TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
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AlteredArtgirl, I am on a budget. The Danskin sports bras at Walmart are affordable!
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AlteredArtgirl72, thanks for the chuckle, I needed that! Yeah, I've been given the "sisters, not twins" line before too and my response was that I'd be happy to settle for two girls who get mistaken for each other from behind sometimes. I didn't even get that! LOL!
I'm glad my posts are helping you out in formulating a plan. That makes me happy.
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AlteredArtGirl72, I highly recommend the Genie bra. They come with a padded insert that will give you the smoothing you need and they're very cheap - you can get two bras for about $12 at Wal-Mart.
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Raven, I guess the only hope from every hardship we post here (on this thread, on this topic, the entire site...) is that these bits of struggle can lift someone else's load a bit. Still stinks. Sending a hug north to you from Cincinnati
Regarding the bras, Raven and Shoregirl – thank you! I'd been trying TJMaxx and Marshall's but their hit or miss with inventory. Will head out to Walmart in the next few days (I've never been so happy to go to Walmart before. Ha!)
Shoregirl, I just noticed you're from the Eastern Shore! My husband and I graduated from Univ of Maryland and we have friends and family still in the Baltimore/Anne Arundel/DC areas. We visit Rehoboth and Assateague every year and we've done the Easton Plein Air festival once also
Thanks again ladies for your advice. It means the world to be able to ask questions and learn without having to explain myself. My friends here are wonderful but have no idea what this whole process looks like day to day.
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AlteredArtGirl72, thanks, appreciate that.
We stayed in College Park a couple of years ago when we vacationed to D.C. I wanted to take my son to the university for a visit while we were there because he's a science nerd and they have a cutting edge quantum physics program but he wasn't interested. Go figure. Go Terps!
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AlteredArtgirl, UMD puts out some really great doctors!
We go to Rehoboth and Ocean City several times a year, ususally just a day trip as we live just 53 miles from Rehoboth, 73 to OC. I love our location, can be in Annapolis in an hour. That is where I see my surgeon. Its a little bit TOO country on the Eastern shore for the level of plastics I need with these foobs lol. But the people here are so nice, and I love the slower pace and all the farm land! I know what you mean about TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I have never been able to find my size in bras even before all this mess. But I 2nd Raven on the Genie bras, I signed up for their emails and they are always sending me special sales. I bought like 6 bras for $36. I take the pads out for now. I may use them once the nip recon is done 
BTW, have you checked out the bra thread? Bras 101: The Great Post-exchange DebateRaven, have you gotten any Genies from the website? I am tempted to try their leggings and jeggings, but hesitate til I know of someone who has gotten them and loved them.
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I had never been to walmart either, but found my saving grace sport bra by Avia. They have a high neck one, but this one had round molded cups, so not too much compression. There is a circle cut out in back
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Small world- my daughter is manager of a restaurant in Rehoboth called Cooter Browns. Check out their kale and brussel sprout salad - my favorite!0
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Shoregirl, no I've never been to the Genie website but I'll have to check it out now. Thanks!
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Texted the pic I posted earlier to my girlfriend and told her "I now have clown boobs - meet Bozo and Buttons." She LOLd!!!
Gotta find the humor somewhere, right???
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raven, even tho your sisters probably had different fathers, you might get more symmetry once you are healed and able to find a good post mastectomy bra fitter. I was surprised what the local boutique did for my friend with a bra and a little filler /semiprosthesis in the bra. Your bust apex looks relatively level from side to side. Not trying to tell you not to be ticked, but I am a notorious optimist ( but still a realist). Focus on healing, and then you will have time to determine the next steps.
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I wish I could laugh too, but I have had a bad day, and just am angry and discouraged. I keep getting bladder infections, and was up peeing frequently last night,again. I am soooo tired . The moron oncologist told me after I was thrown into menopause from their poison, that their poison was probably unnecessary, and did me no good. TOLD ME AFTER ALL THE DAMAGE WAS DONE! WTF!!! I can't keep taking antibiotics all the time. I even have gotten a Mona Lisa treatment twice, with only a little improvement in the incontinence the medical morons caused me too. I will try another couple Mona Lisa Treatments. I guess I will try to get back on vaginal Estradiol for a while again. I hope to God that something helps.
Raven, do you feel that your PS still belongs on the list? I know that outcomes can vary, and I don't want to take a potentially good PS resource off the list, but I am dismayed by his seeming complete lack of interest in what you wanted from your reconstruction. I don't think what you wanted was so unreasonable at all. Let me know what you think, ok?
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raven, I'm glad you are having some humor, but I am pissed for you! I met with my PS today for another follow-up and almost showed her your picture to get her gut impression. I hope you have more symmetry once things settle, but if you still aren't happy, I have to believe there is a surgeon out there who can help you achieve what you deserve!
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macb04, no, I think you should leave his name on the list. First of all, despite this awful result, I adore him. Even though I feel like he didn't listen to me on this last go-around, he has been completely receptive to everything else I've wanted to try and I have no doubt he'll help me out with the pentoxifylline as well. He has an amazing reputation around here and has been on the cutting edge of doing pre-pectoral implants for a couple of years now. I didn't even know about pre-pectoral until I went to him and he told me about them and THEN I subsequently found this thread. It was a stroke of great good luck that I went to him in the first place and I would hate for others to miss that opportunity.
I believe he's done the best he can with what he had to work with. The tissue damage to the right breast from rads and infection - neither of which were his fault - is the real problem, not him. I have to believe I would have gotten the same result from any other PS or I'll drive myself crazy with "what ifs".
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macb04, wow, that's a lot to deal with. I'm sorry I don't remember all of your medical details. I am dealing with chronic UTIS that started in perimenopause before all of my cancer stuff. If you want to talk off line I would be happy to. Sending you big hugs !
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macb, I'm so sorry about all the problems you're having. And what the hell is wrong with these doctors??? Even if your MO thought the treatment was unnecessary why the hell would he tell you that after there's nothing in the world that can be done about it and the damage has been done? They have absolutely no regard for our sanity or peace of mind. I had to look up what a Mona Lisa treatment was. I hope seeking that out again gives you some relief. Wish I had great advice for you as you've had for me all along the way but all I can offer are useless virtual hugs.
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Thank you Raven, and Cyclegal. Your Virtual hugs are some of the best things around. I got some sleep, so Iam not as sad today. You are right, I think I had just irresponsible, sh*tty care. Sometimes it makes me want to go back and slap them up side the head. It is the hubris, that they knew this things and I trusted them to care.
Ok I will leave your PS here. I can respect that he meant well.
Here is my dilemma. I have had so very,very many surgeries, 17 including the uni mx. I want to be done, but I am seriously thinking of going back in to have my R real breast lifted. Raven inspired me by putting up her photo, so here is mine in a skimpy tank top. I kept trying to have things line up, but they don't. I had my R breast lifted too early, when I had the TE in, and then my PS put in a too, too small implant, a 420cc moderate profile anatomic. I couldn't stand it, so I went back in and got the implant replaced with a 495cc Mentor Textured Anatomical, high profile last March. I wanted bigger, but he had cut away too much skin when he took out the TE that he barely could fit the 495cc, when I went back in. In clothes it looks mostly ok, although I do have to very slightly pad out the bottom to look symmetrical. I really thought I was done, but this assymtrical breasts of two different sisters thing screws with my head every single time I see myself topless. My husband says I am " fine", and to just leave it, but he has never supported my reconstruction and I would still have a crater on my chest if left up to him. It is not just that he worries about me, a large part of it is that he hates the extra work he has to do when I am temporarily laid up after surgery. So what do you think ladies? After 15 reconstruction surgeries, should I have greater symmetry than that? After I upload this photoI am deleting it as I just hate to see me look this way. Kind of like my dirtylittle secret, since I started this thread. It looked better a year ago, just drooped more only on the right.
This is me after I got dressed, I am mostly able to camouflage it, but still doesn't fix my naked view, which I don't like. It is not as awful as the crater, when I never looked at all, butI want symmetry, is that too much to ask?
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macb04, just real quick since I'm getting ready to go into dr appt, wanted to mention this regarding UTIs. You have probably heard of it but on the off chance you haven't thought I'd mention it. D-mannos is a natural supplement that has been found effective for UTIs. My daughter told me about it and it worked for me. If you haven't heard of it you may want to research it.
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Wow, macb, we are unfotunate twinsies when it comes to the asymmetry of our foobs. That's almost scary how similar your is to mine. (When I took my pic with only the cami and no bra underneath it looks almost identical to yours.)
I do NOT for one second think we are unreasonable in wanting symmetry. The only difference for me is that I don't give a hoot what I look like naked - it can be as scarred and ridiculous looking as it wants. But I don't think it's too much to ask for symmetry in clothes. I have already also learned how to camouflage the differences (since life DOES go on and I DO have to go out in public.)
Also like you, though, I'm just not sure I'm up for another surgery, at least not for quite some time. I only had 7 compared to your 17, but with an upcoming trip to Europe and the fact that I just need a break it will be at least a year or two before I pursue another correcting surgery. For now I'm just relieved to be finished and infection-free. If it will improve you peace of mind and quality of life then I say go for it.
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Raven, thank you I do yhink of getting it done quickly, as soon as I can get arranged, or of waiting, but I consistently hate looking this way. I just get afraid of surgery, always did. I don't mind the pain, just worry about infection, especially since i can't easily get IV Vitamin C because of my poor veins.
Stti, thanks for the mention of D- Mannose. I do use it, and it helps, but it always comes back. Iwill just have to get another Mona Lisa and hope it works.
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I am on a constant 6 month dose of antibiotics b/c of chronic UTI s , made worse by BC and AIs. It's not what I wanted to.do, but it's not the worse thing either. I still got a UTI despite being on the antibiotics.
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Being on constant antibiotics is harmful to the gut, and can cause serious, and possibly life threatening infections with resistant bacteria. That's where MRSA started, from overuse of antibiotics. Also my friend almost died twice from two C difficile infections.
Also, there is quite a large amount of research out there possibly connecting antibiotics and bc. It seems to be a small risk, but it makes me nervous because growing up I had thousands, and thousands of antibiotics. They gave them to me like candy, because my mother poisoned me with her cigarettes all the time, so I was sick with ear infections and bronchitis constantly from birth to age 18 when I moved away to college. They never definitively say no link, so I don't want to solve my UTI issues with constant antibiotics, too scary for me.
I just have to keep up the D-Mannose daily, it can be used preventatively, especially after sex. Also I will just go back for more Mona Lisa treatments, and maybe the Estradiol vaginal suppositories.
Frequent antibiotic use and second breast cancer events.
Wirtz HS1, Buist DS, Gralow JR, Barlow WE, Gray S, Chubak J, Yu O, Bowles EJ, Fujii M, Boudreau DM.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Antibiotic use may be associated with higher breast cancer risk and breast cancer mortality, but no study has evaluated the relation between antibiotic use and second breast cancer events (SBCE).
METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study among women ≥18 years, diagnosed with incident stage I/II breast cancer during 1990-2008. Antibiotic use and covariates were obtained from health plan administrative databases and medical record review. Frequent antibiotic use was defined as ≥4 antibiotic dispensings in any moving 12-month period after diagnosis. Our outcome was SBCE defined as recurrence or second primary breast cancer. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to estimate HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for competing risks.
RESULTS:
A total of 4,216 women were followed for a median of 6.7 years. Forty percent were frequent antibiotic users and 558 (13%) had an SBCE. Results are suggestive of a modest increased risk of SBCE (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.88-1.50) among frequent antibiotic users compared with nonusers. Any potential increased risk was not supported when we evaluated recent use and past use. We observed no dose-response trends for SBCE with increasing duration of antibiotic use nor did we find evidence for altered SBCE risk in the antibiotic classes studied.
CONCLUSIONS:
Frequent antibiotic use may be associated with modestly elevated risk of SBCEs, but the association was not significant.
IMPACT:
Additional investigation by antibiotic class and underlying indication are important next steps given the high prevalence of frequent antibiotic use and growing number of breast cancer survivors.
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Ugh... I missed all these posts, need to figure out alert settings! ::clueless::
Raven College Park is a really pretty campus! Our younger son is a full on engineering/science nerd (high school junior) and is considering Maryland as a college option (YAY!) They have a nice campus and their science, engineering, and medical programs are great (you are correct, Shoregirl!) We lived in Maryland when the boys were little and go back a few times a year to visit everyone so it wouldn't be quite the adjustment it might be going somewhere else.Shoregirl I agree with you on the slower pace on the other side of the bridge. Though I imagine trying to coordinate your treatment/appointments in Annapolis so you miss bridge traffic coming home might be a chore (especially in the summer?) We have friends in Stephensville right across the bridge and listening to them talk about planning dentist appointments or shopping sounds like a military operation planned down to the minute/route when beach traffic is added to the mix! We may be moving back part-time after our younger son graduates high school and I've already said we have to live across the bridge (can't handle the traffic in the DC/Balt area anymore!)
Grandma3x I'm pretty sure we've walked by that restaurant but haven't tried it (my husband's first choice is always the Dogfish brewpub
but I love trying new places out there so it's gone on my list – thanks! Macb04 I am so sorry you have had such an extended struggle with the already crappy diagnosis that brought us all here. No idea what to say except to echo the others – you have a right to your feelings and to act on those things within in your control (surgery) if that's what you feel you need. I'm sorry you don't feel supported by your husband – that must be tough. I agree with Raven, I also don't expect perfection without clothing but symmetry is really all I'm asking for when the time comes. Virtual hugs to you!
2Fun I still haven't made it to Walmart so I'm adding that Avia option to my list (I'll be the woman wandering around the intimates section staring at her phone and squinting at the tags!)
Hoping for some moments of goodness, or at least peace, for all of you today
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Hi JesseJake
I have a few questions for you regarding the fat grafting, if you don't mind. My rippling is mainly on the lateral aspect of one implant, but I was under the impression most fat transfers are for the upper pole/clevage area. Am I wrong? Did they do the fat grafting all throughout the breast? I'm also wondering if you had to have drains after the procedure. My mastectomy left me w/ two scar dimples , and I'd prefer not to have more of those. For that matter, did the procedure leave any other scars in the breast area? I was wondering where you had the fat taken from...I was hoping to have it taken from my waist/abs and at the very least get a nice result in that area
thanks
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Hi NizD, I guessJessie Jake has not seen your posting, so I will answer your questions. Fat grafting can be placed anywhere it is needed to try ad cover over dents/ripples. Usually women don't have drains with Fat Grafting. I never had drains with Fat Grafting. The grafted fat was injected through either needle holes, or very small incisions, do I never noticed sny additional scars in the breast area. The donor sites can be any area with sufficient fat, like the abdomen, waist, thighs, hips, buttocks. You need t talk with your PS about which sites that are used.
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NizD, I had pretty extensive fat grafting in October of last year but that was to try to repair some damage from infection and not to smooth out a result. I can tell you that the recovery from the fat grafting sucked - probably the worst post-surgical pain I've had out of all seven of my surgeries but, as I said, it was pretty extensive. If they're only taking a small amount from the donor site it probably won't be as bad for you.
I had my 2nd post-op appointment with PS subsequent to my final exchange. He asked me what I thought and, of course, I told him how unhappy I am with the results. He had me first put my bra on, then my blouse and said he can certainly see why I'm unhappy.
The plan for now is for him to prescribe the pentoxyfillene and vitamin E but he says he needs to consult with a radiation oncologist to figure out dosages, etc. as he's never prescribed them before. I told him not to bother with my RO as she absolutely refused to prescribe it as it wasn't "indicated" and God forbid she would think outside the box for one second. He said he's glad I told him that because that's who he would have called first and he said he wasn't surprised by her response because she's very "dogmatic" and by the book. He's going to consult another RO from a different hospital instead. He was hesitant to prescribe the oral meds and only wanted to do the cream but I will insist on both. If he won't prescribe the orals I'll go to my family practitioner and get it from him. Failing that I'll get my naturopath to prescribe it.
If those meds don't make any or enough improvement then he said our next step is to try to keep lifting the left side little by little but not for at least a year. He has to be careful because, due to the mastectomy, the breast doesn't get blood flow from below it like a regular breast would.
At this point I'm glad I have a plan to try to improve the results and for now I can live with camouflaging for a year or two – there are lots of flowery/busy prints in my future. Plus, I have now had to put off getting new kitchen counter tops for two years in a row due to our out of pocket expenses piling up so in the intervening years I'm getting my darned counter tops! And, of course, I have our family trip to Europe to look forward to at the end of this year. I feel a little bit like I'm getting my life back!
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Hi All!
Trying to catch up today. I've been staying off the breastcancer.org site in general because when I'm on it I think about things far too much and stress myself out. I have to get a PETscan later this week. Hoping it gives me peace of mind. I'm having a lot of little symptoms that in isolation would be nothing to care about, but adding them up and with hx of cancer they set off some alarm bells.
Raven - I'm so sorry that this latest surgery wasn't without complications and that the results are still not as symmetrical as you had hoped. It's just not freaking fair. Big hugs for you. Wish we could make it better for you!
Macb04 - ugh. Sorry your spouse isn't supportive. This is your body and you get to decide what is best for it physically and mentally. Agree that after that many surgeries, you'd think you'd be a bit more even/symmetrical. It is not unreasonable to want that! What options do you have?
Sitti - I too am shocked they could change to under the pec when the expanders hadn't even stretched out your pec muscle. I hope you're not in much pain.
AlteredArtgirl - bras, including sports bras that have the little thin foam triangles make a tremendous difference for smoothing things out. For non-breast surgery people I'm sure they are for nipple concealment, but they conceal so much more for us. I had nipple sparing surgery so I need them for all the ripples from my implants and for nipple concealment since they reside in new time zones now. Most I've purchased in TJmaxx, Ross, or Marshalls. Swim suits are trickier. I've had to go with high necklines on top because otherwise you see the top edge of the implants. There are great ones out there...but expensive.
I'm tempted to post some pictures. Through clothes I am symmetrical. Without clothes I am pretty symmetrical too in terms of location and fullness, but my implants look just like TEs. And...the radiated side is tight laterally so the fullest part of the implant is medial/along my sternum, then it slopes hard on the side and my nipple falls off with it. I have pictures of me topless with TEs and with implants and they look close to the same. You see every edge and a lot of ripples. I declined fat grafting. I think I want to save my fat for when there are more medical advances related to stem cells...like for joint injections, or tx for dementia etc! I'd rather my fat go toward harvesting stem cells for what will keep me the most active in life. Besides...sometimes the fat doesn't 'take'. I just wish there was some other way to make my little implants (250cc) look less plastic/fake when I am naked. My husband says he doesn't care, but as a newlywed maybe he's just being nice.
I also wish they didn't feel so fake when compressed. When I'm carrying something against my chest, like a box for example, it feels like I cut one of those foam Nerf balls in half and it is between me and the box. Does anyone else feel that?
you all continue to inspire! xoxox
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andraxo, I hope all of your little symptoms turn out to be just little symptoms.
My implant side has the same silhouette as the expander. Makes sense that if they stretch a certain tissue In a certain shape, the implant will just fill up the shape.
I'm pretty symmetrical, but not perfect by any means. I see PS tomorrow. Not sure what I will say to him.
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Andraxo, I hope your PET scan results give you the peace of mind you're looking for. Be sure to keep us updated. And I totally get taking a break from these boards sometimes. Sending you hugs!!!
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Macb04, virtual hugs to you!!
Grandma3x, I HAVE been to Cooter Browns! Both in New Orleans and Rehoboth. NO serves this sandwich called the Muffeletta, I am not a big sandwich lover, but this one is to die for!! Italian cold cuts and cheese and green olive salad on a fresh baked round loaf. CB toasts it on request....so good!!! The one in Rehoboth doesn't have it though.
AlteredArtgirl, actually the traffic isn't that hateful IMHO since the Bay Bridge expanded the toll lanes and put more EZ Pass lanes in. The only real logistics I follow are trying to avoid travelling "to the other side" on Friday so I don't encounter beach traffic coming home. That DC/Northern VA traffic was horrendous when I left in 1989!
Raven, so glad to hear you have a plan now! That is how I felt after consulting w/my new PS; like my life wasn't on hold anymore and I can patiently wait for the process to completion. Yes, get those countertops!! I would say you deserve them AND the Europe trip!!
Andraxo, praying that you have a negative PET and get peace!! I do think its sweet your newlywed hubby doesn't care about the aesthetics of your boobs. Mine doesn't either, he told me he wouldn't care if I was flat. I now have to Google stem cell joint injections, my joints are a mess!! And yes, I DO feel like I have Nerf balls on my chest, I am self concious about hugs which totally sucks cuz I love nice squeezy, long hugs.
Hugs everyone!
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