Exchange City
Comments
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I'm 3-1/2 weeks post- 2nd exchange and so far I'm only a little asymmetrical on the rad side. The scar on the prophylactic side is still "bunched up" but that happened after the mastectomy too and it evened out after a few months so I'm not too worried.
I want to post pictures but my camera died on me. I'm going to see if I can get one last "hoorah" out of it before it goes to camera heaven.
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Hi! I had delayed bilateral reconstruction ( 2 1/2 years right side, 2 years left side). THe TE's were placed last June and, other than the surgery recovery, was a pain free experience. I was never bothered by the TEs. I would feel some tightness as each fill was done but I was fine by the time I walked out of the PS's office.
I could have been exchanged at the end of October but because of cruise plans and Thanksgiving plans, I delayed until Dec 10.
The exchange surgery was a piece of cake. I used Tylenol several times for the two days after surgery, after that, no pain.
I saw my PS for the one month follow up on Thursday. He says everything looks great and told me I had no limits on exercise or anything else. I also do not need to wear a bra (yahoo!!!!).
I am 5'6", 145 lbs and have a large ribcage. I had 800 cc TEs filled with 300 ccs each at the time of TE surgery, two fills of 250 ccs each side. I have 800 cc implants which gives me a B cup which was exactly what I wanted.
I am making this post so that new women can know that the reconstruction procedure is not uncomfortable or painful for everyone.
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Laura:
How slowly were you expanded on your rads side?
The prospect of the DIEP on the side that lost the implant actually has me kind of nervous, If I could manage an implant alone, Would prefer that. Now that the pressure is gone from the rads side implant I don't hate the 410 on the non rads side nearly as much as I did, and I am wondering if I could be very slowly expanded on the rads side alone till it could hold a new implant.
My skin did look great after the rads, I never burned or looked red, the surgeon was very surprised when they got in during the recon about how much damage there was inside, so I may not have an option, but I am interested in how long your expansion took and how big the fills were.
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I just wrote a whole post to everyone and my computer locked up.
So I'm keeping it simple: Lilah - dharmadate.com is for buddhists. The "dharma" represents the teachings of buddhism. "harm-a-date" is hysterical as the idea of "ahimsa" - no harm - is a tenant of the practice.... Hmmm.. I wonder how many go on the site looking for something involving whips and chains only to find all us boring "non-harmers".... hee-hee! Anyway, that's the scoop! Oh, and veggiedate is for vegetarians, greensingles is for environmentalists, match.com is for QUANTITY! Gotta date a million frogs before....prince, etc...
Geena
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Terri: Could you post pictures so that I can see your suture issue? I just want to make sure that the scar is not keloiding.
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Deborah, I'll try to post some this afternoon...
Terri
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Geena -- OMG that is so funny. How could I NOT see the word "dharma"? Well that is very cool!
Cheers,
Lilah
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Hi, I had rads AFTER I fully filled a TE.
So I got filled to 420cc from 0cc
in 5-6 weeks. THEN did RADS..I know ladeis who did the full TE expansion after having rads.. and yes, they did them slow, due to some discomfort ( scar tissue and such)I know JUDY here did some ~or~ all expansion AFTER rads.... JUDY... HELP... WHERE ART THOU JUDY???????????
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My dear "Breastbook"(my son's term) ladies: I've missed you all this past week!! I literally have not been at my computer since New Year's Eve - nothing bad, just crazy busy undecorating from Christmas, spending time with my college-age son before he went back to school, cleaning (though I still can't mop very well - just doesn't feel good on the pecs), not buying bras (I even skipped the VS sale, Deborah!) Now if I can just deal with my 398 e-mails.....
Sending a big Texas welcome to our newcomers! So sorry the circumstances brought you here, but so happy to have you share in this amazing group of beautiful women!
I did - honestly - read through all 11 pages that I'd missed. Though I can't remember specific names, I hope that the various surgical and infection issues have resolved. I think it was maybe Geena who was wondering about implants and received (of course) great advice from Deborah. I have the HP 425cc and have about a 27 1/2" ribcage - they're definitely not too wide for me.
I had my dh take some pics of my "wonky" left side, as well as just front and side shots to see if my "drop and fluff" can be appreciated in the pics. Once I have a few minutes I'll update my thread on the pic site....I'll let y'all know when I actually get to that, though.....
It's only 20 degrees here......WAY too cold for this part of Texas!!
Val
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WB Val!
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Val, I have been looking at the Freya Deco bra....did you ever try on that style?
http://www.barenecessities.com/Freya-Deco-Plunge-T-Shirt-Bra_product_Freya4234_,search,.htm
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Wendy - I too was/am not wanting a breast made from my own tissue -- although it seems most have had great results. My doc wanted me to do the Lat Flap first and foremost, but my deal with myself was if the expander/implant didn't work I would go flat. You can see from my pics on Timtam's forum (under "wabiwoman") that the rad side has truly struggled. That said, many have had no problems soooo...... would you consider trying one more time, filling really slowly (I DO think that is a good idea and think my PS filled me too fast at first) before trying a DIEP?
Terri - My sutures on the rad side were slow to dissolve. When I got my fills my doc would take some out IF they were very close to the surface. I still have one in. I'm hoping sutures after exchange aren't as stubborn.
Welcome to the new people here - so glad you found this board - it is a Godsend.
Peace,
Geena
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thank u all for a'' u taught me. ,y surgery was Tues & i camw homw late last nite, i had thd 1 step but it was very similiar 2 the the TE. I A, RECOVERING & THANK GOODNESS 4 DRUGS. SORRY 4 THE CAPS BUT ITS HARD 2 TYPE NOW<'''
WISH U ALL WELL
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Welcomehome Shoshi and glad you made it through ok... heal up and write us when you can
Cheers,
Lilah
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Hi All, I'm new to to EC and so glad to have finally landed here. Not new at all to bc.org or picture forum. Since being dx in 7/08, I've used the sites for each phase of tx from chemo, rads, surgery and now expansion.
On 11/30 I had Lat D and TE placed on original mast. site from 12/08 and TE on good site w/ prophylactic mast. So I am almost 6 weeks out from surgery and have had two fills which have me at 310cc on flap side and 390cc on "good" side. Each time, the aftermath of the fills for 2-3 days has been quite painful. My PS recs. 800mg advil every 8 hrs. but it has still been quite painful with shooting pains in chest and upper back pain. It was doable since I've been off work, but I returned to work this week and w/ another fill coming this Monday, I am worried that I won't be able to work for a few days which is disappointing. I really had no idea that the fill process would be painful. Does anyone know of any meds. to recommend that would allow me to still be able to drive/work? I do office work and some driving around to various sites, but mostly admin. kind of work.
Any advice is more than welcome. Also, here's my stats: 5'10, 145 lbs. Will find out Monday all the details on my TEs, dont know any of that and didn't get a card. Didn't know they came with cards!
So glad to have come to this site. I recognize many of you from the picture forum and other sites on bc.org. It's great to read of your progress as we all march through this together. Best, deekaay
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Shoshi - I am so glad that is behind you. Gentle hugs my dear.
I may have missed some surgery dates, I have been pretty tied up w/ my mom. So feel free to PM me if you have surgery coming up.
Take care my friends!!!
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Thanks for all the excellent guidance from all you ladies! I have a question for those of you who have completed your exchange to silicone implants. Is the implant dimension in your body the same that is stated in the implant catalog stats ... or is there a "squishing" effect due to it being under the muscle? My PS told me a 12.8cm by 6.1 implant would probably measure about 13.5 x 5.5 once it is in my body.
Have you all noticed some amount of this "flattening effect"? Thanks!
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I've been feeling so much smaller than I was before BC. Finally I decided to drag out the measuring tape to see just how much I'd lost. Lo and behold, I've actually GAINED about 1/2 inch in projection!
The only reason why I must be feeling so small is that before I was a 'C' cup and now I think I'm going to be a 'B' cup. Also, I'd tried to go a little bigger and had been over-expanded with my TEs before getting the first set of implants. So for 3-4 months, I'd been bigger than I ever had been!
Funny, I had the original breasts since I was 12 years old and it only took a few months of having bigger ones for me to completely forget how the others felt. LOL
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deekay: Welcome....also need your ribcage circumference. Will wait for you to post the TE info.
samiam: Your PS is correct. The implants are measured outside the human body.
Texas: You might still be a "C" cup. You are at a point where you could get professionally fitted. Not at VS though.....Dillards or Nordstroms or go on www.barenecessities.com or www.herroom.com and look at the links to calculate your true bra size. [Measure without a bra - fitting photos show models in bras for privacy purposes]
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It has been about a week and a half since my revision surgery and I feel like I am going to explode. My ps does not want me to do any type of exercise and I haven 't returned to work. It feels like my legs are growing by the minute. We have so much snow here that going for a walk is out of the question. I did walk around the mall a bit but that hasn't stopped my growth. I still have stitches until Tuesday but will go back to work on Monday. I'm just wondering if I will fit into any of my pants!
Anyone have any suggestions for mild exercise that won't inhibit healing or do I just have to be patient?
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I was recommended to post my question here by ESTEPP. I would like to hear from those of you that had your mastectomy and rads first and then moved on to expander(s) and implant(s) after rads. I would like to hear anything you have to tell me regarding your experience on this, i.e., how many months after did you have expanders put in and then how long before the implant, etc.
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Hi Blondie!... Ladies..... whoever can help... lets go...:)
Geena.. Judy.... anyone else...
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Dani: A picture!!! You are adorable!!!
Why couldn't you do wall squats? Or just standing leg lifts? Something non-aerobic?
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Blondie: On the pictures forum, under "Well Burnt", I posted a link to an article regarding radiation with tissue expanders. Here is an older - 2002 - but still applicable dissertation regarding the cosmetic outcome as far as reconstruction timing - prior to or after radiation therapy.
http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=36&id=7495
Why do you want to wait until AFTER rads to reconstruct? Or is this your medical team's recommendation?
ADDENDUM: This link is not working, so I am going to PM you with the article....
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Hi Val!!! Nothing to say- just HI!!!!
Dani- walk- just walk and do the physical therapy. Walk in the mall. Walk on a treadmill!!! It's boring but that is all I could do and I hated it!!! But now I run and I run hard because I can and you will too- just be patient!!!
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Deborah.... She has already had her mastectomy ... chemo... and rads.... with NO TE at time of mast....
SHe is wanting to see if others like her had a good outcome.. or any info........
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Hi Val... sister girl...:)
Ladies.. THANK YOU FOR PICTURE POSTING....
Miss Laura is soooooooooooo much happier...
LOVE LOVE LOVE them all.. you are all so beautiful... WOW...I think BC only attacks GORGEOUS women!.....
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hehe Laura what a cute idea (only attacking gorgeous women
Dani -- your pic is adorable! I second that!
Cheers,
Lilah
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ooohhh I see. Blondie, are you leaning towards flap surgery w or wo implants or implants only?
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Whippetmom - I am sorry I didn't explain a little more. My tumor was on the chest wall or very near, so no clear margins could be obtained and therefore mastectomy. My radiation oncologist never asked me if I wanted to contact a plastic surgeon before we started the radiation process. He pretty much told me from the start that I DID NOT qualify for implants and only had really 1 choice for reconstruction (either DIEP or TRAM, can't remember which one he said at the time). Anyhow, until now, I did not think I wanted reconstruction and did not think it would bother me. Now that chemo and rads are done and I am starting to feel better, it now does. Anyhow, radiation is already done now and I need to research my options now. For me, I am pretty sure if the implant doesn't have a chance of working I will be lopsided (I think I would have felt better with bilateral but insurance refused to remove a healthy breast per MRI) either until more options are available to us someday or for the rest of my life. After staying in the hospital 5 days after the mastectomy because I could not pee (you would think doctor's could have this problem figured out by now but I guess not) I really cannot face the thought of the other options of reconstruction right now.
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