Exchange City
Comments
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Diane - I just thought you wanted us to hear you! LOL big font!
Texas - even today I was telling a friend about the nips and she was asking if they would retract or be on high beams all the time? I told her high beams forever! LOL she thinks I may have lots of men looking at me in the future thinking they are turning me on!
Betty - post here often... I took a long time to find threads I felt worthy of joining... I skipped rads and chemo with my decision to have a BMX - I get to take Tamoxifen but still feel like I cheated somehow. You are going through the same pain & discomfort of reconstruction as everyone else! Just wait until you have your Yippee Squishy Day! it is so worth it!
Kimberly
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Chris - good to hear from you! I love these soft squishy new girls! show & tell is fun - espicially when it helps someone make up their mind and they aren't scared anymore of the unknown.
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Betty, I am BRCA1+. I had early stage BC and had a bmx. I'm finding out tomorrow if my OBGYN plans to remove a cyst from my ovary or have a hysterectomy! Yikes!!! Don't ever feel like an intruder.
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Kittycat! I'm glad to meet you - I'm having laparoscopic oophorectomy and tube removal in 2 weeks. I've been doing high-risk ovarian cancer and BC surveillance since we found out about our family BRCA2. I had transvaginal ultrasound and CA125 screening a couple of weeks ago in advance of the upcoming ooph, and I have a large cyst on each ovary. I had my uterus out in '99 but kept my ovaries. I'm 55 and postmenopausal, so getting the ovaries out is a no-brainer for me. I knew this would be a part of my risk reduction program but was surprised to find out about the cysts. Please let me know how it goes for you tomorrow. I will beam positive thoughts your way!
Kimberly - Thanks for the welcome to EC... I'm IN!
Betty
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For those who pray...
please pray for me for Monday...I am having a re-exchange and push-em up where they belong surgery on Monday. This is my 8th surgery since April. Please pray and/or send healing vibes that I make it safely through and that this is my last surgery !!:):):)
also...if it's not too much to ask...please also pray that they get my IV in on the first try or at least the second. These 3 or 4 tries are starting to bug me.
Thank you!
Prayers going up for everyone here.
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Delilahbear/Nancy - thank you too. I am really glad to be welcome here!
Luna5 - Wow, I can't even imagine 8 surgeries in less than a year. You must be a tough cookie and you will be getting the best healing vibes I can send!
Betty
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Luna, I will! I understand about the pokes.. grrrrrrrrrr Chemo melted my veins and this last time .. well. I will not be graphic... but is is amazing WHERE they stick the needles when they cannot use arms or hands...
Deborah... SLOPPY SECONDS.... OMGOSH... either you do not know what that really means.... or you are a ' closet naughty" ROFLOL
Our Maxx is good here too...
I hope.. " timtam" is ok.
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Thank you Bebotx and Estepp! I really need the extra help!
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Kimberly: I totally understand about the you feel like you "cheated" since you didn't do chemo or rads, since I got to skip those too. I try to remind myself that I'm just more fortunate at this point in my life. I know so many others are going through so much more, it makes my little mini-pity parties seem petty and stupid....and of course then I feel guilty again.....because I "cheated".....it's a vicious cycle!
Luna5: You will definitely be in my prayers! I felt badly having 3 since the end of September. I can't imagine what you are going through. I will pray for fast healing and a quick end to your medical drama right now in your life so you can start moving forward quickly to healing!
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Betty - I am 40 years old and pre-menopausal, so that's why I'm concerned about having my ovaries removed. My sister and cousin went through early menopause, so I may end up going through menopause early. We'll see what my doctor has to say tomorrow!
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Betty, You are not an outsider. We all have a different journey some of us catch it early some of us catch it late and some of us have enough information to be blessed with the ability to prevent it from happening all together. Given your family history you've seen many of the emotions, don't minimize that.Texas, Beautifully said. I find myself feeling guilty for any act of "sympathy" at this point. People have done so much for me, I hate when I feel like people might think I want more sympathy. I think that is actually part of my "not wanting to make people uncomfortable in the locker room". I'm fine with how I look but I don't want people to look at me and think I'm showing it off for sympathy. But then yes there are those that are insensitive and that's frustrating too. People say things like "you're so lucky you got new boobs, they'll never sag", it's even made me second guess myself a few times and think to myself "wow, is that what I was thinking when I made this decision". However, from what I recall all I could think was "get these damn things off of me and fast!" I don't think they realize what they're saying and in some way those little comments are their way of making themselves more comfortable with our situation.My PS said pretty much the same as Dianes. That research does not show a connection between silicone and "ills". I do work with a woman who had been sick for awhile and discovered that her implant was leaking, she had them replaced with saline and continued to be ill and says that it was because the shell was silicone and her body had developed a "sensitivity" to the silicone. She's since had a flap done. My sister had augmentation and was getting sick and realized that her implant was leaking. I went with silicone anyway, it was my surgeons preference and in light of everything else it wasn't a subject that I had any desire to research. I'm happy with my decision and haven't thought twice about it.Luna, One stick, they'll get it on the first try this time! Warm thoughts!Julie0
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Luna, best of luck today! I too have been through 8 surgeries since my BC diagnosis with one more to go, so I can understand how tiresome it all gets!
I used to have fabulous veins, but thanks to chemo the last surgery (my 2nd try at an exchange) it took them 45 minutes (and 3 different nurses) to find a vein. My arm was black & blue. I refuse to let them use my hand because the one time I did it swelled up and was unusable for several days. I can't afford to take the time off work because of an IV.
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Luna ~ good luck to you ! Hoping they get your boobies right where you want them and they get you first poke with you IV.
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Luna5 - sending prayers and good thoughts your way and wishing you a Yippee Squishy Monday!
bcincolorado - thank you - for the most part I KNOW I am not really cheating. There are/were days when I struggled with it. My local support group has made such a difference in my life. Even though I skipped rads & chemo, I have been through more stuff than others who had chemo &/or rads and kept their breasts. It's not worse, just different...
I was prepared to stop at my 3rd procedure and have rads, but the pathology indicated invasive cells and extensive pre cancer too.That's when I decided to have the BMX and I am so glad I did! As it turned out, I had 2 primary cancers in my right breast and DCIS in the left that had not shown up on the mammogram.
I am one of the lucky ones to find this early and take an aggressive course of action. That said, I think anyone who is willing (Betty) to jump in preemptively and do this is very brave!
Julie - I wonder if the people who think we are lucky to have non sagging boobs are scared to death to get BC. I have had many people say that to me too and my reply is YES - THAT AREN'T TRYING TO KILL ME! - it brings them to reality... It's not just a boob job, it's saving my life!
Bellz - hope you are Yippee Squishy today!
Ronqt1 - Good luck today - Yippee Squishy to you too!
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Thanks so much for all the great feedback. It is so helpful to hear from those of you who have gone before me
I like the idea of the soft and squishy silicone....but I have been a little worried about having silicone in my body "forever". I see that even saline implants are encapsulated in silicone so I guess that there's no way completely around it 
My GP had a DMX about 5 months ago, the same team of surgeon and PS did my DMX. She showed me their handy work and I was relieved to see how lovely and natural her new foobs looked, it was like walking back in time
I love my PS and surgeon....they are both very nice, accessible, and take time to answer questions....I know I'm lucky to have a good team.Kimberly glad to hear your recent exchange went so well and your happy,....thank you Betty, Maggie, Musiclovermom, Colleen for sharing with me and thank you all for making the road ahead a little less mysterious.
As soon as I have an official date I will shout it from the rooftops ... can't wait to get rid of the TE's
Sorry to hear that there is trouble with timtam....I just wrote to her a few days ago to ask for access to the photo forum.... Hope she is ok and feeling well again soon....
Best to all who are having surgeries today....healing and comfort.....
Strength to all,
Laura
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Laura - I have one more little bit of trivia I learned from happily living with sub-muscular saline implants for 16 years that will probably make you laugh (I hope)!
My husband and I are avid scuba divers and we love deep dives. After a deep dive, the nitrogen molecules inside my saline implants would "gas out" and create temporary bubbles inside the implants. For about 24 hours after diving my boobs would make sloshy noises and you could feel the bubbles - but luckily my husband and I were the only ones who could! I've heard silicone will do the same thing but I will have to let you know about that next year.
Ronqt1 and all the ladies that had surgery this week - have a relaxing weekend and best of luck in your recoveries!
Betty
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Hi Betty, Thanks for the funny story....bubbles in the foobs must have been very strange
Deep diving must be a magical experience! All the best,
Laura
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Luna5, Sweetie you have had to endure so much these past months. I will be thinking of you this weekend and praying that 8 is the magic # and this will be your last surgery! I hope you are posting next week about your Yippee Squishees!
Betty, Welcome from one newbie to another!. I had PBM also, in November. Strong family history, abnormal mammos, biopsies... I'm 50, peri-menopausal, and deciding on the ovarian testing. I wanted to get thru this first. Hoping your upcoming surgery goes well and the cysts are just fibroids. BTW I was born in Levelland, outside Lubbock, but moved away when I was a baby. Haven't been back in years but will visiting a nephew in Austin in May.
Navymom, how are you???
Kathy/Fairport, surgery sister!! One more week!! I'm getting the hair done today. I know I should be cleaning the house like crazy but the weather's just too nice to be inside!
Wishing all a great weekend, TGIF
Cindy
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Good Morning:
The story about diving is so funny! It was a great way to start my morning. I wanted to read before I started the day off at work and got too far behind on everyone!
I know someone who did a cosmetic silicone reconstruction about 20 years ago, so they were the OLD kind of implants done. Hers did leak and she went "flat". She is doing TE again (won't need them long this time around) and getting new ones put in.
I don't know what I'll end up with yet. My PS said when I go next month we'll review all the options and he'll measure and tell me what he thinks is best. I've heard silicone is more natural feeling. He has a big tub he always brings into the room to show us the implants, etc. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
I'm just glad the fill portion is done for my TE. I can already tell the swelling has gone down and I don't feel like my foob is going to choke me in the night!
Musiclovermom: I didn't attend a support group at all. Since my husband is disabled and rarely gets out of the house as it is except to the doctor or to drive me around to mine, I couldn't leave him to go to any meetings. I know 4 different people at church who have been through or are dealing with BC. One had chemo and rads but just a lumpectomy and so far is clear. One is all done with her exchange and doctor didn't order OncoDX and had to do chemo and rads. She did one side like I did (opposite sides). My daughter scolded us for discussing "foobs" in church one day! I think we mortified her! One other lady (who is a nurse) needs mx but doesn't want to deal with it yet and she is Stage 1 and just taking Tamox to keep it from getting worse right now. Another poor lady is just about 30 or so and when she found her lump her doctor told her she was too young for BC and not to worry about it! Well she is Stage IV now 6 months later and they pretty much told her to get her affairs in order. So.....I do have to count my blessings and in some ways I do feel guilty sometimes, but I know every single person out in the world has to deal with something. It might not be cancer, but it might be something else. Just not everyone is as lucky as we are to have a great source of information and support to learn from each other.
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Cindy - I sent you a PM. As a newbie I'm wondering if there is a way to get "pinged" when you have a PM? Betty0
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Luna! Prayers for you and your doctors and the needle pusher!! Deep breaths.....
Kimberly, I had chemo the first time, and am jumping for joy that I am not having it this time. Any bc road we take is difficult. Glad you have found such a great support group!
Belz and Ronq, best wishes to you.
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Betty - when I get a PM I get a notice in my regular e mail...
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Luna -- prayers and good wishes are headed your way. I've had trouble with IVs in the past, too. You've prob already heard this, but the advice I got was to drink a lot of water for a few days before the surgery so you're well hydrated. I also told my would-be poker what my history was and I got the "best" one on the pre-surgery floor who got it on the first try for my exchange! I'll be thinking of you, Maggie
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Betty, I'm running out the door to go to my haircut. I have a bit of that issue, I'll PM you tonight.
Musiclovermom, How do you get a reg. email message also? Is it something in My Home?
Cindy
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If you go to my home... there is a box to check if you would like e mail notifications when you get a PM...
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Hi Kimberly - I have the box checked and just made sure my email is correct, but still nothing. Hmmm?
Betty
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This is what I think about nipples:
I remember showing some pic forum pics to my husband before my BMx. I showed him some pics of women in the TE stage. His first question was: Where are the nipples?
I showed some of my "regular friends" my expanded foobs and the first thing they asked was: When will you get your nipples?
I think, for us who are going through the process, the nipple idea might even seem optional, but for the people out there who have not gone through this, nipples are a paramount part of your breasts, and you don't have breasts without nipples.
Just my thoughts on how other people regard nipples.
Brenda
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Regarding nipples, here's my 2 cents worth. The comfort I got from the knowledge that I could have fipples after BMX was huge and played a large part in my decision to move forward with prophylactic BMX. I can't really explain it... I think I would have made the MX decision eventually anyway, but when I saw pics and heard of the experiences of friends who had fipples it tipped the scale for me. One of my BC recon friends said it restored her feminity.
I think of all the women in my family who have struggled with BC over the last 36 years, including my mother who had a disfiguring mastectomy in 1974. I don't think recon was even an option then and I often wonder how amazed and delighted she would be if she was alive to see what miracles we can have today. Every woman who has breast and nipple reconstruction contributes to the advancement of the art and science and our sisters and daughters benefit. Not wanting fipples is ok too, but I believe no woman should have to question her decision to go for it.
In this age of wide acceptance of just about any elective cosmetic procedure, it kind of surprises me that one might think of restoring something that was lost to disease as frivolous or vain. I know it happens, but it still surprises me!
Betty
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Luna - I just wanted to wish you well on Monday and let you know I am sending prayers your way. I hope they are able to get a good vein on the first try and I hope this is the last surgery you have to endure. Hang in there as best you can.
Take care,
Karen
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Luna: You are in my thoughts and prayers...
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