Exchange City
Comments
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Julie - very sweet of you......you're right, it's the exercise that gives me energy.... My friends used to say the same thing about me last summer - puberty (as my TE's filled up) and menopause (hot flashes and all the other lovely garbage that tamox brings)......my periods haven't come back, though, since my diagnosis......not that I miss them, mind you....0
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Deborah....re your ooph. I chose to have the DaVinci surgery for my elective Hysty/Ooph done by an ovarian cancer specialist because if he found anything (Thankfully all was fine and normal) he could go ahead and sample nodes. If my gyne did laparoscopic, he said the healing wouldn't be any longer than the 2 weeks for DaVinci, but it would require a second procedure to check the nodes if he found "anything" in the removed organs/tissue. So, my gyne said, "You've been through enough. Why not get it all taken care of during the same surgery?" I think both surgeries remove tissue vaginally...?
It was great. They kept me overnight but I felt fine and wanted to go home right after the surgery. I never even felt like I had had surgery, but was careful lifting and such as they instructed since technically I had had a BIG surgery.
You probably already know all this. But, I thought I would mention DaVinci in case you or someone else is not familiar with this robotic surgery.
I did have to do a bowel prep similar to what is done before a colonoscopy in case the bowel was nicked. I assume this would be the same for laparoscopic????? I also had to have 2 working IVs because they strap your arms down and don't want to have to move you if for some reason your IV malfunctions. So, they have a spare. Kind of like the Windsors.
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I had the laproscopic and there was no bowel prep. It was EASY.
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I don't know if everyone does a bowel prep for DaVinci or anything else.
My docs are even so careful, they wouldn't allow a Hysty/Ooph (a "dirty" surgery) at the same time as a Mastectomy ("clean surgery") and yet I have seen posts by many on these threads that they had them at the same time.
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While searching for bras on line, I found an old report from 2008 about Victoria Secret Bras having formaldehyde in them.
nowpublic.com/style/formaldehyde-found-victorias-secret-bras
Has anyone seen anything about this? Is it old news? Corrected?
Okay to buy them now?
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Brenda,
Heavens no the nips are not that big. I took the top from a bottle of Benadryl and top from a Melatonin bottle and used the tops to cover the gauze and nips. Funny tho the PS nurse warned me that the nips would be big at first but would go down in time. So they are big not that big. I didn't sleep much last night as I was afraid to squish the new nips. Maybe tonight I can relax a little with them. Little less oozing right now.
Luna,
I heard about this but not sure if it's tru. I'm sure someone else will weigh in.
Deborah,
I know the feeling about anesthesia. I keep forgetting things and just keep saying it anesthesia brain. I'm still tired today can't shake the tiredness.
For those on Tamoxifen, I was on it 5 years ago and did have baseline US and baseline uterine biopsy and then uterine biopsies every 6 months. What fun!!
Janet
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Hi ladies - just checking in. PS told DH that exchange surgery went as well as expected. I'm tired, but not groggy for hours afterward like I usually am after general anes - talked at length with 2 anesthesiologists, and WOW what do you know, they actually listened. One told me he would back off the "narcotics portion" of the cocktail and it seemed to make a world of difference for me.
Jury's still out on results. After being so hopeful from all of your stories and pictures, and confident in my PS, all I can say is that I am currently VERY disappointed in my implants. They look MUCH smaller than I ever expected, or was lead to expect. Also, they look much different in pictures from what I see in the mirror. It appears my right implant is in closer to the chest midline, and left implant is out further, so symmetry is off (and it makes me crazy!!). If I go on, I'll just start to cry and get really depressed, so suffice it to say that I'm recovering fine, but definitely have some words along with a lot of questions for my PS.
Hope everyone is doing well. xo, E
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Grackenmom
I am so sorry! I woke up telling my PS I was flat chested! He assured me I am not. I felt the same way... I am focusing on the softness, but was expecting to be bigger too!
My TE's were in my face - so the implants looked so small when I woke up. PLUS being squished into a surgical bra didn't help them look voluptuous either...
Pictures do make them look different and I am expecting to see a difference after a few weeks, but 3 months to 6 months is what I have read is the time for them to look better.
I see my PS at 2 weeks post-op and hopefully the new girls will be growing on me and I won't freak out. They do not make a bigger gel implant than the 800cc I have... Not much I can do about that other than go with an over filled saline. Not for me....
Big hugs to you - I am so sorry you are disappointed.
Kimberly
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Hi--Deen was right, my ooph was a little more painful and I was off work for weeks, mostly because I couldn't lift my foot to drive my clutch. I have no regrets getting the ooph, less to worry about. I too, like Deen have menopausal symptoms, mostly hot flashes, but I would have had them sooner or later anyway. I think it helped being on the Tamoxifen for 5 months prior, my body was becoming used to less estrogen. Before the surgery I heard all these horrible things like "traumatic menopause," whatever, personally I found breast cancer to be kind of traumatic and if I'm more at peace now that is good. There are some studies that show young women may be opening up some other problems for themselves because it is unclear what the ovaries do after menopause, but at 49 I figured I was close enough. Now I hope for the best. I did go to an oncology gyn to have it done. I also had my appendix out. What the heck, if I had any more spare parts I would have had her take them too!
Welcome to all the new Sisters. I'm SWAMPED with work and school, so I have barely been lurking, but think of you all the time.
Love and Hugs--Karen
Jan where are you?
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My aesthetitician has a CPCP designation - not sure why she did 4 sessions other than that is what my PS recommends. They weren't considered touchups - just part of the process. I do go to a teaching hospital but also a National Cancer Center. Either way, I do like the results and they are 3D which is nice.
My ooph surgery is scheduled for March 9. When is yours Deborah? I am also not looking forward to another anesthia and surgery.
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Hey, bobcat. That's the results we want! I'm delighted for you.. Just for others to know that 4 steps , two weeks apart is not normal. But it worked and that's what counts..JUDY
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Judy - Love your new pictures.
Ladies - Hugs to all recovering and scheduled for surgery.
Deborah - A special hug for you, after all you do for everyone else!!!
I will be out of town Thursday Friday this week and all of next week. So please gather up the dates and PM me when I return. Thanks everyone! - Jean
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Grackenmom, I'm so sorry you're feeling badly. Hopefully when bandages come off and swelling subsides things will look better. For now, rest up and take it easy!
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Grakenmom...Don't fret or stress right now. You can expect some changes. You need to give it time. Eighty percent of us want or need revisions after the exchange. Find out what your PS ended up using - mfr and volume.....you said your PS intended to use 550 cc's....
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I too had Davinci robot assisted laparoscopic bilateral ooph and hysterectomy. I did have to spend one night in the hospital--not sure if that would have been necessary if I hadn't had the hysterectomy too. The recovery was much easier than the BLM/TE's surgery. My PS wouldn't do the exchange at the same time either because she also thought of it as a "dirty" surgery also. I did have to stay out of work for 6 weeks because of lifting/pushing/pulling restrictions but I have a very active job. I did have to do the bowel prep the night before. I was definitely glad that I could have it done the robot/laparoscopic way.
I have read so much on here about people talking about getting over their anesthesia. Until this series of breast cancer related surgeries I hadn't had surgery since I was a child. I'm not sure if my "forgetfulness" is from getting over surgery, from being on tamoxifen, or just generally having too much going on to keep up with it all.
I find all the conversation about the nipple surgeries fascinating and am sure that in the coming months I will be getting input because that will be next up for me after my exchange. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and it isn't an oncoming train!
Grakenmom I'm sorry that you are unhappy with your results but from what I have read it is very early and changes will occur with time that will improve their look. (((HUGS)))
TCK
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I've mentioned to friends and family about how I still feel "off" from the anesthesia and I've gotten blank looks. So sorry and yet so glad to hear I'm not alone in this.
My good wishes and thoughts go out to all of you. So much to juggle -- waiting for procedures, tests and how we'll look and feel. Someone joked with me recently that I'd gotten rid of all of my spare parts (after BMX and hysterectomy). Didn't find it funny at the time, though I think if one of you had said it, I might have laughed.
Thought I had a handle on the not worrying thing, which is amusing to me now; this was shattered when my son got a very high fever last week and I didn't sleep at all; I was so wracked with worry. Oh what a trip this is.
You're a wonderful group of women. Thank you for sharing and supporting.
Maggie
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Grakenmom, your foobs will settle and change a little every day after the surgery - mine are evening out although the left one still appears bigger. I hope the results will be more pleasing to you with time.
I had my post-op with the PS today and I saw the incisions - they are like a curvy S mostly through the areolas and about a 1/2" off to the sides. He says he'll deal with the incisions when he makes the nipple. When I have my head back on my shoulders I'll post some photos - I think he did a pretty good job all in all.
I'm still out of it - another 3 hour nap today after bra shopping. When oh when will I get that energy back?? best wishes to those of you in recovery,
Kristen (yawning)
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Gosh between the anesthesia and the chemo brain, no wonder I have a tough time putting words together! LOL
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Okay it's been 5 weeks since my exhange. The right side seems to be healing way faster, it feels softer, and has dropped. My left one is a little fuller in the upper pole (ps had to do a lot more work in that area, that is the cancer side and that scar runs diaganol) and is starting to feel softer). I get muscle spasms every now and then on the left side, I started to rub sports cream doesn't stink like Ben Gay, on it when I massage it. Hope to get nips in April and hopefully tats at the end of May early June.
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I am glad to hear that the implants are softer. I just did not want them to be so hard.
I am curious if most woman choose silicone over saline? I assume so, because it would seem to me that saline implants would be too squishy and soft.
I just bought two bras from Victoria Secret so I am going to check out the web and see if I can find anything about what they are made of. Let you know what I find out.
Karen
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Here are two different websites that talk about the VS bras.
http://www.limitedbrands.com/press/pressrelease.jsp
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6225503&page=1
Looking on the web, there are a lot of women who complained back in 2008, but I don't see any new activity in 2009.
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scrapmom: I believe all of the cases were dismissed.
Most of us choose silicone over saline. Some have saline but it is primarily b/c they need more volume than silicone will allow - e.g. implants >800ccs.
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RE:SILICONE IMPLANTS OVER 800 CCS:
Speaking of silicone.....I have been researching the Sientra breast implants. Sientra has clinical trials currently for their cohesive gel [gummy bear] implants. They will offer a round version as well as an anatomical version. Purportedly, the Sientra implants are less rigid than the Allergan 410s or Mentor CPGs. I was reading something written by Grant Stevens, M.D., and he states that Sientra implants are slated for FDA approval this year. Dr. Stevens is the doctor who came up with the name "gummy bear" implants. The KEY issue for women who need over 800 cc's in volume, is that Sientra will have implants up to 995 ccs in the high profile style. Here are the dimensions [width and projection]
845ccs 15.3 cm x 6.3 cm
895 ccs 15.8 cm x 6.4 cm
945 ccs 16.1cm x 6.5 cm
995 ccs 16.4 cm x 6.6 cm
Lilah has a PS in the Allergan vs Mentor clinical trials and she is going to see if she knows anything about the Sientra trials.
I'll keep you updated.
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So interesting Deborah! You amaze me with your breadth of knowledge. Yep I am going to ask my PS about this when I see her in March... stay tuned.
Lilah
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Don't know about the rest of you but I seldom see what all of these surgeries, chemo, dr visits, etc. costs since Aetna covers it and I just get billed for the copay. Well, I just got a copy of the bill for my exchange surgery and was shocked. It was $26k total for the outpatient surgery. Thankfully I only have to pay $100 but thought it might be interesting to some of you if you are like me and sheltered from the costs.
Mental note: Put Aetna on my Christmas card list. They have been so good through all of this.
Deborah ~ I am concerned about your nipple trauma and can't envision what you are describing. Remind me what type of procedure that your PS used.
Colleen
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Colleen:
The bill you saw for $26K is somewhat misleading. My dad, who is a doctor, explained to me how the insurance/hospital pricing works (after I saw the first bill for MY first surgery).
It goes something like this:
1) there is a set cost of a surgery that is astronomical ($26K to use your number) - it is the official cost and technically what someone who is uninsured has to pay
2) the health insurance company has a pre-agreed INSURANCE price that they pay, which is very often something like 1/4 of that $26K
3) you pay what you pay if you are insured (a copay and, depending on your insurance, some sort of percantage 10% or so, that is capped - in my case it's 10% and capped at $2100 per year out of pocket; I imagine there are some really good insurance policies that ONLY charge a co-pay and other policies with a higher than 10% cap).
4) if you don't have insurance they try to get you to pay the astronomical figure, though in fact if you are not insured you can usually negotiate something less (but you have to be a lawyer, it seems to me, or someone super savvy enough to negotiate all the rules ... and even if you ARE one of those things you are SICK and you can't deal with it).
I think it's outrageous, personally. It exploits the disadvantaged (the uninsured, the sick) and it also shows that all of these price are not based on REAL costs.
I am fine because I have good insurance too... but in principle this sort of thing just pisses me off. It doesn't seem right at all.
Lilah
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Hello everyone. I'm brand new to this forum and so glad to have found it! I had skin/nipple sparing bilateral mx on 1/4/10 with immediate TE placement. Woke up with 200cc on each side. Started fills at 8 days post-op, and am now up to 550cc. PS wants to get me to 650 and then let the TEs "settle" before he does the exchange. He tells me I have to wait at least 3 months between the last expansion and the exchange and can wait as long as 12 months.
I'm wondering how long is "average" to wait between the final fill and the exchange? I can handle 3 months but the thought of waiting a year almost makes me cry!
Thanks for such a great forum ~ Betty
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Betty -- I think 3 months is pretty average. Some have had it done as much as 6 weeks after finishing the fills (which seems too soon to me) and others as much as a year (which seems too long, I agree, but there are good reasons for that sometimes). My advice is: once you finish the fills schedule the date in advance so that you can be sure to get it done sooner rather than later. I will finish my fills (I hope) on March 8 and have already scheduled May 18 for my exchange. So that's a little over 2 months apart.
Lilah
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Thank you Lilah. I will try to get the exchange scheduled at the last fill. At the current rate of 50cc per week I'm hoping that will be in two weeks. I'm a planner (maybe a little OCD?) and would feel better knowing a date. I'm hoping 3 months is all I have to wait, but yesterday he seemed a little cagey when I asked. I think he's a "we'll know when we get there" kind of doc, but I love him anyway.
Have a wonderful day!
Betty
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Val and Kristinka, Thank You!! Warners Elements 1003 is true Bliss:) Exactly what I was looking for with a very soft band on the bottom! I would suggest it to anyone else getting ready for exchange, maybe buy 2, 1 with a band size up for soon after. At 2 1/2 weeks my old band size is fine. It exhausted me driving the 25 minutes and trying on, was very lightheaded, did not expect that!
Lilah, thanks for explaining costs, what a crazy system!
Welcome Betty and everyone else new! Grackenmom, how are you?
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