Exchange City
Comments
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oooppps....can't spell Lifegoeson..
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((Laura)) Me missing? I couldn't find the thread, but I have been busy hawking Hoodia at Costco this past 2 weeks. Actually. . .MIL had her lumpectomy last Tuesday, IDC, stage II and grade 3. No lymph involvement, she starts radiation next week BID for 5 days and then off to see the oncologist to decide if adjunct therapy is warranted. I have been taking her to all of these appointments. She is well worth it.
((Sandy)) Glad that your Mammo came out favorable. I am apprehensive to do mine in October, once burned, twice shy! I covered the Hoodia booth for you at Costco, you can have the job back, some "mean" woman
told me that there was no known proof that it prevented BC!Prayers for ((Kenya)) ((Deborah)) you are the Boob Whisperer and now we find that you have a little dog whisperer in you too!
My favorite terms gleened from this forum this week are "Big girl panties" and "Boob greed"!
((Laura)) I like the idea of Breastbook or FOOB Book, we need a place to stay connectedwhen we finally return to normal, and I do use that term loosely.
((Angel)) I love reading your posts. Have a great week-end everyone, I am off to run errands.
Jan
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OK, I added, too many, 3 month out pictures. Please be honest. Deborah thanks for the post on the full sub muscular placement--although I do have rippling and step off, so who knows maybe I need a few more months and a fat graft. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Karen
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Deborah - thanks for the technical info on the submuscular. That is what I have and it gets better each month, I wasn't aware that capsular contracture was less of an issue. I still massage 30 minutes a day and do understand that my 500C may look smaller than non sub-musc. Can you direct me how to get on the pics site? I have some rippling but nothing to complain about but would love to post some pics.
I've done the hoodia thing a couple of years ago. Guess it's my personality but I ate MORE and didn't lose weight.
Hope Kenya is doing better today. Prayers to all...
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Deborah - Yes Kenya had Wobbler's Syndrome, it was confirmed by MRI. I didn't post about it here earlier because, well...it's a breast cancer forum, and I thought it was a bit too off-topic. In Kenya's case, the compression on her spine was too severe to consider non-surgical options. She is getting acupuncture now, as well as hydrotherapy and other forms of physical therapy. My heart is just broken every time I go see her. She couldn't even wag her tail for a week after the surgery. Now she can and does.
And back on topic - my surgeon told me that doing the LD flap makes the capsular contracture less common, since the implant rests under the LD tissue. Not sure if that's true or not, but it sounded good to me at the time.
Thanks everyone for the well wishes for Kenya. I am off to the vet now to give her some love and some treats.
Here's another pic of Kenya, hope that is allowed here, if not, mods please delete the pic:
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lifegoeson: Heavens....are we not sisters and comrades in every aspect of our lives? We are here on this thread for encouragement and support, and so kiddos and grandkiddos and ALL family members - including the four footed ones - are extremely important to us all. It is PERFECTLY acceptable to post a photo of Kenya, and isn't she just beautiful!!! I would post one of Jack, but alas, I do not know how. I know about boobs but I am a boob when it comes to photoshopping.
Jan: Okay, I was in tears! Hooting and cackling! Where do you come up with this stuff? Oh, utterly priceless.....hoodia, BGP's, Boob Whisperer....Lord have mercy...laughing until my previously liposuctioned tummy is hurting!!
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lifegoeson: Heavens....are we not sisters and comrades in every aspect of our lives? We are here on this thread for encouragement and support, and so kiddos and grandkiddos and ALL family members - including the four footed ones - are extremely important to us all. It is PERFECTLY acceptable to post a photo of Kenya, and isn't she just beautiful!!! I would post one of Jack, but alas, I do not know how. I may know about boobs but I am a boob when it comes to photoshopping.
Jan: Okay, I was in tears! Hooting and cackling! Where do you come up with this stuff? Oh, utterly priceless.....hoodia, BGP's, Boob Whisperer....Lord have mercy...laughing until my previously liposuctioned tummy is hurting!!
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How this posted three times I do not know, but at least I can edit and use this one:
bobcat: You have been here since November and you are not on the picture's forum yet? Whoa! Just PM Timtam - she runs the picture's forum - and I am sure you will get on posthaste! And yes, post your pictures - we need more pictures!!!
http://community.breastcancer.org/member/11047/profile
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Jeremiah 1:5
Dx 10/15/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-0 -
Oh Val - So YOU are the source for the "big girl panties" comment!!!
Okay, so I am just as frustrated as you about this. Could you call your PS or email him and ask him WHAT SIZE IMPLANT WILL YOU USE TO GET ME TO A C CUP? But let me calculate the dimensions of your TE's. They are: 11.0 cm wide by 9.0 cm height by 5.9 cm projection. So.....
Allergan Natrelle Style 45 - 400 cc's would be: 11.2 cm diameter by 5.1 cm projection.
[Anything less in the Style 45 would just be too narrow and the next size up, your PS would likely not go for it...the next size is 460 cc's - 11.4 cm by 5.9.] How could he argue with the dimensions? 8 millimeters less projection - to give you a little ptosis - a little extra room in there - and the width is only 2 millimeters different.
Allergan Natrelle Style 20 - 350 cc's would be: 11.4 cm diameter by 4.9 cm projection
" " " " - 375 cc's " " : 11.7 cm diameter by 4.9 cm projection
" " " " - 400 cc's " " : 11.9 cm diameter by 5.0 cm projection
You can see that there is negligible difference in projection with these three volumes of the Style 20. A matter of 1 millimeter between the 350 cc and the 400 cc. If it is the Style 20 - push for him to use the 375 cc's, if not the 400's.
Now let's look at the Mentor Ultra High Profile:
400 cc's - 10.6 cm wide by 5.6 cm projection
430 cc's - 10.9 cm by 5.6 cm projection
455 cc's - 11.2 cm by 5.7 cm projection
Hmmmm. I don't know that I would push it with the 455's but certainly 430 cc's sounds like it would be within the realm of consideration. So before your pre-op - do not wait until then - get some clarification. Val, packergirl sent her PS something like three pages of questions [RIGHT PG?] and so you can ask these piddly little questions....
The key is to show him the dimensions - show him the numbers - how these implants could fit into the pockets provided by the TE's.
But Val...don't worry about being too big honey....I mean, you live in TEXAS!!!
ADDENDUM ADDED:
All this being said, having a little extra width - more than your TE's - will give you more cleavage. Ask your PS what he thinks about the Mentor ultra profile - no one here has used it yet....
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It is taking me forever to go back through these posts!
Judy - Just read yours and you are NOT a pain in the neck. Please never, never feel awkward about asking questions here. It is a joy to help you! Really and truly it is! I am going to the pictures forum right now. I was there a while ago and so how did I miss your thread??? I'll post my response there!
Deborah
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I am joining the pity party! I am so disgusted. I just noticed that I have a bunch of new stretch marks on the skin over one of my implants. I don't know why. The skin does not feel tight at all, and I did not have radiation. What is the point of having an implant exchange to make the shape and cleavage look better, if my skin looks like crap?
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whippetmom - thanks so much for the info! I think my expanders have less projection than you said - only 5.3 - but that doesn't matter much. My ps said he absolutely goes by width, and will look at the 11-12cm widths. I asked him if I was a candiate for the 45s and he said yes, but that style would require nearly 100 more cc's and he thinks that may make me a D. Sounds like I may be the test case for just how much larger an implant can be used in relation to the expander. I do think the least he's considering is the style 20 -350cc. I also asked him about the Mentor ultra high profiles, and mentioned that they were narrower than the allergan per projection. He feels that in practice, Mentor ultra highs are no larger than their allergan equivalent widths. Said he'd tried to tell that to Mentor for years. So, probably not looking at those for this girl! Besides, I think if I had to choose, I'd prefer cleavage to projection.
Your discussion about the complete sub-musculars concerns me a bit, since I'm pretty sure that's me, so it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I think I've finally come to terms to tell him to be as "aggressive" (his term) as he can be, and if I end up a D, then I'll be just fine. My poor dh would probably die!! But you're right.....everything's bigger in Texas!! (just wait til you see my before pic once I figure out how to post it - you'll see what a huge change a B would be!)
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Lifegoeson---Kenya is so beautiful, I love her markings. Please do keep us posted, we are here for each other. I hope she gets to come home soon.
Hugs,
Karen
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Debora dear breast whisperer...should I be concerned that I seem to be the only woman getting the textured Allergan implants?? I am scheduled for the Natrelle 120, Highprofile at 600 cc's. What do you know of these my dear?
And I am going to go back and re-read yur submuscular post...so much to learn.
Thanks and gentle hugs to you!
God Bless,
Angel
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whippetmom-I read your post about submuscular placement. For one that has a mastectomy I think that is the only option. Also I was told the fascia is removed entirely from the chest wall. I think that's why the alloderm is used-to make a sling/pocket for the implant. I gotta say, I'm so disappointed with my new fake boob
It's way bigger and round to boot. I still have pain.It feels like it's too wide. I am very small framed and my PS put a 15cm expander in! What was he thinking?? Now he resized the pocket so there's an indentation on the side of my now deformed boob. I still can't move my arm well. It's been that way since my MX. It feels like a muscle was severed or paralyzed-that's a good way to describe it. I wonder if I got the implant out if I would regain the use of my arm...I don't want to have only one boob, but I can't live like this. 0 -
((Deborah)) I am so happy that you were amused. I worry that my typing hands may get me into trouble, I know my mouth does! ((Angel)) is a little more formal, with a breast whisperer, Madam, would you prefer this title? or the Boob Whisperer, or Horton hears the Hooters?
((Lifegoeson)) what a beautiful dog, it seems so sad that she has to go through this and she is just barely out of puppyhood.
((Firstmate)) Just wondering, did you get a tan or go to a tanning booth? sometimes that will accentuate any stretch marks and will fade with the tan. I hope it is something as simple as this. Jan
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Angel: They are not commonly used today by plastic surgeons for augmentation or reconstruction, insofar as the smooth rounds seemed to be more consistent in terms of patient satisfaction. However, a few women on these forums - two on Exchange City....and so we are going to have them give us continued update on their success with this style of implant. I will PM you with some additional information.
Dani: Could you PM Angel and tell her how you are doing with your textured implants, as you have had them the longest now...on this thread.... and share with Angel any information you can give about them?
makingway: Do you want to post some photos on the picture's forum? I could actually even meet with you and take a look! It does not sound like the implant is creating the problem - some other mechanic of placement, scar tissue complicating this??? or pocket suturing is creating this restriction. Perhaps a consultation is in order. I have plenty of names in Orange County.
Referable to implant placement - for breast reconstruction after mastectomy there are several methods of placement - actually the same methods available to augmentation patients. The least common [and I think most objectionable] would be subglandular placement, because of future recurrence detection being compromised with such placement. I also think that the patient population who could candidate for such placement after mastectomy would be quite small. There is perhaps one woman we know of on these forums [not on Exchange City] who has subglandular placement. Cheri, who posts here on EC, consulted with a PS who wanted to place her implants subglandularly, but her oncologist highly recommended against this type of placement. So Cheri declined.
The partial submuscular placement [I have this type of placement] is partially under the pectorals - major and minor - but the lower 1/3 is supported only by dermis - and my Alloderm sling. Complete submuscular placement was described above. I have partial placement and my sister has complete submuscular placement. This link should define further the placement procedures aforementioned:
http://www.implantinfo.com/inforesources/placement.htm
Jan....STOP!!! I know, Angel is so formal with me....makes me feel so regal! [WHERE did I put my crown....it is somewhere around here...I just know it.....]
Robin - I have stretch marks on my cancer side BIG TIME! Start using some stretch mark cream. Palmer's Cocoa Butter brand or Bio Oil...
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Thanks for the additional info Deborah...and you are the Queen of Implant and Recon so title is earned...not born into! BUT I was actually confusing 2 terms that I I was hearing today....I was thinking "Breast Whisperer" and Boobbook" instead of "Boob Whisperer" and "Breastbook"....sigh....so much to keep up with!
God Bless!
Angel
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Val - You might be very happy with the Style 20's then.....350 to 400 cc's....the width would be nice for enhanced cleavage. Hah! You think your husband would die, but he would die a happy man.0
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Angel - Yes, this is BREASTBOOK....aptly coined by Val's son.....I am getting that information to send to you right now!
ADDENDUM: Oh, Firni has textured implants also. Perhaps you could PM her and see what she thinks....
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Jan-I have been lying out a bit to tan, but not my boobs. I wouldn't dream of taking my top off.
Deb-I have been using Cocoa Butter twice a day since my first surgery. That's why I do not understand why these just occurred. The new ones are on the prophylactic side. So annoying!
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Robin - I have been out tanning also but my PS said to never get the scars/nipples in the sun. However, if I ever find myself on a topless beach I might just go for it with a lot of sunscreen
I use Palmer's scar serum - nonstaining and seems to give good results so far. I just got the link for the picture forum and will try to post in the next few days.
Bobbi
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Dawn= Goodluck with your exchange tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you and anxiously waiting to hear from you. Two more days for me. I'm so nervous this time. I don't know why...surgery, anesthesia, results of the implants????? I'm sure most of it is in my head.
lifegoeson- Kenya is a beauty. I am an animal lover and just hearing that your "baby" is sick, breaks my heart. I pray that she recovers quickly.
Firstmate- Could it be that your implant is "fluffing" and that's why you have new stretch marks? Don't know how long it's been since you had your exchange.My ps told me that some women are just more succeptable to stretch marks than others, in all areas of the body.
For those of you that already had your exchanges, how long would you say it was before you felt pretty much back to yourself? We are thinking of having a lobster bake here at our house before my daughter goes back to school on the 30th, and I'm wondering if I'll be up to that in a few weeks?
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Thank you so much for all of your well wishes for tomorrow! I'm overwhelmed with all of the concern and thoughtfulness that comes out of this thread, I never could've imagined. I'm so excited, no anxiety at all. I thought this day would never get here. I know that I've been fortunate so far in that I have had no real complications or delays, in fact in the beginning I didn't think I'd be having my exchange until September, so I'm actually ahead of what I thought my schedule would be.
WHIPPETMOM - Thank you so much for your guidance in all this, I never had a clue that there was so much involved - you really are a blessing for all of us here - your knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge and time with us is so appreciated.
DENISE - I hope things go well for you this week too!
MALLENNE - Good wishes for you with your surgery!
Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers! I'll hope to post late tomorrow or Tuesday and let you know how it went! My hope is to post some photos in a week or two, I'm thinking I might have to have my husband help me with that as it took me forever just to figure out how to get my photo on here.
HUGS, Dawn
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((Dawn)) ((Denise)) ((Mallenne)) The week has come! You will be in my thoughts this week and I am so happy for all of you to be able to cross this bridge headed in the direction of healing and a nice set of Ta-ta's. I will wait to read your posts on how it went for you. Jan
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DAWN: Bless you! Tomorrow is your big day! So excited for you....cannot wait to hear from you tomorrow!!!
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Dawn - I am so happy that you are excited, I was so nervous I think I made myself sick to the stomach. I was vomiting after surgery and I had never done that before and I have has a lot of surgery in my lifetime. I will be looking forward to hearing from you along with the gang, you will have a wonderful outcome.
Well ladies I am starting the drum roll, I get my unveiling tomorrow about 1:30 and I am on pins and needles, I know the they are just perfect....LOL...or as perfect as can be. I am afraid I will most definitely be coming home with drains since they are still juicy as the docs say over 90cc in 24 hours still and I am hardly moving except to type a few lines on here......that's OK because I would rather have the drains than the swelling like last time.
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Dawn ~ Mallenne ~ 4greatkids~ Best wishes this week for easy fast healing surgeries with wonderful results!
Peg
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Dawn! I feel like I have missed so much. The summer has consumed me!!! I have fallen away but not forever! Your Va buddy is wishing you the very very best! You are in my prayers and I am so glad you have a happy outlook!
Denise and Mallenne- good luck to you both as well for peaceful feelings the night before and morning of!
I am LOVING my new PS- he is the best and so much better than my last guy- it honestly is like night and day. He is absolutely wonderful. I am having an issue over this weekend though. Throughout my entire expansion process I have had very little pain. I went to a cardiac clearance treadmill exam (I have a hole in my heart I was born with) So they take a wand and ultrasound your heart- she was having a hard time with my TE's in but got the job done- no pain at all during the exam but the day after- I got so sore for the first time since my initial mastectomy I had to take valium!!!! I have been taking them at night because the pain is really really bad. I am now so disappointed I think there might be an infection or something??? It is only on the one side where the wand looked for my heart.
If all goes well my surgery is set for August 28th! Please someone tell me this is not an infection?! I will just be devestated!!!!
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Misty!!!
They will be beautiful- I am as excited as you are!!! Please keep us posted tomorrow afternoon!!!
Cheri
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