Exchange City
Comments
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MBJ- thanks in advance
Bonnie- I am sending good thoughts and hugs your way~ I am still amazed at what a challenge BC is...prior to my dx, I had NO idea. Be proud of your strength to get from one day to the next!0 -
Kate33-My Dr used alloderm and he also said no massaging. He said something about not disturbing things and keeping them the way he placed them. Now I'm wondering if he meant no massaging ever, or for a certain period of time although I think he meant ever.
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DorothyK, you will feel so much better at exchange~ Yes, what a ride it has been, my one year anniversary is coming up 12/22/09 when I was diagnosed with BC. The ride began 11/2/09 and it felt like forever when the diagnosis finally was confirmed. My mastectomy was 1/12/10 and the exchange was 5/25/10. Wow the dates are forever in my head! Hugs and here is to a better 2011 for each of us!
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Bonnie, I'm thinking good thoughts for your healing. No fair that you have to go through this right now. Anna, the dates thing is funny. I remember I was dx'd on August 17, and I remember I started chemo December 2nd, but I can't remember my mastectomy! I think it was October 20 or 21. Maybe I've blocked it out.
I just finished herceptin this week, and had my exchange the 18th. It's been a long 16 months but I'm so happy to get to the end. Feels good, doesn't it?
I wasn't going to do nips or tats but I'm so happy with my results that I think I've changed my mind. Another surgery doesn't sound fun but I think it'll get me as close to normal as I'm ever going to get.
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sweetie- My PS said it can take up to a year for the Alloderm to fully integrate so I'm assuming she wanted me to wait that long but I'm going to confirm that with her PA.
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I have alloderm and I was instructed to start massaging after 2 months. I'm not so sure that alloderm has anything to do with massaging. It may be yet another individual PS preference thing.
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Hi everyone -- My revision went great. As an added bonus, an acquaintance was my anestheiologist..... I had requested him but they said he wasn't on the schedule.... then he showed up. Surprise.... that made me feel good. He had given accollades to my new PS and hence the deciding factor. So, as for the results, they look good and feel good. Don't know what size as my hubby doesn't remember :-) but they look good and not too big. It filled up the void I had at the top/ shelf. Really Kate & Sweetie, they don't feel any bigger at all.... they also don't feel like they hang as much as before... perhaps because there is more up top and they are balanced. I always felt before that my implant was rolling/flopping around inside and needed it to sit up more on my chest wall. But I know there is a lot of swelling and I need to wait about 2 weeks before I see the real new size. I don't have the pec pain so that is a good thing. I took some more pix that I'll post.
Bonnie -- Don't forget to ice that will help with the swelling.
Dorothy -- Welcome to the group!
Anna -- You and I have about the same timeline.
I have alloderm and was never told anything about massage.... of that was my first ps who said I never hard to wear a bra.
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Grrrrrr...just lost my lengthy post. Short version follows.
Bonnie, glad you are better, you deserve a break after all you been through. Hope you find another doc soon who will give you the care you deserve.
Kate, your doc IMHO needs to tell you why you are hurting and what can be done about it. It just doesn't sound right. I am less than comfortable with my implants, but it does get better each day and I don't have aching or pain. I am concerned that you are just having to endure this. If it is cc, and I hope it is not, some one needs to tell you so you can plan accordingly. (((((hugs)))))
Vanderlady, glad you are on the other side!!!!!!!!!!!
Judy, been worried about you. Tried to PM you last week and messed it up! Duh. Please heal soon!!!!!!
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Hi Ladies, My exchange is coming up on Tuesday and want to thank you for posting all of the positive info and sharing your stories. I'm so excited to get these TEs off my chest, and trying to not think of what the final outcome will look like. Was just getting used to feeling almost "normal" again, and now working on getting my mind wrapped around being in post surgical mode, and al that goes with it. I'm told that the recovery is much less than after the BMX. Btw, my BMX w/ SNB both sides, and TE surgery took six hours. My BS & PS are very thorough and the pockets the PS created turned out beautifully, with scars only where the nipps were taken, about 1.5" horizontally. Am confident that implants will slip nicely onto them. This surgery I'm told will be 4-5 hours long. How long were your recovery times? Yes, I'm another one getting boobs from Santa!
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Hi Orchidgal: Me too this week. I'm on Thursday. Anxious to know what the new ones will feel like and hope to finally get some relief of the scratchy raw feeling of the TE's. I pretty resigned to the fact that I may have numbness on my sides forever.
I am going to miss my HOT TUB so much. We live where it snows and I use my hot tub daily to help relieve the tightness I still have in chest and shoulders. Send some Santa Monica sunshine up to Spokane please! Plastic surgeons hate hot tubs.... EVIL....but I'll do anything not to get an infection as I have read and heard so many stories of our sisters who have endured them.
Good luck to you Tuesday and to Ctinas and Kelly1970 on Wednesday and Pinke48 on Thursday as well. Happymom8285 and Dawn-Hope you two as well. How grand to be at the end of this whole thing!
I signed up for Tim Tam's sight but I find it difficult to navigate so I never posted any photos, but I will send anyone pix if you ask me from my bilateral mx (dcis on 1 side) 1 snb, lat flap (no scars on back) TE's for 6 months to 400cc then....Silcone implants on Thursday.
Busy today getting ready for Xmas in case recover slows me down. I want all the wrapping and tree decorating done before my surgery so I can just sit around and watch the snow fall and enjoy the holiday. Someone else may have to lift the turkey in and out of the oven this year!
Hugs to all.
Diane
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Diane: PM if you want help navigating the picture forum.
Good luck with your exchange surgeries coming up this week ladies!
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Hi, I am relatively new to the recon process and need to read back into Exchange City later today to get in the loop, but have a quick question I am hoping someone can help me with. I had a bmx w/te and have had a couple fills to date. At the last appt. my ps told me to look for a sport type bra that will push both breasts together. I have a small frame so I think the TEs tend to want to go to either side and she is hoping to get them to not do that. Does anyone have a bra they can recommend that will help with this? Thank you in advance.
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Go to the bra thread - lots of info there.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/753120?page=42#idx_1232
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onestep Your TE shouldn't "slide" around trust me they are pretty firmly in place. I am small and my TE's were textured and I had filled to 800cc's trust me no sliding. I wore my workout bras most of the time at home and found some wireless bras at Nordstrom. The bra specialist there can help you find what you are looking for. Also, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on bras I wouldn't wear for long so I literally pulled the underwire out of my bras and wore them. That worked perfectly for me.
Good luck to everyone having surgery this week!!!
Di
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Hi. Didn't want to scare anyone when I posted. Basically, I had an infection from a small (?) hernia operation and they couldn't get it healed with IV antibiotics--had them for a week then had then for two weeks at home. They decided to leave the incision open. It was about 2 inches deep and about 6 inches wide. It healed with the help of a wound vac. That is a device that is on the wound, causes negative pressure- like a vacuum- and helps healing.
It does NOT hurt. I have no feeling there. But the vac is a pain the butt. It is a little black purse, that is attached to me, with an 8 foot tube. I sleep with it, shower with it, and well, for 4 weeks have done everything with it. that is why it seems as if I am fighting.. I am!! Can't wait to get rid of this thing..maybe Wed? There is one part, about 3/4 inch that just won't heal.. There is mesh put in (for the hernia) and it just doesn't want to heal over the mesh. But to be sure, it will...
So I'm OK, just have a new 'puppy' to carry around with me all the time...
So, thanks for the good thoughts and the prayers.. I love you girls...JUDY
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Hi, Have been reading the forum for some time. I recently received my last fill(900cc) and will have the exchange in a few months depending on how quickly the skin softens/drops... My surgeon wants to put in 800cc silicone implants, but I've read several posts that say that size is not nearly as big as one might think if you're full figured. I would like to end up as close to my pre-mastectomy size as possible. Guess I'm trying to get my new 'normal' life to be as close to my old normal as possible. Anyway...I don't want to do go through the whole reconstruction process and find out after I wake up from the exchange surgery that the implants aren't nearly what I've envisioned.
Like dorothyk, I am also looking for the photo area...which I could never find...now from reading your post, I understand why. Is there a new registration process to access the other site? Thanks! Blessings to All
Dee
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onestep: You need to find a sports bra with good side support. Champion makes some sports bras which have pretty good side support and I would go to Kohls or your local sporting goods store and try on some different sizes - you will want it to be fairly snug. You want to feel the sides of the bra pressing on the TEs laterally. I would do this so that you can start moving those implants medially ASAP - get one sports bra you can start using this week - and then you can explore some other options on the Bras 101 thread. I also found some Champion sports bras at Marshalls and TJ Maxx, should you happen to have either of these two stores in your town.
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Deborah ~ I haven't worn a bra since having my TEs filled. Do you think everyone sould or are you just suggesting that for onestep? ~ Daiva
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Nanadee -- I PM'd you about the picture forum
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I went to an event today that featured, among other speakers, two women who founded this wonderful organization that helps women around the world to be economically stable and self-sufficient. Thought I would share the website, where you can order beautiful handmade goods (excellent Christmas gifts).
Here's the link:
http://www.globalgoodspartners.org/template/index.cfm
This organization supports women, which to me is always a worthy goal!
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Thanks for the link, Lilah. There are some really nice and interesting things on the site.
Judy -- hope you can get rid of that little black purse on Wednesday. What a pain!
I was up most of last night with terrible chills, a raging headache and body aches. The puffy area near my incision is bigger, pretty red and has been leaking again today, so guess I will at least call the PS again in the morning.
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Oh Bonnie, Thanks for the kind words, and your seroma (so I'll call it) sounds like it needs personal attention!! The chills and body aches are not a good sign.
Take care of it girl!! JUDY
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Bonnie - You definitely need to see a doctor. If your PS won't see you, you should call your BS.
Onestep - I have some Champion sports bras, but I like Moving Comfort sports bras even more. I wore the Moving Comfort Fiona style during my entire TE period. They look nice too - they can pass for a camisole when peeking out from under something.
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I agree with the others Bonnie - get thee to a doctor! Sounds like an infection is brewing and you need antibiotics. Given your history I have to say that PS was being irresponsible not seeing you or at least telling you to see SOMEONE medical on Friday!
Judy -- I hope the little black purse goes away soon
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Oh Judy, I feel for you. I had to have a PICC line in for 2 weeks with home IV..... hated it. That absolutely sucks that you had to endure that on top of everything else. Having an infection like that kinda makes you paranoid about going out in public and everything else, doesn't it? I hope you get the vac pack off Wed. "and" you heal up quick. Pam
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Bonnie - You HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!! Please go! Don't call and talk to them. Call and tell them you need an appointment!
I don't usually do this ladies so I'm going to ask you to forgive me before I start.
I'm having a bad morning. I had the exchange done 11/25. I had two drains - one on right was removed one week later. The left, BC side, radiated side, is still in and putting out about 50 ml a day. The PS said that's still too much so we have to leave it in. I had hoped I'd be back at work last Friday. Now it doesn't look like I will be able to go back until sometime this week. I am not in as much pain as the bi-lat, by any means, but am having a lot of discomfort from wearing the bra they put me in after the exchange, especially around the spot where the drain exits my body - it's really tight on that area. I'm also having nerve pain which comes and goes - like bee stings out of nowhere.
I'm also continuing to have body aches and lower back pain like crazy. I've had that pain during all the chemo and am continuing to have it. I keep telling myself it's probably just leftover side effects. I keep telling myself that. Then the little voice in my head that I can't make SHUT-UP keeps saying - what if it's in your bones now. Now I'm sitting here crying like a stupid baby.
I'm worried about losing my job. I'm worried about METs. I have so much to do to get ready for Christmas. I need to go through all my medical papers. I'm so behind on everything. I feel like I should be going in 10 different directions at the same time and I also feel like crawling in the bed and pulling the covers over my head and crying myself to sleep.
I'm sorry - I just needed to vent. :-(
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Bec9861 -- I'm truly sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed this morning. You have a lot of serious stuff going through your mind and that, on top of the aches and pains, equaly lots of worry and frustration. There is certainly no need to apologize or ask for forgiveness -- just come here and vent away! It's a safe place, full of friends who understand and care.
Have you ever had the back pain and body aches checked out? My back and neck are painful because of arthritis, and when I told the onc about the pain flare I was having right after chemo, he ordered an MRI to be sure and then he sent me to a rheumatologist (she was no help at all, but that's a different story). Even though I already knew it was arthritis, I was still relieved to really KNOW. My advice would be to call your onc and ask for tests to figure out what is causing the pain.
As far as all the other things you are concerned about, try dealing with just one thing at a time when you feel up to it and don't put too much pressure on yourself. If it makes you feel any better, I have not done one thing about Christmas yet -- just can't until I feel better. We are not super women!
Are you on a medical leave from your job right now? It's pretty natural to worry about losing a job and all the other things you are worrying about, but the single most important thing you can do for yourself and your family right now is to take care of yourself and don't feel guilty about it.
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I feel a bit better today after getting some sleep, but sleep was disturbed about 4am by one cat knocking my water glass on the floor (DH got up and cleaned up the mess -- he's a prince!) and then the elderly cat (he's 17) losing his midnight snack on the bedroom floor (DH cleaned this up at the same time). We love our cats, but sometimes they are more trouble than kids -- LOL.
I'll take a good look at my incision in a few minutes and if it looks worse, I'll call and insist on an appointment with the PS for today. Guess it would probably make me feel better just to have a doctor look at it and say it's fine or I need antibiotics or whatever. I'm no doctor -- LOL.
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Thanks Bonnie, just having a rough morning.
The pain in my back and hips is not pain I had before starting treatments in Nov. 09. I will be going for re-staging sometime in Feb - PET scan and Brain MRI.
Nope - no medical leave. I have a few hours of PTO left and I'm using that just to cover my insurance so I don't end up owing my employer at the end of each week. I won't get a pay check but I won't have to write them a check.
You're right - I need to just take a breath and try to work on things one at a time. Thanks for the support and letting me vent.
Now, get yourself to the doc. As much as I've always wanted to see Oregon, I just can't get there right now and make you go. If you don't trust/like your PS please call a doc that you do have faith in and make an appointment.
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Bec -- I have a lot of arthritic pain post-chemo that my ONC says is FROM the chemo. It has gotten MUCH better since I finished Herceptin (for what it's worth) so if you are still on Herceptin it could very well be related to that. So don't freak out. But do get yourself checked. I'm sorry you're uncomfortable. BC SUCKS! Sending you hugs.
Bonnie -- given all the issues you've had this year you owe it to yourself to get to the doctor so that a determination can be made as to whether or not you need antibiotics. I cannot believe you are STILL having issues from all of this. Sending you hugs, too.
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