Exchange City
Comments
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bcincolorado - my mom is moving in with us temporarily until she gets into a new house. She just found a home she loves but it's new construction and won't be completed until August. Knowing builders in Vegas, it'll probably be a bit longer than that. It'll be nice to have her here.
I woke up this morning feeling normal for 5 seconds and then the feeling of doom came over me again! I hate that feeling!!! Anyway, I've been thinking about this lump. I actually have a lot of lumpiness, not just one lump I feel. Almost feels grandular like my onco's PA said. I had DCIS. They discovered the lump in March of last year, didn't dx it until June and didn't remove it until August. It did not grow at all during that time. How could I all of sudden have something cancerous?? Just doesn't make sense. Of course, this disease doesn't really make sense!!!
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Paula- I am so glad you posted about your bruises!!! Woke up this morning (surgery was yesterday morning) and I have MAJOR bruising in my entire pelvis- below hairline up to about the top of my panties. OMG I would have been totally freaking out if I didn't hear your post. (and still am a bit) I have stopped taking motrin because I am thinking that is causing all that bleeding. I am trying to get up and walk as much as possible. I have a little bruising where the lipo happened but no where close to how much is in my pelvis! How odd no one told me that would happen.
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Hmmm....Julie...the Candida Diet? Isn't that the diet where you don a sombrero, drink mojitos and use clicking castanets to frighten away the little fat cells?
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Kittycat-I too will say a prayer and send positive vibes that the everything turns out in your favor!
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I had my exchange surgery Monday and everything went really well. I left the hospital wrapped in a pretty tight bandage and saw the PS on Tues. He cut off the bandage and put me in a tight sports bra. I wasn't really in much pain. Then after I left the office the bottom of the bra felt like it was riding up so I pulled it out a little (right under my right breast-toward my armpit-on my ribcage). When I did it felt like I grabbed a stitch and pulled. OUCH! Of course there are no stitches there. Every since then that one area hurts mainly if my arm is down by my side. It feels like a burning, tearing, pulling pain and hurts so bad that I have realized I have been holding my arm out to avoid it therefore causing my neck and shoulder to hurt. I called the nurse on Thur and she said it didn't sound like anything to worry about. Have any of you had this feeling? I don't hurt on the other side or anywhere else. I am so afraid something is wrong with the internal stitches that form the crease under my breast. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Becky
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Binga - I actually had something similar happen after my revision in January...wasn't thinking about not using my arm and reached back to put my arm in my coat sleeve...MAJOR PAIN!! I was SO afraid that I'd torn something so called the ps nurse....she said it's nearly impossible to rip the internal stitches....what I did do was set up one heck of an imflammation, though, which is probably what you have..... let's think positively!
Cheri - How the heck are you, girl? Did your ps fix all your issues? I hope you're resting and not having too much pain. I was thinking about you yesterday!!
Deborah - sounds like that could be the "Texas Diet" if you substitute margaritas for the mojitos!
This morning my dh and I did the Komen Race along with 15,000 other pink-clad folks, including our own LizziesNuNu! What an amazing experience! Okay.....I will admit to crying multiple times throughout the morning......but the hugs and cheers for us were worth every tear. When I was putting on my "survivor" shirt this morning, I thought, "wow, what a powerful message this shirt represents....kinda like Superman's cape"......well, wouldn't you know, the surivor's were all given these crazy "Super Surivor" capes when we got there! I'm going to try to post a pic of LizziesNuNu and me, if I can figure it out.....
wouldn't work.....maybe try a different browser.... 0 -
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file:///Users/johnpfaf/Desktop/DSCN0039.JPG
file:///Users/johnpfaf/Desktop/DSCN0052.JPG0 -
Okay....anybody know how to post a pic from your desktop? I know I've seen it done here before....
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Hi Sweet Val!! Thanks for thinking of me. Yes, everything looks great. I haven't yet seen the boob that hadn't dropped down but the odd skin flaps are gone!!! He said it was scar tissue and then fat cells collected on top?! Anyway, he lipo'd that out and did some lipo on my back and then on the top of my boob- between my boob and my under arm. None of that hurts at all....but my pelvis is black from bruising. It is unreal how bruised it is and then one of our BC sisters posted that she had the same issue after lipo and that the blood settles there. Anyway, my PS is off Monday but I am going to see his PA. She said to massage it but I am thinking that is really going to hurt to do. I haven't worked up to that yet. YIKES!! I am on pain pills and I will wait till she see's it.
No I don't know how to print photo's very very bad on all things computer.
Take care, Val!!!
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I tried to find instructions for uploading pix and couldn't find anything. Someone on another thread said you have to have a photo bucket account (a who-what?)... I think that is what she said.
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bcincolorado: Im doin ok: thanks for asking!
I will see my PS this Thurs. and am planning on him aspirating this lump again. I have been obsessing about it this weekend (what? me? obsess?) and I actually think I may have figured this out. When he aspirated it last week he said it looked like old blood. I freaked out when it filled up again and was thinking i must be bleeding from somewhere. Then I started thinking maybe I had a lot of bleeding after my exchange in late March and the old blood from that is starting to accumulate and come to a head now. I mean everything is pretty different now than it was: I did the whole drop and fluff thing (VERY nice by the way:) and maybe now there is an accumulation of old blood that is working it s way out. Maybe thats why I had the infection in that breast too: it may be pooled old blood. I will talk to him about it this Thursday. I wish he were in town but he wont be back till then and I don't think its worth calling the doc who is covering for him: I don't think its an emergency......thanks for letting me vent!
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fairport: Glad to know you are doing a bit better. I am sure with your medical background all kinds of things run through your mind too. Sometimes a little ignorance really IS bliss!
To everyone having surgery next week, may you have surgery with no complications and speedy recoveries!
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TERESA.. PM JUDY
Ladies with the troubles on here.. I am so sorry.. The pelvic bruising.. had it some... normal!
All exchanges..Happy you are out of surgery and those who are coming up... your times has come!!
JUDY.. Check your PM's
Love,
Laura
ps......VAL.. you are terrible at posting pictures here...BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH three tries I see..hehehe ...lol.... I cannot help you though... as I am as bad, or worse than you..
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Val
I bet the Race was a powerful experience! No shame in crying...I know I will when I do the walk. I have started a team entitled: The Frozen Peas. My 11 yr old son came up with it because i constantly had two bag of frozen peas on my TEs those first weeks!
Also good info you gave Binga. It is nice to hear you ps nurse say it is almost impossible to rip those internal stitches. Do you think that applies to the internal stitches in my IMF?
Kristen
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Hello Ladies,
This is a huge forum and some of my questions have probably been addressed in previous posts, but like I said, this is a huge forum. I had a BMX in October and began saline fills in myTEs in November--those have always been extremely painful, especially the muscle spasms. I stopped getting fills in January when I began chemo. Then resumed fills a week ago Friday. Had my 2nd shots yesterday since chemo ended. I am now at 590 ccs, and my PS thinks I will need 2 more shots of 50 ccs each before I'm ready for exchange surgery. The pain is really hard on me. Is this normal? I'm doubling up on valium and barbituate pain pills like it's candy, and they ony take the edge off. Does this pain subside after exhange surgery? Please explain nipple construction and tattoos--what's that like? How soon after exhange can you get those proocedures? Does that hurt too? Can you work right away? Thanks for your answers to these questions.
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Val: The only way I could get it to work was to downsize my photos and put them on the pictures forum and then copy and paste them here. I used the pictures forum as the portal to move them over here. Try that. Just go to your thread and post the photo and then copy it and paste it here. Photobucket Schmotobucket.
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Mrs. LRG -- Hi and welcome to the forum. My BMX was in August. I also had trouble with the TEs but nothing as bad as you have experienced. Sorry you had so much pain. And YES it is so much better after the exchange. I was taking muscle relaxers before fills because I was really tense, and after. My PS expanded me to max pretty fast (100 cc at a time until the last one which was 50cc). He said he likes to wait 2-3 months after the last fill to do the exchange. I had my exchange in late January and experienced no pain or discomfort at all. I had nipple/areola recon about a month after the exchange. There are different options for nipple reconstruction, but my PS creates the nipple from the skin and fat that is already there and then does skin grafts for areolas (mine was from the crease of my leg and you can't even see the scar). That was a little creepy though because I had sponges stapled to my chest for a couple of weeks. That procedure was about a month ago and I still have the dots from the staples which I'm hoping will go away but right now they look like suns with little rays shooting out of them! I have seen photos and after time I think it will be fine but if I had it to do again I might go with tattoos. I may end up with tattoos anyway because sometimes the skin fades and one of mine is not round. Maybe others will post about other options. I took 2 weeks off work when I had the BMX and less than a week for the other procedures, but that would vary depending on how you feel and what type of work/ environment you would be going back to.0
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Astorm--thanks for your reply. I never heard of aereola grafts before, my PS is doing tattoos. I'm an elementary school principal. The work is mentally, emotionaly,and physcially demanding. The hours are very long. I never get down time,and rarely get to eat lunch--if Ido, it's after 2:30 when the kids go home. I have not worked since my BMX, except for 3 days in January, and it wore me out. My onc wants me off until July 1, and I'd like to get my exhange surgery done by then. My PS waits one month after the last fill, so if I get my last fill in two-three weeks, I can get my exhange in June and be ready to return to work in July--summer vacation for everyone else, but work days for me. I think they cut or damaged a nerve when I had my BMX--the right side is so painful and nothing seems to help. Thanks for your repsonse.0
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Mrs. LRG - so sorry to hear that. I have a divot on my left side, right out in front!, where a muscle was cut during the mx. Not sure what we're going to do about it but I have other issues so there may be another procedure for me. I soooo want to be done with this! It is a challenging process and lots of things can happen to throw off your plans, but hang in there it does get better!
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Aw Val all those attempts! Sorry I have no idea how to paste a photo but I for one can't wait to see a picture of you and LizziesNuNu in your Super Survivor capes! That rocks.
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Val - I hope you can figure out how to post your pics from the race. It would be great to see them. We did the race last year in celebration of my sister and father inlaw who were dx a month apart. It was an amazing experience - 15,000 participants, too. This year we have a team (over 12 now). I'm not "happy" to be wearing pink, but proud to be a survivor!!! Hopefully one day we find a cure!
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Good morning ladies! I have not posted in a long time, but lurk often! On Friday I had areola tattoos done. It is quite an amazing transformation....really makes a difference in the appearance of the nipple. I did fine during the procedure but have some bloody oozing since. My question is this, since the procedure, my arm on the cancer side has shown some signs of LE. Not full blown LE but some heaviness in the upper arm. Has anyone else had this? Should I be concerned? Last summer I did have some LE with this arm, went to therapy and no problems since. The tattoos signify me completing all treatments and reconstruction and I would really like to get on with life. What to do?........
Best wishes and luck to all having surgery this week. Quick healing.
Hugs, Kathy
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Val- Thanks for relating your experience. I just finished my Keflex this am and do not see any signs of infection- redness or fever- but the pain just keeps getting worse. This is so discouraging because I was so looking forward to being able to go back to work soon but there is no way I could work with this pain. I hope to get an answer and solution from the PS on Tues. I am so afraid they will have to go back in to see what is wrong and while I do not want more surgery if that is what it takes that is what I will have to do.
Becky
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Morning all,After exchange surgery do I go back to the beginning with everything...limited arm movement walking hands up the wall all over again...or does mobility remain as it is pre-surgery and I just have to resist lifting anything that may cause stitches to pull? Does DH have to wash my hair because my arms won't reach again or will my movement still be good......please tell me that movement will be fine that I just have to be careful not to strain stitches for a few weeks...please :)Getting anxious....will definitely take a valium to help sleep tonight ;)Looking forward to seeing those Super Survivor Capes Val ;)Healing and strength to all,Laura0
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Kbram-congrats on our copletion. I can't wait to be where y ou are now! Sick and tired feeling like I've got rocks in my chest!
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Hi Jizogarden
Had my exchg 2 weeks ago and it is definately not like "going back to the beginning" I was afraid of that also but it's not nearly as bad; had limited mobility for the first week but more bc of bruising; today I am doing laundry etc but am being careful not bc it hurts just don't want to pull stitches. And no- did not have to do walking hands up the wall at all; that part is as good as it was pre-exchg. Did have pain for a couple of days and was out of commission for about a week but was nothing like the BMX so good luck to you!
PS silicone is much softer than TE's as everyone has said on here
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Hi Laura2 and Ms. LRG:
Of course different women have different experiences with exchanges, but mine was a piece of cake (partly because I didn't need any pocket work). I had no pain after the surgery at all, didn't need pain pills, and the surgery didn't affect my range of motion at all, although I was careful for the first week or so. The exchange is so worth it, to get rid of the rock-on-the-chest feeling. You will love feeling yippee squishy instead!
Diane
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Jizogarden and Binga, I had more pain after the exchange than did Winter and Diane, and my mobility significantly worsened. I was so sore that I couldn't do range of motion exercises for about 2 weeks, and I did have to take valium and narcotics for several weeks. It took me about 2 mos to get all of my range of motion back, and I stretch carefully every day. I could wash my hair, but I wanted to be very careful with myself after the exchange, and the PS said no lifting more than 5 pounds at first.
I went back to work 6 wks after the exchange, and I was feeling pretty good at that point. After 4 weeks, I felt much better, but those first few weeks after the exchgange were very difficult for me. My implants were a lot bigger than my TEs were, so I think my muscles were pretty mad at me.
Binga, I hope that you will be feeling better soon!
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Thanks so much for your personal stories after the exchange surgery. I realize we will all have slightly different experiences but by hearing each of you I have some idea of the range of effects that may occur.
As always the sharing here is a huge help!
Healing and strength,
Laura2
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