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  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited April 2010

    Lilah, those are the days that we reach for the valium....but so very sadly, my bottle is empty.  I sure can see why it was the drug of choice for millions of happy homemakers back in the day. 

    Or perhaps we take a  hint from Cheri and choose healthier pursuits!  Congrats to you, Cheri!

  • KristenPink
    KristenPink Posts: 79
    edited April 2010

    Kerkle:  Welcome to the 300 club! I will pray for you with the upcoming operation.  That is a lot ot go through.  Take care of you!

    Jan:  you are a week out ...how are you feeling?  Will you post pics or have you already?  I hope you are happy with the results.

    CDB: Thanks for the advice with my bronchitis.  My recovery is sooo slow!  I swear I am on more meds than I was on with all the operations and what not!  Still coughing.

    NO WIRE GIRLS:

    Does your PS say no underwire like mine?  If so have you ever 'doctored' an underwire bra and pulled out the wire?  Is it just the wire that the PS is worried about or is it also something about the way they are constructed that he doesnt want?

    Kristen

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited April 2010

    KristenPink -- yes my PS is one of those no underwire doctors.  And yes it is just the wire.  She said she worried about the wire poking through the bra and me not feeling it as it then proceeded to poke into my TE (or, soon, implant).  It's easy to remove.  I just cut a slit at the top (outer side) of the bra and that made an opening... then I pushed the wire through and pulled it out.  Once it's out, the bra is fine.  Since I'm a uni I removed it only from my right side... which is nice as I still get the wire support on my larger, left side. 

    Kristen (SF) -- LOL well alas I have no valium...

  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited April 2010

    Hi Kristen!  I was told no wire, always pulled the wire out of old bras on one side when I was a uni, my PS thought the underwire could push implant up, a problem I had.  Some ps's here think it could poke implant, but I've never had a bra that the wire broke thru and poked my skin.  New ps and I haven't had this discussion, I'm just paranoid to have implant start rising so I'm going no wire.  If you go back a hundred pages you'll see the other side to the story, where the wired bras hold the breast shape.  Both make sense!  Who knows!!  Hope you feel better soon!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited April 2010

    Katey -- I actually have had that happen (wire poking through) and to be honest I didn't always feel it even with my real breast lol (but sure had a nasty mark).

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited April 2010

    KristenPink - I sure hope you are feeling better!

    Lilah - that is a scary thought about wires poking through.  I've never had that happen, and my PS is entirely unconcerned about bras - he just wants me to wear one during the day to keep them in place.

  • val61
    val61 Posts: 969
    edited April 2010

    Cheri2 - I've SOOOO been thinking about you lately, girl!  It's great to hear from you again and even better news about finishing your first tri!  You are an amazing, strong woman - an inspiration for us all!  I hope everything's going better for you these days......Smile

    mirbelle -  yippee for getting your exchange date!  As for the surgery center, I felt like you - nervous - when I learned it would be at a surgery center, and especially that an M.D. anesthesiologist wouldn't be in there the whole time.  My ps explained that he prefers the surgery center for a couple reasons: infection control (much lower incidence of infections, esp. mrsa) and that the anesthesia is well-regulated by the nurse anesthetist in concert with the M.D. because they work together as a team 3 days each week.  I will tell you I can say nothing but good things about my experiences there - for both my exchange and my revision.  My nips will be done there, too, so I'll get to see the gang one more time....

    Paula - loved the "hormone guide!!"

    Hoping to hear from Nedeza, Alitman, and Julie soon.......healing prayers.......

    Deborah - thanks for the bra info.  I ordered a bunch today - along with some different swimsuit sizes for more comparison shopping.  Will report soon.......I will say I LOVE the Freya and Fantasie suits I got....just need to compare top sizes to be sure......wonderful support, though....

    Kristinka - sorry about the empty valium bottle.....those housewives sure knew a good thing, huh?  I  wonder why my ps doesn't use valium.....I did love the soma, though.....still have a bunch....it just doesn't have the anti-anxiety aspect that valium does.....

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited April 2010

    Kristinka -- well, in 30 years of wearing bras that has happened to me maybe 3 or 4 times... so it's overkill or overprotectiveness, to be sure.  Because even IF your underwire pokes through and you don't feel it, that doesn't mean it'll poke through your skin and into the implant with ease. 

  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Posts: 185
    edited April 2010

    kristinka!  Hi- yes take exercise over valium!!  Much better high! :)  I did take my fair share of pain killers this time last year though and was even known to wash them down with a nice glass of cabernet!!! ha!

    Hi Val!!!  I have been thinking about all of you!  Things are going about the same but really happy to get this next surgery over and (hopefully) finish this reconstruction!!  How are YOU!???  Miss you!

  • KristenPink
    KristenPink Posts: 79
    edited April 2010

    Katey: Ok so you have put the fear of the Lord in me now with the thought of implant rising up.  I had a CC with TEs on right side.  Little gun shy of anything having to do with CC.

    Kristinka:  Do you think the post master general would mind if I mailed you some emergency valiums?  I have them to give Prof! 

    I guess it makes sense too that we have lost sensation in parts or all of our chests so the wire would be a worry.

    Thank you for the imput ladies!  I will comence with the slashing of underwire bras that were always too large for me and give me a little extra lift.  Lets get them up by the chin for the spring wardrobe shall we?  LOL

    Slowly getting better but the raspy voice and cough are hanging on

    Kristen

  • val61
    val61 Posts: 969
    edited April 2010
    Cheri - I'm doing great!  Can't remember if you were hanging around then, but I had a revision the end of January on my left foob which slid off my ribcage.....  After six long weeks of near complete inactivity so the puppy would heal correctly, I'm finally back to teaching my aerobics classes and working out....nips will be in May.....right between the graduations of my college and high school boys (men, I guess)......wow...   We are heading back to OBX Memorial Day weekend for a week at the beach....had a horrible time trying to get flights....but it'll be worth it!
  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Posts: 125
    edited April 2010

    Hey Val are you gonna join us in Vegas??

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited April 2010

    Katey:

    I am going to put together my bra list and you can add them to your post.  Everyone - PM Katey your favorite bra info for the categories she mentioned.  A great idea...this question comes up all of the time. Katey - just remember what page this is on - save this page to your Favorites...that might work.  Then you can just refer newbies to Page 417...

    Cheri - So good to see you back visiting us!  Please check in every now and then...Congrats on the triathlon! 

  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Posts: 185
    edited April 2010

    Val!!!  I bet it feels good to work out again, huh?  Will you be able to wear a sports bra with the new nips?  Can you workout during that time frame?  Memorial Day is a great time to go to OBX because the kids around here don't get out of school until the middle of June!  You'll miss all those people!  Perhaps if I am up for it (after this surgery) we can meet!?  I would love to!

    Deborah!!!  Hi!  Love your new avatar!  You are so pretty! How did your fat graphs turn out?  Are you happy with it all?

  • kerkle
    kerkle Posts: 37
    edited April 2010

    KristenPink and Janathan: Thank you for your prayers and good wishes - I am soooo looking forward to the surgery and getting these rocks out of my chest. As the surgery date gets closer I find them more and more uncomfortable and painful. I am even having fat grafting t the same time...boy will I be a mess!! I am hoping my doc takes the fat from my thighs, so I will be hurting everywhere...did someone say Valium?? They dont give those out so easily here in Quebec...I will beg!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2010

    Cheri.. good to see you sister!

    Lilah... YOU ARE SO CUTE !!! This is me.. as my RETARED hair style.. but hey.. I got six inches of hair...lol... and that hottie dancing with me is our oldest son... :)... He is the one who has given Todd/dad and I two grandkids...:)... he and his wife are thinking about their THIRD now..lol.

  • kittycat
    kittycat Posts: 1,155
    edited April 2010

    Laura - that is a cute pic of you and your son.

    I like the bra list.  My favorite is the Victoria Secret's cotton wireless bra.  :)  Wish they made it in a 34D, but the 36C is holding up ok so far!  :)

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Posts: 351
    edited April 2010

    Hi ladies!

    I made it through!!  Whoopiii!!!  Prayers are powerful aren't they!  I knew in the back of my mind I probably was catching a sinus cold...urrrr!!!  I was in denial because I really wanted to move on with this.  Well, by morning I woke up without a sore throat & sinuses unclogged!!!!  Wow!  I knew I had a slight sinus cold but never mentioned it as a cold to the anesthesiologist....I know... shame on me!  Honestly, remarkably I felt much better this morning!!!

    Well, so far so good as I look down on my upper pole where it got filled in with the fat.  Amazing what they can do!!!  I have not looked at my lifted side yet.  PS took the fat graft from my outer right thigh & that's all....I hope I don't look uneven with my thighs....asymmetry on the thighs...not that tooo!!!!!!  LOL!

    Alitman & Julie...how did it go??  Thoughts & prayers!

    Kittykat~

    Thoughts & prayers for you too. 

    Ok...it's 11:30pm right now so night, night!  I didn't feel so great post anesthesia but now much better but I better get to sleep!  Thanks for all your thoughts & prayers!

    NAE

  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited April 2010

    NAE!  Great to hear all went well!!  Smooth easy healing to you!  This fat grafting is sounding more and more interesting! 

    Lilah, sorry you've been poked several times!  Ouch!

    Maggie, I'm glad you don't teach in Wisconsin!! We might have to chip in and bail you out!

     If any of you missed this, very good video of Martina Navratilova

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/07/martina-navratilova-breas_n_528221.html   

    (or try)  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sports/

     and read all the beautiful good wishes written in on bottom under comments!

  • pbebow
    pbebow Posts: 110
    edited April 2010

    I have an appt in an hour with family doc to check my rash... quick question.  As far as blood pressure checking, they aren't supposed to do it on the arm that I had the SNB but it's okay on the other side where I just had the MX, correct?

  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited April 2010

    correct!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited April 2010

    Paula -- yeah no pressure, no puncture on the SNB arm... the other one is fine.

    Katey -- well it was minor... the poke.  I survived!  Thanks for the Martina link... I just heard about her BC on the radio yesterday.

    Laura -- OMG that's your son!  Yes and when I look closely (it IS a small pic) he does look young... but now he looks too young to have children!  LOL  You are totally adorable... I don't think the hairdo is retarded at all.

    Val - woo hoo on getting back to teaching aerobics!  And Jazzy, I'm pretty sure Val IS going to Vegas (and is in my room).

    Cheri -- maybe it's from chemo brain but you are new to me (or maybe it's just the pic?) so HIYA! :)

    Nedeza -- Waaaahooooooo on getting through it girl!  I hope when you do take a peak that you are pleased as punch.

    Julie, Alitman, Hood -- how are YOU doing?

    Lilah

  • juliempw
    juliempw Posts: 191
    edited April 2010
    Mirbelle, Welcome.  The tingling, burning was definitely something I had during the last two fills.  As uncomfortable as it is, I was glad to know the nerves were still alive. Congrats on the date!Cheri, Congrats on the date!KristinPink,  I've taken the wire out of a couple bras and they are not as supportive but were perfect for night time.  I like more support during the day.Pbebow, yes they can check your blood pressure on the side where no nodes were taken no problem.  I'm glad you're going to be seen, let us know how it goes.Off to my follow up so I'll update you all on my new nips when I get back.Julie 
  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited April 2010

    Can't wait Julie!

  • hood1980
    hood1980 Posts: 168
    edited April 2010

    Thanks for asking Lilah!  I'm doing better today....just wish I could get some sleep!   It's impossible for me to sleep on my back, so I sneak over to my side for a little bit so I can sleep a little at least!

  • AStorm
    AStorm Posts: 1,393
    edited April 2010

    Hood, I'm a side-sleeper and it has been really hard to adjust. Even now (9 weeks after exchange) I'm not totally comfortable on my side. I changed pillows and right after surgery when I really couldn't sleep on my side I propped myself up with one of those backrest things with stubby arms and over-sized (Euro) pillows to the sides so I could kind of lean my head to the side without putting pressure on the foobs (chest rested in open space above the stubby arms so even if I turned there was no pressure). Propping up my head seems to help a lot.

  • juliempw
    juliempw Posts: 191
    edited April 2010
    Well, that was a quick appointment.  Nipples are HUGE!!!  I told him I wanted them to be extra large so they have more room to shrink boy did he deliver.  The way my PS does nipples is fascinating.  I no longer have my mastectomy scars.  I also now understand why he likes to fill TEs larger than final implant, it's so he has plenty of skin to create the nipple and areola.  One of the nips doesn't have great blood supply, it's doing okay but I'm a little concerned.  Does anybody know of any good tricks for increasing blood supply to the nipple?The way he does the nips, is that he cuts a circle for the areola then cuts the outside edge off of the piece that he removed to create the nipple.  He then sews it all together but because the circle that he cut for the areola is then smaller than the circle left on the breast there's a lot of gathering all the way around.  It's not pretty but he says he's never had a case where the gather doesn't go away (takes a couple months though).  I think I'll take pictures as they change but I'll wait to post them until things are a little more settled.  It's amazing how, even though, these things are ugly as can be right now, it really does look like I have boobs now.  Once I have tattoos, since I don't have mastectomy scars I think these things are going to look pretty darn real!  Julie 
  • Katey
    Katey Posts: 496
    edited April 2010

    Wow!  That is exciting Julie!!  I'm so happy that you're happy Laughing

    Can I ask how long your mx scar was before and where it started and ended?

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited April 2010

    Hood...I cannot wait to see photos!  Are you happy with the size? Did you get the 550's?

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited April 2010

    Congrats to the surgery ladies!  So glad to hear good news from NAE, Julie and Hood!

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