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  • NVDiane
    NVDiane Member Posts: 245
    edited March 2010

    bcincolorado:

    I can't claim credit for the "yippee squishy" phrase; I just love to use it! Musiclovermom Kimberly invented it, and it's so perfect that we all love using it now.

    Just giving credit where credit is due! Laughing

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited March 2010

    Deborah -- I saw this bra on the herroom site... it has built in "concealers" in the bra cups (to hide the headlights) and thought maybe this might solve your problem better than the push up bra.

    http://www.herroom.com/Bali-3413-Concealers-Wire-Free-Bra.shtml

    Navy -- I think credit and thanks for the zip front bra from JC Penney (which I also have used and loved) goes to Nedeza :)

    Re: drains at exchange... my PS told I would have ONE (instead of two) so clearly she just uses one automatically.  If you are wondering, ask your PS what he/she will do.

    Oh and Kimberly -- love that new picture!  We can actually SEE you and you are adorable (the other photo, though wonderfully arty, did not really show your pretty face).

    Lilah

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  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Member Posts: 520
    edited March 2010

    Val - my advice is to stop bending over in front of the mirror!  Your foobs are so lovely, both in and out of bras.  I was starting to freak about mine so I had my DH do a foob analysis last night - he noted the small differences and said that I looked good.  Have your DH look you over - I bet he will reassure you.  (and I'm usually awake at 4:42 am - too bad about the time difference)

    Julie - I think your pictures look great, too!  I esp. like the arty one of you lying on your back.  If and only if you want more support when you sleep, I recommend an Anita sports bra style 5300x.  I'm wearing it every night, and will buy another.  It keeps the foobs up and perky even if I am lying on my back.  I had to go two sizes smaller for some reason.

    Kimberly - your photo is adorable!  Great to see you!

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited March 2010
    Lilah:  The Bali bra is very nice.  I like the additional elastic at the base also, which is essential for a wireless bra. It looks like it would be a good "tee shirt" bra.  They just do not carry it in a 34DD....Frown
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  • Delilahbear
    Delilahbear Member Posts: 466
    edited March 2010

    Thanks to all of you and your thoughts about mine and Kittycat's bosses and other mean people. I think that these insensitive clods not only don't know what to say or how to say anything and they may be miserable in other aspects of their lives. I don't think my boss really likes her job and knows that she is way over her head in it and consequently ineffective. I think she knows how most of us feel. One of my co-workers lost his wife to a 10 year battle with BC and my boss told me I needed to be sensitive to him and not discuss any of my surgery or other stuff with him. (She also told me not to discuss my surgery with salespeople and repair people. Like I even deal with these people and I certainly wasn't going to ask one of our instrument repairmen "Do you want to see my new Foobs? - LOL) My Co-worker was so supportive and really knew what I was going through and even though I didn't discuss a whole lot with him, he was very understanding.  The real kicker is that my boss just fired him after 21 years of working for the company.

    Oh well, I will rise above her and will survive. I love this forum where we can all vent and it makes me realize that I am not alone in my journey. 

    To all having procedures this week, warm gentle hugs and best wishes for great outcomes.

    Nancy 

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited March 2010

    Hello everybody.  First of all good luck to everyone having surgeries this week.  I think there are 5 of you!

    I am feeling less nausea and less pain today.  Moving around very slowly and still taking naps in the recliner. 

    Hugs to all

    Navy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Kristinka - cute pic, girl!  Advice taken.....I'll have my dh look them over (I'm sure he'd welcome the opportunity - "what, you're voluntarily getting naked?" ....not much of that going on since tamox) - preferably wearing his "dh"hat and not the "md" hat.......we know where that'll leadUndecided.....old joke around EC......

    Navy - glad to hear the foobs and tummy are feeling better today!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Kristinka - I forgot to say that since I've checked the foobs about 30 times today, I think they look more even.  Maybe I was having a bad boob day yesterday....we'll see what tomorrow will bring....and you inspired me to get rid of my t-shirt pic.....we are terrible picture-takers, except when it comes to fish....

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  • cs7777
    cs7777 Member Posts: 570
    edited May 2010

    val61 & julie, Thanks for input re the gummies.  Val, the Allergan 410's you mention are the gummy bear, so that's not an alternative.  Interesting about not fitting in a bra & being heavy...I hadn't heard that...so if anyone here has the 410/gummy I'd appreciate your experience on these points publicly or by PM.  I'm small so rarely wore bras for the last 10 yrs so I'd love to get a close enough match so I could still go braless at least sometimes.  Re how they feel, I actually have felt the 410/gummy and they seemed not so different than the liquidy ones, just a tad firmer.  Frankly all this just seems like such a crapshoot as to whether we get a good recon or have problems. 

    I also wake up in the middle of the night and my head spins with BC or recon worries or insurance frustrations.  My solution has been to keep my iPhone/iPod with earbuds next to the bed, filled with funny or informative but not anxiety-filled podcasts, and to listen to one of those.  It breaks the cycle of worry for me and I almost always go back to sleep in a few minutes.  I wake up in the a.m. realizing I only heard half a program and I want to know how it ends.  One night I put on CarTalk podcast from NPR and burst out laughing at one of their dumb jokes and woke up my DH...he thinks I'm certifiable!

    Navy I hope you continue to feel better.  Best to everyone having surgery this week!  Happy healing to all who've recently been through!

    CS

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  • bobcat
    bobcat Member Posts: 681
    edited March 2010

    Geez - I pull up my shirt everytime I pass the mirror.  Just checking - don't know if I'm pleased, scared, disappointed, looking for change, looking for symmetry, acceptance....my SO loves the results.   Val - love your new pic but loved the tshirt too!!  I mostly lurk but know you all...  Feeling a little blue tonight..missing my son who returned to college and my SO has been gone since Wednesday.  He'll be home tomorrow but recovering from ooph surgery last Tuesday alone.   Not easy.  But, hey, we are strong ladies on here.  Hugs to all and all good wishes to everyone with exchanges and surgeries this week.  Rock on..

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  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 452
    edited March 2010

    NVDiane -Thanks for the compliment! I love that others are using Yippee Squishy and hope it goes global!

    Lilah - you are the first to notice my new pict - thank you. I wasn't ready to be see in public for a long time. Now that I have my soft squishy implants, I am feeling so much better about myself and decided to start advertising!

    Kristen - You changed your pict - Is that from your trip to Hawaii? Val61 has a new picture also!

    Good Luck to all having surgery this week. Yippee Squishy to all!

    Kimberly

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited March 2010

    GOOD LUCK AND BLESSINGS to all surgeries this week ladies!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!

    VAL... love your new picture sweety!. I sure hope your dh reports your foobs are the same size! How can they be different size?? THis would make me nuts too. Let us know. They look pretty from your pics!

    Thanks Deb... for the bra info... I only have about 15 more pounds to loose.. then I want to look into my favorite new bra! I cannot believe the weight is finally coming off now that I have my pain under control.

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  • mom2Bnegativex3
    mom2Bnegativex3 Member Posts: 221
    edited March 2010

    I know there is a thread about the alloderm one step but is there anyone of you ladies that are getting fills with TE that  had Alloderm put in at the time of surgery? I have my surgery on tuesday and my PS is using it. TIA!

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  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2010

    Val, You can't be serious!?  You can't possibly need another revision after all this healing/down time.  It's been what, 7 weeks surely some fluff still needs to happen.

    Lilah, that looks like a fabulous bra unfortunately they don't make 32 either.

    Kristinka, That does look like a nice bra.  Does it have extra support on the sides, why is it able to keep you up when you're laying on your back.  I've been wearing bras at night but I hesitate to wear one that has to be pulled over my head, just doesn't seem very condusive to romance.  :-) 

    bobcat, Do something to enjoy the alone time for a few days--pedicure and massage come to mind. 

     Val, Kristinka and Kimberly, Love the new pictures.  Everybody's been updating, I feel like I need a new one but it took an eternity to find that one so you're stuck with one view of me for now.

    Julie 

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  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2010

    mom2b, I had a dermal product put in at time of te placement.  I had a lot of swelling for several weeks that had to be removed every few days which my PS thought was because of the dermal product and now I have a hard area that my PS thinks is the dermal product "folded up".  He seems to think it's specific to the product he used in me (which is not alloderm) and he is no longer using it.

    Julie 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    That's a rather old pic from last winter, but all I had.  I think it makes me look a bit "prim and proper" though.....  I'll have to get my son to get one of the "real Val"......

    Julie - no, I can't imagine anything else could be done-my skin couldn't tolerate a bigger implant on that side anyway, and NO WAY am I going any smaller to even things up!! Besides,  my ps declared "perfection" last week anyway.  Perhaps there is more fluffing to be done....I think I may call the ps nurse tomorrow and just ask...she's very sweet, but is a straight-shooter, so she'll tell me the truth.  I have half a mind to get in my tight work-out top and drive over to have her see what I'm talking about....maybe I will....

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  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2010

    Thanks everyone for the kind words.  Maybe I needed to vent because last night I SLEPT REALLY WELL!  Woo Hoo!!!  I woke up at 3:42 am and thought - uh oh... but went right back to sleep.  Whew!!! 

    When I can't sleep, I try to think of funny or odd things.  That usually gets my brain to go to other places (I dream of odd things too - lol).  I don't like to read because I'm afraid I'll wake up my hubby.  My other problem is that the dogs and cats sometimes wake me up.  My one cat has this strange teeth grinding thing she does.  She used to lick the walls!  LOL!

    My manager has been pretty cool about me taking time off for my surgeries.  I don't think he realizes how much it all takes out of me though.  I usually don't complain much and I'm one of those people that act like everything is okay.  I had another sales group do some bad things and it all started around the time of my BMX and it kept on going.  My manager doesn't like to rock the boat - I will when I need to.  My manager told me to "suck it up and stop being so angry" about the situation - WHAT???  I stood my ground and hopefully it will be over soon. 

    I fought breast cancer - I can fight anything!!!  Ha!!!

    Delilahbear - hope things get better for you, too!  :)

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  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 383
    edited March 2010

    Val, I put our laying down pictures next to each other to compare.  Mine go to the side more than your one did and I think the flattening out that you mentioned is true for me too.  The only difference that I see is that one of yours was further from the sternum than the other.    I really don't want to do nipples until I'm pretty sure this is not going to be an issue that should've been taken care of but I know my PS won't see this as an issue.  I feel like a 2nd opinion could be in order but I think I could go to 10 PSs and would hear both ways because they all seem to have a different opinion on this that seems to be related to their style (yours wants those babies in place and mine wants them natural).  I think I'm going to have to go on my gut with this one and if I want to fix it then insist on a fix and switch PSs at that point if I need to.  I have no gut feeling right now though, so I'm in limbo.   

    I'm going to bed now to enjoy MY insomnia.  I feel like I've taken over the board, somebody else needs to post.  Sorry I'm so talkative tonight!

    Julie 

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  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2010

    Julie - you have great posts.  Don't worry about being too talkative!  I'm pretty talkative in real life!  :)

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited March 2010

    When I can't sleep, or I wake up at night with fretting brain, I turn on my CD player with my remote and listen to guided imagery.  I have several CDs that I purchased at healthjourneys.com they help me go back to sleep by getting my mind off of whatever I'm fretting about.  I don't know how spouses would feel about it, but you could use earphones.  These have improved my sleep more than I could have hoped for. I have used the Successful  Surgery, the Immune system, general wellness, and weight loss. All of the ones I have are by Bellaruth Naperstack (spelling?), but they have many other people at this site as well. There are some others I plan on getting.  For those who work at a computer all day long, you can register  for reminders during the day to log onto the site for different short meditations/imagery it is a great way to stop what you are doing for a few minutes and think about your health and it is free.

    Deborah--Thanks for the link.  I would appreciate anything else you come across, my PS is new to fat grafting, just found that out.  I want to give him some time and go in with the right questions and references for him if I think he needs them.

    Night,

    Karen

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited March 2010

    Deborah and Julie -- aw sorry I didn't even look to see what size the bra comes in!  (I'm wondering if they even have one in my size now)!  You might want to look around on that Her Room site though because I think there were others that had that nipple concealer as part of the bra.

    Val -- LOVE the new pic!  Is that you in your new foobs?  I'm thinking you look awfully perky :)

    Kimberly -- I have to say that the pic you had before looked completely different!  Was that even you?  It's like night and day.  Good to see the real you.

    Lilah

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  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 452
    edited March 2010

    Lilah - It is me in both pictures, and I even have the same sweater on in both, sitting at the same desk. The lighting and pencil sketch effect made the first one look different, but I was just going for the eyes... The new one is for possibly getting a date now that I have soft squishy boobs! I am feeling better and have lost weight, cut my hair, now it's time to get out into life! Thanks for the sweet remarks! Your smiling face is always matching your cheerful posts!

    Kimberly

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  • Maggie66
    Maggie66 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2010

    Karen, I've used the same guided imagery tapes. The pre-surgery one was so helpful. It helped me see that so many people were pulling for me in the OR. I just started listening to her again for the affirmations. Deepak Chopra has some good guided imagery/relaxation, too, that helps me calm my breathing and wake up/relax different parts of my body, bring more gratitude to the forefront...

    Even with help though, I still suffer from insomnia, and it's comforting to know I'm not alone in that. Tomorrow's my big fipple day and I'm actually at peace knowing that I prob won't sleep much until it's over. I'm fighting that less this time. Even with Lunesta, I'm only getting a few hours, so I'm not sure it's worth taking.

    Maggie

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited March 2010

    New pics ~Val and Kimberly, you both are looking good !!!! :)

    I am so glad to see that many of you are also suffering with insomnia.  I am going to have to get some of those guilded imagery/relaxation cd's~~ sounds GOOD!  I have a sound machine... I usually listen to the waves.

    Tomorrow is my exchange day ! woo HOO

    Maggie ~ good luck with your fipples tomorrow and to everyone else having surgery this week may all go smoothly!!!

    :)
    Alicia

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  • Maggie66
    Maggie66 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2010

    I'll be thinking of you, Alicia! As my naturopath said to me, I hope you wake up relaxed, happy and hungry. Take it easy. With love from your insomniac friend, Maggie

    PS Where on LI are you? I grew up in Smithtown and my folks live in Greenport now.

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  • ajones120961
    ajones120961 Member Posts: 26
    edited March 2010

    Hey Girl's... I finally heard from my new PS about my revision he spoke with my old PS and old PS said he would be glad to go back and take care of any concerns.  But why would I want him to, it took another PS to point out my concerns and validate me.  What would you girls do?  I'm thinking the new PS seems to communicate more and I feel more comfortable with him already! 

    Thanks Val for sending him my way! 

     Andy

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  • Hannahbearsmom
    Hannahbearsmom Member Posts: 431
    edited March 2010

    JustmeAlicia, pkb143, crusader1, Bellz, Ronqt1:  Wishing you all the best in your exchange surgeries this week!! Yippee squishy is fantastic!!

    Maggie66:  Enjoy your new nips--hope all goes well tomorrow!

    TCK

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited March 2010

    To all the girls haveing exchanges this week...YIPPEE  SQUISHY  to you!!!  JUDY

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  • Katey
    Katey Member Posts: 733
    edited March 2010

    Andy, I think you've answered your own question!!  Go with the new!! You'll never feel completely confident with the old again.

    Val!!  I sure hope also that you don't have to go thru any other revision, yikes!

    For those talking fatigue awhile ago, in book that Deen :) recommended it says Fatigue is a potent side effect of surgery.  As your body heals, it channels energy toward repairing and refuilding cells.   Good to keep in mind when you're wondering what the heck is going on!! The name of the book again is The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan by Kaelin.  It gives such a great step by step plan on stretching and when to start strengthening.  Even tho I felt I knew so much after months of PT last year, this really puts it in an easy to follow program, and most important when to start each stage of stretching, with very clear descriptions and illustrations, my shoulders really need it!

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited March 2010

    Good luck to everyone this week with exchanges and new fipples!

    Hugs--Karen

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