Exchange City
Comments
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Erika--I'm on Tamoxifen and use 3 tablespoons of flaxseed most days of the week. There is a researcher in Toronto, I think who has done the most work on flax and breast cancer, in mice, the studies are just now beginning to use human subjects, I think. Anyway, I contacted her and she feels that it is not a problem, my onc thinks it is OK, and so does the RD at the integrated med center at my hospital. It is a personal decision, but I decided I was getting many benefits from flax. However, as Geena said, who really knows? Oh, I am an intermediate metabolizer.
Brenda--My implants feel like me--when I look at them critically, there is step off and a couple of other things I may or may not get revised, but they feel like me. I undress in the gym if anyone asks I tell them, because part of my scars are still red, if they stare, but don't say anything--I smile and tell them. I don't think of my breasts as foobs because I felt that would always promote thinking that they were not part of me and I really want to feeling whole and integrated.
Hugs--Karen
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Hi everyone,
Well, yesterday was a long day, even though the surgery was a little earlier than scheduled. Everything went fine, even got the IV in on the first try, which I was soooooo thankful for!! I had one-stick Mary as my nurse.......that really is her nick name!! Very little pain so far except for the scar revision on the right side under the arm area from dog ears. The original scar did not heal flat but had a raised area. The PS re-opened it and extended the incision upward and removed excess tissue, OUCH!! This is very painful, percocet did not help much last night. Feel a little better today and I think I will eat a little something, take pain meds and go back to bed. I'll check in a little later today.
Hope all surgery ladies are healing well and good luck to those ahead.
Hugs, Kathy
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Gentle hugs to you Kathy. Hope you're out of pain very soon.
Karen, I've been taking a tablespoon of whole ground organic flaxseed every day, is that the type you have found to be best? I am impressed that you will undress in public, I have always been so self-conscious about my breasts, maybe after this exchange I'll finally feel that way! Right now with these TE's I joke that I won't even show my chest to my cats!!
How do you get on the list above for surgery? My exchange is Feb 4. Maybe if I see it there, I'll show up for it
. My dh told me last nite that he would be fine as I am! 0 -
Geena -Who knows is right! The info I'm getting is that Flax is full on phytoestrogen and pre-meno women should avoid it particularly when taking tamox. Other reports and opinions tell me otherwise! I sent a PM to you a few minutes ago. Your story caught my attention and my heart goes out to you!
Julie - I'll be seeing my onco on Feb 1rst but I'm a bit discouraged by medical opinions these days!
Karen -Thank you for the information. I'll check into it! I love my 1/4 cup flax meal with my cereal everyday and I also bake bread at home using it. I always thought of it to be a wonderful source of nutrients and I'm having a tough time letting go of it.
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May I ask??? I must have missed this topic about flax seeds??? What's this about...w/o having to go through all the postings...in a nutshell..no pun intended...LOL!
NAE
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Geena -- Vitamin E, 800 mg daily, and Trental 3X daily (prescription RX) were recommended by BS when my first implant started to contract. The plan was to take them both every day for 6 months, but I was only able to take the Trental for a few days because it made me sick. I tried it again this time with the same results after only 2 days. Apparently there has been some success in preventing CC with the Vitamin E/Trental combination, but I'm using just the Vitamin E and massage/stretching.
Texas--Have you gotten any answers from your PS about the swelling you were getting after massaging? That just doesn't sound right.
My 2nd implant was done in December and I am beginning to learn to live with this one, even though it is small and a little mis-shapen with a big scar through the middle. It is getting very firm, but I'm hoping it will soften up again over time.
Best of luck and good wishes to everyone having exchange surgery this week...
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Hi ladies....can anyone give me a suggestion? I had my second fill yesterday: OMG last night I had the worst night EVER....it was more than the constant pain/pressure: I also had constant muscle spasms that literally took my breath away!I was all caught up on my pain meds, i finally fell asleep around 5 am and got a few hours. If it was that bad today I was seriously going to ask my PS to remove some of the saline(which I don't want to do because that would push an exchange date further out!) pain scale 1-10 last night was a 10, today is 8 1/2
any helpful hints? heat? ice? my surgeon's NP warned me that because before the BMx I was regularly working out (Including lifting free weights) and my pecs are strong, that the expander process would likely be exceptionally painful. Whether that is a factor or not doesn't matter at this point, just hoping the next few fills aren't like this one. on the positive side, when I have a t shirt on now it actually looks like i have boobs!
hope this week is going well for everyone and the post-op ladies are recovering smoothy
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Nedeza - I started the flax topic because I'm having dificulties giving it up. I love it everyday in my cereal. Reports and opinions tell me to give it up because of high phytoestrogen component in it and pre-meno women taking tamox should avoid it!
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Fairportlady--No heat no ice--we don't have the sensitivity to determine if we are burning ourselves or giving ourselves frostbite. Try Valium if the doctor will give it to you it can relax the muscles, and I will say once again going to a PT during fills can really reduce your discomfort, it made a huge difference for me.
Hugs--Karen
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Fairportlady55 - sorry I don't have any helpful advice, a few of my fills were painful, but controlled with ES-Tylenol. But I do send wishes that your pain subsides soon {hugs}
Erika09 - I don't know anything about flax, but am having the same types of questions/issues with everything soy. I read one report that said one of the isoflavones in soy (genistein, I think) is also a weak phytoestrogen that reduces the effectiveness of Tamoxifen. I haven't done a lot of research due to "fog brain", but I am actively trying to reduce/eliminate all soy from my diet in the spirit of doing everything possible. The thing that REALLY gets me is that there is soybean oil, soy, soy lecithin in just about every canned or processed food: soups, bread, bagels, crackers, multi-vitamins, even water-packed TUNA, for crying out loud - WTH?? I'm sticking with homemade salads and dressings! Sorry if this is way off-topic for Exchanges - is there a forum for nutrition?? I'll go over & start asking questions there.
Health and happiness, Erika (Grakenmom)
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Fairportlady - You might ask your PS to use less volume next time. I did 50cc each week and never had the pain. Close to the end of my fills I got uncomfortable sleeping but never in great pain. Do call today and see if they can call you in a RX. You should not hurt this bad!
I'm so sorry you are going through all this pain!
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Fairportlady -- I had a lot of painful muscle spasms during and after the last couple of fills, and all of my fills were only 50cc. Ask if your PS will prescribe a mild muscle relaxer -- that helped me a lot. Hope you feel better soon. --bonnie
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kabram: We will look forward to hearing about the proceedures and we want to see photos eventually! And the fat grafting...did you find out how much was used .....how many ccs?
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Fairportlady: I just would refrain from using heat or ice....anything too hot or too cold. A warm shower might help. It will dissipate in a day or two. Some just have a more difficult time than others. Controlling pain is key so do not hesitate to get that pain under control! As swest mentioned, go slow and low on the fills. There is no rush to the finish line.0
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Probably a rookie question, but do they use drains with exchange surgery? I just got mine out last week from the mastectomy, and I will have to prepare myself if I'm going to need them again in the future. Thanks very much.
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Fairportlady -- I agree with swest, smaller amounts of fluid are definitely easier to take. When my PS moved me from 90 cc's to 60 cc's each fill, it was like night and day. I also find that the light stretching exercises you get after MX are really helpful (arm circles, shoulder rolls, wall crawl if your PS says you can reach above your head) as they gently stretch the muscle out. Finally, get someone to massage your shoulder blades... I find that also gives me immeasurable relief. Sorry you're suffering.
Geena and Alison -- I met my BF on a dating website... so it's possible to meet good men there (you do have to do a lot of weeding, however). I met him before the BC... but I have a very good family friend who met her partner via the internet and she had a double MX 20 years ago (met the guy about 5 years ago I think) and is 70 years old now... she is an inspiration! I agree, Geena, that you can't rush... love yourself now and you'll find the right man to join in the lovefest later.
Me: Well, it seems I have an exchange and lift/reduction date! May 18
I'm excited and nervous. Wish it was sooner but this was the earliest date that worked with both my schedule and my PS's. There's an outside chance they can do it earlier (like end of April) but in truth May is better for me as my teaching schedule will be done and I'll be able to devote myself entirely to healing. Mykidsmom can you add me to the list? I love that list. I went shopping today (Eileen Fisher sale -- woo hoo!) with a friend -- and I went braless (wow). That's saying a lot considering I'm a uni and one boob hangs low/large and the other is bright and perky and small. I found I didn't care what people thought if I ended up parading my unevenness in the dressing room. How liberating. I've been going braless lately because it's more comfortable. Something about the disparity of size of boob to foob makes the bras pull on/rub against my foob and who needs that? Artful wearing of loose shirts and scarves really does hide it. At lunch my friend asked me what it feels like so I let her touch my foob. We agreed it is like a tennis ball lol.
Lilah
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Sunsnow - I did not need drains with my exchange surgery. However, I have read where there are women who have needed the drains after exchange. I think it just depends on your body and how much work you PS needs to do during surgery. I asked my PS before hand (I too did not want drains ever again) and that is what he told me.
I hope you are feeling better now that they are removed. Just don't over do it!
Sonia
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Kathy, sorry you're in pain, but am glad to hear you're doing well!
Kew, I like you're comment of not calling them foobs, it does sort of separate them from our bodies and I think I had been struggling with that but hadn't been able to put the words to it. I haven't had anybody stare or comment at the gym and I was even going with my wacky looking TEs. I wasn't quite sure how I'd handle it if somebody said something but I like your approach.
Katey, Ahh what a good dh. They have their own struggles with all this but most of them seem to come through for us pretty darn well!
Fairport, Oh you poor thing. My last fill was like that and I was also tempted to go back and have some taken out. I don't know any great tricks but I would avoid ice/heat for fear of not feeling them. I used tiger balm and gentle massage, along with drugs.
Sunsnow, We're all rookies here (except Deborah, of course). I think some do use drains and some do not, I did not have them. I think you should ask you're ps to be sure otherwise you may be surprised.
Val, Tomorrow. Will be thinking about you, and anxiously waiting to see how it turns out!
Julie
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Bonnie, I decided not to be quite so vigorous and the swelling has subsided. I think I just need to adjust the manipulation to what my body will handle.
After about a week of massaging, I'm not noticing any drop (darn it!) but I have noticed the radiated foob is not as hard to the touch. I'll take it! I'll take it!
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Lilah, Congrats on the date and the liberation! :-)
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I amthe poster child for no heat,Ilost my implant due to an infection that was the result of a burn, on top of the lack of feeling,out skin is a lot more likely to burn, its just skin and muscle.
Liliah: So happy for you!!! I won't forget your exchange date,its my 45th bday,
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Fairportlady - I too had strong pec muscles before all this started and I had lots of pain with te's initially. The only thing that helped was valium as it is a muscle relaxer along with all the other good things it can do for you:o) I still carry my valium bottle in my purse(one year after exchange) because sometimes after a hard workout I will get a spasm in my pecs and across my back and it just eases the discomfort until my body adjusts. But I took the valium religously all through expansion. My regular MD fills my script now and I don't abuse - just good to have that little insurance.
Sunsnow - I did not have drains with exchange either but PS told me some people do need them. Fingers crossed you won't need them.
Bobbi
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Fairport ~
My PS gave me Valium & it helped tremendously. I took it at night...as it is a sedative as well..& it allowed me to sleep through the whole night.
Sunsnow ~
I did not have drains after my exchange. It varies with each surgeon I believe.
NAE
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Julie - I never looked @ other Walgreens for the bra-thing......just too busy. I did, however, take four inches out of the soft bra that my ps gave me after my dressings came off (Warner's "Elements of Bliss" btw), but before my drains came out - it was WAY too big around (but the smallest band size it comes in), so it probably let those puppies move around. I'm also planning to take the wire out of the left side of one of my bras - the super tight ones I've been wearing since exchange - and wear that if my ps lets me.
sunsnow - Welcome, btw! Drain policy differs among ps's.....I lucked out that mine ALWAYS uses drains at exchange - though only one each side....AND he also won't let you shower until they're out. I'm gonna enjoy my Hibiclens shower tomorrow 'cause if my history follows me, I'll have that stupid drain for over a week!
Fairportlady - the thing that helped me the most after my fills were the prescription muscle relaxants - mine was Soma.....really helped with the spasms....
ajones - sorry - haven't had a chance to call my friend who went to Dallas for her surgery....I've been like a crazy woman trying to get everything done before tomorrow...... If I can reach her tonight, I'll PM you with the info. I may also try to e-mail my bc support group 'cause I know there are people from there who've gone to Southwestern.
Erika - I became hyper-conscious of soy and flaxseed after reading about their issues with tamoxifen because my ER titer was 98%. My onc, however, never said anything about the flaxseed - and I forgot to ask - but did say to watch the soy and grapefruit. Giving up my Kashi "Go Lean Crunch" was tough!
Well, ladies, I keep getting bumped to later surgery times - now I'm at 11:30am. Just in case I don't make it back to my computer tonight, I thank you for your positive wishes and prayers, and I'll check in with you as soon as I can see straight enough to type.... Here's to even foobies!!
Val
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Hi everyone. I didn't get a chance at the begining of the week to give best wishes to those undergoing surgery this week--hope they go/went smoothly and are painfree!! I went back to work last week and there just aren't enough hours in the day. You are all never far from my thoughts and I am reading on here as much as I can to try to stay caught up but haven't really been able to post.
TCK
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Val--I hope all goes well and you are thrilled with the results!
Hugs--Karen
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Brenda,
Good question about if the foobs every start to feel like our own.
I'm only 5 weeks out, and sometimes the right one feels "normal'. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not aware of it not being. Anybody understand what I'm trying to say? I know I'm a real rookie at all this, but sometimes it just feels right.
I visited my PS on Monday, still can get on treadmill or really work out. I go back on Feb. 22nd, Hopefully by then she'll let me. Val, any advice? PS has released me for core exercises, but that's not the same as a good old fashion brisk walk. Hopefully, by the time the weather gets a little better, I can get outside.
I'm booked for nips on April 13th. Yippee!!! One more step.
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Val,
Good Luck tomorrow !!!
Yes, and here's to even foobs.
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To all those ladies who are worried that reconstructed nipples will be too large. I had one that was too large, and just had it reduced. It was a very simple procedure under local anesthesia in the doctor's office. It took less than 30 min. I have a few stitches and need to keep it dry for a few days; otherwise the care is minimal. Sleeping on my back is the worst part. I'll let you all know how it looks in a few weeks.
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I love how Karen and Lilah are not hiding behind curtains in dressing rooms and at gyms. I know when I heal a bit more I'll try to do the same. I think it is imporant not only to educate in some way (not that we HAVE to or that is our duty) but also for ourselves - like Karen said - to acknowledge to ourselves that we are perfect and whole in our "new physicality". I hope to get there with time.
sunsow - My doc initially said I would have drains, but then retracted the statement. I think it is about fluid and swelling, etc. If you get them try to remember it is a good thing - to prevent a problem that your foobs might have developed without them.
Wendy - I can only handle one thread at a time! But when my time comes to start dating again, I'll check out that thread! Good for you to be on it!!!!! Rock on, lady!
On food - Well I just give up. I was a 20 year vegan and vegetarian, exerciser, drank minimally, no smoking and had BC three times! The ony other person in my family with it was my grandmother. I think the environment perhaps played a role (I paint and do metalsmithing - used to work with toxic chemicals and particles). I remember after my first dx asking my doc if there was anything I could do to prevent a recurrence (beyond surgery, radiation and tamoxifen) and he literally threw up his hands and said, "You've done all the right things thus far." I guess I'm just going to keep living my life and trying to be healthy (I do drink red wine maybe 3x a week - maybe a glass. I do eat tempeh quite often. I do drink coffee sometimes daily when in social work mode - not at all on the weekends). I feel like I have to say, "God/Goddess/Universe/Higher Power, I'll just do my footwork and leave the rest to you." Well, I guess since I had my breasts REMOVED maybe I took a BIT more control in terms of footwork...
Lilah - Woo hoo on a date! It'll probably be good not to have to do that around your work. Sounds like a good plan in terms of timing.
Val - Thinking of you.... hugs....
My breast "seams" are slowly healing. Of course the non-radiated side is going along smoothly. The radiated side - the skin is soooo delicate - like the layers of an onion - and the seam, while it is healed deeply is still struggling with its superficial layers. Still, I like what's going on here.
Geena
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