March 2014 Surgery

linda505

lol frostecat - nope I try never to repeat a gimmick.  They did love it and actually asked for the website for them so they could pass it on to others.  This was designed and invented by one of the members here - jbokland - and her site is   sassyhead.com.     

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Yay Linda!  Congratulations on getting your last fill!  I love your spunk! You look great! 

Kitty62

Linda..you are a hoot!

jbdayton

WTG Linda.  It feels so good to complete each phase of this challenge.  You will reach the end of chemo next.  That was the phase I liked finishing the most.

Strength and perseverance until October.  HUGS!!!

linda505

thanks jbdayton - that is the phase that I am looking forward to completing too!!  Tomorrow is my 4th treatment  - then 2 to go after that - I wish I had a life remote control with a Fast forward button for the next 6 weeks or so lol

KLJ

Final fill today!!! Stopped at 660 cc's and he said he would be placing 650 cc Mentors. So except for my Oncology visits I am free until August 20th pre op and Sept 2nd exchange surgery! Such a relief but I am more sore tonight than I expected to be. Just the thought of 9 weeks of no weekly fills and one hour drives each way to the PS makes up for that though! I see the light at the end of this tunnel!

Juliecc

Congrats, KLJ!  I can't imagine driving an hour each way.  You had more fills, too.  I think I only had about  4 after surgery!

iwannaseeyoubebrave

KLJ,

Congratulations on your final fill and getting your exchange date in the books!  

Ally2345

KLJ-  Isn't it great gettting that last fill!!  Woohoo!!  Congrats!!

Ally

Frostecat

KLJ - you and I are on about the same schedule.  Your surgery was one week before mine, and your exchange is one week before mine.  Going in next week for my final fill, currently at 575 and I think he is going to 650 to overfill and going with 600 implant?  Who knows, he may decide to bump it a bit more and go with 650.  Glad we are all moving towards the final inning!

Ally2345

Frostecat-  The final fill...it was a bit more uncomfortable because the TEs were really expanded but just knowing it was the last one had me skipping out of the doc's office!!  Let us know what you end up with!!  

Ally

Frostecat

Will do!

ucfmom

So glad to read you're all making such good progress.  I took the easy way out and went direct to implants and I ended up with 595cc anatomicals.  I wonder if I would have ended up with something else if I had TEs.

KLJ

Frostecat, this last fill has hurt more than I have expected it would since I felt so good with the last few. But, I'll take it! Last fill, final inning...batter up!

Frostecat

All of mine have hurt, my PS is not the "low and slow" but maybe "more is less" type.  He believes in larger fills with a month in between appointments.  Personally I think it's a scheduling thing so his practice isn't booked with women getting 25cc's of fills every week.  But he says doing it this way is better before scar tissue sets in, whatever.  The pain for me set in a few hours later and into the evening, I was okay by the next day though.  Gotta be relieved with the last fill for sure, warming up my swings!

Sailon

HI Everyone -- Haven't posted in awhile. But have been keeping track.  So happy for everyone reaching milestones and dates and all the positive energy.  Visited PS this week-- to schedule Exchange date.  He surprised me with an additional fill.  At 550ccs now.  So an owie week.  So surprised.  He said he wanted more skin to work with! It had been over 2 months since last fill.  Doing ok tho -- just an Aleve kind of week. 

Exchange Surgery Date is set:  OCTOBER 2ND.  Yeah. 

PS is the slow and steady type that wanted a lot of time between surgery - fills - and exchange surgery.  So happy to have the date in my head.  Like everyone the milestones of progress help so much. 

Also am looking forward to hearing about the exchange experience of everyone on this site.  I was on the front end of the DMX surgery and now will be on the backend of the Exchange surgery.  The jury is still out on rounds or anatomically correct shape -- so looking for experience and advice as it happens!  

It's funny many around me think I am good to go and all normal.  I am so not - really -- but just keep on keeping on -- as I don't want to drag everyone through boob talk angst.  (I am so blessed to not have to do Chemo -- and think good thoughts daily for all that are going through this --) This group is the best to check in with. It's been better than any dr. counselor, family, friend -- just the best. I do not think I will really know what hit me until a year or so is behind me on all of this.  Also in the back of my mind I worry about C generally now.  I will forever.  

On a technical procedural note: PS said -- that more and more he is finding his patients are not having nipple reconstruction.  He said often times his best nipples soften and flatten out over time (they are basically just scare tissue doing what scare tissue does) -- this is why some are opting to not do it.  He also said that there are so many 3 D tattoo artists out there that create beautiful nipples/areolas that many are just opting for that.  I asked my husband what he thought and he kind of likes the real nipple idea. -- So we will see.  

Happy 4th of July Everyone --  

SpecialK

sailon - generally, less projection and firmer feel with anatomicals. Better projection and squisher with cohesive gel rounds. Have you looked at Vinnie Myers 3D tats? You actually can't tell they aren't real nips.

Frostecat

Ditto Sailon to your "It's funny" paragraph - my thoughts exactly!  Have a happy holiday weekend March Sisters relax and enjoy, you all deserve it!

Lakegirl1

Frostecat...my PS has similar philosophy re: scar tissue forming.  I came out of OR with 300cc's in each, then 250 after rt was replaced due to staph. My first fill on rt was 120 cc's !!  Between  the Valium and Motrin, I was good.  

I have 1more chemo on July 18, then I can schedule appt with my Triple A type PS and get things going again!  He is very particular, even when it comes down to how tape is cut for his patients dressings in the hospital. All the RN's know they better be on their A game with his patients, but would also tell you they wouldn't let anyone else touch them if they had any work done.  He was known to call in the middle of the night and check on patients vitals. If they weren't updated yo charts in a timely manner, everyone knew about it! 

Frostecat

I had 300cc's at the time of surgery too, with large fills. It's good to hear that your PS is that way, sounds like a perfectionist which is a good thing for you!

Juliecc

Sailon, I know what you mean.  I was also lucky not to need chemo or radiation.  I don't like to talk about BC with people close to me so this is my safe haven.  I don't want people to know that I think about breast cancer or reconstruction about 30 times a day!  Everyone thinks I am fine and all is well and I kind of want them to.  I hope it gets better with time.

sandra4611

Yep. I think about BC several times a day. I don't know when that goes away.

I have one more surgery (#5) in Sept. It's been a long road...one year ago this month I got diagnosed and the first surgery was in August. I told my husband when I got the dx that we weren't putting off bucket list things anymore. "Somebody" was trying to tell me something since in a six month period, I'd had a moderate brainstem stroke, got diagnosed with an aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart, and got diagnosed with BC. Who knows what the future brings? Alaska was at the top of my list so I booked the trip and we leave next month. I'm happy that my surgery got put off until September because now we'll be able to do more. In spite of permanent stroke souvenirs like imbalance that ebbs and flows and bouts of double vision, nothing will keep me from enjoying life. We'll be paddling a kayak, walking on a glacier, looking for whales, eagles, and spawning salmon, and having the time of our lives. 

jbdayton

Sandra have a wonderful trip, it sounds exciting.   

Juliecc

Wow, Sandra!  Have an amazing trip to Alaska!

Happy Fourth of July, March ladies. I'm having a nice "normal" day BBQing and hanging out with the boyfriend at my brother's house. Life is good.  :-)

scubalady

Frostcat and KLJ, even though I'm an April surgery sister, I hang out here too because I'm closer to the schedule of the March girls, so I hope you all don't mind.  

I also had my last fill, and am at 660cc. I don't see the PS for 4 weeks, and my exchange will probably be in September.  I actually could have had it sooner, but I wanted to be able to get in my pool in the summer, and surgery would have prevented that.  Also, our daughter and granddaughters want to come for a visit in August, so I wanted to feel up to that.  I'm comfortable enough with the TE that waiting until September will be fine.  Only problem is that my wardrobe is limited because the TE is under my chin and my reduced side is where it belongs.

PS also said I'm ok to have my first follow up mammogram or MRI on my reduced side in August.  They'll need a whole new baseline mammo since lefty is half the size it was and everything is moved around.

It is so good to know the end is in sight.

SpecialK

scuba - can you have an MRI with the TE in? Do you have a ferromagnetic TE fill port?

scubalady

SpecialK, no, I don't have the magnetic port.  My PS is a bit old school on some things, so my TE has a remote port.  I was worried about that but from all I have seen, he really does excellent work.  Even with a reduced left and TE in right, my IMF's are extremely even and matched.

However, after thinking about it, I think he meant mammogram in August, and the MRI after exchange.

Frostecat

Julie great pic!  Scuba - looks like you and I are in the same situation and timeframe.

HopeEllen

I'm a June sister but it's nice to read all the earlier info as you all get closer to your exchange. I will have my first fill next Friday and it seems like such a long time before I'll have my exchange because we've not set a date yet.  Hope all goes well for you who are exchanging soon. 😊 

KLJ

Sandra, enjoy that bucket list trip! Alaska is one of my dream trips as well!

Juliecc, what a great picture! Glad you are having a good weekend!

Scubalady, we will be Sept. exchange sisters!

HopeEllen, It will get here quicker than you think. In the beginning I thought 660 cc's would never happen and here we are. And what a relief to not have weekly appts. for awhile. Although visiting the PS did force me to go down off this mountain and into the big city. Might miss the shopping but my bank account will certainly look better!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I am busy loving this new addition to our family. Easton Scott 1 1/2 weeks old today!