January Mastectomy

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  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 564
    edited September 2010

    My joyous congratulations, Debbie.  Where can i see it?

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited September 2010

    Debbie:  Congratulations!

    Paula:  I wish you the best on your surgery.

    You are all in my thoughts and prayers daily.

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited September 2010

    Thanks, teamJan!!

    Now this:

    I just started a 'new' thread at the VERY top of the top of the list;

    "Compassion for Dr. Weiss"

    The founder of BCO has been dx w BC. There are several threads posted by the moderators with a video greeting from her telling us of her journey. 

    I couldn't seem to post on to the video thread, so started a new thread. 

    PLEASE, watch the video and then post your compassion for her 'new' journey. 

    Here's the link to Dr. Weiss' video announcement

    http://www.breastcancer.org/about_us/press_room/press_kit/video/mw_message.jsp

    Here's the link to the thread I started. (It's in the very first set of threads)

    http://community.breastcancer.org/115/topic/758418?page=1#post_2004569

    I can't seem to get the little link doodad to cooperate, but I think these are 'hot' just not very pretty.

    Thanks team, she is deserving of our admiration & appreciation -- publically.

    Edited for my clarity.

    It seems the first link -- to the video, goes directly to the video.

    It seems the second link, to the thread doesn't go there??

    You can find a place to express your apprecition for Dr. Weiss under the first segment of threads:

    Celebrating our 10 year anniversary.

    Then the thread is: Compassion for Dr. Weiss.

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited September 2010

    Debbie - Wow !  Congratulations on the book !!!!

    Paula - Best wishes for Friday.

    Hugs Team January !

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited September 2010

    Morning Ladies...

    Paula, I didn't realize you were going up a size...whoohoo!  I'm happy for you!  I know you'll be thrilled with your results...good luck today!  Keep us posted on your recovery and I just know this time around your initial reaction is going to be way different!

    Debbie congrats on the book!  That's really sad about Dr. Weiss.  It makes you wonder....when someone like that devotes their life to a cause and then they end up participating in the cause was it just inevitable?  I didn't see the video and I don't know her complete story but I wondered if she were BRCA positive.  The same can be said for the banners on this site "Breast cancer took them by surprise"  Didn't it take us all by surprise? 

    After I had my fat grafting, I've had this nodule growing in my right divot.  It started as a pea size and now has grown to a lima bean proportion.  My PS is certain it's a fat necrosis...I tend to agree with him.  It's sore to the touch and the fact that it keeps growing is an indication of the transfer.  I guess it gets encapsulated with fibrous tissue and that's what is causing the growth.  I see him again in November and he may want to biopsy it before the year is out just to be sure.  Whatever...I'll just keep marching on I suppose.  Not much else you can do!

    My husband was lithotripsied on Wednesday and it all went smashing!  (pun intended!:)  His urine is clear now and his side/back is sore from the shock waves but it's all good.  We are heading to AZ on Monday for a short little 3 day jaunt to check on the house and see my brother.  Work is so busy I feel guilty leaving but then again, if you don't force yourself to take some time you never will.

    Kim, hope you're dropping and fluffing well...Sally sorry about your "H".  I'm hoping to reconnect with my "H" next week so wish us luck!  I've had these nice new boobs and haven't even taken them for a test run yet.  It's more me than him I know but I'm just still having some self acceptance issues.

    Laura and Lynbob...hope the tickers are doing well.  Good luck Donna with the hysto...I pray for all of us here at Team January!  I can't believe the next January is coming up so soon!  It will be nice to see 2010 go.  My husband and I counted up 7 surgeries between the 2 of us in the last 8 months.  crazy! 

    Have a great day girls and TGIF!

    Kat 

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  • jizogarden
    jizogarden Member Posts: 375
    edited September 2010

    Morning Ladies :)

    Debbie congratulations on your new book!

    Paula....hope your exchange goes smooth as silk and you love your new size :) 

    Kim, hope all's progressing nicely...so many changes happen over the first months...I still can see changes happening.....

    Donna hope your hysterectomy also goes well and you heal easily.

    Kim I have a few spots on my boobs that are uneven in firmness. One looks like a little bump but when I touch it is a soft spot where the where there is less muscle or supporting tissue.  I also have a small line where the tissue density changes.....my ps says as the tissue (forget the name of it) that was placed as a sling under my breasts is absorbed more completely these will even out....hmmmm. He says the tissue that they place in the breast to strengthen support varies in density and there are thicker and thinner sections and it should even out over time.  I don't know if this is what your feeling......as I say my areas are softer than the rest of my breast....it's like there is just skin and implant with nothing else in between....very weird feeling to me =/

    Kat, I haven't had the comfort level to go native with my boobs yet either. I know this is more me than my DH. Sometimes I think I'm ready and then I chicken out.  I still wear a bra or t-shirt during intimate moments ;)  It's not like he hasn't seen them yet......especially when I was laid out on the gurney at the ER with heart monitor leads stuck all over me =o\

    So life is getting busier and busier....my classes are full up and I'm working on a new watercolor of a Fall apple from the same tree I painting when it was in blossom :)

    Love Fall and glad it's finally knocking on the door!

    Best to all...strength and healing

    Laura 

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  • jizogarden
    jizogarden Member Posts: 375
    edited September 2010

    ps: I just started a new topic on the photo forum called "nip and tat pics"

    I hope that people will post photos and thoughts on their nips and tats.  By having this information in one place it will make it easy to find information on this final step :) 

    This hope this category will be a place where we can share final results and also research the possibilities  for those of us who are headed that way :)

    xox Laura 

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited September 2010

    I have not dropped or fluffed...I have just gotten smaller.  sigh.  I'm really kicking myself for not getting another fill or two.  I know I was really sick with chemo treatments #5 right as I was due to go in for a fill, so I didn't call to schedule it.  Then I got to feeling better, then bam, another chemo treatment.  And so on...I'm fairly unhappy with them right now.  I'll tell my doc when I see her and maybe I'll get lucky like Paula and she'll have a reason to put bigger ones in for me!

    Does anyone else have lingering rib pain?  My ribs are really sore at my sides right underneath my armpits.  Definitely painful to the touch.  I know they hurt while I had the tissue expanders, and I thought it was just a side effect of those damn things.  Now I'm wondering if it's a lingering side effect from the exchange surgery or from the original mastectomy.

    I went commando for the first time during sex last night-not my choice, and I was really embarrassed.  My husband felt bad.  Talk about a buzz kill!  I bet he won't do that again.  At least not until I rip my bra off myself, which will probably be after nipps and tatts.

    Good to hear from you Paula, and Debbie-congrats on the book.  Kat!  It's still hot here girl, so come prepared.

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Just a quick hello!  I'm doing okay, still a little sore.  I'm pretty sure that I'm going to love the new girls, but there is still a lot of swelling.  Right now with all of the swelling the divots look great, but I'm sure it's swelling.  My stomach, however, does not look flat!  LOL!  I look like I gained 20 pounds!  I have to wear this binder thing over a folded towell that is over me stomach, and he wants the binder just tight enough to hold the towell in place... needless to say, I look huge!  I'm just hoping that he doesn't really expect me to wear this for a whole month!  I don't know what I'll wear over it, seriously, it's huge!  Anyway, I'm off to the shower, and see if I feel up to going to my son's soccer game...  probably won't be ready in time... 

    Prayers and hugs to all!

    Paula

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    I forget to say that when the PS came out to talk to my DH, he told him that I would more then likely require 2-3 more fat grafting procedures before we get it right... so that is kind of sucky, but I want to get it right, I want to be completely happy with my results, so I am willing to keep suffering through until it's good...  I have still have a lot of life ahead of me and I don't want to go through the rest of it being unhappy with the way that I look.

    Also, good news!  We booked our "I kicked cancer's ass and got these cool new boobies" trip!  Lansing non-stop to Cancun!!!!  We are staying at an all inclusive resort that has like 14 restaurants, 12 bars, several of them swim up bars in the 3 pools....  It's right on a golf course too!  I am so excited!  I just have to be sure and plan my surgeries so that I will be 100% for the trip, no swelling, no bruises, no binders and hopefully no fat!  I want to wear a bikini while we're there, but we'll see!  And I want to be able to do everything!  Swim, golf, snorkeling, and yes, I want to be able to "cuddle" with my DH!  Which, I have to say we have been doing right along, without anything covering the top half....  He loves the new girls, I can't keep him away from them!  I am so sorry that some of you are having issues in that area... but I have to say, Kat, seriously?  With that smokin' hot body of yours?!  What are you thinking girl?!  You need to get on with it!  Rip that bandaid off!  Just do it!  Trust me, you look amazing...  we all do!!!!  After what we have all been through, we deserve all the happiness and sex that we can get!

    Okay, too much computer, need to go and rest some more!  

    take care ladies!

    Paula

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited September 2010

    Hellllooooooo Cool

    Wow....so much still going on with everyone....more surgeries, changes, books, life....and on and on it goes!

    Yes, so sad about Dr. Weiss....I knew about this last spring, actually, but I wasn't allowed to say anything.  One of the violinists in the orchestra I play in is the step-uncle to her.....he is the one who actually told me about BCO in the first place.  He told me of her diagnosis as soon as she was diagnosed, but she didn't want it known on here at first.  But I'm glad it's out, so that everyone can support her. 

    I gotta tell ya....those of you who went through recon. have my deepest admiration.  I could not have gone through all you are doing.  I just don't have the patience to have gone through all of it.  The pain, the surgeries....all of it.  I also gotta tell ya, I LOVE going braless 95% of the time, and I don't ever have to worry about being "cold" or having anything showing through :)   If an outfit needs some filling out, I throw on the bumps....but those thingies are the first thing (well, the second - shoes are first) to come off as soon as I get home!!!!!!

    This is when I'm extra thrilled that God stretched me out to be nearly six feet tall, with thin bones...no ones knows the difference, and I'm glad that I am "OK" with it, too.  In fact, you know, I have forgotten what I looked like with boobs.  I honestly have...isn't that wild?!?!?!

    Off the crutches now, and am in PT.....limping all the way.  Actually went to the grocery for the first time by myself in months (because of the ankle), and my goodness...Kroger was half PINKI!!!!    All the BC awareness stuff....good thing I'm where I'm at emotionally, otherwise, I couldn't have handled it.

    You guys are in my thoughts and prayers continually.......blessings....robin

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited September 2010
    p.s.  my hubby kisses my flat chest and my scars Smile  so go for it, girls!!!
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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited September 2010

    You're a sweetie Paula...good luck with recovery!  

    Thanks for your updates Robin...we all know that you chose not to have reconstruction and that's great for you...Not great for me though so one does what they need to do.  I'm also thrilled for you that you are able to let it all out there for your husband to kiss your flat chest and scars.  I'm sure my husband would jump at the chance to gobble me up however (and this is the important part here) it's not him it's ME.  I'm thrilled that my PS could re-make me into a womanly woman in 7 months and I'm also relatively pain free (with no tightness like if I hadn't had reconstruction) I go braless all the time and feel very feminine with my fair shares of looks from men who don't know any different.  I also try very hard not to wear my pink ribbon on my sleeve...I'm more of a lets get on with my life sort of person....however, it's my own mind that is holding me back in the bedroom.  I'm ready to let all of that go and get re-connected with my husband on our little second honeymoon....I know I'll be going back to work next week with a smile on my face!

    Everyone have a great Sunday! 
    Kat

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Okay Kat, why did you delete your post? 

    Robin, so happy that you are so happy in your new skin!  and that your hubby is happy too!  That is the most important, we all have to do what is right for us and what make's us happy!

    I went to see my PS today for Post op and he says that everything looks good so far.  He said that I can lose the bath towell and binder if I invest in a compression garment (Spanks or Flexees) so I ran to the nearest mall and bought 2!  No more Fat Suit!!!!  Now I look normal and not like I gained 20 pounds.  I still have to wear this for a month, but it's doable, and now I don't have to go and buy new pants to go out in...

    Time to warm up dinner!

    Hugs to all!

    Paula

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited September 2010

    Paula...I'm a huge spanx fan!  Love em, love em love em love em!

    I made an appt with the BS to check this nodule in my R divot.  I'm sure it's a fat necrosis but I'll be sure by seeing her next week. 

    Kim, it's really freaking hot here! :)  We're hooking up with my brother at the Yard House in a bit...Whoohoo!  Can you say yard tall blue moon?  yum!

    xoxo

    Kat

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  • Martinajsmith
    Martinajsmith Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2010

    hi ladies ! I just got both breast removed and I got he tranflap at the same time. My Doctors were the best ! I did chemo first  and it took my tumor down from over a quarter size but not big as a golf ball to half ot the size of a choc m&m. God is good.I am also 100 percent cancer free ! I am recovering slowly but glad I did it all at once. You really have to pray and ask God to lead you ! Also , everyone's circumstance is different. I am healing and hate to aks people to assist me but its my turn to rest. For those of you who are awaiting surgery, pray ask God to lead you and ask questions and know that you have to be ok with your decision and that is what got me through the surgery and now the healing process

    Has anyone had a transflap in the past two years. Things change everyday .

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  • Martinajsmith
    Martinajsmith Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2010

    hi ladies ! I just got both breast removed and I got he tranflap at the same time. My Doctors were the best ! I did chemo first  and it took my tumor down from over a quarter size but not big as a golf ball to half ot the size of a choc m&m. God is good.I am also 100 percent cancer free ! I am recovering slowly but glad I did it all at once. You really have to pray and ask God to lead you ! Also , everyone's circumstance is different. I am healing and hate to aks people to assist me but its my turn to rest. For those of you who are awaiting surgery, pray ask God to lead you and ask questions and know that you have to be ok with your decision and that is what got me through the surgery and now the healing process

    Has anyone had a transflap in the past two years. Things change everyday .

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited September 2010

    Kat!  I forewarned you...Arizona has not entered Fall yet.  I usually start wearing long sleeves around Halloween.

    I must be a dunce, but what is it when you guys talk about divots?

    So it must be scar tissue that I'm feeling on the outside of my left boob.  Frustrating.  I want them to be round and soft.  And I have two spots on my boobs, one on each, that look like there's a small, hard pea underneath the skin.  What the hell is that?  Again, frustrating!  I don't see my PS until October 11th, and this time I'm going in with a list of complaints/questions.

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  • frosty1
    frosty1 Member Posts: 420
    edited September 2010

    Hey Kat -- is that the Yard House in San Diego?  We were just talking about it this weekend and thinking about heading to San Diego for New Years again.

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited September 2010

    Nope...Yard House in AZ.  I'm sure though that a Yard House, is a Yard House is a Yard House so go for it because it was the most fun I've had in a long long time! 

    Kim, divots are the indentations just below the collar bone and just above your new implant.  I hope your a lucky one without them!  I think they show up more when the implants start heading south and stretching the skin somewhat.  Fat grafting can fill them in I suppose and some gals have good results after a couple of sessions.

    Doing great here and everything still works!  wink wink :)

    Have a great day all
    Kat

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited September 2010

    Oh happy day, Kat!!!

    Happy day!!!

    Wink, winking is good for all of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Wink

    Wink

    Wink

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Yard House?  What is that?  I've never heard of that... I must be missing out on something good!  Yard Tall Blue Moon, I think I can figure out what that is!  Nummy!  Hope you had a good time!

    Kat explained Divots pretty good... I think it also depends on the shape of your implants, mine are round and that means where they took all of the breast tissue and fat out from the upper pole of the chest area, the new round implant doesn't go up that far... so for me I was straight down, then it kind of dipped in (you could literally see and feel every one of my ribs in that area) and then boing, big round implant.  I don't know how many people really notice it, because honestly I don't know if they'd be honest and tell me because they wouldn't want to hurt my feelings, but the most important thing is that I noticed it and I hated it!  So, hopefully I am on my way to fixing it.  Right now it looks awesome, looks like a normal boob, kind of slopes down, but I know that a lot of that is still swelling, so we'll have to wait and see.  And my PS has told me right up front that it'll take 2-3 sessions to get the way I want it.  So, it's all a matter of what you are willing to live with or what you are willing to do to fix what you aren't willing to live with...  I guess we'll see how far I go, right now I think I can handle this again in 3-4 months, so we'll see...  Hmmmm, think I got off track, just goes to show that you shouldn't post when you're kids are driving you nuts!

    Anyway, hugs to all!

    Paula

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited August 2013

    Holy boobalicious batman!  These new girls of mine are huge!!!!  I just tried on a couple of nighties and tanks (my Hooters tank top of course!) and WOW!  They are lookin good!  Now if I could only get the rest of my body shrink I'd be smokin hot!  (as long as everyone ignored the grey hairs and wrinkles...  really need to color my roots!)  DH is going to be soooo excited when he gets to play!  

    Paula

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited September 2010

    Oh Paula, I'm so jealous!  sigh...

    I don't think I have divots then.  Mine slope down for the most part.  They're kind of flat.  I wonder what shape implant I have in there.  I just wish I could get some of my side boob around to the front and make them a little bigger!

    When I flex my pec muscles, I can see the implant vs. the muscle.  Freaky looking.

    A girlfriend at work is so fascinated with how my boobs feel, she touches them every time we work together.  Cracks me up.  It's like when you're pregnant and everyone feels the need to touch your belly.

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited September 2010

    Paula!  I remember what I was going to ask you.  Did your PS go through your original incision to put the new implants in?  Did it mess up your nipples?

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Kim, I so know what you mean about the flexing thing... every time I wash my hands and glance in the mirror I  would see that wierd "there are my implants" thing.... haven't noticed if I still have that, because of the swelling, but I'm sure that is something that we'll have to learn to live with.  If you are sloped that is great, but I would think that if you have boob under your arm instead of out front that might be grounds for a insurance paid revision and then you could go bigger at that time.  I truly believe that we all deserve to be happy with our results, it is not vanity it is life, we have to live with these bodies for the rest of our very long lives!

    My PS did go through my original incision, again!  I guess I'd rather have that then a bunch of new scars.  I think that my nipples are going to be okay.  At first thought they looked like they might be a little too far in but now that the swelling is going down some I really think that they are going to be okay.  Let's just say that I'd rather put up with my nips being a little off then the huge divots.

    I finally got DH to take some pics this morning so I am going to go and put them up on the picture forum, if anyone wants to take a look.  My belly is sadly not flat, but I guess I didn't really expect it to be.  He told me he saved some fat for next time, how sweet!  I also had my DH take a pic in me in the tank that I bought at Relay this last month to show off the new girls in my new avatar, this is braless ladies!  Whoohoo!  Lovin' the new girls!

    Hugs!

    Paula

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited August 2013
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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited September 2010

    WoW Paula, you just look amazing!  I'm so happy for you!   I think your nipples are perfect!  Prayers for continued healing!  You go girl! :)

    Also, this ladies, a big beer from the Yard House.  I chose Blue Moon but they have (seriously) over 100 on tap. 

    Back to work tomorrow refreshed and restored!....have a great evening all!

    Kat

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Okay, Kat, I so need one of those!!  Whoohoo!!!  Glad you had a great time, and are refreshed and restored and ahem, um, satisfied?  blush blush....

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited October 2010

    Paula, I checked out your new pictures, you look Great !  I am so happy that your doctor was able to switch out the size for you.  As you said, we all deserve to be happy with ourselves at the end of this.  It really isn't about vanity, this is something my "H" just won't or can't understand.

    Kat, I'm glad you were able to get away and relax and reconnect with DH.  Self acceptance is something we all probably deal with to some degree or another.  I think to have something so traumatic happen to your body has to knock you off balance for awhile.

    I did not have any issues with going bare after surgery.  I think the fact that I looked very much the same (minus nipples), made it an easy transition.  DH never seemed bothered by any of the changes and I never covered up or tried to prevent him from seeing.  I think it is like Paula said...you just gotta rip off that bandaid...

    I am heading out of town, to Indianapolis, this weekend.  Another soccer tournament.  From late August until early November, it seems that that is all my life involves.  Hauling kids to and from soccer practices and games.  :)

    Ladies, I need a favor.  A very dear friend of mine, Sonya, is waging her final battle against a very agressive cancer.  She is taking part in a trial treatment, and hopefully she can get into remission.  She has exhausted all other treatments, and this is the 'last chance' treatment for her.  She has two small boys 10 and 8.  Please put her into your prayers. 

     Hugs Team January !

    Never Surrender !

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