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  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Posts: 151
    edited May 2010

    All the stories about checking out other gal's boobs makes me remember my trip to Disney World for Christmas, three months after my mastectomy. My expander on my cancer side was filled to 1000ccs.  My other side was still the little A cup gal she'd always been (before my PS made her bodacious 6 months later!).  So obviously I was horribly lopsided, and dressed in layers of loose clothes to hide my chest. Now, Disney World has always been a great spot for people-watching, but I took it to a new level on this trip. Any time I would sit and rest, or have any time at all, I found my eyes going right to the chest of every woman I saw. I guess I'm lucky none of them had the security people haul me off for being a pervert!

  • KristenPink
    KristenPink Posts: 79
    edited May 2010

    Melissa

    I too walked in the RACE yesterday.  Pretty amazing right?  So glad you are here and we welcome you with open arms!  Celebrate life!

    Kristen

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Posts: 245
    edited May 2010

    Diane! You are too funny! I think we all look at everyone's boobs now! I sometimes forget that not everyone is obsessed with boobs like I am. I also forget that not everyone is checking to see if they are still in their shirts at all times! LOL I have to look down to make sure I am not peeking out!

  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Posts: 415
    edited May 2010

    HELP!  I am 10 days post op and am going to church today.  I am flat as a board and still must wear this weird surgical bra thing.  Any ideas, or do I just go totally flat?

  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Posts: 59
    edited May 2010

    Valerie,

    Wrap a scarf around your neck from front to back first then let the tails flow over your foobs.  No one will be the wiser.

    Church is a good thing! :)

    Kat

  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Posts: 415
    edited May 2010

    Kat,

    Great idea about the scarf!!  Glad I feel well enough to go to church!!

    Thanks,

    Valerie

  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Posts: 59
    edited May 2010

    I hope it works Valerie...for the next 3 months, scarves are your new best friends!  I started collecting them early on to camouflage my chest before the BMX and then after to conceal the flatness.  I haven't worn one in over a month so I consider that progress! :)

  • m-star
    m-star Posts: 340
    edited May 2010

    wow,have i opened up a can of worms about looking at other womens boobs!!!! lol

  • iHEARTu
    iHEARTu Posts: 20
    edited May 2010
    Hello Everyone!
    Thank goodness for this thread! Thank you ladies!!
    I have my (PS) preop tomorrow, so this weekend I've been reading many of the Q&As on implants to be ready with a list of questions. I have my exchange the 25th!!! What I still don't understand, is how do I measure myself now to compare what is available to me in silicone implants? I know to not compare cc's of expanders to cc's of implants, but to measurments only.

    Maybe this will help...?
    • Silicone, Mentor gel round (high profile or moderate?) I want to look natural
    • Satisfied with expander projection (how would I measure that?)
    • Final fill 580ccs. Fill expansion brings me to good D according to recent purchases of bras for post surgery recovery (hoping they will 'shrink' a bit)
    • 5'2" - 150lbs, muscular (under all that adipose...LOL) and broad shouldered (former competitive gymnast).
    • Pre bmx, D maybe even DD
    • With final expander fill, I measured myself vertically and horizontally end to end of expander. Both right and left are around the same(ish). Horizontally - 10" & Vertically - 8.5". Not sure if this measurement is necessary?
    Any suggestions or questions.....sorry this is so long:)

    -catherine

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited May 2010

    Valerie:  The scarf idea is great.  Also, ruffled tops is a great option.  I purchased a few button up the front blouses with ruffles prior to surgery and it's great not to have to wear a bra! 

    Kay:  I am the queen of boob obsessed!  Everyday I am on Timtam or looking at pic's I've collected or going to other dr's sites.  It will be the largest "investment" of our lives-replacing what we had for hopefully something nicer and healthier!  Why wouldn't we be obsessed??  I thought I knew what I wanted, i.e. "natural looking" breasts, but now I realize that I would rather go braless most of the time if I can and wear a wireless bra the rest of the time.  After only 3 3/4 weeks of wearing this "iron bra" I am over it!  I almost want to dig under my skin to take it off it's so uncomfortable.  Makes me grouchy 24/7, too!  I was so happy and relieved to have the cancer out of my body but the daily pain is draining. 

    Melissa:  I cried after reading your post.  What a touching experience!

    NVDiane:  Wow, 1000 cc's on one side and an A on the other.  I will be half of that when I am done and by next week this time, stuffing my bra to compensate for my A cup side! 

  • m-star
    m-star Posts: 340
    edited May 2010

    CATHERINE~~ i am a former gymnast too! I wonder if thats why my shoulders are so broad!! lol

    I am retired now,though i did try it again about 5 yrs ago (injured myself everytime i went) but gave it up as i'm not as supple as i was! I kept hurting my back and giving myself whiplash!!

    MJB~~I have to agree. Today is the 1st time i've REALLY REALLY got fed up with these TE's and the tightness and discomfort. I just want to finish my top-ups,get my implants in (and maybe some nips after seeing them on pic forum!) and get on with my life. It feels like i have 2 lumps of clay stuck on my chest.My body doesn't feel like its my own and i wanna be able to cough and sneeze without being in pain.

    sorry to rant.I know there are many women who would love to trade places with me right now. I know i have it easy in comparison to some.

    On a lighter note......has anyone tried the 'titty dance'!?? lol just flex your pecs and watch them babies move!!Laughing

  • cs7777
    cs7777 Posts: 303
    edited May 2010

    Thanks Kat!  24 hours and I'll have new stuffin'!   Cool

    MBJ & M-star, oh, I sympathize so much on the tightness.  I know it doesn't make your own tightness better but do know that so many here have had it & gotten through it and you can too.  I think the 3 wk timeframe with the expanders was the lowest point for me because it was so tight and everything just felt glued together, and psychologically I was just stuck too - angry, stressed, frustrated.  My two saving graces were stretching religiously everyday and going to a PT once a week.  The PT did gentle soft tissue massage that helped unglue things over time, (I did the massage on the days I didn't see her) and she also showed me stretches.  I added my own stretches I knew from yoga.  So if you haven't gotten specific input about what stretches you can do, then do so (from your PS, BS and/or PT) and do them, and also see if you can get a PT for about 8 wks.  All that said, be gentle with the stretching, build up slowly, and don't push too hard too fast!  Hugs to you!!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited May 2010

    cs7777:  Thanks for the input and advice.  I would love to get some PT.  I am thinking of postponing my fills so that I get them once every 2 weeks instead of one, although, like Kay, I just want to be done!

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Posts: 532
    edited May 2010

    vmudro....You don't need to go flat...at the same surgical store that sells mastectomy bras with prostheses... you can buy for $50 a camisole that has stuffed inserts.  As I had my fills, I reduced the amout of stuffing in the inserts.  When I had my left TE removed for infection, I just added all the stuffing back.  I found that even when the R TE was filled to the proper size, using a barely filled insert helped make it look like a normal bra line under tops.  So, I kept the barely filled insert in as I gradually decreased the amount of stuffing in the replaced TE side that was being filled.  The camisole also has two little fabric bags that velcro under it at the rib line to hold drains.

    I had so many surgeries that I wore these for months....even to Europe.  At home I used the drain pockets to hold the drains.  When I went out in more form fitting clothes....I wore a tank under the camisole and fed the drain up between the two and over the top for support to hang into my cleavage in the camisole so that they didn't show through my clothes.   

    I found that these are more comfortable inside out.  The fabric strip that holds the velcro bags itches me.  One of these camisoles was given to me in the hospital by the "welcome to cancer" lady and I bought a couple more.

    Playing around with the amount of stuffing and the look of these camisoles made me able to wear most clothes.

  • Anna_M
    Anna_M Posts: 88
    edited May 2010

    So very true that the expanders are oh so uncomfortable.  I am 1 week away from my exchange and it can't come soon enough.  I have been sleeping on my back since 1/12/10 and it is driving me banana's.  I just pray I am happy with the end result after all this pain in stretching the skin.  I have 600'cc's in each right now, shooting for a full C so it better happen or this ladybug is raising some cain LOL. 

  • Anna_M
    Anna_M Posts: 88
    edited May 2010

    So very true that the expanders are oh so uncomfortable.  I am 1 week away from my exchange and it can't come soon enough.  I have been sleeping on my back since 1/12/10 and it is driving me banana's.  I just pray I am happy with the end result after all this pain in stretching the skin.  I have 600'cc's in each right now, shooting for a full C so it better happen or this ladybug is raising some cain LOL. 

  • TNgolfer
    TNgolfer Posts: 57
    edited May 2010

    Anna and others awaiting exchange.  Trust that it will be fine.  The TE's are the worst.  There were times that I would have taken a knife and cut them out myself!!!!   Sleeping on my back was impossible; fighting with pillows.  I could feel the magnets from the TE's.  I couldn't believe how they felt like turtle shells.  One had drifted under my arm; couldn't shave under that arm.  Bothersome, troublesome, cumbersome.....but the light at the end of this tunnel is amazing.  I can't believe how soft and delightfully squishy these breasts are now.  Trust me - the TE's are the worst of the process.

    Also, don't remember who said it, but it isn't a race.  At one point my PS was only doing 50cc fills every other week. 

    Also, I started exercise and hired a personal trainer at the local fitness center.  It truly helps.  It is common sense.  The TE's are trying to stretch those muscles and if we can help stretch them it makes it a whole lot easier and much more bearable. 

    Still no need for pain meds and changing the surgical dressings is going well.  BUT  (and there's always a but...) now I am running a fever and have a horrible sore throat....It seems when my good friend flew in from FL to be with me, she spent the first two afternoons napping.  Her neice had just visited and her kids were sick; she got sick; and now I am sick.  Wasn't bc enough?  I really don't think the fever is any kind of infection from the surgery, but I am keeping a close eye.  So, the sore throat from the airway during surgery is gone to be replaced with an unending scratchy throat, cough and lethargic feeling of whatever this is....but I am still thinking yippee squishey!  Taking the antibiotics prescribed after surgery so all should be ok.  I know the hospital nurse will place a follow up call tomorrow and I'll mention it, but think it will just work itself out....friend is feeling much better today after a lot of liquids and a lot of rest.  She feels horrible!

    Anna -- you will be in my thoughts.  You'll do fine!

    Marianne

    Loved seeing team January names on the shirt girls!!!!!

  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Posts: 59
    edited May 2010

    Hi Anna and welcome!   I know you will find everything you need in the pages of this thread. There are some amazing women here and the domino effect of healing is extraordinary.  You don't have to figure this out alone! 

    I remember being able to sleep on my sides with my TE's filled to 640cc.  I am curious as to how quickly everyone is sleeping on their sides after exchange surgery?   I am still smarting so I don't dare try it.  It's still back sleeping for me :(   I want to try it but at the same time I believe in listening to my body and if it's hurting on the side then maybe I shouldn't.  I feel lost with PS out of town and I'm anxious to call the office tomorrow for further instructions.

    Sorry you are under the weather Marianne.  I was feeling similar and I attributed it to being under anesthesia yet again (3rd time in 4 months) and being a bit dehydrated from the whole ordeal.  I'm drinking water like crazy and taking the keflex and extra doses of Vit C.  I hate to think of having a resp infection on top of everything else.  You know, they didn't give me a spirometer this time and I think I could have coughed more of that crappy stuff up this time around than I did.  Sometimes that sits in your lungs and can give you symptoms...like a low grade temp and lethargy.  Hope you're feeling well soon.

    Have a good evening everyone
    Kat

  • dani42
    dani42 Posts: 206
    edited May 2010

    vmudrow,

    Until you are out of the surgical bra, scarves and ruffles are a great idea.  Once you are out of the surgical bra and get the ok to wear a bra, usually a wireless depending on your ps.  Warner Bras were very comfortable to me and have a bit of padding.  Also, there are gel inserts you can place inside your bra.  I was very sensitive to fabric for awhile and did fine with the Warner Bras.  The gel inserts are pretty inexpensive and you can find them at Walmart.  They may not be comfortable so it is pretty much trial and error.  I bought more bras during reconstruction then I ever bought before in my life!  Good Luck! 

  • cs7777
    cs7777 Posts: 303
    edited May 2010

    MBJ - Ah, I forgot to mention the fill intervals.  Definitely consider doing 2 wks between if you're feeling really tight.  Since you loosen up between fills, then taking extra time between them gives you at least some time to feel decent along the way instead of constantly ratcheted up.  Indeed it's not a race! Best to you! 

    CS

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited May 2010

    "titty dance" AH YES.... we all have done this..:) How funny...

    Diane... yes, I remember all the boob watching.. now days.. I just watch mine and make sure they are not falling out of my shirts..LOL....

    All sisters having surgery this week... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • susiered
    susiered Posts: 83
    edited May 2010

    CS777 my thoughts and prayers are with you for a easy surgery and recovery.

  • boromom
    boromom Posts: 28
    edited May 2010

    I am so obsessed with everyones boobs. At work, on tv, in the grocery - everywhere. I also feel like everyone at work is looking at mine. I've been in my ace bandeau for the last 3 weeks, so I keep telling them I'm bound up. Yes, I've had 3 different people come right up to me the first week back to work after the exchange and say - Let me see your new girls. Seriously, it's like the expectations are so high, I'm afraid to disappoint them. I saw the PS on Fri. and he said I didn't need the bandeau anymore, so I went bra shopping today. Not fun. Val, I wish you lived closer. You and Deborah could be making some serious money on boob and bra consultations. I literally bought 20 different bras at 3 different dept. stores. 34 D's are not easy to find - yes Deborah I'm feeling very guilty about complaining a couple of weeks ago. I would never have guessed that size. Anyway, I spent 2 hours at home trying them on and I don't think I like one. My husband offered to view them, but I think it was for all of the wrong reasons, so it was just me and the dog in the bathroom. I do have the Pollyanna thanks to Paula's great find at Dillards, but one isn't going to cut it. I also had to run to Target and walked through the bathing suits. I tried one on there - what was I thinking. Lighting, mirrors - Yikes! It took Mexican food and a margarita to help get over this day. Will try again next weekend after I return everything. I'm thinking internet shopping is so much better.

     Have a great week everyone and good luck to all who are having surgery. Good thoughts to you who are recovering.

    Melissa

  • boromom
    boromom Posts: 28
    edited May 2010

    Almost forgot, Columbus paper this morning said 50,286 racers yesterday raising over $2.5 million - AMAZING!!!!!!

  • AStorm
    AStorm Posts: 1,393
    edited May 2010

    I vote for Val and Deborah to open a post-bc lingerie shop in my town!

  • bigdogmom2
    bigdogmom2 Posts: 9
    edited May 2010

    Hi, I'm new here and reposting in this area, as I was sent by Estepp/Laura (BTW thank you so much for the direction Laura).  I have been reading and reading all the fantastic information everyone has supplied.  I just wanted to know if there is any last minute questions that you had wished you had asked your PS prior to surgery.  I have my final appt tomorrow (surgery on the 25th) so I am trying to make a list of questions and I just know I am leaving out probably 100 things!!!  Ohhh I am having a bi-lat mas and TE.

     Thank you so much for any input! 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited May 2010

    Melissa.. awe sweety.. it is hard eh? Well, you make a great step! The next time will be better... ((hugs))

  • Hannahbearsmom
    Hannahbearsmom Posts: 266
    edited May 2010

    Best wishes for painfree surgeries and speedy recoveries for those facing surgery this week and for those recuperating from recent surgeries. May you all have the results you desire!!!

    TCK

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Posts: 223
    edited May 2010

    Bigdogmom,

    I would ask about pain meds - a lot of us seem to get a narcotic like Darvocet or Percoset or Vicodin and Valium, which is a muscle relaxer.   The right pain meds do wonders, and allow you to relax and get the sleep you need.  Also ask you PS how long you won't be able to drive - I think i couldn't drive for 2 weeks.  And, have friends and family cook for you for a couple of weeks... You can PM me or ask the others about any of your concerns.  Good luck to you - you will feel so relieved after your surgery, believe me.

    Best wishes to all having surgeries this week!  

  • kittycat
    kittycat Posts: 1,155
    edited May 2010

    bigdogmom - good luck on your surgery.  I can't think of questions to ask your PS.  Maybe when he plans to start the fills?  How big he plans on going?  What size expanders he is putting in?  My PS said I would propbably not be a D cup, but I am!  You never know.  A lot has to do with how your skin stretches.  Ask him if you can take a shower.  Mine allowed me to do so. I just couldn't have the water hit my chest. 

    Make sure you rest!!!  I wish I wouldn't have gone back to work and traveled so soon after.  It did me no good.  In addition to having someone make meals for you, I would see about getting someone to help with the cleaning!  My husband is good about both things, but vacuuming and mopping isn't his forte!  :)  Also, have someone be able to wash, dry and style your hair.  My husband washed my hair and I even got him to round brush it dry and style it!  LOL!

    One last thing, make sure you have light weight items at waist length, like plastic cups, forks, plates, etc.  I used a lot of disposable items.  Also, you might want to get some Colace or some kind of stool softener.  Those pain killers can stop you up!!!

    Good luck!  You'll do great! :)

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