Exchange City
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Hi--
Sorry I was very apprehensive about my scan yesterday--so I've laid low, I was able to see it and there were many dark spots, which when Googled, can be kind of scary. All my docs were out of their offices so I had to just sit tight. The hospital called this morning wanting more pictures, they said I would still have enough tracer in me. While there I talked with the technician and told her what I had seen and that I hadn't been able to talk with anyone and she went and got the radiologist--I actually got to SEE the radiologist, a rare sighting indeed. He said that I have arthritis in my hands, neck, and both shoulders, but he saw nothing consistent with bone mets, so as of this moment I DO NOT HAVE BONE METS, but suggest an x-ray in six months to see if there are changes in the right shoulder. He is going to suggest to my doctors that they order an MRI as he thinks I may have a rotator cuff tear, which is consistent with what the PT said about my shoulder next week. Let's hope the lung CT on the 20th is just as positive! I see my PS on Friday-I have 2 pages of questions, poor guy, I hope he is feeling patient that day.
Thank you all for your support.
Lorraine and Laura---can't wait until you check in!
Love each and every one of you beautiful, strong, and funny women.
KarenW
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KarenW....What great news! Well, obviously not about the arthritis part of the story....but there are meds for arthritis!! And that rotator cuff tear....how in the heck did you do THAT?
Judy: I was just answering Michele's primary question. I did not want to be pushy! LOL! I can be pushy!! But then I went back and saw you referred her here! I did not understand that she wanted additional information also. So, Michele, if you are still here....give us some additional information. RE: Tissue expanders: Find out what style, manufacturer [usually Mentor or Allergan] and fill volume/number of cc's you have. You might have a little card with this information, given to you at the hospital at the time of surgery. Otherwise, your PS will have this in the file. Then, give us your ribcage circumference - measuring around the ribs just under the bra line. Also we need your height and weight. A very chief factor in all of this though, is what is in your plastic surgeon's mind about what size and style of implant he intends to use at the time of the exchange. So asking this question is key. Also, some place patients in implants smaller than the TEs and some use implants larger than the TEs. Some overfill and some do not. These are a few questions to pose to your PS - via phone call or office visit. Once you provide the information about the TEs and your vital statistics...I can give you some recommendations for implant styles and sizes. Glad to help!
Deborah
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Has anyone had their nipples done while having their exchange? My PS feels comfortable doing them at the same time and I like the idea of getting it done at once. I just didn't know if this is a common practice. Also any advice on what to ask for when it comes to style/shape of implant would be helpful. My PS is recommending Allergan implants with silicone, but that's as far as we got. My exchange surgery will be after the holidays, Jan 8, 2010.
Thanks in advance!
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First I am praising our Father for His mercy with our dear Karen.. I want to cry tears of happiness but my eyeballs hurt to bad.
Karen.. I am so happy for you sister. So happy.
Obviously I am home. Surgery was at 7:30am. We got home at 11:00am
Capsulectomy... OUCH... revision on bags under eyes...( insision on the inside so I am super blurry and eyesball HURT)..... moles and a skin cancer taken off ( no pain).. and bigger implants.
Dr. R could only get 500cc. in there. He said even that was hard. I m tight in there and he said I am just tiny... ( WHATEVER..lol).. We are hoping just going up 50cc will help with the rippling. We are not super positive about this. He said he was going to try to get 600 in if he could.. after opening me.. he said " NO WAY, this little gal might get 500..." So this is what I got.
Laides. this time.. I hurt... but I can handle it. I cannot really see to type... due to the blury eye...( WIERD).. so no spell check for me...lol....
Thank you all from the top of my head to the bottom of my piggy's for your prayers and thoughts for me. I love yu !
if I feel up to it.. I will check in later...
If anyone knows how to copy and paste... could you post this post to the Ta Ta Vegas thread and ( Angel) my Catholic thread...Night Night....
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Laura ~ I'm so glad everything seemed to go well. Make sure and REST!!!! I have 500's too. I'm sure you look great and hoping and praying you feel better too. I will post this on the TA TA thread.
Love ~ Peg
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Deborah- This is great I am gathering the info now. I'll be back in a few.
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Laura - I am so glad to hear that you are home. I am hoping for beautiful results! Rest-up, and heal fast! We need your sweet, positive postings on all these sites. You are an inspiration!
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Laura - Glad you're back home and everything went well. Hopefully the extra 50cc's will take care of the rippling - THINK POSITIVE ! Rest and we look forward to hearing from you when you're up to it.
Terri
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Ladies I confess I didnt read all 244 pages but I have a question for you all, if I may? Sis had unilateral mastectomy 6 weeks ago with TE placed. 3 fills so far for 440 - plan is for 600 possibly a tad more (sis is plus size) - other side is a C - the affected side was always smaller.So probably 2 more fills of 80 and she can set up her rads simulation. Exchange planned a minimum of 6 months after rads.
Questions
1. Does anybody still hurt 6 weeks out? The TE chafes and burns sometimes, the chest hurts on movement, triceps hurt and then there are the sticking electricity jolts......doc considering neurontin for that
2. The numbness feels downright weird - really freaks her out -anyone have that? Any suggestions
3. She is getting waves of nausea since TE fills started - meds same,is her brain misinterpreting the impaired feeling as nausea? Could it just be anxiety?
4. The foob is pretty small - I know she is not fully filled but do the implants look better?5. Doc recommends gummy bear implant and I am pretty sure he didnt mean stuffing her bra with candy - anyone had them - good bad?
Thanks so much!
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Welcome home, Laura! Pain pills are our heros.... and 50cc's is a big difference.....
btw...didn't know there was a Catholic thread....gotta check that out.....
Hope to hear from Lorraine !!
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Laura---thank you for your thoughts and prayers. So glad you are doing well and big, but gentler hugs to you.
Deborah--rotator-cuff--I don't know, its the whole body spontaneously falling apart I think.
Concerned---1. Some women hurt during the entire expansion process. I found working with a physical therapist really helped
2. I'm totally numb and have been since double mastectomy, some women seem to get a little feeling back, some get more, it appears I won't. Tell her not to worry.
3. I'm not able to answer this question beyond anxiety is a bear and we are going through a lot of it.
4. I'm not the wisest one on this thread about this, but I can say, the implant generally feels sooooo much better.
5. There are other women who will answer the gummy question.
Hugs--KarenW
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Karen, YAY!!! I hope you get something good for your arthritis and they figure out what to do about your darn shoulder!!
Laura...YAY!!! Every time I woke up last night I said a prayer for you...I was still up when you went in for surgery. Just heal!
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.....almost forgot - KEW - such good news for you! Hoping you're feeling better soon, though....
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Kew, so happy it wasn't more serious. I am also glad the radiologist came in to see you.
:Laura, congrats on the new girls. I have to decide if I want 450 cc's or 500 cc's for my revision. I am glad you mentioned that even if I choose 500 cc's, they may not fit! I never really considered that. Cant wait to see the new bright eyed, forever perky you!
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Karen, thank God for your good news and old arther can be helped with meds. I will pray for the right meds for it.
(((((LAURA)))) sorry your eyeballs hurt. You were cut on too much today but you got home so soon. That was really fast.....hopefully these 500's will take care of your problems and also put you into a C cup bra. That is what I am praying for. You get plenty of rest because those grandbabes will be coming over soon...
Lorraine, hope everything went well for you today. Please check in soon.
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Laura glad everything went well for you today get lots of rest.
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dani - do you have a date for your new exchange yet? My ps said the same thing....he couldn't go any bigger - and absolutely no way for the ultra high profile. I guess we forget that our those pockets and our skin are not infinitely expandable! Frankly, though, I can't imagine any bigger.... can't wait to for you to be happy with things - finally!
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Ladies.. you all are so wonderful!
I feel pretty good. Dr. R. say's I do surgery really well. I suppose I do. My eyeball pain is a 1 now and so are the breasts. I took one demerol and two tylonol at 10ish today.. 'cause I needed both.. but at 3, I just took the demerol...no need for the extra drug. Mom and Dad came over with tons of Chinese food for Todd and Taylor.. and some egg drop soup for me...:)
I will be reading and resting... I won't be too much support here today ladies with my words.. but I will be in my heart...my thoughts are always with you. ..
Dani.. get the 500cc...
... I can see a difference... ( Either that or I am just swollen..lol... )50cc sure does not seem like much huh Deborah.. I hope it does the trick.." cause I am DONE....WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Hi everyone, new poster here. Quick history is DCIS, left breast 17 years ago (37yrs old) and now LCIS in other breast. Had BMX on 9/22/09 which did show atypical hyperplasia starting in left side-BS said I was a ticking time bomb and was glad I chose the BMX. I have the TE, Allergan 133MX-12. PS said he hopes to fill to at least 400 cc. However I had rad to left breast and it is not happy with the expansion process. Major tightness and I only get 60cc each side weekly. PS also said the skin is good but I can choose less of a fill or fill same but longer inbetween times. I want these TEs out ASAP so I will continue with my current schedule and amount. Feels like bricks on my chest. Currently filled to 240cc. Here are my measurements, 5'3", 117 lbs (well I think TEs have added a lb or 2) rib cage 29". All I want is a b cup which is where I was before all the surgeries. Which implant is suggested? I wish I found this site before I had the BMX but better late than never.
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Welcome, typhoone55! So glad you found us! Our resident experts - our "breast whisperers" - will chime in soon to give you advice. We have several sisters who've had rads, and they can help you out, too. You are in the right place!0
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Ok, so this is embarrasing.
I burnt my boob, of course the radiated one with the thin skin.
I had a heating pad on and accidentilly snoozed while watching tv, the pad shifted and burnt my boob. Which of course I did not feel. I saw it this morning when I got out of the shower looks like it was a minor burn with a blister which has now broken, I am putting silverdene on it and have a gauze over it. Is this a doctor worthy thing or something that happens. Anyone else ever do this?
My secretary came in this morning to complain about her day, and stopped and said how is your day going, I said, well it started with burning my boob and just got better from there. She actually stopped complaining.
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So much has gone on here today ! I can't see all the posts to comment about all !!
KAREN ~ THAT is such freakin' great news. I am soooo happy for you.
LAURA ~ So glad to hear from you and happy all went well. Hope your pain is minimal. REST!
BIGAPPLE ~ Ouch so sorry about your burn. Hopefully that silverdene cream will do it. I know the firemen use that !
I too HATE these TE's. They are SOOO uncomfortable. I just found my card. I have Allergan 133FV-13's 500 CC's (i guess that is max capacity) I am only at 140 I think now. I get a fill on Friday ~ OUCH. These things truly feel like bricks implanted under my skin. I start chemo on Monday.. I'm sure I am repeating myself. MUGGA scan tomorrow.
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Great news KEW!!! Can totally relate to the body falling apart. My hands are an arthritic mess and were never a problem before chemo.
Glad to see that everyone is feeling better and healing.
My PS waits to do the nipples until after the implants settle. Wouldn't want him to put them on and then find out they were too high or low.
Big Apple ~ I almost wet my pants reading about your boob burn. Seriously, I asked my PS once, what if I burn my boob and don't even know it? He thought I was nuts, how can someone burn their boob and not know it? NOW I KNOW!!! It can happen!!!! Hope the cream does the trick.
Colleen
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BigApple, I thought I had read somewhere not to use a heating pad because we don't have feeling like we used to. I hope it heals fine. Thanks for the reminder.
Val, I don't have a surgery date yet but I go back next Thursday and hopefully will get a date or estimated date. I am getting nervous about having to go through the healing process again.
Laura, thanks for the 500 cc advise. I am hoping it did the trick for you because I agree that one revision is quite enough. Its just to bad it can't always be right with the exchange alone.
I too am hoping Lorraine did well.
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Laura - Oh my dear, rest easy. I am so glad you are out of surgery. You will be happy w/ the results, I just know it!
Karen (KEW) - What wonderful news! Well, except for the arthritis. But it sure beats the alternative.
Suegmom0f3 - Sounds like we had nip / areola surgery about the same time. I was two weeks ago tomorrow. And I can totally relate. They look almost REAL don't they. I find myself just smiling for the heck of it.
Lorraine - How did things go today my dear?
I can't believe we are posting exchange dates for 2010 here. We were posting early 2009 dates when we started this thread! So many soft foobs since then! Hugs ladies!!!
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Hi Lovelies!
Firstly, to our Karen, I am so happy for you, to be honest, you were on my mind this morning while waiting for surgery, praying my pants off for you, so very thrilled!!
Laura! so glad you are doing well!! congrats!!!!
All went well, I am bandaged up so can't see anything, she also decided to take some extra skin from my right foob, it has always been bigger and was really bugging me, today she asked me if I wanted it fixed, I was so excited that she could do it today!!!! looking in the mirror when I got back I look even boob wise, will have to wait to see if the nips are even! don't need them to be wonky (English word for uneven!).
will check back!! love you guys!
L
ox
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Unfortunately I am waiting for the final date. Let meeting with my PS put me at around 12/15.
Thanks
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Laura, Prayers have been answered! If anyone deserves the bra size that they want, it is YOU! You and so many sisters here have certainly paid more than enough dues to get a similance of the breasts that cancer took away.
KEW!!! I am so happy and you have been in my thoughts. I was looking for your response, I can't believe that you had to go so long with worries that there was something there. We ladies have known fear and it is always lurking with each procedure. I am keeping you in prayer and thoughts that the lung scan comes up NORMAL!!! My sister had a rotator cuff tear 5 years ago. The pain she had was incredible, how is your shoulder pain?
Judy! In response to your message and response on the last page, I want to buy a ticket to the butt kicking! Is there an extra charge for participation?
CondernedSis and Typhoon 55, Welcome to the Ta Ta sisterhood, it is a jouney and there are a lot of great women that will be there for you cyber-style to cheer you on, listen to your concerns and you can vent and rant as needed. The TE's are a major pain! Mine felt like a flat rock rubbing on the ribs. The good news is that the softer implant makes the expansion process so worth it. Hang in there, and don't let the pain get too bad, take meds as needed as stress and pain takes a toll on your immune system.
Lorraine, I am so glad that this procedure is over for you. I hope you have an easy time healing. If you don't mind me asking, how long did the procedure take and was it done under a local or general? Last but not least, what are your limitations and time off work requirements? My concern is that I have Federal jury duty in Los Angeles the first two weeks in Dec. I got a year postponement last year due to BC. I am trying to get the fipple done before the end of the year, trying to cram this all in with another procedure is not helping; so your answers will really help me.
Thanks Jan
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So sad, my boob could do a psa on the danger of heating pads.
Karen great news about the shoulder not being mets, I hope that the pain resolves quickly.
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Everyone who needs help with implant sizing
I am going to be out of town for four days to attend my niece's wedding in Texas and I will be so frenzied helping them out [but taking the time to meet our own VAL] .I know I will have limited access to check messages and help out here. There are many here who can direct you in gathering the pertinent information needed and I will be back Sunday to respond as needed. I am so behind in my packing and so I have to go do it right now!!!!
LAURA: Wahooooo......nice and tight in there, eh? You are a tiny little thing....so glad you are through it and on the road to nips and tats.
Love you guys!
Deborah
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