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  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited July 2010

    OK>>>>OK>>>>

    Ladies.. did I hear you right??? We can go get bras for free/insurance if we have had mastectomies? There has to be a catch.

    ((((Kate)))))

    Well, here in the Midwest it is Midnight... soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo that means that our dear DEBORAH is officially 60 years WONDERFUL!!!!!!WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    My Prayer for all of you.. ( and myself )........ we LIVE to see 60 too! NO CANCER COMING BACK...NO NO NO! 

    All kidding aside: Father, thank you for seeing our sister in BC, Deborah, to her 60th year. Please allow us all here, to live to our 60th birthday and beyond if it is Your will. Help us all to be so HAPPY on our 60th day on earth!!   Amen.

    Have a GREAT weekend girls!! Blow stuff up.. make some NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I sure will be. I scare my Dh... he cannot look as me and our sons light ANYTHING we can get our hands on.... throw it.. and run like He@#.... FUN TIMES !!!!!!! wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    BE SAFE!

  • Estel
    Estel Posts: 2,780
    edited July 2010

    Estepp - you're a hoot!  And Amen ... may we all live to see our 60th and beyond!  Run, girl, run!!!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited July 2010

    ........................running..............................................................to bed...hehe... :)

  • Trytostaypositive
    Trytostaypositive Posts: 26
    edited July 2010

    Hello kittycat,

    Joined the site today, this is my first post. For the last 2 days I have been reading the various posts, and decided to join today.

    I saw your diagnosis. So, after the first diagnosis you had mastectomy and TE.  HOW DID YOU DETECT THE RECURRENCE ? Did you palpate something in the breast?

    I was diagnosed with DCIS 12/09.

  • Prairiemermaid
    Prairiemermaid Posts: 67
    edited July 2010

    Anniealso -- Thanks so much for your detailed reply!  You touched on a lot of my questions and I appreciate your good advice, too.  I'll be calling my PS soon to ask about my current volume and "shrinkage", if any, with the silicone implants and see whether or not I should get another shot of saline so I end up as close to my original size as possible...  

     "Turtle shells"!  :-D  Isn't that the truth!  I've been calling them "coconuts", as in a coconut bra that chafes around the edges.  ;-)  I'm looking forward to getting my "squishies" -- another great term! :-D

    Thanks so much to you and all the ladies on this board for being here and for sharing your experiences for us newbies... 

  • Trytostaypositive
    Trytostaypositive Posts: 26
    edited July 2010

    Hello ladies,  I'm new to this site and so glad I found it. I've been reading for the last 2 days and learned a lot.  I did not know for ex that the insurance covers bras after mastectomy. Where do you buy them from? Are there special stores?

    I have a question about my TE. Had bilateral mastectomy 1/10. Initially we thought it was one focus of DCIS in the right breast. Pathology specimen during surgery showed that there were several areas of DCIS in the right breast. In addition, the margin free of cancer was less than 1 mm.  I was advised to do radiation as well. Finished radiation 4/12/10, which I survived relatively well. Now I am going through the expansion process. The PS put in TE of 450 cc. I am also fully expanded and they look small to me. FInally my qhestion :)))

    Can I ask the PS to put in an implant larger than the TE, or do they have to put in a final implant a little smaller than the TE.  After going through all this, bilat BMx  and radiation  on right side, i would like to make at least the most of the reconstruction.

    By the way , I have Kaiser insurance.  My experience with the PS was very different than many of you posted here. They do not give you many choices, never showed me a picture.  I am almost afraid to bring up that I would like to be a little larger than the 450 cc TEs. 

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2010

    trytostaypositve:  You came to the right place to find help.  Also, try Breast Implant Sizing 101.  Deborah has been most helpful with my TE's and I am sure she can help you.  It's a holiday weekend and there aren't as many post as there usually are, but after this weekend you will find much help and support from all of the women on these threads.  Best of luck to you!

    Mary

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

    im going to see ECLIPSE tonight at the cinema in a special screening!

    wooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooooooo!

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Posts: 532
    edited July 2010

    Estepp...THANK  YOU  FOR  PRAYING  FOR  ALL  OF  US !!!!   COMING BACK ATCHA !!!

  • waldo
    waldo Posts: 145
    edited July 2010

    Anyone here have Aetna medical insurance?  I just got a new job and they  only offer Aetna.  I had Horizon Blue cross of NJ. 

    I still have nips and tatts to do and since I'm at the sigh up stage, I am wondering if anyone has had postitive or negative experience with Aetna.

    Kate, I am shocked that no one from the hospital called to follow up on how you are doing,  As a gesture of goodwill on their part to show some concern.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2010
    Kay:  With your pale skin and black hair, I just knew you would be a fan of the Twilight Series!  I hear it is really great--Have fun!!!  Back in my Goth/Rock days, my friends and I took over an entire apartment building--all vampires!  It was so much fun! 
  • kjbell
    kjbell Posts: 454
    edited July 2010

    Deborah-hope your birthday was the happiest!!!!  The roses are stunning! Thank you for all you do!

  • jkz
    jkz Posts: 158
    edited July 2010

    Hmmm I am wondering if my insurance cover bras.. Also, my PS doesn't do the nipple tattooing. I plane to have them done at the Beau Institute by Rose Marie Beauchemin.  Has anyone heard of her? She is well known worldwide.

    http://www.beauinstitute.com/aboutfounder.php?nav=navabout

  • jkz
    jkz Posts: 158
    edited July 2010

    Does anyone have horizon bcbs - NJDirect?

    I am wondering if my insurance will cover bras and the nipple tattooing.  I am having my nipples tattooed at a place call th Beau Institute in Mount Laurel, NJ.. Has anyone heard of it? Rose Marie Beauchemin is the artist. She is known world wide.

    beauinstitute.com

  • jkz
    jkz Posts: 158
    edited July 2010

    Another thought... Does insurance cover nipple tattoing?

  • AStorm
    AStorm Posts: 1,393
    edited July 2010

    My insurance covers tattoing if it is done at the clinic and the PS gets their authorization beforehand.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited July 2010

    Waldo:  I am so happy for you re: your new job! 

    It looks as though Aetna is rated the best of plans offered in NJ....Cool

    http://health.usnews.com/directories/health-plans/index_html/plan_cat+commercial/plan_cat+commercial/state_id+NJ/plan_name+/sort+rank/detail+more/page_number+1/page_size+10

  • Trytostaypositive
    Trytostaypositive Posts: 26
    edited July 2010

    MBJ:

    Thank you

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Posts: 433
    edited July 2010

    DEBORAH:  I was hopihng you'd get both packages in time for your birthday.  Have a happy day.
    it is such a pleasure to "know" you.  A toast to you on your 60th!!

    JUDY  (the tattoo maven)  LOL.

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Posts: 433
    edited July 2010

    JBZ:  Rose Maarie Beauchemin is one of the best in the business.  You are in good hands with her...

    Worry not.  JUDY

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Posts: 433
    edited July 2010

    I have been out of contqact for a little while and it took me forever to catch up.

    The grandson is supercute--of course.  Had a blast with him.

    My breast is finally going to be OK.  The infections are over, and I am just waiting for my exchange.  Thank goodness!!  JUDY

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Posts: 245
    edited July 2010

    Happy Birthday Deborah!

    Happy 4th to everyone else!

    Big Yippee Squishy Hugs to all!

  • Firni
    Firni Posts: 521
    edited July 2010

    Twirlandcurl,  I don't really understand why you would get a TE revision.  Is the diameter of the TE not big enough? As in does it not cover enough of your chest area?  Or is the volume too small?

  • Firni
    Firni Posts: 521
    edited July 2010

    Judy, what an ordeal you have been thru.  Do you have a surgery date yet?

  • kate33
    kate33 Posts: 1,936
    edited July 2010

    Hey everyone-  I am feeling a little post exchange blues today.  I'm pretty much off the pain pills already except for Valium at night but every little thing is bugging me.  One of my drains is starting to look a little nasty even though it's draining well and I'm on antibiotics.  The steri strips are making me break out in a rash and everything itches.  The antibiotics make me nauseous and everything tastes weird.  And I think I'm still struggling to get all the anesthesia out of my body.  I've been trying to drink lots and lots to flush it out but I feel like a zombie today.  I know I should be glad I'm done and focus on that but I'm still so upset with what happened in Recovery.  Waldo said she's shocked no one from the hospital followed up with me and I am too.  I think it's hard because I was finally starting to feel really good and healthy before exchange and now I'm back to square one.  Anyway, thanks for listening to my pity party rant.  

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2010

    trytostaypositive:  You are very welcome!  Anytime.

    Judy!  That is such good news!  Congratulations!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2010
    Kate:  It's relly awful how you were treated there!  You have every right to be upset.  I was really depressed about 3 weeks after my MX and I really do think the drugs mess with us something awful.  I wish I could say that I feel great and now I'm just waiting but this darned TE hurts!!!  You complain all you want--that's why we are all here, to help you get through.
  • Firni
    Firni Posts: 521
    edited July 2010

    Kate, what misery.  See if it's ok to use Benadryl cream.  That should take care of the itchiness.  Try eating some yogurt just before taking your antibiotic.  Might not taste good but it should help with the nausea.  Keep drinking and sleep, sleep sleep.  You just have the biggest pity party you need.  We'll all come.  It almost sounds like you're on chemo, not coming out of surgery.  Hope you feel better soon!

  • AStorm
    AStorm Posts: 1,393
    edited July 2010
    Kate - sorry you are having such a hard time. I can't believe no one from the hospital has contacted you -- that is just not right. Having them at least acknowledge your feelings would probably go a long way toward your recovery from the experience. Surgery and anesthesia really does a number on our bodies and you had to endure extra physical and mental stress. No wonder you are not snapping back quickly! You will feel better soon I'm sure. In the meantime, maybe it would help if you could come to terms with what happened... A technique that works for me is writing a letter. Whenever I am upset I write a letter. Sometimes I mail them but I always wait a few days and often edit them. The point, though, is that I spend some time focusing on how I feel about the incident and what would make me feel better in order to communicate that to myself as well as the guilty party. This requires you to focus on something unpleasant but with the intention of moving on once you finish the letter. 
  • Hope4future
    Hope4future Posts: 68
    edited July 2010

    Kate - I believe the 3rd thru 5th days are the worst coming off of anethesia.  I have had 11 hernia surgeries.....I know to much about it!  I agree the yogurt will help. 

    Judy - so happy you can have your exchange now!  Can't wait to hear your date!

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