Exchange City
Comments
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Paula - I think most insurance companies do cover the cost for implant revisions as long as there is a reason. My insurance did cover the cost and is paying the PS for my revision. At first they denied the pre-cert stating it was for cosmetic reasons only. WTF! My PS had in his notes that my issue was small and that he didn't think any more work was necessary. Well I disagreed and wanted it done. I found out about my denied coverage three days before my surgery was to happen. I was on the phone for two days with ins. co. and PS office to get to the bottom of it. It turns out that the ins. co. had requested a photo before they would pre-cert and PS office said they did not have one to send and just left it at that. I ended up supplying a photo and they did approve the surgery after receiving the photo. My case manager at ins. co. also went on to say it was a "small" issue but I told her it was a BIG issue to me. So if this is something you believe in and even if it is a small problem don't just settle for what they tell you. If you have to fight for what you want to be happy - fight.
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Psalm ~ the flower gardening I did was on painkillers ~ I don't advise it. LOL Rest up and hope you feel better each day !
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All of you are such a wealth of information....I only wish I knew way back when I had my mast surgery. I was not informed back then of my options, just to get a mast. I should have gotten a second opinion but was just thinking of survival and my family.....if I knew then what I know now.
Rebecca....so sorry for your losses...but this is the place where you can vent, cry, ask questions from so many knowledgable women who have gone through it all. You have a great attitude and supportive family which is very important.
I have two daughters which I worry about having to go through this some day...
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Almost a week since my exchange. Did not have any pep for about 4 days. So far so good. Not perfect, but I think I will be happy. It is very red right now however. My previous radiated/lumpectomy side was so high and different and she dropped it quite a bit to match. Amazing how that can happen. Plan was for about 350 cc but i see she put in 400 and 450 which I am glad as I think they are very average size. She did a pocket with a strattus and did not realize how much pulling that would cause. The best part about this whole breast cance thing is that I can wear nice summer tops in phoenix without a bra since there are no more sagging breasts. Not sure if I will get tats yet. Anyone suggest a successful silicone nipple product website? Also, I have pics to post. I know how to find timtam on the communicty profile, but could someone please tell me specifially where private message is cause I cannot see that anywhere as an option. Thanks. Hang in there everyone.
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JenJo:
When you find TimTam's profile click on it and then her profile screen will have "Send member a private message" in upper right-hand corner.
Best wishes to you, and I am soooo looking forward to going bra-less, too!
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Okay, I posted my pictures on the picture forum. Please tell me what you think! I have to say that it was a little weird seeing my pictures on there. But it has been so helpful for me being able to see other peoples results that I wanted to share too. And of course, I want opinions... thank you all so much!
Paula
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Paula,
YOU look FABULOUS!!!! You look beautiful! I know you said how disappointed you are about the size but your girls look so so natural & beautiful!!!
NAE
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Paula -- I agree with Nedeza -- your results are incredible! That said, I understand why you're upset -- the TEs WERE much larger (but not natural looking). So it's the shock of the difference between the two.
If you continue to feel unhappy, you do need to talk to your PS about going larger (if that is what you want)... but I have to say again -- WOW -- your results are gorgeous.
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Paula,
I think you look great also! I understand what you mean about the size difference and if bigger is what you want then I think bigger is what you should get but yours really do look natural and have a great shape. I pray that you will be able to decide what you want to do and get peace about it.
Hope your day today is better!
Becky
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Katey, you have a face, beautiful!Paula, You really need to give yourself time. I HATED mine for the first several weeks and was certain they were too small and now I think they a good size for my frame and dh is glad we didn't go bigger. I also got used to the largeness of the TE's but I look human now rather than like a barbie. I've said before and will say again that I think we come out of surgery expecting to either see "the old me but improved" or "barbie". We are neither, this is a new you and it's not even the final product because they will change dramatically over the next few months. It takes time to get to know the new you and to get used to it, perhaps you will learn to love the new you or perhaps you'll need some revision, either way you it takes time.Rebecca, You carry the strength of those you've lost!Julie0
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Rebecca!
Hi Sweetie! Haven't seen you post in Forever!
Kimberly
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Thank you to all you for your kind words. Its great to have a support group so understanding. I do have problems finding people my age who can talk to me normal and undestand when I want to vent I am very happy to have all of you.
Rebecca
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Hello Rebecca, Becky, JenJo, Artsy and other new posters. This is a fun, caring and informative thread and I learn something new here every day.
Paula, I agree with the others - you look really good. It is just so disconcerting how our bodies change in ways we can't really control - I'm still getting used to the new me two months out from my exchange. I hope that you start liking what you see soon, with or without a revision.
I just returned from a college tour back east with my son, and now he's off with my husband visiting another college in S. California. I'm sleepy, the house is a mess, and I'd rather read BCO posts than tackle my house!
Happy Sunday evening to you all,
Kristen
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BINGA... good luck tomorrow! Ta Ta Up!
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Laura: Adorable picture. Look how much your hair has grown! I love it that length!
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Thank you Deborah!
My hair has grown... and it is two years later...life goes on....
Love to all!
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Binga good luck with surgery!
Katie -- I agree with Julie (I think it was her) -- cute pic and nice to see your face!
Laura -- wow two years since you finished chemo? I am going to have to wait that long to have that much hair? (I agree with Debora -- it's an adorable length)
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Best wishes to those having surgeries this week!!
TCK
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Hi Lilah,
no... it has been two years since I was dx. 17 months since ended Chemo. Yes... until us Her2 girls are off Herceptin... our hair grows less than normal. When you end Herceptin you hair should grow 1/2 a month. Hang in there! I was thinking of letting my hair get to my shoulders??? Now sure..
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Wow I didn't know Herceptin slows hair growth.. what a bummer! I'm about 6 1/2 months PFC now... and I am pretty happy to have a head full of hair at this point, though it's only about an inch long and not thick growth but certainly full growth (but then my hair was always rather thin and fine)... at least it is straight so far! When I got my long hair buzz cut at chemo week #2 (so I wouldn't have to lose long hair)... my hairdresser (who is also a BC survivor) cut it to about the length that yours is now (a tad shorter) and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how it looked! So at this point I'm focused on looking forward to that length... and we'll see if I grow it long again. I'll bet you like the ease of care at this length?
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Thanks for the prayers and thoughts. My surgery isn't until 4:30 so I have to wait a little while. I am going to clean the house a bit to pass the time. I am already hungry! I know that I will survive until then though and since my PS agreed to move it up a week from next Monday if 4:30 would be ok I would have said midnight is fine if it will get me nice squishy boobs earlier and get these baseballs off my chest. I am so excited and a little nervous too!
I will let you girls know how I am doing as soon as I can.
Have a good day!
Becky
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Those of us on Femara also have trouble regrowing hair. Mine is about half as thick as it was pre-BC. If I look REALLY close, I think I can see lashes and brows now. Woo hoo!
Getting a bit depressed over my reconstruction results. The size difference seems to be more noticeable to me lately, and I've found that I absolutely can't wear certain necklines or styles. One reason I was set on reconstruction was that I didn't want to have these kinds of restrictions. Unless some miracle happens over the summer (swim season), or I get dramatically more comfortable with my results, looks like I'll be going back in for a revision on the prophy side in the fall.
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Becky wishing you all the best! Looking forward to hearing from you when your ready to type
All healing and speedy recovery thoughts to you Judy - thinking of you every day. Looking forward to hearing from you....hope your recovering with lots of helpful pain killers....hope you got a limo home
you deserve it Pennyirene - welcome to the group, so many good people here to talk to, to learn from...
I had a good weekend....gardening, walking Smudge, spending time with DH
Working on color theory for an upcoming class.A week from today I'm going to have my exchange surgery and I find I'm full of mixed feelings. The BMX was about getting rid of the cancer.....it was something I had to do to survive. Now I find my fear is about the future....about going under anesthesia and waking up hoping my ps and I have been on the same page...hoping that I will feel comfortable with my new boobs. I think knowing that the choices I make now will be with me for a very long time are raising my anxiety levels a wee bit. I feel like I want to sit down one more time before I go under the knife and just have my ps say "Laura your going to be fine...your going to be happy when you wake up." I know this is normal...but it doesn't make it any less real. I find I'm not sleeping very well, waking up early...arggghhhhhh....deep cleansing breath....deep cleansing breath......phew!
Not looking forward to being restricted again....I finally feel like I can do just about anything without worrying about it. Ah well....got through healing the first time.....at least this time if all goes well the recovery will be much much less painful and faster
My ps said he feels like I will have a very straight forward exchange without extra work done. I do trust him and I have seen his beautiful work. It's a huge leap of faith that has to be embraced...sometimes I feel full of trust and then I will become worried and then trusting and then worried...you get the picture =o\I keep thinking how much better my yippee squishies will feel...and how nice it will be to get these coconuts out of my chest
Thanks for listening...just need to vent some fears....I'm really fine...just pre surgery jitters....
Strength and healing to all,
Laura
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Becky! Best to you today! Will be thinking of you around 4:30! I bet your house is immaculate, amazing the adrenaline before surgery!
Laura jizo, understand your feelings. Your ps sounds great and your trust is important. Tylenol pm should help you this week with sleeping, and yes it sure will be nice to get the coconuts off your chest!!
Continued good healing to our friends recovering from surgery last week. Fairport, I hope you find your answer today and that it is a simple explanation!
Julie and Lilah, lol, if you knew how long it took me to figure out how to post that!
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Regarding insurance and revisions: it should not be an issue, as it's considered part of the reconstruction process. However, the reason must be clearly documented by the ps. Mine took about a million pictures from every conceivable angle in order to help justify mine. My insurance (PPO) did cover it so it was not considered a "loss" for my ps....
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Binga: Good luck today! Hope the day goes quickly since I know the wait is always the hardest part.
Fairport: Hope you find out all is ok today too or something easily cleared up. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Just a quick note. I came home yesterday (surgery Friday) with 3 drains in adn very little pain. It looks like the doc did a great job. However, he put a TE back on the side with the problem, so I know I'll have ANOTHER surgery in four months. Gut this wound and everything about it is better. He didn't wnat to put an implant in since there was a low grade infection and although he did clean it out, it was best not ro risk the implnat. Besides, the implant will be smaller- there's lots of muscle covering the implant now, and fat, and tissue, so to be sure of the right size, he will wait for the swelling to go down, and settle, and he'll put the proper implant in later.
Glad it's over for now. Love you all. Thanks for the kind wishes, the prayers , the white light and all the positive energy...I tip my JP drain to you!! JUDY
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LOL Judy re: tipping your drain! I hate those things.... but so glad you're in good spirits and sounds like you came through the surgery swimmingly!
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So happy you are home and doing well! Thats great that your pain has not been too bad. Hope you heal quickly and perfectly. Ruthy
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Judy~
Thinking of you & glad to hear you are doing well & in good spirits.
hugs,
NAE
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