January 2017 Surgery Group
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Lisa - sending you positive energy and thoughts. And lots and lots of soft hugs.
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Lisa, so sorry to hear about the bumpy road you are traveling. Prayers said that everything is smooth sailing going forward
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leftcoastie - thinking of you this morning. Sending healing vibes your way. Hope you are resting in the cabana soon!
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I know many of you will be busy this weekend. You will all be on my mind! Blessings to you all this Mother's Day! I hope that you get to spend the day being treated as special as you truly are! Thank you to each and every one of you for helping me along my journey and helping me to continue to be a good mother by being my support system through it all.
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Hi ladies - surgery went well. I feel 100% better. They had to remove my TE. It had an abscess encapsulated with it causing major fluid build up. It's strange that it took so long to get agrivated. I was checked out this morning at 9:30. I do have a drain tube but I am hardly draining. Hopefully I'll get it removed early in the week. I am amazed how much better I feel. I've never had an infection and didn't realize how sick it really made me. I appreciate all the kind words, thoughts and prayers. I honestly don't know what I'd do without all of you.
Liz - I cannot wait to see photos of your cruise. You'll be the cutest lady on the ship in your rash guard, big hat, and sunglasses. 😎
It's so wonderful to hear all of your stories. Vargadoll you are so cute and amazing. Congrats on completing rads. You do need to slow down a bit and treat yourself to some R and R.
Thanks again everyone. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
I love reading everyone's stories, all 99 pages of them. Wow we've been through a lot together and we are all stronger together. 💞
Love you all!
Xoxoxo
Lisa
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I've been checking this board like crazy in the hopes of news about your surgery, leftcoastie, and I'm so thrilled you are done and feeling better!! its too bad it couldn't have been discovered earlier, but what a major relief to finally be on the mend!! What's the scoop with the other side - did they do anything there or did that wound vac do the trick?
And thank YOU beachbabyk - you are the one who created this wonderful space for us to feel safe and share and develop enduring friendships. Cheers to you!
And to all you moms, a very happy Mother's Day to you! It's hard enough navigating this crap, but to be responsible for other lives at the same time, well, it's no small feat. Cheers to you and may the celebrations continue in the form of health and love. Sending SUGA!!
Xxxxoooo
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Hi annoyingboob- my right breast is almost completely healed. The nipple will need to be rebuilt down the road. I really look like a freak of nature right now but I feel good for the first time in months so I really don't mind. It feels great to have one TE out!
Happy Mother's Day to all my sisters. I hope you are all spoiled rotten this weekend. I'm being lazy and just relaxing. The best gift ever!
Xoxox
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Leftcoastie, Pugsmama was telling me about you. I am so sorry that you are going through this. You have already been through enough. Life is hard sometimes. It really is. I'm praying for not only your physical body to heal but for your spirit to be uplifted. It's hard being down so low. But you have us sisters to keep you going strong and hold your hand. We are all in the cabana together. Sending you love.💕
3Bears
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Sending love, light, and healing vibes to you Lisa!
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Aboob, yes, my PS was going to use textured ANATOMICALS also known as "Gummy Bear implants". It was in March while I was in the midst of expansion and in his office getting a fill when he told me they had been alerted by the FDA regarding the link to Lymphoma risk with the textured implants, whether round or anatomical. He told me their office is no longer going to use the textured implants and switched me to the Inspira smooth rounds.
One thing that comes to mind though is, if I am not mistaken, the tissue expanders were textured as well. I wonder if they pose the same Lymphoma risk as the implants due to the textured shell. Something to discuss with your PS for those of you who do not yet have expanders or do have them for that matter!
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Shoregirl: same with my PS, he's no longer using them..
Leftcoastie: after you've healed, are you having another TE put in?
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WELL, I step away for a minute, and boom... so much news. Shellybeans and Leftcoastie... CANCER SUCKS AND YOU ARE AMAZING.... sorry to shout, but I hate that this journey is filled with terrible surprises. So glad that you are both feeling better... can't imagine having such a large infection and not knowing that it was there dragging me down. I think the not knowing is the hardest thing... once the mystery is revealed and a plan of action was put in place, I always felt better... even if I wasn't better yet. Love and healing to you both (and to everyone, of course... but especially to those of you who've been sorely challenged these past weeks). You too, fightingirl... get back to PT and send that cording packing... maybe your body is telling you you are doing too much? I think the cording is caused by inflamation... either way, it sux.
I'm slowly getting back to myself. Took all of last week off, and tried to do a walk here and a lunch there... then crashed each day from the effort. But it was always worth it... at least on thesunny days. This week and trying to do half days at work. It is good medicine (and I'm swamped)... we'll see how I do.
At the 10 day mark, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with the implants. They are much softer and much much much more comfortable than the damn TEs... and, although it has been a LONG time since I had young, perky breasts, I don't think they were ever quite this firm... hope they relax a bit with time. My belly is still VERY tender... no bending or lifting for at least another 10 days. And I want so badly (and need) to be digging in the garden... my husband is traveling through all of this, and just extended his trip by 5 days, so no help out there, and many plants that need to get in the ground... my kids are doomed this weekend
)Will try to send a picture soon that gives an idea of the "finished" product... back to a smallish D (from that horrible F) which feels fantastic.
XOXO I love you all
Susan
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Dcbc -Yay for comfortable ta-ta's! What great news that you are doing so well! I'm glad you were able to take the time off to heal. That so important but it's hard when there is a family to care for and work to be done.
Fightingirl - glad you popped in! Are you wearing a lymphedema sleeve? Cording sucks! I'm going to PT one a week now and have several stretches I'm to do at home. I just got my half foam bolster from Amazon a few days ago. The snow angel stretch is my favorite. Its one of the feelshower so good it hurts!
Hope that everyone had a beautiful weekend and is moving on with healing no matter how small the steps are!
Just keep swimming the cabana is so close!
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Same dress as the last pic... no more F cups for this girl
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Wow! I can't believe how close I was to getting the textured anatomical implants! That's exactly what my PS wanted to use on me. I'll have to ask him about this on the 31st when I see him . It's all so scary. In fact, I can't even tell you how much my PS talked up the gummy bear implants. Basically, " nothing can go wrong, they will last like 20 years or maybe even a lifetime," Yada yada. Should I be afraid of the TEs ? I really have no choice if I want boobs.
Dcbc- you look great! Congratulations on final implants! That's where we all want to be. Why is your belly tender?
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re: gummies... any shape/texture silicone implant can be (and probably are) gummies... it's just the textured anatomically shaped ones that have been associated with the lymphoma... if you go with round smooth silicone you will almost certainly get gummies... and that should be fine. That's what I got. No incidence of that rare cancer with these
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looking super sexy, feminine, and slender dcbc!! I hope you are feeling as good as you look!!!!
Xxxxoooo
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dcbc: you look awesome! Do you have to wear any kind of compression garment around your belly from the fat grafting? I hope my PS needs to graft a lot of fat! Lol
3Bears: my PS said don't worry about the TEs.
I've got a 5 o'clock shadow on my head! It will be a long time before my hair grows to a reasonable length but at least it's a start!
Love you all!
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I had a compression garment for the first few days, and chest was bound tight as well... then all came off. Recovery has been ok... tbh, the lipo hurts a lot... still have pain from that, and in the are in which it was grafted... but the Aubergine-hued bruises all over my body are receding, and I've been out and about, working a bit... but tire easily. Hoping next week is more normal. Have been instructed not to lift or bend over until at least next week (three weeks after exchange) which is killing my,gardening. But if I forget, and bend, boy do I regret it! Feels silly to complain after the debilitation following the mastectomies... but am impatient.
PugsMama, love hearing ab the peach fuzz! Does it suit you as well as docmama? My head is not so beautifully shaped as hers... I look ridiculous even in a hat... would love to rock that look but alas I would look awful
Xoxoxo
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PS 3bears, just saw your question about my belly... he did lipo to collect fat for the fat grafting... seemed like a bonus, but heart like the dickens... exchange would have been a breeze without it, but dreaded having two coconut halves on my chest... plus my chest was pretty ravaged by the mastectomies... lots of divots that he filled in with the fat. Dear lord why do,people do this stuff voluntarily?
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dcbc - what type gardening....flowers, vegetables, both? I love gardening, it has always given me an outlet, love digging in the dirt. I have a postage stamp size garden where i live in NJ but grew up canning our own vegetables in Ohio. I love my flowers as well, my mom is a florist. We actually did our backyard first so I could have more flowers and an outdoor space, even though our house has paint peeling off-it.
So glad to hear your are doing well. You really look amazing
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Thanks Dcbc for clarifying. I certainly will need fat grafting down the road. ( I have lots of stops before then ). I know what you mean about divots 🙁
I shaved my legs today! Might not seem like a big deal but it's been months since I grew hair there. Still waiting for head hair..........
I'm trying to enjoy a beach vacation in North Carolina. It's a challenge in a wig with no boobs but I'm trying. I'll send a pic of this beautiful place.
Thanks girls for clarifying about the textures implants too. One less thing to worry about. But I do have a question for you January surgery girls. Does anybody have a tightness in your arm that the lymph nodes were taken? Like you can't reach or stretch as far as you should without it hurting? Mine has moved down to almost my wrist. I just keep stretching but it keeps coming back. I hope enough stretching will fix this but it's a bit concerning.
3Bears
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3bears,
It sounds like you have a cording problem or axillary web syndrome as it is called. I had to go to PT to have the areas "popped" and stretched. Go to a PT person that specializes in lymphedema post mastectomy. Here is a link to some information about the cording.
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3bears - BEAUTIFUL VEIW! The tightness is probably cording. Tell your doctor and they will order PT. You will have your ROM back in no time. I'm going once a week now and have a compression sleeve. With all the lifting I do my RO and PT felt like I needed to stay on top of the lymphedema risk. If you are going to need radiation next definitely check into PT. My cording was not to bad. I was stretching and doing exercises before rads but I still got tighter during radiation. Enjoy the beach! You are still one sexy hot momma!
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dcbc- you look gorgeous! So happy to read that you are doing so well!!
Change the name of this group to Smokin' Hot Survivors!
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3bears are you in the outer banks? LOVELY... love it there! Agree with others -- cording caused by inflammation. Best bet (as already mentioned) is a lymphedema PT... worked wonders for me.
Farmdream, LOVE to garden, especially in the spring, when everything is lush and blooming. almost all flowers... I have very little direct sun, so edibles are difficult. The exceptions: a 20 year old grape vine and a fig tree (along with a few herbs)... we are a little too far north for reliable figs (they often suffer badly in big winters); however, have had some success with the grapes when I prune correctly. One year I made two dozen jars of jam... hoping for the same this year.
Will upload some pics of the garden when I'm able... it really is beautiful in the spring.
XOXO
Susan
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