Exchange City

Janet--Sounds good, we may have different sessions we want to attend, but there is lunch and other time to spend together.  I know one session I'm going to is the one with the talk about "red flags for recurrence," that is my onc, so I'm curious to see what he has to say.  Can't wait to see you!

Hugs--Karen

Geena... fellow rads sister.... I am with you tomorrow, and over these next weeks... PLEASE PM me with any questions... If you want my cell number... just to talk while you are off work.. I am here.

Rads girls.... PM with anything.. I am a rads Vet here on BCO. I am hosting a BCO girls slumber party at my home for a few..." VETs" of BCO soon.. so I will not be online as often... BUT I will be online here at least twice a day.... Let me know if you need my help.. and my cell number. It just picks at my heart knowing what you rads/implant only ladies are dealing with.... I know this feeling. Daily I massage... and wonder.... if today is the day... my rads boob fails... NO NO NO... SOMEDAY there will be a superior way... and 100% of us will be ok with no flap surgeries after rads....( if this is our choice)

Rads and  Implants.... boy oh boy....

Remember this.... 65% of us today, make it.!! YOU CAN DO THIS...

VOLLEYGIRL and SMORE.... YOU ARE GONNA DO GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fryowomen ---I am close to your size -- 5' 6" and 145-50 lbs.  I have 700cc implants.  I have also noticed that most women have 400-550cc.  I have very loose skin, divot at the top of one implant, wrinkling, and other imperfections.  I have had 5 surgeries in the last 2 years (2 of them were revisions).  I am not happy with the way my foobs look at all.  I would love to have them look better -- but I have decided no more for now.  I could not handle any more surgeries and any more disappointments.  I am finally without pain and starting to rebuild my physical strength and my emotional strength.  So... do what you need to do.   If you feel up to more surgery, go for it.   If you want a second opinion, go for it.  If you decide to hold off for now -- you can always have a revision later on. 

Lilah:  The Allergan TEs you have are one of the most popular styles used in breast reconstruction.  As I mentioned somewhere, if you have had a unilateral mastectomy, the key to symmetry is chiefly that you focus on the structure of the healthy breast. The PS will give you a specific TE to correspond to the base width of your healthy breast. The implant he selects will be based also on what will be done or will not be done for the healthy breast.  So if you are going to have a lift or a lift and small implant in the healthy breast, this comes into play referable to the style of implant used on the MX side.  I would like to see photos eventually....just to get some idea of where you are headed.   A true cohesive gel - gummy - will be firmer and not as soft as a standard silicone smooth round.  Discuss this issue with your PS and research some of the threads regarding the "gummy" implants.  That should fill up some time for you!!!

Geena:  Hugs and prayers going out to you sweetie!  I laughed when I read your comment about not wanting too much "stimulus."  I'm with you on that one....I would do just the same.....we are here for you!

Laura:  We want PHOTOS as soon as the girls arrive at your house and we want to hear all about the party.  Wish there was some way you could video this and put it up on youtube....

Post-Mastectomy Pain....

For those of you experiencing neurogenic or other pain syndromes after mastectomy, my sister just started a thread with this title.  I think it is under the Surgery, before, during after forum.  Hopefully some good research, resources, treatment remedies and shared information will help some of you experiencing this pain. 

Deborah -- thanks for the advice!  I have read around in this site about the gummies and it seems to me that half the women don't like them (and exchange them for the smooth round) and half seem happy. I'll go back and do more reading now though.

I have very large breasts (large breast, I should say) so an implant is not on the table for discussion, just a lift and reduction -- don't need to ADD to this one -- need to subtract!  That said, I might ask my PS what she thinks about an implant to help with symmetry (it can't hurt and since she's taking away anyway she'll be there visiting so perhaps not a lot to add, I don't know).  Lift/reduction are planned to be done at exchange; presumably she works with the knowledge/awareness of the drop and fluff but I do intend to ask once we start planning the surgery date.

I do know that gummies are firmer (I actually had a chance to feel the difference... to me the gummy I felt was not hard at all though certainly firmer than the regular silicone, but not unacceptably so).  I plan to talk more about this with my PS but in the conversations we've already had she has said she feels the teardrop shaped gummy will get me best results for symmetry (for what she has in mind) and since I've seen photos of her work with unilaterals and this sort of implant, I'm inclined to go with her judgment.  Yes she did say she measured my healthy breast in the OR.  Whenever I see her now she always squishes the big one up against my body next to the new one and declares herself very pleased with the placement (which I find funny). 

I've been taking pictures of my progress but at the moment what I've got is one very large breast and one very cute bulge which is getting rounder and bigger with time (480 cc's now so getting there but still about 1/2 the size of the other breast (if that); if my boobs were dog ears my left breast is a basset hound and my right is a boxer, if you can imagine such a thing lol).  So I will wait to send you pics when the TE is closer to size. 

Thanks!

Lilah

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for the warm wishes.  It was a nerve racking few hours just waiting at the hospital but I woke up from surgery feeling pretty good.  I've been groggy all day--until now of course when I should be sleeping but the pain has been minimal.  I haven't looked yet, but they feel great, so much smaller than the expanders but if feels like me so I'm still a little worried I'll be disappointed and think that I chose too small but hoping that it looks as good as it feels.

Geena, go figure it rained all day today are rarity here, for sure so your comment made me laugh because I had complained that the clouds did not help my mood this morning.  I love my blue skies and sunshine!  Warm wishing going your way tomorrow--maybe you'll get the sunshine to add to a peaceful walk.

Val, Sounds like a good plan, bummer about having drains again though! 

NAE, I think I'm going to be a bra shopper as well and I'm not a shopper at all but I can't wait to go find some bras. 

Warm wishes tomorrow Volleygirl and Smore! 

Julie 

Nedeza, what a great solution to the empty tip problem.  I had been wearing stretchy bras until the nipple recon.  Now PS wants me to have that empty tip with the formed cups so there is nothing pushing on the nipples.  It can be hard not to put pressure on the girls at times tho.  If people only knew half of what we go thru.  I can hardly wait for the day when I'm as unaware of these new breasts as I was of the originals.

I was looking for nipple guards, in anticipation of my surgery in March, and came across this website. Unfortunately the product is out of stock.   I was hoping to find something instead of padding myself with gauze squares, as my PS said I'd be doing.

http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=18118&procid=1&catid=866

I'll keep looking!

Texas357, what about these?  Not as nice as the lily you were looking at but they might work.

http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=nipple+guards&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=0SJXS_WzGY3QsgO0xo3GBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQrQQwAg

http://www.barenecessities.com/Wacoal-No-Peek-Molded-Foam-Cups_product_Wacoal85999_,search,.htm

The callous pads sound great too though, maybe a better option.

Julie 

Just checking in. I had my exchange surgery at 7:30 this morning.  I have no idea what I look like as I am bound up.  But after spending the weekend looking at the picture gallery (thanks ladies for posting, hope to add my own) it wasn't a basketcase as I was last week. LOL, the ups and downs since diagnosis would make an awesome rollercoaster ride. smile. going to get some rest catch you ladies later

congrats smore!!!!

Geena- give us a shout- I hope you are feeling great!!!

Val- when is your surgery? Tums with calcium - can we call that a dairy??? 

Wendy -- Wow love that story (shocking the fellow -- wtg   I guess Sloan likes to use the gummy.  I personally like the idea that you can cut it in half and it doesn't leak.  I'm glad to hear that you've got such nice results.  I'm not sure I care all that much about jiggle.  I am rather liking the hard TE to be honest... but this is because of years of far too large breasts with far too much jiggle (if you ask me).  I hope you get something great to replace the lost rads implant.  What is the plan as of now? 

Julie -- welcome home!  Is the sun shining today?

Lilah

My PS is at Sloan ~ I don't think I want gummies.  I am leaning towards silicone, but I don't know much yet.  I NEED to read up and learn a thing or two before my next appointment.  So many girls had surgery this week and TODAY, I hope all goes well.  Wishing you comfy soft foobies.  Thanks also for the soup recipe ~ I emailed it to myself !

Alicia