New forum name

cinnamonsmiles

Way to go BC.org!! I love our group name and think it will help distinguish us from the reconstruction forum much better!! 

Moderators

We're glad you like it You can thank your fellow discussion board members for the suggestion! We're always open to constructive comments and suggestions!

--Your Mods

BoobsinaBox

Thanks, Mods!  I've been waiting for this for 4 years, as I watched women post here when they had recon questions.  This is a clearer title, and I appreciate your change!

Dawn 

otter

Mods, thank you so much!  Somebody was working late on this, because the title was changed even after I closed my laptop last night. 

I think this newest version removes the ambiguity of the original title but doesn't imply that the forum is restricted to those who "opted" not to have recon.

otter

Kindergarten

Wow, I did not realize that there was a new version, but this is a great thread. I am living with a bi-lateral mastectomy and no reconstruction. My husband did not want me to go through any more surgeries and I opted for a total hysterectomy instead of reconstruction. It has been 7 years and I am so used it now, that I don't even wear my bra with pads anymore. I do wear a teddy under my shirts or blouses just for comfort. I was 51 at the time of diagnosis, so  if I had been younger, I might have reconsidered reconstruction. I do also remember my plastic surgeon(went to him for evaluation only) that one downside to reconstruction is that it can mask problems beneath the surface of the chest wall, lumps that appear may not be felt as easily or seen as easily with mammograms. Thanks again for this thread. Kathy

crystalphm

I am so pleased to have this new group! over the past 2 years I have had both breasts removed, and I am trying to learn to be comfortable as the "new me". I do wear a cami, right now silk because it is what is easiest on my 5 week incision.

One question I have is the severe sensitivity i still have from my 20 month scar, tightness, shocking pain if I get it bumped...and my therapist has an appointment for me to see a fitter to see if I can wear something to protect this place. I have a feeling the fitter is going to drag out those huge silicon cutlets (lol my name for them) and suggest them. I do feel my (down to the bone) places need a little protection.

Anyone else?

Thanks so much for beginning this new place for us!!!

Erica3681

Hi crystalphm,

It's not actually a new group, just a new name for this forum. But glad you've found it! I'm sorry to learn you're still having sensitivity after 20 months. Have you considered physical therapy to see if releasing scar tissue would help? As far as breast forms to protect the area, I know I actually felt better having lightweight breast forms over my incisions when they were still sensitive. They seemed to calm the regenerating nerves and also made me feel less vulnerable. We're all different of course. Some women find it far more comfortable to go flat right from the get-go. 

As far as breast forms being "huge silicon cutlets," not necessarily. Especially now that you've had both breasts removed, you can be any size you wish. And if you want to be a larger size, there are extremely lightweight silicone forms available these days, some with cloth backing or other ways to minimize perspiration behind the form. That said, given your sensitivity, you might want to try some of the lightweight foam forms that are available. They're my everyday staples and I love them!

Barbara

BreastFree.org

cinnamonsmiles

Hi crystalphm,

I had my BMX, node dissection without reconstruction on 1/11/11.

I am not sure if you  had any nodes removed, but some of that could be nerve damage as well as scar tissue. I had both severe scar tissues adhesions (took 6 months of occupational therapy to make it better) and post mastectomy pain syndrome which has multiple symptoms in me numbness, feelings like someone is blowing a torch on me, hypersensitivity to touch that interprets it as pain, the shocks across the chest, feeling like my bath sponge is made of tacks and nails when I was my right underarm and near backside.

My scar tissue was so bad it was actually causing my head and shoulders to hunch forward and down. It also contributed to the pain situation.

I hope that you can see an occupational therapist for your scar tissue and be evaluated for PMPS. Please find someone that has experience, as well. The first OT I went to last spring had little and I mean very little experience with PMPS and scar tissue. When I explained this to one of the new OT's I was seeing, she expressed, well, we all hav to learn. Well, being a guinea pig only made things much worse for me.

Starak

Barbara: Speaking of foam forms that I know you like, I didn't see anything said about the foam ones from TLC on BreastFree. Good, bad??

Barbara