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  • MiachelJ2009
    MiachelJ2009 Posts: 3
    edited March 2010

    Estepp ~ thank ya girl....leave it to me Sealed

    I go today for my second fill or to schedule surgery.  Last one was so easy, just pumped 'em right up :)!  This one might be a little tougher....not seeing any lose skin hanging, yikes! 

    I love this topic, you all seem so great!! 

    It's beautiful here in Texas today...will be 74 degrees & sunny, YEA SPRING!!  I hope you all have a beautiful day!! 

    Mia

  • CDB
    CDB Posts: 34
    edited March 2010

    Annie, wonderful news for you!!  Congrats!

    Alicia, hope you get the drains out Thursday.  Quit bending over!!  I might have to have pocket work also...

    Kathy,  3 days!!!  My PS office called this morning.  They didn't get any of my pre-op paperwork!  ARGHHHH!!!

    Cindy

  • jenweg
    jenweg Posts: 55
    edited March 2010

    Hello everyone!  My name is Jenni, was just diagnosed with bc on March 12.  I am going with the bilateral mascectomy with expander reconstruction.  Will find out today when the big date is.  Estepp sent me to this page which I am thankful for!  Glad to read everyone's stories.  It sure helps.  Gives me strength and hope that I will get through this!!  Thanks girls!!!!!!

    Jenni

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Posts: 332
    edited March 2010

    Just got back from the hospital, getting the pre-surgical tests and paperwork done. My plan is nipples tomorrow, and to go back for a lift on the prophylactic side in the fall. If the asymmetry was just below the breasts, I don't think I'd do anything. But it is very apparent on the upper poles and shows up when I wear certain necklines such as halter tops.

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited March 2010

    Welcome Jenni - you have come to the right spot!  I'm so sorry about your diagnosis, but believe me life gets much better once the surgeries are done.  Best wishes to you.

    Welcome Mia, and best wishes with your next fill!

    For post-exchange ladies still dealing with some residual pain, I've found that wearing a comfortable underwire bra (Natori) to bed has made sleeping so much easier.  My "girls" just don't want to jiggle or flop at all; they want to be held firmly in place at all times.

    I'll second what Deen said, may everyone have a wonderful pain-free week!

    Kristen

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2010

    Welcome Jenni and Mia!  It gets better from here :)

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2010

    JUDY:  The radiated side always seems to ride higher during expansion and I think that this is a complaint some women have after the exchange as well.  Your PS should be able to correct the placement at the time of exchange, although how much tweaking can be done to the radiated side to lower it is something only he will be able to determine at the time of the exchange.  How is the skin responding on that radiated breast?  You can always email me photos Judy....

    Deborah

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2010

    Mia: Why is it sounding as though something is going on with the TEs? What is this "fluid build-up" you are describing?  I would like for you to see your PS about this. When you describe a "ski-slope" on one side, do you mean it looks like you have what we call a step-off issue?  I would say that you are a candidate for either the Allergan Style 20 [and I am mentioning Allergan b/c you have Allergan TEs] or Allergan Style 45, based on your comment re: your medium to long torsoe and your full height TEs.  Your TEs give you the sufficient projection for the ultra full projection TEs.  HOWEVER, if you have a fairly bony chest wall and you do have a significant step-off occurring, the Style 20 - high profile implants might be a better choice.  Many of us - me included - have had to deal with step-off deformities after MX.  It can be addressed with fat graft transfer procedures in some cases.  So, I digress.

    What I would recommend, based on your statistics and what you hope to achieve, would be implants with a volume of at least 550 ccs to 600 ccs - probably Style 20 would be best.  Talk to your PS and ask him what HE intends to do....he might overexpand...find out what is in his brain about where he is taking you.  You can certainly tell him what you want to achieve and tell him what volume you feel you would like to have at the end of the journey.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2010

    From the standpoint of lowering or raising the IMF:  It is always easier to lower than to raise the IMF....

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Posts: 532
    edited March 2010

    Wow!  So many posts.  I will have to read them all later...need to go sleep now.

     Just wanted to check in to say Thank You again to all who prayed and sent healing energy and vibes.  

    Surgery went well...The new girls look great so far!  IV in on first try...thank you guys for that!!!:):):)

    Got there at 8:15 but didn't go in until noon.

      Will fill you in on details when I am not so sleepy.

    Oh, about the staying in the 40s....I always tell people I am at least 5 years older than I really am to try to make myself look better for my age!!!:):):)   I'm 55 now and might be that for the year because 5 is my favorite number.  I was 55 a lot after I turned 45.  

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2010

    LOL Luna - that is original!  I'm not sure I can go there.  It is a big deal I'm willing to admit my true age at all. 

  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited March 2010

    I''m with you Lilah!  I still can't say my age after I hit you know what!!  I tell people I was a teenage mom when they act surprised about my daughter's age;)   Luna, maybe it's the anesthesia talking??  Funny that you add 10 years on!!  But great that your surgery and iv went well!!

     Texas best wishes tomorrow!!

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Posts: 916
    edited March 2010

    thank you darlings...all reports in and good to go!

    Lilah, honey, gentle hugs and gentle stretches to let those girls accomodate the new fills....just think, soon your new and improved boobies will be all squishy and soft.....

    Mia, you are approximately the same size as me!  I am a bit shorter, tho.  Our boobs sound the same.  I am at 500 cc's and it made a big C/small D.  The other girl (Thelma) is still DD.  Louise is a rads girl, she had alot of trouble.  She did end up dropping nicely, not droopy, just natural looking in the end.  It's been 1 1/2 yeas since end of treatment and exchange.  Subtle changes came every day and now she is my own. 

    It took longer all the sensation to come back but I do have most of it.  It precedes itself by itching like crazy, nerve regeneration I guess.  I wear a VS Angels Bra which stretches itself to accomodate between the sizes.  I do have to wear a bra extender as my back is weird feeling where the lat flap scar is and still swells, which needs fixing down the road.  But the VS Angels (I got a 38D) is PERFECT and comfy too!! It hides the nipple lack on Louise and the highbeam on Thelma perfectly.

    I was told by my PS No Underwire, Ever.  However, VS Angels make a wirefreee and that is what I have. 

    To sleep in, I have a cheap sports bra in a larger size.

    Hope this helps, and I hope that pretty Fairport Lady will scale down a little bit.  ((((((hugs)))))) very gently to everyone.

    Love to you, sweet little Laura!!

    xoxoxo

    annie

  • sunsnow
    sunsnow Posts: 12
    edited March 2010

    So...I've been doing very well since my surgery in early Jan., exercising, back to my usual role in our family, etc.  I'm scheduled for my exchange on 4/12 and I'm suddenly feeling overwhelmed. I got up on Monday morning and noticed that my pre-op is this Friday. I printed out my list of PS questions from Deborah and started thinking about the procedure. Suddenly it feels like I'm falling into that deep pit I was in just before the mastectomy. I know how fortunate I am to have found my cancer so early and I don't take that for granted, but the thought of going in for the exchange is almost too much. I can't believe I've worked so hard to feel better again and now I'm going to go backwards. I hate to sound dramatic, but is it like PTSD? Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I know there's an anxiety, etc. thread, but I thought I would feel pure joy about the exchange and it turns out to be more of a mixed bag. Just wondered if I'm the only one.

    My Dad died suddenly shortly before my mastectomy, so I think I was in denial until the last minute with that. Maybe this is delayed...I don't know...I'm just not like this usually, so I don't know what to think. Thanks for letting me vent.  Maura

  • pbebow
    pbebow Posts: 110
    edited March 2010

    Maura, I'm so sorry that you're having a little anxiety....  I think it's perfectly understandble though.  You and I had the same BMX date and basically same surgery and diagnosis, I'd say you have returned more to normal life then I have, I have kind of been taking advantage of the "I am recovering" thing so not back to exercising, but anyway, I am a few days out for my exchange then you... I haven't hit that anxiety yet, but I'm sure that I will...  Surgery is scary no matter what it is, but I am so excited to finally be done with the TE stage and headed towards the finish line that I don't think that I am having the anxiety over the surgery... maybe it'll hit me when I get a little closer, I don't know.  What is kind of bugging me a little is all of this talk about people wearing bras 24/7 forever after exchange!  I was looking forward to maybe going braless occassionally with my new perky girls and now it sounds like I'll even have to wear a bra to bed?! Surprised   Not loving the sounds of this!  but, anyway, back to you...  from what everyone says, the recovery after this is going to be so much easier, just think, you won't be wearing an iron bra all the time!!! Cool  Anyway, I probably haven't helped any, but just thought I'd acknowledge your feelings! 

    Good day Ladies!

    Paula

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2010

    Maura:  Many of us know how you feel.  I also have a rough time recovering from surgery, but I have had two elective surgeries requiring general anesthesia since the exchange [fat grafting] and so I am a glutton for punishment.  The exchange surgery is not elective...the TEs have to come out.  So you just need to bite the bullet honey and go through it!  I felt more anxiety about the exchange than I did anything else....it was a culmination of reality hitting me that the exchange had an unknown factor....what would I wake up looking like...would I be happy....am I getting the right size?  When at least with the TEs....I could be in denial, knowing they were only temporary.  We can accept things as long as we know they are temporary and not feel connected to them.  But when we know the implants are to be permanent fixtures, we have more investment in them and fear them for some unknown reason.  It's a mystery to me....

  • fairportlady55
    fairportlady55 Posts: 152
    edited March 2010

    Cindy: ugh! It'll work out Im sure!!! We are almost there!

    Maura: First of all I so sorry about your Dad. That is so hard under any circumstance, but right before a mastectomy is just really a lot. I just wanted to say I understand how you feel, my bmx was in Jan and my exchange is this friday. My PS has said something to me more than once that I wanted to share because maybe it will help. He said the unique and great thing about exchange surgery is that his patients feel better right after the surgery than right before which is a unique thing. The tissue expanders are uncomfortable at best and painful at worst, and hard as turtle shells, and the exchange provides so much relief from all of that and hard becomes soft and squishy....at least that is what I am hearing! It is hard to think about yet another surgery I am totally  with you, hope you feel better as time passes and your anxiety decreases :) HUGS...Kathy

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2010

    Paula....Don't think immediately that you will be one who will need to wear a bra rather consistently.  Many do not and are fine with this.  It all depends on how large you go - over 500 ccs - and even then, it depends on how lax your skin will be....if you are sitting nice and tight in the pockets or if you have skin which stretches easily.  You will know this fairly soon after the exchange.  But for the first three months at least, most of us advise wearing a supportive bra - just to keep everything in place...

    I go braless nearly all summer - wearing camisoles and tube style sundresses. I just make up for it in cold weather months and by wearing support at night.

  • KristenPink
    KristenPink Posts: 79
    edited March 2010

    Maura

    I agree with whippetmom.   What will I look like?  It is so final. Will I be happy?  I really worked hard to get myself in a good state mentaly before hand.  Do some soul searching..think about what you have to be thankful for..perspective i guess.  I will pray for you and envision positive recovery thoughts for you. 

    Kristen

  • pbebow
    pbebow Posts: 110
    edited March 2010

    Thanks, that's good to know!  It kind of freaks you out hearing some of this stuff that no one mentioned before we signed up for all of this (like we had a choice! Undecided), but probably is something that my PS just thinks of as common knowledge...  And he doesn't experience it so he might not think of mentioning some of it...  Anyway, as always, so thankful for this sight for the wealth of info, experience and comfort!!!

    Good days Ladies!

    Paula

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited March 2010

    Katey, I've even told people I was a child bride...I have a 21 year old kid, so that doesn't give me much wiggle room age-wise...

    Paula, I don't want to freak you out about the bras.  I found that underwire support lessened the pain for me, but that is just me and I am one to feel every little ache and pain.  My PS did tell me to wear a supportive bra every day from now on b/c he doesn't want my boobs moving south.  He said I could do whatever I wanted at night - and the underwire is what works for me.  (I HATED them before surgery; now I think they are great)

    Maura, you are so not alone about your nervousness before the exchange.   It is like PTSD, without a doubt.  I had my exchange 4 weeks ago, and I had terrible anxiety the week leading up to the surgery.  The other ladies on the thread might remember - but I started cleaning my house like a freakin' mad woman that week so that I couldn't obsess about the surgery.  A little valium in the evening can go a long way toward calming nerves before surgery.  Afterwards, you will be so very relieved!  Best wishes to you, and I am so sorry that you lost your dad on top of all of this.

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Posts: 281
    edited March 2010

    Judy, Judy,  Judy!   thank you for putting the finishing touches on my foob.  It was wonderful to meet and hug you.  You gave me peace and with your artistic flair I  know that I am DONE!!!!!    I am so grateful to you.   I really think that you should add "Foobcrafter" or my original title for you, my own "Nipcasso" to your many talents!   Hugs and Love. 

    Jan 

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Posts: 433
    edited March 2010

    Aw, Jan..  What Can I Say?  Miss you already...JUDY

  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited March 2010

    Maura,  I had insane anxiety before mastectomy, my chest hurt so much from worry I was sure it was my heart. I had them do another ekg at hospital!  Then again before exchange.  It was like I was on speed, running around working at full tilt!  I wish so much that I had just asked for some type of antianxiety meds, if you haven't, give your doctor a call. Strange tho, the day before my exchange I became very calm and happy.  The day after, fairport lady is right, tightness of te's gone!!

    I have one side that is still a tiny bit sore and just feel more comfortable giving it some extra support for now.  But I sure don't plan on wearing bras 24/7 forever!!

     Judy and Jan!!  How nice that you could meet, and fabulous Judy that you could help Jan with her finishing touch!!  Fantastic!!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2010

    Jan!  I've been wondering where you've been!  So glad you are so happy with your nipples!  Wooo hoooo!!!!!

    Annie -- I feel MUCH better today... now I am just relieved to know that I'm DONE with fills (yay!) and have two months before I face the exchange and lift/reduction... which, by the way, Maura, I can totally see would be cause of anxiety (I'll check in when closer to the date). 

    Deborah -- so well said about the emotions of the exchange... I definitely woke up happy and relieved after the MX and you're right: since the TEs are temporary I've been rather warm and accepting of them... we'll see how I feel after the exchange.  I pray I will be happy... happy feels SO much better than disappointed.

    Lilah

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Posts: 281
    edited March 2010

    Thanks Lilah,  I have been very busy and I have been so blessed by so many on Exchange City during this 16 months of "immediate" reconstruction.  I was so blessed to be able to meet a "sister" in person and to have her touch my life literally and figureatively.  Jan

  • binga
    binga Posts: 30
    edited March 2010

    I had my BMX on 1/27 and have been following this thread for a while now and now I am ready to join in.  I had my last fill today (YIPPEE) and will have my exchange on 4/26.  My TEs were 450cc and with all the pain I almost gave up and just settled at 350cc but am proud to say I stuck it out and have 450cc in and he said we would be able to replace with a 500cc Mentor memory gel implants.  I can't wait and have really loved being able to read all the posts on here to help me know what to expect.  I really appreciate you gals who posted pics in the forum because it gave me the encouragement to keep pushing on after seeing some of the fabulous finishes.  I hope I can muster up the courage to share my pics too.

  • val61
    val61 Posts: 969
    edited March 2010

    Good evening, fellow EC sisters!  My goodness gracious!.....6 pages to read....I've been wearing my "mom"  and "volunteer" hats the past few days and haven't had a moment to check in..... 

    Welcome, Mia, Jenni, and binga!  Mia, you're practically my neighbor.....I'm in Fort Worth.....and all my dh's family is out in East Texas.....  

    I was a total wreck before every surgery, even my exchange......as whippetmom said, I think it has a lot to do with the finality of it all....then again, for me it could be anything....I got an "A" in worrying.....I just wish I owned stock in Tums......

    Not much new with me, though I think the whole "scare" with my unevenness is over.  Some days I think they're off....some days I think they're good....weird.....  The left is still a bit higher, so I'm anxious to see what happens in the next several weeks.  My ps is not at all concerned - in a good way, I mean - that they will not symmetrical enough to do nips in May.  I don't see him for another 4 weeks, so I guess we'll re-evaluate then. 

    Deborah - btw.....I wore that Harlequin balcony bra this weekend...Smile..you've GOT to get one, girl!  I also ordered a few Freya and Fantasie swimsuits to try....I'll let you know how they fit.....

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Posts: 114
    edited March 2010

    Hi ladies,

    A few questions..please..

    It has been a week since my exchange. The PS said all is fine. He gave me a sheet to massage my breasts to keep them soft and in their pocket. Do others have to do this? I am having a little difficulty figuring exactly how to do it.

    Do any of you ladies have that iron bra feeling from latflap surgery?

    The two breasts are still a little different in size but the PS said there is still swelling and that should go down.

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Posts: 245
    edited March 2010

    Paula - I was told by my PS I never had to wear a bra again after my post op 3 weeks if I did not want to. He seemed surprised when I kept asking about under-wire and let me wear one at two weeks post op "if I wanted to"!

    Hell Yes! they are pretty and the wireless ones in my size looked like grandma bras!

    I am wearing a bra daily for the look and how it makes me feel. The new girls do not need to be held up but they are sexy in a lace bra! I have slept bra-less a couple of nights, I am still not used to that, but working on it.

    Ask your PS what he/she recommends and go from there. If I had only 200 to 400 cc I probably would not be wearing bras but I have 800 and feel socially awkward with out a bra.

    Kimberly

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