Exchange City

hallsnj5

WOW! It is extremely hard to keep up with this thread. I do a lot more reading than posting because by the time I catch up what I may have wanted to comment on was 5 pages back! I do find myself loving the stories and the sense of humor so many of you have. We all need that in our lives!

Thoughts & Prayers for all who are having surgery this week! Yippee Squishy to all of you! 

Just a comment about nips & bras- I had my nip surgery 2 months ago. I was amazed at how large they were when I saw them. I even asked my PS if he was missing a pinkie! He said large breasts needed something large to finish them off. I told him I wished I had those babies when I was trying to nurse my twins! There was some skin die-off and shrinkage but I hated that I had highbeams on when I am having hot flashes. I have the Bali Concealer bra (great deal on onehanesplace.com). I have the underwire & the wire free. Both are very comfortable & work. Playtex also makes one. I also bought gel inserts for other bras.

musiclovermom

Thanks NAE! I am ready to take a break for a while... It must be twice as hard to find bras for uni's.

Does anyone know if the drop & fluff changes the bra size?

Kimberly

Estepp

Ladies... Love the Dialog today...

Just wanted to say Hello... and say... I love my gals!

Some of you Crack me up.. ( Val, Lilah..)

I read all your posts daily.. and offer prayer for you all! Of course.. after I offer prayer for my incredibly flawed self......lol...... \

Have a great Tuesday ladies... I will see you tomorrow!

Laura

Maggie66

Julie, if your DH isn't saying it, I know he's thinking it, because you are a goddess, both inside and out! Congrats on your fipple date. I'll let you know how mine goes tomorrow.

Believe it or not, I had more suggestions for post-fipple bras from my PS nurse. Kristen, if mine work, I'll let you know. I'm testing one out tonight and so far it's so much more comfy than the hold 'em together job bras that felt AWFUL post exchange. I've gone without for two weeks because I know I'm in for 24-7 for at least four weeks after tomorrow's surgery.

Think we could pitch cable sitcom if we wanted to? Sex and the Fipple? LA Foobs? BS Patients and the PS They Crush On? Think of the endorsement possibilities!

Good night all. Maggie

kittycat

My sister thought of a funny name... Foob Fighters! LOL!  This was when I was trying to come up with a BC walk team name.  I came up with Lucky Starz!  Thought it was cute.  I found out tonight that my husband's coworker that recommended my PS is joining our team for the walk.  Thank goodness because no one else has joined!  I have 1.5 month left to raise $ and recruit.  For some reason I thought people would really want to join us! 

Lilah - you're a 38DD? Wow!!!!!  I was a 34D/DD pre BC (yes, they were fake) and they seemed so big!  I'm a 34D now (well, except like many others, I have nothing to fill out the projection part of the bra). 

It's comforting to know that I'm not the only insomniac!  I did sleep well last night.  My husband turned on the bathroom fan.  It helped me tune out my crazy cat's antics like licking herself & the dog and grinding her teeth!  I did wake up at 5 am, which would have been 4 am before daylight savings.  I had trouble breathing, so I puffed on my inhaler.  Went right back to sleep! 

Lilah

Julie congrats on the nips date!  Wow you worry and worry and then you go for it with gusto girl!  I love it.  That's fascinating about the PT giving you more feeling (and less tingling).... I will ask around now for a good PT.  I would not mind THAT at all.

Kristen -- I'm sorry to hear that you still feel that tight band feeling (though glad it's not as bad as the TEs).  I imagine it will feel better with time.  Even the TEs feel better with time (after each fill). 

Halls -- your PS sounds like a gem!

Maggie - good luck tomorrow (which is today)!

Laura -- hugs!

Lilah (who is wide awake at 5 AM!)

JustmeAlicia

pkb143, Maggie66,crusader1, Bellz, Ronqt1  GOOD luck to all my fellow sisters this week.

I am off to the hospital ~ woo HOO !

Thanks for the good wishes.

Texas357

Thank you ladies for mentioning the extra space in the bras where the nipples should be. I get my new nips next Wednesday and hope that my new bras fit a bit better afterward. With the rads breast, one cup is slightly looser than the other cup.

Hannahbearsmom

Texas357: You must be getting excited about your upcoming nips! Let us know if they help your bras to fit better. I've been wondering about that... 

TCK

musiclovermom

Maggie66 - Cute picture!

I would definitely be part of the PS They Crush On. How could any of us not? I had a wonderful woman BS who removed my breasts that were trying to kill me and had this kind, sensitive man rebuild my awesome new boobs! If I didn't have a crush on him it would be strange. I believe all his BC recon patients have the biggest crush on him. Even the 70 yr old ladies! He is quite the topic at support group meetings. I don't think he knows how big his fan club is.

Kimberly

crusader1

Hi Ladies,

I have been AWOL for some time.

Tomorrow is my exchange . I am so ready. I am pretty confident that all will go well and I will not have any complications.

Hugs,

Francine

Lilah

Good luck Francine!!!!

Hannahbearsmom

I just read that there was an earthquake in Southern California and wanted to say that I hope all our EC sisters and their loved ones are ok!!

TCK

Kristinka

well, mine would have to be the BS AND PS They Crush On...!  Both of my surgeons were so nice, so skilled, so just about my age, and so pretty darn good looking.  Fortunately, my DH went to most of my appts with me, but the past few times I've gone alone.  Gonna have to start bringing him along again...

While I was in the biopsy/MX/TE stage I didn't mind dropping my shirt, no matter who was in the room.  I took off my shirt so many times in 2009, it wouldn't have bottered me if there were 15 truckers in the room with me!  But now with the implants, it's different.   Could it be I'm feeling sexy again after more than a year???  I even asked the PS nurse if she could buy longer gowns for office visits.  The ones I have to wear are like these short little vests, and I'm feeling a bit modest these days.

Kristinka

Good luck today, Alicia, PKB and Maggie!

musiclovermom

Hey Kristen! I am feeling the same way about my implants now.

When I had the TEs they were an  inanimate object on my chest, now they are my new boobs and I am getting more modest about them. I relate it to giving birth... who cared how many people looked while you were pushing? It's not like I let just anyone have a look now.

I can only think I will be back to normal when I get my new nipples built. I was not in the habit of flashing my boobs to everyone, but I did during reconstruction because friends were curious. When I get my nips I will show a few, but not as many as the TEs.

Texas357

Good luck Francine!

flacracker

Hello Ladies, I am new to this topic but not newe th BC. I will have myTE"S out May 18 and my PS will do some lifusctuion. I was told a min. of 2 weeks back to work? Does that sound right you yall? I have been out from work snice July. (I'm Hairdresser w/ hardly any hair). I would aprecate any one's thought on this issue. Also I think I get the nips either in JUly or Sep.This a really fast site!! I will try and keep up!

Thanks Wanda

Katey

Welcome Wanda!  2 weeks sounds good, tho you might be tired being on your feet all day.

Francine, it's a good day to be confident!!  Hoping all goes well tomorrow and St. Pat is by your side!!

 Well, I'm going to make some extra irish bread today to bring some in to the ps tomorrow.  Darn it, I called cause I've had a small spot opening on one side, now the other side is getting red on incision line and oozing a bit.  I have the worst luck with incisions healing.  So I called and they want me in, grrrr. Will have to hurry in and try to escape the nyc parade crowds!

Kristinka

Wanda, two weeks would be good and three weeks could be better.  I'm 3 1/2 weeks out now, and if I wear a comfortable enough bra(!), I feel ok for most of the day.  Everyone is different, and some heal  more quickly.  Best wishes to you!

good luck tomorrow Francince!

and my fingers are crossed for good healing for you, Katey.  

Nedeza

Hannah~

I am near the quake center & slept right through it!!! I'm usually a sound sleeper anyway!  My son said it woke him up...wow!   I must be awfully TIRED esp. with the time change out here that I am trying to get used to!

Good luck to all the lovely ladies waiting & having surgeries!

Bless you !!!

NAE

Delilahbear

I want to chime in here about the "great bra frustration". My PS told me that underwires need to properly fit, but did not give any real guidance about what that means. After all, he's a man and what do men know about how a bra feels. He was upset after my exchange to larger implants, when my DH told him I hadn't been wearing any bra with the TEs and smaller implants, as he said my skin is so thin. He didn't make it clear I needed to wear a bra then and anyhow I didn't want to buy any new ones. Now my old ones mostly fit, but are underwire are a bit too big in the cups and to find a wirefree in 40 C or D is next to impossible. I bought a new style Vanity Fair wire free the other day and it is really not comfortable too soft. The first day was ok, but then wore it yesterday and decided it really lacks support, despite looking like it should give some. I am so frustrated. I know what musicloversmom means about some wires coming up too high, but I am getting more used to them. At night I sleep in SOMA (div. of Chicos) athletic type bra and it is comfortable and the underwired version is not too bad during the day. My implants are rounded at the bottom pole and this is where the problem lies. My BS says that the implants just aren't made to squish up into  a cone shape like normal tissue does. I am glad to know I'm not alone with the bra situation.

Nancy 

NVDiane

Kimberly and Kristinka: 

I'm another member of the PS They Crush On club; I think it's probably a rather large club. I'm older than you sweet young things (I'm 55), and my PS is somewhat older than me, but he's a handsome man.  Even more important, he's an awesome surgeon, he's very kind, and he laughs at my silly jokes.  I had to say goodbye to him a few weeks ago, because I'm all finished, and I miss him. I wonder if they realize what a powerful effect they have on us? I gave him a crystal butterfly as a parting gift because, as I told him, I felt like an ugly catepillar and he turned me into a pretty butterfly.  

Diane

Delilahbear

NVDiane - what a thoughtful gift for your PS. I am even older than you (almost 58) and am a member of the PS They Crush On Club. He and I have had our differences, but overall he is an awesome surgeon. He shares office with my BS who is also my primary care MD. They are actually exs and manage to maintain the same office practice and share the nurse. It is like a family when we go there. My husband also uses BS for primary care and likes her very much so it was a no-brainer when all this journey started for me about 5 years ago and became more intensive last year with the resultant BMX and reconstructions.

I readily show my finished girls to the BS and Nurse as I am so pleased with the way they are turning out. 

I took a sampling of the comments about my results from the picture (Tim Tam's) site and gave them to my PS. He thought that this site and picture site are very kind ways to communicate with others about the horrors of BC and how we support each other. He was humbled and appreciative that I thought enough of his work to share the exchanges with him.

Nancy 

Kristinka

Diane, that was such a lovely parting gift!  I keep on wondering how to thank my surgeons properly.  I'll start with formal thank you letters.

Keeping with the crush theme, I wanted to share this because it still makes me laugh.  The morning of my MX, both of my handsome surgeons showed up at my bed, disrobed me, studied me closely, and decided on surgery strategy.  My PS and BS drew all over me as my patient DH watched.  Then in the evening, they came in to check on me, one arriving right after the other so they were both in my little room together.  I was in such pain, but I remember appreciating the visit.  The next morning (Saturday) while my DH and I were chatting, they again happened to visit at the same time.  Silly girl, I felt like a belle at the ball with too many dance tickets...

 

Baxter

Hi Ladies,

Just wanted to let you know that my exchange and nip surgery has been scheduled for 3/31!

It's been a long 17 months but I can see some light and am looking forward to spring!

Candi

FACECRAFTER

Wow- Baxter (Candi) we are a day apart!  The road for me has been a year in the TEs and 21 months since I was diagnosed..It's almost over for us both,,JUDY

Baxter

Hey Judy...you are my breast sister!

Judy, don't you also do tattooing? (sp) That will be my last step and my PS said he can do that about a month after this surgery. Any tips on the nips?

My parents spend the winter months in Sarasota. It's a great place. They have a more active lifestyle than I ever thought of having! I'd never be able to keep up with them.I think they will be bored when they get home in May to their little cottage on the lake.

Candi 

FACECRAFTER

How come you are having nips done right now?  Why are you not waiting for the breasts to settle?  Then you are guaranteed that the nips won't be catywumpus later.  That's my tip on the nips.   Yes I do tattooing (you spelled it right!)  The nips are usually done at least 3 months after the exchange.   The tattooing is done at least 3 months after the nips...Is your doc in a hurry for some reason?  After all, you waited this long, why not wait the month or 3 to get them right?

Pick your lifestyle.  Busy or bored you can't beat Sarasota...I love it here.  JUDY

Anonymous

Yep....my guy's a keeper....at least most of the time!  Julie - believe me, there've been plenty of times he's been completely non-committal.....which is where the famous "How am I supposed to know" cam from (in response to what I thought was a perfectly reasonable question for a doc)......I'll have to work on the toga, though....

Kristen - Funny...I was just at Target and looked at all the swimsuits.  I got mine there last year 'cause it was the only place I could find the bandeau style which didn't show any scars and accommodated my funky TEs.  I did discover that Freya makes swimsuits, though, so I'm thinking I'll pony up for one of them.  I'll be the guinea pig, if you want... Oh, and by the way....I still have absolutely no issue of taking my shirt off for anyone anywhere.  A couple weeks ago I was in the derm's office and had a spot taken off my back along the bra strap, so had to take that baby off...I was dressing and realized the window shades were wide open to the parking lot....and it barely fazed me!...........And don't worry about that tightness....I had it, too, for a long while.....it's 'cause our pecs weren't stretched in the TE's......it takes awhile.....like a few months for me....

How to fit an underwire bra......in the words of my male ps.....who believe me, knows ALL about bras: the wires must completely encapsulate the implant -especially on the lateral aspects; the wires must be "engaged" under the implants, which probably will require you to lift them up a bit; the center wires must be low enough that they don't push the implants apart; the band should fit snuggly, with barely enough room to breathe (you think I'm kidding? well, that's what he really said); and the straps should be pulled at tightly as possible to keep the implants "up."  Obviously you can ignore the band part for comfort, but the other parts really do help.  

 Diane - beautiful story about your ps....love the butterfly idea.....and the Maya Angelou quote

I wear a starfish necklace a lot ....you know how their arms grow back after they're cut off.....kinda like our foobs....my friends didn't appreciate my gallows humor when I told them, though......you guys are different