Exchange City
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Congrats to NAE, Julie & Hood on your successful surgeries!!!
A yoga friend just sent me the following link for a video called "The Fuzz Speech" where the guy, an anatomist, describes how/when fascia forms (he calls it fuzz, I guess to be nontechnical) and how stretching breaks it up. It's a bit simplified but is still a cool demo so I thought some of you might be interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FtSP-tkSug
CS
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Thanks for the sleeping suggestion AStrom. I do have one of those backrest pillows with stubby arms...I just got to find it!
Deborah I did get one 550 for mx side & a 300 in my augmentation side. I've peeked and can't see much but a lot of foam type adhesive holding everything in place. No drains!!!! Yippee! They were the most annoying/painful part previously. I can't wait to go back to the dr next Tuesday to see them!!!
Congrats on the new nips Julie! Isn't it amazing what the ps can do!!!! We want to see pictures!!1
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So, I went to my family doc and he said nothing to worry about. The rash is not fungal and it is not an infection and he recommends the hydrocortzone cream that I have been using and he sees no reason why I wouldn't be able to have my exchange next week! Yay!!! I feel so much better, I hate it when I get myself all worked up like that. Anyway, thanks for your advice everyone.
Julie, wow, huge nipples huh? I was very explicit with my PS that I want small nips! I kept saying Large breasts, small nipples! My DH just laughed at me. I just don't want to worry about walking around with the headlights on all the time. Basically I just want the very small illusion of protrusion, so there is a nipple there but it's not really sticking out very far. He told me that they will be bigger then I want right after surgery, but not to worry because making them smaller is easy. It's funny how we all have different wants. I think my PS does the procedure something like yours. He said that he used the scar from the MX and he did my incision in a sort of S shape because he said after he does the exchange and nipple the scar doesn't really show... so I am hoping! I don't know if he does the circle for the areola like you spoke of, but I guess I'll see next Friday! He also overexpands, but he said it's more to get a more natural fold under the breast... anyway, hope that they turn out just perfect for you, can't wait to see the pix... when do you get your tats?
I can't remember who posted the Fuzz video but that was very interesting, thanks for sharing! I found myself stretching while I was watching it.... I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot more stretching from now on!
Good day Ladies!
Paula
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Julie -- fascinating! I haven't gotten too into the details of what my PS does for nipples... all I know is she does it in her office and it sounds origami-like... I figure I have time to think about the details of that. I look forward to seeing the pics when you are ready to post them. Best part: you sound delighted
Hood -- yeah I'm a side sleeper too (or was)... I have to say that since my SNB last June I can hardly sleep on my right side; I was sorta starting to try it out in November and then had the MX in December so now, just in the past few weeks, I've tried lying on that side again and it's doable... have slept even a few hours on that side... but it does not feel like it used to and at this point I feel like I'm sleeping on that side just to retrain it. That said, sleeping on my left side is OK but I move around a lot. I find, more and more, that sleeping on my back feels the best for the TE (and no doubt will also be necessary once I have exchange surgery in May). So for now I keep practicing the zen of sleeping on my back. I find that a really really soft feather pillow atop a firmer foam pillow makes a perfect next for my head. The feather pillow sort of fluffs up around my head and I can turn my head left or right onto the pillow... which is oddly comforting (and though not side sleeping it feels as restful as side sleeping). Anyway if the back rest doesn't work you could try my method (that is, if you at all followed it)! At any rate, so glad you are doing well!
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I recently gained permission to access Timtam's picture forum and wanted to thank everyone on this forum who led me there, or has contributed to it in any way.
I had laparoscopic ooph on Good Friday and am still recovering. My dear aunt passed away on Easter Sunday after a two-year battle with stage IV BC mets. She had the BRCA2 mutation that runs in our family, as did my mother. When my mother died from BC, my aunt stepped in to fill her shoes. I think that losing her this week has made my recovery slower.
I had hoped she would live to see my reconstruction finished. I'm the first woman in our family to have breast reconstruction and this site has been so helpful.
Best wishes to everyone who had surgery this week.
Betty
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Re no pressure no puncture on the SNB arm......I had SNB on both sides....what do I do...My docs have been taking blood pressure normally and since they stick me several times to get an IV in, they always use both arms....8 surgeries.....so far no lymphadema...for my Hysty/Ooph they had two working IVs..one in each arm plus the bad stick and the working IV of the wrong size done upstairs for a total of 3 IVs at once because of being immobilized for the Davinci and can't restart an IV during........but what should I really ask them to do in the future with blood pressure????? Should I take my wrist cuff in and ask them to use that or just let them keep on doing the blood pressure cuff like they have been doing for the last year???
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Hi all...
I had my next to last chemo today. Let me restate that...my next to last scheduled chemo according to my protocol. I feel confident that with my BMX (after the earlier two lumpectomies) that we got all of the cancer, I do not want to jinx myself. With that said, my white count was only a 1.9 and my anc only a 0.8 but I promised to go back for th 5 neuprogen shots and they did it anyway. I am so struggling with the completion of my chemo but now I can say only ONE MORE (for now and with God willing for ever).
BETTY - Congrats on your reconstruction! I am right with you girl. I have recently gained access to the photo site and WOW, the women here are strong, sassy and super successful. We are in great company in this club of ours and we can pay it forward too. I plan to post my photos soon. I have reached my max fill and am awaiting my exchange date which will be 4-8 weeks after my final scheduled chemo. Also Betty, please know I empathize with your recent loss(es). My mother passed over 14 years ago and it still feels like yesterday. I am happy that she is at rest and actually grateful she did not have to see me go through this as it would have broken her heart.
I ditto the best wishes to all having procedures and peace to all...
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Betty -- aw sending you hugs and sympathies for your loss... so sorry to hear that. Glad you are recovering and don't be hard on yourself about how fast or slow it comes.
Luna - honestly I don't know. I've read that BP can be taken from leg (or thigh?)... and I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes. I'm surprised though that none of your doctors has discussed options with you (alternatives for puncture/pressure to the arms).
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Betty, sorry to hear about your aunt. Peaceful healing to you.
Luna, I'm missing 26 nodes on one side and 3 on the other, I have iv's in foot and bloodpressure on leg during exchange and mx. However, my BS says it's ok to do BP on sentinel node side, originally a nurse that came to the house kept trying to take it on my leg but the results were crazy! So I went to BS, he took it on arm, and have had it done that way when necessary.I would say to others avoid arm if you have a good side left! But Luna, ask your breast surgeon, he or she knows where the nodes were taken.
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Betty, So sorry to hear about your aunt - my condolences to you and your family.
Luna, I don't know anything on your Q first hand but here's the page on this BCO site with guidance. Perhaps it can be helpful: http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/lymphedema/avoid.jsp
Jaclyn - Yay for being almost done with chemo!!
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thought you ladies would get a kick out of this:
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OH; and according to youtube they are REAL anesthesiologists
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OH; and according to youtube they are REAL anesthesiologists
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Thanks everyone!
You will love this.....Clean your computer screen from the inside
www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
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Betty: I am so sorry for your loss. You have been through a lot. Take care of yourself now.
Julie: COngrats on the Huge nipples! LOL Cant wait to see picks as I have a decision to make about nips in June. I will still have my MX scar as I do not have any spare skin.
Side sleeping: I am now officially 6 weeks post-exchange. I am scared and feel odd sleeping on my side after sleeping on my back since Nov 25th 2009. Before MX I was a side sleeper but my boobs were so tiny and flat I know I would half roll on them. I gues I want to be assured I will stay perfectly on my side when I sleep. (PS says no belly sleeping ..ever) Any suggestions? How long does it take to get back to side sleeping?
Thanks
Kristen
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Betty, so sorry for your loss...both your losses. NOT FAIR !!!!! I am so sorry you have had to go through so much with personal losses and then have to join us here as well.
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Luna, I was told a rule of thumb is if you have lost less than 5 nodes, you are safe to use that side for BP and IV and blood tests, etc. I have lost 26 on the right and only 4 on the left and I use my left for everything.
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Betty: I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.
Fairport: Thanks for the clip! It has been a long hard day and I laughed my head off! Thank you!
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Thank you, everyone.
Betty
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My seven year old son asked this morning if it was okay to tell people I had another surgery yesterday. When I said yes he asked if it was ok to tell them that I got new nipples. I told him his friends might not understand and that if wants to share it, it might be better to tell his teachers but that he could talk to whom ever he chooses. Then he came home from school and asked if he could see them. I told him they were really gross but if he really wanted to see them I would show him. Thankfully he changed his mind. :-)
Betty, I am sorry to hear things are on a down slope right now. Hang in there, it'll get back up!
Katey, I would say my scares were around three inches across and ran horizontal in the center of each breast. One was slightly higher than the other so I had expected to have one sort of covered by the nipple and the other scar to be exactly the same but somehow he did his magic and they're both gone now.
Paula, I am a little scared that I got a little crazy asking for super sized nipples and am concerned they won't shrink enough. But even if they don't shrink at all, I like the way I look better with nipples than without. It may not end up ideal but I think they'll be fine.
Maggie, They are sooo not nipple-icious right now but they have potential.
Jaclyn, I'm glad you're almost done. I didn't have to do chemo but I'm sure that it's a scary/empty feeling when it's done. It's crazy but we get so used to being watched closely and being taken care of. Now you'll be on your own, it's a loss in a way.
Julie
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Hey there everyone! I saw my new PS for my delayed reconstruction. Turns out that I can not do the normal TE/Exchang process. I will have to use my latissamus from the back on both sides. She said the skin is too thin where the scars are and that the pec muscle has moved up.
So can anyone here tell me about their experience with this type of process?
Thanks.
Cindy
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Ladies, I just read the last two pages... and there is so much I want to respond to. So many hugs I want to give... but my life seems to have gone right back to the busy...stress filled...etc.. life I had before Chemo... Surgery.. rads... you know... CANCER!
So I want you to know I am SO happy for those who posted happy things.. and disappointed for those who posted not so happy things.
All my love!!
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More on SLEEPING (which is where I should be now!)...
I got a fabulous pillow from Sleep Comfort in the mall. I love fluffy down pillows but since I was sleeping on my back I thought a contoured foam pillow would be better. They have a down pillow with a pocket that you can insert a contour pillow into. I still can't sleep all night on my side and end up on my back but the pillow is comfortable either way. Oh, and it hurts my lower back when I lay flat on my back so I propped up my knees when I was trying to stay on my back. With all the pillows there was hardly room left for DH!
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Julie -- what a dear story about your 7 year old son. He sounds very brave and smart. I'm sure it is all both scary and fascinating to him. I'm glad he did not push the seeing the nipples though!
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Julie, I am sure that your nipples will be just perfect for what you want! And if it helps, my PS told me that if they don't shrink down enough, it is very easy to make them smaller, so I'm sure that you're PS could too. But I'll bet that you're going to be very happy with them after they are all healed up. I didn't mean to freak you out, I just was thinking that difference between what we all think we want. I am happy to hear that the nips make it all feel more normal... I am so excited for my exchange and nips next week. One week from today!!!! Yay!!!
Blessings to all!
Paula
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Betty, I'm so sorry this is happening all at once. Know that so many women are pulling for you.
Julie, I'm so glad it's over! And the scar magic is amazing -- wow! Even having nips with black stitches somehow changes the whole breast; it's like you have a focus now. Haven't had coffee, but I think you know what I mean.
Had half my parent conferences yesterday and was so touched by one especially. One of the beloved, beautiful moms in my class died of cancer this year, which was devastating (is devastating) for the whole community. Watching the dad with his daughter, my student, made me so hopeful about change. People (and kids especially) are amazingly resilient. For all of us moms out there, I don't mean to write this as a scary thing, but as a hopeful one. Even though our kids are going thru a hard journey with us, they are going to be okay; they have more internal resources than we realize.It was great to see this from another perspective.
Happy Friday! Maggie
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Cindy, there is a woman on here, Linda54, who has had a wonderful results with her lat flap procedure. There are pics on the pic forum if you have access.
kittycat, I'm sorry you're having to go through with the oopher/hysterectomy at such a young age. I'm 47, and had mine last year because of BRCA2+, but we had already decided to not have any more children. As far as recovery, I healed pretty fast, and I had my exchange at the same time. Whatever you decide, I hope it brings you peace.
Hood, hope you're happy with the new ones! It's been a long road!
For those of you who had surgery and are having surgery, sending healing vibes your way.
{{{HUGS}}}
Deen
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WoooooHoooooo!!!! I had an AMAZING night's sleep! And want to thank both Astorm & Lilah for their wonderful suggestions! There is so many knowledgeable women on here!!!
I took a benadryl and headed off to my son's water bed. (He's away at college ladies!
) I had the pillow with arms and two pillows propped up on it. One firmer, one fluffier on top. I had 2 of those long and round, i think they call them neck roll pillows, but they are the squishy bead variey on either side propping up the new girls and arms. And then to top it off I used one of those neck travel pillows, the squishy kind, but put it on top of my head like ear muffs and I think it tricked my brain to think that I was on my side!!!! I am so happy!!!! Sleep is a wonderful thing!!! I love you tatas!Julie - wonderful story about your son! He sounds like a real sweetheart!
My 16 year old son drove me to get a pedicure yesterday! He can be sweet when he wants to be, but teenagers can change on you in an instance!!!
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Julie~
What a darling of a son you have! Lately my oldest (13) has been attached to my hips. Not only does he make me coffee but he also is good about making breakfast for his little bro & himself. I feel badly that here they are off on their spring break & I can't do a thing to entertain them this week. Ahhh...the innocense of children....I know they have been my "rock" through this journey!
How is everyone? Take it easy!
NAE
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Hood, Yay! Sleep deprivation just isn't good.0
