Exchange City

Hey Ronna, I can't say much about why your recon breast still feels heavy, but regarding your bra troubles I wonder if you could try some of the snugger elasticy camisoles instead?  They would give some support w/o having the bands under your breasts.  There are a bunch of them shown on the lymphedema site here: http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Compression_camisoles_lymphedema.htm.  They list them as compression garments but I've asked Binney on bco, an LE expert, and these are quite snug with good coverage and no real binding spots so they're good for LE ladies but there's no reason you couldn't use them generally as well.  Several are made by mainstream brands like Maidenform and Moving Comfort.  Someone else said she's wearing spanx camis inst of bras, which could be another brand to check.  It would be important to make sure you can get the thing on and off - I tried on spank (before BC) and had a heck of a time in that regard.  But they sure do smooth, as advertised!

CS

Hey, for those of you who saw the very phallic breast pillow picture posted on this thread a week ago, you'll be amused to konw that Jay Leno showed a picture of it during his Headlines segment on Monday Night.  He included it with a group of pictures he called "white trash solutions."  LOL!!!  Made me laugh all over again!

Okay ladies, get this.

I hadn't gotten a return call by 11:30 a.m. so I called again.  I got the scheduler.  She said he had an opening next week and was I still working?  I said I was - my last day was June 24th and it would be good if I could have it right then.  She said the 25th was open and I said that was perfect. Then she said the 29th was open and I said that was too close to the 4th of July - thinking I would be recovered by then I'd set up a party.

She said that I might have to take it and I said that I had spent 4 hours in the hospital, taken unnecessary medication, had an IV in difficult veins, taken time off work and my husband had taken time off work all due to somebody's errror - and somebody needed to make it right, so the 25th, with the opening,  was my chosen day.

She said she'd try and she hung up.

A few minutes later she called me back and said that the doctor wanted to see me again and could I come in on Monday.  I asked why?  She said he'd changed his mind about my implants and thought something else would work better that he wanted to talk to me about.

WTF?  Honestly - I'm supposed to have them IN me by now.  He's had 8 months to figure it out!  I don't get what is going on.  What changes could there be?  Why would he figure it out AFTER this error?  I'm very confused.

He is a well respected surgeon - he has been chief of plastics at a big hospital, he's on a ton of local boards, etc.  I don't get what is going on here.

Guesses? 

Hi, ladies...

I just posted a new thread asking for feedback from plus-sized women who consider their implants to be too small and out of proportion to their body...I have only been on the BCO forum/Exchange City for a few weeks and have heard from MooreTennis who was so kind to share her story and also heard from Whippetmom, Estepp and NVDiane, but have not been able to hook up with anyone who is truly plus-sized/full-figured (ie. overweight, reubenesque..zaftig, etc...LOL)...would love to hear from anyone...anywhere...anytime...feel free to PM me if you like.

Hugs and prayers to all.

Thanks.

Hello everyone - wow, I was offline for several weeks and I am now like 100 pages behind on this thread!  I have been engaging in some serious "nesting" behavior in anticipation of my exchange next week, even though I know I will be back on my feet pretty quick.  Can't seem to help myself!

I was thinking of things I learned after the BMX that helped keep me from going crazy over undone chores around the house.  My DH is a sweetie, but not big on vacuuming, doing laundry, etc.  I found a few things that helped were:

Keep heavy household products like laundry detergent, kitty litter, etc. in small containers.  Keep the containers on the counter or someplace within easy reach.

I bought a swiffer sweeper for the hard floors, a swivel sweeper for the rugs and carpet, and a swiffer wetjet mop.  Even when I couldn't handle the big vacuum cleaner or mop, I was able to use the swiffers and swivel sweeper and manage to not get buried alive under cat hair.  Really saved my sanity for several weeks after each surgery!

Now I have a question and am hoping some of you experts can help.  What products and techniques have you used and liked for healing incision scars?  My MX and exchange incisions are/will be inframammary.

M-star, regarding flying with TEs - I carried my device card but wasn't asked and didn't tell.  I flew on domestic US flights, though.  Wrangling carry-ons is my biggest challenge so I check my bag.  About 3 months ago I posted about saline implants and scuba diving, and how I always got sloshy air bubbles in my foobs after diving with saline implants, but nothing has exploded from flying!

GOOD VIBES going out to everyone having surgery this week!

Betty

Katey and CS777:

Thank you for your responses. PS fist had me on antibiotics for infection, then told me to use bacatracin. I am a slow healer.

I will take your advice and recommendations.

Have a good evening.

Katey and CS777:

Thank you for your responses. PS fist had me on antibiotics for infection, then told me to use bacatracin. I am a slow healer.

I will take your advice and recommendations.

Have a good evening.

Ladies.. read two pages of posts... you all help eachother SO SO beautifully... I wonder how many of you will wanna go to Vegas next year ~wink~

Ann... OMGOSH how I understand the whole..." happens for a reason" and " at least you are here with us" 

I am kinda ornery.. thus why I pray ALL the time.... lol... and if this site was not PG13.. I would say this differently... BUT..

I wanna tell everyone to just shut the hell up about it.. If one more of you say one of those freakin' phases ONE MORE TIME... I am going to........ well... something BAD..........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I KNOW they mean well... but man sisters... I am tired. Two yrs in treatment... still in PT.. I AM TIRED and I AM DONE.. toast... DONE... so we all do NOT need to hear..." well sweety, at least you are still here with us"     BLECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK... Laura is done bitching.....lol

Ladies... just had to pipe in there and spread my joy..hehe......... now I am off to the Catholic thread to pray with the girls.... I NEED IT!

Peace and Healing sweats!

CoolBreeze- WTF?  It's almost as though he can no longer get the implant he was planning on giving you so now he's trying to cover his ass.  Are you ready to go totally postal on the guy because if you do we will all be character witnesses for you I'm sure!  So so sorry you are having to deal with this.  His office, especially the women in it, should understand how unacceptable this is.  Can't they put themselves in your place?  I mean really!!!!!

Thanks Lilah and cs777 and Binney and Waldo for your posts to me. Keeping up with threads but I've been working a lot, getting home late and too pooped to write back.(Must be up in 5 hours...) Best wishes to all, especially those having hard times right now.  Thinking about BCO constantly! I'm obsessed!!!  Knowing you all are THERE really helps me get through the day. I'll catch up this weekend. [While I'm packing to go to NY for my exchange:):):):) ]

Coolbreeze:  When I had my first conultation I thought I didn't have a choice of doctors.  I was told that this guy was the best, world renowned, beautiful work, known for saving the breast.  This dr. was a complete a....hole and I absolutely hated the guy. He didn't want to save my breast, he wanted to butcher me.  Now I know that your dr. won't do that to you, but after what they are putting you through, have you considered changing plastic surgeons???  Maybe he just isn't the right guy for you.  I agree with Kate--It sounds like he's trying to cover his ass by switching you to a different implant. 

Kate & Kay:  Girls, it looks like we have to kick some butt for coolbreeze before we kick some butt for mstar!!!  How about it girls???

Cool Breeze - I was referred to one of the "best" plastic surgeons in town.  I hated him.  He wouldn't show me pics of his work (which is really odd for a plastic surgeon).  he kept telling me how bad I was going to look.  I had augmentation before bc.  He told me that my implants were too big.  He asked me who did them.  I was ready to go postal on him.  Plus I had to wait over 2 hours to see him and had to reschedule a work appointment with one of my customers.  I met another bc patient in his office. She seemed happy with him, but told me she always waited about 2 hours. 

When I met my plastic surgeon, I knew he was the one for me.  I had interviewed 8 plastic surgeons for my augmentation.  I was reasonably happy with the one I had chosen.  I had no complications, but my right side projected out a bit more than the left.  And I wasn't that big (at least not compared to some other gals here in Vegas).  I love my plastic surgeon now.  I wish I had met him when I did my augmentation.  He is so nice.  I never wait more than 10 minutes.  His office staff is awesome, too. They call me if he's running late on appts! 

BETTY~ i am so glad to hear that!  Wow that must have been a strange sensation getting air bubbles in your foobs??!!

MBJ~ yes, i think coolbreeze needs our help first! To the boob-mobile!!!

Coolbreeze- something smells fishy regarding those implants and if it were me I  would call and insist that the doctor call me back because I just  want to just understand the truth behind what happened with the implants minus any of the bulsh!t.

If you were scheduled for surgery and the doctor was in the hospital OR  waiting for you and you didn't show up, you'd be called and read the riot act!!!

I do understand the delicate balance and tightrope you walk and you don't want to piss off the doctor.  But he can discuss whatever he needs to discuss with you on the phone and you should not have to go to the office because of some major screw up on the part of the doctor or office.  I think they owe you that courtesy at a minimum.  

If you do decide to change doctors or to never use him again, or after you are all finished with him you may want to consider a short note to the medical board of your state as well as to the hospital's CEO. Personally I would call the office and let them know my plans to contact the medical board and CEO of the facility if this is not resolved in a way that meets my satisfaction. And I would do it and find a new doctor.

You may also want to call your insurance company and see if the case manager can go to bat for you, as well. Good luck!!! 

jizogarden

I did experience some hair thinning after the first two surgeries, also my skin and scalp became very dry and my nails begain peeling. The worst was after the first surgery, with the second it was slightly less, so far so good on the 5/24 surgery, my hair/skin and nails seem normal so far.

That being said I do have a bigger focus on protein intake after this surgery as my nirse has stressed the need for protein, and I am using shampoo and conditioner with olive oil and tons of coco butter moisturizer.