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Comments

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

     Candi: Emailed you back....

     Sam59, when you say "I tried"....did you indeed contact Timtam?  Did you get a "message sent" confirmation? I don't know how you sent her a picture though....did not know you could even do that on this private message system.  But you don't need to send her pictures....you are going to load your pictures on the pictures forum once she gives you the password.  Does Yvonne live near you?  See if she can help you out with this....Also, Fumi might be out of town....b/c otherwise she is very good about getting back to requests in a timely manner.

    Deborah

  • ilovehorses2
    ilovehorses2 Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2009

    Thanks to you all, for all the good info. I go to see my PS tomorow I want to see what he thinks about going for one more expansion. Question to you all? How can they tell if the tissue is getting to thin? Is that a concern it getting to thin? Also can this thinning happen more after the exchange as we age? I'm so glad I found this web site. You all seem so informed.  Man oh man I really didn't think there was so much to all this recontruction. I really thought all PS's did the same thing. I also have a list of questions for him tomorow. He is usually ok with questions.  I just hope I don't offend him with all my questions. My exchange isn't untill some time in Sept. How long did most of you wait after you were done with the expansion phase? Wish hubby could go with me for support but he can't get away from work. Thanks again to all of you, you don't know how much you have helped me. Diann

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Annie, I miss you.. where are you hiding?

    How are you sister!

    I need your email or facebook...:)

  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Member Posts: 125
    edited June 2009

    OK I have to step in here too!!  JEAN!!! You JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO VEGAS!!  Vegas and the Ta Ta Sistahs will NOT be the same without you!!!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Jazzy... I am glad you chimed in... you doing ok?

  • sam59
    sam59 Member Posts: 12
    edited June 2009

    I have no idea that is what I would like to know.  I didn't send her one I tried too.

    Thank you for that and I will try to contact Yvonne

  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Member Posts: 125
    edited June 2009

    Laura thanks for asking...I'm hanging in there.  I am feeling better every day so that's great!  Our family went to a resort the last few days, of course I'm not allowed to go in hot tubs or swimming pools yet, but I was able to lay by the pool and catch some rays!  I had my herceptin infusion today....just when I'm feeling better the infusions remind me that I had cancer.  urgh.. BUT it also reminds me that I HAD cancer. :-)  Ha.

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    I know girl... me too... I have Herceptin until Oct-Nov I think.. I am very, very grateful... but Everyone, I am getting tired. As we all are I am sure... those of us who are going on 1 1/2 YEARS of treatment,,, long time... and we just want to be DONE!

  • georganne
    georganne Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2009

    Ladies,

    I appreciate all of you so much. You all remain in my daily prayers.  Know that although this has been difficult, God loves you and he's in control.  

    Bukki - I am praying for your exchange today!  Rest in God's hands.  Good healing vibes and hugs to you! 

    Holtbolt - I voted for your son # 619. I hope he wins.

     I've been busy and have just caught up on the posts.  I hope everyone is feeling well.  I'm SOOOOO nervous for my exchange tomorrow, BUT I can't wait. 

    As Jan1 mentioned recently, I'm ready to get the fipples and get DONE DONE DONE.

    Can anyone here explain the fipple procedure?  This is an embarassing, but honest question: Do the fipples stay erect?  I thought I'd read this here somewhere, and that sounds AWFUL!!!!!  Georganne

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 433
    edited June 2009

    Yes, the fipples stay erect. sorry :(.

  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Jan1--I got my fipple six weeks ago, and it is awesome! I don't think I realized how much I missed having one until I saw the new one.  My PS used a flap from my breast tissue (a Maltese Cross flap, I think he said) for the fipple, and skin from my inner thigh for my aerola (not as bad as it sounds). I can't believe how real it looks! Feel free to PM me if you want any more details.

    Diane

  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Hi all, I think I need some advice.  Six weeks ago I got an implant in my healthy (right) breast for symmetry, and it looks great!  I had steristrips around the nipple for three weeks, because it was removed (to insert the implant, and do a slight lift on the breast) and then reattached. About a week after the strips were removed, the bottom of the breast got very itchy, and pink, and it has stayed that way for about a week and a half.  It is pink and smooth, not red, not swollen.  The skin is not warmer than the surrounding skin. The same area that was pink initially is stilll pink, but the pink has not spread. I quit wearing a bra at all several days ago and it itches much less. It has been in the mid-90s here for a week, and I'm sweating a lot.  What is going on? a rash? an allergy to the steristrip glue or the sutures?  It can't be an infection, can it? I'm not sure what to do.....Advice, please? Thanks!

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2009

    Diane,  I am 1 1/2 weeks out from exchange surgery, my left breast is my healthy breast.  I still have sutures underneath the nipple that are slowly dissolving.  I had no steri strips only a piece of paper tape and so far I don't have itching, I am very tender,  I wonder if you are having the itching I got when the nerves stated regenerating or if it is an alIergic reaction to the adhesive in the steri strips.  I do have a NN,  (numb Nipple) did you get that?  I pray that I get sensation back there.  I hope you figure out the cause of the itching because maybe it is part of the healing process that I may be in for in the weeks ahead.    I did PM you regarding a symmetry question.  Thanks Jan

  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Jan, I have had less itching since I quit wearing a bra.  The fabric rubbing the skin, especially when I was sweaty, may have made the itching worse when I was wearing one.  I am worried about it being pink, though.  Yes, I have a NN.  I can't feel anything at all when I touch it, but the nipple can feel me (which is really weird), because it will react to the touch. I am also hoping the feeling comes back. So many questions for all of us...

    Diane

  • Alo123
    Alo123 Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2009

    I have my exchange surgery scheduled for 8/20!  After deciding to wait out the summer....I think I'll be mentally ready in August!

    I do have one question and I apologze if it has been answered previously....

    If you have saline implants placed, can the doctor fill them after the surgery is complete if they are not large enough?  Is there a port like the TE's?

  • rascal_gal
    rascal_gal Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2009

    I will be having a tissue expander exchange surgery for July 17th. Wish me luck! I'm so ready to get rid of these heavy hard things.

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2009

    Hi Holtbolt.... I voted as well....number 966 so hopefully he will gets lots more.  Good luck to him

    Wanda

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2009

    Hi ladies,

    I hope you can offer some insight and this is just nothing..... I am 1 week post op and met with my PS yesterday.  All was well and I was pretty happy with the results.  We may do a minor revision in about 6 months but not really fretting about that.

    I am afraid I may have over done but hopefully just a minor inconvenience.  I had a pain in my right breast that started last night (most near the chest bone and on the top).  Was not really bad but is a bit worse tonight and now I am running a temp.  Temp could be totally unrelated and I don't want to push any panic buttons and call my PS tonight.  Just wondering if anyone else had something similar.  It does feel more like the burn of a pulled muscle rather than the shooting pain of the nerves.  Also, just one more note, there is a spot that feels a bit hard like a knot. 

    Hopefully this is just some adjusting and nothing to worry about.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    Wanda

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

    Wanda:  Since you are running a temp - I would not hesitate to call the PS.  We are coming up on a weekend and you want to get this addressed.  Just do not want it to be something developing that might become more problematic, such as a hematoma.  So make that call...

    Deborah

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2009

    Thanks Deborah,

    Fever has come down to a low grade and pain is subsiding.  I might wait until morning and if it has not improved or any worse, I would agree as I don't want to have to deal with a weekend upon us.  I'll wait just a bit to see how I am feeling.

    Wanda

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2009

    Deborah,

    Of course you are right.  I just placed the call and now just hope I did not overdue to cause and issue and the fever is unrelated.  Don't want to be a "pollyanna" but I sure DO NOT want to have any issues.

    Thanks for your advice. 

    Wanda

  • geysermom
    geysermom Member Posts: 14
    edited June 2009

    Ladies,

    I have my preop for my exchange tomorrow afternoon, I am nervous, and am wondering if I need to ask more questions.  We have already decided on implant size but I don't know what else I should clarify.  Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance,

    Julie

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2009

    Oh Deborah, I think I would be divorced in a week if my husband retired at 48!  He was great when I had the mastectomy, cooking cleaning, etc... but when it was time for me to reclaim my territory, I couldn't get him out of the way.  I bought a roast to cook for dinner and before I got the chance to get to it, he already had it in the oven, and not the way I planned on cooking it.  I wanted to get back to normal and I finally had to be firm ( I'm sure he had another word for it!)

    Wanda, I am so glad you called the ps.  You don't want to ignore a fever.

    Lorraine, was your son already on tv?  If so, will he be on again?

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2009

    Lorraine

    I googled your son, he is gorgeous.  He looks so much like you!

    I found a link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2842434/resumephotos

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2009

    ((Wanda))  I am glad that you called, it most likely is nothing, but on the off chance that it is related it is better to take care of it early.  Fever is a clue that something is going on in your body, may have nothing to do with the exchange, but remove any doubt check with the PS.  If you don't mind, keep us posted.

    ((Julie))  My questions were implant shape and size, leakage risks, textured vs smooth implants, recovery time and limitations, surgery time and length of stay at the hospital, pre-meds, post surgery medication, and pain relief and nausea prevention with anesthesia.  Those were my concerns, they may be different for you.  

    ((rascal-gal and Alo123))  Getting the TE out and the permanent implant exchanged is a good thing. Let us know how it goes for you after the big day.  ((Alo123)) Deborah and Sandy are the ones in the know about implants here and I am sure they will answer your question about the availability of permanant saline implants with a port for increasing size at a later date; or  direct you to a resource to answer your question if your PS hasn't done that already.  Jan

    Jan

  • Bukki
    Bukki Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2009

    checking in after surgery....they are keeping me overnight cause the pocket was pretty much closed from adhessions. and had to be reopened....hurts like he** right now.....gonna get abx & am getting pain meds IV and po muscle relaxers.....not much relief yet.

    keep me in your prayers...woll write more later , shoukd get to go home tomorrow 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    ((((((Elaine))))))))

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Lorraine.. your son is mucho hot! :)

  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 612
    edited June 2009

    Julie,

    Good luck tomorrow!!!

    Anne

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2009

    ((Elaine))  God bless you, my heart breaks for you that you are in pain, I am so sorry that the exchange needed more work than what you thought.   I hope you get relief and know that a prayer is being said and that the rest of your healing is uneventful.  Let us know when you get home and if you need anything.  Jan

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