Exchange City

Luna5,

I applaud your tenacity and appreciate all the time you took to research.  It is unfortunate when we have to ask doctor's to order tests and they refuse.  This experience has taught me the importance of research, education and self-advocacy.  I was fortunate in that my request for the Oncotype Dx was agreed with.  Because I am post-menop, Arimidex was prescribed.  I did my research on that as well, and finally decided I would try it (after starring at the bottle for over a week).  Have been on it for 2 and a half months and no noticeable SE's.  Meet with the oncologist mid-June and have a huge list of questions re what he looks for and what he knows (estrogen levels, vitamin D levels, cholesterol levels, etc etc etc).

Also have realized that all the percentages of recurrence are just numbers from studies that aren't always complete (don't have all the info).  And even in the best scenario, taking every imagineable precaution, it is still a crap-shoot.  Who ends up in the 2% or 18% or 65% anyway?  Best to educate ourselves, chart our own course, and try to live each day we have....no matter how many there are.

I respect your choices, but more importantly your ability to choose!

Also to all, I echo cs's comments about TE's.  TE's are a temporary situation.  The final implants will not look anything like those TE's and will not fill the space the TE created.  They will fill the pocket the PS creates from the stretched skin and muscle the TE helped to make.   I know it is hard to trust your PS....but, I, too, had a TE higher on one side and uncomfortably under my arm....the final results are beautiful....I have symmetry and they are in the right place on my chest.

Also to the remark about a "cantelope would feel softer than a TE"....you are absolutely right.  My BFF asked me what the TE's felt like.  I told her to get two large cans of tomates and duck tape them to her chest---then lay down and try to breathe and try to sleep!  Keep the faith -- it's a process.

Marianne

CS - you are a wealth of knowledge and incredibly helpful!! As are all of you!

I am not yet scheduled for an exchange (just started chemo yesterday) but when I look at my TE's in the mirror I do have a concern. It looks like I work out my "lats" like a body builder! I asked the PS's nurse if this swelling would go down and she said it's not swelling, it's "good food"! Seriously??? I'm not a large woman (5' 7 1/2", size 8) I can't imagine that this very localized, on both sides, "good food" is something that just happened to appear after my bilateral MX. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about and does it go away after exchange?

Thanks for all you help - you guys are the best!!

Paula thank you for your reply.   I understand now why the PS said that.  Thank you for having me see the other side.  Also, thank you for the pain ideas.  I am going to try it all!!! I appreciate you!

Estepp: Thanks so much for hooking me up with Denise...I actually had a msg from her already waiting for me when I logged in this morning...hearing her story will definitely help out.

I've decided to call and cancel my nip surgery that is scheduled Tues 5/25...my exchange was just on 4/13...and who knows?...maybe the drop and fluff will take effect and I'll become more satisfied with how I look...anyway, I want to make more educated decisions and explore all my options further before I put the final "icings" on my "cakes"...LOL ...

I'm so THANKFUL I found my way to this forum!!!...it provides such a wealth of knowledge and compassion from those who have been there, are there or going there...some of you actually held my hand along the way and never even realized it...I am very grateful to each and every one of you who chooses to tell her story to benefit others...from what I've read so far it wouldn't take much for all us BC girls to rule the world!!!.

Positive thoughts and prayers to all who are having surgery or are on the mend.

Thanks so much.

I was sick yesterday temp of 103 degrees and diarrhea - anybody else have that 2 weeks after surgery - or did I just have some type of bug?  Feeling better today -took me an hour to read all the new posts!

Mkidsmom and Firni- thanks for the info about fills, I will ask to be at a 40 degree angle for my first fill today.

Hope4 futrue - as I am going for my first fill today (I am also 2 weeks post op) glad to hear that the fill didn't hurt - but now worried it will hurt later on today!!

NewBride - good information about the nipple as I am two weeks past surgery and mine don't look so good.

Just a word about staying in the hospital, my doctor wanted me to stay an extra night (and I think my insurance would have paid for it), but I felt so good I wanted to go home - so he let me.  Surgery was on Thursday at 2:00 for 4 1/2 hours, went home Friday at 2:00.  It's a shame though for those that don't feel good and need to stay and their insurance won't allow it! 

My BS did say, the longer you stay in the hospital, the longer you stay in the hospital - meaning that you can pick up all sorts of bugs in the hospital!!

I posted some more pictures on the picture forum... I can't believe it, tomorrow will 5 weeks from my exchange!!!  CRAZY how time flies!  I called the PS office today to ask how the fat grafting insurance approval is coming along and she said that they sent it out on the 10th and it usually takes a couple weeks, so hopefully next week sometime we'll hear something.  Of course, that means that I won't get in by the end of May, but I think I'll still go ahead and schedule it for as soon as they can, I really hate these divots!!

Paula

Hi All, I have been catching up on all the posts from the last week.  So much good info and wonderful support.  I have an exchange date:  July 9th.  Since it's right after Independence Day, I am considering this surgery to be my independence from my TEs!  For those dealing with the TEs, I have encouraging news.  When I started expansion in 12/09 and learned how painful & uncomfortable the fills could be, I really wondered if I had made the right choice to go through fills for 3 mos. and then 3 more mos. of waiting and stretching until exchange.  Six months of it, I was not really prepared for how long the process would be.  BUT, I have to say it is ALL DOABLE.  Managing the pain of fills early with meds and setting a cc limit for YOU on what you can tolerate for each fill is key.  If you get in a hugely painful situation, they can take a small amount of cc's out immediately and you get instant relief!!!  Now since I am 6 weeks post fills and another 6 weeks before exchange, I am not uncomfortable in any kind of big way.  Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get the coconuts out, but I can work, sleep, and enjoy life without any huge disruption. 

So, for those of you getting fills, you will get through it, time moves along, and things improve.  I am glad I went ahead with reconstruction now.  Can't wait for the next step.  I love to follow along with those of you who are ahead of me and learn from your experience.  Thanks to everyone for sharing and all the support.  Although I don't post very often, I am a regular and a huge supporter of EC!!

luv, deekaay

Welcome to all of the newcomers!

Suthenflowah:  I am glad Laura hooked you up with Denise.  I agree wholeheartedly that you need larger implants, which currently can only be obtained by switching to saline implants or  via custom order [silicone].  Sometime this year....hopefully....Sientra's cohesive gel "gummy bear" silicone rounds will be approved for use, and they will have sizing up to 1000 ccs.  But everything moves slowly when it comes to FDA approval for the "true" cohesive gels, so you might want to just exchange out for the largest saline implants available.  Glad you canceled your nips....

Melissa:  I am just glad you are here posting and feeling better....and I had to smile about your "bra size" comment!   Yep....my little nemesis....

I haven't been on in a few days and WOW! 

Rebecca - So sorry to hear about your gallbladder surgery.  Hopefully, your absence from here means you got in quickly and are maybe even recovering now. Were they able to do your surgery laproscopically?  DH had his kidney removed a few years ago and they were able to do it that way - the recovery was so easy for him!  Nothing like my recent stuff.

Big Apple -- good luck with the surgery and remember: they do this a lot, they know what they are doing.  I know the anesthesia time is scary but I am so excited for you to finally resolve this problem!

Me: my reduction breast is SO swollen the PS told me it would shrink 30% in size by the time it is done healing from the surgery... every day it does appear a little smaller (thank god) because at the moment its bigger than my implant.  Lots of bruises now turning yellow, so there is tons of healing going on.  Took my first shower since surgery yesterday -- wow that felt good.  Not much pain, really; I'd say mainly any discomfort right now is the 24/7 bra!  What I wouldn't give to have 24 hours bra free right now

Hi Val!

yes i have access to the pic forum.Which thread is it on again? I'm sure i will have seen them already but i'll take another look as i've seen that many lately! LOL

I am hoping i can post this ok.I have reached 50 posts so am also hoping i can post as often as i like now!(fingers crossed!).

I will pop over to the pic forum now and see if i can find your pics

Thanks

m-star - I have the same name there (val61).  The thread is called The Tale of the Tiny TE's. I hope I haven't misrepresented myself, so let me know what you think!

KristenP - yep - got the address - the package should be there on Monday!  (sounds like some covert operation, doesn't it?)   Did your bras come yet?  I remember feeling like waiting for Christmas with mine!

True, true.....maybe I need to change the name to "The Tale of the Tiny TE's that Grew Big Foobs!"

My PS wanted me braless after the fipple procedure but I insisted on wearing one anyway. I told him I would be wearing a bra so he should advise me on the style. He had me cut the tips off an old bra until I he took the dressings off.

Speaking of bras, I can't wait to go shopping! Unfortunately I am still lopsided so it will be awhile. In the meantime I don't want to spend money on something that may not work later, plus I have to go out of my way to shop as there is nothing in town except a very small Macy's and a Victoria's Secret (no thanks) so its an investment of time too. Right now I am still wearing the nursing pads and ugly oversized everything. But... it is a process.