TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
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so glad to hear u r having good results!
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Hi Andraxo, lovely to hear you are doing well. That is one heck of a commute, but I understand the need to maintain your coverage. I have been nearly impoverished with all these costs, even with insurance. Used up my savings and hope to be able to start saving again. Always makes me nervous that I have no nest egg to fall back on anymore. People always assume it is all paid for by insurance, when nothing could be further from the truth. You are right, the new health plan could really impact people in our situation grievously. I pray it will be overridden somehow.
I am doing my best too, to maintain my health and quality of life. That is all we can do, that and lend a hand or heart when needed. I am so glad to get to know all of you.
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Andra, lovely to hear from you. I had no idea your husband lived in another state. That must be quite difficult but, of course, I understand the need to do so to maintain coverage. I'm sure you both will handle it gracefully. You've been through so much together already!
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Hey, girls - speaking of insurance costs - quick question: was it someone on this board who has had a lift on a prophylactic side to help even things out? Or was that another board? Sorry, can't remember. I saw the PS today for another fill which takes me to 600 ccs on the way to 750 ccs in a 650 cc TE and I expressed my concern that the right side looks so much smaller with only 150 ccs to go. This led to a conversation about how the right side will never "drop" the way the left did because the skin on the left is so supple and the radiated side will never be that flexible. Considering the two sides are off on the horizontal plane by about 1-1/2 to 2 inches I expressed how unsatisfactory it would be if it ended up that way in no uncertain terms. He said we may have to do work on the left side to "help with that", which I assume means a lift. I'm a little pissed this is the first time this has been brought up and I'll be REALLY pissed if it turns out I have to pay for that myself because it's the prophylactic side. I'll ask about cost at my next visit but was just wondering if anyone had that done if the insurance covered it?
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raven, I'm having a lift on my natural side, and insurance is covering it. Given my finances I would have to think about it, assuming they can actually give you a price.
Andra, glad you had a good wedding. There were times in the last 23 years I appreciated DH working overseas for a few months at a time;)
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Hi Raven4mi, I had a lift on my R side just for Symmetry. They are required to pay for it according to the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. They just have to make sure they code as a reconstruction, secondary to bc. I am not as symmetrical as I would like because I tried the less extensively scared up lift. I also didn't want to loose nipple sensation. I didn't want my entire chest to be numb.
Women's Health and
Cancer Rights ActThe Federal law
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) helps protect many women with breast cancer who choose to have their breasts rebuilt (reconstructed) after a mastectomy. Mastectomy (mas-tek-tuh-me) is surgery to remove all or part of the breast. This federal law requires most group insurance plans that cover mastectomies to also cover breast reconstruction. It was signed into law on October 21, 1998. The United States Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services oversee this law.
The WHCRA:
- Applies to group health plans for plan years starting on or after October 1, 1998
- Applies to group health plans, health insurance companies, and HMOs, as long as the plan covers medical and surgical costs for mastectomy
Under the WHCRA, mastectomy benefits must cover:
- Reconstruction of the breast that was removed by mastectomy
- Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to make the breasts look symmetrical or balanced after mastectomy
- Any external breast prostheses ([pros-thee-sees] breast forms that fit into your bra) that are needed before or during the reconstruction
- Any physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema ([lim-fuh-DEE-muh] fluid build-up in the arm and chest on the side of the surgery)
Mastectomy benefits may have a yearly deductible and may require that you pay co-insurance. Co-insurance is when less than the full amount of the bill is paid by the insurance company and the patient must pay the difference.
For instance, the company may cover 80% of your expenses after you pay the deductible, leaving you to pay the other 20%. This 20% is also called a co-payment or co-pay. But any required deductible and co-insurance must be like those the plan uses for other conditions it covers. So, if a plan pays 80% for hospital and surgery fees for an appendectomy (removal of the appendix), but only 70% of hospital and surgery fees for breast reconstruction, that would violate the WHCRA.
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Whew! OK, thanks 2FUN and macb. I was a little worried there. I'm single-handedly paying for a family trip to Europe in December (our boys' marching band has been invited to march in the New Year's Day parade in London) and there's no way I would be able to spring for a lift on top of that.
2FUN, loved your DH overseas comment. After 20 years there are times I enjoy when DH goes out of town for work too. It's even better when I go out of town - it's like a mini vacation, even when I'm working! Ha ha!
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I've been following along but haven't been commenting much. Andraxo congratulations on your wedding, glad to hear you are doing well.
raven4mi I'm so happy for you that your MO was aware that the redness you are experiencing was a symptom of lymphadema and that you are finally getting the correct treatment. Sounds like you have a good MO. If you don't mind me asking, I have a question about having an MO. Since I had er-pr- DCIS no MO was involved, did you request an MO? Or were you referred since it was a recurrence? After I finish reconstruction I'm done and that makes me nervous as far as no follow up, particularly with pre-pectoral implants. I know it's been discussed some on the boards but there seems to be no solid protocol.
Thank you ladies for all the wonderful info you are continually contributing. It's always so helpful. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
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after my consultation with BS , when I was first diagnosed, I was given an appointment with MO and RA. they were totally on board with me before my surgery, so when biopsy/results came, we were already to go. MO has been referring me to other providers, so that has been good. He is FABULOUS!
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Hey Raven4mi, thanks for your explanation of what's happening with your breasts. I think I have a bit of the same problem and I couldn't figure it out until reading your post. I'm only 6 weeks out from BMX but my non radiated side has dropped and my radiated side has not. If I'm wearing a right t-shirt it makes the non radiated side look bigger. I couldn't figure out how it could be bigger. And I couldn't figure out WHY radiated side didn't drop. After your post it all makes sense. I lifted my non radiated side up and lo and behold they look the same when I do that. Lol.... I think a lift may be in my future as well.
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Sitti, I am triple negative and I was assigned an MO both 9 years ago during my initial diagnosis and again this time. The first time I was Stage 0, it was so extremely small and non-invasive, and I still got the MO. I thought an MO was assigned to EVERY cancer patient no matter what?
I do have a good (i.e., extremely intelligent and competent) MO although I will say I was not very enamored of him at the beginning - his bedside manner is not the best - but he's shaping up to be my favorite doc now!
Sunrisefish, glad I could help with the description. Personally, I'm SO darned tired of looking lopsided so I was pretty mad about horizontal plane discussion. I distinctly remember telling my PS at one point that my expectations had gone down so much that at this point I'd just be happy to look good in clothes and he said "Oh, we can do better than that!" I'm not sure how he thinks a 2-inch difference in "height" (for lack of a better word) is "better".
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raven4mi, I don't know if that is just the difference in hospital network practices or if I fell through the cracks. They didn't test for the her2 status, just er, pr status, said since it I was hormone neg I wouldn't need meds. Not sure if there's anything else I should/could do.
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Hi ladies, just checking in. Andra, congrats on your wedding! I totally feel you on living in seperate states. My husband and I did that for almost 6 years. It got old lol. Raven, so glad you are doing better! Cheers to everyone else! I got all my stitches out and will be on clyndamycin until my skin is totally healed, then a little longer. Ugh. I eat probiotics like candy. Things seem to be healing well though! The wound care nurse gave me some honey to put on it which is awesome. Medihoney. Anyway, the new lefty looks pretty good, and I am starting to think about nipples for Christmas lol. What did you all do for nipples?
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Hi littleblueflowers, I used Medihoney too. It is a sterilized brand of Manuka Honey that is used all over the world for wound care. It is even able kill MRSA. It is helpful in maintaining a moist wound environment and helps debride wounds of dead tissue. I had an Origami nipple procedure, which went completely flat. I don't think it was made large enough to start. The ones I have heard of which lasted, were initially made really long, which allowed for a certain amount of inevitable shrinkage. The shrinkage is worse with a history of rads. I then got a 3D Areola/Nipple complex tattoo by Vinnie Myers. That looks very realistic and is a great comfort. I feel my 3D nipple/areola make it look real enough so that I am finally less self conscious and get changed in the locker room at my gym.
I don't blame you, Raven4mi, not being happy with the horizontal discussion. I am still a bit lopsided, which i still get angry over. I am just too worn out to do more surgeries to fix it more than it already is. I worry if I can't get more IV Vitamin C (my veins are shot too), and got another infection, that I would maybe loose everything. So unhappily I settle. In the nude it looks a little like the breasts of 2 different women, my reconstructed Left, is 90% the size of my Right lifted breast. In a bra they match up very closely, and my cleavage is great.
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Wow, up to 38 Plastic Surgeon's across the US who can do Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction, the future of breast reconstruction.
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I was in to see my.BS's nurse practicioner last week to get ready for more surgery to get a better margin. (Please pray there is no CA in the tissue they remove!). Anyway, she was like " you have a pre-pectoral implant! Wow, let's see what it is like!". My BS. Does over 50% of the mastectomy surgeries in town, and if they haven't seen one, I must be a guinea pig! It has gone well so far. So let's hope my PS's efforts are good over the long run!
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2Fun, I am crossing my fingers that you get completely clear margins and smooth sailing from here on out. You deserve Good Luck.
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2FUN, yes, praying for good margins for you. Good luck! Not surprised they haven't seen pre-pectorals as it's still so uncommon but yikes on being a guinea pig! At least he's done good work so far.
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yeah, my TE side looks almost as saggy as my native side!LOL
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I wish I had a bit more sag to match my other side, it is too perky.
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Ok, here's an odd one for my fellow pre-pecs:
I was rubbing in my bio-oil which I do pretty regularly after a shower and I felt a little bump near the top of my right foob. I don't think it was there before but I can't say for certain. I can actually see it if I sort of stretch my skin over it. Gosh, even as I'm sitting here feeling it I'm convincing myself it's either scar tissue or the implant. I don't think it's round as much as a ridge....maybe. It's not by the edge - just on the top inside half of my right foob. I can see and feel lots of my implants, alloderm, ripples (sigh) so not a big surprise to see/feel something but I think this one might be new. I do actually have a spot where the alloderm/scaring does have a little ridge that sort of protrudes (can even feel that one through my bra).
What do you think? I don't want to make a big unnecessary trip to the PS to have them say, "yep, scar tissue". I don't know a ton about capsular contracture but can that start with scar tissue? I'm just grasping. Geez, I've excepted my foobs and for what they are and am still hoping I'll be able to be one of those who says, "Well I've had my pre-pec anatomaiclas for 5 or 7 or 10 or whatever years with no problem."
Thanks!
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Gosh, JessieJake, that's really a tough one. I suspect that it's probably structural from either the implant, scar tissue, whatever-the-heck-else annoyance we all see with this reconstruction process but I'd likely be erring on the side of caution. Is it a long drive to see your PS? If it's relatively convenient I think I might just run in for peace of mind.
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Hey Jessie Jake, could it be fat necrosis? I have had lots of those(relatively)show up, scary, but benign. Was sort of a new little lump that showed up kind of suddenly, and stayed exactly the same for years now.
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JessueJake, I'm not reslly at the point where I want to touch my breasts yet so probably have a lot to learn about what feels normal. I'm sure I don't have any valuable advice but I would just go see your PS to have it checked and ut your mind at ease.
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Huh, I never thought of that - fat necrosis. I let my hubby feel me up (Ok, just that spot!) for a while and he thought it was no big deal. Basically his advice is typically that until it's screaming, "PROBLEM!" in such a way that it's red, bleeding or painful to just wait a while. LOL He is not an over-worrier.
If I do decide to call I'll let you know what I find it. Aside from it being there everything about the area looks fine.
Thanks!!!
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Glad JessieJake, to have given you an idea that might set your mind at ease till you can get some follow-up. I hope that's all it is.
Hey Raven4mi, how is your redness issue doing since you started the Lymphedema therapy?
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trying to catch up! I can't get on this site anymore at work, so it is harder for me to stay in the loop.. I'm pretty tired by the time I get home around 7pm that I don't do much on-line, and then I'm up again around 5:15.
Littlebluefloweres/Jen asked about nipples.... I had nipple sparing surgery so I have no answers for that. My nipples are in different time zones now though after reconstruction. Sometimes I wish I didn't have them. Sometimes I also wish I didn't reconstruct despite how nice it is not to mess with any kind of foam insert. These implants are so freakin fake looking (naked), but there's no way around that. I'm happy they look great and appear symmetrical in clothes.
- xo
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Hi All. Now up to 40 PS's who are skilled in Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction across the US.
Hi Andraxo, I am glad you can drop in when you can. I have a long day at work too, work 11 hour shifts. I am off until August 7th, WOO! HOO! Going to Ireland again this time to take my girls to see my 82 year old MIL. I feel like it will take me almost my entire time off to catch up on my sleep.
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Hooray for sweet international trip macb04!! Woohoo! travel safe and have big fun!! - xo
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have a great time macb04!
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