Exchange City

Thoughts of compassion and concern are with you....may you fight this darn beast with aided help from your sisters!

Stephanie

"Believe that LIFE is worth living, and your belief will help create that fact"  William James

Deborah - I am sorry to hear that news. My mother-in-law had RA so I know how it can be.  I hear they have some new meds that work really good. I hope this is the case for you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,

Donna

Hi all: haven't posted here in awhile. Got my new nip yesterday. They took it from upper groin area. He also corrected keloid on other breast which developed keloid when it was augmented.

Same day surgery. 

I am still wrapped up in special toob bra that hopsital gives you. So tight, but I will manage.

 Have a great day everyone.

Hugs,

Deborah--So sorry to hear about this.  Praying you get some solid answers and good meds to help with the pain.  My cousin has RA, too.  Is it just in your fingers, so far?

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from there comes my help---Ps. 121

Valerie, I know how you feel.  The constant rounds of dr visits nearly took my breath away.  Seemed like every other day it was another appt.  Just like it was hard to get used to that, it's very strange to not be seeing them anymore.  I think in some ways, constantly being poked and prodded, cut and stitched, I felt like something was being done and it was almost a comfort.  Now, it's as if that constant attention has left me feeling rather bereft, for lack of a better word.  I've been cut from, in some ways, my lifeline.   Who do I talk to now?  I think you were very courageous to take steps to help prevent BC from coming into your life.  I, too, have an extremely strong cancer risk in my family.

Getty--so glad your PS is doing that!!  Hopefully, it will take and not be absorbed into your body.  It seems like such a little bit.  I hope it helps.  Will def. be asking my PS to do it!  Much better than a pancake with a dollop of butter on top!  lol

Bonnie--so glad it was just old blood and the drain came out so easily.  It doesn't take much when things go right to make us happy, right?  Hopefully, they can get your TSH levels under control.

travelgal-I have a friend on the board here that has experienced a lot of pain in her ribs since her exchange.  But, it didn't show up until after her nips were done and it's only on one side.  I told her to post a question on here.  But you saying you were stitched to your rib membrane, might be what she's experiencing.  She's been to her PS and her surgeon.  They can't find anything.  Any thoughts from anyone else?

Hi vmudrum:  I just read your post about leaving your PS's office and how you wanted to cry since you wouldn't be seeing him again.  I KNOW exactly what you're talking about.  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.  I saw my PS for my exchange post-op two weeks ago.  He told me that he wouldn't need to see me again for two months at which time we would discuss nip surgery.  I felt like he was breaking up with me!  I was really sad when I left the appt.  I know it sounds silly but that's how I felt. 

Maybe seeing him every two weeks for 8 months for fills made me feel very dependent.  He kind became my knight in shining armor.  So, you are definitely not alone in your feelings.  Hugs.

Hi happymom.  I read your post about your gf and the pain she experienced in her ribs after nip surgery.  The bulk of my pain was after the exchange surgery.  My PS said the pain was to be expected.  I've had to be very gentle with my pec muscles since the surgery, even now 5 weeks out.  I pulled on my car door last week cause it was stuck and really pulled the muscle under my left foob and it's been hurting since.  I realized I have to take it easy.  Is it possible your gf pulled her pec muscle?

DEborah, that is sad news....but I know you will be able to find one of those wonderful new drugs that will work for you for it.

A good friend got it in her 30's, she was a phsiotherapist and it hit her hands badly.  She took embrel, i believe, and found that once she got into the swing of things, she got most of the motion back in her hands.

You'll get good treatment i know.  You are always in my heart, now you go on my prayer list for a speedy remission for your entire life. (Gwen is in remission and my friend Sarah also, both of them for more than ten years now....they only have issues when the weather is very cold, so they take care to keep their hands warm with gloves.  Other than that, they are AOK!  My sister just got it, also from psoriasis, Embrel worked wonders for her as well.  She just takes an itty bitty little shot from her stash in the fridge and off to work she goes.  Did not slow her down.

Some very wonderful new treatments out there!!!  I hope that all your computer time helping others did not contribute to bring this on...I know stress flares it up and with BC, it's all stress. 

Do not fret, it's going to be okay.  I believe in this and i will pray for it every day.

Deborah- You've given so much to all the women here - Please feel our love as you struggle through this.

Deborah, this hits me harder than hearing I have LE.

I will call you tomorrow. I am not going to PM you.. too much. I will pray for you the rest of the night......... I will call you.... and we'll talk it out..... CRAP.....

travelgal and happymom - good to see there are others who feel the same way about their PS.  He is just so nice and I always felt better after seeing him.  He did say I need to see him yearly - so that will have to do.  I do plan on writing him a thank-you note - I read somewhere that doctors like to get notes knowing they have helped someone.  I sent my BS one as well.  Plan on filling the time with friends and family!!

Deborah - keep us up to date on your RA treatment - hope it all goes well..

I liked working through it all - made me feel like I was winning.

Deborah,

 I am so sorry to hear this, but we will all be praying for you. 

Christina

Deborah,

 I thought I would give you an update on my post op results, but you really should not be thinking about me today.

 Just to bring everyone up to date.  I had my exchange surgery last Thursday.  I had a Naturelle 700cc style 15 placed in my cancer breast.  I also had a lift on my left side, with a style 10, 180cc.  Prior to surgery, I was a 34D.  I am about 5'6 and 125lb.  The pysical recovery was very easy this time around.  I am back at work after 4 days, and no pain any more, just some tightness.  However, I was not happy with the results.  I found both breasts too full, and the cancer one is very high (the upper pole especially) and round.  I can still fit into my old bra, but much fuller now.

 I had been a mess for the last several days and this website has been a life saver and tremendous support.  I also want to thank everyone for putting their pictures on the forum.  I will do the same in the next couple of days so that you can all see what I am talking about.

I had my post op today, and I went in armed with Joansf and Modernmaid's pictures.  I just love how their foobs turned out.  It was apparent to me that we don't share the same sense of asthetics, and I don't know how I did not realize that before.  She did say that she can put in smaller and lower profile implants, but she warned of severe rippling.  Has anyone of you suffered from severe rippling?

 The plan is to observe for another 3 months and if I still don't like them, she will do a revision. 

Christina

Deborah!  You have my prayers headed your way.  You are an amazing person and we sisters will help you through this as you help so many of us!  Hugs to you my dear friend!

Thank you, thank you for your kind words, prayers, information, and love!!  I am overwhelmed!

I am doing much better....have a plan....some good doctors lined up.

Christina: You need to send me your photos!  There is no reason you should have "severe rippling", because she needs to narrow the pockets - perform a lateral capsulorrhapy - very standard stuff!  Perhaps you need a second opinion.  In fact, yes, you need a second opinion.  I can help you find someone...please PM me!

Deborah