Exchange City
Comments
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Pegs: I don't think it's unrealistic, but then my exchange was a breeze. Some of us do have a bit more pain with exchange, so it's best to see how you're feeling. My pain... honestly... I had only mild discomfort from exchange. My pain came from gas they put in to do an ooph, which I had at the same time. It's not near as bad as the mx. I really wasn't nervous for the surgery until the day of. I figured I'd been through so much, this surgery really should be a breeze. They gave me Versed (my drug of choice) and I don't remember the OR or anything really after getting it.0
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wasin, PM whippetmom, she is our "breast whisperer" and maintains a list of good PSs. Maybe she'll have one for you in your neck of the woods.
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The PS's office called to see if I had any questions about surgery on Monday. She said they'd fix the one that dropped (because I became lopsided this week) and I only have to wear a bra for a week, so that's only a week of pain. I can do this!!
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Yes....PM Whippetmom....
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Just wondering how many of you that have gummies were told by your PS to wear an underwire bra?
I can wear whatever I want now and I still wear a sports bra/surgical bra to bed but today I was wearing an underwire bra and I noticed that my gummy is taking on the shape of the bra cup and I'm getting a really nice looking "bottom" definition to my foob.
Is that a good thing or not? I wonder....
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Interesting Marie! I think the question of what sort of bra to wear seems pretty subjective (from the POV of the doctors). My PS told me no underwires. I said: Forever? She said: No, not forever. But she never said when I could switch. I decided to just do it at 8 months post exchange. I have not had any problem. Glad the underwire is giving you some good definition!
For what it's worth, my PS did not want me in an underwire at first because she said she was worried about the wire rubbing on internal sutures and also worried about the risk of a wire poking out of the bra and into a numb foob.
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I started itching yesterday. Brought my son to the doctor for his virus, and the doctor looked at my rashy stomach as well. He said it was an allergic reaction the the antibiotics I was just on. So he said to take benadryl so the rash doesn't spread. If I have a rash on Monday (or catch my son's high-fever/cough virus) they'll have to postpone the exchange. Ugh. Crossing my fingers and toes. I want these expanders out of me.
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Pegs: I was unable to drive for two weeks! I had drains in for a week and so even though it would be great if you could go right back, you may need more time to recover. I don't know what you do for a living, but you won't be able to reach, lift, or open and shut a car door for awhile without feeling pain or risking injury. I felt great after my exchange, but found that even picking up a bottle of water was painful.
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Jan: Congratulations! It was so long before I could sleep comfortably on my side. Makes me feel normal again.
Joan: I propped myself up with pillows and slept sitting up halfway after my MX and exchange as this was the only way they didn't hurt. It has only been the last couple of months where I can now sleep on my side. I was measured after 2 or 3 weeks, however, I wouldn't go crazy buying bras-a month or two later I lost a cup size, so though most of the bras still fit, I did have to go get a couple new ones and some of my first bras are a bit loose in the cup. Rest up!
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Pegs... I had mine last Wednesday and I am sure that I would be ready to go back to work this Monday if I had to. Fortunately, I work from home, so no big deal. I have felt good the past couple days, but am getting plenty of rest. My daughter is visiting here for the weekend and I think I am up for a girl shopping trip this afternoon. Would love to go bra shopping, but not ready for that! Actually this darn compression bra is making me look pretty flat after having those two hard bricks sticking out of my chest for the past year.
MBJ....I didn't have any drains with my exchange so I've been able to be quite comfortable sleeping mostly on my side. PS says that is okay. I have been taking a Vicoden every night so maybe that helps, but no pain meds at all during the day. Have to keep reminding myself to take it easy movement wise as I don't feel too restricted. I am typically a very active person so it is hard for me to sit still too long.
kjbrown92.... good luck this weekend. Hope that rash goes far away and you can go ahead with your exchange on Monday. I got so darn impatient waiting for my exchange that last couple weeks. Hang in there... just a couple more days.
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Ladies, I am three weeks out from my uni exchange and lift and my exchange side arm is still sore right at the armpit where the ALND was done.
But that is not my major complaint. I am so angry at myself and depressed. I knew this was a possibility but I was told the chances were like 2% well count me in the two percent. I have no nipple sensation at all at the breast that was lifted. I am so upset. I did a uni so that I could still have a part of myself, that I wouldn't lose the other one. Now I can't feel the one and only real nipple, it might as well be a piece of leather stuck on my boob. I feel so stupid and vain because the lift was done for symmetry so I have no one to blame but me for wanting to look even when I could have just left everything alone already.
So sorry to rant and go on
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((((Letlet)))): I am so sorry you are dissappointed! Did your PS tell you there is a possibility the feeling might come back? I know that for me all of my feeling remains on my MX side except under the arm. Maybe some of the ladies here who have had lifts can comment, as I myself didn't have one, but I know that I would be upset, too. Hugs!!
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Aw Letlet I am so sorry. I have to say it's more like 50% lose their feeling after a lift/recuction (at least, that's what my PS told me -- maybe it's less if you are only having a lift). I knew that going in for my lift/reduction and yet I still went ahead with it (and got lucky as I still have feeling). On my MX side I have some feeling on the breast mound and under the arm it's mostly gone (but has improved since my SNB almost two years ago).
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So, today I went to be bra fitted, just curious.
Prior to MX I was a 'b' cup and now 3 weeks post exchange I am a 34D or 36C...wow!
I found a bra which set me back a few bucks but ya know what...boy did it look great in my shirt
This bra was underwire so I'm going to hold onto it to be sure PS says I can wear it.
I also bought a couple of coobie bras, they were so comfy.
So, we'll just wait for the girls to relax a bit before I buy anything else. I will be posting more pics on forum this week. I'll post with my new bra.
Jan
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Jan -- how exciting! It's a nice plus post-exchange that ya get to buy new bras
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Letlet, please don't give up yet! I had my healthy girl lifted and enlarged in May 2009. At first, the nipple had no feeling at all, and I was angry at myself as well. I had been told this might happen, but of course, I hoped/assumed it wouldn't happen to me. But by the time I saw my PS for my final appointment in February 2010, the feeling was starting to come back! Within a few months, it was back to normal! I had the circular incision around the nipple area, so the incision may play some part in what happens. I just wanted to encourage you that things can change, and you may still get your sensation back. I hope so; best wishes!
Diane
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Oh Diane how wonderful! Letlet I hope the same thing happens for you!
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Lilah.... I may have asked this in the past few yrs... but I forgot. Why did you NOT have radiation? With being Her2+ and having one node positive.
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Laura -- I was told that I did not need radiation if I had an MX. It was part of the reason I chose an MX and not lumpectomy. I was told I only needed radiation if I had a lumpectomy. Actually, they did say that if the cancer were close to the chest that even with an MX I would need radiation, but mine was nowhere near my chest (it was near my nipple and I had large breasts). I will ask my onc when I see her next why NOT radiation, since you were told (I gather) that one node and HER2+ means you need radiation? Is that what you were told? Did you have more than 1 node? Was the cancer close to your chest?
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Mine was not close to my chest at all... actually... it was all the way across.... not even close to the nipple. I had 1-3 nodes..... they could not tell... then I started chemo asap... prior to surgery. I wish I had not had rads... it has caused me so many issues. I always want to know why others did not have to. TraceyZ was told she did not. She had one node. I talk to her Radiation Oncologist... in Virginia. He told me.... He would have suggested I do them also... since I had 1-3 positive nodes. ?? anyway... I always wonder.... I am VERY glad you did not need rads!!!
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just noticed your conversation about rads vs no rads. I had one positive node, and have been told no rads (still makes me think I am missing something, not having rads). My cancer was near nipple and small 1.1 cm, had node disection and BMX, was told if I had lumpectomy would have had rads, also had if I decided not to do node disection would need rads, since they would not have known how may nodes. I had my node disection 3 weeks after BMX. I am not HER2+.
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Thanks Laura. It's too bad they could not be definitive for you (at 1 node only) because I'm guessing you would not have had the recommendation for radiation if it had been only the 1 node. It sucks what you've had to deal with and I wish you hadn't had radiation too.
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Lilah,
Reading your last post, should I be comfortable with not having Rads, with only one positive node out of 17? I think this is what you are saying?? Still wondering if I needed second RO opinion.
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Christine... I do not wanna scare....... you are not Her2..... so things are different. I think 1 node and BMX are the right on protocol for your type cancer !! It is ok!!
Her2 and Triple Negs are a different group. .... if we have nodes positive. We are on the wire.... we are all told different things..... in different states........ different doctors....
I think those........... who only had one node positive.... for sure.... no more......... did NOT have to do rads......
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Thanks Estepp, I am such a nervous nellie these days!
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WOW! I haven't been on this thread it seems in a long time since I was like 5 pages behind. Can't believe I read every post..So many new names
.. BC really stinks but meeting so many wonderful people is always a good thing. Next revision surgery is scheduled for June 8. I am almost there . I think after this surgery my PS plans on doing my nipple recon. I am hopping to be complete by our 3rd reunion.. Wish me luck!Jennifer
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Yes Christine -- what Laura said
One node positive and MX means no radiation for most... if you've already been told no radiation by your RO I think you can trust that. Laura -- yes it's confusing that there are differing opinions on many issues nationwide. Her2 chemo treatment now is varied, for example, with not everyone getting ACTH (as I had)... some now only get TCH and skip the horrible Adriamyacin. I think all any of us can do is choose doctors we put our trust in, get as much ancillary knowledge as we can (at the same time) -- which is like getting a Master's Degree in an instant the way we all have to assimilate SO much SO fast -- and then make the best decisions we can based on the best available advice.
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ok 4 days since my TE surgery. Home 3 nights so far. I was doing pretty well but today was bad. I took all my meds before i ate at 7am and i got really nauseaus all day. I finally threw up around 4pm.I felt a lot better after that but still feel sick. I am afraid to take the antibiotic now or anything for pain. I am thinking maybe wait to take now until tomrrow maybe i can get more food down. I just ate two ravioli and a banana. Tummy is not happy.
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You're not supposed to skip antibiotics, Carrol -- you should try to take it if you can. With toast maybe? Sounds like this is an antibiotic you should take WITH food... does it say that on the label?
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I had to make sure I ate a little something like a couple crackers and made sure I was upright for at least 1/2 hour after taking my post-op antibiotic or it would make me really sick. Also try to get the antibiotic on a different schedule from the pain meds so your stomach has less to deal with at the same time.
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