One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Sarah: I remember how scared I was before surgery and the first few weeks are scary but I am actually feeling 90% normal. Ask for muscle relaxers it really helped and the drain that everyone complains of was no big deal at all to me, and I had them 17 days. Utilize your pain medicine also and if you have any questions you can priviate email me anytine and I will help any way I can. Hugs and prayers sending your way!!!!! Keep us updated. Today I went to dinner with my friends and realized I did not think about my chest once all day!!!! Oh and starting Physical Therapy at 4 weeks had really helped!!!
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What type of bra/garment did your PS say to wear after the initial post surgical dressing were removed? MY PS said to wear a sports bra 24/7. I will be seeing him again at the end of Oct. Spent way too much time trying to find a front close sports bra that wasn't super expensive. Most of the front close ones were in very large sizes and I am still a large B/small C. Finally found Fruit of the Loom front close sports bras at Walmart (I hate that store!) but they were less than $10.00 so I can't complain. It seems like when all is said and done, I probably won't need a bra. Caryn
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Dixiebell, Thanks for the link about one step reconstruction. I think the list of doctors who perform this may be outdated. My PS is not on the list (John Eggleston at Kaiser Permanent Santa Clara) and I know other Kaiser docs in Santa Clara do it. That said, it is definitely the less common procedure. My PS said he usually only does it if women want to remain on the smallish size, C or less. Caryn
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exbrnxgrl. I wanted it over and done, did not have enough fat for the flap surgeries and did'nt want the port and te's. I was a d before am a large B small c now and very happy with it. I will be having fat injections to perfect them and add a little size in November. Also after finishing with my surgical bra I had for 4 weeks I was told no bra at all for 3 months nor a sports bra because of chance of increased lymphedema (unless its very loose). I believe they all have different opinions.
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Wow, it amazes me how each ps has such a different take on what we should wear. I did not have a post surgical bra, just a very wide ace bandage type wrap that was pushing the new foobs down. After 10 days, it was removed and I was told to wear a sports bra. A fitter measured me for a 38 which was a surprise since I had worn 34's all of my life but the 38's are comfy and not too tight. No mention of lymphedema risk associated with the bra. I am going to a pt/lymphedema prevention class next Monday as I did have AND on my left side (modified radical). Right side was prophy like you. Caryn
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And I was told to wear sports bra for awhile to AVOID lymphedema risk ! Each PS really has their own views on what works. All I know is I did not get lymphedema and did not need PT...so I guess that's all that matters !
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Yes, this plastic surgery thing is definitely as much art as it is science. Did you have an SNB or AND? With either, there is a chance of developing lymphedema at any time but it is much less common after SNB since they only take a small number of nodes. I had AND, so although I haven't developed lymphedema as of now, I will be careful to take precautions to prevent it. I'm taking a PT/lymphedema prevention class on Monday. Caryn
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My doc took out 21 lymph nodes and I never got it.
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Yes, it is clearly a crap shoot and I understand it can happen at any time, even years later. I had 15 nodes removed and just want to try to do what I can to prevent it as time goes by and learn to be aware of it's symptoms since it is supposed to be eaier to manage if caught early. Hope we never develop it! Caryn
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Have any of you ladies had your implants move? I know mine are a little different since they are TE/Implant all in ones, but now I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to have more surgery. My R implant has moved under my arm and is giving me a lot of pain in my braychial (sp???) nerve. The L one looks like it is trying to make a break for it too... HURRY! WE CAN GET OUT OF HER THROUGH THE ARMPITS!!! GO!
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Eema: I'm sorry to hear that your implants have shifted. I don't have any info for you regarding that.
I have a question of my own, though, that I posted elsewhere, has anyone else had this happen?:
Two weeks ago, tiny red bumps started showing up all over my left foob, and some on my right foob, too. They remind me of heat rash. And they appeared when we were having 100 degree days (and I work outside, I'm a Fed Ex courier, so I get hot and sweaty). The bumps don't itch, they don't hurt, they are not raised. They just won't go away...if it was heat rash, wouldn't they be gone now that weather is cooler? Just thought I would put this question out there, in case someone has experienced this and it turned out to be something I should go to doctor for. I would hate to go there just for heat rash !
3 women replied on the other thread. One suggested my new bras might be to blame (the rash coincided with new bras plus the heatwave). So I am wearing my old bras to see if that helps. Another woman mentioned petechia and was kind enough to add a link so I could read up on it. It's basically tiny red bumps that can occur after trauma (well, surgery would certainly count!), or from allergic reaction to medication (I'm not on any), it can also be tiny cappillaries that have burst (my physical job could make that happen), or an auto-immune response (my biggest fear...that my body will start rejecting the implants/alloderm). The third woman said I should definitely go to doctor to find out for sure...but that's easier said than done with my job. So for now I'm taking a wait and see approach...the rash has not gotten worse but it's not going away. I'm 4 mos post op and have not had any complications so this has me perplexed.
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Eema, My right implant moved over to the right (the cancer side) and I have a big gap in the middle. I am going to get fat transfers to fill in the middle as well as the ripples on the top. I am so excited to get it done. My original PS wanted to open me up and move the implant over but it is not over bad enough that I am going in for surgery again, I have had enough of that to last me a long time.
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Jen 42: I am not trying to scare you but I have heard of 3 people recently who developed mets on the outside skin of breast/chest. One was only 6 weeks post -op, hers was on her incision line. This has me questioning my skin sparing procedure! I have copied and pasted the following from another thread:
In August, she developed a rash that was diagnosed at emergency as shingles but when we went to see her dr at the clinic, he said they were skin metastesis and there was not much to be done. They were aggressive and rapid. Her oncologist switched her medicine in August from A??? to Tamoxifen. He wants to give the tamoxifen more time to work before he decides what to do if anything.
I am trying to be informative so hopefully you take a look at the link and your rash looks nothing like this. Below is link of pics so you can see what is looks like there is 2 pages of pics!
http://www.ibcresearch.org/skin-metastasis-skin-mets/
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Dixiebell: thanks so much for the link and the info regarding skin mets. No one had mentioned that yet. YIKES !! My tiny bumps are not as clumped together, not as "angry" looking. I had my husband compare the photos to what I have and he still thinks it looks more like a skin allergic reaction. He also reminded me that back in my 20s I used to get itchy bumps on my legs from cheap pantyhose... an allergy test showed I was allergic to nickel which is often in nylon blends. Which my new bras are ! I am not too worried (yet) that it's something as bad as skin mets since my DCIS was caught so early that I did not even have nodes removed. But am thinking having a doctor look at this would probably be smart. Here's a stupid question: should I see my breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, or a dermatologist?
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Jen42: I am learning so much about all this from research and reading others stories. I'm so happy your rash does not look like that!!! If you think its a regular rash I would go to the dermatologist and just make sure they know your history.
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See, we are all different, I'd say go see the BS. BUT, that said, I went to the dermatologist just today since I've had these red bumps all over like you mention, and the NP said petechia, so maybe you got it from me;). Sorry!
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Oh, and I'm going to see about the fat grafting, thanks!
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hi Sara (SAOlsenberg), I apologize for not answering earlier; I wasn't following the conversation and hadn't realized you had asked me a question. I have silicone 'gummy bear' implants. I'm very pleased with them; they certainly look better than the natural sagging, nursed-out originals (not that it would be worth getting b.c. for...)!
I see that you had your surgery just a couple of days ago, I hope it went well and that your recovery is going well also. I am thinking of and praying for you. Please write when you feel up to it and let us know how you are.
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Hi ladies - just got home from the hospital this afternoon - in for an extra night b/c I had an awful allergic reaction to either the percocet or the antibiotic they first started me on (we ended up switching both out, so of course now not sure what caused teh issue). Am now covered head to toe in angry itchiness.
My sugery went smoothly, though! BS & PS both very happy w/the results, nipples look good, there is some bruising on my previously irradiated side that we have to watch - the skin there is more delicate but my implant in w/o a hitch so no TE for me - wahoo! Nodes were clear. Not on narcotics at all - just Tylenol and some valium to help w/the muscle spasms in my pecs. Really, the rash is the biggest source of discomfort - feel like my skin is crawling 24/7. But this will pass and ultimately, I think the foobs will turn out well.
I'm completely exhausted - first walk around the floor post-op felt like I was 101 years old, but every day getting stronger and I just walked up the 13 steps to our second floor w/o a problem.
Taking it hour by hour, day by day - you guys are very encouraging to me!
Sarah
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Yay Sarah! You go, girl! Did the doc give you a bra to wear or anything after? I hope you have minimum pain!
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Thanks, Eema! I do have a surgical bra to wear - two actually - one bigger so that I can put gauze pads between the bra and my irritated skin, and a smaller one that fits me perfectly. One flattering and uplifting thing that happened was that when my PS's NP came to fit me for my bra, she brought two that were WAY too big for me. She had to hunt for the smallest size and said "you are so tiny and fit! I'm not used to fitting women with such fabulous figures." Squeeee!
These provide some compression and I'm supposed to wear them 24/7 for now - my f/u w/my PS is next Thurs. and my drain output is so low I'm pretty sure I'll at least get the upper 2 our then and maybe even the lower two . .. a girl can dream, can't she? These things, in a word, suck. Not painful, just uncomfortable and a total logistical pain in the ass.
SOOOOO happy to be back at home and back w/all of you on the boards!
Sarah
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Went to my lymphedema specialist today. She said camisols is all I can wear under my clothing. definately no bras for ARE YOU READY 6 months! All these different opinions!!! She said after that only a bra if I must as the tightness and straps can cause swelling under your arm like a ball and increase lymphedema chances! This is for ladies who had node removal only!!!0
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Wait, so dixiebell - how many nodes did you have removed? I have swelling under my arms right now . . . only one node removed though. It is truly amazing how different everyone's advice is - makes you realize how in-exact a science this is.
Sarah
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SAOlsenbery I know about differences of opinions. Oh until the drains are out I believe everyone wears some type if bra or garmment for some compresssion. One the drains are out thats when the rules changed for me. I had 18 nodes removed but from all my research the odds of getting lymphedema is the same with 1 nodes or 20. Its bad luck. I do what I can. Do my massages every day, wear my lymphedema ph balanced bug repelent sun screen lotion, will wear a sleeve and glove to fly.No purse on that arm. I have developed cording which seems to be a precurser for lymphedema so am very worried. My physical therapist went and got certified as a lymphedema specialist so I feel her knowledge is excellent.
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dixiebell - you're totally right, doesn't matter how many you have removed, it can still happen - and it can happen at any time - even many, many years out. so you're right to take precautions. I had 4 nodes removed in '01 and haven't had an issue (knock wood). Only 1 removed on the opposite side this time around. Fingers crossed for you - so glad you have a good PT - they are invaluable!
Sarah
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Hi, I'm an oldie here on the thread. It's wonderful that you "newer" bc'ers have joined in and can share your experiences. The memories of my ordeal have faded. Overall, I'm satisfied with my one-step results even though I would only give those results a C plus. If I were younger, I would definitely go back to my PS for improvements. But for me, no surgery wins out over another trip to the OR.
My DH and I went to Alaska this summer in a truck camper. We travelled over 13,000 miles and had a great trip. We actually cut it short at 4 months and returned home to south Louisiana on Sept. 12th. We've been suffering in the heat and humidity after enjoying a cool summer in the northern climes.
Here's hoping everyone is having a good Thursday.
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Carole: your Alaska trip sounded great !
I am 4 mos post op and would rate my one-step recon as an A.
I feel very lucky to be able to say that.
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Carole; You live in my area so check out Dr Sullivan and Dr dellaCroce at the center for reconstructive surgery in New Orleans. Just a short trip across the lake for you! http://www.breastcenter.com/.
Half of what they do is fixing those who are unhappy with their results. I think I look great give it an A and am having fat injections in November just to "make them perfect"
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Hi, Dixiebell, I hope we can get together soon. I could go back to Dr. Celantano for revision. He has never actually "released" me. I cancelled my last appointment more than a year ago. Thank you for the recommendation. I'll give it some consideration. I know Dr. Sullivan's mother, Melanie. We played tennis in the same group years ago.
My results were better six months to a year out from surgery. Time does bring some changes. I'm 68 yrs. old and breasts aren't terribly important in my daily life. Staying cancer free is a much bigger concern.
I just joined a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture club. For six weeks I'll get a weekly supply of vegetables grown by a farm in Louisiana. You don't get to order specific vegetables, but get whatever they're growing. A friend of mine did this in the summer, but we were gone all summer. I'm looking forward to participating because I really like the concept. The weekly cost is a bit pricey, $30, but I probably already spend that much at supermarkets and a big vegetable stand about 20 miles from my house.
Good news. We sold our truck camper that we bought to take to Alaska. A nice couple came from Texas yesterday and bought it. We already have a large 5th wheel rv that we normally use for summer getaways.
I hope everybody checks in soon. Meg, Okiegal, Upcreek, Newbride. What's happening with all of you?
Dh and I are going over to the driving range to hit some golf balls this morning. It's a gorgeous day. We finally are getting some more fall-like weather.
Wishing everyone a happy Tuesday.
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Carole - had to reply to your post b/c 1, I'm 42 and don't feel like breasts are terribly important to my every day life (!) - I need placeholders, I love to wear nice clothes and didn't want to be bothered w/prostheses, so for me a serviceable cosmetic result is OK. But two - had to chime in on the CSA - have belonged to one for years - several summers and several fall CSAs. Up here in the Northeast, the growing season's short, but I hope you have as much fun as I do . . . you never know what you're going to get, but it's super-fresh and very tasty and forces you out of your fruit & veggie comfort-zone. Have fun and good eating to you!
Sarah
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