Exchange City
Comments
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Good Luck to all having surgeries this week. My prayers are with you.
JUDY - I am so sorry to hear of your ordeal and upcoming surgery. Hope you don't have to ride home in another tow truck after this one!
I have a strange question to anyone with implants. I have saline implants (Mentor Moderate Profile Plus expanded to 960cc each. I recently went back to swimming and water aerobics. I have been uncomfortable in my bathing suits and feel as though my implants are bouyant and want to float up in their pockets. Has anyone else experienced this feeling. I have taken to wearing a sports bra under my suits, which of course shows, but my friends are just glad that I am there and don't care about the "wearing of my undergarments as a part of my outer garments" as one friend put it. I will as PS about it next week when I see him, but jut wondered if anyone else experienced this.
Nancy
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Judy: just wanted to say good luck and wishing you the best....
Danger: I am 5 ft 3 in and weigh 113,,,was a 34B before bmx/expanders/implants. Was expanded 50% above what I wanted in preparation (450cc) and got 300cc silicone implants (yup: im in the 300club:) and I think the size and proportions are perfect for me. I admit at first I was scared I went too small, but the drop and fluff thing has happened and I do feel it chose well
And about Vegas; wow I never thought about Nordstroms being there!!! Yay!
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Hi ladies,
I'm new to the forum, can't believe I've been missing all this great information! I'm getting my exchange FINALLY May 4th.Have had my tissue expandors for a while as I had stage 3, with mastectomy in 2008,went thru chemo,radiation and decided on 2nd mastectomey 2009. Have decided on saline but not sure what size to go for! I'm small boned, 5'7" 135 and work out a lot. I was an A cup and am sort of afraid to go too big so thinking about a large B. Hearing you all talk, was wondering how that converts to cc's?? Really tempted to go for a C but my doc had talked me out of it-don't know if they would feel too foreign to my bod....ideas??
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Judy,
I am so sorry to hear that you have to go back. As you can clearly tell, you will be surrounded with prayers and healing vibes from many, many people. You are so brave and strong to be so cheerful as you go into the "final round" yet again.
You deserve a limo this time!
Great names!
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Judy -- SO sorry you have to go back but I think you are right to be positive about this! The Flap will mean the end of worrying about your uncooperative rad side. I wish you the BEST for a good and easy surgery and an awesome result.
Astorm -- so sorry you had such a rotten experience at VS. I shall keep that in mind if I ever go there. People can be so stupid sometimes it's rather shocking (and no matter how many times I encounter stupid people I still remain shocked... which I guess is a tribute to my own optimism or something).
Val -- your DH sounds like a very smart and sensitive man (in spite of his being more done than you are with all of this); to ennumerate the ways you've changed and to surprise you... I don't know I just like that he is so thoughtful. I haven't asked my boyfriend yet how he feels (I rather selfishly don't care lol)... but then I'm still a bit behind you so perhaps I'll develop interest in that later.
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Judy, damn, I am so sorry your surgery didn't hold. Really. That said, I think you are in good hands with Dr. S. He did my Lat D and I am doing well four months out. The Lat D is a biggy so get some good books, subscribe to net flicks, stock up on Dinner Done's, etc. I was driving after about a week, I think, very carefully though. I was off work 5 weeks. I had a prophy mast. in addition to the Lat D so that added to my overall picture, too.
It is all doable. We have to tap our bottomless reserves to step up for the next challenge, don't we? Sounds like you are already there. I wish you the very best Friday. Take good care, deekaay.
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Judy: You are showing remarkable strength and resolve about this set-back in your reconstruction journey. I am just so sorry, right along with everyone else that this did not work. But thank goodness you have the option and the ability to have the LAT FLAP! Bless you my sweetie!!!
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Judy: I'm so sorry you are having to go have surgery again when you thought this might be the end of the road. My thoughts will be with you!
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Nancy - are your implants saline? When I had saline implants for my aug, I was very bouyant in the pool! I just went in the hot tub the other night. I now have silicone implants. I didn't notice them then, but they didn't float!!! I was actually quite pleased with how I looked in tha bathing suit (up top - I need to work on the bottom - LOL).
Okay - so I told one of the girls who I work with that I was having a hysterectomy and ooph - she says, "Be prepared to get FAT" WHAT????? She had a hyst at 35 and said she gained 30 lbs. OMG! This is the 2nd person to tell me about gaining weight after having a hyst! Is this true? I am so paranoid about gaining weight now. I went on a walk with my hubby tonight. I gained 10 lbs since the BMX mainly from work stress and being sedentary. Any advice????
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kittycat: I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy including the oophorectomy when I turned 50, and I stayed the same weight as always. I didn't gain a single pound. They warned me I'd gain weight with chemo, and I actually lost weight. I think it's a matter of making sure you're exercising moderately and regularly, and not going crazy on your calorie intake.
After THREE WEEKS, I finally tossed the square padding around the new nipples last night. I also slept without the sports bra. Today I could wear whatever I wanted without having to camoflauge anything. Wow! Freedom!
The radiated foob is still about 1/2" smaller any way I measure it including projection (spine to tip of fipple). So I'm still massaging vigorously several times a day. It may be my imagination but I'll swear it's softening up.
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Kittycat, maybe punch her in the stomach?
LOL, sorry, one of those days!!
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Kittycat, how about daily walks with your hubby? My DH and I take 30-45 minute walks almost every night, and that has saved my sanity over the past year. When he can't do it, I'm so programmed that I do it by myself!
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Oh, and I agree with Katey about punching your coworker...she did not have to say that to you. She may have gained 30 lbs, but that does not mean that you will.
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Texas... if we stop massaging the rads boob.. it is amazing how fast it begins to harden up. I kinda forgot to massage this past weekend.. it got firmer... sooooo massage massage massage...
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Uh oh. I am sick, two days before surgery. I am not sure if it is a head cold or allergies. Stuffy nose, throat kind of sore, ear a little full. I have been on the zpack since Saturday and will take my last dose today. No fevor or cough. Can they still perform surgery???? I had to wait three weeks for my date and I think I will lose it if I have to reschedule for another three weeks!!!
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Jenni~
I went through the same thing before my surgery last week. Had a stuffy runny nose...sore throat just 3 days before the surgery. I was panicking. I did call the day before the surgery & was asked if I was coughing at all or had a fever? Both of which I did not have. They said it would be the anesthesiologist's call whether the surgery can be done or not. Miraculously, the morning I woke up I had no sore throat or stuffy nose. They didn't seem too concerned if I had sinusitis as long as I was not coughing. Everyone is different. I pray that you recover. I had similar symptoms prior to my exchange surgery back in November. Maybe stress?
Prayers for you!!!
NAE
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Good to hear Nae. I am sure stress is playing a part too! Just want this step over with and on to the next as I am sure you know. I am still in the not knowing stage of what the extent is, what stage, etc. I will keep my fingers crossed! Thanks again.
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Oh...by the way Jenni...WELCOME! Best thing to do is rest, rest, rest! Go to bed early & get plenty of sleep.
Cyber hugs,
NAE
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Is there anyone who decided not to do a lat flap and just get an exchange using their radiated skin? Mine seems to have come thru the radiation pretty well but don't want to have to come back for another surgery.
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Good morning all, I am now two weeks post Exchange. Stitches taken out yesterday. That hurt.
Are the girls still supposed to feel heavy. PS said my augmented breast is perfect but some work still has to be done with reconstructed breast i.e, fat graf, I guess when new nip goes on.
Can I please be listed for July 2010 nips?
I am having problems with Arimidex so I am not a happy camper, however, it is better than the alternative.
Have a great day.
HUGS
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Jenni, I want to send my best wishes to you for your bmx surgery Friday. It can be really stressful to face, but everyone here will support you as I'm sure will your regular friends and family. You'll have tons of good thoughts and prayers supporting you during surgery, with all intentions pushing for a low grade and low stage outcome! In the meantime take care of yourself as best you can so your cold (or whatever it is) doesn't derail the schedule. Not to worry, you're gonna do great!!
ACole, welcome to the thread! As to your questions about implant size, whippetmom is the resident expert and helps tons of people with the same sorts of questions. Take a look at the original post in the thread labeled "Breast Implant Sizing 101" in the "Breast Reconstruction" forum section for all the info that she'll want, and then post your info there for her or by PM.
CS
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ACole: I did an implant instead of an LD Flap. The radiated side looked really good at first, but within a few weeks it was about 1/2" higher and it had gotten tighter/smaller. So the symmetry isn't always as nice going this route, but overall it's not that bad. The radiated side also isn't as soft as the non-radiated side.
Also, I tried to go ever-so-slightly bigger, but the radiated skin rebelled and burst open about 3 weeks after the exchange. So I was rushed back into surgery to get smaller implants.
There's about a 60% failure rate with implants on radiated skin ... but keep in mind that's a matter of degrees. Some are extreme failures where the implant alone just won't work. Some are minor. Although I need some tweaks, I'd consider the cosmetic problems I have minor.
My thinking was I wanted to try the easiest, least invasive route first. If that failed, then I'd do the LD Flap.
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ACole
I had implant only with radiation.
I had the TE put in at mast... fully expanded my TE in 6-7 weeks to 420cc. I had 500cc put in... then went back for another exchange and put in 550cc. I have no flap. I also have pictures of my journey on the picture forum. You will need to be more active on this site ( BCO) in order to get access to the picture page. It is very private. PM me and I will let you know how to go about this.
My rads breast skin feels the same as the non rads.
My rads breast never "dropped and fluffed" and the non rads side did. This made my not rads breast 1/2 inch lower than the rads breast. Neither breast has any scarring to speak of. SILICONE tape is AMAZING ( thanks Denise)..
Anyway, this CAN be done, but you have to be prepared for failure.Two great ladies on these boards ( Judy and CCbaby) tried rads and implants at the same time as I.. and both of them have or are doing flaps. But a lady named Texas and DianaT here on EC have done ok so far as I. MD Anderson/Sloan Kettering says that about 60% of rads/implant breast fail. My PS seem to think that number is LOWER do to the use of ALLODERM today.
If you ever want to talk in more detail about this. I am willing to talk to you. Just PM me.
Laura
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Kittycat - thanks for confirming the bouyancy of the saline implants. I guess it is not in my head. My PS does not use silicone implants so I will just have to get used to the bouyancy. I do not think my HP 750s were as bouyant, but I only had them for a few weeks when I was in the pool with them prior to exchange to larger ones. The smaller ones were probably supported better with my swimsuits that the larger ones.
Good luck on your hysterectomy, ooph. I had that at 46 and am almost 58 now. I did gain some weight, but know mine was due to thyroid and too many calories and not enough exercise. Now I am trying to lose some weight but PS doesn't want me losing too much or the implants will have problems.
Nancy
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My PS's office called today to reschedule my surgery to May 11 from May 18... I should be happy to be one week closer but it has put me out of sorts (though I'm sure this too shall pass). Val -- we'll both be in surgery the same week!
I'll PM MyKidsMom with the change... but just wanted to share.
I am officially 4 weeks away now from surgery and I'm feeling anxious! I know it's irrational but there it is.
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ACole: I had radiation in 2005 when I still had breast tissue. My radiated breast seems to be doing well: skin stretching fine. It is a little bit higher because I had a lumpectomy before my radiation. My tumor was in the 1 o'clock position right by the armpit and removing it lifted my affected breast. I had my bmx in September of '09, and my radiated breast looks tighter. My PS thinks it is because there was less skin there (because of the previous lumpectomy) I am still in expanders. My fills have been small and infrequent, from 40 to 80 cc's per visit. Presently I have 640 cc's. Like a lot of women with radiated breasts and are going through reconstruction, I am thinking that if this does not work I will try another way.
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Judy, I am sorry you have to go through anesthesia and recovery and all that hoopla again but am actually quite happy for you. You sound resolute and that is always a good sign that things will be as they should be. Danger, I'm 120lbs (Ive lost some in the past few months) but before BMX I was a 32C, I was filled to 600 and have 475 hp implants. I am now a 32D. I think I look about the same as I did before in most clothes and a little larger in some clothes. Mine look very natural and normal for my body size.Kittycat, I was so happy to hear that you scheduled your surgery, not because I wanted you to do it but because you sounded confident about it which is excellent and then ugh, people just don't think sometimes when they speak. Half the women out there over 50 have had a hysterectomy, they are not all fat and those that are, well there could be a million reasons. It's hard but try not to worry about it, that just leads to proving that she was right. Lilah, Funny how these kinds of things can throw us off! I am excited it's a week closer, even if you're not.Julie0
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Thanks Julie
I'm sure I'll get there! 0 -
Kittycat: just wanted to say I had my hyst/oopherectomy at age 45, Im 55 now and weigh 5 pounds less than I did then. It is NOT a given that weight gain will happen! Sorry about that thoughtless person: geesh sometimes people are so clueless when they say such things.
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Bronchitis: Gone I am happy to say. Only took about 3 weeks.
JUDY: Please know that I am praying for you. I will also pray for the skilled hands of your doctors. It is so much to go through any surgery I just cant imagine. YOu have a great outlook. And you do have a valid point: there is a real solution for you. Thank goodness for that.
Dangergirl: Hi and welcome. I am 5'7'' and weigh about 125lbs. My ribcage measures 29''. Before MX I was a 32AA. My TEs were filled to 260 i think and could not be filled anymore due to thin skin and other issues. The PS was able to fit in a high profile
300 cc implant. I am now a solid B and I feel blessed that I was able to get what i got. Let me know if you have anymore questions. YOu can PM me if you would like.Kristen
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