One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Wow, Fortunate1, you and your loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs to all of you! I'm glad your Onc is so obsessive. And by the way, you are so darn cute! Love you picture. Meg, I wished I could have been there to eat at your feast, but I managed to stuff myself at our family's celebrations, anyway!
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Hello Everyone, Just a quick hello.
We are still buried in 2 ½ feet of snow!
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad293/MOB28/Christmas%20Eve%202010/Thinkspring.jpg
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad293/MOB28/Christmas%20Eve%202010/Backyardsnowstorm122710.jpg
I lost another 2.5 lbs. this week...not because I was counting points on WW, but because I have a stomach virus for the three days now. I ate my first meal (chicken soup) today.
Today, the NABC installed their live web cam in a wild bears den. The bears are Lily and her cub Hope. Hopefully, Lily will have cubs in January! I volunteered to help with the research by being a den watcher and will be recording all the activity of the bears during my scheduled time. At this point there is not much activity. Tomorrow, the researchers will be visiting the den to make adjustments to the camera. Most likely Lily will investigate! If you are interested http://www.bear.org/ Lily and Hope web cam.
I'm going to have a quiet night at home this New Year's Eve and rest. I hope you and yours are all well and I wish you all love, health and happiness though the New Year!
HAPPY 2011 EVERYONE!
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Happy New Year to all of you!
Update---- Dad came through the surgery with flying colors. He fought hard to get out of the hospital, which he hates, and was released late the next day! Maybe too early, as he is now very uncomfortable, but resisting any trip back to the hospital. He is one tough 90 year old! I made it through the MRI with the help of a tranquilizer that actually put me to sleep during the procedure. A friend drove me home to her house and I fell asleep again, on her couch. I think a lot of stress was released.
A quiet New Years Eve for us too. A toast you health for all of us. Glad you like the photo. I'm going to check out the bears. Back soon. Big hugs.
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Hi ladies,
I haven't posted on this thread in a while, but I thought I'd post an update since finishing rads. My skin and implant held up really well. My radiated side is a bit tight, but not that bad. I am so glad I did immediate reconstruction! In about a year I will have a revision surgery to nip/tuck a few things, and possibly go with a little higher profile implant. then I'll be done! And no flap surgery for me. Just thought I'd post a success story for anyone thinking about doing recon before rads. My doctor kept commenting on how moist my skin remained throughout. My trick...Aquafor every single night. That stuff is amazing!
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I had a One Step with Alloderm following by double mastecomy on September 29, 2010. My plastic surgeon never mentioned this option to me on my first visit to him but after extensive research I returned to my PS and discussed with him. Although he hadn't done many of the One Steps he agreed to do it since I met all the criteria and I really wanted to avoid the pain of the expansion process.
Three months later I am thrilled with the results. I am still a size C cup and my new silicone ones are much better and perkier than the originals. My PS was quite surprised and amazed by the results and he said he will offer this option to other women who come to him that are candidates for this procedure. I was back to work in 2 weeks and the whole process was so much easier than I thought it would be.
I had looked into radiation as an option but didn't like the thought of 35 treatments in a 7 week period and the toll it takes on the body. The piece of mind that I have had with the double masectomy is priceless and I am so happy I made the decision that I did.
For more information go to my CaringBridge page at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deniseweeks
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Fortunate1, I'm happy to hear your dad is home and your MRI is over! Did you get results yet? I'm keeping your DH and son in my thoughts and prayers.
Deenah, Thanks for the update! I'm glad you are doing well...good to know that radiation worked for you! Good luck with your revision surgery!
I hope everyone else is well. I've been bear den observing. Not much happening with bears being hibernation!..lol... An occasional scratch, a visit from a vole and the cub makes a humming sound while nursing. Things will get exciting when mom bear gives birth in a couple of weeks! Take care everyone!
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Hi to everyone. Wed. golf was cancelled today because of rain last night and this morning. We got an inch here at my house. DH and I made a quick trip to Best Buy this morning to order a new tv. for my mother. Hers stopped playing yesterday. We chose Best Buy because they will haul off the old tv. The rest of the day was devoted to housecleaning and online bill-paying this afternoon.
The holidays were enjoyable, and, as always, I'm glad they're over. Last week DH and I took a trip to Texas, near Austin, to look at some used truck campers at a small RV dealership. We had three to choose from and two were acceptable. We bought the one I liked best, which has a small slide-out. Now DH is busy taking the auxilliary gas tank out of his truck and installing equipment. He spent much of today underneath the truck and his work involved a lot of x-rated language.
Fortunate, I'm hoping that everything turns out well with your son, DH, dad, and yourself.
Meg, that's really neat that you're doing the bear watching. I'm hoping we see some bears in the wild (from a safe distance!) this summer in Alaska.
Some of our more recent 1-steppers haven't checked in for a long time. I'm hoping they're doing very well.
Happy Wednesday!
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Hello Everyone, It’s snowing again in NY. It is a winter wonderland out there!..another six inches today! Carole, I heard some of that ex-rated language yesterday from DH too. He was taking down a star from a tall pine tree at front and it fell and hit him on the forehead! He was bleeding and has a huge bump, but he will be fine. He was lucky it did hit his eye! I kid him and said…”You got hit by a fallen star!” hahaha
Back to bear den observing! I hope you do see a black bear when visiting Alaska, but do stay far away! Good luck with the new truck/camper.
I hope everyone is well and have a great weekend!
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Lovely day for being outdoors today. Started off cool, in the 40's, and warmed up to 71 degrees. I played golf and walked, using my push cart. Tomorrow I'm going across the lake (Ponchartrain) to Metairie to play in a bridge tournament. This will be a new experience. I'm still a "rookie" bridge player and my partner, the nice woman who invited me, is a more experienced player.
I hope everyone else had a great day.
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Carole: Good luck with the bridge. Do you have to cross the bridge to play bridge, ha ha.. When are you leaving for Alaska?
Meg: Again you are getting my snow. Please send it here. Your Christmas Eve celebration sounded wonderful. I have not heard of having all the fish dishes before. My DH wants to go to Italy for our 30th Wedding Anniversary but I am a bit scared of getting lymphedema. I have ordered the sleeves with gauntlet attached to reduce my risk.
I took my neice skate skiing on Wednesday and she said I tried to kill her. I just laughed at her because she is half my age!
Hi to all. Cold day here today. We are going to take down the Christmas Tree. Our daughter is going back to school tomorrow morning.
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It's been a while since I've been here and just reviewed this page...
dweeks Your story is inspiring and so glad you pushed your doc to offer another option!
deenah glad to hear the rads went will with all the reconstruction.
Fortunate your dad is an inspiration and I guess the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree, right?
Carolehalston Bridge is a challenging game....It always twisted my brain in knots. I admire your cleverness!
We had a nice holiday with my daughters home from college and husband. I told my oldest daughter the other day that I finally feel like myself again since surgery in June.
The weather in Phoenix is gorgeous right now, lots of hiking and long walks.
For the past 5 years I have made an annual trek into the Grand Canyon each January. I have been working out and hiking to get ready for the past several months. We will hike down on Jan 21, stay two nights at the bottom of the canyon hiking and enjoying the beauty, then hike out on Jan 23. I am excited and looking forward to doing this again. Each hiking experience is different and I gain new insights.I have no idea how difficult this will be this time. I am sure I'll be okay....can't wait for the challenge.
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Hello Everyone,
Carole, Good luck playing bridge!
I can use some 70 degrees days here. We are expecting another foot or more of snow tomorrow night! The snow from the past two storm have not melted yet!
Upcreek, I'll be gald to sent you tomorrows snow storm! LOL
In July, I will be celebrating my 30th anniversary! I don't think we will be taking a trip. My son and gf just booked a wedding reception hall. I have to really save my pennies!
Speech, Your Grand Canyon trip sounds like something to look forward too! You have done a great job of keeping up your strength and I'm sure you will do well! Glad you had a nice holiday with your girls!
I continue to be a bear den observer. The biologist checked her yesturday and she is diffinately pregnant! She should have cubs later in January!
I hope everyone is well and have a good night!
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Yes, the Grand Canyon trip sounds great speech. Would love to see pictures.
Meg: Is the weather changing? We seem to be missing the snow and the storms.We are celebrating our 30th anniversary too in June! DH wants to go to Italy with his sister and her DH. We will see.....
Hope everyone is doing okay.
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Hi everyone. I just had to say hello, even if I don't have much to say. It's a dreary (for San Diego) day and I'm being very lazy. I just took an order for some plates, so it might manage to get me out to the studio sometime soon. I hope. The memorial gathering for my potter friend will be this Saturday, so I thought I'd give you all a glimpse of a talent now missing from the world. Still seems impossible.
I love hearing about all your lives, trips and anniversaries, and about dweeks, another one step sister. No news here about the MRI, and I didn't really expect any unless something was wrong. I'll hear eventually how very "OK" I am.
Oh my, very big pictures, but it sure was easy this time.
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Fortunate, I'm sorry about your potter friend. Her work is beautiful. Somehow I missed the bad news of her death.
It was cold today, mostly cloudy and high about 48. DH left early yesterday to drive to TX and pick up our "new" used pickup camper. He's staying at an RV park tonight and should be home tomorrow. It's very strange being home by myself.
Meg, keep us posted on your bear watching.
Upcreek, I hope you get your share of snow this winter. The northeastern USA is certainly getting dumped on.
Wishing everyone a great evening.
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Hi Carole, Hi all. I tried to show photos before and gave up in frustration... sometimes easy, sometimes impossible. My friend is a he, one of those people with a mind so quick and fine, endlessly inventive, that you know you're in the presence of genius. He is a warning to us all. A sore throat that didn't go away, ignored as too small a thing to bother a doctor with. A curable cancer morphed into aggressive, fast and untreatable. We should ALL be willing to look foolish in front of our doctors!I'm a little less lazy today. But I'm glad I have a lot of savings in the bank, sure couldn't support myself on what I've produced lately. You are all doing such interesting things. I'll catch up with you soon. Think I'll prune the roses today... productive while still avoiding the studio. Hmmm, this time the photos are too big and too small. I'm sure not much of a computer wiz. I hope I'm not boring you all with pots. I'm hoping the memorial will help my little community get past this.
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Hi everyone. There's no one here! Have I killed our beautiful thread?
The memorial was beautiful, and I am trying to get back in gear. Next week is the start of the semester. Even though my class load is almost nothing it will put more of a schedule back in my life. The roses are pruned and I'm working on long ignored house stuff. DH and I saw "the King's Speech" yesterday - definitely oscar worthy.
I hope to check back in and hear more about bridge games, pregnant bears and the Grand Canyon with pictures, please. Big hugs to all.
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Thanks for sharing your pictures Fortunate1, they are beautiful.
Thanks for wishing snow Carole. We are now finally getting some.
We are all sick with colds. A little something our daughter left for us when she went back to school.
Looking forward to going South in a couple of weeks. Will get to stop by and see Carole and her DH again!
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fortunate,
sorry to hear about your friend. His work is quite beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Traci
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Hi everyone! I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. With a busy December and an attempt to spend less time at the computer, I've been MIA. Fortunate1, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, his work was beautiful. I'm a pushover for an artistic teapot...
Looks like we have a few inches of snow coming our way tomorrow. Of course, the weather people are making it sound like it will be a blizzard. (sigh)
I keep hearing good things about "The Kings Speech", perhaps I'll put it on the "to do" list for this week? After weeks of avoiding Weight Watchers and exercise, I'm back on track for the most part. I will try begin again on the exercise today. It's always so hard to start, but after you get back into the swing of things, you wonder why you procrastinated so much.
UpCreek and Carole, you all must be excited about your upcoming "one-step" reunion!?!
Have a good day all.
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Hi, everyone. DH and I are looking forward to seeing Upcreek and her DH in a couple of weeks. My fingers are crossed that the weather cooperates. It's difficult to make plans in a climate as changeable as ours. Sunny and 70 degrees one day. A front comes through bringing rain and blustery wind and lowers the temperature. Out come the sweaters and jackets. Warming trend. Here comes another front. Whatever the weather, we'll enjoy some good company.
Yesterday I babysat with my greatnieces, Olivia (14 mos) and Nova (5 yrs), both ill with colds. Today I have the sniffles. I was signed up for golf but cancelled this morning when I called and learned it was cart path only because of yesterday's rain showers. A wet, sloppy course isn't fun. So I'll walk this morning and get some things done around the house.
Bridge has enlarged my circle of acquaintances. Last night DH and I attended a cooking demonstration conducted by the chef at our club. About 20 people were there and 5 or 6 of them were women I'd met at bridge games. Chef Hosie cooked 4 soups in huge pots. The best one was Creole Alligator Soup, which tasted a lot like turtle soup. The alligator meat is very white and was cut into little cubes. He tossed it in seasoned flour and deep fried it to a light brown color before adding it to the soup right at the end. He also made a Crab Bisque which he thickened with jasmine rice. And a Stuffed Eggplant Soup that was interesting. The fourth was Tomato Basil. I didn't taste it because I was full of soup by then! The demonstrations include as much wine as you care to drink in addition to sampling the food. It was a little difficult taking notes on the ingredients in the soups because he was making 3 soups at the same time!
My weight situation is much like the weather this winter season. Down a few lbs. Back up. Down. Up. I'm wearing my fat clothes. I could blame age and Arimidex but a lot of the problem is will power. Yesterday after the babysitting, I visited my mother. She had a bag of home-made Italian cookies in the refrigerator. There're little round biscuit-like cookies with icing of different colors. I got the bag out and sat down with it. Bad, bad, bad.
Fortunate, the photos were great. Don't feel like you have to be "up" to check in with us. Life has its share of downs and we can't avoid them. One of our creative friends died of ovarian cancer about 15 years ago. Her husband was an artist and they didn't have good health insurance. By the time her gyn. insisted that she have a hysterectomy, her cancer was advanced. We still miss her and regret these years that we haven't had the pleasure of her company. I smile when I conjure up her smile and remember her great sense of humor.
Where are the 1-steppers who stopped in and shared their stories this last year? I hope they're all doing well.
Hope everyone has a blessed Wed.
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Stuffed eggplant soup, Crab Bisque? Sign me up.
Summer and winter have changed places here. The temperature is in the high 70's - much warmer than our cool and cloudy weather last summer. I hope my fruit trees can figure it out.
Today is the start of my semester - with a rousing day of meetings and confusing politics. I'm going to start the day with a walk. I wish I liked exercise!
Hello squidwitch, and thank you all for liking my friend's work. I was just "interviewed" over the phone about him for a feature obituary. Such a loss.
I second the wish for a blessed Wednesday for you all.
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Fortunate1, Good luck starting the new semester! Sorry for the loss of your friend....his work is beautiful!
A friends 13 year old son had a tumor removed from the roof of his mouth a couple of weeks ago. Pathology came back...stage lll. This is his second cancer. It's very sad.
Upcreek, I hope you're feeling better.
Did you get a lot of snow? Yesterday, we got another 3 inches and then freezing rain. All that on top of two previous snow storms. I shoved the walk and drive way. The snow with ice was very heavy...I got a good workout in the fresh air! Tonight we are expecting an additional 3-4 inches! Yikes!
Carole, Very interesting cooking class! I have never had turtle soup or any of the other soups you mentioned! I have never even seen them on a menu around here! Not sure I could eat turtle or alligator soup! I'll eat the Italian cookies!
Okiegal, I have not been to WW since the week before Christmas. I plan to go back this Saturday. The good news is that I have not gained any of the weight I lost.
I am still bear den observing. Lily (mama bear) has not had her cubs yet. The yearling named Hope nurses constantly...I don't know how Lily takes it! It will be interesting to see what happens when the cubs arrive!
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Fortunate, I hope getting back into the classroom lifts your spirits. You seem to have a gift for teaching.
Meg, what a neat photo of the bears in hibernation. Hibernation is one of those marvels of nature.
My mother isn't feeling well and cancelled her hair apptment for today. She's taking some medication her dr. phoned in to the pharmacy. I have a grocery list for her. I'll take the groceries out to her house and also take my vacuum cleaner to do some cleaning for my niece, who went to the dr. for herself yesterday and also took 2 of her 3 small children to the dr. My niece is living in a rental house a short distance from my mother's house. She is raising 3 children (7, 5, and 14 mos.) by herself and needs a lot of support.
First on my day's list is exercise.
TTYL
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Carole: Don't worry about planning too much. It is minus 30 here today (celsius) so anything above zero will be balmy! Sorry to hear about your mom. Hope she is feeling better. I am sure you are a big help to your niece. Having children around is so nice.
Meg: Cute bears and thanks for sharing. Yes we got some snow but could always use more. That way the skiing season is extended. I am feeling better. Nasty bug going around.
Fortuante1 Good luck with your class. Keep the pictures coming.
Okiegal: Didn't see the King's speech yet but will. DH rented Inception and I was too tired to follow along.....
Hi to everyone else. Cool day here today. Will visit my mom and later see my nephew play university hockey.
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Not much activity here on the 1-step thread. It's sunny and cold in my neighborhood today. A beautiful day. Temperature dipped to 29 degrees last night. So nice to snuggle under the cover and sleep. DH and I have been lazy lately on these cold mornings when we have no appointments or commitments in the am. We've been sleeping until 8 or 8:30.
This morning I splurged and cooked bacon, grits and eggs for breakfast. We seldom have bacon unless we're eating breakfast out. DH will watch the football games. He's from Chicago so will root for the Bears. I have only a mild interest in the outcome of either game so I'll probably sit with him in the living room with my laptop on my lap.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday.
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I had a Rt. Breast mastectomy, after a failure to clean margins with a lumpectomy, (2B E/P+ no Nodes) and a silicone implant with the Alloderm in October 2010.
I am very pleased with the results. My PS was able to complete the Reconstruction without any expanders because I agreed to go with a lesser breast size. I am now wearing my old under wire bras and I have no pain. I will have the nipple made and a breast reduction of my Left Breast in March and the tattoo of my areola after that.
The Alloderm has been a good scaffold for my silicone implant. Go for it.
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Annia, I'm glad you had success with your 1-step procedure. Thanks for sharing. I wish you good health in the future!
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Yes, Annla, I second Caroles' good wishes and add my congratulations. Feels good to be looking forward to the tattoo, I'm sure.
I can now join the throngs of people recommending "The Kings Speech". I really enjoyed it and easily give it 5 stars! Excellent.
Monday morning means it's time to get back to exercising and try to crawl back on the WW wagon. Again! Meg, believe it or not, I ate way too much during the holidays and weigh less! I don't know how that happened. It has never happened before. All I can think is that all of my efforts to lose weight before the holidays caught up with my overindulgence. Sometimes it can take a while for weight loss to show up! Whatever, I'm happy that I didn't gain anything and hope that I'll get back with it soon and not gain back what I lost!
The sun is shining and our temps will be a bit warmer this week. Hope you are all well.
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Yesterday I made two WW recipes, chicken salad with curry and lentil and blackbean chili. The chicken salad was good and the chili was also tasty with a dollop of sour cream. I think a bit of grated cheese would make it better.
I'm down a couple of lbs on the scales. This is so encouraging that I think I will not take my niece out to lunch today but instead will invite her to my house to eat some WW leftovers! Her 5-yr-old and 7-yr-old should have gone to school, so she'll have 14-mo-old Olivia for us to entertain. My house is full of breakables within O's reach so we'll be busy.
Okiegal, I can't wait to see King's Speech. A friend wants to see Black Swan, but so far we haven't gotten together on a time.
Happy Monday!
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