Exchange City
Comments
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Misty, I know ingesting Vit. E is bad before surgery. It thins the blood. Alpha Lipoic Acid is good before surgery. It helps the liver clear out the surgical drugs etc. I'll try to attach an article on it. I take it for the neuropathy in my feet. It keeps that down to a mild tingle. I've been taking it for 7 months and all my surgeries so far have been real easy physically. Vitamin C, 500 mg twice a day is good to take. A general multi vitamin is good to take and my PS recommends taking it twice a day instead of once a day for a week before and a week after surgery to promote healing.
Avoid herbs and supplements before surgery such as chondriotin, glucosamine, echinaciea, ginkgo biloba, goldenseal, milk thistle, ginseng, kava, garlic (tablets), saw palmetto, St. John's wart, valerian and ginger (tablets). These herbs can cause interactions with anesthesia and interfere with healing and can cause bleeding. The general rule of thumb is to stop taking things two weeks before surgery and for one week after.
Here is the article on Alpha Lipoic Acid. Any health food/vitamin store has them. So does WalMart and Walgreens.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant, which is a powerful substance that may help slow the aging process and
fight disease. More commonly known antioxidants are vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants work by attacking
"free radicals," waste products created when our bodies turn food into energy. Free radicals cause harmful
chemical reactions that can damage cells, making it harder to fight off infections and lowering defenses
against cancer and heart disease. In fact, free radical damage may be the basis for the aging process.
Antioxidants work by attaching to free radicals and neutralizing them. Free radicals are useful in small
amounts, but when there are too many of them in our bodies, they can cause problems. Today there are
more and more sources of free radicals in our environment—for example, ultraviolet rays, radiation, and
toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and pesticides.
Uses
Alpha-lipoic acid (also called thioctic acid) works together with other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
It is important for growth, helps the body produce energy, and aids the liver in removing harmful
substances from the body. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) also prevents cell damage, controls blood sugar, and
removes toxic metals from the blood. In animal studies, alpha-lipoic acid improved brain function as well.
Because it is both water- and fat-soluble, ALA can function in almost any part of the body, including the
brain.
Alpha-lipoic acid has been used to treat chronic hepatitis because it relieves stress on the liver and helps it
rid the body of toxins. It is the standard treatment for Amanita poisoning (Amanita is a highly poisonous
mushroom). Alpha-lipoic acid can help lessen the toxic effects of drugs used during surgery and for pain
control afterwards. A recommended dose for this purpose is two 100-mg capsules three times daily, with
meals, one week before surgery and for two weeks after the operation.
Unlike other substances, alpha-lipoic acid can pass easily into the brain, and studies have shown that ALA
has protective effects on brain and nerve tissue. ALA is promising as a treatment for stroke and other brain
disorders involving free-radical damage. Animals treated with alpha-lipoic acid had a four times greater
survival rate after a stroke.
In more than one study, treatment with ALA helped reduce pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness in
people who had nerve damage caused by diabetes. Other studies have shown that alpha-lipoic acid speeds
the removal of glucose (sugar) from the blood of people with diabetes, and leads to improved heart
function.
Dietary Sources
Good food sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast, kidney, and heart.
Other Forms
Alpha-lipoic acid is available in capsule form.
How to Take It
Alpha-lipoic acid is made by the body and is available in foods. It can be purchased in various dosages—
from 30-mg to 100-mg tablets. Currently there are no established recommended doses. ALA manufacturers
suggest one or two 50-mg capsules daily as a dietary supplement.
Precautions
People with diabetes should consult with their health care provider before taking alpha-lipoic acid because it
has been associated with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your
health care provider before taking any supplement.
Possible Interactions
Alpha-lipoic acid improves the antioxidant function of vitamins C and E, and glutathione, which also is
produced by the body.
Supporting Research
Hocking GM. A Dictionary of Natural Products. Medford, NJ: Plexus Publishing; 1997:39;449,797.
Mindell E, Hopkins V. Prescription Alternatives. New Canaan, Conn: Keats Publishing; 1998:55–56.
Packer J, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-linoic acis. Free Radic
Biol Med. 1997;22:359–378.
Walker LP, Brown E. The Alternative Pharmacy. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1998:36, 78, 216, 326, 362,
375.
Ziegler D, Gries FA. Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic
neuropathy. Diabetes. 1997;46 (suppl 2):S62–
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greatkids, my PS told me 3-4 months between exchange/revision and nipples. This is to give the implants time to settle and the nipples will end up in the right place. I think, maybe, the ones who have nipples done at exchange had anatomical implants put in. Those won't settle like the smooth round ones will.
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Just checking in. I've been lurking, but don't have much to say. I am just in 'holding' mode. Good luck to all those with scheduled exchanges!
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Cheri,,, WAHOOOOOOOOOOO... Aug. 28th... a good date ! My grandsons 3rd B.day...:)
Jan... eyes are 99% pain free... I only have a little bit of bruising left... Lower lids are INSTANT gratification...:)... I am taking arnica and I take it 6 times a day ( health food store pill to take bruising and swelling away.. and it works WONDERS).... I bet by my one week... I will have no bruising left.. and the stitches will be all gone...
... Very easy surgery... everyone told me this and they were right. No big deal.. and NO MORE BAGS!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now I look 40 instead of over 50..... wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo and since I am only 41...... I am happy.... bye bye inherited bags................... see yaaaaaaaaaaaaaI did put on my bras... 36 C fits me good... A 34 does too... but my comfort level wants that 36 C... so be it. They do not look very full in my bras though. And really... they do not wanna push up... I tried on a bikini top ( it was too small) and it looked.. ok... I wish I was fuller.
Also... I see to have ridges in the cleavage? Not sure what that is... Maybe it is where this sports bra is squishing me..
These are things I am going to point out to my PS Tuesday. Maybe after having this sports bra off for a few good weeks, I will fill out...hope so.. I am a hopeful person...:)
I am not sure why PS put 450's instead of bigger??? But it might be... after me having the radiation.,, my muscle would not stretch any more... which makes sense to me.
Anywhoo... I will take some pics this weekend so you ladies can give me your advice and opinion before I see PS Tuesday...
.... The look real pretty... just kinda small and flattish... but hey... I do have one side that was radiated and full of scar tissue, that is now GONE...wahooooooo0 -
Malle... I agree with you,. Demand some answers, Write your questions down on paper, and hand the paper to your doctor.. let him/her go down the list and answer you one question at a time... Good Luck!
How ya doing Robin?
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Wait, I missed the scooping thing. Is there a specific way to massage or something?
4greatkids, congrats on your exchange date! FWIW, My PS told me 2-3 months before nipple reconstruction, and I'm fine with that. I might even wait until November (when the club I work for goes into winter mode). I want to make sure I'm still happy with my new girls down the road.
He also answered my email, said I should feel more and more "normal" as the weeks go by.
Misty, I avoided all vitamins, supplements, ant-inflammatory's (ie:motrin) & aleve 7 days before my surgeries, just to be safe. They say if you really need pain relief, tylenol's ok.
(((Val61))) I know all about panic attacks. They sucketh. I still don't know how I made it thru the MRI last November. Never again will I go in a closed one. It was pure hell.
(((malle))) & (((SimoneJ))) ditto on asking tons of questions. Make sure your PS knows EXACTLY how you want to look afterward.
Cheri2 & Greytmom17, congrats on your exchange dates!
Jaimieh, is your PS going to take a look? Any oozing, clear or otherwise, would have me freaking.
Sandi, all parts crossed for excellent MRI results!
thanks for all that info, firni!
(((everyone)))
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Deborah
Did not know my post would make anyone laugh.....LOL
I stood in front of the mirror and did some jumping (OK picture a 55 yr old jumping in front of a mirror while naked) and my foobs do jiggle a little but not at all like real ones would. And my foobs do move around a lot when I am massaging them....and I will be glad to show my Vegas roomies what mine can do but I will not be jumping while naked.....
Have a great weekend
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LAURA
Whats up with this comment you made about looking 40's now instead of 50's....Us 50's gals don't look all that bad.... :-) nothing wrong with being 50....kidding aside....I am so glad you are happy with your eyes....
I am confused about your bras....You can still wear your 34B's and also 36C's.....
I have tried my old 34B's and the cups runneth over....I fill out a 34C...they fit me best.
Can't wait to see your pictures....we need pictures to make our comments..
Give yourself time.....
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As for me another fun filled day. Wednesday I showed the PA a yellow spot on my incision, turned to fuss at the kids and looked back to see the PA popping my yellow thing. She said it wasn't a big deal well yesterday evening while changing into my PJ's it kept oozing so I kept wiping it clean. Finally it stopped oozing and I was left with a whole about this size O in the incision that I could see down a bit. Well I got an appt. this morning with my PS who squeezed it and more junk came out (it's a good thing the incision is fairly numb). She decided it was best to open it up in the office to see what was going on. I just looked the other way and kept right on chatting (I am a chatty Kathy IRL). Finally she said "Oh" and shows me a stitch that was about 1/2 in. long that had not disolved and we are hoping that was the cause of my yellow yuck spot. So I am restitched and I have to go in the day before my next surgery to have them removed. I also have to start a course of levoquin antibotics to hopefully clear any issues up. I am hoping and praying this takes care of everything. Please tell me someone here has had this and it healed fine ??? The options that she gave me if it doesn't heal do not appeal to me at all
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Just got back from the PS and he said the hole in my incision line is an undesolved stitch. He said his assistant would take it out and it would not hurt. Well, let me tell you, it hurt like a son of a gun. It felt like it's attached to the entire incision line. So, she's digging for this stitch, I'm bleeding like a stuck pig and she never did get it out. She said it will work its own way out now. Great. At least it isn't anything serious. I also realized today that I have textured implants. In my mind I was thinking I had Mentor 350-4004. Smooth round HP. I asked about massaging today and he said with textured implants, you don't have to. I thought he was mistaken. When I got home I looked at my card and sure enough, Mentor 354-4400. Textured HP. I wonder why he chose the textured over the smooth? Very little difference in dimensions. I'll have to ask at my follow up.
Jaimieh, I hope your stitch hole heals up with no incident. It should be fine with the antibiotics.
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Oh having the gels not gummies
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It looks like the group of textured girls is growing. Welcome Firni!
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We are having a heat wave here in Southern California and even at the beach it is muggy and hot. We have no air conditioning. This house has stood for 83 years without it and my DH thinks it can stand for 83 more! So, I am sitting here at the computer upstairs in a tank top and shorts. I would be braless if it were not for painters on tall ladders at the house next door. Going over all of these emails - this is the busiest thread on bc.org. Need to keep up with things to help Jean out with posting surgery dates, so don't want to let any escape me!
Robin...Always good to see you checking in with us. I love your avatar. Does not make me think of Arizona - especially how hot it must be right now!
vision4utoo: Welcome to EC! Do you have a surgery date you want us to post for you?
Malle: Laura is right! You absolutely DO need to start asking questions now. PM me if you need help formulating questions. This is a key time to get answers and convey your wishes!!!
Firni: Oh ouch! I hate pain. No kidding, the only time I felt anxious about the reconstruction process was regarding clipping of sutures and pulling out the drains. Interesting to hear you have textured implants. We now have 2 and a third one coming up. I am eager to have you all comparing notes so that we can have a good data base on how they are working for you. This is a major goal - getting our implants to work for us. They have to earn their keep.
I guess you can tell there is no much else for me to do today. Nursing a huge migraine also, so you are stuck with me posting here most of the afternoon.
Hugs and wishing a happy weekend to all...
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Firni.. Good Lord in Heaven sweety..... can you take any more...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Linda.. I am on too many drugs...LOL
I do not think I ever said a 34B fit... but I tried the 34 and 36 C'c.. and I feel more comfortable in the 36C... I just do not look too cute in either right yet... I will get pictures this weekend... Oh.. and I think I will be a hot momma in my 50's just like you are.. BUT... at 41... I am not sure I am ready to look like "that" hot momma yet...LOL... my eyes made me look about 5-10 yrs older than I am.. so...poof.... and I am sooooooooooooo glad I did it...wahooooooooooooooooo
Now.. off to my bedroom to get naked and jump up and down in front of my mirror.... Thanks for the advice sister Linda..................
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Hi Ladies,
I've finally made it back. You guys were all so helpful to me a couple of months ago with starting to figure things out. I've haven't been on this thread as I was on the chemo thread trying to get to the end. I finally had my last treatment of 7/20, also my 45th bday, so I had a double celebration. The chemo nurses sang me happy bday and then I burst into tears and cried the whole way home. I have peach fuzz on my head which is rather exciting, but no eyebrows and you can single-handedly count my eyelashes, I just need to be patient now and I'm not so good at that. Now I'm looking forward to 8/3 when I get this dreaded port out YIPEE! and to 8/10 when I get my exchange DOUBLE YIPEE! I'll see my ps next Tuesday when I'll find out more about my exchange. I do know that I'll be getting Allergan High Profile smooth round implants somewhere between 300-350cc. I'm 5'0 and 98lbs. I hope to be a full B little C. My te are at 250cc because I started having a stitch issue and ps didn't want to push it any more and risk the stitch popping through with me in chemo. Next week I'm sure I'll have more questions for all you experienced women who've been down this road ahead of me, hope you'll be available to give me your input. Glad to see you're all doing well and good luck to all those who will have surgeries next week.
HUGS, Dawn
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Stop, Laura, Stop. You aren't healed enough to jump naked!!!!
Deborah, I hate migraines. I hope yours goes away soon. Take your bra off. Those painters shouldn't be looking in your windows anyway. And if they do, you look fantastic!
dani42, I see you are a textured girl. Do you know why your PS went with textured? Who is the third?
The things I found out on line about textured implants is that they don't move around. They are firmer than smooth. I guess the first two points is why I have no jiggle. No point in my jumping in front of the mirror. They don't last as long as smooth. They tend to leak more (hopefully only saline ones). They ripple more than smooth. They were developed to prevent CC but there are no conclusive studies that textured is better than smooth as far as preventing CC.
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Dawn- Wow.What a great week for you. Congratulations on finishing chemo.I did not have chemo, but my sister finished her chemo a few months back. She now has very short hair, not quite ready for styling, but coming along nicely. Yours will return soon. And, Happy Birthday. (I'm 45 as well.) Also, a big yahoo on getting your exchange date. You are one day before me.You are such a tiny person. That size sounds great for you.
Lisa810-I didn't do so well with my MRI either. When they told me that I had to put my face in that 'hole' and keep it there, I panicked. Thank god my husband was able to come in with me.My sister just had another MRI and they gave her something to relax beforehand. She said it made a world of difference.
Laura- How was jumping in front of the mirror naked????? lol
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4greatkids,
Thanks for your encouragement, it means so much coming from all you guys. I noticed that I was diagnosed 1 day before you and I'll be getting my exchange1 day before you and you're 45 too! How weird is that? We must have some connection we didn't know about. Glad your sis is doing well and good to know that the hair will continue to grow, I think I check it every time I pass a mirror.
HUGS, Dawn
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Dawn- That is so weird. I hadn't notice that. We definately have a hidden connection!!
My sister was the same with her hair. She is taking herceptin so I think that slowed her hair growth somewhat. I keep teasing her that her hair will grow back curly. She is the only one in the family with pin-straight hair. So far it looks to still be straight.
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(((((((( DAWN)))))))))
Feels like a miracle huh sweety.. AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! Chemo nooooooooooooooo more.... I hear that... I have little patients with beauty myself and as I look at me HAIR..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.. that is very very short... I keep saying.. " Laura, next year this time.. it will be to your shoulders and it will be beautiful...".............................. So you and I can hang together until all grows back...:)It all will come back in time.. I got my Port out Monday.. I still have 5 or 6 more Herceptin treatments.. but Onco Ok'd it.... it looks GREAT.. no more huge bump on my chest...:)
So glad you are here lady... hang around... learn... help others.... it feels good!
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4greatkids: Do you want to talk sizes and get some numbers before you meet with your PS next time? Did you ever get your expander information? I scoured back through the posts and saw that your PS said no HP's b/c you have a 33.5 inch ribcage. Not necessarily true - depends on the volume of the implants. You could handle a 550 cc implant easily/nicely with that ribcage dimension. I recall you are expanded to 400 or 450 cc's - right? What have you communicated to your PS about size? Just want you to know we are here to help if you want to be armed with some additional information.0
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Dawn-The hair growth after chemo is kinda fun. It seems like it takes a while during those first parts of it growing in and then before you know it- nobody could ever tell you had chemo- you just look like someone with a short hair cut! I wore my hair long and I am suprised how many people compiment the short hair look. I used the Nioxin shampoo and conditioner recommended by a hairstylist who works for the American Cancer Society. She thinks it works wonders helping hair come back in at a faster and fuller rate.
Laura- Congrats on the exchange. How did the unveiling go? Are you happy with what you see so far? PS didn't have to knock you out again?
Deborah- May your headache be gone- migranes are awful.
May all the ladies who had surgery recently be painfree and thrilled with the outcome.
Hugs
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4greatkids, i did take an ativan before my MRI, but my BS told me it wouldn't be claustrophobic. HA! even when i go for an open one, i'll take TWO ativan next time.
dawn, congrats for being done with chemo! and 8/10 is a very good day ... it's my birthday!
i just watched the breast cancer dance. very moving. very beautiful. i wish i had some sort of creative expression in me.
just took a bunch of pictures and i'm going to make an attempt to post them in "Area 51" (lol! i crack myself up!). i hope it's ok to create my own thread, because i don't have time to figure it all out. i really don't want the photos on the computer.
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Laura I think we massage our implants to help keep scar tissue from building up. Also it’s advised to keep CC away. But I have heard of gals that got CC that did massage.
4greatkids I waited about 4 months after my exchange to have my nipple surgery just in case things dropped and fluffed some.
Malle be sure to ask especially if you want to keep your projection. Make sure the dim of your TE is close to the Dim of your implant. Remember you can’t just look at cc of a implant
Val this is for you .... (((HUG)))
Deb I think your hubby doesn’t want you to have air so you wear those skimpy cloths : - )
lol Laura I just read your jumping comment. I’m happy your happy with your eyes
Firni I just read your reply to Laura and you made me laugh even harder0 -
Today I got a call that I have to re-do my MRI I had done yesterday. The gal didn't put my iv in right so the dye didn't take. So now I'm making the 2 hour trip again Monday and having the test taken. I'm actually going to spend the night with a BC friend I had met through my PS. Than Tues morning I will see my oncologist and main surgeon. My BC friend I'm staying with had her 2nd exchange about a month ago, I'm curious to see what she thinks about them now. I actually got a look of them same day she had surgery done and things looked much better than what she had the 1st time.
I must say it feels so good getting back on here again
I've really missed all of you... (((HUG)))
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Deborah- My te's are mentor medium height. They are 450cc capacity and that's what they are filled to. You asked me if I was happy with the width. I said yes, but I wanted them to be less under my arms and more midline. My ps said that he wouldn't move them in much because he said they were actually pretty good there, I just feel them with my arms because they are hard as rocks. He said the implants will be fine there as they will be much softer and I won't be so aware of them, So, I guess then the answer would be that my TE's are not wide enough by about an inch each. So, I guess thatt was why he said moderate profile . I called the office today to speak with him but he was in surgery. His assistant called me back and told me that he ordered moderate plus 500cc for me. Does that sound ok if I need to add about 2" in width total? Thank you sooo much for checking up on me.
Thanks for all of your replies about the nipple surgery. It would seem that I should be able to get nipples for Christmas then..lol!
Another question. I have to have a root canal Monday,URGH. My exchange will be two weeks after that. Do you think it will be ok for me to take motrin for pain or should I not be taking it this close to surgery?
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firni - I am the third or almost I should say, I won't get mine until the 5th of next month. My PS uses them in my case because it is a little more firmer and should help a bit since the muscle will be pressing on the implant, long term it gives a better look.
wippetmom - my PS said the same thing NO to HP because my rib cage is 34 and the base of my implant needs to be over 14.2cm.
laura - stop that jumping so you can heal properly, there will be plenty of time for that after your recovery.
Dawn - congrats on chemo and your exchange date, double party time for you.
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Laura, I'm hangin right there with ya on the hair thing. And how wonderful to have the port out, I am so over weird objects in my body. Just can't wait to say ADIOS port and tissue expanders!
Packergirl, I am using the Nioxin, wasn't sure if it would do anything or not, thanks for the confirmation that it does work, I'll keep with it. I can't wait to have a part in my hair again!
Lisa, A pre-Happy Birthday to you, I knew I had that date for a reason! Good things happen on 8/10.
I always wondered how people could get caught up with others and create friendships over the internet, and it wasn't until I came to this website that I could understand it. It all seems so clear to me now. I appreciate all your sincere and thoughtful comments.
HUGS TO ALL, Dawn
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I'm thinking I heard it's fine to take Motrin up to 24 hours before surgery
but to be on the safe side just take Tylenol, which doesn't have ibuprofen
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4greatkids you have the same TE I had, it's 12.7 (width) by 10.8 (hight) by 7.0 (projection)
from the chart I have mod plus 500cc are 14.1 by 4.3
these will be wider but you will loose a lot of projection
if you want to keep your projection talk to him about high profile 600cc which would be 14.0 by 5.60
