Exchange City
Comments
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Wow I've had a good day.
I was able to have lunch with a friend than met my PS and she thinks things look great
she told me my new nipple shouldn't shrink as much since she used AlloDerm yea : - )
Tonight I had supper with my breast cancer group breast of friends
We had 2 new gals tonight
one was 36 and the other was 26. It still shocks me the young gals that can get breast cancer.
Tonight when I got home I had 2 e-mail from the Project Athena gals so I'm very happy
I haven't received the grant yet but it's looking good yea : - )
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digger....I just had exchange on rt last week and aug on left. The right is doing fine, but the left is oooh so painful....probably worse than when the expander was put in. I do have a lump under the incision that is driving me crazy.....The left is very swollen and the right is not. Anyway, right now they look very uneven on the projection. I know that the sillicon has to settle and fluff, but was just wondering if you were experiencing the uneveness at 10 days out? I am so hopping that I will not need a revision. ( I also was an A and probably am suppose to be a C on both sides)
Thanks for any input, advice, etc!
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morning gals
well yesterday afternoon and last night I used my foam piece the PS gave me
Only to find out this morning when I went to shower that it moved while I slept and smashed my poor nipple all night : (
Now I have it taped if I'm not doing that I'm going back to the bowl trick
So much for trying to baby my nipple
OMG I'm going to get it for nipple abuse lol
hmmm I'd rather Rick get it for that ; )
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Sandy, it sounds like you had a great day yesterday!! I went to my follow-up appt with my PS yesterday and he was really happy with how things were going. I asked him about how careful I have to be about flattening the nipples, and he asked me why I was asking, so I told him that I know some women who have had problems with their nipples going flat. He said that the biggest issue is if the skin has been radiated, but that if there is a good blood supply, that's the main thing that will keep the tissue plump and the nip from going flat. He said it's really pretty hard to permanently flatten a nipple just by wearing a bra or sleeping on it. I thought that was pretty interesting -- not exactly what my impression had been before. Anyway, he told me I can shower now if I'm very careful -- apparently the skin-grafted areolas are very fragile for awhile. He said if I rub with a towel, they could actually just come off in my hand - eek! I got a peek when he removed the rest of the gauze and they're pretty ugly right now, swollen and bruised -- but I think I'm going to like the results!
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Sheila and I thought you were going to tell him I know this crazy gal that's wearing a bowl so she don't flatten hers lol
Thanks for sharing what your PS said
That makes me feel better also
Since you had the skin graft style now that makes since why you couldn't take a shower as soon as me.
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Hi all: Just checking in quickly........Laura, I love you too!!!!!!!!!!! And a big ol' WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to you for last rads.
Honey, my boob looked like red meat , hamburger actually post rads. This too, shall fade. If you want to fade it quicker, speak to your PS about "flashing" you with a laser treatment. but keep it moisturized, and it will fade, just a tan, right? You did the right thing, anything we can do to kill this beast, we should and will. Hindsight, always 20/20, but for you, this is a good thing! More ammo for you down the road.
Sandy, amazing, amazing, I cannot wait!!! And the cool whip container? God love you for the great laugh. Since I've got a huge high beam on the natural girl, old Saggy Aggy, I need one on the newbie too. I'll be joining you in cool whip.
love to all:
annie
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OK, so I just took a shower, and got my first REAL look at the new nips -- WOW!!! Oh my gosh, ladies, this makes just the world of difference! Even as bruised and swollen as they are now, I have areolas and NIPS again!! My boobs look real again! That was just so exciting to me! I probably would have been a LITTLE pickier about the placement if I could have visualized it better beforehand. I think they're both just a touch too close to the center. But overall, WOW! What a difference! And I put a little bralet on afterward to hold the dressings in place so I wouldn't have to use tape, and there's even a difference in projection -- of course the dressings are part of that, but I could see my nips through the bra, and it was just so exciting.
The rest of the world would think I'm nuts to get so excited over fake nips, but it's so good to come here where all of my Ta Ta sisters understand. This is just too cool, and I'm excited for all of you who still have this step coming up!!
Sheila
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Laura
Annie said it's good to keep your breast moisturized
I have a extra cool whip bowl if you want me to send it to you lol
I know it sounds crazy but at least it keeps the lotion off your shirts and you don't have to walk around topless well unless it's just you and your hubby. But maybe make sure the blinds are shut and the doors are locked so your boys don't pop in on you.
Sheila
too think a couple weeks ago you were wondering whether you should go through with this phase
I'm so happy you did
I agree from looking at the pix... it really finishes the whole look
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I know, Sandy, I was thinking the same thing -- I am SO glad I went ahead with it!!
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I just bumped up a thread on the private pix forum of the skate flap style nipple
It's JetJ thread
she had awesome results
check it out if you'd like to see
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I meet with my PS today, very disappointing visit. No revision or exchange of the 410(s) for soft gel till September at the earliest.
When I asked about the dents and dimples, he just explained why they are there (duh) and shrugged when I asked what could be done about it.
He also said the dents and dimples might be worse with soft gel implants, and that tear drop soft touch gel implants are not available in the US.
I am so upset about this, I am now afraid that if I go with the soft implant, i might look worse, and though I look good in cloths, naked my breasts look so different from each other, my BF thinks they look great and does not mind the hardness, but to me it so does not look like me.
I feel bad complaining since my nipples survived and no new cancer was found, but its just so upsetting.
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Bigapple - It is your body and you are the one having to deal w/ all this - complain away my dear! We can all relate!!! I don't have any magic words, just that I care!
Sandy - Nipple abuse?!? My oh my, that would be a serious charge!
Sheila - So cool that you love your new nips!!!!
Laura - So cool that you are done w/ your rads!!
Baxter - Best wishes to my surgery buddy. We will do great tomorrow!
I am off to take a short walk and go out to dinner. I plan to try to relax tonight. I have a friend flying into take care of me post surgery, so don't worry if I don't post. I may be too busy talking!!
Love ya all - Jean
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Good luck tomorrow Jean!! and Baxter too!
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Baxter and Jean.. I am doing the Happy dance for you! Good luck tomorrow.. it WILL work out this time Baxter.. and Jean... this will be a one time thing for you...
.. what implants are you going for Jean.. I forgot... GOOD LUCK and mucho prayer!Yesterday ladies.. how are you doing???
This week ladies.. I hope you are all healing well!
Blessings!
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Sandy/Annie.. yes.. I am using the Lotion..
I think I am going to take a few pictures of my rads skin.. as I just finished.. Actually.. my doctor thinks I had one of the best results after rads... my expander has not moved or anything.. and my skin looks "great" he said... we'll see.. But I do think I will take a few pictures to show others out there .. those. like me... FOUGHT rads all the way...LOL..
Off for my photo shoot...:)
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Jean, GOOD LUCK with your surgery tomorrow!! I can't wait to be jealous of you when you have nice soft boobs you can sleep with! What a lovely luxury! You are in my prayers...
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Jean.....Good luck tomorrow. You know I wish the best for you and I'm glad that little set back did not affect your exchange date. I wish you softness and comfort and healing.
Kathie
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I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing really well post op. This 2nd exchange was much easier. I still have some incision pain and pain from the skin graft for the nipple but it is manageable with pain meds and ice.
I love the style 20 and really happy to have the 410 gummy gone. This implant is bigger but feels so much better already. So far it looks good but I won't really get to see it until next wed at my post op appointment when the bandages are removed. This new implant is not as heavy and a lot softer already even with the swelling.
Thanks for all the support, you guys are great!
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BigApple & Sandy....Thank you for the info. I guess I am doing everything I should. I had stage I invasive lobular cancer and the tumor was .8cc. My ONCODX score was 19. I had no chemo and no radiation. Sometimes I worry about it showing up somewhere else. My mother had the same as me at age 53. My sister tested negative for the BRACA gene. Thank you again...I was just having a little panic attack.
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Coffee:
When you get a good look, please let me knowhow the shape is, I want to have my gummies exchanged, PS wont do it till 6 mos post mast, and he has me worried now about what I'll look like.
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Coffee.. CONGRATS! Thank you so much for checking in with us!!!
((((( KATHIE))))) I have missed your posts...
I have posted radiation pictures on the picture forum if any of you have bc friends, or know of someone.. who needs to see what radiated expanders look like. This was a really really big fear fo mine and I had NO pictures to look at.. so I hope I can help someone.
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Laura, I just looked at your pix...and by the way I hope my implants look as good as your expanders! Looks like you are headed for great results! Congrats on finishing your rads...I cannot even imagine how hard that must have been. You did a nice job with the pix...it is a great resource, as is your info on how you are managing dry skin. Thanks be to God, that part is behind you now...when are you planning to exchange?
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Sandy,
My husbands mother passed away from breast cancer when she was 27 years old. My husband, and only child, was just 5 years old. That was back in 1968, a time when it was thought that women in their 20's didn't get breast cancer. She did go to her doctor but he gave her the old "lets wait and see". By the time the doctor decided to take it seriously, it was too late.
Thankfully, today doctor's take lumps seriously at any age.
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Dianne, I agree with you. I think its no so much that it is more prevelant, its that it is caught more often now. I had my first lumpectomy at age 24...and countless ones after that. Unfortunately, you are never too young.....
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Good luck tomorrow Baxter - Thinking about you and hoping for the best((((((((((((((((Jean))))))))))))))))))))) One more sleep, just one more sleep!! It's finally your turn!! Sending lots of blue hugs your way cause I know just how much you like them!
Hugs and lots of prayers for a speedy, easy recovery.0 -
DIANNE.. HOW hard for your hubby... Mom then you... did he about loose his mind the day you told him.. or the day you two found out together? WOW... life is something!
THANK YOU ONCRN... I just hope I help someone who was as afraid as I was 10 months ago...
I will not get exchange until Oct. at the earliest.. and I will MAKE sure I do...LOL LOL.....
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Big Apple if you really don't want to wait 6 months you could consider seeing a new PS
Or if you tell your PS you're going to do that maybe your PS won't make you wait
When my PS left town and I had to find a new one...
the 1st PS I saw said he won't touch me for 6 months
so I went to another PS and she did my 2nd exchange just 2 month after my 1st exchange.
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Coffee thanks for coming back and sharing
do you plan to post pix to show the old and teh new and improved : - ) ?
Diane that had to be so scary for your hubby to hear you also have BC
Thank goodness they have better treatment now
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Hey gals, I also posted on the April Reconstructioneers, but just thought I'd drop a line here also. I'm back from exchange surgery and doing fine. My PS doesn't wrap, or recommend a surgical bra so I was able to see the results right away. A little disappointing I must say!
My PS overexpands by 100 ccs, so I was expanded to 550 and 600 and got 450 and 500 HP silicone implants. It looks like I'll be doing good just to fill an A cup! No kidding!! I guess I'm not going to worry about it right now, it just feels great to be rid of the hard bowling balls. Maybe I'll get some miraculous fluffing!! (And to think I was worried I was going too big!! My expanders looked huge, more like C cup size!)Good luck to the rest of the ladies this week!!
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Big Apple
I just left the pictures forum after talking with Mook [Mookaite] who has had great success with fat grafts addressing her implant ripples and lack of upper pole fullness. She said she "cried" when her breasts were unveiled after the fat grafting procedure - they looked so nice and "normal" at last. They are also using Sculptra as a filler for step-off defects [perhaps ripples also] - where fat grafting fails. I agree with Sandy....just get a second opinion - a consultation elsewhere. My impression is that if your PS had no comment or even thoughts of how he might address revisions for your ripple defects, he is not the one I would want fixing the problem. Go over to the pictures forum and PM Mookaite and look at her photos. I have ripples and I have silicone implants. We are going to try fat grafting and if that does not do the trick, I will get the extra full profile implants by Allergan.
On another note: The 410's just do not appear to be the solution for everyone. There are a number of people for whom they are just the perfect fit. The fit for the anatomicals seem to have the requirement of the pocket being more a bit more technically exacting than do saline or silicone rounds. But before you throw the baby out with the bath water, consider obtaining another opinion. If we can help you out further, please let us know. If you have not done so already, post your photos in the pictures forum so that we can give you some input.
We hope you get some answers to your concerns....we just know how important this phase of healing is for many women....the cosmetic result of reconstruction is HUGE and you have every reason to pursue answers to these concerns!!!
Deborah
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