Exchange City
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I'm wearing the compression sleeve and the most compression I can find in a sports bra. I don't have an LE therapist. The only one around here is the one I've seen twice before who was a complete waste of time. Long story but I went to her twice and she never once touched me. All she did was go over the same instructions I can find on the Internet. So I'm on my own.0
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Thanks everyone. After I wrote this, my DH told me as we were going into the grocery store that my middle son told my DH the oldest child of his new love - 4 1/2 little boy -- told my son he wants him to be his daddy. I just broke down crying. I had surrendered that I would ever have grandchildren.
Cheri--I think part of my anxiety about this surgery on Monday is that I did get depressed after the TE surgery and it surprised me. What I'm trying to remember is sometimes these things are just reactions to anestesthia meds. It did set me back then because I felt I had just come such a long way and then I felt like I was starting all over again. We are all going thru elements of mourning and it is a surprise when it shows up again.
Karen--I LOVED your bra story. I'm just beginning to think about buying bras again. I've just worn sports bras from WalMart since my TE surgery--buying larger sizes as I went along--actually I have the largest size one can get as my TE's are holding 920cc's. Buying a pretty large bra will be fun.
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((((Mary)))) What a story. Here's hoping things continue to go well w/ your sons. And, as you know, you certainly don't need to be biologically related to love your children and grandchildren. I adopted two of my children and my third son is dating a gal w/ a daughter that may very well become my grandchild. They are all loves to me! Enjoy! You deserve a break!
Cheri - This will be the year, I just know it. I will be reading your story a year from now and you will be sharing how much better things are going. Hugs.
Annie - We are here for you my dear! Take care. A shower will make everything feel SO much better!
Karen - What a touching tale about the couple in church. Thanks.
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Mary, thank you for your touching story. I, too, went through Hell with my son, and God got us through it. He is now married and expecting his first child. This was truly a miracle to me. It's nice to be reminded of this.
Cheri, my prayers are with you in moving forward with your life and enjoying happiness.
Karen, I continue to meet survivors and hear their great stories and I'm inspired. Thanks for yours.
Just wanted to let everyone know our brave chemo sister BetteLou has passed away and gone to Heaven. No more suffering for her. Please pray for her family. She married just last March, Tom knew her diagnoses, and they enjoyed their short marriage fully.
Deen
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I read all of your posts and appreciate so much the honesty you girls share with the emotionally roller coaster this bc ride has taken us on. I think it appears we all go through our ups and downs and our moments of confidence and those of fear. To know we have others who have felt the same feelings is very reassuring since I believe we all look for someone to understand us and what we have been through.
So glad for those who are re-cooperating from their exchange surgeries, it sounds like you are all doing well. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us all.
I have a new exchange surgery date of December 11th, I am still sick with this cold and will call the onc on Monday to see about going on some antibiotic to help keep me healthy for the next date. Don't want to have to cancel again.
Thanks to you all again for being honest and sharing your journey!
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Blessedby4,
We have the same exchange date. Every time I go out I come back to the car and I use the hand cleaner in there. I come into the house and clean my hands. I'm very nervous about not getting sick before the exchange. I have really been on an emotional roller coaster ride also. Last weekend I really lost it. I ended up sobbing and everything my husband said didn't help. This weekend is another story. I'm happy. Roller coaster of emotions. I guess my hormones don't help. Lets just say I'm in my mid 50's and up to surgery this Sept was still getting my period. After the BMX surgery no more periods. Tons of hot flashes (I think even more than when I was on Tamoxifen). So blessed take care of yourself, getting plenty of Vit C and rest.
Janet
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typhoon55: I will be thinking of you on the 11th as we head into another surgery and look forward to hear how it goes for you. I start Tamoxifen on Monday and not looking forward to the hot flashes associated with that. I have been having them since my mx in June, my onc told me the chemo would most likely put me into menopause being that he thought I was close to going into it, so no periods for me since June and I sure hope they don't start up again. Very hesitant with going on the Tamoxifen but will give it a try.
I sure hope I get over this cold soon and then can keep from catching anything else, taking what I can to beat this and we'll be praying we both stay healthy until the 11th!
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So glad our week's exchange sisters - alitman, geneskirt, nedeza, carolyn2008, & annie7216 - are home happy and healing!
Just to add another recommendation for the "moving comfort" bra that KEW linked for us - I wear that one OVER the "Maia" bra (an underwire version of the Fiona) or my real favorite, a Donna Karan underwire - for my aerobics classes. (My ps recommended the double duty situation...his solution to ensure the girls remain in their proper places)
http://www.movingcomfort.com/product/101705/350011/_/Maia_Bra
http://www.herroom.com/Donna-Karan-35137-Underwire-Sports-Bra.shtml
Back home from the Thanksgiving celebration, which did NOT include any Black Friday shopping! Still feeling pretty yucky, but at least my voice is coming back. Keeping my fingers crossed that my cough and runny nose will be gone by Tuesday when I go back to ps for my pre-op......
Enjoy the rest of the weekend, ladies!
Almost forgot to add - welcome back, Cheri2! We've missed your smiling face!
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Annie and Nae, You both have great attitudes and yet bring back those memories of the emotional roller coaster that this "immediate" reconstruction causes. Nae, vicodin makes me very nauseous, maybe it is the pain pills that are causing you distress.
Cheri, Good to see you back here, you sure hit a note with me with the family issues thing. Great advice about the B complex vitamins. I take Emergen "C" and it really helps on those sluggish days. I think the holidays add another dimension of stress, piled onto the physical and emotional toll of reconstruction and anniversaries of dx dates, etc, sure can hit our souls at the oddest times.
Jan
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Ladies ~
Thank you all for the kindness you've all shown in your prayers & thoughts. Right now...this moment...it is so reassuring that there are others like me who are willing to listen & give such strong thoughtful advise! No one will ever feel how WE feel & what we are going through! Without you I would certainly be lost!
Friends & family can lend an ear but it is not the same...don't you agree?? It is nice to have the support around us but it is not the same as how we comfort each other.Well...I went shopping today...not too crowded! Bought some cosmetics...a few pretty tops, etc. I think this Christmas will be easy since my boys want to go see Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas for their gift this year!!!
KEW ~ I stopped at VS & OMGosh....the Miraculous bras are something!!! Would have loved to have those before the BC but now...woooh...it would put me way over the top!!!
Blessedby4 ~ I take my Tamoxifin at night to avoid those hot flashes during the day. My DH laughes because I am turning on the fans, opening the windows, "undressing" in the middle of the night but it is better than feeling hot during my working hours! LOL!!!
Jan1 ~ Good suggestion about the Emergen "C". I was taking them prior to exchange because of the sore throat I was fearing. I should continue with it anyways. I really want to go for a manicure/pedicure but my PS want me to wait...all those "germs" out there I suppose.
Many hugs!
NAE
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Karen- maybe that is it for me. My one year from diagnosis is February! I guess when you are under so much stress with those TE's in and wrapping your head around the cancer aspect of things you put the loss of your breasts on the shelf for a later date when you can better cope! And now it is off the shelf and I am faced with it!!!
My kids mom- this next year has just gotta be better than 2009! Ugh! I am into even numbers too!
Deen, Val, Jan! So good to see you all again! I have missed all of you! Val- what is your pre op for??? What surgery? Good luck with the runny nose and stuff!!! They will do surgery unless you are severely congested. I was worried about that last time too. My PS said unless you are at risk for pneumonia or some other breathing issue, we are OK with a cold. Just no temps higher than 101! You will be OK!!!! Jan, good idea about the C!!!
B complex (not B but B complex) can be found in the grocery or at the drug store and is especially for stress! (for anyone who is interested) It seems to have helped me a lot. Or perhaps it was the turkey? Not sure but for some reason I am doing much better with my overwhelming depression.
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NAE, that was fun. Thanks for posting the video.
Texas, that LE therapist sounds completely useless. I wish I had some other suggestions for you, but it sounds like you are doing all you can do. Hang in there.
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Nae, cute video thank you for sharing.
I am going to paint the downstairs bathroom today, pray that I get more paint on the walls than on me. In reality if I start painting my DH runs in to do it "right" I figured out if I roll some paint on the wall Turbo style and make a comment about the splatters that I can get him to do it
I guess that is a little dishonest, but the bathroom will get painted today.Jan
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Deen--I am sorry about BetteLou. I didn't know her but went to her Caringbridge site when I saw your message. What a story and what a lovely lady. I have decided to make her phase "Don't postpone joy," my new mantra. A gift from BetteLou to someone she never knew.
Love--KarenW
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Hi Ladies-
I've posted a few times here but I am FINALLY done with fills and scheduled for my exchange on December 22nd! Whoo hooo...! I have gone from wanted 2 front teeth to 2 front headlights for Xmas!
I pose this question to our expert Deborah who has kindly helped me out in the past. Recapping:
My expanders are the MX 13's 500cc's filled 680 on right, 630 on left. PS uses Allergen round (saline) implants. I'm happy with the size I am now though as we all know, the ;hamburger shape is not a desired look after exhange! I'm 5'8", 160 and have told the PS I am most interested in having cleavage over projection. I like him, and I am hoping that when he says he understands what I want that he really does! He's saying that he will go with high profile and will bring in several sizes. He WILL go bigger then expanders if it works.
Just wondering Deborah if this sounds right to you? He never mentioned sizes, just high profile. What is the difference in look between high and moderate? It's very difficult to tell by the pictures on the Allergen website.
Again, thanks for your help. You ARE indeed an angel on this thread.
Ellen
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Nae your husband is a sweetheart. Thank you for sharing your very intimate story. I haven't had a breakdown moment yet with my husband...been too busy trying to be strong. And I think this is the problem. I need to let some of this emotion out.
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ok everyone...tell me again that these girls will"fluff". Right now I'm not thrilled with the look, but I'm trying to be optimistic. I'm only 4 days out from surgery and I see what you are all talking about with the "hamburger bun" look. Still wearing the compression bra though so that might be changing their shape too. I see my ps tomorrow so we'll see what he says.
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As women, we try to be strong regardless of the situation. We just have to realize it's okay to be human rather than superhuman!
NAE
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What's "flluffing" again????
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Fluffing, I think, is when the implants settle and project more than they originally did. So the size doesn't increase, but you project more.
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Val: Does the Maia bra compress the upper pole? Pictures of that style look like the fabric is so high on the chest that it might flatten or press down on the upper pole. I like the idea of the underwire which is encapsulated - just wonder how it fits...
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Oh wow, some really great story's on here lately. I love reading all the posts. Takes me a while to get catch up Ha!!! I don't get on here that often these days.
Cheri: I was diagnosed in Feb of this year too. I still have many nights I lay awake and just think about all this.
Is there anyone who used a tattoo artist in the Denver or Colorado Springs area? I was wondering if I could talk to any ladies that had Tats done and by who. And if they are happy with there results. If anyone has any info could you please send me send me an e-mail. Thanks,
Di
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Ellen: You do need high profile implants - Style 20. If you are happy with your current TE size - I would say implants with a volume of 650 ccs at the very least - 700 ccs if he can get that volume to work. You see, your projection has increased with overfill, but the width has remained at 13.0 cm. Get your PS nailed down on WHICH sizes he plans to try and also - confirm that it is Style 20 he plans to use.
Deborah
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Hi Ladies,
Just checking after my 11/9 lattisimus dorsi flap surgery.
To update the story....10/17/08 uni. Mast. with TE. 12/29/08..exchange date, infection was found and TE's removed. 4/16/09 - TE replaced. 7/2/09 exchange to implant with terrible reconstruction results.
10/19/09 - cancer found in remaining remaining breast with ultrsound. 11/9 lattisimus dorsi flap.
It was a 5 hour surgery. The surgeon had me marked for LD on both sides, but once in there he decided the benefit would not be worth all that surgery to the left side. SOOOO glad he only had to do the right side. This is some kind of surgery!
Saying all that, even with a more complex surgery I feel the difference with this new surgeon. I have two tissue expanders in and I can barely feel them. When he removed my drains I was holding my breath because I was expecting it to hurt like when the other PS did it. I didn't even feel it!. My nurse friend was with me the morning of surgery, a nurse from my OR team told her that every one in OR was just amazed watching this PS they had never seen this procedure done and they said it was like watching an artist.
Deborah is the only one who saw the results of my previous reconstruction and saw the new reconstruction. She could probably explain just how different the look is now, better than I can.
This PS did slightly score my previous muscle, took that implant out and put in a 500cc Allergan TE . I have 400 cc's in that one now which is already 25cc,s more than the implant was! On the right side he put in the same size TE and because of the LDF he only needed to fill it to 250 cc's to make my breasts symetrical. Ross came into recovery about 10 minutes after I arrived, he said the nurse said "do you want to see?" and I guess she showed him. He was so happy, the look with the TE's looks better than after the final exchange reconstruction with the other surgeon.
I have much more mobility this time than with my first mast. even though this surgery was far more extentsive. I came home with clear tape over my incisions and a velcro corset with two drains, which are both out now. We feel very optimistic at this point. My last scary hurdle is seeing the oncologist this time. I didn'e see one with my last surgery, but they set an appointment up because this was an invasive cancer, no lymph node involvement though...we'll see!
Deborah can share any words about what she saw if she would like too. She is the one that encouraged me to pursue a better PS for a better outcome. I guess the new cancer made my mind up for me. I'm really sad that I've lost both of my breast now. But I think we have some hope for the first time in many months!
Candi
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Candi, Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences, what a roller coaster ride. I am so happy that you found a PS that understood your needs and desires to get breasts that replace what cancer took away. You are an amazing Grace! You were dealt a crummy blow, but you faced it head on. Way to go! Rest a lot and heal well. I will be thinking of you.
Jan
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Candi, I second that! Way to go! I hope you heal up and feel better soon! I know you will have fantastic results. You've been through so much and you deserve it!
{{{HUGS}}}
Deen
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Karen,
Bettelou honestly lived like that, too! You are such a wonderful person and never cease to inspire me with your words!
Deen
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Hi Everyone!
I am wondering if anyone has input on life with tissue expanders. I have had 2 fills and hope for another one Monday. Is it better to sleep on your sides to get them to loosen up?
I am so tired of sleeping on my back and wonder if I will get better placement if I alternate sides.
I am 6 weeks post op and I am trying to get back to normal life. I am finding that the more I do, the more tight I feel.
Is this because I am pushing myself too fast or normal? I feel like I have a compression garment on my chest even when I am topless.
Also, what is with the sleep bras and when do they come into play? I certainly do not feel the need for one because I feel snugg all the time.
I went to a store and the clerk measured me and got me to try on one that I did not feel was snug enough, plus I am not finished expanding so I did not want to buy something I might overfill!
I try to stretch out my chest but how would I know if I am doing it wrong and making things worse?
If anyone has insight as what I might expect I would greatly appreciate it.
Kimberly
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Kimberly ~
Hi & welcome! When I came on board to this thread I was so lost & unaware of how things are suppose to be...suppose to feel at this point with TE's. One thing, unfortunately, is that the TE's are hard, stiff, & never really loosen up. It is as if we are in "limbo" until the exchange. The good thing is this is only temporary. I did notice though that once the expansion fills were completed..after several weeks, the TE's did soften. The implants after exchange are wonderfully soft & natural. The journey to get to this point is, unfortunately, not a joyous ride. Just hang in there!!! Remember it is only temporary...
Many hugs,
NAE
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