Exchange City
Comments
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2new1s: Hmm....do you think you need a consultation with another PS before having this same PS try to fix his very obvious inability to get symmetry? I think you are going to win on this one once it is submitted to insurance. Is this PS experienced with breast RECONSTRUCTION?0
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Jan1 ~ I know it is soon after the reconstruction, but the obvious thing is that one is 800, and the other is 700. I thought maybe my PS put the wrong stickers on my card! I called her office and the secretary looked it up and said "No that's what she put in". I was prepared for the waiting period while the implants settle and shift a little. I just didn't expect it to look like I have two totally different breasts.
whippetmom ~ I already scheduled an appt with another PS for 11/30. It seems like an eternity away! My follow up with my PS is next Tuesday (11/24). I will see what her reaction is to this disaster. As far as being experienced in reconstruction, she was the one everyone in this area (30 miles from Chicago) claimed was wonderful. After all my setbacks after the initial BM, debridement surgery, TE removed, staph infection, TE replaced, I was still confident is her as a doctor ~ up until now! I haven't taken photos yet. I will once I get the nerve. I have my BM photos with the fills on the other site. I will have to add these to that thread. I also am thinking how could a medical review team look at the photos and not say "Oh jeez ~ what the heck was that doctor doing?" RECONSTRUCTION APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hey have you all signed the BCO petition???
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/744011?page=20
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Mykidsmom: Sure would love to be added to your list. Surgery is scheduled for Nov. 27th, day after Thanksgiving!! Thanks for including me in your group.
Ladies, those of you who had a single mast. did you adjust the other breast to match with a lift and small implant?? Wondering whether the small implant is really necessary and if you would notice this in clothes?
whippetmom: Thanks for your advice to just go with what my PS recommends. This is how I was originally leaning until I went to a support group and someone there who was having exchange surgery also was not touching the good breast at all and it made me question the whole thing. I know most of the PS are perfectionist's and I am just wondering what would be noticeable through clothes vs. just what I see in the mirror.
2news1: So sorry to hear of your problems and how frustrating for you after going through all this. Ask all the questions you need until you feel confident with the answers. It certainly wouldn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion. Can I ask where you are in the Chicago area?
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Thanks kerkle, Karen and Jazzygem for the info. I plan to take MiraLax the night before and a stool softener. This usually isn't a problem for me, but does become one quickly and anything I can do to aleviate the pain is good for me. I am very much looking forward to the 2 weeks off from work. My DH and I have reservatrions for 4 days and 3 nights on Sanibel Island here if Florida the 2nd week I'm off. It's been a rough year for both of us with a one year anniversary of his total knee replacement last December. Also have a son in alcohol/drug rehab locally who is doing great. He's going to sit with his Dad at the hospital while I'm in surgery. This is such a wonderful thread.
2new1's I'm so sorry things did not come out like you hoped, but I agree with others, find another PS to take a look. I'll be thinking of you at that appt while I'm going into surgery. Blessings. Mary
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mbtlcsw01 ~ Thanks for the encouraging words ~ I will also be thinking of you!
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Oh Mary I forgot to mention...the day before my surgery I did an all liquid diet and also took laxatives.
I will be thinking of all you girls going in for surgery this week!!!
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kbram, I read on this site that it is helpful to wear compression girdles after the lipo, but my PS didn't tell me to. It actually felt better when I wore it than without, I guess it kinda held it in and protected it from hurting from my pants. I have been massaging my tummy with cocoa butter and using scar cream on all my scars, too(BMX and oopher/hysterectomy) I think it is helping, too. I hope you heal up quickly and get great results.
jazzy, you are one brave woman!!!:)
Deen
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Mary--Like Jazzy I had to cleanse, they had me on a really specific schedule drink 2 bottles of mag citrate before surgery to make sure I was cleaned out. I had to stop eating solid food on Saturday night 8PM and drank the mag citrate and clear fluids on Sunday, my surgery was Monday--I was hungry after, but didn't really eat until Tuesday.
Deen--My shoulder is still a real problem, but I don't think it has anything to do with the surgery as I had problems with the same shoulder a couple of years ago. I'm in PT have some vicodin, but not taking it much. The bone scan and MRI show bursitis, tendonopathy, and degenerative disease--arthritis--in both shoulders. Also arthritis in hands and wrists--I knew I had it in my hands they've hurt for awhile. I'm going to see my PCP next week to rule out any funky degenerative diseases. I wonder if this will make AIs cause me more joint pain when I switch from the Tamoxifen.
Jan--The test was a breeze this time, they didn't inject anything in me. The technician said since they were only looking at the nodules found last time, I didn't need the contrast. Made me happy. Lots of stuff injected in my the last 3 months. I don't know when I will get results.
I'm on vacation until the 30th!!! Gives me time to finish up papers and stuff for school.
I hope everyone who had surgery this week is doing OK. REST.
Hugs--KarenW
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LaceyK,
I don't have any experience with Lat flap but I can tell you that a I got BLM with tissue expanders and Alloderm and was exchanged last week and they are exactly alike - in size, roundness, height and projection. No complaints at all.
Jeana
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Kathy and MyKidsMom,
IVs are never fun when it takes more than one try. When I went in for my exchange last week the nurse numbed my vein first and then put in the IV. I thought that was weird. I had never seen that before. I have always been told I have good veins but once in a while the veins collapse and they have to try a different site. My record is 3 different sites. I felt like a pin cushion.
Jeana
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Blessedby4 ~ I had posted a reply to you on pg.270 of what my PS said about my pending outcome of my unilat. exchange & augmentation of healthy breast. Obviously I will know more of my outcome as time passes as far as symmetry goes. I am praying that all goes well in appearance because I am a perfectionist.
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Question to all you wonderful ladies,
I have nipple reconstruction coming up in Jan. and was wondering why some PSs do skin grafting and some don't? I am assuming that is what I have seen in photos when the PS takes skin from elsewhere and sews it on for the areola. My PS said he does the V cut or whatever it is called. Do some PSs just like one procedure better than the other or are there specific reasons for each? Just wondering...
MyKidsMom - So sorry to hear about your son't accident. When I was a teenager my brother cut off the first digit of his left index finger on a lawn mower and they could not reattach it. I don't think it ever bothered him too much because he always seemed to have a lot of fun sticking it under his nose to make it look like it was stuck way up there. Always the prankster. Hopefully your son can find something good to come out of this.
Also, I was hoping you could put my nipple reconstruction scheduled on the calendar for Jan 20.
Thanks so much.
Jeana
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((((((JAN)))))) I have missed you and all you positive vibes.... I hope you get more PC time soon... you Are a HUGE light here...I'm just saying...AND... LOVE LOVE LOVE the new pic.... GRANDS???
Karen/Kew... (((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) I hate that you hurt like this.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I hope you enjoy this long vacation.... please take some time to put your feet up... pour a small glass of wine/grape juice.... lift the window to get a tiny bit of that Oregon air... and blast your favorite music... just for 10 good minutes. ( promise me)
Jazzy... well hello there girl!
2new1's... ARE YOU freakin' kidding me... OMGOSH.... if you wanna send your pic to me like everyone else does via-email.. just PM me and I will send you my personal one.
I am picturing what you are saying... and... NO WAY... Girl..... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.I do not have the investigational time and knoweldge our Deborah has..she is the one who know most.... but I am thinking.... WHO DOES NIPPLES AT EXCHANGE????????????????????????????????????? Boobie need to drop and fluff a little first? Girl... I am MAD for you... thank GOD you have another PS set up to see... SHE PUT In a 700 and an 800??????????????? Unless you had Radiation prior.. or had some real deformity in the chest cavity... WHO DOES THIS??????????????? 50-75cc MAX if issues are their prior to exchange... Heavens.... girl... you have a pack of wolves... ( I mean ta ta's) behind you.
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as I was heading off to bed... I thought I would check out the early EC:
I read the first 5 pages of EC...... and CRIED LIKE A BABY,
Oh boy..... the love and the newness.. and... WOW... AngelaD was our first exchange here....
OMGosh... my heart broke and sang at the same time reading...
No more for me...tonight that is... I am going to Try to find time.. that is NOT after 10pm... to read the whole EC. WOW..what memories..............sisters.
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Laura--I promise.
Night all.
Hugs--KarenW
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Laura Thanks for the loving thoughts. You are such a gift to this site, you are the ultimate Pom Pom Mom cheerleader. Yep those are the grandson's Nolan and Matthew. I got to sled with them in October when we were surprised by an early snow.
2new1s It sure sounds like something isn't right and if you can see obvious symmetry issues one would think that your PS would get you in ASAP to address the situation. I can't begin to imagine your dissappointment and frustration, I am keeping you in good thoughts. BTW I am very glad that you are getting a second opinion.
Blessedby4. I had a small implant in my healthy breast and I am glad that I did. I went a size larger, I was a very small B cup and now am a small C cup and without the equalizer of the smaller implant the size difference would have been noticable. My PS advised me that matching an implanted breast with a natural breast for size and shape is easier with adding a small implant to the healthy side. He also said that some women don't mind the size difference and don't want to augment the natural side. I am very happy with my results, I still don't have much feeling in the nipple area on the real girl, but hopefully that will come back. It has been 5 months since the exchange, I just can't wait for the fipple in December and the tattoo in March
Jan
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Judy - Thanks for posting those websites. I am debating on what kind of nips I want and this option seems great! It is something I am considering but don't know if that will give me the outcome that I want only because I dont know if I will feel.that something is still missing? Make sense?
Volleygirl - Thanks for the response.My sensitivity is in the armpit area. Shaving is really tough cause it feels so sensitive. Really bugging me! Both of my foobs are still tender from the exhange but I feel much better. I hope this goes away with time.
LaceyK -I had the Lat flap procedure done in July 09. Had exchange on Oct 21, 2009. It was difficult at first due to the 4 drains and the inability to get comfortable since you have both your front and back involved. Only the first few weeks were really tough but as time goes by I think it was a good decision for me. The extra support is awesome and I do not have to wear a bra! These babies actually are starting to look mormal. The only complaint I have is that I do not have the same mobility that I had in the past.as far as stretching, ect. Feels like I am wearing a bra that is a little tight around the back, but the PS said that that is normal and will start to improve with time. I am very pleased with the results so far.
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Estepp, thanks for the encouragement and information.
One more question: when I can I start the massage? It's been 3 days since my exchange.
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Nedeza: Thanks for the information. I think it seems quite normal for them to recommend an implant on the healthy side...just not sure if I like the idea of putting something in there if I don't truly need it. I did not know there were expandable implants you could use at exchange time. This must be saline, am I right? I am going with silicone, maybe that's why I haven't heard of this option. Wish I knew how noticeable it would be in clothes but guess I will not know that unless I did it! Hope your surgery goes well! One more piece of this cancer puzzle checked off the list. Yeah!!!
Jan1: I am a B cup now and told him I only want to be what I was before all this bc. The two are not close in looks at all right now and I know that is due to the expander and how high it rides and over filled and the right side sagging with age which is why I have no problem with the lift and tuck on the right side but still questioning the need for the small implant on that side. I realize it would make them match better but what I wonder is whether it is a match only I would notice or if it would be noticeable under clothes that are lighter and possibly tighter and lower cut. How was your recovery on doing what you did?
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My PS decided not to drain the fluid off yesterday. He is afraid that every time we do that we run the risk of introducing infection. He advised me to call if there are any changes. I have decided I won't call him unless the size of the mound exceeds 21 inches around. This morning it is back to where it was before the first draining (21 inches). I will monitor it and call him if it gets bigger. We are still on for the exchange on Tuesday for both. The tests he ran on the fluid are still not showing any infection (YIPPEE). I have decided I am not doing ANYTHING this weekend that involves my arms and chest muscles - I am so close that I'd hate to mess anything up at this point.
Allison
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Blessedby4 I PM'd you.
Allison, Here is to Tuesday and lets hope that all goes well and that you remain infection free.
Jan
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Beauties,
I'm trying to keep up with you fast movin, fast talkin ladies!
Jean - So sorry to hear about your son and his accident. The pain must have been/may still be unbearable. I hope he heals up as well as is possible.
Karen - Wishing you a wonderful vacation. I expect to hear the music Laura has instructed you to play all the way out here on the East Coast. Maybe the winds off the waters will bring it far and wide. You NEED that break, huh?
Deb - I'm following your fat grafting adventures. If anyone is going to get it done the way it SHOULD be done, it's going to be you!
2news1 - Craziness. Stay strong. You're taking actions and moving forward - impressive.
Laura - I adore reading your posts!
As for me, my exchange is now scheduled for 1/20/10 (!!!!!!!!:):):)). My only concern with that is my doc is out on vacation the following week, so won't be there if something goes wrong. But she has a decent team that would be covering her. At least that's what I'm hoping. I just want these things out. The unradiated side is waaaaaay mobile - flopping around this way and that - stretching is DONE. The radiated side is still pretty tight and still very little inframmatory fold. I think I'm going to start to wear some sort of device to at least keep the floppy one in place. My breasts are too wide for a traditional bra - but I'll come up with something to reign it in.
Sending you all good thoughts and wishes for continued strength and healing!!!!
Peace,
Geena
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Lenelle: You will always feel as if something is missing. The best choice (inmy opinion) is to have a nipple only created, and then do the tattoos. The nipple will give you the projection, and look real (even from the side) and the tattoos will make the areola look real. Again, only my opinion, but having seen lots of these constructions, the areola always has a too defined look about it. It does not blend into the breast, like a normal one would do. You can do that with the tattoos.. think about it. The longer you wait to do the nipples and tattoos, the better. Three months is the absolute minimum, and six months to a year ( I know, who wants to wait a year?) is even better..
To Lenelle and everyone- I am glad I found a way to help you all...Believe me when I say that I had no idea I could help when I first joined these boards. I was only looking to help myself, and lo and behold- I found I could help others...Life is good. JUDY
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Facecrafter, I'm sorry but I think it is political, it doesn't matter who was in office or who appointed what board. This information was not based on Medical Facts. I think insurance company's will follow this information and many more women will die because of this.
Blessed: You will be in my prayers, hope all goes well.
Di
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Yikes....I woke up with a sore throat!!!! NO WAY!!! I pray it is nothing & just a dry throat. My DH said just RELAX & take it easy B4 Tuesday. He is my positive half!
NAE
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NAE - Take vitamin C. I swear by it for keeping a cold at bay!!
Volleygirl - Thanks for the funny picture. I will share it w/ my son when I see him next. He needs a little smile. My PS does the nips and an areola graft. She takes the skin for the graft from the lower stomach. I was worried before my surgery since many others do the nips w/ tattoos only. But, I must say, the graft does a nice job of covering the scar. I think either procedure works well. I have really felt completed and "done" since my nip surgery.
Hugs to all of you! - Jean
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Thanks Jean! We are having typical Calif. weather here...it was sprinkling, breezy...now it is all sunshine! The drastic changes in the weather does not help us at all...esp. on our bodies!
Bless you!
NAE
P.S. ~ Can you believe THIS list you started??!!!! The list was half as long when I hopped on board...now look at it!! WOW!
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HI LADIES ,
i want 2 sign the petition, but cannot find the e-mail where the petition is. will someone plez send me the link?
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Shoshi ~ Did you try the Forum Index on this breastcancer.org??? Is this what you are asking about?
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