Nipple Sparing Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
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International monetary fund! I like that.. and wish I had a good one of those too! lol!
IMF is the "inframammary fold".
From a doc on the internet: Alloderm allows for very precise definition of the inframammary fold. This is the skin crease where the bottom portion of the breast meets the chest wall. When reconstruction a breast, this is one of the most important landmarks.
There is a good explanation as to why there is an advantage to using it in breast reconstruction at this link --> http://www.realself.com/question/boca-raton-alloderm
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My PS used Alloderm when she placed the TE's and, again, at my exchange to implants. She used it to create a shelf at the IMF to support the TE's and eventually the implants. At exchange she used more on the sides to keep the implants from gravitating out and some to help cover my thin skin.
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Interesting info about Alloderm... thank you!
Well, I had my last post-op appointment with my surgeon this morning (I'm 5 weeks 1 day out) and don't have to go back (he wants me to come back for annual mammogram of the other breast). The last of the scab had fallen off so my nipple looks great, but even better, I got the all-clear to try for a baby! (My fertility specialist wants a letter from him saying it's no danger to my health, so we have that one final hoop to jump through before baby-making.)
*sigh* Other than reconstruction (which may or may not be put on hold depending on how fast we get pregnant!), this chapter of my life is OVERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Woot Woot!! It's a good feeling, isn't it!! Now go make a baby!
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Teehee, will do!! (or at least will have fun trying!!!)
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awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!
...now go get busy!!! ;-)
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DH is snoring on the sofa... ha ha... if I were anywhere remotely near ovulation time I'd go wake him up!! heeheehee
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Crunchy- You can always "practice"!0
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Good luck with having a baby - that's great news!!
Forget to mention when I went to the PS last I mentioned that my nipples seem to show signs of feeling etc. He said sometimes the feeling and response can return - it can take 2 to 3 years - just interesting I thought - he said I would be one of the "lucky" ones if it happened.
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Hey everyone. My PS said I did not have to wear anything (no bra of any kind) after surgery- just bacitracin and gauze covering the nipples and incisions. He said to only wear a bra if it's more comfortable for me. It seems that most are required to have compression of some sort. Is that the case or am I getting it wrong?
-Kelly
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Kelly, I wore the surgical bra for a week, just to pretty much hold the gauze in place, but after that, just a bit of tape, adaptic mesh ( I'm allergic to bacitracin so I think this stuff had a vaseline-type stuff on it to keep the nipples moist) & topped lightly with gauze and a bit of tape. I never wore a compression. I guess it just depends on your PS.
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Kelly- I had gauze and that was covered with a large ace bandage that I took off when showering. It helped to keep the drains from moving around as I slept. Once the drains were removed, though, and I had my first fills done I didn't wear anything until my exchange surgery. The TE's will make your breasts rock hard so there really isn't any support needed.
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Kelly-I had no bra or bandage of any kind right after surgery. I didn't even have gauze (my incision was only in fold, not around nipples). Just wore soft button down pajamas first few days then switched over to soft tank tops/tees/sweatshirts. My PS was a no-bra guy like your's seems to be and all healed well.
Ilene
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I also had nothing after surgery either. I think it is a PS preference.
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Wish me well, please. Surgery is Wednesday morning. Still feel like I didn't arrange enough, get enough done, etc. Will have to just let it go and concentrate on healing, I suppose. Thanks to you all for your support! -Kelly
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Kelly - you are in my thoughts and I am wishing you well...be good to yourself right now, let go of what you haven't finished and know it will all be ok.
...and also...know you are so close to the "other side" of all this...very soon it will be about the healing and moving forward from this time...
...be well and keep us posted when you feel up to it!!! xoxo
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Good luck, Kelly - you'll be fine!! I had that same sense of not arranging enough, not getting nearly enough done before my surgery. There were some things I felt a sense of doom that I hadn't done... as though if I didn't get it done before the surgery, it would never get done. Once you're on the "healing side," you'll realize you were stressed out for nothing... like Megan said, it will all be okay... promise!!0
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Thanks so much! Very surreal at this point.
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Like the other ladies have said, it will all be past you before you know it and you will be okay!
I remember vividly being where you are less than 2 months ago. I am back to work (have been since beginning of Jan) and actually feeling pretty darn good (which I attribute to all the "anti-cancer" healthy eating, exercise and supplements).
Wishing you a speedy, smooth recovery.
~ Susan
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Kelly you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I remember well right before my mx I went on a "nesting" spree like I did when I was pregnant and felt the need to clean everything including closets! I know I drove my husband up the wall. I hope all goes well and may you have great pain meds!
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Kelly- Hope all went well for you this morning and that you are soon back home. Remember to stay ahead of your pain meds and the worst will be over soon. We're all here for you- whatever you need! Sending you gentle (((hugs))).
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Hi Kelly,
Thinking of you and wishing you an easy and speedy recovery! You did it!:).
Best,
Jenn
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Hey ladies...it has been sometime since I last came on here and just wanted to say hi. Just got through all the posts and am trying to keep up!
Kelly, I hope everything goes smoothly for you. The worst part is over. Sending good thoughts!
CrunchyPoodleMama, I am in the same boat as you but I actually do have some good news to report (although is is very recent and I don't want to jinx myself)...I am a little over 6 weeks prego right now! Something good can happen after this crappy diagnosis!
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hurleygirley: Congrats!0
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hurleygirly- Now you'll have a new kind of YIppee Squishee!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I am so happy for you and your DH!!!
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Ha funny Kate! You know what's funny though is that these boobs are not even going to be affected by pregnancy. They are just going to remain the same! Weird huh?
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Well I never even really "got them" until I was pregnant....many, many, many moons ago.
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hurleygirly - OMG, THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huge congrats!!!!!!
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Hurleygirl This is awesome news! So happy for you.
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Congrats Hurleygirl. What a blessing in all of this.
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