keep thinking positive and I am sure you will be fine. Keep us posted.
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Thank you Willowreed! Just finished a bowl of ice cream and now I'm lying on my couch watching crime shows.
I'll take it easy this weekend even if kills me.
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Thanks LoriWNY!
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iwannacookie.... I'm doing the same thing. I'm almost two weeks out, and I can't sit still. My job is not physical, but I'm doing stuff. and I'm not sleeping in a bra. and I'm just hoping that all will be okay.... no advice, just commiseration.
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Happy Mother's Day.....Enjoy your weekend!
Love Robin
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Thanks Robin. The bouquet is beautiful and it made my day.
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Jen--it appears that you have 4 kids, so I imagine that, depending on their ages, you'll either be on your feet mothering all weekend, OR you'll be completely pampered. I hope it's the latter. Happy Mother's Day to you and all the other moms here.
(I have no children, but I do have a kitty. Every year I joke/hint to my husband about what our cat might do for me on Mothers Day, but alas--he never gets it.)
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Thinking positive, you could always do the lift and reduction at a later date. That is always a possibility. Then you can just recover one side at a time. I feel like the appearance of mine is still changing. I am 2 months postop from exchange.
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Hi Kingster, can you tell me what changes you've had and good or bad? I am 10 days post-op and having a hard time.
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Fe - it could be 6 months or longer before you'll see all the changes. The best advice I got was - don't look in the mirror. Seriously, try not to worry for some time to come.
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Thank you for your reply Minus Two, my nipple is wonky too so it's kinda freaking me out. I will heed your words though. I try not to look!
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It's awfuly hard Fe, for all of us. Good luck.
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Happy Mother's Day to all!!!!
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Hi Feprincess! Over the last 2 months, the implants have softened up, look rounder, and have become fuller on the bottom. However, the right still seems a little higher, but I think it's because I am right hand dominant, and my muscle I believe was larger there. My left side was my extensive cancer side, and an additional axillary incision was done as well as 3 additional lymph nodes removed. I have 700 ml mentor memory gels, high profile smooth round. They look better in a bra and clothes than my naturals. I still think that they do NOT look better naked, because of my incisions, no nipples, and flat appearance from the incisions. So, I believe they definitely improve with time. My doc said you won't know the final result for about a year. I am trying not to "study" them as much.
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They don't do the nipple at the same time do they? My PS never mentioned anything about nipple reconstruction. ...yet.
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Happy Mothers Day to all!
I am also out a couple of months +. like Kingster mine have changed a lot lately. Much softer, and seem to me not to feel so tight. I have Allergan 410 gummies and thy definitely are lower on bottom more like a natural breast. They look great in clothes and especially in my ne bathing suit!👙 I have never filled up a bathing suit cup!! Yes, they don't have nipples but I am okay with that. It is a very personal thing. I am going to get 3D tattoos.
Be patient and they will change. Robin
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Hi ladies, for those of you who have had our exchange a while ago, was there a lot of swelling? When you say you notice changes for 6 months or so, what kind of changes are you talking about? I am worried that my new foobs may be too big. They are definitely bigger than the TE's and I thought those were huge.
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How long before implants fluff up after revision. Wearing the Marena post op bra feel squished...any advice.
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ThinkingPositive, I did have my nipples done at the time of my exchange surgery. Like everything else though, different docs have different techniques and timing. My PS twirled the skin and stitched it to make the nipples. Some people call it origami. The stitches came out 2-3 weeks later. PS did the tattoos to add color 9-10 weeks after exchange surgery. I'm happy with them.
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Hi Cindy. I had my exchange done four months ago. The symmetry isn't what I hoped. I believe this the result of radiated tissue. I, too, feel my implants are too large. I am going to have revision surgery next month to place smaller implants and lift the nonradiated breast. I'm not thrilled to undergo surgery again but don't particularly want to settle with the look and feel Ihave today.
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