Exchange City
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Janet--Sounds good, we may have different sessions we want to attend, but there is lunch and other time to spend together. I know one session I'm going to is the one with the talk about "red flags for recurrence," that is my onc, so I'm curious to see what he has to say. Can't wait to see you!
Hugs--Karen
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Karen -- when you are back, I would LOVE to hear a summary of what your onc says about the red flags.
Lilah
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Geena... fellow rads sister.... I am with you tomorrow, and over these next weeks... PLEASE PM me with any questions... If you want my cell number... just to talk while you are off work.. I am here.
Rads girls.... PM with anything.. I am a rads Vet here on BCO. I am hosting a BCO girls slumber party at my home for a few..." VETs" of BCO soon.. so I will not be online as often... BUT I will be online here at least twice a day.... Let me know if you need my help.. and my cell number. It just picks at my heart knowing what you rads/implant only ladies are dealing with.... I know this feeling. Daily I massage... and wonder.... if today is the day... my rads boob fails... NO NO NO... SOMEDAY there will be a superior way... and 100% of us will be ok with no flap surgeries after rads....( if this is our choice)
Rads and Implants.... boy oh boy....
Remember this.... 65% of us today, make it.!! YOU CAN DO THIS...
VOLLEYGIRL and SMORE.... YOU ARE GONNA DO GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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PS... BCO vets like me.. Deb... Jean... Sunshine... Linda.... Judy.... OH SO MANY MORE......
We are here for you... do NOT feel alone... this thread is wonderful... BUt moves fast.... read.... find the sister here you KNOW is a Vet.... and PM us... we can jump you right in if you feel lost....
I personally... want you ALL to feel special here... I wish you NEVER had to be here though.. ( the whole BREAST CANCER THING).... but you are.... so...... you are all special... and a VET here... will pipe up to help...
KEW.... Diane....Val.... etc....... we are here...
Do NOT feel alone... PM one of us... and we will get you help....... help on any thread on BCO...
Deborah is our Blessed Breast Whisperer here.... on EC..... SHE will answer a PM...
But if you need support... out there on other threads.... we are all pretty good and befriending...
Take me serious... ASK for help... you will GET IT!
LOVE LOVE LOVE~~~~~ Laura
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fryowomen ---I am close to your size -- 5' 6" and 145-50 lbs. I have 700cc implants. I have also noticed that most women have 400-550cc. I have very loose skin, divot at the top of one implant, wrinkling, and other imperfections. I have had 5 surgeries in the last 2 years (2 of them were revisions). I am not happy with the way my foobs look at all. I would love to have them look better -- but I have decided no more for now. I could not handle any more surgeries and any more disappointments. I am finally without pain and starting to rebuild my physical strength and my emotional strength. So... do what you need to do. If you feel up to more surgery, go for it. If you want a second opinion, go for it. If you decide to hold off for now -- you can always have a revision later on.
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FIRSTMATE.... GREAT to see ya.... <---------------- another Vet ladies...:)
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Lilah: The Allergan TEs you have are one of the most popular styles used in breast reconstruction. As I mentioned somewhere, if you have had a unilateral mastectomy, the key to symmetry is chiefly that you focus on the structure of the healthy breast. The PS will give you a specific TE to correspond to the base width of your healthy breast. The implant he selects will be based also on what will be done or will not be done for the healthy breast. So if you are going to have a lift or a lift and small implant in the healthy breast, this comes into play referable to the style of implant used on the MX side. I would like to see photos eventually....just to get some idea of where you are headed. A true cohesive gel - gummy - will be firmer and not as soft as a standard silicone smooth round. Discuss this issue with your PS and research some of the threads regarding the "gummy" implants. That should fill up some time for you!!!
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Firstmate thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for just pointing out our similarities. Funny how just knowing that you are not alone is enormously comforting!
Wow 5 surgeries! I feel the same way about wanting to be pain free. My last revision was November 3 and I think the catheter they used to empty my bladder during the surgery caused me to get a uti infection that has been recurrent and turned into a kidney infection. I also suffer from migraine headaches which put me into the ER on X-mas night. I have just had enough. I want to regain control of my life. It takes me a 3-4 weeks to recover from a surgery and then when they trigger these other maladies -- well not complain' just explanin.
Hey anyone else notice memory loss after surgery. I have had three surgeries all exactly two months apart and my memory is shot. It is kinda scary. Though it can come in handy at times with my husband
Estepp - how fun to have a slumber party! This seems like a really wonderful forum of very loving and caring ladies.
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Geena: Hugs and prayers going out to you sweetie! I laughed when I read your comment about not wanting too much "stimulus." I'm with you on that one....I would do just the same.....we are here for you!
Laura: We want PHOTOS as soon as the girls arrive at your house and we want to hear all about the party. Wish there was some way you could video this and put it up on youtube....
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What happens in Kansas City, stays in Kansas City......
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Post-Mastectomy Pain....
For those of you experiencing neurogenic or other pain syndromes after mastectomy, my sister just started a thread with this title. I think it is under the Surgery, before, during after forum. Hopefully some good research, resources, treatment remedies and shared information will help some of you experiencing this pain.
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Colleen~
I used to love shoe shopping....now it's all about that special bra!!! LOL!!!
Firni~
My PS has always reminded me that I will always have a void at the tip of my bra on my MX side. I am a unilat. so trying to have equal projection is a dilemma for me. I have to say I did find something that has been really helping me to keep that voided side from collapsing...since it is hollow at the tip. I use an insert from another bra I have. It is a formed cup but much firmer than those you find in swim wear. This one came out of a bandeau bra from Fashion Forms (got mine from Amazon). What's nice about this formed cup is that it keeps it's shape without collapsing. I use it in most of my bras now. I do make sure I wear formed cup bras in general but adding this little insert gives me confidence in my appearance. Whatever works right?!
Geena & to all having your surgeries this week....Bless you!!! I will be thinking of you!!!
Julie ~ How are you doing? Thinking of you!
NAE
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Deborah -- thanks for the advice! I have read around in this site about the gummies and it seems to me that half the women don't like them (and exchange them for the smooth round) and half seem happy. I'll go back and do more reading now though.
I have very large breasts (large breast, I should say) so an implant is not on the table for discussion, just a lift and reduction -- don't need to ADD to this one -- need to subtract! That said, I might ask my PS what she thinks about an implant to help with symmetry (it can't hurt and since she's taking away anyway she'll be there visiting so perhaps not a lot to add, I don't know). Lift/reduction are planned to be done at exchange; presumably she works with the knowledge/awareness of the drop and fluff but I do intend to ask once we start planning the surgery date.
I do know that gummies are firmer (I actually had a chance to feel the difference... to me the gummy I felt was not hard at all though certainly firmer than the regular silicone, but not unacceptably so). I plan to talk more about this with my PS but in the conversations we've already had she has said she feels the teardrop shaped gummy will get me best results for symmetry (for what she has in mind) and since I've seen photos of her work with unilaterals and this sort of implant, I'm inclined to go with her judgment. Yes she did say she measured my healthy breast in the OR. Whenever I see her now she always squishes the big one up against my body next to the new one and declares herself very pleased with the placement (which I find funny).
I've been taking pictures of my progress but at the moment what I've got is one very large breast and one very cute bulge which is getting rounder and bigger with time (480 cc's now so getting there but still about 1/2 the size of the other breast (if that); if my boobs were dog ears my left breast is a basset hound and my right is a boxer, if you can imagine such a thing lol). So I will wait to send you pics when the TE is closer to size.
Thanks!
Lilah
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Oh my... it's been awhile since my last post. How is everyone doing? I had my exchanged last 1/7/10 and I am very happy with the results. I have a Mentor Style 4000 Siltex Round High Profile, 650 ml silicone implant on both breast. It's been 12 days already. I liked to thank Deborah for helping me find a new doctor and Bobbi for recommending me to her doctor. He did a fabulous job .PS had to reposition my pectorial major muscles and I didn'tknow that I had a 3- grade 4 capsular contructure which explains the hardness, pain and tightness the old tissue expanders. It's been 12 days already after my exchange.
Thank you EC for all the love and support! Celine
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Hi Everyone! Thanks for the warm wishes. It was a nerve racking few hours just waiting at the hospital but I woke up from surgery feeling pretty good. I've been groggy all day--until now of course when I should be sleeping but the pain has been minimal. I haven't looked yet, but they feel great, so much smaller than the expanders but if feels like me so I'm still a little worried I'll be disappointed and think that I chose too small but hoping that it looks as good as it feels.
Geena, go figure it rained all day today are rarity here, for sure so your comment made me laugh because I had complained that the clouds did not help my mood this morning. I love my blue skies and sunshine! Warm wishing going your way tomorrow--maybe you'll get the sunshine to add to a peaceful walk.
Val, Sounds like a good plan, bummer about having drains again though!
NAE, I think I'm going to be a bra shopper as well and I'm not a shopper at all but I can't wait to go find some bras.
Warm wishes tomorrow Volleygirl and Smore!
Julie
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Liliah:
My gummie is definitely firmer than a real breast, I hate it a lot less now that the rads one is out.That being said the shape is great. As an example of how great it looks: My surgery was skin/nipo sparring, my incisions are in the IM Fold, the day I was admitted to Memorial in December for the infection,Dr. Disa's Fellow (a p/s) is examining me and prepping me,the rads breast looked weird, after he examines it, he says "did you have anything done to the left breast?"; I said "yes a mastectomy and reconstruction." He was shocked. I am hoping that what ever the do with the now deflated rads side will look as good as the gummy, I just want ot to be softer. I have a narrow frame, so the choice of more implant dimensions was helpful, I do wish it was softer and had a little jiggle, but its not bad, the rads side was very bad it was a lot like what you all describe the TE to feel like, hard and unmovable.
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Nedeza, what a great solution to the empty tip problem. I had been wearing stretchy bras until the nipple recon. Now PS wants me to have that empty tip with the formed cups so there is nothing pushing on the nipples. It can be hard not to put pressure on the girls at times tho. If people only knew half of what we go thru. I can hardly wait for the day when I'm as unaware of these new breasts as I was of the originals.
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Thinking about you Geena!
Deborah - Are you in the area of southern California that is having all of the mud slides? I hope you and your family are OK.
Firni - I am so sorry you are still having problems! It seems they are never ending for you.
Julie - Let us know when you get to take a sneak peak at the new girls. Take it easy and get some rest.
Sonia
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I was looking for nipple guards, in anticipation of my surgery in March, and came across this website. Unfortunately the product is out of stock.
I was hoping to find something instead of padding myself with gauze squares, as my PS said I'd be doing. http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=18118&procid=1&catid=866
I'll keep looking!
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I just had my nipple/areola reconstruction a couple of weeks ago. Once the first set of bandages came off last week, I have been putting antibiotics on the new nipple/areola, gauze on top of that, then I layer around the new nipple two or three callous pads that I got from CVS. Someone here a while back recommended the callous pads (the round ones with the big hole in the middle), and I find they really protect the new nipple without causing it to flatten. Anyway, it really works for me, and they're cheap as well.
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Texas357, what about these? Not as nice as the lily you were looking at but they might work.
http://www.barenecessities.com/Wacoal-No-Peek-Molded-Foam-Cups_product_Wacoal85999_,search,.htm
The callous pads sound great too though, maybe a better option.
Julie
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Julie - I'm impressed that you're up at the computer! Don't overdo it, though, okay?
NAE and others - I think you're talking about a molded bra cup-insert, but in case you're not, here's a tip if you're considering using a push-up pad to fill out a bra....... be VERY CAREFUL that your bra is not too tight. Just in case you're new to EC and missed my experience with this in October, my ps had me put a couple gauze pads on outside of my left implant to put more pressure on it to keep from sliding. Well, I thought if gauze it good, one of those push-up pads would be better, right? Wrongo....I slept with one and woke up with a PURPLE FOOB! Because I had no feeling, I didn't realize I was cutting off the blood supply to my skin.....luckily it resolved within a couple hours......I never mentioned it to my ps......would probably have disowned me!
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Just checking in. I had my exchange surgery at 7:30 this morning. I have no idea what I look like as I am bound up. But after spending the weekend looking at the picture gallery (thanks ladies for posting, hope to add my own) it wasn't a basketcase as I was last week. LOL, the ups and downs since diagnosis would make an awesome rollercoaster ride. smile. going to get some rest catch you ladies later
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Woo hoo, glad you're on the other side of the surgery smore!
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congrats smore!!!!
Geena- give us a shout- I hope you are feeling great!!!
Val- when is your surgery? Tums with calcium - can we call that a dairy???
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Congrats Smore!Julie0
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Wendy -- Wow love that story (shocking the fellow -- wtg
I guess Sloan likes to use the gummy. I personally like the idea that you can cut it in half and it doesn't leak. I'm glad to hear that you've got such nice results. I'm not sure I care all that much about jiggle. I am rather liking the hard TE to be honest... but this is because of years of far too large breasts with far too much jiggle (if you ask me). I hope you get something great to replace the lost rads implant. What is the plan as of now? Julie -- welcome home! Is the sun shining today?
Lilah
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Im sorry but how do we view pics that others have posted?
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My PS is at Sloan ~ I don't think I want gummies. I am leaning towards silicone, but I don't know much yet. I NEED to read up and learn a thing or two before my next appointment. So many girls had surgery this week and TODAY, I hope all goes well. Wishing you comfy soft foobies. Thanks also for the soup recipe ~ I emailed it to myself !
Alicia0 -
I was just at Walgreens and saw this bra support that I think could come in handy. My PS has me taped up on both sides to prevent my implants from floating while my side pockets heal from the extra work he had to do there but it seems that this would do the same thing. Thought of Val and Texas357--maybe it would help you too. I had been looking for something like this while I had my expanders too because I needed the support of a sports bra but the sports bras put too much pressure on to my ribcage by pushing the foobs into my chest wall more (figures I'd find it the day after exchange)
http://www.getchicshaper.com/default.asp?tcode=asp3&subID=38606&bhcp=1
The price was the same at Walgreens.
Julie
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