Exchange City
Comments
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vmudrow (valerie) My bmx was 1/11 and my exchange surgery was 3/26. So many different stories and diagnosis here, but so far you are the first I've come accross who like me had hyperplasia. I had both ductal and lobular.....
TNgolfer: so we too are sisters of sorts: I had emergency surgery the day after my bmx too...hematoma, needed 2 blood transfusions
but I have a bleeding disorder which was diagnosed near the time my breast stuff happened (when it rains....) so thats why I had the issue. It was NOT fun, Im sorry to see you had that too. but happily thats well behind us!!!0 -
summer, with te's it helps to have someone massage back and shoulders, it relieves the muscle pain! After exchange your ps might have you massage breasts, I was told to to keep the capsular contracture from happening again.
Kay, I love pilates, maybe take a class one time so you can learn to avoid any back pain! It's so great for the abs! And I can do it now, could also with the te's! Tho I'm sure you're getting quite a workout with tae kwondo!!
Kat, I'm off to the ps tomorrow too, need to write my list. And shave the pits, lol! We'll be discussing nipples, thinking I'll do it sooner rather than wait till fall. Good luck to you! (and your daughter driving!!)
Lilah, you're sounding good. I had implant changed and lift done at same time and I remember the lift being a bit tough the first days, but you'll get there soon!! Rest up!
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Laura2 - good to SEE you!
Rebecca! OMG - that explains a lot of stuff! good luck with the gall baldder!
Big Hugs!
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Rebecca -- OMG I hope you feel better soon! My BF had gallbladder out and I know from witnessing his pain how bad it can be. The surgery bring quick relief.
Maggie -- I read your surfing story and cried. Good for you!
Mslrg -- so horrible about your secretary... you will have to send her here for comfort!
Summer -- my pain from the TEs was mostly in my neck/shoulder and shoulder blades... and my massages were on demand from my BF (who is very good at it)... not professional by any means but it often caused me hours of relief. Especially massage to the shoulder blade, which seemed to release the tension caused by the stretching of the pectoral.
Katey -- thanks
I am feeling something akin to post partum depression at the moment... having displaced all my hopes and expectations to now and now the reality, which isn't bad, is still sucky (I lost a breast). But I am happy to be cancer free and hoping that after the healing, after the bruises fade and the swelling goes down, I will be content. 0 -
Having my nipples put on tomorrow with more fat grafting. This is my last surgery and I'm done. I talked to my PS about 2 weeks ago to "remind" him that I want to be rid of my dog ears, get more symetrical and fill in the ripples. I think he got it. My journey is almost over. I can't wait.
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TNgolfer.... Benedryl is not okay for anyone who takes Tamoxifen...they both use the CYP2D6 gene..so if you are one who believes you are getting benefits from Tamoxifen....Benedryl fights for the same uptake gene
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Luckygal, You need to go to the thread "Implant Sizing 101". Deborah aka whippetmom is the queen of boob sizing. It tells you on there what info she needs (ex. type of expanders, size, height etc.) If you send her everything she needs, she will guide you through. She is amazing. Just don't ask her what cup size LOL. She does not like that - right Deborah? I was so nervous and unsure for a couple of weeks before my exchange and Deborah is so reassuring and knowledgeable. Congrats on being done with expansion - that is such a relief. The exchange surgery is not bad at all and you will feel wonderful with those turtle shells out of your chest.
Melissa
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Lilah, what an amazing analogy. I think there is a post-partum depression kind of thing after "finishing." You captured it so well. It's hard to come out of all of this and look fairly normal and unchanged, because, of course, everything has changed in a way that not everyone around you can understand. Actually, I don't understand my changes yet either, so it must be really hard for those close to me. It's definitely tricky. I feel like I'm renegotiating lots of the important relationships in my life, and it's rocky. It's like growing up all over again, except I'm in my 40s, strive to please a whole lot less and have less patience for mean people and things/people that waste my time. Don't mess with women who've had bc. T-shirt potential?
Y'all, my sisters, appreciate my surfing moment more than most people can. Thank you for marking the milestone with me. Val, no doubt I'm very sore. What's weird is that my pecs don't hurt; I must be compensating because my shoulders and abs are talking, yelling actually, but so worth it!
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Lilah: I agree with Maggie, wow you really hit on something: thats EXACTLY what its like: post partum depression. even better about the analogy: PPD is temporary: this is too.
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Thank you all for the massage tips, one more thing to add to my husbands list! Thank God he's a blessing!!!
Mary - good luck on the final surgery tomorrow, Congrats!
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Hi girls! I'm having my exchange 6/3/10 TE to Saline implants. I'm pretty excited. I think I have reasonable expectations (secretly hoping to have my expectations exceeded).
I've had my TE for 6 months--I took a long time to decide which recon to have. I had 100cc removed last month not due to pain, but because I wanted to be a little smaller (still at 575cc which looks like a C cup on my body). Just want to tell those of you experiencing pain that it will go away as your body stretches and adjusts itself (note: my TE pain was never painful enough to require medicine to relieve.) Having saline drawn out doesn't hurt and does relieve the tightness.
Lilah and others, I too have been grieving the loss of my breasts. It is a real loss. Not only because of what they were to others (even husbands and BFs) but because of what they were to us. Yes, recon breasts can look pretty good--some even feel good--but they are not the real thing. I miss the pleasure I got from my nipples. I miss how my DD breasts just moved out of the way when I slept at night or when I hugged my kids. My bathing suit top doesn't fit right anymore. I can move my boobs with my chest muscles--I don't want to be able to do this! I'm not throwing a pity party--I'm actually almost on the other side of the grieving--I just want to say you're not alone. Grieving is a natural and necessary and healthy thing to do. And reaching the final stage--acceptance--is also a necessary and healthy thing for us all. I'm looking forward to it
Well, I just wanted to say "hello". Think of me on the 3rd. I am feeling good about things. I am hoping to experience a fairly quick recovery (1-2 wks PS says.) I am expecting to be at least satisfied with my new boobs (I can't call them breasts anymore.) My biggest hope is that I can sleep through the night without being woken up by my boob poking me on my insides (anyone relate??)
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Yay I've got new stuffing!! Home & resting, just checking in. My exchange surgery went well today from all indications, about an hour in surgery and an hour in recovery room. Home by about 1;30. I took it really easy today, and am floating a bit in a vicodin haze. I got a little nauseated around dinner time but I think it was because I waited too long to eat (I get hangry if i get too hungry) but now feel much better. I'm wrapped up in a lovely surgical bra stuffed with gauze pads so i cant see or feel much, but my "shelf" on top of the TE is gone as is the bulge under my arm, and these two things alone made me so happy when i saw/felt them I actually started to cry. I feel more emotional today than I have in several months, I guess it's just such great relief to finally have this done,and to look down and see about the same thing on both sides. I have a drain in and I don't even care. Actually I'm glad he used it because I'm draining quite a lot (slowign down now) and I'm glad it has some place to go. My DH who truly earns the "D" today has been waiting on me hand and foot, and he's a great nurse. He's out getting me some ice cream right now.
Thanks so much to everyone for the well wishes and prayers. Knowing this amazing community was behind me made me that much more comfortable going in today. Love to you all!
Oh, I saw the benedryl thing and want to second the earlier person who noted that it's counterindicated for tamoxifen takers, You can find a nice description of why on BCO's tamoxifen page here http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/tamoxifen.jsp. I don't usually like to contradict people's oncs,but it's biological fact that benedryl interferes with tamoxifen as described there, so if the gal who said she's taking it can find a substitute it seems like it would be prudent.
Must stop typing. More later. Best to the other surgery gals sharing this surgery week wtih me!!
CS
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CS -- congratulations! It sounds like you are already making a speedy recovery. I had the drains too, oh well whatever they can do to avoid complications. Enjoy your vicodin buzz.
When I had my bmx, one of the nurses who prepped me told me I should eat a couple of Tums every night before bed to avoid indigestion. I later learned that antacids are a no-no with tamoxifen (which I started a couple of weeks later). Good thing I thought to mention it to my onco.
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CS: Great news! You sound wonderful!! I wish everyone went through the exchange as easily as you did.
Rebecca: One more thing added to your plate. Get rid of that faulty gall bladder right away. Your body does not really need it. I had mine taken out in 1989. I was one of the first ones in San Diego who went through the surgery laparoscopically. PM me if you have questions.
I finally narrowed down my exchange date to first week of August! Yeah!! There is an end in sight. Today PS said he may even be able to do the nipples at the same time!
Brenda
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Cs: Congratulaions on your surgery. I cannot tell you how jealous I am--oh to be finally done. I imagine it's going to be an emotional moment to finally get those darn things out!
Maggie: That is so great that you went surfing! Oh to be able to do all the things we could do before--you just proved it's possible!
I go for my second fill tomorrow. My PS ordered Adivan for me so I will see how it goes. If it's still too painfull I will go two weeks before the next fill.
Threw my back out today. I don't even know how but it hurts and it's swollen right in the middle. Weird.
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Rebecca - Just what you need on top of everything else, right? I had mine out in 2006 after a gall stone got stuck in the common bile duct and I started to turn yellow. Lovely! And even though it was laproscopic, in retrospect I think it was more painful than my mastectomy (but I didn't have TEs put in and narcotics make me vomit, so don't go by anything I say!). Best of luck! My heart goes out to you!
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Brenda -- waahooo!!!
Cs -- wahooo!!!! to you too
Thanks ladies
I picked PPD exactly because it does go away. It seems to come and go now even (which is fortunate). I am so changed and part of me likes the change of my body shape and part of me mourns the loss. I will survive!0 -
HJC, I sure can relate... havent slept more than 2 hours at a time since BMX with TE placed in March. Of course, couldnt sleep before that ( Dec - March) after lumpectomy deciding whether to have mxs, then once decided, waiting for surgery. And of course there was the sleepless Nov and Dec waiting for dx and treatment plan. My exchange is 6/17. Not a moment too soon. Just joined BCO yesterday with a long post to Whippetmom for guidance with this next step. Have already received wonderfully helpful responses. It is with awe and deep gratitude that I step forward into this generous and compassionate circle of support.
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Hey Jerusha! Welcome to EC
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Hello beautiful ladies!!! Once again I feel so far behind, and it's only been about a day!!! Crazy!! A lot of new people, and as someone else said, they are so welcome but we're so sorry that you had to join us in this crazy BC thing! But welcome welcome welcome!!! Sounds like everyone is answering all of the questions, so I won't bother going back through and trying to find them all.
Lilah, sorry that you are having PPD, but like you said it'll go away!
Rebecca, wow, one more thing indeed... you are strong, you can do this!
Kat, let us know how the appt. goes this morning!
Fairportlady, have you had that second date yet? How's all of that going?
CS, congrats on Yippee Squishy!!! You're going to love it! Remember though, patience!!! Drop & Fluff!!!
Brenda, congrats on your Echange date!!! It'll be here before you know it!
Mary, good luck on your surgery today, let us know how that fat grafting goes, I'm getting anxious to do mine, just waiting for insurance approval.
Have a great day ladies!
Paula
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Tattoo question: I got my tattoos yesterday and was told I could shower this morning, just keep them covered with triple antibiotic for 4 days. I was also told I'd need 3-4 sessions and that they'd last 6-8 years.
So this morning, I removed the protective layer I'd put on to keep my nightgown clean, and the tattoos had faded considerably. By the time I took a shower, the ink was almost gone. My nurse who did the tattooing had specifically guided me to a dark color because she said they'd fade 70%.
Does all this sound normal?
Thanks!
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Wow! that's all I can say. I left for a few days to attend our son's college graduation and then spent 2 days in bed resting up after the trip and now 45 minutes just on this thread trying to get caught up!
cs7777 I hope your surgery went well and you are doing well today!
mbticsw01 I hope your nips go as you want today!
geneskirt I hope yours goes well this week!
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Mary good luck with your new nipples and fat grafting...hope everything goes perfectly
Congratulations CS!!! sounds like all is going very well
Rebecca!!!! no fair!!!!!! sorry about your gall bladder
Hope your surgery goes easily and your healing is quick and easy. Congratulations on your exchange date Brenda!
Welcome Jerusha and any newcomers I may have missed.....hard to keep up
Kat hope you have a great appointment with your favorite ps today....hope you get to see what's under that tape
Lilah....keep resting and healing
understand the PPD....grieving.....HJC also talked about grieving it is very much a part of this...acceptance for me still comes and goes...sometimes just realizing what the heck happened over the last few months is hard to process. The diagnosis, the surgery, the fills, the exchange.... soldiering on through all the appointments all the procedures. Busy busy busy with cancer..........then.........the appointments slow down....then stop.....and your left there...sitting without your breasts......they look ok, but they are impostors, they have no feeling...they are a secret to most who see me. I look forward to the day when these new "breasts" on my chest are just me, still me...another metamorphosis of me. Acceptance....I guess it takes time......geez.....didn't mean to go on and on.....better go get some more coffee.
Best to all who are facing any challenges today or this week...healing thoughts.
Thanks for the kindness about my new photo
make a 60 year old, with no uterus, no ovaries, no breasts, fully menopausal......smile 
I woke up sleeping partially on my boob this morning....scared myself! All's well
Strength, courage and healing to all,
Laura
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Morning all,
I was just having my coffee and thinking about my previous post. I don't want to sound like I'm ungrateful, or whining about my personal walk through bc. I am so aware of the women on this list that have had a battle beyond my grasp. So many have had multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation, infections.....and many have been tragically lost....... I have read so many stories of courage and heartbreak and triumph...amazing stories...amazing women...warriors every one.
I am so lucky to have found my cancer so early in it's progress that it had not entered my body, had not passed my lymph nodes. Being a triple neg. there are not any oral medications that would help me so my treatment has been so straight forward....a blessing for me...I am so grateful for my outcome, for my doctors and for all the help and support I have had and continue to have...... I know there are no guarantees with bc, even for me....but I am grateful none the less.
Ok..no more coffee for me
Strength, courage and healing to all,
Laura2
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Welcome, welcome, our new EC sisters! Well said, Jerusha - this group truly is a circle of compassion.
Laura2 - keep up with the coffee.....you said everything I've felt just perfectly....I think you speak for most of us here
Astorm - please tell me more about the tums and tamox issue...I knew about benadryl....and grapefruit.....and countless other things......OMG, I LIVED on tums before every surgery - and this one last week was #5 (though only #3 since tamox, actually).....gosh, and I was 99%ER+.....)
Finally had a vicodin-free day and night yesterday - yippee! I also talked to the ps's nurse to see if she had any tricks to camouflage the nips' gauze doughnuts - no luck. I asked about trying a lined (molded type) bra, and she said my ps preferred not because they didn't allow enough circulation and could impede healing. So, I'll just be as creative as I can when I go out in public so as not to look too freaky.....maybe one of those gauzy scarves strategically draped....too bad it's gonna be 90 all this week! Don't get me wrong, though....I really do LOVE the new nips!
Enjoy your day, ladies! I'm thick into preparations for graduation #2 this weekend - my high school son, this time!
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Laura - I know what you mean. I'm so grateful for how things have gone for me, but I'm really bad at the in-between times. I do much better when there are appointments and things going on and decisions to be made, etc. I guess it's just a process of learning to live with ourselves as we are now. And there's nothing wrong with a little lamenting about where you are. It's a struggle for everyone, regardless of the details. That's why we're all here, to find some common ground and cameraderie. Hang in there!
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KatRN - thought I'd answer your question from the pic forum here, if that's okay.....the 17 months I referred to is the time between my bmx and my nips.....between moving very slowly with my fills because I was so flat to start with and my revision, it's taken me longer than average to reach this point......it's all been worth it, though, I must say!0
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Hi ladies!
I'm back from my post op visit with the PS and I'm so excited! My new foobs just look amazing! The pain I've been suffering is not from mastopexy...turns out he hardly did any of that at all. The pain is from him snipping the pectoral muscle medially (toward the cleavage) so that the implants will fit in closer together. I can't believe how awesome they look! He was just grinning ear to ear he was so pleased with the outcome. The Right side (cancer side) is full and round and towards the center and the left (prophy side) is going to look good too...eventually. He did a little dog ear work on my inner incision but for the most part I'm thrilled.
I'm still in pain and I can't even drive until Monday because of the muscle thing. I've got a little fluid in my right upper lobe and a low grade temp (99.2) so I'm on a Z-pack and doing purse lip breathing and hoping to get back to normal very soon. I return to work 1/2 days on Thursday and Friday and my DH will run me in and pick me up. That ensures I'll get out on time! Then I can start a regular week the next.
They steri stripped the incision lines again because it all came off with the bio-occlusive stuff and I see him on the 25th. Then he talked about some scar treatment he wants me to put on the incision lines starting next week. Nipples in 6 weeks if I want them them! I know I want to do them before the year is out just not sure when. I"m not supposed to massage the foobs at all. He's against that....so I must stop the rubbing. I specifically asked him about a bra and he is anti-bra! Whoohoo! He said if I MUST wear a bra he would prefer a light support sports bra but would be happier with my cami/shelf bra's. I told him, no arguments from me doc! (I also wondered if it was ok to kiss him but thought better of it
He said I could sleep on my side if I want to but it's too painful at this point so I'll wait it out a little longer. I'll get some photos for the pic forum maybe tomorrow...I want to to be as close to 1 week post op as possible.
So yippe squishey! I'm so happy to be feeling better every day and knowing the end is near. Laura...have you done anything about ordering silicone nipples? Are you still thinking that? Those custom order ones are a bit much but maybe a pair of the lower grade ones might be fun. Imagine how good they'll look when the nipples cover your kitty whisker scars...Melinda your boob stalker will be all over those!
I agree with the other ladies...keep drinking coffee! You're very able to verbalize everything I'm feeling. Glad you came through CS with flying colors! I'm so happy my pain seems to be an isolated individual incident and the norm is pain free. Hope the nips are good for you Mary! Val...you've inspired me on the nips...I'm very excited to watch your progress. Thanks!
Good day all!
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Hi all, So much to catch up on...not sure I can do it in my vicodin haze but I'll try. I'm feeling better today, just sore around the edges of the foob but it's not bad. In the middle of the night I realized that for the first time I didn't "feel" anything inside pushing at me, and was so relieved and happy. When I got up, I could walk w/o feeling I had something in there. Thank goodness! I know it sounds odd, but more than looks, this was what I was most worried about - even if it looked good, if I always felt this foreign thing inside me it was going to drive me nuts. I guess I get to keep my sanity after all! (At least in this respect.) I still haven't seen how it looks...hopefully that'll be good too.
mbticsw01/Mary & geneskirt - best to you both on the nips surgery this week!!
Val61 - to cover your nip covers, you know I'll second the scarf idea. In your climate the gauzy ones would definitely be the way to go.
Summer38 and others re massage - Others have talked about back, shoulder, and shoulder blade massage. I want to be more specific about the massage the PT did of my breast & side area. I begged my PS to send me to the PT because I'd heard other women who'd gotten the order for it said it was really helpful, so even though my BS & PS don't send women proactively, my PS said sure when I asked. So, ask!! I started about 4 wks after my TE was put in, and the PT said she wouldn't have wanted to see me earlier - the scar needed to be closed, the skin needed to be healthy, etc. I'll describe the massage she did so you get the picture, but you'd be best to get a PT to do this and teach you than try it from my description. Anyway, the PT would put a mildly warm heating pad on my chest area for about 5 min, and then she would use the flat of her hand or fingers to gently move the skin on the MX area and side back and forth to loosen it up, just working little areas at a time. Then she would put lotion on her hands which allowed her to rub across the skin a bit harder (but still gently) to massage the muscle underneath. After a few weeks she would also cup her two hands over the TE mound and gently move the skin using a rotating motion. She also added a pretty firm massage of the tendons on the front of my arm leading from the pec, as it was very tight from the pec being stretched. I saw her 1x/wk, and I did the massage the other days. All of this over time really loosened up where skin was adhered firmly to underneath and helped soften the stretching muscles.
Lilah, HJC, Laura and others who've commented on the grieving and depression over our changed bodies and encounter with this illness the last few days, boy I can relate, and you've all expressed the feelings so beautifully. Thanks for sharing.
Maggie - "Dont mess with women who've had BC" - definitely a slogan for a t-shirt!
And congrats on the surfing outing - that's such a milestone! This will sound funny but I can't wait to stand on my head again in yoga! I haven't been able to since my first surgery in Oct, and after practicing yoga for 26 yrs, going upside down in headstands and shoulderstands and handstands nearly every day, it's been quite a challenge to be right side up all the time. My yoga teacher said I have to wait 6 wks before returning to class, but after that it'll be off to the races I hope!Kat - so glad you're so happy with your new foobs!! After all we go through it's just so great to come out happy on this end. Woohoo!!
Rebecca - gall bladder - ugh!!! So sorry you have to go through this too. Best to you for safe and successful surgery.
Alright, used up all my brain cells for today. Naptime! Best to all -
CS
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Val -- about the Tums+tamox... I had been eating a handful of them cuz I needed calcium anyway and have a difficult tummy especially with all the anxiety and anesthesia. After about a month on tamox when I got my refill, I actually read the insert and it stated that antacids can interfere with your metabolism of the tamoxifen. I mentioned it to my onco and he said it is okay if I really need it but not a daily regimen is not a good idea. You might want to mention it to your onco. Mine wants to know about any supplement I take.0
