Exchange City
Comments
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Allie - Thanks & I agree! and I don't even put on make up anymore - too much work! LOL
I have a golden retriever that constantly tracks in mud and walks through a room and leaves a trail of fur balls. Not to mention the two cats I have shedding everyplace. I am so happy there is no carpet in my house. I love that swiffer wet jet!
NAE - You are right! Positive influences are a wonderful thing! This discussion board is more helpful than people know! It took me a long time of just reading before I started posting.
Texas357 - I am praying that this nip surgery is your last and you are happy with the results! You deserve a break! When is it scheduled for?
I am still trying to find someone to go to the movies with this afternoon... Now to decide on Shutter Island or The Wolfman??? Maybe I will treat my self to a double feature since I did 3 loads of laundry today already!
Have a Super Fun Day Ladies!
Kimberly
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Now Kimberly, I would love to see that movie with you but we are 3000 miles apart! I've been watching movies with my 11 yr old daughter - we're in the middle of Little Women right now. It's fun if a bit low key.
Val, thank you for the bra recommendation! I sent my DH out to Penny's yesterday and he brought home a bag full of Warners Elements of Bliss bras in various sizes. (He had to call once in a panicky voice - the choices were overwhelming!) I'm wearing the Elements of Bliss Convertible in a 36C. Now I've never been a 36C in my life and I kind of like it. How much swelling do you think I still have two days after the exchange? I'd kind of like to stay this size! The bra is wonderfully comfortable.
The squishiness is really wonderful, too. I even invited my mom to come over for a squish. My DH has warned me that I better not ask strangers on the street to squish me, but gee it's fun...!
I'm still on pain meds - percoset every 4-6 hours. Am hoping today is a better day.
Texas, I'm sending you some special wishes - what a difficult year you have had. My cancer year began exactly a year ago (2/20/09) with a bad mammogram. So let's make sure to have a better year in 2010!
Kristen
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I'm so confused about nipples! Deborah, I'm beginning my obsession with you.
Ok, so there's cv flap, modified cv, skate, and grafting? What is skate?
Kimberly, I looked at that website, wow, those tattoos look fabulous. I wonder if there's somebody in Vegas who can do them--then a bunch of us can get them done at the hotel--it really would be like a spa day. :-) I doubt there's anybody in Albuquerque so I'm guessing I'd have to travel but I don't want to travel unless I KNOW it's worth it
So I'm adjusting and beginning to like the way I look naked but I want a little more in clothes. Will they do revision just for that purpose? Is it worth it? Deborah, I shoulda listened to you, you told minimum 500, I went 475 dang it! I'm thinking 525 would've been ideal.
Julie
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Julie - patience, my dear.....they may still fluff....you're only a month post-op (mine didn't fluff for 3 months)..... As for the revision, as long as your ps didn't mention that you received the max size implant for your skin (mine told my dh that), then a revision might be a possibility down the road...
Kristinka - Isn't that bra just lovely? So soft with nothing to irritate - guess that's why my ps hands them out after he takes off the surgical dressings......I yearn for that bra sometimes when my darn underwire one starts bugging me......I didn't have any swelling of which I was aware; I may have had some initially, but between the 24/7 ice packs and being completely bandaged in that foam tape for a week, I couldn't have seen it if I had. So.....you may indeed be this size! And do keep up on those pain meds.....remember, you had "virgin" pecs (not expanded with the TEs) so there's going to be pain, as you just doubled your TE volume....I remember feeling less tight in about two weeks, but not truly comfortable for a couple more. Hang in there!
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There are tattoo artists is Las Vegas who do areolas, some for free. But it cannot be done in a hotel room. You could arrange for them to do your work, and I believe both are free or little cost.
Karla Kwist, CPCP
Wake Up in Your Makeup 702-547-5463
Teryn Darling, CPCP
Girlz Ink 702-809-8237Both of them are highly skilled. However, certain activities are out - like swimming - after the procedure. Something to consider. But hey- why not Vegas--it's a great place to get a tattoo!! JUDY
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Judy: This might seem like a crazy question, but are there certain pigments - certain hues or colors - which you use primarily in reconstructing the areola for light-skinned women? My PS declares that he does a very good job with tattooing and I want to trust him, but I want to make sure they have all of the right pigments...not sure if you call it "pigment" or whatever it is you use. I am afraid he will pull out a "Paint by the Numbers" kit or something....
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Kristenka~
I am happy to hear you are doing so well! I believe it took about 2 weeks for me for the swelling to go away. I never used ice packs or anything to quicken the process. I do know my "cup" runnethed over right after surgery & now they don't appear as large as initially...but they still look awfully good! I wear a 36C as well now...it varies w/ each bra. I do love the Warner's bra though. It has been the most comfortable out of the bunch I've tried.
Have you given thought about the Revlon Walk in L.A.?? Anyone else??? Brenda? Colleen? KJBELL? It is a 5k walk/run event near the USC campus. It is on May 8th..unfortunately it is on a Mother's Day weekend esp. if you have plans. It is only a 30 mins. drive for me. There's also a AVON Walk on Sept. 11 & 12..but it is a 2 day event in Santa Barbara. I've been told that the Revlon event is awesome! I know I won't be able to attend the Las Vegas fling..Oct. is a hectic month for me.
NAE
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Alitman...After my exchange surgery I decided to pamper myself and have my hair washed and dried by my hairdresser to avoid overdoing my arms like I did after BMX and the other 5 surgeries. Even though no hair stylist I have found ever rinses my hair as much as I, it has been great. I just shower the rest of me and then go to her for hair. I have long, thick hair which requires a lot of arm movement to complete the whole washing/drying process.
Texas357...so sorry to hear of your long journey. I can certainly empathize as I have had 6 breast surgeries, a Hysty/Ooph and 2 oral surgeries in the last 9 1/2 months. An 8th revision surgery is looming and then after that nips, etc. and of course the ever present possible complications I always seem to have. I was lucky not to need chemo or rads, so you have really been through the ringer more than I and I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear of all your trials and tribulations. You clearly are making it through as am I. I so hope your surgery in March marks the end of this journey for you. I only chimed in on this to let you know that there are plenty of us out here who understand and share your frustration at not being able to complete all this in a shorter time frame. The people who were frustrated with a 4 or 5 month journey have no idea how much I envy them!
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(((Texas357))) - I am sending cyber hugs and best wishes your way. I want these nips to be the best they can be for you!
Speaking of nips, I had areola grags and nips done in October. I love the natural look of them, but my nips are almost totally flat. Does anyone know if there is a way to "plump" them up w/o surgery? I will be seeing my PS sometime in the next few months and will ask her. I do not want more surgery, but would like a little bump at least.
Best wishes to this week's surgery sistas! - Jean
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Deekay - I'm loving that book! Absolutely amazing - in a sad way - that all that occurred during my childhood....
Deborah - funny thought.....this morning, as I was driving to church, I was adjusting the little pillow I made for my seatbelt shoulder strap - originally to cushion my TE's and now to protect my new "girl" - and it reminded me of the fluffy pillow you talked about driving with all the time.....did it become a dog toy perhaps?
(((((Texas357))))))) - we're here for the good days, but most especially for the bad ones!
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Val, Patience!!!!???? I have none, I want perfect boobs and I want them now! I know I know, it's only been a month but it feels like it's been three months.
Judy, I was half kidding about tattoos in vegas but am thrilled to hear there are some people there. I have to go for my cousins wedding in a couple months, maybe I'll get lucky and it will time perfectly to do it then. Thanks so much for the info!
NAE, May 8th is my husbands bday otherwise I would seriously consider going to that (and find a tattoo artist there instead).
Texas, What a bummer of a day your having. Big hug to you, hang in there, hopefully tomorrow will look brighter.
Julie
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Texas: Hugs to you from one radiated sister to another. How much higher is your rads side than the other side? I know you said that you did not want any more surgeries after the nipples are installed. But what would your PS say to lowering the rads side a little (or lifting the other side) during nipple surgery? I bet that would make you feel better about the asymmetry.
Musiclover: I don't mean to be a party pooper, but be careful when you hug people very tightly. Your incisions, though numb, are still healing!!
Kristen: You made me smile when I read that you invited your mom over just to feel the squishy!
NAE: I just don't know how I will be feeling by then. Although my appetite is back (yeah!!!) my neuropathy is getting worse. Now my toes cramp at random moments (once while I was driving). I still have to have my eyes checked because the colors are so dull at night. I was at a Japanese restaurant last night and I thought they served me grapefruit at the end. My son told me they were orange slices. I thought orange was pink! These are all evil side effects from chemo and steroids. They will eventually go away, but I don't know when. Sorry for such a long explanation.
Very gentle hugs to everyone!
Brenda
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Thanks for the hugs everyone! You are so wonderful!
Adnerb: That's exactly what I'm going to ask my PS on Friday when I see her. I can't lower the rad side because she's tried that with both exchanges and it just keeps creeping up. But I will ask her if she can lift the proph side. There's about a 1" difference now.
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TEXAS: You are probably a very good candidate for fat grafting to the rads breast. Have you been reading the information I have been posting about how fat grafting can soften and change the texture of the rads tissue to make it "behave" more like a non-rads breast? That is the least invasive solution to your problem. Wanted to mention this so that you could talk to your PS about it on Friday. Here is just one of many articles on the topic....
http://women.webmd.com/news/20081021/are-fat-injections-safe-for-breasts
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Musiclovermom, Deena - thanks so much for the good wishes. Right back at ya!
Doing lots of last-minute stuff, so not much time to post. But, thinking of you all, and hoping and praying that I love my new girls. xo, E
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Musiclovermom, Deena - thanks so much for the good wishes. Right back at ya!
Doing lots of last-minute stuff, so not much time to post. But, thinking of you all, and hoping and praying that I love my new girls. xo, E
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Whippetmom: I do intend to ask my PS about fat grafting, thanks to all you have said about it. It is a ray of hope and I've got my fingers crossed.
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Tattoos - my ps employs her own tattoo artist(I think her real title anestetician(sp?)). But she has an arsenal of colors(probably more than 30 vials) and blends her colors according to your coloring and wishes. She was very patient with me as I wanted just the right color - not too brown, not too pink and not to deep that would show through light colored tops if I went braless - which I do most of the time - I prefer a camisole. And she said I can get touch ups whenever I want and change the color or the size(size choice was also up to me). So far, I am 8 months out and still pleased. It does take more than one session though. I had four sessions about 2 weeks apart and it was during the summer so that was little disappointing because you have to watch swimming and also healing - they do ooze and scab. I would definitely have it done during the cooler months when I'm wearing more layers when I do a touch up if I ever do. Good thoughts to everyone having their exchanges and loving those new squishy girls. I still know they aren't "real" or "mine" but they work
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Best wishes tomorrow, Grakenmom! You won't believe how soft and nice your foobs will be. Take good care of yourself before and after the surgery,
Kristen
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Grakenmom! Best to you tomorrow! Take care of yourself and let us know how you are when you are ready!
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whippetmom - I sent you a pm.
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don....check your email
bobcat - EXACTLY what I am looking for....I will remember this protocol you followed re: areola tattooing...
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Val....Yes, that pink pillow became a dog toy. My sister made me a sheepskin seat belt cover - she made it quite simply with velcro - and it works great. I still use a pillow when I sit in the passenger seat though.
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Deborah: The fat grafting article sounds very promising. I will mention this to my PS also. ( I wish people could have their own fat banks that they can deposit into, kind of like a blood bank.)
Brenda
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Hello Ladies - it's midnight on the east coast and I have insomnia...
I found 2 more reasons to love soft squishy implants!
Shaving my arm pits & putting on deodorant are so much easier now!
I went to see Shutter Island today/yesterday (Sunday) - it was a good movie!
Have a good week everyone!
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Kimberly - I still find it hard to shave my armpits and apply deoderant. I don't have any feeling under most of my arms and find it difficult to shave if I can't see what I am doing. The braille method of shaving leaves spots that are not cleanly shaven. I only wish I could shave out something interesting in the spots I miss - a picture of a small bunny or something...lol
Allie
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I'm very lucky -- I haven't had to shave under my arms since chemo. It's been 10 months and that hair still hasn't re-appeared. Guess there are some good things that can come of all this right?
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Allie - You are too funny! I had such a hard time the past few months because of the node biopsies in both arm pits and then the TE's were in the way! I would only try to shave for my plastic appointments - all the others could deal with hair! Now when I put up my arm - there is room for the razor. It just does not take much to make me very happy these days! I walk around giggling all the time!
HEY - what are you doing up so early any how? did you use that Dread Mill to walk again today? that is not a typo: DREADMILL
Kimberly
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Texas357!
How are you today?
I looked you up on the picture forum OMG you are gorgeous! and can take your own pictures!
Hope this is a better week for you!
Kimberly
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Grackenmom - Thinking of you all day today! Yippee Squishy for you too!
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