Exchange City
Comments
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Mary, your story made me cry with happiness for you. I'm sorry the foobs aren't doing as well, but hopefully your PS will take care of any problems. Give it time.:)
KEW, that is scary about your son's prowler! Your Xmas idea sounds wonderful to me. Isn't it awful that we aren't allowed off this crazy C train! Sending good vibes your way!:)
I hope all of you beautiful women heal quickly, get through your procedures successfully, and get the wonderful results that we all want!
Deen
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Good morning all. I hope everyone is staying warm!
We all have those ups and downs associated with our bc and it really is great to know that there are others here that we can talk to that really understand how we feel.
Laura I enjoy reading your posts because I can just feel the positive energy!! You have a special gift!
Theresa I hope that your fever is down and that you are feeling better today.
Karen I'm glad that you have some downtime coming up. You have had alot going on lately. I had my ooph/hysterectomy on Monday--just wondering when the hot flashes will be kicking in and not looking forward to it!! This to shall pass. I know it was a necessary part of my treatment.
All those having surgery or recuperating Be good to yourselves. I pray for speeedy painfree recoveries.
Everyone else Thanks for listening! TCK
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Hannahsmom--Thanks for the nice wishes. Were you on Tamoxifen before your ooph? My doctor thinks my symptoms were milder after the ooph because I had already been depriving my body of estrogen. Even if you were not on Tamoxifen you may not get hot flashes, etc. I was worried that the ooph would be hard, since they call it traumatic menopause! I still had the regular amount of hotflashes that I was getting on Tamoxifen. I don't have them every night, and only during the day when I get nervous. The only thing that is different for me since the ooph, is that I'm more tired and forgetful--BUT that could just be the pressure of this last year. I look the same, I've lost weight on Tamoxifen and since the ooph. I guess the other difference is that I'm calmer. Estrogen used to really crank me up during the month, I began to get this relief when I started taking the Tamoxifen, calmed down when periods ceased. Of course I have no idea what's happening in my body, but it really has been a much more pleasant experience than I expected. I did go though a about two months when my hair was thinning, but that stopped and I have new growth.
Deen--I know I think we should all get a year's leave WITH PAY, to figure all this out, heal, get healthy, and then go back to work! Yes, it was scary what Lindsey experienced. Since he moved to LA in August, he's had a car accident, a prowler, pink eye, got a movie lost a movie. It has been a rocky start for him!
Hugs--Karen
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I spoke with packergirl last night.....
She is doing very well. She slept like a baby when she got home from surgery. Her ribcage pain is gone. I am sure she will be reporting in soon with the details of her exchange. She did get 550 cc's, but it is not clear yet if they are HPs or MPP's. She will find out today.
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I have just posted photos one month after my second fat graft transfer procedure. I have another two months before they are deemed fully successful. Apparently three months is the hallmark time frame for evaluating the effectiveness of the procedure. However, thus far I am pleased with the results.
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Home I am home! And so glad to be done with step one
Thank you all for your support and good wishes. I woke up in recovery and was overcome with relief on Wednesday that it was done, that I was alive, that I felt only relief and not sadness. Not sure if/when I will mourn... it's possible I have mourned already since I've had months to think about this. So far the RMX surgery is not as painful as the SNB/axillary node removal was... am taking tylenol and, occasionally, Vicodin with tylenol. I find I am mainly pain free or just a little sore except when I have to lie down or sit up from lying down (unfortunately I don't have a recliner). So far so good. Got home last night and passed out at 8 PM, exhausted but delirious to be home. Sloan Kettering is now Hotel Hospital as far as I'm concerned -- a really nice place and the food is done via "room service"! Lots of great classes to prepare for the weeks to come too.... all in all I feel relieved and happy to be in good hands.
Couldn't wait to come back here and say hey to all of you.
Cheers,
Lilah
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Deborah, I'm glad the fat graft procedure is still looking good. Haven't been over to look at the pic yet.
Lilah, I'm so happy you had a "good" experience considering the circumstances. For some, the mourning and sadness comes months later. When you least expect it. Sorry you don't have a recliner. It does help with the getting up and down.
It was a huge week for me this week. I started a new job, I had my nip surgery and we adopted our neighbor's 12 year old Sheltie. Our neighbor died Thanksgiving morning and his son was going to take the dog to the pound. We couldn't let that happen. She, in her old age, doesn't think much of my 2 year old Tibetan Terrier/poodle and his ultra high boisterousness. But he's a good host and backs off when she insists. Maybe the new dog will inspire mine to settle a little bit. Ha!
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You and me both Firni (re: no recliner) -- for those who DID have recliners... how long before you were able to move to a bed? Trying to figure out how long it's going to hurt me to get up and down... other than that I have to say I am fine (so am just sitting up at the dining room table with laptop on table today). No pain except a little soreness (no worse than what I would feel after a vigorous workout).
Aw that is so sweet about adopting that Sheltie, Firni! So kind of you. Your Terrier and she will come to terms as soon as they realize this is not a short term visit
Cheers,
Lilah
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Deb- thanks for filling us in on packer girl!!!
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Everyone,
JUst got back home from the exchange. I'm having a good amount of pain on the old rad side. PS said he was going to have to work on that side. But NO DRAINS. Not sure of size but PS was going to try the 400ccs. He prefers to go larger but that may mean the implant may be a litttle more laterally. His idea is that when I have the nips he will able to move it slightly if he has to as the skin has muscle has stretched. I am wrapped in large ace bandage and will see PS Monday when he put me into a sports bra for 2 weeks/ 24/7.
I got a Percocet and a valium before leaving the surgi-center. But on the way home I did get sick. So i'm trying to eat light before I take the next Percocet.
I will post more tomorrow. This post took me about 10 minutes to type. Brain and hands are not working together.
Hope everyone else who had surgery today did well. I did say a prayer for all of you and that God will guide your surgeon's hands, brain and mind. Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Till tomorrow.
Janet
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Ladies ~
Some where amongst all the postings...we talked about Mondor's Cord. I have about 3 of them under my aug. breast...probably part of the reason I am having discomfort with this side. I know to take Ibuprofen (per my MD) but someone mentioned using a warm pack or was it a cold pack to relieve the discomfort??? Please reply.....
Thanks!
NAE
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Ok Ladies, this is totally off subject but I am off to NYC in the morning to spend the day shopping and going to see Wicked on Broadway. It is a bus trip through work and my best friend from early childhood is going with me.
Kew, I totally get the need to have downtime this Christmas. I just told my husband that I am getting ready for Christmas like he and the kids do every year. I am doing NOTHING! I think they are going to see that the holidays just don't magically appear. Everyone is getting just one gift and probably some stocking stuffers. The tree is up but barely and that is it for decorations. I usually have bushels of Italian Christmas Cookies made by now but not a one so far this year.
My revision surgery is on the 30th and I just don't want to run myself into the ground prior to that. Oh well, I have to say that I am enjoying the season much more by keeping it simple. I went to a concert with two of my friends on Tuesday and the trip tomorrow. I am focusing on people rather than gifts. I'll let you know how that is appreciated on Christmas morning!
I hope everyone is healing well!
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Oh Dani....too funny. You just have to watch "The Middle", which is a new sitcom starring Patricia Heaton - on Wednesday evenings. This week, her character in this show made her husband "do Christmas" this year b/c he said it was a piece of cake. It was too cute.
NAE: Moist heat for Mondor's Cord - and the ibuprofen.
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Whippetmom ~
Thanks! Couldn't remember which!!!
A big hug!
NAE
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Hello all,
I just got home. All went well. I won't be able to see them until Sunday. I also had the fat grafting, and I have a compression thingy on my abdomen. I convinced my PS to liposuction a little extra.
Hey, isn't that every woman's dream? To have the fat from her belly moved to her boobs? lol. 0 -
Dani--I hope you have a blast in NYC, I have not seen Wicked, but it seems every person I know has and they ALL say it is fantastic! Enjoy and good for you taking a Christmas break. I'm surprised at how excited I'm getting about, counting the days!
Lifegoeson--Definately every woman's dream.
Deborah--Thanks for posting the new pics.
OK, back to work. I'm giving myself until midnight to work on my work report, and then I have until 4PM on Sunday to turn in a paper for school, oh, did I mentioned I haven't started it yet?
Good onc visit today, he told me to chill out that all looks good and it is time I see myself as a healthy and strong woman, told me not to be so scared. I'm going to keep seeing him every 3 months, but that was my choice, he was ready to go to every 6--I'm not :-).
Night all!
Karen
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Typhoon, glad that your surgery went well today, I was thinking of you today since this was my original exchange date. Hope you're feeling better soon!!
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Saw the PS today. My original surgery was a one stage recon with AlloDerm. So my exchange surgery will be taking out the implants and putting expanders in doing small fills to stretch the muscles and especially the skin on the rads side and in three months or so swap out for soft gel implants. The surgery may wind up being on the 29th they think they have someone with a new cancer that needs my date of the 21st so what's a week. I just hope the other woman will be ok. This is such a strange road.
NAE be careful with the heat thing, I was using the heating pad for a cord on my abdomen when I burnt my boobie. I also found that stretching th cord by placing pressure on the beginning end and keeping that pressure there while slowly stretching out the distal end with light pressure helped. It was like unkinking a hose,and I could actually feel it when the cord or the lymph clog or whatever it is broke up,it was such a relief. I was not able to do that with the one in my arm but the PT was able to.
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Hi everyone just checking in. My temp is staying below 100.5, its been 99.5 since early today. My left breast is so swollen. It looks fine just swollen and not very soft at all, probably because its swollen. He did a lot of work on that side so Im hoping thats why.
Teresa
btw today is my 2 year mark : )
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Bigapple09 ~
Thanks for the tips! I do remember that incident of the burning boobie
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OK LADIES:
Since my whole surgery thing is sort of backwards, I need to know what to expect from you all.
I understand that the TE will be horrible and hard and I will come to hold them in contempt. Did anyone else keep their nipples? I am wondering how weird my breasts are going to look with the metal port thing, will it make a bump? Where does the bump wind up? Will it make my nipples stand out more than they do already?
The PS expects to fill them to close to the size of my existing 410 implants, put more alloderm on the rads side and then do slow small fills going forward.
What can I excepct to feel when they go in, and what canI do about the pain/ discomfort?
Any tips would be great.
What activities can I do? Can I snowboard? or is that way too stupid?
Wendy
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Hi ladies. I had my exchange surgery yesterday and all went well thank God. It already feels so much better just not having the expanders. My new foobs are SOFT....woo hoo. I have a question (more of a concern) when I woke up today my shirt was very wet on one side. My hubby and I looked underneath the bandages and the drains on each side are still in but I had blood on one side and a watery type stain on the other. Is this normal? Do I need to call the PS? I don't remember having this when I had the drains after BMX but then again the hospital nurses took off te bandages and I was still pretty out of it. I have learned one thing for sure this year..I Hate Drains
Not as much as I hate BC though! Thanks in advance for any input. Wendy-you will get used to the TE's and can do anything once that happens. They are hard but not nearly as bad as we all make them out to be. My metal port was just a hole in the front of the expander and was flat, no bump. Once you get used to them snowboard away. Going slow on the expansions is the way to go. The first expansion I had post surgery we went big and I was in horrible pain for three days. We slowed it down after that and I was fine. Good luck to you and hang in there.
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Dani, Have a great day shopping and you will LOVE Wicked!
KEW, I think that going to the onc for peace of mind is a great investment.
Teresa, I keep you in good thoughts and prayer, I hope your fever goes away.
Lifegoeson and Nene, I am glad that you both checked in and that all went well, I bet you both are glad that you got the new girls before the holidays. My PS states they are booked solid in the weeks before Christmas. I guess 2 silicone implants replace the 2 turtle doves this year as a gift.
Wendy, The TE's are mostly uncomfortable and we lament, it is the dues you pay to get foobs! I couldn't even feel my port. I was still numb from the mx, so never even felt the actual fills. I found that taking 3 advil on the way into the office for fills made the later ones easier to handle. It is the day to 3 days after the fills that were wearing for me.
Deborah, I love the show The Middle It is too funny and Patricia Heaton cracks me up along with the other cast of characters! I love the daughter in the show. Sweet delirious innocence.
Kittykat and 2xenough exchange 12-15 Dee1961, exchange 12-16, my560sel, I am so glad that you day is coming soon, keep us posted! Delilahbear and yasminv, exchange 12-18
Samiam, 12-16 Getting the nipple, are they doing the tattoo at the same time or later?
Jan
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Everyone,
First day post exchange. Feeling better than last night. My old rad side was painful but I was expecting that as PS did warn me. In fact the PS called me Sat morning to see how I was feeling and he did say he worked on the old rad side. He said to just continue taking the pain meds and relax. Funny after the BMX I hardly took any Percocets. I have on a BIG ace bandage wrap which will come off Monday. On Monday PS will give me a sports bra to wear for 2 weeks, 24/7. Meaning I can't see the new ones.
whippetmom,
PS said he used 425ccs, which is more than the 350 he originally thought he was going to use. Thanks for your help in picking out the right implant.
Thanks everyone for your wishes.
Janet
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Facecrafter: It has only been a month since my exchange surgery. Part of my anxiousness to get the nipple surgery done is, as you said, the desire to put all of this behind me. But the other part is that I've already met my insurance deductibles for this year and if I wait six months it could cost me a couple thousand dollars.
I had radiation therapy, so my plastic surgeon has warned me that the allodern/implant-only surgery may fail within a couple of years. If it does, then the LD flap is my only other alternative.
Firni, bless you for adopting that dog! She would have been euthanized at the shelter. They just assume no one wants a 12-year-old dog.You are an angel!
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I'm feeling much better pain wise this morning. Tylenol is doing the trick. I can't wait til Tues to see the new nips. PS told me sponge baths until then. Hate that.
Glad to hear that everyones surgeries in the last couple days have gone well and everyone is doing ok.
I don't know about the seeping of bloody fluid tho. That doesn't sound normal to me. I'd call PS and see what's going on. I don't think you should be seeping especially with drains. Unless they got clogged? Are you stripping them?
My new 12 year old Sheltie is doing great. She's even playing already. Lots of spunk left in her. My 2 year old dog is learning real fast that he has to play more gently with her. He knocked her over yesterday and she landed on her back. She was flaying like a flipped turtle. Then he went over to her and licked her like he was saying he was sorry. They are actually pretty cute together.
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NAE - On the Mondor's cords - I found that stretching to tolerance - helped too. In the shower I would also use some baby oil and do some self massage down the length of the cord - so for instance just a firm palm flat onto the skin and slowly moving down the cord (massage therapists would call this myofascial work). That helped a lot.
Geena
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Hello everyone! Finally checking in after my exchange. Sweet ladies--Thank you for your prayers and best wishes. I am sorry to post a bit delayed- my eyes were so dialated I really couldn't read anything until today- they are a bit fuzzy still I might still type something goofy--
I had called Deb and I hope she posted to let you all know I am doing GREAT! I woke up with absolutely zero back/shoulder/rib pain that was caused from those expanders. I have been sleeping like a baby since surgery. Wow when you ladies said the implants are soft you were not kidding- they are so lovely and painless. To any of you still suffering with expander pain let me send a resounding it gets a million times better when you get them out. For me that expander period was a very long haul not sleeping and being so uncomfortable with those things- good riddens.
So we had to nearly hire the dogsled team to get to the hospital. It was some of the worst conditions we ever had to drudge through but my DH is such an amazing guy- he got us to a hotel safe and sound the night before surgery. I think even Santa would have been challenged in that weather.
I am healing very well and honestly even though he had capulotomies to do on both sides and recreate the IMF and open the upper pole and clevage area this discomfort so much easier to tolerate than the expander pain I was having! No drains (Amen)
So the girls look lovely. They are so wonderfully soft, beautifully symetrical, and that huge gap in the center is gone. He also cleaned up the wide scars I had. I have only one thing I am bummed about--I wound up with implants smaller than we wanted. 550's instead of the 600-750 that went into the OR. At this time I don't know if the girls are HP's or MPP's, I know the 600-750s that he planned were all HP's. I am guessing these are MPPs since they are wide and flatter. I called the office to find out the profile but they didn't have the OR notes back. So maybe I will find out this week. I had been expanded to 630cc so it was a bummer to drop this much- not to mention those low profile expanders stick out with so much projection it is a big adjustment to get used to. Maybe having the modified radical bi-lat MX- no skin was spared played into some part of what we could do in the end.
You know what I am just amazed with? There is not a single bruise on me with all that work he did. I think my PS (who Deb found) is so talented. I am posting pics on the forum.
Many hugs to my sisters. Hope all of you are doing great and getting ready for Christmas.
Love- Packer
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Packer! Whoo Hoo I am so glad that this is done. I am happy that you don't have brusing. When you find out why your PS used the smaller implants would you mind sharing?
Firni, Glad to know that you are doing well too, I will PM you, I have a question for you.
Janet, I am so happy that everyone is checking in and telling their stories. It means a lot to other sisters that read here, but are not ready to post.
Have a great week end everyone, it is raining in Fortunately I didn't have to sleep in the snow on the freeway like they did between Buffalo and Erie PA last night. This is the highway we drive when we go see my daughter and I can't imagine what those folks in the 100 cars had to endure.
Jan
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Did you call the PS?
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