Nipple Sparing Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
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I wish mine were there, but I started with lump and had SNB done with the first one....then had re-excission done....then had a uni mx Jan 7th. So my incisions are on the side.
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My scars on not terribly attractive, and they were a son-of-a-gun 'pain wise' while healing (still are!)....but, my youngest daughter (20 years old) made me feel so good when she said, she LOVES scars! They show where you've been, and what you've endured in your life...geez, how did I raise such a great kid. Ever since she's said that, I look at them differently.
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hurleygirl~ I've been thinking so much about you! You sound like your doing so well....I'm so thankful for this. How encouraging :0) Don't think to much into your path. reports; some places take longer than others. Mine was done "in-house", that's why it didn't take as long. Look on the bright side...mine came back quickly and look at the results! LOL! ER-/PR-, HER2+++...stinks to be me! LOL!!! Chemo here I come!!! Gonna kick it's butt though and call it a summer & not look back!! Got my Penguin cold caps comin', my "chemo pit crew" ready...now just sittin' back for June 11th. Let me know how the fill goes...I'm on my 3rd this week. Up too 125 cc. whoo hoo! I made past puberty!! HAHA! I go again on Thurs. So far, it hasn't been bad. Chemo. will push back my exchange surgery. I won't be able to do that until chemo. is complete. oh-well, looks like I'll have to live with the TE's for the summer. There are worse things...like ca! lol
Take care...YOU ALL ARE AMAZING, STRONG WOMEN!!!
Gulp~Praying for you and your father...stay strong and take care of yourself.
Janny~ Thank you for sharing about the "scars"...I will forever look at mine differently! What an awesome outlook on life! You have to be SO PROUD! I continue to think about you and your upcoming chemo. My prayers and thoughts walk with you...
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Welcome MandPandi! My incisions were in the folds also. I had one nipple turn black, but is fine now.
Hurleygirly, I'm excited for you, you will have to let us know how your first fill goes. I pray your path turns out okay. Please let us know when you find something out.
Happy29, maybe you could post a link to the article here (if it is on the web), when it is published, that way we are all sure to see it. The word is getting out on nipple sparing! Woohoo!
vmudrow, glad you are doing well.
gulp, you are on my mind!
You are ALL a bunch of wonderful ladies and thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
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GAgirl, I love your attitude! That positive attitude will carry you through, and you are going to kick cancer's butt! Fight Like A Girl! But when you are feeling down, or need to vent, don't forget that we are here for you!
janny, you and your daughter are right, they are our battle scars!
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PB, Good luck with your exchange tomorrow, let us know how you are doing when you are able.0
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Mandi Pandi - My incisions are also at the bottom of my breasts. It's been 2 1/2 weeks since surgery and both of my nipples turned dark, blistered and now are like scabs. PS says the scabs will fall off and they will be just fine. Had my first fill of 60 cc and it went well.
TNLady - thanks for all your posts. You look too young - I'm 49.
gulp - wishing the best for you.
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jessamine, you are right...worry doesn't do any good so I will have to wait. My excisional biopsy took a month to get the results too...although my biopsy was sent to 4 places all across the country!
GAgirl, It is so funny to see where each of us are at since we had surgery the same day! You are further along, size-wise than I! I am still flat chested. Actually, I have cleavage at top and then it slants down and flat so where my incision is (inframammary) is completely flat! It's so odd looking. I had 60 cc at the time of surgery and then tomorrow, I am guessing she will place in another 60 or maybe even 100? Not sure yet. It will be exciting to see SOMETHING there. Hopefully it won't all go to the top again! Wouldn't that be funny? Hahahah...I need some lower pole please! I am sorry to hear about your final path but time will go by and hopefully fast and you can get over this hump and be back on track. I really thought that this month I have off to recover was going to drag, but I cannot believe that this Thurs will be 3 weeks post op! It went by fast. I will be expanding all summer too but I do think it will zip by. We just need to stay busy!
TNLady, I will log on tomorrow and give an update to the first fill! I am going to be paranoid and pop either a flexeril or percocet beforehand. Everyone, which drug of the two works better for this type of procedure? Let's take a vote! hahaha (=
By the way everyone, I have no clue if this worked or I just got really lucky, but before and after surgery, I was taking Vit C , Omega 3s and Arnica and I didn't have much swelling at all and no bruising! I was paranoid about my nipples and added cayenne pepper to everything right before and after surgery which is supposed to help with circulation. Oh and I didn't take it everyday but I took small amounts of Niacin too which is supposed to help with blood rushing to your capillaries. My doc didn't want me to really do any of these UNTIL I ran into a problem but since they were all supplements that did not interfere with anesthesia, I decided they were safe (I know..bad of me not to listen!) and I got really lucky not having any skin or nipple reactions. I don't know if they worked or not but they definitely did not hurt me!
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I have 275 in fills in now, and am having the same problem with it all going to the top, only much more so on one side. I thought it would correct itself when they added more, but was told no, they'd fix it in surgery. sigh. But, no pain. I was so scared the first time and it was fine. Hopefully for you too, hurleyg.
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my fills all stay at the top also..you can feel all the wrinkles in the TE in the lower poll. To be honest..the fills dont hurt at all. Maybe some pressure..a bit of stretching..but no pain. I find the most uncomfortable part is when I try to turn over at night and all that saline swooshes around.
I have two more fills to go..then 6 weeks of rest..then this damn TE is getting a big farwell party..
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I know someone who did implants (no BC, just cosmetic) and swears arnica keeps swelling down.
twirl, I'm so glad your fills aren't hurting you. I had quite a bit with mine but can't help but wonder if it ws because Nurse Ratchitt did mine and not the PS. (I don't like that woman, can you tell?)
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Hi everyone. thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. My father died yesterday. It has been quite an ordeal, it was just after my surgery that his condition changed rapidly. I hope I don't collapse from the lack of sleep and rest. Last night I did sleep so that is good but the night he died I slept in his hospital room on a chair and then at 530 I woke up and saw that he had died. Funeral is on Wednesday. Again, thanks for all your support.
karen
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gulp - so sorry for the loss of your Dad. That is really hard any time, but especially in your condition. Try to take it easy (it will be a busy week) and rest when you can. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say you are in our hearts and prayers. Hang in there - hugs - Valerie0
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gulp- I am so very sorry to hear about your father. I lost both my dad and my stepfather and understand what an incredible loss it is to no longer have them in your life. You have been amazingly strong throughout every thing. I'm glad you were able to spend some time with him before he passed and now you have another angel watching over you as you heal.
Kate
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Hurleygirly~ Just wondering how your first fill went today??? I know my first wasn't bad at all and I got100cc's.....hoping aren't too uncomfortable
TNLady ~ Thanks for the welcome!
Kate33~ I' also glad that the incision was made there too. I think the outcome will look nice. The one thing that I worry about thought is is wearing a bra! Do you think we will ever be able to wear an underwire again?
Gulp ~ I'm so sorry for your loss...still keeping your family in my prayers :0)
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gulp, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. That is such a blow for you, especially right now. I wlll be praying for you as well.
jessamine, well today I went in for the first fill and I brought up the top filling up and with the first fill, a lot did end up moving down to the bottom...still more top heavy though. My ps did say that when we hit the final fill, we can determine if we need to adjust the permanent implant a bit lower.
twirlandcurl, expansion wasn't painful but funky! I felt a dull ache feeling!
everyone, expansion went great. I popped a flexeril about 20 minutes before my appointment and I didn't feel the drug kick in for about another hour and then I passed out sleeping! The good news is that I had 100cc placed in and I am inflating pretty nicely. I seriously think I am the size I was before surgery! I tried on a 34B bra just to check and it fit nicely. This is crazy because I am going in for more expansions and I am already pretty close to what I was before. I now have 160 cc in and my expanders hold 300. I read a lot of people where 400 - 500 cc goes in there. I guess it all depends on your structure! I am even thinking that stretching out to 300 would be HUGE for me! I am 5'4", roughly 110 and am wondering if anyone is around my size and if so, how much fill up did you have. At this rate, I may really not need much more! No more ace bandage and surgical halter top either! YAHOO...OH and my path report came in and it did specify some more of the same DCIS but no invasive so I am doing the happy dance (in my mind right now).
P.S. I asked my ps about working out your chest muscles after getting permanent implants. I read that one should wait a year and she said that 6 weeks following surgery is all that I would have to wait. She said that implants should not move regardless of exercise if they have been fitted properly in the pocket in which they create. She also mentioned that I can, even now, sleep on my stomach if it is comfortable. For some reason, I just assumed that could really screw up your expander placement.
By the way, these puppies are indeed hard as a rock! I don't feel the "heaviness" yet but man these things are like tennis balls!
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gulp, I'm so sorry for your loss, try to let people help you this week.
vmudrow, Thank you, I'm 41! It is nice to hear that I look young, I never get tired of hearing that.
MandiPandi, I can wear an under-wire bra, I just don't wear them everyday because I get a little sore at times. I waited till my scars were completely healed before attempting to wear one though.
hurleygirley, I'm doing the happy dance with you girl. I do know, from reading other posts, that they will fill your TE's larger than the size you want to go. Maybe one of our TE sisters will chime in to answer that.
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gulp: My heart is breaking for you. I'm so sorry for your loss.
hurlygirly: Mine is a softball now but I've been full for awhile and have exchange the 11th. I'm glad your fill wasn't too painful. Thanks for the input about working out chest muscles after exchange. I sure wouldn't have even thought to ask that one. I'll have to see what he says when I go in for exchange. I'm 5'5" but weigh about 140 but have VERY small bones and put on weight when I started surgery stuff in August at my dx so exercize decreased. I normally am about 120. My DH and I both think the PS said I am at 450cc now in my TE. I wore a 34-36 B (depending on the bra) before surgery stuff started. I have not really attempted to wear one for many months since it hurts me too much because of where my TE sits on my chest.
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hurleygirly- Happy Dance! Happy Dance! So happy to hear about your path report. Mine was the same way- just more DCIS than originally thought. It was good, though, it made me stop second guessing my decision for MX.
So funny- I'm 5'4" and 115 lbs so we're pretty close. I told you in the e-mail but for the benefit of anyone reading this I am expanded to 400 and my PS is going to put in a 375 implant which she says we'll give me a full B cup. All of my fills have settled on the bottom. There is like nothing on top! Looks very odd!
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bcincolorado, would you say that 450 ccs would be much larger than you were prior to surgery? I swear my 160 ccs fill my 34B bras! Weird huh? I wonder what 300 ccs looks like on someone approx my size, since that is the extent to what my particular expanders hold. I will see what I can dig up on the internet!
I am STILL fuzzy from this flexeril. I took one 10 hours ago now and I could still sleep more!
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hurleygirley..I have only one TE . My PS said it's a 350. I am at 200 now with 2 more fills of 80cc to go. Hopefully this wed..and next wed. I am a small lady. 5'2" in shoes and I weigh about 125. My PS said that TE was the biggest one he could get in my chest. Right now my recon boob is HUGE. I have been wearing 34 C pushup bra's with a prosthesis in the other side. I dont think that's going to fit for much longer. I cant wait to see how perky it is after my fill this week. Doc said he over fills so that the breast will droop a bit..just like natural ones do. I have faith in him. One of my DH coworkers wife had a Bi-lat last year with the same two Dr's and her sisters look awesome.
keep doing that happy dance...
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hurleygirly- Forgot to mention but the last time I saw my PS (last week) I asked her about the recommended fill volume of my TE's. She said the number didn't really matter because you can under expand or over expand the TE's quite a bit which surprised me. So you're not necessarily locked in to 300 cc's. You can do less or more, at least according to my PS. Yours may say otherwise.
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Hey guys....OH, I didn't know that those expanders could hold more than what they say they can. Good to know Kate! TY!
Hey twirlandcurl, Looks like we may be around the same size. I was shocked at how much they blew up today with not that much saline! I could be swollen a bit still...maybe...hahah
I feel like this is a science project...how much CCs of saline does it take to make my boobs look good... (=
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Hurleygirly ~ I am 5'4 and about 115'bs.....Right now I'm expanded to 465cc's....and I look ridiculous! I have my exchange next week tuesday and will end up right around 350cc's. I will let you know what the fincal outcome looks like since we are similar in size :0) Also, congrats on your path report!
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Hey MandiPandi! We are totally around the same size! WOW...465..YOU GO GIRL! Hahaha...I swear I don't know if I would be able to see my feet with that amount in me! (= What bra size would you say that is? It's funny bc I think the ccs just totally vary because of someone's frame because I have seen picts of women with 500 ccs in there and they don't look huge. Definitely keep me posted as to what you decide. I asked to be a full B / small C so I HOPE that is what I will end up with! I just don't want to be either an A or D...anything in between would be fabulous!0
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Gulp: Im am so so sorry about your Dad: listen to TNLady, it is good advice: let people help you. This is so hard ANY time (I lost my Dad too) but you have been through SO much physically and emotionally....remember so many here are thinking of you and hugging you from afar
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hurlygirl: Both my DH and I agree that it seems to be about the same size....just in VERY different places right now.
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Gulp, so sorry for what you are going through right now. My prayers are with you during this difficult time.
On Monday had exchanged out the implant for a larger, wider one to narrow the space between the two and cover over the divot on top. The surgery was about an hour long and went well. The PS then took in extra skin on bottom to raise the breasts for more cleavage look. I am very swollen and very sore and back to square on on the pain meds with the sutures., feel like it will be a year full of massaging when able. I had healed nicely from the original surgery, except for a black and blue spot by incision which was from a vascularization. He removed that with this surgery. I would guess thats what Hurley girl was referring to avoiding with the anica. Too bad I hadn't heard of it before hand. It wasn't something that would have went away on its own. The kids have exams this week and I am mostly on bedrest trying to keep up with them. Feels like such a long process. I hope this works for me as I can tell my DH is getting tired of having to drop his work and tend to the home stuff.
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Hurlygirl~ HAPPYDANCE!! I'm SO excited for your path. report! I needed to hear some good news! Now you can just concentrate on your fills and look forward to your exchange :0) Your going to look amazing and strong... ca can't keep us down! It's so wonderful to hear of everyones progress... it's keeping me motivated and strong. Thank you!
Gulp~I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your father; you continue to be in my prayers through this difficult time.
Kimmiecake~ We're you on TC weekly followed by herceptin? How was it? I'm still really struggling with what is best for me; and my body. Not thrilled with TCH every 3wks @ the higher dose to be honest. Really digging for as much info. as I can.
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Hurleygirly~ You got that right....I can't see my feet! Right now I wear a 34 B...but it doesn't fit at all. The band actually sticks out from my body in the front from my boobs! It's har to tell because the width of the TE is narrow and the projection is out there! My guess is that if I get 350 high profiles I would end up a Lg B or small C...I will let you know as soon as I get out on tuesday....I will make sure to post some pics in the forum :0)
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