Exchange City

Kitty -- waaaaaahooooooooooo on being almost done with chemo!!!!  Re: implants and radiation... I believe Whippetmom has posted an article more than a few times that says the BEST outcome for those with implants and radiation is to have the implants in before the radiation... because the skin does not need to be stretched nor does it need to be opened up for surgery.  Maybe if you search Whippetmom and "implants and rads"?  Or better yet: PM her   I'm sure she can share the link with you.

Bonnie -- ((((HUGS)))) I am sorry and do understand how you are feeling.... why are you against lat flap surgery?  Have you been to the picture forum?  I've seen some very good results with that.  It's not a very happy choice and that is why you are feeling as you do... if you could have what YOU want it would be an implant with no CC.  Did you ever try a textured implant or a gummy?  I know there are studies that may support a better chance of no CC with the gummy... which is most likely due to it's being textured.  (Or is that what you had already)?  Anyway I don't mean to give you false hope but it occurred to me to ask.

Rebecca -- best wishes with the revision surgery next week!!!!!

And to all who are having exchange surgery and feeling nervous... it IS scary.  The exchange feel final and you worry it will disappoint and that is harder to deal with (the worry) than the reality.... but the good news is: no more TE!!!  And the odds are good you will have a good result... just remember that you won't be perfect overnight.... it takes time

Flexirl rules for TE Pain--go slow and stop the minute it starts to hurt.  The last fills were the worse for pain for me.

Tiffany, It does lessen, but has not (for me) completely gone away.  My surgery was May 10. I had LD Flap BMX.  I was uncomfortable too so my PS didn't give me my first post surgery fill until week #7.  My last drain wasn't pulled until the middle of week 4.  I'm still waiting for my exchange - I had 200 cc from the get go in the hospital.  First fill was 50cc, 2nd was 100, 3rd was 50cc and that last one was Sept 2.  The mornings were awful for me after surgery.  I took Hydrocodone for 6 weeks, tried a muscle relaxer Flexeril one time (made me too loopy), then quit all pain meds cold turkey, the narcotics had worn off after week 4 (I didnt increase the dose... didn't wan't to get seriously hooked).  My mornings now are still the worst... rolling out of bed is achy and I feel that heavy chest pressure, but NOTHING like in the first few weeks.  It Gets Better..... (hmmm I sound like that coming out campaign!!) ... anyway, it does get better.  By mid morning I don't feel anything while sitting or not moving.  Of course when you stretch or move or exercise you will still get a reminder... but its bearable.  I am told after the TE's are out it will get even better... I can't wait.

Hang in there.  

Suggestions:  If you need a pain killer...take it.

Move as much as possible to regain range of motion....stretch and hold, no weights.  Stretch after a hot shower.

Hugs, diane 

Bonnie, I think if you did not feel that way, it'd be strange....we get just as attached to our new girls as we were to our original girls.  And the fact that she doesn't have cancer, but is causing you issues and it is a choice, muddies the waters.

Here is the weird thing that helped me...I "told" my breast that we were going to make her pretty and comfortable again, but that "she" needed to be patient.  That she would be a sister, not a twin, but that in time, we'd get there together.  Sort of a goodbye for both of us.  It also helped me to think of myself as a "work in progress"....get it all healed up, then it will be plenty of time for you to explore any and all options for you to try....there are many...First things first, my dear and it will work out and you'll have a clearer mind one the pain is gone and you can begin with a fresh slate to make decisions.

We are all here for you ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((xoxo)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))).

Kitty cat, you have the world's greatest attitude!!! I admire your courage, and congrats on almost being done with this!! I am hugely vain, really bad, and I make lots of fun of myself to deal with this, but it was really rough, I admit it.  So I get it, and you are a gorgeous young lady, so double kudos to you!!!

love to all

xoxo

Deborah I am having the revision. I sent the PM to mykidsmom and it was posted as exchange.

 I will be having the fat grafting, pocket work as you and I have discussed. I am going to keep the silicone 800's I have. I also made a goal to loose weight though so that they will look better on my frame.

I am getting pretty nervous but I know I will do fine. My PS says it will be about 3.5 hours of surgery. I am going to see her on Tuesday to just go over everything one last time.

I am taking my DH to a Shakira concert on Tuesday night so I will be to busy to be nervous I just have to make it through the next 4 days.

I am really excited to get this part done.

Rebecca

Much love to everyone who posts here.  Special thanks to you, Annie, for making me feel so much more "normal".  I'm going to attempt to post a couple of pics of my contracted implant before it is gone -- if I can figure out how to do it.  -bonnie

Annie -- you DO have a heart of gold; beautifully said!

Bonnie -- love that new picture!

Sacphotomom -- send a PM to Timtam on this site to ask about entry to the picture forum.

Diane: Most exchanges are an outpatient surgery.  I haven't had the lat flap but it shouldn't make a difference.  Much easier surgery then the MX.

Diane509, 

My bi-lat flap exchange, last Friday, was outpatient.   Operation took 1 1/2 hours, recovery about an hour, DH picked me up & we went for lunch before catching the ferry home.  I only took pain meds til Saturday night & then another one on Sunday night, that was it.   The antibiotics were the only thing that made me sick.  It's been a week, I'm very happy, not sore at all, but trying to not do much because I feel so good.

Good luck, cheers, Dee

asr51 - my PS told me to only move my arms at the elbow to avoid putting stress on the breast tissue as it heals but I just had an implant exchange. Repeated movement of the skin can cause problems with an implant capsule. I'd talk to the PS about your concerns. Maybe there are some gentle exercises that you can do. You should ask about drains too -- you probably don't want to go back to work with drains. I had mine pulled on day 9 this time.  

Must tell what's happened to me over the last several days.  My aunt had a lumpectomy yesterday and will have radiation.  This is the 3rd sister out of 5 that has been dx w/ BC! 

Another thing.  My cousin's (30) best friends, wife was just dx w/ BC while nursing their 1 yr old son!  He asked me to talk with her since I've been through all this.  So we've been messaging each other over fb.

Third--I talked to a friend today on the phone (35 yrs) who was just dx for the THIRD time w/ BC.  First time she had rads, 2nd time they gave her a few rounds of chemo, but it made her so sick she stopped.  Now, she's doing rads again and it's all been the same breast!  I asked her a ton of questions and she really doesn't know what's going on with her body and her dr has not offered a mastectomy as an option.  She asked if I would go with her and be her advocate when she sees her dr.  She has no family here in the states.  I think she needs a 2nd opinion.  She knows nothing of other treatments (tamoxifen) and is floundering in an abyss.

Although, I would rather not have had this crappy disease, but being able to comfort and help others going through it, almost makes it worthwhile!

So glad you ladies are here as such a great support!

happymom - There seems to be an epidemic in my life too. One of my best friends was diagnosed a few months ago and will start rads next week. It really does help to have someone to talk to... BCO has been my sounding board, but now my friend and I discuss things too and sometimes our docs seem to be giving really different information.

my friend's dx was very similar to mine so she was surprised when her onc told her she should consider chemo after her lumpectomy. She called me to tell me this and asked how I made my decision. I asked what her Oncotype score was. Her onco never told her about the test! When she asked him he said insurance usually doesn't pay for it. Then it took several weeks to get him to order it and it was so low he agreed she wouldn't have a benefit from chemo. Her insurance paid 100% too. Needless to say she is not so very happy with onco who would put her through additional treatment with no benefit rather than ordering a test to help her make the decision.