September 2012 Surgery

marianelizabeth

Sneaky, you are so right, at a time like this for you, breast cancer is not everything and this is your time to take for mourning him. And using up some of that month's supply at the same time. 

On another note, I don't see why your PS cannot remotely access the path so you can have it. Did you see the article in the Sun this week about a your PS and a patient he did reconsruction on etc.?  

Jennt28

We are done! I have heard privately from rozem that she is home and doing OK so this means that our September list is all complete! Well done women. We have made it through this "storm"...



20 Aug 2012

Sandlake - hysterectomy



4 Sept 2012

Trinity0723 - MX (left)



5 Sept 2012

Leah_S - MX on remaining side plus bilateral TE placement



6 Sept 2012

leahlee - excisional biopsy

katylynn - BMX with TEs



7 Sept 2012

KnBsAngel - MX with TE

marianelizabeth - lumpectomy, SNB

the5owens - lumpectomy

Momluke - MX (left) with reconstruction and symmetric surgery



10 Sept 2012

Sandlake - BMX with TEs

ohiobecky - MX (left)

java11 - MX with DIEP (left), reduction (right)



11 Sept 2012

SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE

Tzvia - MX with TE

mrskimber47 - BMX with implants

SAR843 - BMX, DIEP/TRAM



13 Sept 2012

cthynsh - lumpectomy, SNB

cjw75 - BMX



14 Sept 2012

kittykoma05 - BMX with TEs



17 Sept 2012

positivenergy - BMX with DIEP



18 Sept 2012

gajor4 - MX with bilateral DIEP

4caseygirl - BMX

SooZQ - BMX with TEs

Sharon1942 - UMX with DIEP



19 Sept 2012

michellej1980 - BMX, DIEP

cathyann - MX

taylormd - MX with TE



20 Sept 2012

LockeKopp - BMX with LD and TE

RainMaze - BMX



24 Sept 2012

Sneakychiquita - skin-sparing UMX with TE reconstruction

Mumtobe - MX

annievan - TE to implant exchange

KellieDenise66 - BMX with TEs



25 Sept 2012

Teri060811 - BMX

FightingLikeAGirl - BMX with TEs



26 Sept 2012

sandrav - bilateral DIEP

triplem67 - BMX



27 Sept 2012

kmfrost - UMX/BMX (deciding)

scared2death2 - BMX



28 Sept 2012

Jennt28 - BMX, muscle sparing free TRAM

Dakota212 - BMX with TEs

robertson8272 - MX with a SNB and LAT Flap With TE



1 Oct 2012

kltb04 - BMX with TEs



15 Oct 2012

rozem - BMX with TE's and lat dorsi flap (on the radiated side)



unknown date

Bargala - BMX with TEs

LyndaMarie - BMX with TEs

Sneakychiquita

Welcome home, rozem.  Heal quickly.

Marian - Unfortunately, my PS wasn't listed as one of the physicians to receive my path report.  I did ask when I saw him yesterday.  I don't even care anymore.  

As for my PS visit, it went pretty well.  He quickly looked at my breast, said it looked perfect and immediately filled me up with another 60cc (100cc were put in at the time of surgery).  I have officially replaced the entire volume of breast tissue that was taken away (yes, I'm that tiny!).  Even at this small amount, the TE is so much rounder and perkier than the real boob.  And now I must consider if I'm going to stay at this volume or go bigger.  I never would have considered a boob job in the past.  Yes, I always wanted bigger breasts, but I never would have considered having surgery to alter what I had.  But now that I'm going through this I'm seriously considering getting a little bigger with both.  Not much, just enough so that I can fill out a bra cup.  I've never been able to do that and it's always bugged me because it makes clothes look a little weird.  And it would be so much easier to fit into dresses and shirts if I had a bit more on top (it's pretty hard to find clothes to fit a 12-14 on the bottom and a 6 on the top).  Part of me thinks this is shallow, but the other part of me thinks that I've already started down this 'fake' path by getting some sort of reconstruction in the first place so why not get what I want out of it?  A lot for me to consider over the next few weeks.

Marian, if you go down this route in the future, my PS would be a good one to consider.  He's the PS with the absolute most experience in breast reconstruction in the Vancouver area.  I think he's got slight autistic tendencies that limit his social skills but he's never been rude and has taken time to answer all my questions (mostly via email as I'm the type that thinks of questions after the fact).  It's just that he doesn't build a rapport and ask how you're doing.  I don't care about that.  The man is busy and I'm looking to get natural looking breasts, not make a friend.  This said, he does smile and talks in a pleasant one which is nice. I wonder if he's single?

Anyways, my pec is just a bit tight today and I hope to be back to morning jogs soon (I was able to get 2 days of jogging in prior to the fill).  I'd rather be biking, but any cardio at this point is welcome.  If my thighs get any bigger I'll only be able to fit into one pair of my pants.  You know, the pants you never throw out, just in case....

I'm done with drinking for now.  But still crying.  I think of the time my friend declared his love for me, then swooped in and gave me a Hollywood kiss.  And I just stood there in disbelief and didn't say anything in return.  I know we weren't meant to be, but the fact that I hurt him has me so upset right now.  I've always wanted to apologize and now it's too late.  I don't want any more regrets.  

Dakota212

Great job ladies!!!

kltb04

sneaky - I am so sorry for your loss...   on the fills/size, I don't blame you at all for going a little bigger, especially if you feel it will "balance you out" more.

Michelle - what an awful experience for you, hope that you have a better experience next week.

Ok, I went for my PS appt yesterday just to be told "it will get better"...ugh...today it is truly driving me nuts.  My left side almost feels like it is "contracting" and is harder than my right side - very painful when I am up and about and try to bend over (to pick something up off the ground, etc..)  I took a muscle relaxer alone (rather than with a painkiller) just to see if that would help and it hasn't really.  I haven't had any additional fills (since the initial one at surgery) and am supposed to go next week for my first one. 

I guess I am just frustrated thinking I am going to have to live with this TE pain and discomfort for the next however-long.  Sometimes I just wish I would've done BMX and delayed reconstruction until later.

KellieDenise66

Kltbo4, I'm feeling your pain! I've been pretty miserable too. I'm back to taking full doses of percocet at night, (btw I have the strangest dreams on that stuff) Motrin in the day, but it doesn't do much. Its a different pain throughout the day, right now I feel like my entire chest is on fire. Bending over is most unpleasant. I don't feel like I'm over doing it, no fever. Im surprised, I was expecting things would gradually get better with each passing day. I'm concerned as well, just not sure what's normal?



Hope you're able to get at minimum a good nights sleep. I'm going to try for a quick little nappy time before my darling demon seeds barge in the front door from school.



Talk to ya soon.

kittykoma05

Kellie - thanks for the info.



Jenn - thank you for keeping the list. Congratulations to all of us for making it to the other side!!!

Sandlake

Jenn~ Let's hope we can all experience some smooth sailing in the months a head of us!  Thank you for keeping us together:)  

Kellie and Kitty~ I am 5 weeks post surgery, my last fill put me at 420cc's.  They are so painful, I'm not sleeping at night.  I guess I should take pain meds at night, Motrin during the day.  How often are you getting your fills and how much?  I feel big enough right now, I want to stop with the fills.

kltb04

Well Kellie at least I feel better that it's not just me. I have either been taking a full Percocet (10mg) or two hydrocodone (5mg each) both at night and during the day. I have noticed that I have the weird dreams and sleep very fitfully when I am on the Percocet. I felt a little flushed this afternoon so I took my temp but it was just 99.

kittykoma05

Sandlake - I'm at 300 cc's. My PS could not tell me how many more fills he plans to do. He was annoyed that I even asked the question. He keeps reminding me that I'm a large woman so it is very difficult for him to do my reconstruction. I wanted to get an idea of how many more fills I should plan for since I'm going back to work soon. His nurse said that he will probably insist that I end up with a D cup since I have a large frame. I know I don't want to be that big, so we'll see how that goes. He is doing the fills every two weeks. I was a D cup before the mastectomy and now I want to be a C.

Dakota212

Kittykoma-

Isn't it ur choice what size u r??? Not trying to sound like a jerk but it is ur body.

Dakota212

I started at 200cc's last week I got 60cc's with another 60 today. My PS said two more fills and we will stop which is about the same amount of breast tissue I was before just perky!!!

kittykoma05

That's what I thought, but I'm not sure how this works. The day before the mastectomy he markedly breasts, so I told him then that I wanted to be smaller. He went into this rant about how he is not a magician to give people what they wish for. He said there was only so much he can do because I'm overweight. He was very nasty about it, but I didn't want to cancel the surgery since everything was already set up for the next day. He was very nice the first time I went to see him, but he changed his attitude once everything was set up. I just want to get this over with, otherwise I would change doctors.

kltb04

I'm not crazy about my PS either kk - yours sounds like a douchebag though.  If I had had any idea the long process this would be and how much I would have interaction with him, I think I would have shopped around.  He makes me feel like I am whining when I ask/complain about the pain.  That is why I am reluctant to call his office about this pain I am having in my left side - I am worried about it but I have a feeling he would just say "take your pain meds and I wll see you Tuesday" (which is when I am supposed to go in)

Dakota212

Mine was very up front with me when he said we will see each other for the next mine months to a year. He said we have to be comfortable. I think it should be ur decision. I am sorry u have this to deal with now.

kittykoma05

Kltb - sorry you are not happy with your PS either. I don't think these guys get how traumatic cancer is by itself without having to be stressed out by a nasty attitude from your doctor.

Jennt28

lol. I just had a whine on the DIEP 2012 thread this morning because I have come out of my surgery with D/DD sized breasts when I had stated multiple times, including as I was being wheeled into the OR, that I did not want anything larger than B/C.



I am not a petite skinny woman. I fall into the overweight category but not the obese category. I had always had breasts smaller than would be usual for my frame and I was happy with my size. I did not want to be bigger because I want to get back into running and have concerns about my back coping with a lot of weight on my chest.



My husband had even stated in our pre surgery meeting with the PS that he is not a fan of large breasts! And yet I woke up to find these "big mammas" :-/



I took the last of the steristrips off this morning and then just cried at the size. I am 3 weeks out and am sure that swelling is gone. I have to wear a bra 24hrs a day for 6 weeks and when I had to buy D and DD bras with wide "sensible" straps the other day I had a hard time not sobbing in the change room. And since they have to be wireless the only thing they could offer me in my cup size were maternity bras...



My follow-up with PS is Monday. I can't afford the time away from work and study for yet another major surgery so I think I'm going to be stuck with these giant lumps.



What is it with men thinking they know best?



Jenn

Momluke

My PS is a sweetheart. He is an older gentleman who never rushes an appointment and is willing to patiently answer my questions even if I asked them before. He reminds me of a tall Don Knotts. Big eyes and all!



Not too excited about my MO's bedside manner. He has a horrible snootiness about him and is offensive in his attempt at humor. When I first met him, he was reading through my medical history as my husband and I watched him. He says, "oh, you have 5 kids!?!? And all of them are by this guy", as he nods towards my husband. I was very focused on dealing with my cancer and what we needed to do about it so I didn't dignify his remark with an answer.



These dr's need to understand that what is everyday to them is life changing events to us!!

Dakota212

Jenn-

They don't have to carry them just touch them ... Lol. Mine feel sooooo heavy. I am wondering in the silicone feels this heavy!!!!

kittykoma05

Jenn - I'm sorry you are not happy with your new size. I have always had large breasts, so I've always wanted a reduction. I made this very clear even after his rant, yet he used the biggest TEs he could find. My BS commented about how big they are when she saw me after the surgery.

KellieDenise66

Ok first off kltb04, LOL, I'm dying at your "d.b." description of kittykoma's PS. You look so sweet in your avatar with your cute little visor. I just don't picture the word "douchebag" coming out of your mouth. I almost fell off my chair laughing!



Kitty- on a serious note I'm so sorry this guy isn't making you feel comfortable with this whole process. He sounds very intimidating. Will your insurance allow you to change Doctors? You should have a say so in all this. Have you spent anytime on the implant sizing 101, and exchange threads? Theres a lot of support over there.



Sandlakes-I'm sorry your hurting. What a process! I haven't had any fills other than the time of the BMX. 60 cc's in right, and close to nothing in lft. I don't know why the hell I'm hurting so much. My PS does things a bit differently, and I'm starting to really freak out about it. That's why I originally wanted access to the picture forum. I thought I'd find others who had surgery similar to mine. I had a NSBMX with lift. Risky business for necrosis, my right nipple is struggling, black, and pretty indented. My PS doesn't use alloderm, and he puts the TE's over the pecs. I can't find anyone who has had it done this way. I even sent a PM to one of the gals whose an implant sizing expert. She suggested I see another ps! I'm trying to have faith in the process, but second guessing things. I promised myself I wouldn't do that.



Jenn-I'm sorry you're frustrated with your sizing. That is such a personal thing. You've been through such an ordeal with this type of surgery. I was never a candidate for DIEP because of lengthy operation time and my blood clot history, or I would have done it in a heartbeat! Your results are incredibly natural! I also have an auto immune disease as well, and have a huge fear of implant failure. I don't know where I'll go from that point if my body rejects these puppies. I hope in the end, when everything settles, you'll be happy with your results. I think you look wonderful, I'm jealous!

KellieDenise66

Kitty- sorry those threads are "breast implant sizing 101" and "exchange city"

Some gal just posted that her PS in AZ recommends staying away from caffeine for the whole filling/ exchange process. I hadn't heard of that.

FightingLikeAGirl

So glad I'm not alone...I have been taking 1/2 Percocet twice a day. Usually one after breakfast and one before bed and sometimes even take a ativan at night too. I really felt like I would notice a difference everyday...it's such a small difference that it's really hard to notice.



The tightness under my breasts is so uncomfortable...it feels like I'm wearing a really tight underwire bra 24/7 which of course I am not. I still have a lot of swelling on the sides of my breasts...im a little concerned it's my foobz and not swelling and that it not going to go away...it's really bothersome. Does anyone else have that?



I had 1000cc's removed from each breast and my PS filled me w a whopping 400cc's in each breast during surgery. Next Wednesday I go in for my 1st in office fill...I don't feel like I'm ready for that yet...the muscle is still hurting from stretching from what she already put in. My PS is different than a lot of other's in that she likes to fill as much as is safe right away...I think mostly with the larger breasted cause she wants to save the skin...but I'm so sick of hurting...ya know?

kittykoma05

Fighting- Ouch! 400 cc's sounds painful for the initial fill. I got 150 the first time.



Kellie- I have thought about changing doctors many times, but I think if I do, I will delay this whole process and I want to be done ASAP. Maybe I'm just a little afraid that another doctor will tell me the same thing. I don't deny the fact that I'm overweight (I'm a size 16). I hear that different PS use different techniques, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to change doctors now.

Dakota212

Just thinking. I get people like to be proportioned but after all that we have been thru can't we decide what WE want. We didn't decide to get cancer can't WE decide what size foobs we want!!!

KellieDenise66

Fightinglikeagirl, sorry you're hurting too. : ( and wow I'm not surprised, 400 cc's right off the bat! You are quite a trooper. Isn't it crazy how all PS's have their own style of doing things?! I think that's what makes me so uneasy with this whole reconstruction deal. It's just not a straight forward approach across the board. Which brings me back to kittykoma's fear about switching PS's in the middle of things. I have that same fear. I wonder if the operation reports have a detailed explanation of what techniques were used for first stage reconstruction. I see my PS next week and boy do I have a long list of questions!



Enjoy your weekend ladies!

kltb04

Fighting - I feel the same way as far as the super tight band feeling. Like I want to take a tight bra off but there isn't one to take off?? I have some super weird swelling under my underarms. Like extra mini boobs there. Nice.



Kitty - I have the same fear as far as switching. I guess my thinking is I will just stick with the devil that I know for now. I too am overweight. As far as size my dr just told me we would stop when I was comfortable with the size. My normal was a full c cup. But I gained quite a bit the last few years and was a very full D. I don't want to be that big again.



Kellie - lol I have the biggest potty mouth around! Douchebag is mild considering what I was thinking! If you don't mind me asking what autoimmune disease are you dealing with? My mom has sjogrens. My grandmother had lupus and scleraderma. I haven't shown any signs or symptoms thus far but it is often in my mind.



Jenn - I am so sorry that your wishes weren't honored as far as size. I can understand you being horribly disappointed. So sorry.



Well I have just resigned myself to the bed for today. Kk - do you still have your hospital bed? I have grown quite fond of mine. It's my little nest!! I have my table with my meds, some magazines, and my laptop. TV right here. Bathroom only steps away. . I am also in hiding because mil is here. Letting DH entertain her.

KellieDenise66

Kltb04-sorry you have family members with auto immune diseases. My brother has severe rheumatoid arthritis that struck him in his mid 30's out of nowhere. These crazy diseases can at times be difficult to get a definitive diagnosis. I have hoshimotos thyroiditis, but doctors originally didn't recognize it so I was instead treated for Lupus. It wasn't until years later when I was going through infertility treatments did they discover it was my thyroid all along. By that time my thyroid had completely burned out. We managed it with thyroid replacement meds initially. After a decade of regular biopsies for all the nodules growing in it my doctors just decided to remove it. My brother teasingly accused me yrs ago of having unwanted body parts removed as a part of my new diet plan. I swear that punk jinxed me! Now I have no thryoid, gallbladder, appendix, uterus, ovaries, tubes, cervix, and finally no breasts! Im running out of parts, I hate him! Maybe my parents shouldn't have procreated.

kltb04

Oh wow! Yes I think you ARE out of body parts. Those auto immune diseases are so tricky. It took my mom ages to get her diagnosis; lupus is the closest thing that Sjogrens can be compared to but she is also having severe inflammation issues that the drs think could be RA. She has so much pain yet she has been here for me throughout this ordeal, cleaning, keeping the laundry up, taking me to appts so DH can go to work etc.

KellieDenise66

I'm sure your mom loves being with you as much as you love having her. Laughed about your hiding out from the mil though. Too funny! Mine would love to come down, she's about 5 hrs away. I'm not quite up for all that, but I know I can't postpone her visit forever. Don't need her staring at my flat chest just yet. Especially since I'm so moody, and sensitive now. Pain, no ovaries, no hormones, it could be an ugly visit! Lol.