Exchange City

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited July 2010
    Laura:  How are you?  I agree, we are lucky to be here--it's amazing the stupid things people say.
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  • Emme
    Emme Member Posts: 205
    edited July 2010

    Laura2-

    I'm so sorry, you have been thru so much.  I am praying your heart gets stronger each day. 

    Emily 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    Kay- Did I warn you I have a LOT of baggage?  LOL!!!

    MBJ- Boobmobile and red wine?  I might have to get some stilettos for that! :-D

    junebug1967- Just wanted to say welcome to you!  Glad you posted!  

    Valerie- Congratulations on your 30th anniversary!  Hope you had a wonderful evening with your DH. 

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited July 2010

    I have a question for anyone who is here tonight. Yesterday I noticed a red spot (like a sunburn) on my TE side and it feels a little warm. It was still there this morning so I called my BS and PS and my BS said it was probably an infection from a bug bite and prescribed antibiotics. I have had this expander in since December and my exchange is coming up September 15th. I am seeing my PS on Monday morning but now I feel anxious that I have this infection. I have been so careful all through chemo and now I have 2 months to go and i have a stinking infection!!

    Has anyone had one while there TE was in?? Is it common?  My biggest fear since my mx was that the skin would get compromised before my exchange.

     Diane

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    After my exchange surgery a friend I have known for 35 years texted me as my DH was driving me home from the hospital and said, "So, are you voluptuous now?"  Let's just say I haven't texted her back, yet.

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  • whitedove
    whitedove Member Posts: 292
    edited July 2010

    Kate, I wonder if she would say that if she understood what it was like:

    1. -to be told:  "You have cancer."
    2. -to experience the fear of death
    3. -to have a mammogram that is not routine
    4. -to have a core needle biopsy
    5. -to wait in suspense for BRACA testing
    6. -to have an MRI
    7. -to have to consider options involving chemo, radiation, surgery, years of other medications
    8. -to have a lumpectomy, uni or double mastectomy etc.
    9. -to have lymph nodes biopsied &/or removed
    10. -to go through the recovery of surgery (ie. exist with drains hanging off your body) 
    11. -to have tissue expanders, go through fills, have an exchange surgery
    12. -to go through unpredictable periods of uncertainty, confusion and panic in between the steps above.  Repeating some steps if  medically necessary
    13. -to be misunderstood &/or criticized for your medical choices by others who have not undergone your specific situation: Either you did too much or not enough
    14. -to hear everyone's and their friends of friends' & relatives of relatives' stories of BC even if you did not request to hear them and to have them compared to yours - to then  be told who "got through" and who did not.
    15. -to have your routine and life put on hold
    16. -to base your future on a pathology report
    17. -to lose mobility, income, and to have to postpone plans and goals
    18. -to have your support, sustanence and sanity depend upon the kindness of strangers on your computer
    19. -to have all of the above happen due to unforeseen conditions beyond one's choice and control, and to never know the exact cause those unforeseen conditions.

    what price to pay to be voluptuous!

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  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 547
    edited July 2010

    well said whitedove!

    KATE+MBJ~ boobmoblie,red wine,ass-kicking stillettos and some Nacho's if you please!!! LOL

    (AND WE'LL THROW IN A BAG OF JELLY BELLY BEANS TOO Wink)

    Baggage amount is not a problem for the boobmobile as it has  infinate boot space! And a hot tub! And a jelly bean dispenser! (ok...now im just being silly =))

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  • Claire82
    Claire82 Member Posts: 684
    edited July 2010

    Whitedove,

    It's amazing what we have survived - most of it alone because we didn't want to worry the people who love us.

    In a way, I'm glad for this experience. When I heard that someone had breast cancer in the past, I would send a card, maybe a couple of meals. Now I would do so much more. I would reach out my hand and my heart, call and visit often and let them cry on my shoulder because now I understand...

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  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 452
    edited July 2010

    junebug1967 - I just got my bandages off on 7/14. They are still scabby but I took the pict in the doctors office. It has been a few days and each day they look better. I think I will update a pict next week.

    IDK if it was discolored so much as it was amazing to see it looked like the old nip color but was healing from surgery and scabby. I have lots of peeling going on now. The skin seems to be sloughing off in sheets. I have good blood flow and am very careful to pat them dry as a little rub will make them bleed.

    The picts are on the picture forum run by Timtam.  You will need her permission to access it.

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited July 2010

    whitedove:  Wow, when you put it like that, we are super women!  No wonder there is depression after we get through all of the procedures--We have taken on so much and to have it reduced to a boob job is just so wrong.  Thank you for documenting what we have been through so eloquently.

    kate:  You can wear stiletto boots!!  Bring on all of that baggage--I bet I have more!

    kay: LOL!  Girl, what is with the jelly bellies??!!  Sounds like a hoot and I have to say I am going to be ready to celebrate getting my life back not just in bits in pieces but in full.  Get those engines running because I am ready to go!

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  • junebug1967
    junebug1967 Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2010

    Thank you musiclovermom.  I think the scabs are different from this discoloredness.  I don't know it just looks dark, kinda like it does not have blood supply.  I guess there is really nothing the PS can do but wait and see.  I just hate to think about doing this over again.  Maybe he can repair it in his office and not have to go to surgery again.  

    How do I go about getting permission to the picture forum by Timtam?  I don't see that forum listed.

    Thanks again!

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  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 547
    edited July 2010

    MBJ~ ummmm......i just love Jelly Belly jelly beans but they're real expansive here in the UK! LOL

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  • deekaay
    deekaay Member Posts: 328
    edited July 2010

    LAURA...I agree with EVERYTHING YOU SAY in your last post!  SERIOUSLY...(can you tell I am "talking" like you on this one for emphasis?)

    Sounds like our bc diagnostic history is very similar.  My hope is that we will be comparing our survivor history many years from now!!  luv ya, deekaay

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    Whitedove- OMG, what an awesome post.  Can I paste and copy that to an e-mail to my "friend" because you spelled it out perfectly!  So nice to have women in my life that get it.

    Kay- If you change the Jelly Belly beans gummy bears (not to be confused with gummy boobs!) I would be in heaven!  They are my weakness!  I can picture you, MBJ and I tooling down the street, in our Boobmobile,  with some PS's locked in the boot available on a moment's notice for anything we might need!   LOL!!!

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2010

    Laura, how is your son doing?

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  • LadyinBama
    LadyinBama Member Posts: 1,132
    edited July 2010

    WhiteDove: all I can say is wow. I'm keeping an informal journal to write down things I'm going through. If I think of it all at one time, it's overwhelming. So I write it down and try to move on. I'll go back and look at it and put it all together one day and be amazed that I got through it.

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  • Emme
    Emme Member Posts: 205
    edited July 2010

    whitedove-

    AMEN.

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  • artsy
    artsy Member Posts: 54
    edited July 2010

    I haven't written in a while....busy with getting ready for a new grandson....

    Laura & Laura2 - hope both are doing better, with your son and with yourself Laura2.....it makes you wonder ...really how much can a person take.....doesn't seem fair.

    I am a 17 year survivor...had positive node and after chemo, tamox....and all of the miserable aches, pains, sleepless nights, etc, etc. ....I am still hear and I think you ladies will be around for a long time....

    whitedove....well said!  sometimes I'd just like to smack these people that say such stupid things.

    sending good wishes to all

    Pat

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2010

    Pat, congrats on the new grandson.  And thank you for letting us all know there can be a long and heathy life after BC.

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  • twirlandcurl
    twirlandcurl Member Posts: 102
    edited July 2010

    Nice post whitedove...Love it

    Just when I think no one gets it..(because they really dont) I come here and am filled with friendship-love and support.

    AWESOMESmile

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  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Member Posts: 520
    edited July 2010

    CAN ANYBODY RECOMMEND A GREAT BS IN LOS ANGELES?

    A colleague of my DH just contacted me because she was was just diagnosed with DCIS.  She likes her BS but is interested in getting a second opinion from another highly regarded BS.  She has the option between choosing a lumpectomy/radiation or mastectomy.  If you know of a great BS in Los Angeles, please PM me.  Thank you!

    Kristen

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2010

    ((( Kate)))

    (((DEEKAY)))

    ((( ALL OF YOU )))

    We did not hear Friday on the results of my sons heart monitor test. You have been such a blessing to me ladies. I will post as soon as I know. xxxooo

    I am a little distant right now.. as my mind is full... but if anyone needs to ask anything.. about radiation or any other BC question... PM me, I will visit with you, helping if I can.

    Laura

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2010

    (((Laura)))) hoping and praying for your son's good health.... I hope that whatever it is can be treated with ease. 

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2010

    Ladies up for Exchange and other surgeries  this week.... HUGS!

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  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 3,353
    edited July 2010

    Estepp - Thank you!  My exchange is on Friday.  I'm starting to get nervous.

     Continuing to pray peace for you and healing for your son.

     Be blessed!

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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited July 2010

    (((((LAURA)))))   ((((( LAURA'S SON)))))

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2010

    Good luck ladies who are having surgery this week!  Keep us posted :)

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  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 547
    edited July 2010

    KATE~ LOL!!!

    DAWN-HOPE~ Good luck for Friday!

    LAURA~How is your son doing?Do they know why he was getting heart malfunctions yet?Stay strong pretty lady =)

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited July 2010

    Wow, I leave for a week at the shore, and I am just reading up!  Good to see you girls again!

    Anyone for "carrott top" frizzy doglike hair?  I've got plenty of it!  Can't do a darn thing with it, except to have it cut in layers and try to tame it. 

    Everyone looks great!  Sooooo sorry to hear Tim Tam is shutting down the photo site, but with all the creepy stuff going on, and sooo much work to maintain it, I cannot blame her in the least.

    She is a super star and will be sorely missed.  We can PM each other our photos, if we need to.

    Judy, thank you so much for all the tat info.....you can now be our "Tatoo Whisperer"....what great info!

    love to each and every one of you.

    xoxo

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  • deekaay
    deekaay Member Posts: 328
    edited July 2010

    Dawne-Hope, wishing you great success with your exchange.  I am 10 days out from mine and heading back to work today, feeling good, so I'm hear to say it's a lot easier than some of the other surgeries.  IF there are no complications.  I am so very grateful I had none and I wish that for you.

    Steri-strips? Never had these before this surgery. I still have them under my foobs and they are getting a little annoying, mostly slightly itchy.  The nurse says they just fall off after about two weeks.  Have any of you ladies had this experience?  I'd appreciate any feedback anyone has. deekaay

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