One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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The bowl is exquisite. Looks like lace drapped around the top edges. Probably best that I don't live near your studio, Fortunate1. I would be adding to my clay art collection! I'll have to take some pictures of a few of my favorite pieces and see if I can figure out how to post them.
There was a woman named Carol Holland (same initials as mine!) in my golf foursome today. It turns out she is a bc survivor, too, dx in 2004. She had DCIS, 1.5 cm. Chose lumpectomy and underwent radiation and 4 chemo treatments. I was surprised about the chemo for DCIS. She said she consulted two oncologists and they both recommended it. Her onc prescribed Arimidex. She took it only a short while because the SEs were worse than chemo for her. I have to wonder if there isn't overkill in some instances in bc treatment.
One of the other women golfers presented quite a contrast to most of the ladies in the tournament. Karen is an engineer doing contract work for Charter Comm, a cable co. She has very large, colorful tattoes on both legs between the knees and ankles. Tattoes are not a common sight in this group of country club women! I rode in a cart with Karen and enjoyed her company very much. She was one of our two long hitters.
I got lots of hugs today from golfing friends/acquaintances who were glad to see that I was back to playing golf. I'm getting almost no distance with my driver and fairway clubs. But it was nice to be able to participate and meet some new women golfers.
Okiegal and Fortunate1, tell us about Rebecca's. Is it a fancy restaurant? What are the specialties?
Julie and Tracy, hope you're doing well today with your treatments. Let us know how you're feeling.
Hi to Meg and Yearofthehat and I am OK.
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We have an art exhibit! Love your bowl, Fortunate1....Icy lace encroaching on an ocean of blue.
I envy your Rebecca's restaurant experience. We must have been at different places. The Rebecca's I visited was a quick lunch place with a variety of salads, soups, sandwiches and pizzas. All made to order and good for the price, but nothing close to Rabbit and Papparadelle.
Itching must be my expression of pain, but medicine is holding it at bay. I get to remove bandages tomorrow AM and will see the PS tomorrow afternoon. I know the unveiling will be a bit gruesome, but I'm excited to see something like a nipple. Until tomorrow....good night all.
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I wonder if it is a different restaurant, or if Rebecca's has sadly changed. It was close to the center of everything, walking distance from the Plaza. Rebecca was enormous, queen of the place, you could get pizza. I've got to go back to Boston sometime.
Good luck tomorrow with the unveiling. Let us know.
Carole, Your golf game sounds great, especially the bit of spice that Karen must have provided. Reconnecting with friends, wonderful. You're playing quite a bit now. I imagine a changed body means a changed swing. I find myself very aware of differences.
Tracy! Julie! How're you doing?
You are all so nice to me. Maybe this isn't as hard as I thought. An older piece from my wholesale days, maybe even Boston. A perfume bottle, porcelain, stoneware and glass.
Good night all,
J
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Fortunate1, You have a great gift. I love the bowl and perfume bottle. The bowl reminds me of walking on the beach. The wave comes in and as it goes back, it leaves white little bubbles in the sand. I hope your work is in a gallery...if it's not, it should be.
Okiegal, Good luck with your PS appointment. I am so happy for you. I wish I had your courage to go through nipple reconstruction. At my last visit, my PS dismissed me. No tweaking...no reconstruction. She shipped me off to a tattoo appointment. I was not impressed with the tattoos. My breasts are not round and I worry how tattoos will look.
Have to work today. It is sunny today and in the 60's. I hope you all have a good day.
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The perfume bottle is gorgeous. I know I wouldn't be able to resist it! Just showed it to DH along with the other pieces, and he was impressed. You're a real artist, Fortunate1. I'm struck by the variety in your work. Have you ever done "functional" or utilitarian pottery, like sets of dinner plates and such? I tried my hand at that when I was playing with being an amateur potter and came to appreciate the skill of being able to duplicate something. Everything I made was one of a kind!
Dh is a skilled woodworker. Back in those years when I spent hours in my pottery studio making things, we entered a couple of crafts shows together. We called ourselves Catspaw Studio because on one occasion, I had thrown some plates and left them sitting on a work table overnight. One of our two cats walked on them and left clear prints! In the crafts shows, I put very reasonable prices on my pottery because basically I needed to get rid of it and buy some more clay to play with. Lots of people bought my pieces! I had made some casserole dishes with lids that fit pretty well. Goodness knows what happened if the buyers tried to cook with them. Some pieces I labelled as "decorative," like sawdust fired vases and such. Dh had some lovely wood items that people admired but didn't buy because they weren't as cheap as my pottery. And people do love pottery.
I had an extensive library on pottery making and glaze mixing, etc. I experimented with slab building and also hand rolled coils and made some nice large pieces. I still have some of them. My skill on the wheel was too limited to make a tall vase or bowl, so I got around that limitation with hand-building.
Meg9, I wish you would consider finding a new PS. Maybe you could communicate with some other bc ladies on this website who live in your general area and get some recommendations. It might be helpful to get another professional opinion of your reconstruction results. In doing so, you wouldn't be obligated to have any type of "revision" or "tweaking."
Okiegal, the suspense is getting to me! Fingers crossed that you really really like the new nipples.
Nice day today with Dh, though the credit card got a bit of a workout. We made stops at 6 different stores and then treated ourselves to a good lunch. Minutes after we'd arrived home and gotten items put away, we had a heavy downpour. Our temp. is high 80's and the humidity is also in the 80 per cent range.
Hope everyone is doing well.
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Sorry for the suspense. I was waiting to post after my PS appointment. I thought it was today, but it's tomorrow. I'm also reluctant to post because I'm upset. I am having terrible (maddening) itching of the left breast with redness. I talked to the PS office when they called to confirm tomorrow's appointment. The receptionist said "I'll transfer you to the nurse." I was relieved, but when "the nurse" answered, it was the medical assistant. I said, "Oh, I'm confused, I thought I was being transferred to the nurse. I didn't know you were a nurse." She reassured me that she was a nurse, but she's not! She's a medical assistant. There's a big difference. She totally lied to me! There has been a lot of confusion lately with the PS office. He used to have a nurse, but since the move, he doesn't have one and it shows. No one can coherently answer the simplest question and I can't talk to him. I feel like the medical assistant just makes it up as she goes. She always repeats the question and then answers. I've lost confidence in my PS all of a sudden and I feel like a homeowner who is getting the run around from a contractor. I shouldn't feel this way. Not now, two days after surgery and with stitches, blood and unhealed incisions. My mother came by and checked me. She was a real nurse and said it might just be irritation from the surgery. At least I'm taking antibiotics.
Although it's exciting to see nipples again,,they are very uneven and my breasts look extremely flat now because of the skin that was taken up to make the nipples. I asked my PS about flattening before surgery and he said it wouldn't be a problem (but I already had that issue. Now it's worse. I don't know if it will stretch) I also positioned EKG pads before surgery where I wanted the nipples and they weren't uneven. My sister even used a level! I'm willing to wait and see how everything turns out. Maybe it's swelling and everything will heal okay, but right now I'm very upset and I'm not sure how much of this I should bring up at tomorrows appointment. I'm thinking I should keep my mouth shut about the "nurse" and just focus on myself.
On a much nicer note....Fortunate1, your work is absolutely gorgeous. I know it's not easy, but you owe it to yourself to market your work effectively. You are talented and experienced and have a good start with such professional photos.
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Okiegal, I am so sorry that the healing isn't going smoothly for you. It had better be the PS who sees you tomorrow. Ask him about the flatness, the unevenness, he has to know that it's a major, major concern and he should tell you what to expect. Definitely concentrate on yourself, your concerns and your healing. Leave the irritating "nurse" until last if there's time. It's a good thing you have your mother to look at the incisions. Would a cold pack relieve the itching?
Thank you all for your lovely comments on my work. And about the photos too, I love doing the photography, though I never do enough of it and beautiful pieces are sold and escape. I marketed my work for years, 15 I think, before returning to selling locally and starting the teaching. The local market is small, and getting smaller. The best gallery in town has closed after becoming a shadow of it's former glory. Ranging out farther is an obvious possibility but I always hated shipping, and what I do now is so much harder to ship. But an answer will come as I think on it. Mostly I need to get out of the slump that death and disease has made in my life. I need an excess of work to sell.
Carole, Isn't it fun? Catspaw Studio! I wish I could see your work, can you post? And wish I could teach you. Well, if you're ever in the neighborhood.... My work is all functional, just on the farther edge of it. The tray serves things like the broiled figs I took to the potluck, and that bowl ends up with salad or mashed potatoes in it on Thanksgiving. Perfume isn't my thing, so I've never put one of those to use. I have some small figure sculptures, and think it would be pretty theraputic to do some more.
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Hello, Everyone!
I am sorry I am not posting often, I am not such a good writer as all you ladies. But anyway I am feeling I am part of you group and really concerned about how everyone is doing.
okiegal, don't be upset, I think it is too soon now and finally everything will turn out well.
Fortunate1, I like you works , both tray and bowl look very nice.
Tomorrow is the last day before my surgery. I had Appt with BS today, told her I am not scared about surgury itself , just very nervous about biopsy results. She assured that the cancer was gone and I need to think that the Mx is the only preventive step, but I've been misdiagnosed so many times since last January, so I am still worrying even though I am hoping for the best.
Good night and all the best to you all !
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Good Morning Everyone,
Okiegal, I'm sorry you're so upset. I think you have to give yourself some time to heal before you'll see the final results.
I don't blame you for being upset with your PS office. You have every right to be. This visit should be all about you. You could ask your PS who you should speak too if you have a medical question and he is not available. That would be the time to question the ability of his assistant giving you medical advice.
I hope you're feeling better today. Good luck with your appointment.
I-am-OK, I have been thinking about you and I'm glad you posted before your surgery on Friday. You are a part of this group. I have no problem understanding your writing.
I was not afraid of the surgery either...just the dx. You will be fine. Please let us know how you your doing. I will be thinking of you. Good luck on Friday.
I hope Tracy and Julie are OK.
I have to get to work early today. I'm meeting with a supply organist who will playing on Sunday; and getting things ready for the council meeting tonight...but first I will say a little prayer for all me friends here to be happy and healthy.
It is cold and we are expecting heavy rain for the next couple of days.
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Glad you checked in, I_am_OK. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow on your surgery day. Mine was a Friday, too. It seems like a long time ago now.
Okiegal, I agree that it's too soon to tell the outcome of your latest procedure. I'm hoping you'll be happy with the new you once everything has healed.
I woke up feeling very achy this morning. Partly a result of my weight workout yesterday morning. Did lunges holding hand weights and also some arm exercises with weights. Very telling that I've lost strength. Before bc, I lifted 20 lbs on the right side and 15 lbs on the left. Down to 15 on the right and 10 on the left. No wonder I've lost distance in my golf game. Tomorrow morning I have a golf lesson scheduled with a young man at a nearby Nevada Bob's store.
Today is my mother's hair apptment. We'll also pay a short visit to inspect the new baby in the family, my nephew's daughter, who arrived a couple of weeks ago.
Weather forecaster promises a beautiful weekend of sunshine and cooler temperatures. Today a repeat of yesterday and many former days lately, hot and humid and possibly wet.
Meg9, what kind of church do you attend? I was thinking Catholic until you mentioned council meeting.
Hope we all have a good Thursday.
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A big hug for you I_am_OK, I'm another well wisher that will be thinking about you tomorrow. It sounds as though you are in very good hands.
Okiegal, How was the PS visit? Did he give you the answers you deserve? Hope the itching and redness has subsided and you're feeling better (and that you didn't have to deal with the medical assistant).
Carole, I didn't answer your question..... yes there have been many dinnerware sets in my past. None right now, though. The last one didn't get picked up and DH grabbed it to keep. A danger and a blessing, he calls himself the curator of the permanent collection. And yes, I like a lot of variety in my work, especially after being relatively confined by the wholesale work. I am only now thinking about going back to the style that I made my little reputation with.
Meg, have you ever dealt with dueling organists? I was once part of a church that had two organists competing with each other. It was funny and sad and quite stressful.
No walk today, a visit from the termite inspector instead. Bad girl, but lots of work to get done. I'll check in later.
Have a good day everyone. It's very beautiful here, blue sky and bird song.
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The new little great-niece, Halle, is beautiful. So perfect at 2 weeks old! Lovely skin and a perfectly shaped little mouth. Very long slender fingers. So much fun to visit and look at her. Just as glad for others to have the responsibility of rearing her!
It's martini time, but no martini for me. Just a small glass of wine. Fewer calories and less alcohol. Will check in later before bedtime.
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Hi Everybody,
Okiegal, I hope you are OK. I remember you saying that you have sensitive skin. Maybe that's why you're itching. My skin got irritated by the antiseptic they used on me before surgery. It will get better.
Fortunate1, No dueling organist ...thank goodness. Our regular organist is taking two weeks off. A supply organist, who will be filling in for him came today to get familiar with our pipe organ.
Carole, I was born and raised Catholic. I married the kid next door...my high school sweetheart when I was 19. We divorced 5 years later. When I married the DH we were married in a Lutheran Church. We have been attending the same church for 28 years. A Lutheran service is very similar to Catholic mass. I started to volunteer at the church office 4 ½ years ago when the church secretary took ill...brain cancer. I've been there every since. The job has become more then a volunteer position. They have asked me and I am considering becoming a paid worker. It is on the agenda for tonight's council meeting. I would miss the flexibility I currently have as a volunteer, but the extra money would be nice!
Carole, you must be in great shape...lifting 15-20 lbs! Yikes! I'm feeling like a wimp! I was lifting 8 -10. I'm lifting 3-5lbs now! I better get moving! No wonder I'm not losing any weight.
I hope Julie and Tracy are well.
I am OK- Good luck tomorrow. I will be thinking of you.
It rained all day today...a high of 45. I see flurries outside now!
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Hello all--
Thanks for the well wishes. I am doing fine, just had a very busy stretch of days with my uncle visiting from California. Just said good-bye this evening. Mom has four brothers, and he's the one I"m closest too...enjoyed his visit very much.
Okiegal, I hear the pain in your voice. With all that you have been through physically, it isn't right that your emotional needs are not being met to help you cope. I hope your PS was attentive today to how you feel physically and mentally. The appearance of your breasts is important to you and should be important to him! My heart goes out to you and I look forward to hearing how the visit went.
Fortunate 1, the perfume decanter is my favorite. It is a thing of beauty, and obviously had to be created by a beautiful spirit. I would imagine it made you happy just to make it, look at it, hold it...and then sell it :- )
I Am OK...my surgery was recent enough that I still feel a clench in my stomach reading of someone else's. I agree that dx is scarier than surgery--but surgery takes courage, too, and I can tell you have it. Who was it that said there is no courage without fear?
We are brave souls all, aren't we? Yay for us!
Good night to everyone. I'll catch up more this weekend on reading posts...no real news from the radiation front. Just getting pinker and pinker--no pain yet--just the color change.
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Good morning everyone!
I'm thinking of I-AM-OK...hoping and praying that all goes well and that we hear good news soon. Please write as often as you like. You write very well. Thank you for joining us!
Thank you everyone for your encouraging words. The itching began to subside yesterday about mid-day. I'm still itchy, but at least now I can move and I don't feel so crazy. I'm taking pain medication and that seems to help. My PS was concerned about the redness yesterday. He didn't know exactly why I was having such problems, but gave me a new antibiotic prescription just in case. He was very attentive and reassured me that he had followed my placement of the nipples and that it was too soon to tell where they will end up. He is a very nice man, is knowledgeable and seems to truly care about his patients. His staff is very nice, but young and seemingly undereducated. I'll eventually tell him about my experience. The "nurse's" name tag indicated she is still a medical assistant.....My sister went with me. She not only drove, but provided moral support. We had the most difficult time getting to the appointment. There was a wreck with traffic backed up, closed roads due to construction and the resulting traffic tie ups. What would normally take 20-25 minutes took 45 minutes and we were late. After the appointment, we saw another wreck and then at the drugstore, I called 911 because a man drove into the parking lot with his car on fire! It was quite the exciting afternoon!
Having nipples seems so normal. Eventhough they are swollen, with tape, blood and stitches, they seem like mine already. I guess after 49 years of looking down and seeing nipples, there isn't much of an adjustment to getting used to them. I like that aspect of all of this. It feels right and that feels good. If they heal well and don't go flat, I think I'll be happy to have them.
Carole, you must have been in good shape! The heaviest I have lifted since surgery is 8 or 10 pounds.Your new niece sound delightful and so precious.
Meg9 - Churches are interesting places. I used to go to a Presbyterian church with a beautiful pipe organ and a very talented organist who was Seventh Day Adventist. Awesome. Nothing like a pipe organ to rattle the rafters!
TracyAnne, family can be such a joy. Glad you had a nice visit.
It's been dreary here, but the sun is supposed to shine today and through the weekend. Ah, I'm feeling happier already.
To fortunate1 and everyone else, hope you all have a good, productive day!
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Good Morning Everyone,
Okiegal, I'm so glad your visit with the PS went well. I bet in two weeks you'll be smiling at those nipples!
What an adventure you had to get to your PS appointment!Well, the DH came home from the council meeting last night and I am officially the Parish Administrator. I'm not sure about this new position. As a volunteer, I came and went as I pleased. For now that has not changed. A new pastor is coming Nov 29th so who knows might happen. Hopefully, she will leave things as they are.
I am OK, I'm thinking of you and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Carole, I used to bring my mother to the supermarket to do her shopping. She refused to buy fruits and vegetable there because she didn't think they were fresh enough. So, after the supermarket we had to go the fruit market about 3 blocks away. After that, we went to the neighborhood deli to buy cold cuts, because she did not like the brand sold at the supermarket! Every week it was an adventure!
Year of the Hat, Carole, Fortunate1, Tracy and Julie..I hope you all have a great day and a good weekend.
It's still cold and raining today. Only a high of 40 today.
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Tracy, I'm glad you checked in with us. Pinker and pinker but no pain sounds like it's going very well for you. How nice to have a favorite visitor.
Okiegal, you sounds so much happier. I wonder if the itching was an allergic reaction rather than an infection. Could Benadryl help? It sounds as though it has resolved itself. It gave me a wave of happiness to hear of you looking down on normal breasts and nipples. Yours already. It makes me want to pursue the possibility farther. I am so happy for you.
Meg, congratulations! I hope the hours will still be flexible for you.
Carole, I am also impressed with the weights. I handle a lot of weight, but with lots of pushing, pulling and lifting. I wonder if I could do what you do? Your little great-niece sounds so lovely. There is nothing like beautiful baby skin.
I_Am_OK, thinking of you today.
I'm off, have a great day everyone. Hope YearoftheHat and JulieL are thriving.
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Tracy, good to hear from you.
Meg, I'm impressed. Parish Administrator! Your new title means you'll receive some pay for what you do anyway! Good deal. The church is very lucky to have someone so capable and conscientious. Interesting that you have a female pastor.
Okiegal, you don't know how relieved I was to read your upbeat post. The trip to the PS apptment sounds nervewracking, but he was able to reassure you, thank goodness. Gradually those nipples, perfect or not, are going to become a part of you. That's how I've come to regard my not-so-perfect breasts, as me.
I Am OK, we're all thinking about you today and hoping your name says it all.
I really enjoyed my golf lesson this morning. It took place in the fitting room at a nearby Nevada Bob store. I hit off a mat into a big net. Fancy machines measured swing speed, launch angle, etc. The young man, Jared, is very nice and gave me some instruction that I hope will improve my golf swing and game. Meanwhile it's so wet that our club driving range is closed so I'll have to wait until Mon. or Tues. to practice and try to implement the suggestions.
The front came through with lightning and thunder during the night. This morning it's cool with a north wind. Temp. will not rise higher than low 70's. This is the weather we've been waiting for.
The rest of the day I'll catch up on some household tasks that need doing.
Fortunate1, hope you have a happy productive day.
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Hi Everyone,
I hope this finds you all well and ready for the weekend.
Okiegal, I hope you are feeling better and everything is settling. I am planning the same surgery in December and will follow your progress. My PS feels that I won't be happy until the nipples are complete but sometimes I am apprehensive because of the outcome. Oh well, I guess we have to take the chance and pray for the best.
I have had 12 hyperbaric treatments so far with three more to go. I saw the PS yesterday and he said that they looked great and he is totally happy with the healing of the problem area. Thank God. One less surgery in my future. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I seriously don't think I could get through alot of this without the advice and support from some of the women that post.
Thank you all for your kindness.
JulieL
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So good to hear from you JulieL. You've had 12 hyperbaric treatments? I thought you were only going to have about 5? I guess you are getting used to them by now. Isn't that what Micheal Jackson was using to stay young? It sounds like it is helping. I'm sure you are relieved to finally be turning the corner.
I am feeling better today. I think my central nervous system is confused and over reacting to the slightest stimulation. Tape is extremely irritating and this little surgery shouldn't have been a big deal or so I've read. I'll probably visit a pain specialist in a few weeks and see if I can get "reset" and get on with my life. I'll have to wait a few weeks to give you my final opinion about the nipples. If it hasn't compromised the shape of the breasts, I'll be happy. I was pleased with the way things were looking, but am having my doubts about the shape since the nipple surgery. My breasts look square. I'm hoping it's just swelling. Things sure changed a lot since my original mastectomy, they could do the same now. Time will tell. At the very least, I wouldn't rush into another surgery after what you've had to endure. Your surgeon will always want to do the surgery. The question is whether you want to do it. It's a difficult decision to make, but I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Congradulations Meg9! Maybe you can tell the new pastor that you've always been able to come and go as you please?! Certainly she wouldn't want to rock the boat?! LOL
Have a nice weekend everyone!
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Good evening everyone. I did have a productive day, lots of happy students. Then a visit with Dad. I finally started going through Mom's clothes. I packed up all but one of her sweaters and all of her underwear, and that's all I could stand. More later. They smell faintly of perfume and the sweaters each had a tissue in the pocket so she wouldn't have to look for one. I kept a lovely coat and a surprise, some graceful taupe leather gloves with tiny stitching going up the arm. The clothes will go to a nursing home in Mexico. Dad is looking good.
JulieL, It's so good to hear from you, and with good news. That is a lot of time in the hyperbaric chamber. You're an expert! And healed. What a load off your mind.
Okiegal, you sound better with each post. Can't wait to hear about your progress. Our plastic surgeons hopefully have a clear idea how our bodies will end up looking. I guess our part is a combination of patience and probably readjustment. Not very easy.
Carole, Do you like to watch thunderstorms? DH and I sometimes get up in the middle of the night to take in the show. They're much rarer here, a novelty. Weather report here, 70's or higher, dry and breezy, maybe the start of a Santa Ana.
I_AM_OK, you must be resting in your hospital bed, relieved that it's over. A cyber hug for you. Actually, one for all of you, and have great weekends.
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It's nice to be back. My computer has a virus so I had to bring it in to be fixed. I am using my daughters computer. It is very difficult to pry a computer out of a 20 year olds hands.
Okiegal, I tried to look back to see which nipple reconstruction you did but I couldn't find it. Did you do the skin graft from the groin or did you opt for the tattoo? The plastic surgeon and I decided that we would meet the week before the surgery, take a look at them then make the decision then. It is all scheduled and will be easy to cancel the week before. I work at the hospital where the surgery will take place so it is easily managed. I know what you are saying about making the decision myself. During this last surgery and the hyperbaric treatments I was totally against doing the nipple reconstruction until next year. Now that I am feeling better I want to finish it up this year and start the new year off done with surgery. We will see what the final decision is the first week of December. I, like you, have had excessive itching after each surgery. At first we thought it was the anesthesia but now I think it is the tape. I had a terrible rash under the breast where the incision was. The people in hyperbaric asked me when I finished radiation treatment. I didn't have radiation treatment, that's how red it was. I am thinking of you as you go through this period. It seems that each time we go through a surgery and recovery we wonder when this will ever end.
Michael Jackson did use them to look younger. The only thing that I noticed was that my skin would be blotchy after the treatment and my face broke out really bad. It was like I was going through puberty again. The wound care doctor said it is detoxifying so I guess that's why I broke out. I also noticed that I would be puffy for a couple of hours after the treatment. I was scheduled for 5 but we kept going because it still didn't look the way the PS wanted it to look after the first week.
fortunate1 - I have to tell you that I actually started enjoying the hyperbaric treatment. An hour and 50 minutes with nobody bothering me, no phone calls, just watching TV or a movie. It was actually pretty peaceful. I have one at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, one of the three left that I am scheduled for.
Take care everyone and have a nice weekend.
JulieL
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What a gorgeous day we had here in south Louisiana today. Wore a long-sleeved shirt when I walked. Whoopee! Then jeans for the rest of the day. Leisurely and yet busy enough. Hope everyone else enjoyed their Saturday, too.
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Hello All,
Thanks a lot for your support, wishes ang hugs !
I am at home already. Everything went smooth. Surgery took about 2 hours, and yes, I was releived to hear that my sugery was done. All my doctors - BS, PS, Primary Physician came by to see me in Hospital next day. No much blood, no much pain, no fever, no blood pressure, no nausea, skin looks good (keep my fingers crossed), so they decided I can go home. So far I am feeling good, better than I expected.I have drain only on my left side, not so bad. Breasts are swollen, but PS beleives they will match. We'll see.
Had a 35 minutes walk today, keep going tomorrow.
I am glad that JulieL and Tracy are well with their treatments, and okiegal feels better about the nipples. Meg9, Congradulations with new role!
You all have a nice rest of weekend!!!
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I_am_ok, glad to hear you are home and doing well. Impressive that all three doctors came by to see you!
Walking is good for you, but you'll want to be careful not to overdo...your body will object strongly and suddenly if you do! I think I felt worse on day 4 than I did on the first three.
Take care--are you waiting on a final pathology?
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Good news that your surgery went well and you are home, I_am_Ok. Only one drain? Wow. I had two drains for 9 days. I, too, am impressed that 3 drs. came by to see you. I didn't get out and walk until my 2nd week, so you're really doing well. I second Tracyanne's caution not to overdo it.
Hi to everyone else. Beautiful fall day here today. I wore a sweatshirt today when dh and I went for our 3 mi. walk! This wonderful weather is supposed to last through Tues. Then the temp. rises along with the humidity. But we're definitely over the summer hump now. Oct. and Nov. are usually nice months for enjoying the weather.
Tracyanne, are you back at work teaching? Julie, you have a great attitude toward your treatments. I know nothing about hyperbaric treatments. I'll have to google hyberbaric and see what you've been going through. Didn't even know Michael Jackson had the treatments! Really out of touch!
I'm tolerating the SEs of Arimidex without too much discomfort. The Effexor must be helping with the hot flashes because they aren't too intense and don't last longer than a few minutes. I definitely function better when I exercise and keep moving.
Big game between the NO Saints and the NY Giants today here in NO. We'll watch the game on tv. We never attend them. Eli Manning, the NY quarterback, grew up in NO, so we like to see him do well. Today, though, we're hoping he loses!
Happy Sunday to all!
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Hello Everyone,
I-am-OK, I have been thinking about you. I am glad to hear that you're feeling well....a 35 minute walk already! I agree that you should take it slow and give yourself time to heal. Please let us know how you are doing. I am hoping for a great pathology report. My best to you as you heal.
Okiegal, I hope you're healing well and all itching is gone. Be happy...no more surgeries!
Julie, I admire your attitude toward your hyperbaric treatments. I ‘m glad the treatments worked for you and that you're thinking about nipple reconstruction already! I'm still undecided about nipples. I have ruled out reconstruction, but I am considering 3D tattoos. If I find the right person, I might get them done. Good Luck to you in your next and final step.
Tracy, I wish you well with your radiation treatments. When will you be finished?
Year of the Hat, I hope you're healing well also. No more surgeries for you either!
Carole, Sounds like you had a good weekend. What is the coldest it gets in LA? We had a real winter day yesterday. The temperature was in the low 40's...and rain with bone chilling winds. The cars were covered in frost. Ugh!
I have to work today. I hope everyone has a great Monday.
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Hi everyone,
I_AM_OK, it's great to hear that everything went so smoothly. I want to agree with all the others, please take time to rest and heal. During surgery, sometimes they administer steriods. Steroids and pain medication can make you feel better than you really are. We don't want you to over-do it! Hugs to you!
JulieL, you do have a great attitude. It helps to look at the bright side. I guess we all secretly wish that we could stay younger (with a Hyperbaric Chamber or not), but I never really considered that would probably include acne again! The treatments sound peaceful.
My surgeon used a local flap procedure called the "bowtie" flap. There are a variety of local flap procedures, the "S" flap, a C-V flap, a "star" flap, etc. Very simple, they are all sort of like skin origami to form a nipple. There are also a number of areas on the body that skin can be grafted from and I think there is a way to do a nipple using Alloderm. The skin grafts are more difficult procedures with more chance of infection/rejection (I think). The local flap procedures are done on an out patient or even in office basis. I read a post that compared it to going to the dentist (and only needing Tylenol), but I would characterize it as more involved than that. My surgeon preformed my procedure in an (out patient) operating room under "local with sedation". I did not have to spend time in a recovery room. For me, I was surprised that my pain level was much more. My surgeon prescribed Oxycodone (Percocet) and I have needed it for the intense itching and stinging (I think some of the itching is from the tape and some is a pain response). I never thought I had a low pain threshold, but for some reason I have needed a lot of medication with my mastectomy and now quite a bit with the nipple reconstruction. I guess everyone is different. However, I am bouncing back very quickly and feeling much better each day and everything looks like it is healing well. I hope to start exercising again this week. I'll see my PS tomorrow and get the green light.
Meg9, yes, probably no more surgeries. Actually, I'll have to see if the square look of my breasts diminishes. I'm afraid the nipple surgery may have increased a smallish "dog ear". I'll have to wait and see. I would say, as far as nipples go, wait until you really want to do something. There's no rush to get tattoos or any type of reconstruction. For me, I'm trying to get all my surgery done this year for insurance reasons.
We have a beautiful sunny fall day today. Good for growing winter vegetables! Meg9, hope you stay warm and dry. And to everyone else, have a great day whatever the conditions!
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I_AM_OK, it sounds as though you are recovering like a real champ! I echo the others in cautioning you to be aware of fatigue. Just allow yourself to say "oops, too much" and take a rest. I was reluctant to say that to visitors and got dizzy tired a few times. Hope you are still comfortable today.
In an hour I will be doing something new. I'm getting braces, the invisalign ones. I had braces as a child but my teeth have moved so much since then that their crookedness really bothers me. The process of conversations and approvals between the orthodontist and rheumatologist and oncologist was very interesting.
I had a very full weekend. Saturday, class, then cooking and a little dinner party. Sunday, the baptism of our next door neighbors' beautiful baby, a party afterward, symphony with the in-laws, ushering at night. I was almost dreading the overload, but it was fun (I took a nap).
Interesting, the plays we've been ushering for make me think of you all. Some of the recent ones have had geographical names. Last night was "The Man from Nebraska", Earlier, "Leaving Iowa", and one we couldn't do, "Savannah Disputation". Only Nebraska for Yearofthehat is a direct hit, but I thought of you all.
JulieL and Tracy, I hope your treatments today are easy on you.
Okiegal, You sound great! Maybe the pain will actually turn out to be a lucky thing in the long run, it sounds like you have a lot more sensation in your breasts than I thought possible. Maybe you'll end up with skin sensation in your breasts. Thank you for the comment about waiting for reconstruction. It has been so long for me, and I am actually slowing down the decisions. I think I still want to try for a nipple if it's possible, but I am getting more and more used to the shape of my breast. I think I sort of relaxed after I was reassured that a revision could be done if I wanted.
Weather here, overcast and cool. A bright green hummingbird outside the window buzzing around in the bright green lime tree.
Everyone....hugs. Be back later if I can.
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Back, with braces. Very very strange. I now have a mouth full of plastic. It doesn't hurt, well just a little bit when I take them out. Since you can't eat with them in, I figure I have the most bizarre diet aid possible. Thank goodness I work at home and can pop them out for a quick snack.
Good evening all.
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