Exchange City
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We got great news on Friday....
MY SISTER'S SPOT ON HER PETSCAN IS NOT CANCER!!!
YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
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By the way, I haven't heard from my oncologist yet. He was going to talk to my OBGYN on what surgery I will need on my ovaries!!!
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reeltch - great to hear from you! What's up with your left side? You must not be wrapped up anymore if you think there's something wrong, I guess. Don't pass judgment yet - give it some time....
I've been too busy to catch up with the thread for a couple days, so I want to say a big "Welcome!" to our new EC sisters: BarbR, Lynbob (I'm a Hoosier by birth!), & Embraced. Hugs to y'all!
Regarding pec work after exchange - I don't do yoga, but take Pilates reformer/chair classes with a lot of arm (pec)-supported work. I must admit that I still had not been able to do some of the exercises by the time of my recent revision, which was 4 months post-exchange. Also couldn't do push ups - and I could do them before......My ps did tell me right off the bat that Pilates and yoga are "very hard on the implants." I see him on Tuesday, and had already thought about asking him exactly when - and if ever - I will be able to do certain exercises. Thanks for reminding me.....
Kittycat - yippee for your sis!!!!!!!
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Geena, I have not done many full postures yet, plank and downward dog being a couple of them but I have every intention of being able to do them as I feel stronger. Right now I'm so weak in general that I'm actually doing most postures without or minimal upper body use. I talked to my PT about this on friday and he suggested adding 1 new arm portion per week so that I can see how it feels during the posture and see how it feels for a few days after. If it hurts stop otherwise he seemed to feel that I will be able to do everything I did before. Before surgery my PS told me that when I'm all healed I will be able to do anything I did before. My chest does feel odd when I engage my pecs but not bad.
Welcome Lybob and Embraced! If you need urgent pictures I'd be happy to email mine but I'm not sure if I'm built anything like you. If you're interested, pm me your email address.
Kittycat, That's excellent news!!!!!
Julie
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Hannabearsmom and KristenPink - Good luck tomorrow! will be thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way! Yippee Squishy for you!
Kittycat - great news!
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Hannabearsmom and KristenPink, best wishes on your surgeries tomorrow! It is so nice not to have to hide those TEs anymore, and to get used to the new softer you. May you both have easy surgeries and rapid recoveries. Just remember to pamper yourself for a good two weeks afterwards!
Kristen
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My PS told me that I could never do any Pec excercises ever. He said I could do bicep, tricep exercises for my arms, but anything involving the pecs was out. They do feel wierd when I try to use them, but I do lots of pushing and pulling at work and reaching. The reaching has gotten easier now that I am 10 weeks post exchange but I have not really begun any exercises of any kind and I must get started on something. I walk everyday, but nothing else. My outdoor water aerobics starts next month and I can't wait to get back into the water. My other source of exercise is Kayaking and as soon as it warms up a bit, I intend to get back in the water to try it out. I use more lat muscles in it and as I have had implants that should not be an issue.
Those of you who have a PS that puts no limitations on pec muscle work, did you have implants or DIEP or LatFlap surgery? Does this make a difference?
Nancy
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Kittycat--I'm so happy for you and your sister!!! Yippee!!! And I hope you get some answers soon, for yourself.
KristenPink, Hannabearsmom, softness is almost here; you will love it! Best wishes for tomorrow!
Kimberly--it would be hard to imagine this board anymore without you and that wonderful expression, "Yippee Squishy"!! How true!!
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Welcome new heroines BarbR, Lynbob and Embraced!!! This is a wonderful thread to get you through a very surreal time! You'll be glad you're here.
For those who responded re: yoga poses and pecs -- thank you!!! It seems so much is about who your PS is!!! Some say anything goes, others are into the never-evers! I think I'll just pay very close attention to my body. I DO want to be able to use my body freely and the breast cosmetic is not so important to me that I would give that up...... soooooo more will be revealed with time. Easy does it, close attention to any strain, slowly building flexibility and strength -- and we'll see what happens.
Geena
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NVDianne - Thank you so much! You have no idea what that means to me. I wish I could take credit for Yippee Squishy, but a long time friend coined that phrase on my face book page in connection to me getting my soft squishy implants! For a while all I could talk about was getting my soft squishy implants I was so looking forward to them... I think it's a take off of the yippee skippy scarcasm from childhood. I told her I would use it and have faithfully since my exchange!
I love this forum and have gotten so much from BCO
Big Hugs to all! Yippee Squishy!
Kimberly
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Hugs to all who're recovering from recent procedures, and best wishes to all having exchanges (or other) this week! Can't wait for my turn!!
Geena & all, I too am interested in the question re yoga of whether I will be able to do everything I could before. Thanks for the reassurance from several of you that you're fully back at it. I've quizzed my PS on this multiple multiple times and he assures me I will be able to do all again. However, other questions have demonstrated he has little clue what I'd actually need the pecs for (oddly, since his wife is an avid yogi). I'm pretty convinced at this point that I'll get the strength back, but I'm not as convinced about the flexibility to do, for instance, deep backbends. My yoga teacher is really good with therapeutics & recuperation; I'll ask him explicitly and report back what he says.
My PS has said that women who lift weights who have submuscular implants like us feel and see them move when they do presses etc. I already feel that with the TE.
Re Delilahbear's PS saying you could never do pec exercises again, I'll say (hopefully respectfully) that that sounds quite old school. Docs used to say if your back hurt you should stop everything and just lay down...now its been shown the opposite is better (do everything you normally do, incl running). I'm surprised a doc believes one shouldn't work a muscle once you're fully healed, unless there's something going on than just the implant (bad rads damage?). If I were you I'd talk to a 2nd PS to get another perspective.
C. -
Oh, meant to add re lymphedema, obviously anyone who already has it must work carefully to not exacerbate it and, hopefully, to improve it. Older thinking said that none of us should lift or do hard arm/chest/shoulder work because of lymphedema risk, and esp not once you had LE. But recent data actually showed the following: "In breast-cancer survivors with lymphedema, slowlyprogressive weight lifting had no significant effect on limbswelling and resulted in a decreased incidence of exacerbationsof lymphedema, reduced symptoms, and increased strength." See http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/361/7/664.pdf. Cool!!
C.
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Nancy, I see my PS tomorrow so I'll ask for more clarification on the exercise limitations (or lack of). My PS just seems to go easy on those things. I have no instructions for bras either. Every PS seems to have his/her own preferences but I'm not sure if they make those decisions based on actual research or if there's not enough research and they just make their own choices based on what seems logical to them.
Geena, Sounds like a good plan!
CS, Thats a good summary and does make sense. Have you seen some of that research? I'd be interested to read some to get a better understanding. I have to say that I'm the opposite as far as flexibility. I've become a 10 pound weakling in my arms but the flexibility is pretty darn good. I'm not what I used to be but I can see that it probably won't take much for my arms and chest to get back to it's old flexibility.
Julie
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My question is when can we post-exchange ladies start the stretching again? My PS is not in favor of massaging the implants, ever - he says they get enough "massage" whenever we move our arms. I had full ROM about a month after the MX, and now my ROM isn't great b/c I'm afraid to stretch my sore pecs and underarms... I guess I need to call him and ask about the stretching. For some reason, I have the idea that we are mostly healed on the inside in 6 weeks, but I might have invented that factoid. I'm just afraid of ruining the new pockets he has created - they are only 2 wks old.
Julie, I think you are right about PS and some of their post-surgery advice. When I asked mine about what were the best bras for me, he told me to talk with the Nordstrom sales ladies...
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KITTYCAT:
WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Your family news is JOY to my heart!
I am truly happy for you!
Laura
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Ladies... LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Prayer and thoughts for all surgeries this week... YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES YOU CAN!
Laura
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hannabear and pinkribbon...........hoping all goes smoothly today. Thinking of you both.
Navy
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Oh and great news kittycat! What a relief. Group HUGS!
Navy
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Great news Kittycat!!!!!
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Thanks, Whipp! I already did. I am sonervous about today! I have ready through all of the sizing 101 but right now taking a break from chemo nothing is absorbing in my brain nor does it make sense! lol Thank you all. this is so helpfull. After today Ihope I can come back with some real info so youladies can better understand me! Thanks again!
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Pinkribbon and Hannahsbear, didn't get to wish you well ahead of time, I am thinking of you and wishing the best to each of you today!! Navymom, coming up!! It's a little tough at first, but soon enough you'll all be feeling sooo much better!!
Kittycat, fabulous news!!!
Exercise, tho I've been in good shape, the upperbod has always been a bit weak. Never do planks, pushups only with knees on floor - don't care if I look like a baby, not worth the stress on my chest and arms, downward dog no problem. Have a little lymphedema, (25 nodes removed) so always very careful, light weights only. Was told to never lift weights straight up over head, rather lie down and lift directly up from chest. I've been able to define the arm muscles even with these limits. Up until I hurt my shoulder was able to do backbends. My ps basically said if it hurts don't do it. I grew up with the no pain/no gain mentality, but am kinder to my body now. I would say gradually work back and listen to your body.
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{{{KITTYCAT AND SISTER}}} Wahoooooo!!! Great news - thanks for sharing!!
Hannahbearsmom and Pinkribbongirl - wishing you all the best for easy procedures and speedy recoveries! Please check in when you can & let us know how you're doing.
Navymom - all the best to you too!
xo ladies, E
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To this weeks Lucky Ladies wishing you all great exchanges!!
Grakenmom just wondering how you are now? You're 3 weeks post exchange? Hope you're happy with the new foobs and you're feeling well.
Cindy
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Kittycat: .......breathing a HUGE sigh of relief for your sis..........................
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Kristinka, I waited the full 6 weeks to go back to yoga and have kept upper body minimal. I highly recommend going to physical therapy for guidance. I have had "fear avoidance" as they call it because I'm so paranoid about messing things up and PT has given me some good exercises/stretches to do that I knew were safe. Started PT two weeks post exchange.
Katey, The no pain no gain idea has been a struggle. One of my big things is also efficiency. I get groceries and why in the world should I carry 2 bags when I can carry 6. I hurt myself one day doing that but it's so hard to get through my thick skull that I need to go easy. :-)
Julie
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Thanks, Julie. I have two more PT visits on my prescription so I will go back. I started doing the easiest stretches last night, and did ok with them. I've got some of that paranoia, too!
Kittycat - hoping for speedy good news for you, too!
When does one get used to these bags of silicone on one's chest? I did the math, and 397 ccs equals 13.4 ounces, or about 1 2/3 cups (much more than I ever had except when pregnant). Sleep is an issue for me - I don't like it when they flop, and my bra feels like a straight jacket by the middle of the night. I'm digging my new sillouette, but I'm hoping to be able to forget about these implants at some point....
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Quick question: does anyone else besides me check out their foobs at least ten times a day? I'm sooooo paranoid.....though this morning, I was afraid I was going to have to find someone to talk me off the ledge....when I checked my left foob (to see if it migrated during the night), I noticed that there's more "play" in the implant than before. It doesn't seem to have moved, just that it's looser in the pocket. I'm hoping that it's not because the pocket is stretching....good heavens, I'm not even using that side of my body yet.......just that the implant is softening up a bit. It's still just a bit higher, but I do think it's already dropped a bit, so perhaps that could explain it. Luckily I see the ps tomorrow afternoon. Anybody - Deborah? - have an opinion?
Kristinka - I wouldn't push the stretching yet - I think after my exchange, my ps let me resume most activities after about 3-4 weeks. One thing I found very helpful - more during the TE's, but still helpful after the exchange - was to lay (vertically) on a foam roller (the kind used in pilates) - that causes the scapular muscles to retract and consequently stretches the pectorals. I did "snow angel arms" on it, too, which helped a lot, I think. Just be careful - that pt appt. is a good idea. As for adjusting to the implants, I'm still not used to mine, really....though like you, I love the look. I really only notice that feeling when I'm in the shower, since that's the only time I'm not in my bra with the "girls" well strapped in and up......Since I don't have anything to compare it to, I don't know if the heaviness that I feel is what natural breasts feel like or not.... I hate to say this, but you may find an underwire bra at night helps......my issues with sleep don't come from the foobs.
Hoping hannahbearsmom, pinkribbongirl, and klawless have safe surgeries today!!
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SLEEP BRAS:
You just need to get a comfortable sleep bra Kristin and for those wanting or needing to sleep in a bra at night. You do get used to it. I never wore a bra to bed - 58 years - and now I feel very uncomfortable without one during the night. A front hooking bra feels better for sleeping. No hooks on the back to press into the skin.
Look for something like the following:
http://www.barenecessities.com/Leading-Lady-Sleep-Leisure-Bra_product_LeadingLady110_,search,.htm
They are more expensive, but you could also try the Spanx bras for comfort. They are made from the same material as Spanx pantyhose....very breathable and stretchy.
Laura [Estepp] has a sleeping bra she likes as well...She will see this and share which one...
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H Geena,
My PS told me the same thing and I have to say I've done a few things the last few months that barely engaged my pecs, but they are now really pushing in on the implants with the slightest effort. I'm going to back off on some of the yoga, Pilate's, and weights I've been doing.
Hugs--Karen
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Hi Ladies
I had an issue with my left tissue expander over the weekend so I went to the PS today. He said it was fine, it appears to have shifted but it is still ok. I have two seromas (pockets of fluid) that developed after the drains were removed. He drained the seromas and got two 120cc syringe full of fluid. Eww. He was pleased with how I looked and said it was time to get me on the schedule for the exhancge! So I have a date of April 7th at 9am! I feel like doing a happy dance, lol.
Lynbob
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