Exchange City
Comments
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Geena: When you call Bella-Jane they are very helpful and let them help you with any questions. They accept returns, if this is something which does not work for you.
geewhiz: LOL!!! You will eventually! But even if they are little road bumps and they are migrating, those of us with experience wish we had done something other than let them do their own thing.
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Geena -- interesting. Well, it seems to me it can't hurt and it might help!
Deborah -- that Bella-Jane bra is nice looking! I like the way there is clear support not just on the sides but also around cups. But I must say, I have no idea how to figure out what size to order. Why do they sell them as small -- medium -- large? Instead of in some sort of bra size equivalent? (Perhaps a phone call - as you suggest - is in order
Lilah
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Lilah: Do you need a bra like this? Do you need the side support? It all depends on your area of need. Moving Comfort "Maia" is also a nice support bra.
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I guess I don't need side support -- I just thought it looked nice and supportive. I'm still wearing a zip front sports bra (when I wear one). I'll check that other one out.
Thanks!
Lilah
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Correct me if I'm wrong Deborah, but I would think that the migration and need for additional support during the TE phase depends on a lot of factors. First, our crazy bodies just doing what they want but also does it seem that women who are more "tone" or tend to be in better shape migrate more? How much arm lifting and arm range of motion your using during the TE phase seems like an important factor as well. Radiation?
It seems like a good idea to take note of any factors that may contribute to issues. Then with that in the back of your head, it seems to me that, it's wise to take pictures regularly, look at the pictures side by side and and compare any changes. If it looks like things are moving in a direction they should not, insist on something to prevent that issue.
And most importantly, if you aren't able to prevent the issue, the PS will fix it. Yes it may take a little tweaking but it will get fixed.
I can't help but wonder if the compression contributes to them moving where they should not. I mean if you're just pushing flat against the chest, the TE or implant says "hey there's more space in THAT direction, I'm headed over there". My doc told me not to buy any bras yet because things aren't settled but I have no visible swelling indicating that I need compression and the compression actually hurts my stitches, I think I can feel the implant pushing into the side stitches so I'm wearing a regular bra with the chic shaper. It seems like the best option for me. It just doesn't seem like many of the PS's put this much thought into what we should wear, seems bas-akwards to me.
Buddy and Katey, big week this week! Lots of TLC to yourselves. Things will be great!
Julie
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Thanks to all of you ladies for your best wishes today. We had a small snow/ice event here in N.C. this weekend so hope surgery does not get canceled,so ready to get this one behind me and trade these turtle shells for new softies. Added bonus is PS is also going to "deport" me at same time as exchange and he said NO DRAINS YEEEAA !!! . Guess its normal to be a little nervous about final outcome as far as size,shape and so forth.Think I'm starting to get a little boob greed here at the end LOL! Thanks again
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Good luck Buddy and Katey!
Lilah
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Thank you for your support! I'll be checking in here a lot this week cause all of you help me so much!! Had my husband give me backrubs the last few days, it helped immensely! Off to the gym each day, to the mall for some zip up bras, and I think I'll fill my very unused jacuzzi!
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Julie: I am toned and I worked out early in the process and my TEs never strayed from proper placement, other than to drop a little too much due to the weight of the TEs. I know others who never had the TEs shift laterally who are athletically inclined. In my case, I should have worn a support bra. I know if would have made a difference in the final analysis. I think it depends more on the placement of your natural breasts prior to mastectomy and/or overdissection during surgery. The plastic surgeons are supposed to dissect and form the pocket based on the position of the inframammary fold and the natural breast.
All of the above is according to medical journals I have read. Dr. Kenneth Shestak who is head of reconstructive surgery at UPMC, discussed the lateral displacement issue in his book, "Reoperative Plastic Surgery of the Breast." Actually, he removes the TEs if they become too displaced and corrects the placement long before the exchange. I personally agree with that tactic, especially if they are superiorally displaced - too high on the chest wall. Here is a link to that section of his book:
Trying to get this link to work....it is on Page 280 of his book. There are actually other sections which deal with displacement issues as well.
HAD TO DELETE LINKS AS THEY WERE CHANGING FORMAT OF THIS THREAD. I WILL REDUCE THE URL AND SEE IF THAT WORKS...
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I agree. I think it would have made sense to reposition the TE's once they started to go crazy. I actually asked my doctor if it was wise to go back in and bring them more central, but she said my radiated side had struggled so much to heal, she didn't want to mess with the skin. I get that take in my case, but I can see how correcting this stuff in a timely manner is wise.
Geena
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Geena: In the case of the rads breast, that would be an exclusion in my opinion. I agree.
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Link to Kenneth Shestak, M.D.'s book...also see Page 280 which discusses superior and lateral displacement:
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Thanks Lilah, I just might do that. Going to see how I feel by the end of the week. ^_^
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Good morning, my sweet friends! Just checking in after a LONG weekend....pain seems to be a bit better today....the weekend wasn't much fun in that department....spent most of it on the couch or in bed so I didn't move my left side at all.....tried not taking my soma (muscle relaxant) this morning, but started getting spasms, so broke down and took it....it just makes me feel so woozy....still on my q4 vicodin....drain seems to actually not have much output (only aboyut 30cc/24hrs), so maybe ps will pull it tomorrow. (fingers crossed for me, please!) I'm just tired of feeling like a worthless nub....
Read about the issue of moving TE's. My ps had me wear the breast strap (the one that Texas357 mentioned) for about three weeks after TE's were placed to keep them from moving superiorally (like Deborah mentioned). One of mine ended up moving well after that (probably 3-4 months out, I think), but they never gravitated medially or laterally....I saved that for the implants....lol....not any more, though!
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Wishing you the best Buddy! Sounds like you're going in with a good attitude!! Just be careful with your fellow NC drivers, know their isn't a lot of snow experience down there!!
Val, hope you feel better very soon, do hope those drains are pulled tomorrow!
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Val - Glad you checked in. It sounds like a whopper of a procedure but that you are working it out. I too hope those drains come out ASAP. I hate those things!!!
Buddy48- Snow in NC? That's one of the two places I consider moving to sometimes because there is less snow. But a major snow event? It had better not mess with your exchange event today!!! Sending you best wishes.
Geena
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Update: My PS just called to change my surgery to March 24th. Apparently my surgery conflicted with HER schedule. Oh well. Next to last piece of the puzzle.
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Val:
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
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Thank you for making the Radiation correction Deborah. I did not think you were linking rads breasts into that.
TY!
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Laura: Are you going to post a group photo of the reunion at your house - somewhere private? The shutterfly website packergirl set up?
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Best Wishes and gentle hugs to those of you recovering from your procedures and to those of you having yours this week. Hope all goes well.
I posted my 6 wk. post nip/aroela and exchange to larger saline implants on the picture site. I am still very pleased with the outcome.
Sorry to hear so many of you have problems with the TEs shifting. Mine dropped to a more natural position, but other than that they never really moved to where they should not have been.
Nancy
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Hi
I posted here a little bit a little while ago, but I am really angry, down, and frustrated right now.
Even though I know I cannot/should not do anything about reconstruction for 6 months after rads and I am only about 2 months out, I am doing research and trying to talk to doctors.
Since I am in an HMO I have 6 TOTAL choices and they are all mostly from the same city. None of them offer the DIEP, which I just wanted to have a consult and talk to someone that was recommended to me about it. I had my primary doctor submit a referral and of course it was denied. The nurse at my doctor's office just called that short of me filing a grievance they will not even consider a consult for a DIEP. I had someone call me earlier this morning regarding the Women's Act and that the act does not cover anyone with an HMO and I would have to follow their guidelines.
So basically I am left having 1 remaining breast and 1 missing breast or I HAVE to make the selection of an implant. I have no choice or say in the matter.
Also I am down that I cannot finish all of my herceptin and the cardioligist insists it is from the Adriamycin and not reversible. I am angry about that as HOW can he know that it is for sure from the Adriamycin and not the herceptin. I have a heart scan/treadmill test that I guess takes 4 hours in 2 days and I am so nervous that now my heart is also damaged permanently on top of fighting the breast cancer.
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Blondie45-
I am glad you posted here. You've hit a goldmine with this group of ladies. Check your PM. I have sent you some suggestions on a reconstuctive consult. Being told an implant is your ONLY reconstructive option sounds like a situation where another opinion is in order.
Edited to add: I just realized in reading the latest PM from Blondie45 that her insurance is denying her the abiilty to get a second reconstructive consult. This is an outrage and something I didn't think insurance could do?! (She hasn't started reconstruction yet.)
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aj - Thanks for the well wishes! I just pm'd you regarding the ps issue.......0
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Buddy.....how are you? Are you home yet? Hope everything is soft and your pain is mimimal. We are thinging about you and hoping for the best!! Check in when you can to let us know you are ok.
Blondie.......so, your insurance company, in denying a second opinion, has selected the type of reconstruction for you. I believe there is a thread on here somewhere that discusses insurance problems. I will see if I can find it for you. Take care, you will get tons of info from the women here.
I go to the PS on Wednesday to get the goggles off and see what the nips really look like and how they are healing. I wonder how they will be protected after that? Only time will tell!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful evening!!
Hugs, Kathy
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Kbram - how much time are you / were you off from work for the nips? I am having mine done in April and I don't really know what to expect. Also, I am having step-off issues and will be having fat grafts - can anyone tell me how that works? I know they suck it out of one location and push it into the dent area - I really just want to know how painful the process is.
Allison
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Deb...
PACKER--- SUNSHINE--- DIANE were the pic takers this weekend... MEGA pics... SHUTTERFLY will have them all soon...LOL... I took 5 pics.. I DID NOT NEED TO HELP... THESE gals are GREAT at taking millions of pictures..LOL... I wish I posed better in them... but who cares really... it is about the get together..:)
PACKER>>>> DIANE>>>> SUNSHINE>>>> Get out pictures up for the girls as soon as you can...:)
.... even my hubby and F-i-l are in quite a few...LOL.....Not to mention Teresa beating my hubby in pool... TWICE...hehehehehe... FUN FUN TIMES!I agree with Packer... we all hit bank when we found eachother here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Hi all,
A new forum reader and first-time writer here. So glad I found this forum! I've had a TE since October with intermittent fills (now full), and will have exchange probably in March. (Single mastectomy for breast cancer, no rad or chemo, immediate reconstruction, skin sparing surgery, A cup before surgery, which I will keep). Following up on discussion from the last couple of days, I'd love to get comment from some of you on the following: First, my TE really expanded on top; it's also too high (IMF definitely higher than my natural side), so generally its pretty whacky looking. It started out high and has remained high. My PS says he'll fix all issues when he switches me to the regular implant, but I'd love to hear success stories from any of you who might have had oddities that then did get fixed. I want to believe him, but it's a stretch of imagination at this point. That said, I'll say many thanks to Deborah (I think) for putting in the link to the plastic surgery book - great resource to those of us who like to understand how all of this is done. That does back up my PS's claim that he can fix the placement (although it suggests it's not good to have the TE poking out real high...muscle thinning is suggested...sheesh...no relief here!).
Second, this TE is really hard, and since it wraps a bit onto my side and close to my armpit it pokes my arm if I even slightly move my arm across my body in front of me, and pokes me int he armpit under certain conditions. Its really annoying, and I really don't want to put up with this for the rest of my life. Can anyone who's already changed out their TEs to regular implants say if this issue is significantly improved at that point? Does it matter whether you get saline or silicone gel or coherent silicone (gummy bears)? Numerous of you say the implants are "softer" but that's relative...do you still feel the push and hardness against your arm (compared to a natural breast)? I sure hope it gets better!
Finally, I'll just make two comments about compression bras and stretching/exercise. My theory is that my compression bra was actually part of the problem that pushed up my TE in the first place, although I can't prove it. My PS had me wear one for the first week after surgery, 24 h/day, and the band on the bottom was very tight. Looking at it all now, it's pretty clear the bottom part of the TE was under the bottom band, and frankly that area was all glued together and totally closed by the time I took it off. Now after about 8 wks of soft tissue massage by my physical therapist and myself it's loosened up and the bottom is more open than it was originally, but the whole thing remains high and the bottom isn't as open as it seems it should be. FYI the one I had was the Marena one that was mentioned in the last day or two in this post. That said, this is NOT to say anyone else shouldn't use that or any of these bras, as it seems reasonable they could indeed help keep things in place under the right conditions. I'm just telling you my experience having used it in the first week post surgery when presumably everything was probably movable and ready to stick together . After the first week I took it off and thaven't been wearing bras at all since. For the most part bras are tigher on bottom than top so it seemed better to just not wear one and hope it would all move down.
Second comment is on exercise and stretching. I've found stretching everyday to be extremely useful. If I didn't do it, my chest just got tighter and tighter and I just couldn't stand it. I combined stretch with a gentle massage of the whole area like my PT showed me. I'm a really active person too, so I was going nuts after the surgery. After 6 wks my PT showed me some strengthening exercises I could do so I wouldn't totally atrophy. I just now (after 3 mos.) starting doing some pretty significant yoga stuff again - downward dog pose and headstand, for those of you in the know. I have no idea if all this has been good or bad for the placement of my TE...and my PS basically said I could do anything I wanted when I was "ready", short of lifting very much for the first month or so after surgery. Not very specific to say the least. I'm just curious if this jibes with what others have experienced or been told? I'm willing to change my behavior to help my process but have no guidance that I should. What's your experience?
Well this is more than long enough. Thanks in advance to anyone with input.
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cs7777~
Hi there!! First of all a great BIG Welcome!!! You've come to the right place along this journey you are in. I had single MX w/ immediate reconst. last August. I had my exchange surgery along with augmentating my health breast back in November & now awaiting a lift on this breast. I have a silicone implant in my MX side & an adjustable saline implant in my healthy breast. An adjustable was used to adjust the volume of this breast for better symmetry to match it with the MX side. Sounds complicated but all is good so far. When I had my TE it expanded more along the upper pole of the breast & felt very uncomfortable especially after ea. expansion. When I joined this forum I had the same questions & concerns...I do want to tell you that it DOES get better. What you are experiencing are all too similar to what all of us have gone through or are going through. The permanent implants are nothing like the TEs. They feel soft & natural. I am 9 wks. post exchange & I am feeling comfortable with my body again. Please feel free to PM me with any questions/concerns. There are not too many of us "uniboobers".
God Bless!
NAE
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Morning Ladies, I'm home and doing well. Surgery went as planned yesterday at 1:30, "deported" exchanged and home by 5:30,sweeeet. As far as pain goes it is minimal, but pretty sore as to be expected. Only one pain med at bed time last night and don't think I will need more than Tylanol today as long as I take it slow and easy, bruising was minimal yesterday and almost gone this A.M. PS said my port was against a nerve and the reason it was still bothering me after almost a year. As far as revisions, PS lowered and rounded bottom of pockets slightly. Left TE was positioned and shaped nicely, while right side was pretty high in both upper and lower poles and kind of goofy shaped lol. The implants are in pretty much the same position as TE, left side great, right side not so much. Will the new girls settle to revised lower pockets eventually?
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