One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Speech, The very best and quickest of healing to you. Pamper yourself. I had friends and relatives very surprised that I didn't need the pain pills and could move around easily on coming home from the hospital. I was 61. It is possible, and you have to do what you have to do. My recommendation... just don't over do and exhaust yourself. I like the present of a first class seat, I'm sure that will help.
Hi everyone!
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Hi Speech, I think having a unilateral MS will make your healing a little easier and faster than mine (Bilateral) with immediate implants. I was 49, about a B and was driving to the grocery store at 3 weeks, but certainly not "up to speed". My PS really helped me by being generous with pain meds and with muscle relaxers. Because they place the implant under the muscle, it can give you pain as it is stretches or accomodates the implants. My PS prescribed Lortab for pain and Carisoprodol (a muscle relaxer also known as Soma) for 8-12 weeks. I can't really remember, but I didn't need them for that long. Will you have any lymphnodes removed? Lymphedema can be a problem on plane flights, but with drains in, I would think you should be fine. Also, you will want to be vigilent about infection precautions. Too bad, you can't attend virtually or change your surgery date, but I guess you do what you have to do. Some women recover very quickly, I hope you are one of those! Another thought as I ramble on, I've also read of some women having their mastectomy on one side with a immediate implant and then having the other side done later to better match it. Finally, are you going to be able to keep your nipples? That would save you a procedure too.
Welcome, Debpurple, you have found a wonderful forum! Feel free to join in and ask questions. Tinkerbell, it's nice to hear from you again. Here's wishing you a much swifter recovery this time around.
I have found new ways to itch! I'm not sure if I'm having a reaction to the Neurontin/Gabapentin or if I have poison ivy (I have no known exposure). Argh. I'll see the pain doctor in mid July. Until then, it's cortisone cream on sun exposed areas.
The temperatures are unseasonably hot at 95 and it's very humid. As a result, I have fallen in love....with my crockpot again! I "roasted" a chicken yesterday. With 5 minutes prep, it's the easiest dish yet and will be a new favorite. That's my Martha Stewart missive for the day. Now it's off to another chair project and tie dying tonight with my two college age nieces. Hope everyone has a good day.
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fortunate1 and okiegal
Thanks for the information. I will ask about Soma on discharge. I will keep my skin and nipple. Just removing breast tissue. I am barely an A cup--I don't know how much of a difference that makes. Also, I am not having a sentinal node biopsy; I have already had a lumpectomy which showed no invasion. I opted for this because I did not want radiation, which was being recommended because of the size of my lesion.
I spoke with the surgical nurse today and she said most of my pain will be from implants and she told me about sleeping propped up, with arms propped up too.
Enjoy your evening with your nieces...on the subject of weather--I live in Phoenix. Yesterday it was 114 and today it is 109...a bit "cooler" LOL.
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Okiegal, I think my skin would be very sticky, itchy and unhappy in 95 humid degrees. Are you hoping that you have poison ivy, the known versus the unknown?? Wishing cooler weather your way. COOOOOOLLLLL! You must be a fabulous Aunt.
Speech, How lucky that you can keep your nipple. I also chose the mastectomy to avoid radiation. And because the tumor location in my upper cleavage (sort of cleavage anyway) would have resulted in a "bad cosmetic outcome". After being told this by the surgeon, plastic surgeon, oncologist and various nurses, the surgeon made it clear that I would be flattened down to the ribs in a big pie shape from nipple to clavicle. I then gave up on the lumpectomy.
If I don't get back to the boards this weekend, know that I'll be thinking of you.
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Hi everyone -- I'm new to this board. After being diagnosed last November with early stage 1 IDC in my right breast, I was supposed to just have a lumpectomy in December and radiation in January. While there was no lymph node involvement, my surgeon found a second very small tumor in that same breast. Both had been missed by mammogram and this second one had evaded the ultrasound as well! As a result of multiple sites, she recommended that I get a mastectomy of that breast. After considering the relative INvisibility of my tumors and the terrible experience of the biopsies (positively barbaric!), I decided to spare myself the poking and prodding of my "good" breast and opted for a bilateral, which was performed in late January of this year. I went the same-day reconstruction route with the Alloderm. Everything went amazingly smoothly and I feel so lucky and grateful to everyone for the aggressive early diagnoses and treatment by my medical team and support from friends and family. I "lurked" at this site and others during all of that, gaining support and comfort from all of you, too. (Thank you!) I was just too stressed and terrified at the time to talk to you all here. But now things are settling down and I'm feeling more comfortable to post here, and hopefully give back to others who are new to this battle.
Anyway, I'm done with the expander phase of my reconstruction. Now I face the surgical replacement of these saline expanders with silicone implants -- and I'm surprised at how nervous I'm getting! Another surgery - for someone who never had a single one before this ordeal -- is a little frightening. But these expanders are uncomfortable, especially around the edges, and kind of "creepy" to feel, too, being so stiff and hard. I call them my "coconuts" when I talk to my family about the discomfort, because they feel like a coconut bra on my chest, irritating around the edges where they would touch! :-D I'd really like to get your perspectives and advice on this last phase of the reconstruction. I'm planning on doing it just after summer ends, in early September...
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Welcome Speech and Prairemom. Speech--glad you can keep your skin and nipple. I just had nipple reconstruction and it was a stressful experience but think it will be ok when all is finished. If it was you asking about travelling at two weeks I would say a big NO. That would have been much too early for me. Christmas was three weeks after my surgery and although I was off all drugs at day 5--I wasn't quite all there yet. I met someone last week and introduced myself and she said "we met at Christmas!".............
Carole: Have you headed out yet and will you be in touch while you are away? If you get to the point where you are not too far from us would love to meet up.
Okiegal: I feel for you with your itchiness. Have you tried any baths with anti-itch potions?
It has been busy here with grad/engagement/Father's Day/wedding showers and hope to move to the cottage this weekend to slow down!
Hi to everyone else. Think of you all often.
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Hi speech -- I'm new to this board, too. I had a bilateral mastectomy in late January, after my surgeon found a second tumor (small, early, like the first) in the same breast during my December '09 lumpectomy. I opted for a bilateral instead of the one because my tumors were almost invisible! My gynecologist/hero#1 felt the first one, even though I could not feel it in my own exams before or after she mentioned it. The subsequent mammogram didn't catch it either! My surgeon/hero#2 finally spotted it with her ultrasound exam, but the fine needle biopsy came back negative. It took the barbaric core biopsy to finally pin that first one down as cancer. The second tumor didn't even show on the ultrasound! So I decided to spare my left, "good" breast the torment in coming years of looking for tumors and painful biopsies. Anyway, it's really amazing how they can do the initial reconstruction right at the time of the mx. I am, or was, a 38C at the time, and when I came out of the operation it really didn't seem all that different. I mean, there was still a mound there with the initial saline content of the expanders, such that I never felt the shock of having no breasts. In fact, since they left the nipple on my left breast and the aureole on the right, it was almost as if they hadn't been taken at all! Of course, the numbness of the skin and the very different feel of the more rigid saline expanders tells you that it's not the same at all. But still, it's what everyone told me beforehand, the "new reality", and I found that it is not such a bad one. My battle scars are part of me and my life now. Also, the drains were not nearly as horrible as I feared they would be. I tried to simply accept them as my part -- like a lab technician -- in tending to my healing process. I called them my "little buddies" :-) and made an apron-like pocket for them to rest in so nobody would accidentally see them. I mean to those not in the medical mode (like my teenage son) they would probably just be gross! Anyway, that phase passed fairly quickly -- about 7 days for two of them and 14 days for the other two. I felt a bit tired during that period and spent a lot of time -- sleeping at night as well -- on my comfy recliner, with books, TV, computers and puzzles to keep me occupied. I was fortunate to have lots of care and comfort from my husband, son and mother during that first week or so. Everything healed just fine with no complications.
With only one mastectomy, you will probably do even better! I wish you all good luck and I'm sending you a big hug as you go into this, your latest battle. You sound like a strong and well grounded woman, speech, and I'm sure you will do great... Sharon
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Thanks for the welcome, upcreek! :-)
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Hello, ladies!
Tinkerbell, glad to hear from you, it looks you are feeling better this time, I hope you are healing well. Keep us updated.
Welcome debpurple, Speech and Prairiemermaid.
Speech, your upcoming surgery sounds similar to the surgery I had 8 months ago. I had simple (no lymph nodes removed) left breast reconstruction with permanent implant placement and right breast matching augmentation, I didn't keep my nipple though. I healed fast and easy enough, I didn't feel fatigue or much pain , I walked 40 minutes next day after surgery, then 2 hours daily, I drove car five days after surgery. I found this surgery much easier than I expected. But, there are some restrictions you need to know, for example, you can not lift more than 10 lbs for 3 weeks, so think about your luggage. Another unpleasant thing is you will be uneven for the first time. Mx's side will be higher than your own breast. It will settle down later on, but it takes 2-3 months, probably even more, so you will need loose clothes for the first time. I wish you good luck!
Prairiemermaid, you are lucky to have such good doctors which diagnosed your tumors so early. I don't know anything about replacement, I am glad I had permanent implants at the time of Mx, but I think the hardest part for you (Mx) was done, don't be nurveous about replacement.
Meg, I'll keep my fingers crossed for your sister on Monday. You asked me about tattoo, RN in my PS office did it. Not a big deal. I had some sensitivity even after numb shot, but just a little. Five days later everything looks good.
upcreek, congrats on your new nipples!
I have to go for a hike.
Hugs to everyone!
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Thanks for the reply and welcome, OK! I'm just wondering what a "permanent implant" is. Didn't you need a saline expander implant in the beginning? Or did they just put in a silicone one without expansion? I thought all reconstructions required an expander to slowly fill the area up to the required size. Some women choose to leave the saline expander implant in permanently without exchanging it for the more pliant and comfortable silicone implant. Is that what you mean? I'm confused! :-)
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i just sent u a PM abt this..we all had immediate implants w/out the exchange..the good side is no real 2nd surgery for implants & no dealing w/ expanders & how horrid i have been told they feel...
downside...u get what u get ...some of us like me have had revison surgery...
ok..so far so good w/ this surgery..the implant is defintley more centered but gosh i had such a big space between the 2 foobs now..lol...my reg boobs didnt have it..it;s weird...in clothes in looks ok..definitley better & definitley better in a bathing suit...but i gotta tell u its not perfect..why do women who have their breasts made bigger get such perfect boobs, but we dont? such is life....glad everyone is doing ok.....any news from new bride?
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Prairiemermaid and I_am_OK...thank you so much for the details on your recoveries. It is encouraging to hear and I am so glad that you both did well. I am relieved that I can have the surgery done at one time,especially since I just had a all my reproductive organs removed along with the lumpectomy on 6/2. I am very nervous tonight...I don't even want to think about one month from now...just focus on the next week! As far as cleavage is concerned...I never had it to begin with due to very small and wide set breasts. I expect they will remain wide set after this.
Tinkerbell...for implanted breasts there is no tissue there in front of the implant, so the breast looks bare. I hope my breasts look even (i am having right mx only) eventually.
Good luck and God bless everyone!
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speech, don't worry, for sure, eventually your breasts will look even. I don't regret that I decided on unilateral Mx. I am 8 months post op now, and I am pleased with outcome.
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Prairiemermaid, sometimes PS creates an instant pocket from Alloderm, eliminating the need for expansion.
You can read this website for more info:
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Thank you all for the information and feedback! It sounds like I have had a different surgery than all of you. I didn't even know about a "one step"! Maybe my breast size precluded that option...? Still, I'm happy with what I have. My plastic surgeon did an excellent job, even considering that I had recent lumpectomy scars. And the expanders don't feel that bad -- just hard, like clay, and irritating around the edges a bit. I can see how some women wanting to avoid a second surgery might keep them permanently. But, I would like to feel as natural as possible and with as little irritation to remind me of them. Anyway, thank you all and thanks to Tinkerbell for pointing the way to others who have had the same reconstruction as me. I'll "see" you around, and best wishes to all for smooth and speedy recoveries... Sharon
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I am OK, Congratulations on getting your tattoos! Were your tattoos done in one visit? Such great news that so many from this group have reached or are close to the final step!
Welcome Prairemermaid, Good luck with you exchange surgery. Let us know how you are. This news clip explains the "one step". Mx and reconstruction are done at the same time. http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=137257@wcbs.dayport.com
Speech, The "one step nipple sparing" mx would have been my choice. Because I had larger breasts I was not a candidate for nipple sparing, but I am glad I had the one step. I chose not to have nipple reconstruction, but will have 3D tattoos someday.
Sounds like you are a quick healer. Hopefully, your drains will be removed before your trip. Button down tops will help getting dressed easier. Lying on your back is difficult so pillows will help you to be comfortable. Pillows under your arms too. I made a chart to record the amount of fluid coming out of the drains each day. I hope you have some down time to rest while on your trip. Good luck to you!
UpCreek, I hope you're feeling OK!
Okiegal, I hope your itching is gone! What is your chicken crockpot recipe?
My sister went for her mamo and ultrasound. She has an appointment on July 15 for a biopsy.
I hope everyone is feeling OK.
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Hello Ladies
I am all done with my surgery...so glad it's all over and I can focus on recovery. The pain is very manageable. After coming out of recovery, I had vicodin with muscle relaxant at 10 pm then woke up at 1 am needing more. They gave me morphine which was very helpful. I did not feel any discomfort until 11 am today and they gave me Toredol (sp?), a IV ibuprofen and it's great!
I have one drain in my right breast and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. The only post-op problem I had was very low blood pressure this morning. At 5 am my BP was 85/47 and now 6 hours later it is up to 99/63 which is closer to normal for me. I have normal to low blood pressure anyway, but this was a bit too low.
I am resting comfortably and will take it all one day at a time. Thanks to all for information and encouragement!
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speech ur doing gr8..i cant get over how well u r doing so soon after ur MX. Good luck & prayers & only thoughts r w/ u. please keep us all posted.
Hope everyone is doing well & enjoying the heat. I see my PS Thursday , so far so good. I know ppl r wondering why i'm not at work yet, but i am so nervous abt if one of my kids touch me & moving arnd more will i be in a lot of pain...i know my "DH" probaly doesnt understand....my belly hurts the worst from the fat cell removal..i wear loose dresses & sports bras...tried a front closeure type of sports bra, but that was NOT comfy @ all...hopefully my job understands too..i have not really heard from them which is surprising...
TTFN :-)
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Hi Tinkerbell
What type of surgery did you have? You mention abdominal pain....
I have not heard from my boss or anyone from work, either. I don't plan on going back for almost a month.
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Speech,
I am glad to hear that you are doing so well. That's what this procedure is supposed to give us, simple straightforward, easy. It doesn't always work out that way, but what does? I_am_OK is our poster girl for fast easy recovery, me second perhaps. Hope you will recover more quickly than any of us and are able to enjoy your conference, not just attend it. The luggage concern is a good one, luckily its summer.
Very nice to see your photo.
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Speech, I'm glad your surgery is over and you are doing well! Take is easy and give yourself time to heal. It sounds like you're a quick healer! Will you be going on your trip by yourself? I hope you are feeling well and not in any pain.
Tinkerbell, You sound so much better then last time. I hope you continue to do well.
Big Apple, How are you feeling?
IamOK, UpCreek, I'm so happy you have come this far!
It has been Hot and Humid! I hope everyone else is doing well!
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Speech, I'm so glad to hear you are doing well. IAMOK is our best barometer, so far. It sounds like you may join her. It really helps that you were a single side and didn't have a lot of tissue to remove.
Welcome Prariemaid, you can join us as often as you wish!
My itching and rash is better, I went to the dermatologist, but didn't get any real information, just some sample creams and a prescription for an obscenely expensive lotion that I won't fill. I think it's either allergic (the grass pollens are high) or some sort of problem related to upping my Neurontin dosage. I'll see if I can change medications.
Fortunate1, your cool wishes have come true! We've had a slight cooling front.
The tie dying was so much fun. Especially with the addition of margaritas! Meg9, I'm using the crockpot again today to repeat my "roast chicken" recipe. It takes about 5 minutes to prep. You spray the crock pot with cooking spray, wash the (whole) chicken and pat dry. Rub with salt, pepper and paprika. Place the chicken, breast side down on 3 clumps of aluminum foil. Cook on high for one hour and on low for about 4-5 hours and your done, unless you decide to crisp it up a little in the oven. I let it cool and boned it for other recipes. It was perfect and a lot better than the pre-cooked, roasted chickens from the market. I also made a vegetarian barley, black bean and corn recipe (Cooking Light) that's great for burritos. I'd be happy to give you the recipe.
Enough from me! Hope everyone is doing well and continuing to heal and move on! IAMOK, congrats on your tattoos!
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fortunate1, Meg9 and okiegal--thanks for the advice and encouragement. My focus now is healing through rest, eating right and when I am up for it a few walks around the house. I don't feel like doing much of anything.
Last night I had a big emotional breakdown. The only time I've ever cried like that was when my mother died. I was holding so much in for the past several months and finally it's all over and I am on the healing side of things. I let myself cry it out with my dear husband and sweet daughter on either side of me in the bed, comforting me. When it passed, as I lay there, I took some deep breaths and repeated encouraging thoughts to myself on healing and strength.
I wish all of you well--for those just out of surgery: healing and strength; for those of you further in the journey: blessings of health and joy!
I go to my PS on Tuesday...
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Hi Meg:
I am feeling good, i went into the office for 5 hours today which was really nice. Everyday I celebrate being drain free oh what a feeling!!
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Yes, Speech, the emotions are a big part of all of this. Here's hoping that as you rest and recover, you will be able to sort through them at a measured pace. It's very normal to be "emotional", especially post surgery, when there are lots of drugs and fatigue to make us even more emotional! You are so blessed to have a caring husband and daughter. I know that you will feel more and more like yourself as the days roll on.
Ah, drain free, BigApple, what beautiful words! Glad you are up and back at work.
Hope everyone is having a good day. Any special plans for the 4th of July weekend?
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Hello Everyone,
Speech, ((((HUGS)))) You have been through a lot and it is natural and good that you cried it out! You are blessed to have your husband and daughter for comfort and support. You also have us! I spent the first two weeks napping and watching movies. I took walks around my yard with my husband. lol When your drains come out you will feel even better!
BigApple, You're back in the office already! Great to hear you're doing well!
UpCreek, Happy Canada Day! I hope your feeling OK!
Okiegal, I'll be happy to have your chicken recipes.
The weather has been great last two days! No humidity, blue skies and a cool breeze. I wish everyday was like today! DH is taking tomorrow and the follow week off. We have planned day trips to visit family and friends. We will be going to the beach for a couple of days. My sister has been going through a really tough time the past couple of months...husbands business not doing well, she was laid off and is forced to sell her beautiful home. Next Thursday she will be going for a biopsy. Keep your fingers crossed she's OK.
I wish you all Happy July Forth!
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Thanks Meg! I am feeling well and we are celebrating at our house. We have a good view of the big lake so lots of people will be over to watch the fireworks.
Okiegal: Thanks for the chicken recipe. I'm going to try that!
Have a great weekend everyone.
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Hello All--
And many thanks to those who have posted about nipple construction and revision surgery! Your posts have been so encouraging to me as my turn approached.
I had surgery on Wednesday, June 30 to create a nipple on the right, reconstructed breast and do a lift/reduction on the left, natural breast to achieve symmetry. The outpatient procedure took about two and a half hours, and I'm home resting comfortably with hydrocodone and plenty of good movies/books to enjoy.
Bandages won't come off until my first shower tomorrow, but as I peek around them, I think I'll be pleased...eventually. Right now, the nipple of my lifted/reduced natural breast actually sits a little higher than the newly constructed nipple on the right, but I have to remember that there is no areola on that right nipple yet, and so at first appearance they just look "off" from one another. Also, I'm wondering if this lifted natural breast won't sort of settle in and droop just a bit as healing progresses? My plastic surgeon has many years of experience and a host of patients happy with his work, so I'm confident all will turn out fine. Must let myself just wait and see, let the healing take place before I judge results. Skin that looks kind of puckered and pulled today might not look like that tomorrow.
Went with the reduction because I'm thinking I'll likely hang on to the eleven pounds or so I put on since last year's surgery :- ) In other words, weight loss wasn't going to reduce the size any time soon--I've learned to be more at peace with my 47-year-old self this year. Do I really need to work so hard to get back into my size 2 or size 0 clothes? My family physician insists that at my age and my height of 5'1", I'm pretty healthy at 124 pounds, even though that's up eleven from the 113 at date of surgery last summer...which in itself was up fifteen pounds from my very unhealthy, disordered eating days of a few years prior to that.
Definitely not going to lose much weight eating peach cobbler like crazy! Our peach and plum trees produced beautifully this year, along with our garden veggies, and prior to surgery we spent weekends "putting up" jams, sauces, salsas, and cobbler fillings :- ) Of course, you gotta eat while you cook, right?
Am waiting on biopsy of tissue removed during surgery. That lump that was a no-show on mammo, ultrasound, and MRI was also felt by my oncologist and breast surgeon, and they said that since I was having this surgery anyway, they wanted it removed and biopsied. Should get that phone call today or Monday. Not toooo nervous, but little stabs of fear hit me now and then. Probably nothing, but will be so relieved to hear it in black and white after definitive testing.
Again, thanks to all who have posted about the nipple tattooing. You're helping me feel brave and optimistic about that next step. Meg, I'll be thinking about your sister. Biopsy next week, or does she have to wait til July 15? Bless her heart. The waiting is sooo hard!
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Meg9 and Okiegal once again, thanks for the hugs and encouragement!
Today has been a rough day. I felt really good the last four and there was some sort of brick wall waiting out there for me and BLAM...smacked right into it this morning after reading the paper at the table with my DH. There was nothing for it except to get back in bed and take a nap! I had my daughter make my breakfast and I ate in bed. It was the best medicine!! When I read others' comments about the drains and then the drains being gone I was not sure what they meant....NOW I get it. My drain is inserted in my side, about 8 inches under my armpit and it curls around and looks like a snake under my skin. I can feel it at times. I don't want to go anywhere with it in--I feel like an old lady carrying her catheter bag around. The bulb of this thing looks like a grenade. It even has a pin that you pull out! My goodness!! BigApple...so glad you are free of the drain and getting back to work. Enjoy!
Tracyanne I'm so glad you are home and resting comfortably. You've been through alot and yes waiting is the hardest. I hope you get a good report on Monday. You are in excellent shape based on your stats...and I think given all you've been through, peach cobbler is an excellent way to treat yourself!! My mouth is watering...can you just taste the vanilla ice cream with that?? Enjoy the fruits of your labor now.
To all--have a beautiful holiday weekend--Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day!!
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Speech
You can hide the bulb in a pocket, or pin it inside a loose button down shirt.
My tummy bulbs were inserted at my hips, I kept telling my daughter I felt like I looked a someone undergoing gender reassignment. I had to wear skirts because the insertion was below where the waist of my pants go, and I would pin them inside the skirts, but they would move or swing into awkward positions, I kept expecting someone to notice. No one noticed. When I had the chest drain, no one noticed that either, granted it was Manhattan and well...
The brick wall comes about because all of the good strong meds are gone from your body now and you have started moving around. It will get better, it just has a little up and down thing for a bit.
Take it easy and rest up as much as you can.
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