Exchange City
Comments
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Went to check out Deborah's nipples and they are perfect. Even before dinner . . . .
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KITTYCAT... I saw your post... I am praying until I hear..
KATHY..WELCOME... Jean is a DOLL and I love her! I hope you all have a new friendship forever!
ANNIEALSO... ANNIE.... You are such a breath... and not the stinky kind...Your MRI is with me in prayer too. Thank you for posting the time so I could lift you up... Your humor.. a year ago.. or more.. is what made me lol when I wanted to cry. TY!
Candi... good to see you lady! June will be a good month for new boobs...lol
KEW... Karen lady.... GOOD TO SEE YOU... I think you have been as busy as I in your personal life... WOOT! Love...!!!!
and to all sisters... a GOOD Night! You are amazing , important women!
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Candi, that's great news! And about your husband's job too!
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Fairport/Kathy
Wow, small world knowing Jean! I also had prophylactic surgery. I am so ready to get rid of the 'coconuts'!!
Scrapmom/Karen
I had been trying to move my right TE but just gave up. It's not budging at all. It's higher than than the left, but I've been told by PS the pocket will be fixed at exchange. Lately, worrier that I am, I've been looking at the left wondering if it's too high also! I've been massaging the bottoms, I have something called Mondors cords. They're supposed to be fixed also.
I count my blessings. We're so fortunate medicine/science/technology has come so far!
Cindy
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Candi and wbuggie, I was here when you both were going through your horrible tough times, and I'm so glad to see you both back here, moving forward again! I'm saying big strong prayers for you right now for the BEST results!
Hope everyone is healing up nicely and any surgeries are going great!
Deen
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I wanted to tell everyone about this book I checked out from the library. It is called "The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan" by Carolyn M. Kaelin, MD. In it, they explain why we have the pains that we do in every type of surgery and treatment. They also suggest gentle exercises to begin with after these surgeries to get back to 'normal'. They have separate chapters with exercises based upon the type of surgeries and reconstructions you have. They also discuss lymphedema and things you can do to prevent and deal with it. For me, the discussions on shoulder pain after BMX was valuable. I hope this helps. I am going to buy this one!
Deen
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Hi Ladies!
I am in such a good mood today! I just got back from bra BUYING! Not just shopping!
My PS told me at my 2 week post-op visit (today) I could go ahead and wear what ever I wanted since I am healing so nicely and not in any kind of pain.
I purchased some under wire Olga bras at Kohls. OMG they are so soft and comfy for these squishy new girls!
In two months we will talk nipples! I did tell him I would miss him and have separation anxiety but I think I will be ok for 2 months!
Kimberly
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Annie - Good luck with your scans!!
Kimberly - Congrats on the new bras. How exciting!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Karen
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I finally posted photos on TimTam's site, and it only took me an hour to do it!!! Two things were a little different in my case - my surgeries were areola sparing and my TEs were really underexpanded. I'm so happy to have joined the funky, groovy foob club with the rest of you!
Best wishes to all for a fun and relaxing weekend-
Kristen
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Kristen - there is a big difference between your TE's and implants! OMG - no wonder you are still in pain! Looking Good!
Kimberly
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Lots going on, lots going on, newbies (welcome brave ones!), the barflies (hello all!), and all of us Goddesses....
Cindy - I also had Mondor's cords which I was able to successfully get rid of with heat, slow stretching and self massage (using your full palm over the length of the cord - just enough pressure to feel discomfort - sort of like you're trying to lengthen it). The shower was a great place for this. You can see my cords on Timtam's site - and with some work they are gone! Also as for pocket revision - yes, this is successfully done at exchange, no need to worry.
Julie - Thanks for mentioning the emotional stuff after treatment. I've been finding this period somewhat hard - not horrid, but not "woo-hoo I'm done!" I think there is something about getting off the treadmill of treatment and appointments and "what next" that leaves one only to finally "feel something" when it gets quiet.... the YMCA gets monies through the Lance Armstrong foundation to do fitness work after patients are done with treatment.... what they've been finding is the emotional component is actually interfering with people's ability to push forward with their fitness routines. Yes, there seems to be a low grade (or worse) depression that can kick in when the gist of the physical work is done.
All that said, and on another note, where can I find the "red pasties" thread???????? I'm intrigued.....
Geena
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LOL Geena re: Red Pasties... I think it was here in THIS thread that someone was talking about them.
Lilah
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Hello Ladies - Yeah! I'm done. Yipee Squishy!! (Kimberley, you are a hoot). I haven't squished too much, but I can definitely feel a difference. Thanks again for all the good wishes and support. Feel good,just a little tired (meds). Hope everyone is doing well. I will be back to give more of an update. Good night. Chris0
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Great news, Chris. Take care this weekend.
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reeltchr: I am so glad to hear that you are doing well after your surgery. Take it easy this weekend--be good to yourself and pamper yourself--you deserve it!
TCK
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best wishes to you reeltchr! Sleep lots and take it very easy these first few days. Congratulations!
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Chris - I am so glad you had a good exchange! Yippee Squishy!!! I love to look at them when I squish them... They are so soft when you aren't in pain! Hope you wake up feeling great tomorrow morning!
I kept going in the bathroom and looking at the new girls today in my real bra... I don't think this whole process I had looked in the mirror as much as I did today. It felt so good to wear a bra that gave me some shape! I am liking the looks of these big girls!
I am not sure what to do for sleeping tonight... I thought about going bra less, but forgot to ask my PS what he recommended. I guess I will try it but if I feel uncomfortable put a surgical bra on...
Any suggestion as to when it is best to sleep bra less?
Kimberly
P.S.
TCK Monday is going to be here FAST!
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I am one who will never again sleep braless. I want to keep my girls in the right place and I want to avoid chest wrinkles. I had my chest wrinkles/cleavage wrinkles eradicated with mastectomy. I was thrilled to find them gone and I don't ever want them back! I am older than most of you and believe me, after age 50, you start developing these creases/wrinkles in the chest area, especially if you are a side sleeper or stomach sleeper.
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Gosh, I wish I had found this Forum a few weeks ago. I feel like an idiot because I got such help in the beginning from the other forums. Mostly as a stalker, unfortunately. Shyness shows up in odd places.
I had my exchange on Wednesday. I thought I had researched everything and would be prepared. So wrong! I didn't expect the pain (which has mostly subsided) but I am confused about how they feel and look. The doctor told me that I am swollen from him removing all of the scar tissue that resulted from the mastectomy and radiation. The new implants feel nice and squishy from the outside but I am still experiencing the "iron bra" feeling (to a lesser extent) internally that I had with the TE's. The "foobs" are odd looking - sort of like squishy pectoral muscles. (Which I supposed they are to a certain extent.) They almost go under my arms.
So my 2 questions: Is this relatively normal and will it get somewhat better as I heal? At this stage, I am past complaining--so happy to be through chemo and radiation. I just need a reality check.
PS I am trying to read all of the back-posts to get some answers, too. What a nice bunch of women. Should have done this sooner!
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DEBORAH...
Explain this to me please: How does having the bra on in bed , while you sleep on your belly or side, keep those chest wrinkles at bay? I wish to understand this.. so I can justify myself doing this to keep my chest smooth also as I age.
Thank you my wise older sister..................... BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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Deborah: OMG!!! Thanks for reminding me that I don't have chest wrinkles anymore. I almost forgot! That's another good thing about going through the Mx besides getting rid of the BC!
Brenda
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Chris: Yippee Squishy!! Have fun with your new foobs!
Brenda
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BarbR: How is your radiated foob behaving? Is it firmer and/or higher? Just curious.
Brenda
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So far, they are pretty symmetrical. Both sides had a lot of scar tissue. I am hoping they will get smaller as the swelling goes down. I'm not even sure how to bra these babies up. I wore cami's during the TE phase. Was rushed out of my busy PS's office before I could ask any questions. Next week, I will take a list!
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BarbR, welcome! You will find some great info and friendship on this thread!
Your PS may suggest massaging the scar tissue later as you heal, to keep it broken up to prevent capsular contraction, which can be common with rads. Never hesitate to call your PS with any questions or worries. Glad you are enjoying the yippee squishy!
I didn't have rads, but I still somewhat feel the iron rings around my foobs. Especially at the end of the day when I just can't stand my bra anymore. And it has been 9 mos since my exchange. Don't worry, I don't think most women still feel this, and I'm in the process of getting second opinions to reduce my size.
I still get light chest wrinkles when I wear pushup bras, I don't like this! They did go away after BMX, and didn't come back until I started sleeping on my side again. Oh well!
Deen
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Hello ladies. I go in for my talk with PS on Monday. I am trying to gather as much info as I can beofre I go. My bimas. is the 16th. I willhave immediate recon at that time.
I have a question I know a lot of you say that the TE will be larger then your final result of the implant so how do I try to relay to my PS what I want? I have read that A lot have said about theirs saying that won't fit you or that the TE go off to the side and other bad things happen. How many of you are happy wiht the final result? What would you have changed? What do the TE look like? Ihave looked onlineto find pics of TE and after implnats and are all of the results lumpy and don't look natural? Thanks for reading. Guess should of said questions!
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I had rads. If I had it to do over, I would have asked my PS to expand the rad side more than the prophylactic side because now the rad side contracted and looks slightly smaller. It looked smaller than the other side prior to my exchange and I just assumed it would all even out afterward.
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Reeltchr, glad to see you're home and done with another step!! Take the meds and take it easy this weekend!!
Barb, I would think you are very swollen, especially with the scar removal added in. They will get smaller! Take it easy, some of us take longer to heal with any added surgery with exchange.
Deborah! I had to go look in the mirror! been so busy checking out implants I never noticed how great the skin looks, woohoo! I'm still sleeping in a bra, it's a security blanket, and do not want to mess this up!! Have had to sleep on back for over a year, but will stop being frustrated about it if it keeps some wrinkles away!
I'm a little concerned to wear push up or underwire bras that they might push up the implant, do not want that to happen again. Will have to ask my ps about this, do the new methods of putting in impants hold them better in place? Or maybe that all had to do with scar tissue forming.
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mom2Bnegativex3 - I had TE's and just had my exchange 2 weeks ago. I was very happy with my TE's the whole time as far as placement and looks. I think my TE's were amazing! and did not feel lumpy or out of shape. I love my implants now even more because they look natural and are so comfortable. I do not feel like there is a foreign object in my body at all.
TE's are uncomfortable but remember you are a work in progress! It won't last too long and when you have your exchange hopefully it will have been worth the process.
If you go to the Mentor website you can see what the TE's look like. My PS let me hold one in my hand while we were talking. I knew what was going to be placed and that was helpful.
As far as size is concerned, I got to choose my size. Each week at my fill appointment he would ask me if I wanted to be bigger and encouraged me to go try on different clothing every time I had a fill to see what I liked and did not like.
I ended up with the largest silicon gel implant the FDA has approved so far... Hopefully they will approve a higher volume for reconstruction patients soon.
Hope this helps!
Kimberly
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The TE's I had were very "perky" looking. A little like large tennis balls cut in half. They stand right out with very little gradation. I had tissue sparing surgery so they might look different than with other types of surgery. There was no movement. The only discomfort was the Iron Bra aspect. You are always aware that they are there and sometimes it becomes overwhelming. That's when you have to take deep breaths or a little valium ;-)
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