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Exchange City

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Comments

  • Jerusha
    Jerusha Posts: 339
    edited January 2011

    Hi all...getting same message on pix forum. I've been following along here closely, but not posting much. I've been reading alot on the NOLA and Charleston and DIEP reconstruction threads also, and starting to get to know those ladies, too. I'm in a huge quandary trying to decide about what to do next. I'm still terribly miserable with my implants and trying to decide between new implants, autologous ( microsurgical fat transfer), or flatness. The microsurgery is very appealing but pretty terrifying. Sending good wishes.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited January 2011

    Pictures forum is working again!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited January 2011
    Oops....not it's not!  Bummer....I had some research to do there tonight. Yell
  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited January 2011

    Bonnie, I am sending you a PM beautiful sister.

  • didel
    didel Posts: 733
    edited January 2011

    Bonnie so sorry you are feeling this way. I hope once you have healed from all you've been through with the infection and surgeries that things will turn around for you. I know our situations are different but after this last surgery I finally feel happy. I am just starting to feel like my old self again. I don't LOVE the way I look..but I am ok with it. After feeling like shit following chemo and surgeries I am just happy I feel good. No nausea, no fatigue, no joint pain.

    You'll  get there.. the depression hit me hard and unexpectedly. I just sorta took a little time just for myself...turned off the phone and just focused on me..I hit the gym, took puppy to the park and laid around and of course got on this site. Everyone is here for you to support you whenever you need it.

    Be good to yourself ...hugs to you!

    Diane

  • Estel
    Estel Posts: 2,780
    edited January 2011

    pic forum is up...

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    Yes Pic Forum IS working again.

    Bonnie -- I'm sorry you're feeling down... I'm sure it's because you're finally healing.  I love the suggestion you got about getting a really good insert (and nice cami's and bras to hold them)... make yourself feel good as you are now.  You can always explore options down the road a bit; right now you need to finish the healing and that includes mourning your loss.  I'm sure having a nice, squishy foob to wear will make you feel better.

  • nowheregirl
    nowheregirl Posts: 55
    edited January 2011

             

    I'm SOOOOOOO sorry for the downtime on the Picture Forum and for any inconvenience this may have caused. It seems like the server screwed up and some important files that needed to run the forum properly were corrupted. I guess I've fixed it all and it's up running again.

             

    Hugs,

    Fumi

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited January 2011

    Bonnie:  You do look like Susan Sarandon!

    Fumi:  Thank you!!!  You really do work too hard!

  • nowheregirl
    nowheregirl Posts: 55
    edited January 2011

             

    Ya know, I am the one who runs the forum. Imagine how pissed I was when I was told that I didn't have the credentials to view the forum. If I didn't, who would? I was like "who the heck are you talking to???" *LOL*

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited January 2011

    LOL!!!

  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Posts: 87
    edited January 2011

    Question - I am 6 1/2 weeks post-exchange.  I still have some discomfort/pain with my rads side for certain positions/ movements.  When can I expect this to go away? 

    I also feel my arms are weaker after the exchange than they were after the mast...anyone else?

  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Posts: 415
    edited January 2011

    Fumi - thanks for all the work you do on the picture forum!!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    Fumi -- LOL -- I'll bet you saw red when you got that message!  I ditto all kudos to you for all you've done and do for us!

    Mom3 -- I was still store on my MX side as late as 8 weeks post-exchange... it takes a long time for the body to heal.  I can sleep on my side now (6 months + later)... but I can't recall when I started.  At some point -- maybe it was three months post-exchange? -- I just decided to tough it out and started sleeping for short spurts on my side.  It was like my body had to relearn how to do it.  And I am definitely weaker since that surgery.  To be honest, I don't know if I also was weaker after MX... I think I notice it more now that I am "finished" .... and expect to be totally normal.

  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Posts: 87
    edited January 2011

    Lilah - thanks.  I think you are right...now that I'm all done I am ready to be back to normal.  You know, how I was a year ago!  haha.  Sometimes I have to remember what has happened.  I'm pretty good at pretending it all never happened! ha!

  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Posts: 132
    edited January 2011

    mom3 - I still have a lot of pain on my radiated side & I had the exchange done 11/24, about the same time as you.  I still can not lift my arm above my head on that side either.  I'm going to PT every week and that is helping.  You might want to ask for a referral and I'd recommend a therapist that specializes in this area.  The woman I see is wonderful!

  • suzanneinphoenix
    suzanneinphoenix Posts: 34
    edited January 2011

    I have no idea how to even USE the picture forum! HELP PLEASE! :)   And Deborah (whippetmom) you really do know what you are talking about!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited January 2011

    Suzanne....I have sent you a private message....

  • jillyG
    jillyG Posts: 21
    edited January 2011

    Comment on the cold foobs.....I live in Alberta Canada and it's -30 degrees here today....yes, that was MINUS 30 degrees.  Brrrrr.  These foobs are cold!

  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Posts: 415
    edited January 2011

    I find it odd to have my foobs feel cold to the touch sometimes - does everyone have this?

  • Estel
    Estel Posts: 2,780
    edited January 2011

    I do!  Mine are COLD! 

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited January 2011

    Part of why I am always touching my breasts is because my MX side is always so cold--and I live in California where it's going to be 82 today!  I cannot imagine -30 degrees!!!  Brrrrrr!

    Mom3:  Get yourself a lymphadema PT specialist--your PS should do the referral.  They are trying to make this standard of care after an MX at Norris Cancer Center where I went and it should be.  Even though I didn't have radiation relearning how to use my left side is a whole new journey in trying to see how much further I can stretch my arm today.  I do all sorts of stretching excercises but a good PT will massage and really stretch it beyond what you could do on your own.  It feels great, too, to have the release!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    I must be out of touch with my body... I almost never notice that the implant is cold (I am a uni) except when I see you gals posting about and then I feel myself up and think: yeah it is colder, that implant!

  • didel
    didel Posts: 733
    edited January 2011

    Ha ha Lilah I just felt mine...and YUP it's cold!!

    I was complaining to a friend in Buffalo how I was chilled to the bone here in Baltimore...he said You people don't know cold till you've been here. I just agreed. I long for 82 degrees. 

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    Diane I'm with you!  Bring on the spring!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    Although me: I long for 70 - 75 degrees :)

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Posts: 271
    edited January 2011

    Ladies, you flatter me much more than I deserve!  No one has ever told me I look like Susan Sarandon, but my 63+ year old self is taking that as quite a compliment!!  Today my mind is in a better place for no particular reason.  I am embarrassed to say that the reason for my pity party was an awful movie about an older woman who was very comfortable with her body and her sexuality.  The movie/her performance/the subject matter made me so uncomfortable that I had to walk away, but now I've returned to the land of denial or wherever my mind chooses to be that keeps me sane.  Next week I plan to make an appointment to get fitted for a prosthetic and to buy a few new clothes that don't make me look and feel like a lumberjack (jeans with layered tops). 

    Tomorrow we are going to Seattle to see my much younger half sister and try to help her make some difficult decisions about our father's care -- he is elderly and in poor health.  He lives in the same house with his wife of many years, but they live on different floors of the house and barely speak to each other.  It's a weird situation and it's not working for either of them. 

    Thanks for your support when I need it.  You always have mine. 

  • deekaay
    deekaay Posts: 254
    edited January 2011

    Bonnie, Dear, so glad you are feeling better.  Here's a suggestion for your prothestic:  Go to tlcdirect.org.  This website got me through chemo with wigs, scarves and then I got the best prosthetic from them at the least expensive price.  And....drumroll... you can return these items if they don't work for you presuming and they are still "new" condition.  It's amazing.  You can try out the prosthetics in the comfort of you home.  I bought 4 wigs and had a Wig Olympics at my house with girlfriends.  I had two other donated wigs so six in all.  We drank, snacked, and voted on official Olympic forms for the winner.  I bought the winner and returned the losers. But I digress...Cautionary note--the voting might be too much on a breast prosthetic.  Your call. lol

    You could go and get measured and then decide where to purchase.  I can tell you the above website was 50% less than retail, high quality product.  My prosthetic was $150 and was perfect in every way.  The organization is a non-profit sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  Best to you, deekaay.

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2011

    LOL Deekay!  I love that: wig olympics.

    I ditto TLC Direct.  Great company and great return policy.

    Bonnie -- so glad you're feeling better.  We all have our pity party moments :) 

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited January 2011

    Deekaay:  I love your story and what a great idea!!!