TEs. A Beginner's Primer
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Miralax is amazing!
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Okay. We all have our goals and I achieved one of mine today. Yes, I had a BM. Small victory. Embarrassing to post but whatever. Felt pretty good the rest of the day...went for a short walk on my block w/ a neighbor. My goal for tomorrow is writing thank you notes. Thanks for the responses & support. Nightie night.
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Jill and jannette. We like victories. Even small ones! LOL Here's to moving freely! LOL
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Jill_MN: Happy Dance!
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Blessings -
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Juliecc - I love the flashlight experiment. Question: you said there are scar strips...they look perfectly rectangular almost like steri-strips. Are the ports on the sides? I love the orange/red glow color.
Will anyone else please post their flashlight experiment? Would be cool to see if implants are as interesting. I still have my surgical dressing on so I'm flat...nothing fun to see here yet. If I posted pics of my drains I'm guessing it may cause post traumatic syndrome for some. 👿
Happyteacher - good luck with all the CCs, I'm sure height plays a part w/ how much saline you'll need to get the girls to their appropriate size. It's amazing how different we all are re: height, chest barrel size, etc. yet we're so much the same. Before early May, I'd never seen so many boobs. What did the BC patients do before the internet?? Poor gals. The before & after photos are so helpful.
To all TE & BC Survivor Babes - hang in there, I'm sending prayers & positive vibes your way!
Hugs,
Jill
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Jil, when I went in for my sterotactic breast biopsy, the nurse was explaining what was going to happen and with her clothes on, touched her breasts to demonstrate. My husband and I must have looked surprised because she suddenly stopped and apologized, saying "Around here we are so used to doing this, it doesn't occur to us that others might be shocked." Now I know what she means. I've lifted my shirt more times than a hooker trying to flash potential customers. I don't think of them as my breasts...they are just foobs, covered with the skin that used to be above my nipples. Everything from nipples down and across was taken out. I had giant FFF boobs and after the BMX there was still enough skin to cover two 800 cc implants with no TE's required! I went direct to implants. If I'd never had that damned infection, the whole thing would have been "one and done."
The skin that covers my foobs was seen by all my friends every time I had something low cut on like a bathing suit, so it means nothing more than the skin on my arm. I don't mind showing people what a mastectomy looks like and all of my friends have been curious at every stage.. But some seem squeamish - are they afraid they might see a nipple? Horrors! When they don't see any they relax a bit. I tell them they've seem all this skin before. It just didn't have little C cup mounds under it. I don't have nipples and won't be getting any. I like not having to worry about a nip-slip.
I could legally walk around without a top! I've seen guys with more than I have now. 0 -
Sandra - that is so how I feel about my breasts now! I remember when I went to see the oncologist after my first mastectomy for cancer - the first appointment was followed by the second two weeks later after the results of the oncotype test were back. I was bugged that I had to undress both time. Now fast forward six months later - following the second MX & TE installations and many appointments with the plastic surgeon for fills - and I visit the oncologist again. This time I had no concerns about who wanted to push and prod and check my TE filled breasts. In one way, they are a miracle. Something was made from what I considered a scarred body. I love my imitation breasts and can't really believe that they could be built back like this. So cool!
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Sandra - I actually DO think of them as my breasts. They are part of me. The surgeon gave me back what cancer took away. Occasionally I refer to them as The New Girls, as opposed to The Original Girls, but the originals were so awful, I NEVER showed them to anyone. Even with DH, I felt better in a nightgown.
They were 40DDD, droopy, and hung all the way down to my waist. I probably should have worn at least two sizes bigger, as my poor boobs were CRAMMED into the cups and I had spillage everywhere.
Now I have my 700cc saline implants. I love the size, my back feels better, and I feel younger. DH says they feel real to him. He's a happy camper. Now I can walk around topless, like I never did before.
I think what might make me feel more self-conscious is if I had nipple reconstruction, or 3D nipple tatts. Somehow, Barbie boobs do not seem as sexual as breasts with nipples. As of now, I have no plans for either.
But I'm like you - I'll flash anyone who asks. Or anyone who DOESN'T ask, if I think they're curious. One friend couldn't wait to see them - she'd had a lumpectomy. Our other friend shook her head violently and said "I'll wait here..." as we went into the bathroom for a better close-up.
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My PS apologized for having to examine me, and take pics. I laughed, and said I was pretty much past the point of being uncomfortable with having my breasts examined. I am not sure how he thought I got up to this point. I appreciate every single person involved in my breast care, but sometimes I'm like "what???"
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blessings, they have nip prosthetics you know. You can buy a pair and surprise your DH. Just use some skin glue or tape LOL!
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Blessings, I also hated my old boobs and I think I'll like my new ones better. I just posted my TE pictures in the picture forum showing my issues with hyperpigmented scars and a dent the PS will try to add fat grafting to.
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:-)
Glad to see I am not the only one who basically feels like her chest is a public good. I am going to have to remind myself it probably isn't appropriate to whip my shirt off before returning to work next week...
(Not that there is much to see here - 200cc's into TE fills...although I am weirdly rocking the a cup look...)
Rain
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Moonflwr912 - that's actually on my "To Do" list... thanks!
Juliecc - I just posted on your Pic Forum thread! Take a look at my thread and see The Original Girls in all their droopy glory!!!
RainDew - there's a thread here on BCO called You Know You're A Cancer Patient When... and one of the stories is YKYACP when you sit down in the dentist's chair and automatically begin to unbutton your shirt.....
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Blessings -
(LMAO!) 
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Blessings, I love the dentist chair thing. I have definitely lost all modesty with this breast cancer thing.
My droopy boobs were similar to yours, just smaller. I took a picture the night before the BMX. I guess I should post it on my pic forum post. I might have to use my work laptop to do that!
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hahahahahahahahahahaha 😄
Dentist. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
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Now wouldn't the dentist be surprised! LOL
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Hello everyone,
I've missed this board, just been busy. So I'm back and laughing so hard at the recent posts and how much I can relate.
I had one friend that after our Water Aerobic class at the Y, who has used my PS for a facelift. She looks great. We were in the dressing room checking out my chest and laughing at what others might think.
I was telling DH just this morning about how many people have looked at my chest recently. Too funny. I'm also quite pleased with The New Girls compared to the Original Girls. I had recon on the left, nipple so much higher (and to my delight) it has feeling! What a surprise. The right side now at 700 cc's with one more fill on June 17.
Have been quite lucky as only had discomfort after the 2nd fill. 1st and 3rd no problem other than getting in the way when I lay on my right side.
Now each time I look at myself I start to laugh. So much better than the old gal. Am pleased as punch.
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My dentist probably wouldn't be, lol! I have discussed breast cancer with him repeatedly! Because I get Prolia injections due to treatment I have to time my dental work with him at the half way point between injections to decrease the risk for ONJ. His wife is a stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor, doing great thank goodness, but we discuss the effect of chemo on tooth decay and all kinds of other cancer-y stuff. I was just there last week and we had quite the skin cancer discussion - which was actually mostly him since I had hands in my mouth. Now, he might be surprised if I unbutton my shirt, but who knows, maybe not! Would that happen before or after you put on the bib thing?
global - yay for that!
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SpecialK :-)
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evening ladies,
So I have officially christened righty Frankenfoob ;-)
I am more than halfway thru fills (300cc now) and I currently have one reasonable looking boob and one which is just...I dunno...looks like someone ran over it with a Mack truck. Somehow didn't fill to the bottom so it's up around my collarbone instead.
PS swears it'll fix in exchange if not before, so I'm not worried...honestly it just makes me giggle right now. Bringing home the ludicrous nature of this whole situation.
Go Frankenfoob!!
:-)
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Raindew - My cancer boob sits high and tight with the TE. The other one can be slightly moved up and down, and left and right. Crazy! My PS assures me they will match after the exchange. In clothing, I find that a shirt with a pattern on it makes it all go away. If I wear something that is a solid color, they look crazy to me! My friends say that they don't notice anything. I wonder why I examine things so closely - must be the word CANCER!
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haha - scarves are my friends..
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shirts with patterns are the best. I wore my Cami for years with one half stuffed pocket and one half filled because my TE was only half filled. You just get through it any way you can. And yes, they do a lot during Exchange to make you look better.
Much love
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RainDew I laughed at your Frankenboob post!
I had my first mastectomy in 2004, second in 2006 and have lived flat til last month when I had my TEs in. Been doing 100cc per week and I'm at 450cc each but it's filled out up high, so my PS has told me to use the heel of my palms to push down to move the fill to the bottom. Ummm... OUCH?!? Anyone else here told by their PS to press down on their TEs? He said do it daily. Been doing 100ccs each fill but last nights was very painful, so next week I'll ask for less. Was only going to 550cc so thought I only had one fill left but I'd rather make it two less painful ones.
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Are your TEs high profile? Mine are and .I have lots of upper pole but never did my PS say to press down daily. Ouch!
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I never heard that. Just that they fill and move but not to worry about where they are or how they look- theyre only there to fill and make pockets that will eventually hold the implants. And when you get those they will be placed and put so you look nice.
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well. The ONE thing that's for sure on here is EVERY P'S IS DIFFERENT! LOL
So PUSH, elaine,PUSH!
sorry couldn't help myself..
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Just wanted to add a tip for those trying to still figure out how to sleep comfortably with your TE's. I sleep with 1-2 of the Fom Fun pillows from Brookstone (http://m.brookstone.com/fom-fun-pillow). I am able to sleep on both sides since about 4wks post op (once drains were out). They are filled with tiny foam beads so mold just to where you need support for your foob. A friend of mine's mom is a BC survivor & she worked at a BC center where they swore by these amazing little pillows. You can probably find or make similar pillows a bit cheaper -- these have truly made my recovery & sleep soo much better. Peaceful sleeping!
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