Exchange City
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mjh1 thanks for the heads up.
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SpecialK, I just saw your post. I am praying for your biopsy to be benign. I hope you are recovering well.
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5/25 - LemonMom - Exchange Surgery (Complete)
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Special K, Hoping you get good news!
Mominator, I always feel like my implants move around with my muscle movement too. It feels really weird. I just thought that was the way it would be from now on out. Is it supposed to get better?
I still have pain under my left breast but my plastic surgeon examined me Friday and said she didn't see or feel anything concerning. It isn't as bad as it was on Friday. She said I would just get aches and pains with these after surgery and it is pretty normal. It is just weird because I really didn't have that much pain right after the exchange surgery.
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specialk....sending you prayers for good news!!!!
Mominator. I am only about 6 weeks from exchange but I still feel movement. Also like fipjoemom I feel like they meet in the middle when I sleep on my side. I usually sleep with a pillow next to me. I can say I am getting more comfortable with the implants or I am just getting used to the new norm not sure which.
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Good luck LemonMom! If you are like me and many many others, exchange is a breeze......compared to my BMX. And waking up to find you are rid of those tissue expanders is heaven. Prayers flying your way!
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Question on Capsular Constracture. So of course there are far worse issues, but after 5 reconstruction procedures, I really thought I was done. Now I worry that my body really doesn't like these implants. Went for my 3-month visit (longest time since my BMX without seeing my PS!) and had a feeling something was off with righty and that it might be early stage CC. I was right. I'm tight and the implant feels hard and a tad too high. I definitely can't even think about laying on my stomach. Had infection on this same side that caused me to lose an implant 8 months ago. Had to start all over with TEs etc. Not sure if there is a connection and forgot to ask PS. On the bright side, I'm between a 2 and 3 on the CC scale (4 is the worst) so PS thinks all is not lost. He prescribed Singulair and I started it this week. Curious if anyone has had success with this treatment. Nervous about the possible side effects as I have a history of anxiety and depression. Praying my regular antidepressant meds "ward off" any possible mood issues but I'm paying close attention. If any of you have experience with CC, can you comment on how effective the meds are and what might have contributed to the development of it? Did you have any issues with Singulair? If worse comes to worse and the meds don't work and the CC requires surgical correction, how likely am I likely to get it yet again? My biggest worry is that my right foob just doesn't like implants.
Thanks ladies and hope everyone is healing well.
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Special K, you're in my prayers. You've been through so much already. I'm so sorry about this glitch but optimistic you'll get an all clear. Sending hugs!
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Finally have a date for exchange...August 2nd. Ugh. I have one more fill June 17th and then he waits 4 weeks at least but had to coordinate dates with the gyn doc. Both are operating together so I guess I'll just be patient. The thought of going through most the summer with these crazy looking and painful things sticking out of my chest is a bit overwhelming. But I'm trying to keep my eye on the final prize!
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Hi to all!
I just wanted to post an update. I am 2 months post exchange (exchange TE with teardrop implant after a mastectomy on left cancer side and direct to implant prophylactic nipple sparing mastectomy on the right). The bruising which had formed on the right has been absorbed. The scab that had formed around the nipple incisions, fell off the skin only a week ago. The right breast still looks a bit bigger than the left and it also looks more like a breast because the skin and nipple were spared. I can now sleep on my sides without feeling any discomfort, exactly the way I used to before reconstruction. I can move my hands and lift household weights and do my chores just as before (but I am still not overdoing it). I like the fact that the teardrop implants are firm and I have never felt them move around. The right breast feels harder when squeezed, whereas the left breast feels softer, probably because of the thinner skin and the lack of fat on the left. I even did the flashlight experiment. The left breast was bright and red, when lit, with small veins going through the skin, whereas the right breast could barely be lit by the flashlight and large veins were going through there.
As a conclusion, I suggest to everyone who is given the option, to have a skin & nipple sparing mastectomy. I love my right breast, it feels and looks as though I had a cosmetic surgery to it and not a mastectomy. My left breast which had to go through a modified radical mastectomy and then TE placement, is just OK. Maybe if I had fat grafting (which I did not) it would be better and it would look more like a natural breast.
Be and stay healthy!!!
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Thank you! I have been home two days since exchange. Some pain under my breasts from incisions and definitely sore and bruised from fat grafting (hips and lateral thighs). Not nearly as bad as BMX since have the ability to move arms although not allowed over my head yet. I have Inspira 470 TRXs - hard to say what they will look like ultimately since I am swollen but they are definitely softer.
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I received my "Vinnies" a week ago and couldn't be more pleased! Vinnie and everyone at his office are wonderful and this was the most painless experience of the entire journey. I continue to be pleasantly shocked every morning when I look in the mirror and see that I am no longer a "blank canvas." I will post pictures to the picture forum when I get a chance.
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so glad you are happy. I've been scoping out Vinnies site for months now. I'm getting the origami procedure around September. How long after do you think before visiting Vinnie? I know he has a wait list, just wondering if I should go ahead and get myself on the list. Thankfully it's only about 2 hrs or so from me.
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BethL - Vinnie requires that you wait a minimum of five months after your last procedure before he can create your masterpiece. No matter what the time frame - they are SO worth the wait!
(From the FAQS page on his website: "We require a minimum of 5 months to pass after the date of your final surgery and/or nipple reconstruction.")
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Thanks all - biopsies showed metaplasia, fibrosis, inflammation, and granulomatous nodules, but no cancer. I appreciate the good thoughts.
Marketing - I have seen others who have taken Singulair for CC but can't recall specific names maybe try using the search function to see if you can find someone to PM about their experience.
Lemon - I have the same implants - one 435, one 415 - I previously had Mentor smooth round high profile. My PS likes the Inspiras and has reported less rippling with them. So far, so good. This was a downsize for me due to the limitations of my left side - the new right Inspira is more than 200cc smaller so I am happy with how things look so far considering this.
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SpecialK--So relieved for you!!
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Wonderful news, SpecialK!!
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Thanks ladies! I had a scary few days prior to surgery after the results of the PET came back to my oncologist. There was some thought surgery would be cancelled, and a quandary about steps forward due to the inability to do a MRI due to the expander being in place. Fortunately, my PS made a call to my BS and I was seen on very short notice so he could review the PET and look at me. He voted for going ahead with the surgery and doing biopsies during the exchange of one implant for the other on that side. The nerve wracking part is that this area was exactly where the cancer had been, and I had just received Breast Cancer Index results that indicated that anti-hormonal therapy, which I had been taking for five years, was not providing much benefit for me as an individual. Eeesh! I feel very, very lucky!
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SpecialK--Thanks for bringing to my attention the Breast Cancer Index Test. I googled this and found the information regarding this test very interesting and was not aware of it previously http://www.biotheranostics.com/patient-breast-cancer. I am 3 1/2 years since diagnosis and am taking Femara but will definitely discuss this with my oncologist and inquire whether my insurance will cover the test.
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SpecialK, I'm so happy to hear your good news. I hope all is well in your recovery.
Much love, Madelyn / Mominator
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Lori - my MO administered the BCI at the 4.5 year point, so that the info was ready at 5 years. Insurance coverage is dicey, but if your insurance denies then Biotheranostics will not pursue you for payment as an individual patient, according to what they have told me. If you are uninsured, or underinsured - meaning a big deductible or other cost-share, or income limitations, they have patient assistance available. I think they are trying to add to their database and are willing to forgo payment to do this. As more data is gathered, and the test becomes more established, they have a better chance of being more universally approved by the majority of insurers. Right now the BCI test is covered by Medicare, which insurers sometimes use as an approval benchmark. I had the unfortunate combination of my result being high risk for recurrence and low benefit of anti-hormonals, which if I remember correctly, is less than 10% of those who have the test done. My MO indicated that he would like to see me continue with anti-hormonals, if I could handle the SEs, because low benefit is not the same as zero benefit.
mominator - thanks! Things are coming along and both my PS and I are pleased with how things look and feel so far!
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SpecialK--Thanks for the additional information! I am curious as to whether or not you had Oncotype testing done?
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Opinions please.....
I am 5 weeks post exchange. I have very little swelling left, mostly on my left side where they took 4 lymph nodes (all negative). Very little pain unless I do too much for too long using my left arm.
What I want to know is.....do you think it's safe to paint and wallpaper my walls? Small rooms and I work slow naturally. Put up one piece of wallpaper (takes me at most half an hour) then sit for an hour or so to let that piece dry enough to not move around when I'm putting up the next piece of wallpaper. Even when painting I have always taken lots of breaks.
I personally feel like I could do this but I'm hesitant to ask my PS.......he wouldn't let me do anything except feed myself food I don't cook, bathe myself and dress myself for the entire 4 months from BMX until exchange for no reason other than "that's what I tell all my patients cause you women push yourselves too much"..........but I really didn't do ANYTHING for those 4 months and my DH waited on me hand and foot. Thankfully he allowed me to do the basic arm stretches so I do still have full ROM. Besides, being a very rich PS he probably has no idea how to paint or wallpaper a wall.....or what movement and muscles are involved.
I quit smoking last September before I was diagnosed in November. I want/need to do everything possible in my home to get rid of 30 years of smoking and the film it leaves behind. I understand I can't use the carpet cleaner cause it would be too heavy, but I can get my son to do that. In fact, he'll be helping with the painting but I don't know anyone else who knows how to hang wallpaper other than myself. The wall is only 10' x 8' that I want to wallpaper (textured paintable wallpaper) so it is a very small project.
Does anyone else agree that these projects are doable at this stage? I mean seriously, a lot of women would have been back to work within a month or so after the BMX. I don't cook, grocery shop, do laundry or dishes, and no housecleaning. I'm sure I can do this. All opinions welcome!
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Anniekay80,
IMHO the projects you mention are doable. It sounds like you're being very sensible. I HATE painting (and would not attempt wallpapering), but I would have been able to do it at 5 weeks post exchange. That's assuming taking it slowly and not pushing too hard, like you said.
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lori - I did not have Oncotype done because I am Her2+, but I did have Mammaprint done. It also showed high risk for recurrence, but nothing else of great significance. I had BRCA testing done as well due to being adopted and having no access to family history. I am considering doing Color Genomics since the genetic testing I had done was limited.
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AnnieKay, My PS released me to do ANYTHING at 5 weeks. However, during the 4 months of TE, he wouldn't let me do anything, even lifting my arms, so I was very much out of shape physically couldn't do everything. He told me if I had pain, I was overdoing it.
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Thank you all for the input. I admit I am not just out of shape....I'm a slug! I hate daily housekeeping but love painting, wallpapering, refinishing furniture and simple DIY remodeling. Our house is old and since I live in Flint, no money invested into our home is actually an investment. People can't even give away a house in Flint right now with the whole water situation. So to save money and because I have always been a do it yourself type person, I want to finish some of the half finished projects around this house myself. I love looking at the finished product and knowing I did it myself.
Anyway after being stuck in this house for about 5 months now, all the unfinished projects are really bugging me. I know I can work at my own pace.....really slow with lots of breaks......and I think making my home look better will help me feel better.
Thanks again. Cyber hugs.....
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SpecialK--I am also HER+ (as well as ER+/PR+) and had 1 positive node out of the 14 taken. I told my oncologist that I did not want endure chemo and even though I was pre-menopausal, he ordered the Oncotype for me trying to convince me that if my score was high, I should consent to chemo. Well, my Oncotype was a 6 so I agreed to Herceptin only for 1 year, started taking Tamoxifen, and had a total hysterectomy, after which, I switched to Femara (Letrozole). I also had BRCA 1 & 2 testing which was negative. My oncologist said the chemo decision was mine to make but told me that I was not following the standard recommendation by declining chemo, however, he was/is supportive of my decisions, does bloodwork every 6 months, and sends me for breast MRI's annually.
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lori - very interesting that your Oncotype was that low, I'm surprised but happy for you! Glad you could find a cooperative MO who listened and worked out a plan that you were comfortable with. Also, glad that you are getting good surveillance
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I can't imagine my PS not letting me do anything while I have my TE. I have had this thing since early September. I will have the new TE on the remaining side for about 8 weeks until exchange surgery. I know I will have restrictions for that period of time. My PS even sent me to PT for my ROM.
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