Exchange City
Comments
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Dani & Denise - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Wendy, I would have it checked out to be on the safe side.........it may be nothing, but at least you'll know for sure.
I found out I had BC 3 days after my 50th. My 51st birthday is going to be special in so many ways... I never thought I would be happy to be 51, but BC puts everything into perspective and every day is indeed a gift..
Hugs to all my Ta-ta sisters!
Terri
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Hi Everyone, Very well said Terri! That is the one postive thing to come out of BC for me....it really puts things in perspective for you! I, like you, was daignosed at 50 with ILC. I'm sure it was "growing" for years before it was detected, but something about that milestone made it seem more significant to me.
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Hi Ladies... Happy Birthdays... Happy Thursday... Happy Doctor's appts.... Happy Exchanges/Nip/Revisions/and wierd findings ( WENDY.. WTHECK???) Happy Surgeries ( is there such a thing??)
Working the next three for me...
Hi PollyAnnie.......:)
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Hi ladies. I haven't posted in a while, but I have been reading to try to keep up. Welcome to all the new sisters here. This is a wonderful place for support and love. We all need to have other girls in our life who "really" understand what we are going through.
I would like to ask you ladies to say a prayer for my sister. She had breast cancer 6 years ago. Then 3 years later, she developed endometrial cancer as a rare side effect from the tamoxafin she went on to prevent a BC reoccurence. Then, a few weeks ago they found a lunp on her thyroid. Her surgery just revealed that it was malignant. I'm not sure yet what that means for her as far as treatment. She has a follow up visit with her surgeon in a week.
Dani42- As I said, so glad that you liked the PS that I recommended for you. I am just happy that I was able to help you out any way at all. It makes me happy to know that I could be there for you.
Wendy- Let us know what you find out. It sounds like a Mondors cord. I had them after surgery, along with cording under my arms. Even though they are both gone, sometimes I still feel like they are there if that makes sense. It does help to stretch. I have to admit that I get lazy with stretching, until of course something starts to bother me. Then i get back into it.
Val61- My PS had me on exercise restrictions for 7 weeks. (exept for cycling and walking) For 7 weeks I complained about how tight my new implants were. Two weeks ago he lifted my restrictions and said I could do anything I wanted.What a difference it has made. About a week ago I suddenly realized, "hey, I don't feel as tight anymore." I think that once you can do more, you will feel better. I know I did. I have a ways to go, but they are definately improving.By the way, boy did my arms hurt after basically not using them for nearly two months. Not only that, my triceps turned to jello. Oh well, it's back to the drawing board.
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Denise (((hugs))) and prayers to your dear sister.
Love--KarenW
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Coolbreeze,
I don't know if it is too late for you to switch, but you should get final advice from your surgeon. In the end the choice on how you want to handle your healthy side is up to you. Like Firni, my wife had the same situation and when my wife asked about have a double skin and nipple sparing mx her physician asked her why (just to make sure my wife was thinkin clearly). My wife said that she did not want to go through this again, and if she was going to have reconstruction, the symmetry would be easier to achieve.
Her physician just smiled and said, that is good and we can do that. I will echo above that what the PS does to achieve this is pretty amazing.( I happened to hear a resident who witnessed the sergery tell another resident about the whole process after watching my wife's exchange surgery). My wife's exchange surgery was a bit more complex because it involved a reduction as well. In case cosmetic is your reasoning, from my view, even with a double mx, symmetry is still somewhat hard to achieve because you have less tissue although the Alloderm can help. My wife has already had two revisions for extra Alloderm and removeal of scar tissue since her exchange surgery last December. I think each time they have gotten closer and I think my wife is pleased with the result (which for husbands and boyfriends out there is the best thing no matter what your wif/girlfriend or mother decides). The smile on her face says it all to me.
One more thing about the topic of allodrem which was mentioned earlier. I posted this elsewhere but with Alloderm since it is a foreign body, they did advise that infections could still occur although my wife hasn't had any issues through all three PS surgeries but on our last visit we were told about two women who had complications. One had just gotten her flu vaccination.
Erik (Route53)
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Denise...Prayers for your sister today...and for your peace of mind, too.
Wendy....you must report back what the heck is going on! Hoefully totally B9 but unusual occurrance!
God Bless!
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Denise, sending prayers for your sister, hugs, and know that we're here for you...........
Terri
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Ladies,
Scheduled my "bilateral revision with nipple reconstruction" for Nov 9th. Hoping to minimize some rippling and a slight lift to one side as it has sagged a bit vs the other side.
That light at the end of the tunnel may be a pinhole...but it is there!
God Bless!
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Denise
Prayers for your sister and you also.
Jean, Hope your nipp surgery went well today....
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Ladies,
Scheduled my "bilateral revision with nipple reconstruction" for Nov 9th. Hoping to minimize some rippling and a slight lift to one side as it has sagged a bit vs the other side.
That light at the end of the tunnel may be a pinhole...but it is there!
God Bless!
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My PS wants to wait 2 months after last fill for exchange. Is this typical?
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Mine told me 6-8 weeks!
God Bless!
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Whippetmom- Good to know that I am not alone. I always fear that I will be the perosn with the "unknown" issue!! My scar tissue is rough and now the area is turning red. I hope that it is not an infection of some sort. I am sooo close to exchange time!
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Lenelle: Take your temperature...make sure you do not have a fever. If the area feels warm or or you have any tenderness...call the doctor. You want to do everything to avoid an infection and nip it in the bud quickly if so.
Storm: Two to three months after the last fill up to time of exchange is about where you want to be. The longer the better, actually.
Wendy: Wonder if it is a Mondor's Cord? I'll find a photo...If it is not Mondor's, do not know what it could be....sometimes the cording is longer than it is in the photo...
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Whippetmom---Thanks for that website on Mondor's Cord because I have been wondering what it is that is stretching under my breast at the fold to the ribcage. I have an appt with my MX surgeon to find out what it is and I will bring it up to her...she did not want to DX without a visual...understandable. This cordlike string looks more pronounced when I am tired and at the end of the day. At first I could not stretch up with my arm without it hurting and feeling like "Pinnochio"!!! It's actually getting smaller and less painful.
I tell ya' this EC is wonderful!!! Thanks!
NAE
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NAE: Use moist heat - it will self resolve.
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Hi there, little Laura doodle bug, how are you?
Happy birthday Dani and Denise!!
xoxoxoxo
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Whippemom: Many thanks!!! I had that "optional" extra expansion...I think I've reached my limit...well my PS and I know so. I am having more discomfort with this expansion...more pressure...and I look like I have a bowling balll glued to my chest...hee...heee.. My PS is going to give me a breast lift on my left side next month to somewhat balance the top until we do the exchange later on.
May God bless you! NAE
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Denise.. SS... prayer.....
Erik.. thanks for the info and good to see you post mister!
Angel.... GOOD LUCK! You sound like me... lift and rippling revision. I am Oct. 28th for the same thing...:)
Annie... thanks for asking.... I AM SICK... I AM NEVER NEVER NEVER sick. I work with the public... so anyway.. someone got me sick. It is getting bad tonight. I am going to take my temp soon and cont. to take it while I feel this way.. ( swine flu worry)... I have not taken my temp myself in YEARS..... Anyway.. thanks for asking.. it allowed to to WHINE about it here...LOL
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Catch up time, I am in Jamestown NY visiting with my daughtter, SIL and grandsons. I just had to check in to see how the sisterhood is doing.
Welcome to NAE and Lenelle. Nae, I had my expansion over 12 weeks to allow for slow expansion. I had to take a rest of 3 weeks between a later fill because my skin got too thin. I am also a "uniboober" right mastectomy last December. I am fairly symetrical but missing a nipple makes it harder to have matching projection.
Firni and Denise, WAY TO GO! I am so happy for both of you for going for another opinion. I am even more happy that with taking action you were able to make a change that makes a difference in how you feel about yourself. I have a date with Judy next March! She should be back from her cruise later this week.
Jean? Waiting to hear from you and hope that your procedure went well.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COLLEEN AND DENISE, Any other October birthdays out there?
Wendy, Let us know what you find out about the ridge thing and what it is, it sounds peculiar to me. Hope things are well with the SO too!
Denise, prayers for your sister. I too had a partial thyroidectomy due to a pre-malignant cold node that was removed in 1992, I have had no recurrance and hope that she does as well.
KEW, God bless you on this special anniversary. I don't think any of us will ever forget the day we were diagnosed. This is an anniversary to dance, and know that we are there jumping and dancing with understanding and joy. You are a treasure!
Coolbreeze, I can't imagine the struggles you are going through, but there is no crystal ball. I hope you at least take care of the breast that is causing you harm now. I will be keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how you are doing and know that we care.
Hi Laura and Deborah!
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((((((((((((((((JAN))))))))))))))))))
Enjoy your famly!!!!!!!!
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Jan - Your posts are always so uplifting - thank you for them!
Laura - take care of yourself! If it's the dreaded flu, just be careful. My dh has 4 kids on vents in the ICU with it now.....luckily most adults handle it far better.....
KEW - I hope you found some peace on the day of your dx anniversary. I'm hugely into dates - can't seem to get them out of my mind - so I can relate. The joy and insight you've brought to this group is truly a gift which has come from that sad day....
Well, the requisite obnoxious homecoming mum is finished, and I get on a plane to the midwest tomorrow. First stop, my parents' 50th anniversary party, then college visits (4 in just 2 days!) with my son, who will fly in on Sunday after the homecoming weekend events. When I planned all this, I really thought I'd feel better, more back to myself. Oh, well.... It's going to be a crazy five days, but we'll make it, I"m sure. I won't have a computer, so I'll check in when I return. I can't believe it's so cold up there!
Jazzy - good luck on Tuesday, girl!!
Denise and Angel - thanks for the info on the tightness. I did a bit of lower body work at pilates today, which felt good except for laying flat on my back on the reformer. I've stretched my arms a bit, but not much yet. I know I'm trying to push it....patience, patience.....
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Jan1 and to any "uniboobers" out there:
Any suggestions on what type of bras to wear until I become somewhat symetrical??? Sport bras? Bras for full figured...now that I am "uni-full" figuired it is difficult to put on my bras I currently have. I guess until I have my breast lift or even until my exchange I will have to start wearing less revealing tops because it's so obvious something is going on up there...
NAE
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Jan and Val, thanks for understanding and for the good wishes. Both of you have fun with your families!
Jean looking forward to hearing from you.
Laura, I'm home sick, too!...If you're sick tomorrow keep in touch! You have to get better you have a big day coming up!
Going to sleep now to make the germs go away...
Hugs--Karen
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Thank you everyone, this really is an aw-some group. I see Dr. Disa today at 4, so hopefully i'll have an answer.
I looked up Mondor's disease, which seems to fit, the thing is now taking the shape of two distinct branches of a vein and there is a thoro something vein right in that area where my alien thing is growing, so we will see, I'm also having a tightness in my left arm like I did when I had phlebitis following a reaction to MRI contrast, plus my pseudo boobies feel crazy tight, way more than normal. It would be great if we can figure out what made it happen and how to stop it.
Karen and Laura, feel better, germs go away scat.
Wendy
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Laura, KEW, I hope ya'll feel better soon!
Wendy, praying that the Dr. can find out your problem and fix it soon!
CoolBreeze, what a decision you have to make! I had ILC in my left breast, but I decided on double mx because ILC tends to be bilateral, but they ended up finding IDC in my good breast, after surgery, and that was AFTER chemo! It's a hard choice, and I am praying for you.
Nedeza, after my mx, a lady visited me from the American Cancer Society, and she gave me a bra that had pockets in it with different paddings to use while expanding. You might check it out.
Dani, I'm so excited for you with your good news! I hope you get what you need with this PS!
Jan, hope you're having a nice visit with your family
Val, glad to hear you're doing well. Have a nice trip!
Deborah, thank you for your great advice on the bras, I'm doing some shopping around next week for sure! You're a very special person!
Hope all of you gals are healing up nicely and have a great weekend!
Deen
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KEW/Karen--I know what you mean. About six months after my mastectomy, I got so depressed I had to try going to a therapist. (She's wonderful, btw, and I'm still seeing her). She recommended a book called "Dancing in Limbo", which is available on Amazon.com and is written by two cancer survivors. When I read the book, I was amazed: some of the quotes in the book from survivors were things I had said, or thought, myself! We all go through stages, of depression, anger, and grief, and this book really helped me to make more sense of how I was feeling. I couldn't understand before why I was so depressed when my prognosis was so good. I still refer to it on dark days. I would highly recommend it to you, and to any of my sisters here. It helps to know, we are not crazy! There are reasons why we feel the way we do, and we are entitled to our feelings.
Love to you,
Diane
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NVDiane:
Thanks for the rec. of the book. I will look for it soon. I am new to this thread and feel blessed to find it sooo informative and supportive. I had my MX in Aug. with a good prognosis yet just lately I have been feeling down...very tearful. I was not like this in the beginning but maybe the reality of it all is starting to sink in...especially since starting the progressive expansion.
NAX
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Laura - (((((GET WELL HUG)))). Well, you babysit grandchildren...could it be those little petrie dishes who spread this love to you? Mine do....they are the little gifts that keep on giving...in more ways than one...
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