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Exchange City

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Comments

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2009

    Deborah- Thank You so much for the info! You're the best. Sorry I didn't post earlier but I had to take my kids to their after school activities.  I feel so much better about my next conversation with my PS. with all this information.  He said he liked when women did research and were informed.... We''ll see! I really appreciate it.

    suegmomof3- I had 100cc at my first fill and almost fainted. After that I only did 50cc and waited 2 - 3 weeks in between. It took longer, but I was more comfortable in between. I usually took motrin or a pain pill the first day for the tightness.

    To the ladies having surgery tomorrow -  prayers and best wishes.

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 98
    edited March 2009

    My 5 day count down to the BRICK removal begins NOW...YAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a last minute celebration im gonna run another race this weekend...just a sweet little 5K

    Lorraine, 33 SSSSSWEET!!!!! All I have to say is ROCK ON my sista with your bad self!!!! I love it!!!Wink I knew I liked you the moment I saw ya!

    Luv ya ladies,

    Tracey

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited March 2009

    Good luck to all exchanges this week yay!!!!!!!!

    Lovely to see Laura back and sassy as ever! Foot in mouth

    Tracy! wow!! I am a runner too, but darn I couldn't do an 8k and then a 5k, ESPECIALLY with expanders LOL!! you go girl!

    Linda and Sandy, just emailed you my resized pics!! hope they come through! I am not the most tech savy person in the world!

    Oh decided to hop on a plane Thursday morning at 6am for Chicago, just need to get a little cold fix!! I am from London, so CA weather gets a little old, I know, I should be grateful, but I need some rain and snow and wind yeah!!! Love it!!

    big hugs to all!!

    Lorraine ox

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    Lorraine - You want a little cold??? Come my way!!  I am soooooo tired of cold I can hardly stand it.  I think I could stand a little California weather!! It might be melting here by the weekend and everyone is waiting with bated breath!!! (Is that the right spelling???)

    (((((((((((((((((((((Laura))))))))))))))))) You will kick rads butt...just lay down on your bed, close your eyes and mentally give it your best kick!!! We are all cyber kicking from our end too!!  And then, in May....look out...you'll be back in the swing of things. Hang in there you special lady!!

    Tracey - You have such an eloquent way with words (Oct thread) You are a gem!!  I'm joining in on your countdown....go girl!!!!

    Karen - Thinking about you tonight and tomorrow and praying all goes well for you.  A one year anniversary is a huge day and I can't believe you're having another surgery on the same day.  What are the odds of you ever forgetting that day????

    Annie - Two more sleeps until you finally get the answers we've all been praying for....keeping those prayers going your way.

    I have had a couple of achy days and am mighty sick of it.  It seems like the months go by and the aches are still there and that gets kind of old.  My incision seems to be healing better this week so I've got my fingers crossed that when I get the dressing changed it will be somewhat better than last week.  Well...good night to all!

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited March 2009

    OMG gals does Lorraine have the best T-shirt pix

    if your a little shy to show the other ones but you really should share that t-shirt one

    she is one hot mama

    her guy has to be thrilled

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    I'd love to see them Lorraine...though I am too nervous and shy to post mine on the picture forum.  I'm trying to get up the nerve.

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited March 2009

    I forgot to add Lorraine has this awesome tiny waist

    I'm not real surprised because she looks great in that head shot

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited March 2009

    this is a pix of my teammate climbing the sentinal rock

    I hope he finally sends the pix of me doing it

    but in the mean time just wanted to share this one

    this was actually the easy one to do

    although I will admit my legs were shaking when I was done

  • carolm
    carolm Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2009

    Whippetmom--thanks so much for your reply.  My surgery is tomorrow and the surgeon will talk to me before surgery, so hopefully someone will have time to get back with me today yet.  My expanders are Allergan, style 133MV, one side has, I believe, 625 and the other has 720.  They seem slightly too big in volume but ride way too high.  I want to end up a full "C", used to be a "B" cup.  Rib cage under my expanders measures approx. 35", I'm 5'7" and 150#.  I'm just really torn here and what size to go.  Thanks for any help ladies!

  • mizbabygirl4
    mizbabygirl4 Member Posts: 42
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for the well wishes on my exchange today. I am sitting here wishing I could drink a cup of coffee, just one little cup, but it is not to be. I also kept thinking I was going to get a whole lot of errands accomplished before the surgery, while I can still lift things, but in the end, I'm barely going to get my body to the appointment. 

    My surgery is at 2 PM, which means I probably won't be home before 8 or 9. I'm a little nervous. When it comes down to it, no matter the procedure, it is hard to walk into the OR and lie down on that table. But I'll be fine, I know.

    On March 31, it will have been one year since I began neoadjuvant chemo. What a year! I never saw it coming, or expected such a year in my life. But knowing all of you are here has really enriched the journey.

    Sandy, you are fearless!

    Janet

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2009

    Good morning,

    I am heading for my first fill since the immediate reconstruction (300cc fill at that time) for a PBM.  I am now 3 weeks post op (as of tomorrow) and although the pain has been tolerable for the last week, I am still in an uncomfortable state.  I realize this is normal but my question is..... I would like to push for 100cc fills today.  My feeling is that I handle pain well but my tolerance dimishes as this will drag on.  Could anyone tell me if I would be biting off too much.  My PS wants to keep to a 50cc fill. 

    Thanks
    Wanda

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited March 2009

    Good morning Janet

    Surgery at 2:00!!!!!  you know, usually you can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight and usually surgery at 7 or 8 so that means you are without food or drink for approx 8 hours so by my calculations you could have had your cup of java at 6 this morning....and been within that time......LOL   you will be starved and make sure you get that dose of caffine after surgery....don't want that little headache.....

    Karen,  How awful to have surgery on your dx anniv..Glad you got over that cold so the surgery could go on as scheduled..I will be thinking of you today....Which nipples did you order?  I am still looking for mine to be delivered..hopefully today because it is rainy and I could use some excitement.....hehehe

    Let us know how you are doing.......((((hugs))))

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2009

    Hi Estepp,

    I am just getting up to speed on this thread and noted that you will be a C with 320ccs!  I too am small (5'2" and 105) and had 300cc immediate.  There are so many different amounts thrown around for a small C or large B that it is very confusing.  I understand that the scarring will dictate the amount of fill but did not expect such a wide range. 

    Heading to my first post op fill in about an hour so hopefully my PS can educate me a bit

    THanks

    Wanda

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited March 2009

    Hello Wanda

    I hope your fill goes well.  Just tell your PS to go slow on the amount of saline....

    I am 5' 1.5" tall and weight 110 (yeh, I have lost a little lbs)

    I am a C-cup.....my band size is 34   rib cage under boobs is  29"

    I was expanded to 375cc  and  350cc

    I am very happy with this size on my body......You are right about this being confusing because everyone has different body types to consider.  350-375 gave me a C but it might take 600 for someone else to be a C.......I did not want to look like a Dolly or a Twiggy just inbetween...LOL

    The best to you

    My Allergan silicone implants are HP round smooth style 20

    My previous rad side has 375cc  and the  other is 350cc

    I have pics on the forum....

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited March 2009

    How do you get up to speed on this thread! LOL  I can't keep up with all you ladies! 

    Wanda, there are a lot of numbers being tossed around.  I wasn't on this thread earlier, so didn't submerse myself in all of that.  I just told my PS where I wanted to be and let him take care of crunching the numbers.  I wanted to be about the same as pre-BC...just didn't want them hanging down to my navel!  I'm thrilled with how I look and as soon as I get some time, I'm going to post my photos.  Didn't know about Timtams site before, so I don't have photos of the "turtle shells". 

    Got my drains removed yesterday and will go back in about three months for nips.  So I'm actually doctor free until June! 

    Introduced the "new girls" to my zumba class last night and the ladies said "Oh, much more natural!"  LOL  They have been there for me through this entire process!

    Make it a great day and good luck to those who are surgery bound today!

  • Northstar
    Northstar Member Posts: 31
    edited March 2009

    Probably somebody posted this before, but where is Timtam's picture site?  I am stressing about the size of implants vs. expanders (I have a lot of time to stress since my exchange isn't until June...) and would love to see some pictures of what I might look like afterwards, based on what I look like now.   Thanks--

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited March 2009

    Tracey~ Did you run thru Chemo ??  I am curious because I used to be a runner and I would love to get back out there but Chemo has me barely able to walk down my steps right now. 

    I am very excited about my exchange surgery even if it is months away it gives me an end to the expander pain.  Last night the hospital called to verify my surgery and all of my information.  I was impressed that they where calling 3 months in advance.

  • Cathee
    Cathee Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2009

    Wanda,

    I would go with what your ps recommends.  But in saying that I did 100cc at a time and once did 200cc.  I went 2 weeks apart and near the end I went 3 weeks apart. It was uncomfortable but not intolerable. My final was 760cc.  I also needed to get it over with because my daughter was having a baby and I wanted to be with her in Texas. 

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited March 2009

    Northstar,

    Just send Timtam a private message requesting permission to enter the picture forum and she will send you a PM with the password.....Don't stress over your size....you don't need that right now.....listen to what Lisasayers said in the previous post.....

    yeah Lisa, got those dreadful drains out.........

  • Sprtwareor
    Sprtwareor Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2009

    Wanda-- I started with 300cc and got 100cc my first fill which wasn't until 6 weeks later. Had some muscle cramps that night, but no pain during the fill at all. I got 2 more fills of about 60 cc each at 2 week intervals. Again, no pain, but some muscle cramps the evening of the fills. Hard to really say whether the muscle cramping was caused by the fills, or from very exuberant dancing which coincided with my fill dates.

    I think the hardest fill was the first one; just watching him come at me with that big syringe bothered me a tad. I learned not to look, and then I was just fine. It didn't really hurt physically. Just the idea of it!!

    I just did my Lamaze breathing. hehehehe  That stuff helps me get through lots in life!

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    Jean - I'm ecstatic that some new customers are coming your way!  Maybe things are starting to look a bit better for you.  I don't remember what it is that you do???  

    Jane - I'll be thinking of you and praying that all goes well today.  Good luck and keep us posted!

    Sandy - You are an amazing woman!!!  Great picture and I can't wait to see the one of you climbing.  How long after your mx did you get back into being so active?  I just can't imagine the energy involved in doing some of those things you do. 

    Wanda - If your PS suggests 50 I would go with that.  I had 60cc after the initial 250cc during my surgery and I felt that my PS was pushing it.  It was quite painful the next day and for 3 days after.  I didn't feel anything other than pressure at the fill but by 4 - 6 hours later I was very uncomfortable.  Give 50cc a try and see how the next few days go. 

    Lisa - DRAINS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The greatest feeling ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm doing a happy dance for you. I just got a blast of sad as I was thinking about this though...we are all over joyed for you for some of the small mercies that come with this crappy disease....who would have thought the drain removal would be enough to bring us to a happy dance!!!!  Remember the days when we wouldn't have had a clue what pleasure that could bring?? 

    I need to get out of this bit of a funk I've been in the last couple of days.  I hate that I feel so up for a long while and then out of the clear blue sky I get a few days where I just want things to go back to how they were before November 20th...pre bc.....I'm having a pity party.  My husband lost an uncle to leukemia on Monday so it has been a tough week.. Damn CANCER!!!!! Hate it, hate it hate it!  I got my referral for genetic testing last Friday and maybe that is what set these nasty feelings off again. Now I am worried about what genes I'll be passing on to my children and grandchildren.  My poor little granddaughter has two surviving bc grandma's and one great grandma and one great grandma that was taken by the nasty disease.  Doesn't she just have the worst gene pool available?  Enough of this feeling sorry for myself...gotta get to work!!!

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited March 2009

    Sandy!! I just emailed you! Thank you so much for the confidence booster! I needed that today!!

    Janet! I feel for you, the worse thing is not being able to have coffee!

    Lisa! WOW! you are a star! Zumba one week after surgery, you are my hero! :)

    have a great day everyone!

    Lorraine ox

  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Member Posts: 151
    edited March 2009

    Yvonne -- I don't know why I can't stop feeling funky either, and I hate it too.  I wonder if I'll ever again have a day where I don't think about cancer? Sigh...I certainly haven't had one since August.

    Wanda -- I had 200 ccs initially in my expander.  After two weeks, I got 100 cc fills every week. After 800cc total, my ps said I could stop, or I could go for being bodacious. I got foob greed, and ended up with 1000 ccs finally (800 cc implant). I was usually sore the day of the fill and the day after, but nothing that Advil couldn't handle. I traded having a little discomfort for getting filled faster (since I knew I would have to wait four months between the last fill and my exchange). I guess I was just lucky I didn't hurt more.

    Diane

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited March 2009

    Yvonne, PM me your email address and I will send you some pics.

     Yvonne and Diane, I know what you mean about being in a funk, its weird, I feel great for a while and then BAM! hits me oh c..p!! I had breast cancer,(I prefer to say had!). I think its the nature of the beast and I consider it my new "normal" .  I am having my genetic counselling thingy on April 8th, it was supposed to be today, but as I am leaving for Chicago at 3am tomorrow morning, I postponed it until April 8th, plus I need to talk to my mum about my dad's side of the family which I know nothing about LOL!! I had to fill out this big questionnaire about family history and it was pretty much blank! Yvonne, sorry about your husband's uncle, thats awful, no wonder you feel funky, I hope everyone has a great day and feel better!

    Lorraine ox

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 916
    edited March 2009

    Yikes, I don't want to leave anyone out, so will just send a huge hug to all: ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 0 )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    Everyone please be gentle with yourselves.....cancer is such a scarey word, but we all know now, that it's only a word.  And we've kicked the cra*** out of it.  As such, we are stronger than ever before.  As they say, "a woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is till you put her in hot water".  Amen. 

    We've got some good cups of tea.  For all in genetic consult;  oh so scarey.  But remember, knowlege is power.  More info to kick cancer's a***. 

    We are tough, we are winning, and as far as cancer, just say to it "Oh yeah?  Well, don't even start with me, because you will LOSE."  The second time around, I just got majorly pissed off.

    Go into valkyrie mode girls.  You are all warriors. 

    love to all

    annie

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    Oh Annie - you made me cry!! But a good kind of cry...Thanks for the cyber pick-me up.

    Lorraine - I pm'd you...thanks for the understanding and kind words.

    Don't know what I'd do without you all!  (Did that sound a little southern, y'all!)

  • swest
    swest Member Posts: 140
    edited March 2009

    OK ladies, I've been lurking in this thread for about a month.  You all are such a tight group of friends with a great knowledge of this whole reconstruction process so I'm here to ask some questions.

    I opted for bilateral mx with delayed reconstction in October 2008.  Now that I'm done with chemo and no rads are necessary I am starting my reconstruction.  I met with my PS last week and he said he would use the allergen TE's and mentioned something about 600's.  I cannot find any information on the dimensions on these TE's.  Can anyone point me in the right direction.  I have my pre-op appt. on 4-13.  My TE placement surgery is on 4-27.  That was my PS first available surgury date.  You can't tell the ecomomy is bad by his date book......Kiss

    Any help would be appreciated.  I am 5'9' and 180 lbs (gained 20 lbs during chemo).  I'm working on droping the weight.  My biggest concern is that with my large chest (ribs) I will loose projection.  I'm hoping to at least be a C cup (my original size).

    Thank you to anyone who has any suggestions or can help!

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited March 2009

    I'm at work and only have 3 minutes of my break left so can't look all up

    but I think he's saying 600cc

    they have style 133 (I think)

    which come in different sizes also

    short,  high (forget the rest lol )

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited March 2009

    here's the one (Natrelle/mcghan)

    http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mcghan_specs.htm

    ok I'm late...

  • swest
    swest Member Posts: 140
    edited March 2009

    Thank you Sandy.  I will check this out.

    Sonia

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