Exchange City
Comments
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Jizogarden- Boy am I glad you posted the hair thinning question! I have been loosing tons of hair- the shower is drain is far to full and throughout the day I am picking it off my shirts. I do have a thyroid issue which has been hard to regulate but is within normal range now. I don't remember having hairloss anywhere near this extent while my thyroid was off and I have been battling thyroid issues for 10 years now. I also did have chemo but my hair has grown back in since then. I would have NEVER thought about it being related to surgery until reading your post and BigApples reponse. Interestingly enough my hairloss started about a month after my exchange surgery in Dec. It calmed down just a bit but now is so significant I am afraid I will be bald soon (which is sad after loosing hair once to chemo). I just had another surgery 2 weeks ago. I wonder if it is something in the anesthia? My past 2 surgeries were at a different hospital/but same anesth. doc who used the same meds both times.
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OMG- where to start, too many posts!
bcincolorado- GOOD LUCK with your exchange today. May the boob fairies (or FedEx) deliver your new boobs safely!
CoolBreeze- I think you should follow all of Waldo's suggestions and then fire your PS. Then after you do, Kay will fly across the pond in her boob mobile, pick up MBJ and I and we will go to your EX PS's office and show him what happens when you FU our exchange surgery and believe me, it won't be pretty! I may even wear stilettos for the occasion!
But seriously, I had the same experience as Waldo and MBJ. My first surgeon was supposed to be the guy to go to. After waiting 1 1/2 hours for consultation to discuss my reconstruction he strolled in with no apologies. I had to ask to see photos so he had his nurse get me a photo album with grainy photos stuck in the photo album that looked like they had been taken by his 10 year old. He never once looked me in the eye and he left twice when his cell phone went off. After spending less than 15 minutes with me he said he had to go. Then his office sent me a bill for $175.00 for the consult. AH!
Did you PS even talk to you when they told you your surgery was cancelled or was he too afraid to show his face with all those surgical tools lying around?
bebotx- Great idea about the Swifter stuff. My DH is an excellent chef but is not too big on vacuuming, either. (Hmm, I wonder if I told him it was a power tool?)
jizogarden (Laura2)- My hair stylist said that hair can become extremely damaged or fall out from anesthesia and pain meds even months later. I cut mine short because of it. She recommended a new leave in conditioner from Aveda. I started using it and it made a huge difference in just weeks.
MBJ- You know what Nancy Sinatra said: These boots are made for walking....to VEGAS! And for kicking PS's asses!
M-star (Kay)- Love the boob mobile! We have the male version here. It is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!
OK, now for my own post-
Question girls. Did you already have your bras purchased to wear after you can take the surgical bra off after exchange? If so, how do you even know what size to buy? I'm planning on going to Nordstrom's but with my odd-shapped TE's would they even be able to tell me what to get. Or did you just wait until after your surgery and you were feeling up to it?
Thanks!
Kate
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Thanks for your advice ladies. I will certainly consider switching - but this isn't my first PS. This is the one I switched to! I chose him because I had confidence in him. His bio is a mile long and I do like him personally. He did come in to the hospital and he apologized to both me and my husband for the screw-up. I don't think he's a bad guy and his office staff has been wonderful - they even got me some free Latisse. The scheduler is lacking some problem solving skills though - it all seems to be about her and she definitely choses the wrong words when talking to me.
Don't tell a woman on tamoxifen she HAS to do something.
I think that's why this is suprising - my confidence was strong and now? I'm losing it. It really does sound like he's covering up cuz he can't get the implants we'd chosen.
Well, we'll see what he has to say. My job is too busy (I work in a school) and too public to get a phone call there but I'll see if he can call me this evening.) If not, I guess I'll find out Monday and then I may have a decision to make.
I guess I should give up the idea of having all this over with by the summer and having a few weeks to relax. 0 -
Kate~ Im glad you asked about the bra thing. I was wondering also. If they expect you to wear a bra from surgery onward,how the heck do you know what size to buy????
Also,i feel i bit sheepish now........when i picked up my Thyroxine from the chemist last week,i asked what brand they were using now. Last time i was given 2 months worth and it was a different brand to what i normally have,and my hair has been coming out LOADS the last 2 months! I told him i wanted my usual brans and not what they were trying to give me.
Well they hadn't been sent that brand and i had only 1 pill left si i had no choice but to take the different brand.
I told him i wasn't happy and i was really worried about the amount of hair i was losing since the change of brand....
Then i just read on here that its the surgery that causes the hair loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!
OOPS! My bad!!
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Coolbreeze: I hope everything works out for you. I know how you feel about having to wait. I was diagnosed in September and should have been done by now but my first dr. delayed everything because of an inefficient staff and constant scheduling problems. Everything took 6 to 8 weeks to schedule and I could never get him or his office on the phone. The worse part is the dr. himself kept telling me I would die if I didn't do things his way! I ended up going with the third dr.
Kittycat: I can't imagine having to go to 8 doctors! You are a woman that knows what she wants!
Kay: Boobmobile!!!OMFG!!!LOL!!! You are hilarious girl.
Kate: You cannot compare the weiner dog to the boobmobile!! LOL! It would be pretty hysterical to see them side by side though! If we ever meet up in Vegas Kay and I will have to buy you stillettos!
Hairloss: Everytime I have had morphine/surgery I have had hair loss but it grew back within a month or so. We do need to eat lots of protein, take our vitamins and get all of our minerals.
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Kate & Kay: I purchased a couple of the no wire Warner's bras in the size I wanted to be after expansion so that I could show my ps but also, since I am a uni, I have to stuff one side! Right now I am at 430, which is pretty close to the projection that I want. My ps is talking about expanding me to 550-600 so I truly am the Uniboober!!! I am waiting until after exchange to start trying on pretty bras because who knows what will fit or not fit after surgery. Have you read the Bras 101: The Great Post-Exchange Debate?
MBJ
Diagnosis: 9/16/2009, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-0 -
Artsy,
I'm a fellow uni as well. In fact..had the same thing done back in Nov. I had an adjustable saline in my healthy side & a silicone in my MX side. It took several months for all the swelling to go down. The reason I say this is that I feel like my girls look a tad less fuller than initially. They're still much more than pre BC & am still happy with the new look. I saw my PS this week & she gave me the thumbs up & said see you next year! I still have the port in my saline side...that will have to come out eventually but PS said we can play around with the volume a little longer if I wish. In fact she added some saline back to give me some fullness to the upper pole to match my MX side....it's all about the cleavage! LOL! I actually wore a fake nipple on my MX side that another uni sister gave me recently & my PS said it will never match or look the same as the real one OR the fake nipple. I've been quite attached to my fake nipple so I don't know if I ever will decide on a nipple reconst. My PS said I can have this done at any time...now or years from now.
As all along this journey...time is of essence. I've come to learn that you have to have patience to have that inner peace.
Still lurking around!
NAE
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Re: Boobmobile -- LOVE it! What an image I am conjuring now. Thanks for the laugh Kay
Re: Bras -- during my TE expansion, since I only had one, I had purchased the Underscore zip front sports bra from J.C. Penney's... although I am a smaller size now, since it's stretchy it works, and I've been wearing that alternating with the post-post-surgical bra my PS gave me in her office (fitted me for actually) when I went for my follow-up visit. I recommend for the short term that a stretchy sports bra can work (unless of course your PS requires an underwire - mine requires NO underwire)... and also simply ask the staff at your PS's office whether they make post-post-surgical bras available (not sure what they are really called.... but it's NOT the post-surgical bra I was in when I woke up, which has velcro loops on it for the drains, THIS bra has hook and eye down the front and is supportive and soft).
Kitty -- you are so my heroine! I think you have to become one of the PS fighters on the boobmobile
Coolbreeze -- go with your gut. But DO let your PS know on Monday how upset you are... and hopefully whatever he wants to meet about it will be something good.
Lilah (ever the optimist)
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So many posts..... I promise to catch up, but wanted to share what may be some good news for a change. My 6 month appointment with the PS is next Monday and I had planned to be talking with him about a second capsular contracture. Within the past few days, my implant side has begun to soften -- weird, but true! Perhaps there is a real possibility that this implant is going to be okay and won't need to be removed-- yeah! It's still quite a bit higher than my natural breast, but now the PS and I may be talking about that instead of removing my implant permanently. Thanks for listening and now it's time for me to catch up on posts... --bonnie
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Wahooo Bonnie! I hope that's true.
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Wow I can no longer keep up with this but I do want to say to Kiitycat I will keep you in my prayers I hope the mole is nothing.
I will pray for all you ladies and continue to check in.
Rebecca
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Hey M-starr... i saw the new "Wow..." thread link, and it is WOW!!!!!
I posted there and removed my first post as to not confuse anyone!
The first link was truly interesting to me about the "thin" skin heal option(which is what I had to do for 9 months b4 expanders could be put in, and even then they could barely close, and their was no room for any saline...
..... but it all worked out.The first llink also helped me appreciate my PS concerns about how "large" we would be able to go during expansion, and if he could 'close' after inserting the larger size. Slow and steady got us there....and so far.... all is healing.
p.s.Clearly.... 'largest' cup possible isn't always the nicest asthetic result.... proportion to frame is:)The first link was a 'wow' example of that!
xo
.
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If you need a laugh today go to this video titled "The Boob Fairy". Hilarious!
Here's hoping everyone's Boob Fairy shows up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKRYpQhBbGU
P.S. It's actually a guy lip synching Deirdre Flint's "The Boob Fairy" song.
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Kate 33 - You crack me up!!!!!! 0
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Hi ladies,
I am so sorry I have not been on here since a little after my surgery. I have had a really hard recovery, especially from the fat grafts. I am just now able to get up by myself without my husband helping me. It all started out so well and by the 3rd day bammmm, I was in pretty bad pain. I hope not to scare anyone so I will tell you I have fibro-myalgia, so that tends to make my recoveries a lot harder than some. I am doing much better.
Someone mentioned they were suprised at how pleased I was so close after exchange, but you have to remember I had those terrible expanders in for almost 19 months! I was an am thrilled with the softness and the symetrical appearance. I was so mishappen from the radiated side and had so many divots and sunk in places. I think I am most thrilled that all those are gone. I can wear whatever shirt I want and look NORMAL. It brings tears to my eyes everytime I look in the mirror. I am still in my surgical bra and have to wear a girdle for another month, so I haven't really been able to see the way I will look. Now that I can get up and move some, I am planning on putting on a regular bra and clothes just to see what I look like. I know I am very round. Don't see any of the drop and fluff yet. Will I get any of that while I am wearing the surgical bra?
Deborah my surgeon used style 15 natrelle silicone allergan. (just reading all this from the card they gave me) One my left it's 575cc and my right is 492cc. How does that sound?
I haven't read up on how everyone is doing, but I will as I get a little stronger. I hope all is doing well that has had surgery and wish those who are coming up good luck.
Thank you all for the support!
By the way is there anything I should be taking or putting on my scars?
Susan
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susiered- Sorry your recovery has been so hard. I also have fibromyalgia so I can definitely empathize with what you are going through. Surgery does seem to ratchet up the pain a bit, doesn't it? If I do something stressful it usually hits me a few days later, too.
As far as scars I have seen a lot of women recommend massaging the area with something called Bio-Oil. My PS gave me some special tape called Mepitac by Safetac. You put a strip of it all along the incision and every 7-10 days you replace it with a new strip. It was $35 for 3 yards of it at the PS's office. It seemed to work quite well after my MX. My scar is very smooth and is getting lighter. Of course, all that goes away in a few weeks after my exchange.
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Susie and Kate33: Sorry about the fibromyalgia. Like it was not enough that you had BC...
Kate33: Thanks for the scar tape ideas. The scar on my radiated side is darker than the one on the healthy side. They are both flat and smooth, though. I have been using cocoa butter while I'm in TE's.
Laura: I am so happy about your rads breast dropping!!! I hope to be as lucky!
Brenda
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Just a quick note to let everyone know I made it home and my boob arrived and is in place. Now the wait to heal and not hurt and for the big drop and fluff.
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bcincolorado Congratulations!! I've been keeping up with this thread. Hope everything goes smoothly for you as you heal.
I can't wait to get my exchange!!
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Scar reduction products:
Has anyone found any of the products out there to be helpful? If so please let me know which ones and what your experience has been.
Thanks so much.
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bcincolorado, congrats!!! I will join you in waiting to fluff- don't want to drop.
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Congrats to those who got their surgeries.
My doctor actually cancelled on me.
During my last conversation, when she asked me to come in on Monday, I said I would but asked her not to cancel on me. She said she wouldn't.
And, they did.
This office has cancelled just about every appointment I have had.
I asked for the doctor to call me.
I also think I need to seek a second opinion. I hate to do it at this late date but I am have a very iffy feeling about all this - and I'm clearly not any kind of priority.
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Coolbreeze I am so sorry they are treating you this way. What was their reason for cancelling? Has the Dr. called you back yet?I think you are definatly right about getting a second opinion. You deserve to feel like you are their top priority. My PS has always made me feel that I am even though I know she has many more she also has to make feel that way.It is NOT too late for the second opinion. When this is done you need it to be done right. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. (((((((hugs))))))
Susan
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He wont' call today because I left a message on the machine - it was insane at school today (last day) and I didn't hear my cell. I called back after they were gone. So, whatever it is, I have to wait until Monday.
If he doesn't call me on Monday I might just not go back at all.
I'm going to have to figure out how to get another opinion - maybe through my breast surgeon? He's the guy who got me my 2nd opinion last time but I don't see him often anymore.
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Hello Ladies!
I can't tell you how much I've learned from reading all of your advise and comments!
I have a question or perhaps a few about my exchange I had on May 25th. I'm curious if it's common to have a 'heaviness' feeling now that I have my silicone implants (mentor, high profile 650)? Perhaps I'm just not used to the silicone (not like I was of my expanders...LOL).
Also, anyone wearing a underwire bra 24/7? I had lipo done on the sides where the bra hits and it's ouchy! Can I use ice?
-c
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So sorry Coolbreeze......I'm without words!
Susiered, congratulations....sorry you've been having a hard time..hope each day gets better and better.
bc! Welcome to the other side.....rest....heal and fluff on
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reassuring responses about hair loss!!!!!!!!! I feel much better knowing I'm not the only one to experience this unsettling phenomenon.....the shower drain very scary after my morning shower
I'm going to buy some Aveda conditioner tomorrow Comfort and healing,
Laura2
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So sorry Coolbreeze......I'm without words!
Susiered, congratulations....sorry you've been having a hard time..hope each day gets better and better.
bc! Welcome to the other side.....rest....heal and fluff on
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reassuring responses about hair loss!!!!!!!!! I feel much better knowing I'm not the only one to experience this unsettling phenomenon.....the shower drain very scary after my morning shower
I'm going to buy some Aveda conditioner tomorrow Comfort and healing,
Laura2
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Well I need a little "drop" to make me closer match my "good side" without being too lopsided. It sure feels funny to be a sports bra they put me in after surgery. I haven't had a bra on for MONTHS. I am hurting more than I thought I would as the local they had put in was wearing off. I broke down and took 1 'Vicodin. I might need another one before I go to bed tonight so I can try to rest. Last night wasn't an easy night, nerves before surgery. Silly since it was so much easier than the other ones, but still had to deal with the needles before getting the IV in.
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Be very careful with heat or cold, either one can burn, I lost my right implant to a heating pad brun and subsequent MRSA. There is nor fat or tissue under the MX skin, it is just skin and muscle and implant. You can get frost bite from cold packs, especially in low fat areas. I would stick with taking some advil and maybe loosening the bra or putting some padding or a silicon strip on the pressure point.
My 410 ( form stable silicone) felt heavy for a long time, now I don't notice it and I have had it since 3/09. My Ps was one of the no underwite guys. I have a bunch of warners wire free bras that have a fairly stable firm band of fabric where the wire would be, it provides support (my other side is a brand new DIEP) but is definitly more comfortable than the underwire, maybe you can ask your PS if you can wear one till the sensitivity passes. You can pick them up at Kohels and Annie Says for less than $20, so maybe you can bring one in so he can see the structure and give you an informed answer.
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Bigapple, thanks for the input on hot/cold packs. I sure wouldn't have thought of that! Mine doesn't give me too detailed instructions sometimes about that.
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