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One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?

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Comments

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Glad you are feeling better Mareluna. I'm sure you will be fine for surgery.



    Jocelyn, I'm hanging still. The pain on the rib cage is the same and I'm still swollen and bruised. No softness in foobs yet - still hard as rocks. I can't imagine how long they will take to soften and drop.



    Onco is in but I don't know what it is. I have an appt with pt on wednesday, plastic suregeon on thursday and oncologist on Friday. More waiting. My oncologist is concerned as I has five tumors. Decisions would be easier with one or two. She is getting the receptor status and ki67 on the 3 that were not biopsied or oncotyped. More waiting. Maybe I will get good at this! Tumor board meets on me again Wednesday.



    Are you doing ok?



  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2013

    I just wrote you a long note but my computer weirded out and poof, it was gone.  I wanted to say that it sounds like they are being super careful in order to determine what kind of treatment to give you. Having negative nodes is a huge plus. 

    I'm doing pretty well.  I went to a 3 day seminar (I'm going back to school for a MA in Counseling) on grief and art therapy.  I cried all Saturday morning but feel much better now. I was so afraid that all of those emotions pouring out would lower my immunity and I'd catch something but I survived.  Last night I slept without the camisole/ace bandage and my boobs felt liberated!  It all gets better and we heal - Yay!! Keep me posted.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited January 2013

    Lmimp64 I will be praying for you. I am sure you are nervous. I got done with chemo almost 5 weeks ago now. Started to feel a little bit better. Then the ear infection came up. But I should be okay by next week.

    Jocelyne  I think it takes awhile before they soften and drop. I read all the posts on this topic  since the first page. Some of the women were told to massage the Foobs. Perhaps your PS will tell you to do it and show you how. Good luck to u.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Jocelyn, sounds like a great program, and sometimes we need to cry. It can also be healing. I'm glad u got to sleep without ace or cami. I'm wearing lots of men's Hanes tank undershirts. I ran put of muscle relaxers yesterday. Boy could I feel it today. Got more called in. When you began tamox, did you start at 10mg and work up or go straight to 20mg ? We picked up my prescription today. I don't take it yet, but they wrote the script as I will begin it soon.



    Mareluna, , I'm glad you finished chemo. Next week we will all hopefully feel a little better.

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2013

    Funny, I wore those undershirts too!  As far as the Tamoxifen, I started with 20mg in the morning.  It's been about two weeks and nothing major to report.  Still pretty fatigued though probably from the surgery.  It's weird, I got my period a week after I started (I guess would have anyway).  Hope you get those muscle relaxers soon!  I know what that's like!

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Glad you are doing ok on tamoxefin. I think I'll be living in these Hanes tanks until this swelling goes down. I'm three weeks from BMX tomorrow and they still feel like rocks and vices around them. I know I should be more positive but I wish my ps had been more honest about what to expect. I thought implants would be soft from the start. Ah well.

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2013

    yeah, I wish I was as informed then as I am now.  I would have asked a lot more questions.  But guess what?  Today I went to the gym, took a great movement class for C survivors, walked around the track and put on a bikini and went into the jacuzzi! It felt great and all of the visual imperfections that bothered me were hidden by the tiny bikini top! Hang in there, week 4 is almost here for ya! It will get easier!

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited January 2013

    Hi,

       Went to pre-op this morning. I know surgery will be about 3 hours long. I have to shower the night before and use some stuff they gave me. And rinse it off after 2 min. I was told i can be in hospital 1 to 3 days.

        I know that the implants take a bit to soften. I read previous posts in this topic. Seems like several months. I just know I am not wanting to be boobless. This type of recon is supposed to be easier on recovery. Long road ahead on this stuff. Hope u all are healing.

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2013

    I wish you the best possible outcome.  It's wonderful to wake up from surgery with boobs - you'll see!

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Best wishes Mareluna. Jocelyn, you are doing so well. :). Bikini and jacuzzi? Someday for me. :)

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2013

    Bikini and jacuzzi? No way, no how for me.



    See my PS today to talk about different meds. The diazepam is not cutting it. I wake up several times a night with pain. This has been too long this way (3 months). I'm calling uncle.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited January 2013

    Hi,

       so just curious did you all get out the day after bmx and implant? How many days were you in the hospital?

    Jacuzzi and bikinis mmmm nice. I wont be in a bikini or jacuzzi but hope to get my fun chunky self at Water Country floating around at Hubby Highway as much as I can come the end of May. LOL That's the plan. My Onc said they'll have to drag me away.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Gritgirl, let us know what ps says. Best.



    Marluna, glad you are doing well. I went home the next day but was readmitted for air blocking intestines. I would stay another night if you can. Take care.

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited January 2013

    Gritgirl,

       I hope they get you feeling better. I am sorry you are still in pain.

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited January 2013

    I stayed in the hospital overnight because my surgeon insisted.  Otherwise I would have gone home the same day!  Can you believe an insurance company would consider bmx/recon outpatient surgery?  Actually I have two insurances, Medicare and BC/BS.

  • softness1
    softness1 Member Posts: 100
    edited January 2013

    Mareluna,

    I was in the hospital for 2 nights. I was vomitting after surgery. The anesthesia worked me over I guess. I was supposed to stay one night only. 

    Good Luck!!!! I'm sure you'll do great

  • PeggySull
    PeggySull Member Posts: 368
    edited January 2013

    Can you have direct to implant surgery if you DON'T have a nipple sparing mastectomy?



    I think one of my lesions may be too close to the nipple for my bs to consider nipple sparing. I'm to meet with him in two weeks (I'm still doing chemo). But I was able to get in to see the ps the week before that with the okay from the bs.



    Thanks, Peggy



  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited January 2013

    Hi y'all,

    Peggy I am not having nipple sparing. I don't want to. If I choose later I will have 3D nipple tattoos.

    Thanks you all. I had a call today from anesthesiology to get my onc's name so they can get cardiology info from her.So things are progressing.

    I have been working on cleaning the house. My boyfriend's room mate cleans places so I had her come in and do some stuff. What a God send. She does it sometimes for me. Worth the $$ really. I am so tired and stuff from chemo.My body hurts so it's hard.

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2013

    Gritgirl, I'm sorry to hear that you are in so much pain.  You said that the diazepam wasn't cutting it, is that because you need pain meds and not muscle relaxants, though taken together worked well for me after surgery.  Hope you get what you need soon! 

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2013

    Peggy. I didn't have nipple sparing. Tumors to close. You have to remain about the same size to do it. Your ps will tell you if you are a candidate.

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited February 2013

    I had nipple sparing.  I wanted to go smaller but the PS said I had to stay the same size.  My new boob has a lot more volume than the non-cancer boob which I've decided to hold onto as long as I can.  I'll be getting an implant for symmetry down the road along with revisions on my foob 

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited February 2013

    Hi Ladies,

       Well I am counting down now. I'll be getting up in 12 hours to go to the hospital in the morning. I have to be there at 5:30 am.

    I am sore in the breasts as is. I have been for the last 30 years. My ONC says it cyclical. I  guess that will end. I have been busy all day. I ran errands, worked on stuff at home. Etc. I got emotional on phone. My cousin called while I was at target and I started crying. I  have not cried much since all this cancer crap started.

      Oh I had a question , Did any home nurse people get sent to you at home? Someone asked me  and I do not know.

    Thanks.

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2013

    mareluna:  mention this to your breast surgeon and talk to the hospital social worker. they arrange this. you might want to make a quick call to your insurance company to find out what your benefits are around this.

    you'll do fine.

    blessings with you.

    Susan

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited February 2013

     The emotional build-up gets pretty intense before surgery, it's no wonder you cried - and good thing to do before surgery.  My thoughts are with you.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2013

    Mareluna - be well. We will be waiting to hear from you. I had no home nurse, but I would take what you can get. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Best wishes.



    My oncotype came back higher than expected. 18. MO had already written the script for tamox and told me my oncotype would be very low. Now I have to make a treatment decision. She says tc chemo, 4 rounds then tamox, or ovarian supression through monthly shots and AIs. I have no idea what to do. My surgeon and MO had both predicted a super low onco. If you have any advice let me know. M

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2013

    lmimp64, perhaps get a second opinion and make the decision that you are more comfortable with based on the info you gather.

    one thing is for sure, it ain't fun being stage iv, so do what you need to do to avoid that one. :-(

  • mareluna
    mareluna Member Posts: 275
    edited February 2013

    Lmimp Sorry that you got a higher score than you all expected. I  know it is scary trying to decide what to do. I felt fine and this was all to be preventative. But it sure hurts. In retrospect chemo was not unbearable except for the first one. But the SE stink. I hate the neuropathy in my hands and feet. I get no relief.

    That is Tamox? Is it a chemo pill? I am triple negative so no chemo pills for me.  I pray that you can decide on what to do. I fought with every step, did not want chemo, did not want a port, did not want more surgery...but here I go.Sending you warm thoughts.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2013

    Thank you Mareluna. The SE do concern me for both options.



    I will be thinking of you. One recommendation - if they give you any mini pillows in the hospital, bring them home. I use 3-4 about the size of a book every night to help me sleep. I also took meditation music to hospital on headphones and listened to it and that's how I slept there. It kept out noise and was soothing. Remember your Chapstick or something similar and go easy on solid food after surgery - start with soups, teas, etc. That was my mistake. :). You will do so well. Best.

  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,022
    edited February 2013

    mareluna, you are saving your own life. prayers are with you today in surgery.

    susan

  • lilithmoon
    lilithmoon Member Posts: 97
    edited February 2013

    Lmimp64 - are you trying to decide between the tamox or the ovarian suppression? Wondering why that particular option rather than tamoxifen... I'm sorry that your oncodx score was higher than you thought - I would do the tamox to see how it feels.  You may not have any side effects, mine seem to be getting better.  How are you feeling?

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