January Mastectomy

Hello Team January!

I came on here specifically to here how Becky's procedure went!  YaY!  I'm so happy your happy Becky and that things went well.  I wonder if my PS was one of the PS's that was observing?  He's pretty big in the breast cancer reconstruction world so that would be exciting that he would be expanding his vision.

He did the fat grafting in the same way that you described but it didn't work out so well for me.  I've had 2 fat necrosis now and it didn't take on the whole.  He wants to do another procedure on me (and I'm actually scheduled for November) where he would take 3 inches of skin off each side...not touch the implants or pockets at all...just the skin so essentially a mastopexy with new nipples. (my nipples are flush now with my skin although I don't hate them)  This mastopexy is supposed to get rid of all my ripples....my breast surgeon thinks I'm crazy and is recommending that I don't do it.  "Why do you want to expose yourself to a potential infection for a few ripples?"  Maybe she's right.  I'm going to see my Oncologist on Friday (tumor markers on Wednesday) and if I'm clear then maybe I will cancel...if I'm not clear (God forbid) I'll definitely cancel.  Not to mention that insurance would cover it, but it's going to still cost me a 2500 deductible that quite frankly, I just don't have right now.  So, maybe in 5 years I'll do something else. 

Paula, good luck with your journey!  I hope your can get in with this Dr. K.  If not, mine is Dr. Glyn Jones who authored the Breast Book...you could come to Illinois!  Not the Miami vacation but at least it would be a half days drive and you could get back to the comfort of your home. 

Sorry your not happy Kim.  I would definitely speak to your PS about it.  Especially since your still in your deductible portion of your insurance program. 

Hang in there Robin!  Hope your daughter gets back to normal soon and your family can move forward with the life changes that certainly always happen as children grow up and leave the nest!  I'm sure you're doing a great job with your little 4th graders!  The teachers around here love the 4th grade...they say it's the perfect age where they don't have a lot of attitude and are still respectful and able to learn!  That would be key for me!

Lazy day today to watch football and have my husbands daughter and her husband over for dinner...they're expecting in March and we are sooooo excited!  A new baby!  I need to buy a crib I think!

Have a good one team.  Love you all!
xoxo
Kat

Hi Ladies,

Just checking in, had a rough morning and need my girls to bring me back up!  

Kim, I'm sorry that you aren't happy with your results.  They seem to be a changing thing.  I was happy for while and they seem to be just keep getting worse and worse.  I hope that you went to see your PS and that she listened, really listened to you and what your concerns are.  We have to speak up for ourselves, no one else is going to do it.  No one really even gets it but us.  We know our own bodies best, and we know how they feel, and if it's not right it's not right.

Robin, I hope that your daughter is getting better.  I'm glad that the school was able to let her keep her stuff there, and hold her spot for a semester.  Our bodies (and heads) need time to heal.  Hope your teaching is going well and you are starting to get your routine down.

Kat, so good to hear from you again!  I hope your new CAbi career is going well.  Still need to get you up here for a CAbi show!  LOL!  Good luck with your surgery, personally, I think that you should go for it, you haven't been happy since the beginning thinking you needed this done.  I have an appt scheduled for November 1st with Dr. Khouri, which I am planning on re-scheduling for the beginning of December. DH is going to be smack in the middle of harvest on Nov. 1st, so he'd rather I wait so he can go with me.  Then if all goes well I can start the surgeries in January, so that I only have to pay the deductible once, wouldn't make much sense to have a surgery in Dec and then start all over again.  This is all contingent on whether they will except my insurance, the secretary there is checking into it for me.  Should find out this week.  As far as the "Miami vacation", I don't think I'll see much of Miami.  When we go for the consult we'll probably just fly in, have our appt and fly back.  Might have time to go out to dinner or something.  All of the travel is going to get pretty pricey so can't really afford any extra sightseeing and hotel rooms.  From what I have read, after the surgery I will have to be there (in a hotel) for about 5-7 days before I can fly home, but I guess you're pretty miserable so no sight-seeing then either.  DH can go out and look around.  But he is the best, so, it'll be worth it.  

Bookart and Robin, it's hard about the kids and that college stuff, it's a tough lesson for them to learn.  I just found out that my neice, who graduated last year and went away to college last month and was having a blast, just found out she was pregnant, she was taking the birth control pills that were recalled, and she was one of the un-lucky ones.  My sister is just heart-sick.  They are trying to figure out if she is going to just drop out now and just go to a community college to save money or what she is going to do.  And then there is the whole keep the baby or not, and I won't even get into that, because my sister and I have way different views of that, so I need to learn to keep my opinion to myself.  She has a rough time ahead of her, they both do.

Anyway, as always, thankful to have you all in my life.  I went back to my aerobics class that I had went to for years pre-bc, this is the first time being back since my BMX.  I did okay with most of it, although, I was red in the face, sweat dripping, muscles screaming, but I made it through, was careful not to do any toning in the chest area, focused on my bi-ceps when doing the curls, all good, until we went to the floor for ab work.  Who knew that I wouldn't be able to do a crunch anymore.  Totally threw me off, I just laid there on my mat with silent tears running down my face.  Sometimes, some small little thing like that just comes up and smacks you in the face and makes you remember that things will never be the same.  I was planning on going to the Pilates class tomorrow morning, but I'm just not sure I want to have another moment where I realize that I can't physically do it.  I don't have a lot of experience with Pilates, if anyone else does, do you know if there are a lot of moves that require the chest muscles.  I don't want to go to the class and not be able to do any of the moves.  I'd rather go for a walk or bike ride.

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well.  Seems like I read on Facebook that Debbie just had another grand baby bless her life.  Congrats!!!

Hugs!

Paula

Hi January friends

Becky, the fat replacement of the implant sounds fascinating....so nice to have fat behind the breast mound instead of an implant.  I wish I had tolerated early surgeries better....I would be easier to consider yet another proceedure......but for me the less time on the table now the better...ah well.

Kat your new business venture sounds like so much more fun...so glad your happy

Robin hope you heal up quickly and that family matters get smother with time.... 

Paula I felt so much sympathy reading about your gym experience....such quiet sadness

grdslve...yeah for happiness with your diep!!!!!!

Bookart....sometimes I wish I had forgone the reconstruction....if I ever hit a problem that demands they be removed (again) I may just say.....ok.....thanks but lets just leave them out..

I hope everyone is ok......I know when I go jump in infrequently I get lost and leave out so many of you....my best wishes are with you all. 

I've been in a sort of limbo all summer....  I spent the whole summer fighting the infections I incured after my nipple reconstruction =(  I spent so much time on levoquin I completely messed up my gut and picked up C-diff somewhere along the way!!!!!!  I have had diarreah for over a month.....horrible unending poo!  Finally after a poo test (even though it was negative) I was given Flagyl and I'm finally returning to normal...whatever that is =o}  

So now I am back to no nips. One boob has healed over and one is still under a bandage and healing slowly =(  Once this is all healed I think I may just go for tats....I may even skip that. The antibiotics almost did me in.....I just don't know if I can stand the thought of fighting any more potential infections!  I'll post some pictures in the picture forum when the bandage comes off the final breast.

It is endless!

I wish you all good days full of healing xox Laura 

I too keep you all in my thoughts and prayers constantly.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Team January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe 'everything' that I missed in our individual stories this summer. I have just read every post and every page since the last time I was here in the middle of the summer.

Goodness. I won't even make an effort to mention individual stories --because there are so many with such challenges. My heart is with each and every one of you, as you make decisions about what lies ahead. Our team has always been in my prayers...... now I'm finally more informed as to how to phrase those prayers.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

We have had so many enormous blessings lately that I hesitate to 'share' as I would never want to infer gloating -- when others have so much to continue to juggle, confront and accept.

As was mentioned, at the top of the list is that we have a healthy new grand-child. She is our 7th!!!! And she weighed in at 7 pounds & 7 ounces. That family is technically my step-son & wife, they are the ones who have 3 sons. They have never 'found-out' the sex of any of her pregnancies, so I think they are STILL in shock. We were with them all of last week -- in their home in Colorado.

Here's the only picture (evidence) that I ever got to hold her, me fresh out of the shower..... I love that her eyes are so wide open & alert..... and yes, I dressed her in her polka-dot zoot-suit.

And you were also 'correct' -- that I did indeed win a NATIONAL award for my newest picture book. As a 'self-published' author/illustrator this is the biggest thing to happen to me as far as recognition goes. I suppose that's why I 'fell-off-the-face-of-the-earth' in terms of BCO. I felt that I had to do everything in my power to 'capitolize' on my little 15 seconds of fame. I've spent the entire summer working to 'connect' my blog to a wider audience -- all in the effort to give some visibility of my work to a wider world. It's working!!!

I feel very 'west-coast' to be an INDIE anything! LOL. Since my book was inspired by 9-11 and intended to be a resource for teachers for the 10th observation, I wanted to be sure that I had done what I could to make it 'available.' This morning I received an email with a YouTube video from IDAHO, of a first grade class singing my song. Warms my heart.

Our other amazing news of this weekend is that our youngest daughter has just received the news that she has passed her doctoral 'comps' and is on an amazing course to graduate this spring with her doctoral degree. Me with my humble degree, makes my head spin.

Then for the cherry on top of the cherry, my other/younger step-son has just landed the job of his dreams..... after having been unemployed for nearly 2 years. Did you hear the huge sigh-of-relief? We hope beyond hope that he can transition into this position successfully. I think his many months of 'nothing' hopefully will have him motivated to do all in his power to contribute.

As always, and as with many of you, I continue to make "adjustments" to my life to accomodate my capabilities as they present themselves. For me the tears came this summer when I finally decided that I had to give up cycling. I gave it some effort and it just made a mess of my LE issues every time. So at least for this summer there was no biking for me.

It really is about perspective, isn't it? We have had so MANYMANYMANY blessings, that it's almost a slap in the face to the heavens to grumble about biking. Yet I find a stray tear as we drive to places I had so often peddaled..... the loss of independance, the facing of mortality, the limitations: those are all genuine and color who we are for the next chapters.

I wish that I could say that I'm so evolved as a person to say that it doesn't cause pain. There is still some daily pain for me as a result of the LE issues/complications. Then the ache to the soul, but then so quickly I think of how fortunate I am to have daily breath.

We just recently attended my husband's high school reunion. Their class has 'lost' over 50 members to a wide variety of reasons. Again. Perspective.

I think you all remember that I too, was one of the minority here on the team to opt out of any sort of reconstruction.... so I am something of a 11 year old boy in truth. Strangely that seems to be less of an issue than the riding of my bike. LOL. What's up with that.

For hubby's reunion I was gifted with a 'perfect' dress that came up high enough under my arms to cover all of that nonsense. and with scrunching in the middle, flare at the knee, and a halter sort of neckline, I was able to insert my "fluffies" for the evening & honest-to-goodness felt like the queen of the ball. Perspective.

I wish everyone here the strength to continue to confront what is important. The strength to move forward. The strength to accept. The strength to offer others a model of encouragement for their discouragements & challenges. We are a pretty amazing lot.

I'm so PROUD of US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We seriously 'rock' as a group of women.

I'm so proud to be a member of the team -- even if we bop thru with less predictability, we continue to be here for one another, or evolved over to FB friendships. Know that should you ever need to have a melt-down -- you're always welcome to do so.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

P.S. My brother, who was in the horrific fire at the beginning of July, has just located to new housing and has just begun to return to work in the last couple of days. He still has many challenges ahead, too many to number, but he is still taking in the cycle of the sunrise & sunset.

Perspective!

Beautiful beautiful!  So sweet that Grandbaby!  LOL!  And you did look like the queen of the ball!  So glad that everything is going so well for you and your family!  That is awesome!  As far as the biking, I wasn't able to ride my old bike either, but I got a new one this spring that has higher handle bars so I don't have to lean over, it's a cruiser but it has all the speeds and stuff, and I love it!  I was able to ride it with no pain at all.  Not sure what kind of bike you have but might be worth checking into.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I did end up going to the Pilates class and I love it!  I spoke to the instructor ahead of time so whenever there is a move that we are going to do that she knows will work the pecs she will just make a simple statement "If you have troubles with your pecs you will want to do this modification" and she will demonstrate a modification for me, she does it for people that have back problems or shoulder problems, so it's not like she's screaming "HEY PAULA, YOU CAN'T DO THIS!!!" no one thinks anything of it.  The stretching is awesome, I feel a lot better, not so much pain.  I have also continued to go to my Aero/Tone class too.  And I am able to do the ab work.  I think my body was just telling me "ENOUGH!" too much too soon.  I am off to this morning to do it again, and I am able to walk this week!  LOL!

Hugs to all and hope everyone is have a great week!!!

Paula

Debbie, you are amazing.  so talented.

 Cathy, glad all turned out so well for you. 

just had the stage II diep yesterday.  my ps is so wonderful.  he did such a good job the first time, there was very little to be done.  couldn't be happier with the results &  guess i will have to go for the headlights next year.  for me, the decision to wait until after chemo & rads to give skin time to heal was a good one.  think i was in a better place emotionally too with the delay.  found i wasn't so anxious about the surgery as with the mx.  it still is amazing to me how natural, comfortable the diep is.  truly feel restored.

all my best to all of you........

Hi all.  I have to have a uterin biopsy done in early Nov.  If my memory serves me, it seems a couple of you had those done last year.  Any issues, pain associated with the biopsy ?  I started having really heavy periods a couple months ago.  I saw my gyn and he ran some tests and had an ultra sound (regular and transvag) done.  He found some abnormality and is now wanting the biopsy.  I am not really concerned about the results.  My mom and sister both had issues with really heavy periods, so I figure mine is the same.  Any info on the procedure/after effects let me know.

Hugs Team January !

Oh my gosh Lola, that is so funny.  After my bmx/diep surgery, I couldnt get out of bed alone the first day or two.  So, my family got me a bell and gave me the "just ring if you need us" speech.  I rang that bell repeatedly for close to an hour, until by chance my daughter came home from school and went to her room to get something.  She heard my bell and came to see what I needed.  My mom and DH felt sooo bad

Hello January Ladies, 

Lola and Sally love the bell stories

My boob finally healed....not a very pretty scar after all the infection this past summer but my ps seems optimistic about my future boobage.  The plan is to let everything rest and completely heal for a few months.  I have a break from teaching in January and he is going in to repair the scar and create the nipples again.  He is going to take a moderate approach and use different stitches.  He said my body pushed out he absorbable stitches which cause much of the infections...so he will use a different method and then watch me like a hawk  I told him I really don't want much of a nipple and I may just want the scar repaired....we will rethink the whole thing together this winter. Wow....another January surgery....2 yars later...phew.

To be honest...part of me wishes I had a diep instead of implants.....my ps said it wasn't an option becuase there wasn't enough extra tissue to draw from...but I wish I had pressed a bit harder, but this is all unnessesary mind wanderings now.  I still feel like the implants are foreign at times.....guess I still miss my own boobies =( 

Hope this finds everyone well and strong....

xox Laura 🌺 

Cathy, thanks for the info.  I will be having it done in office.  They did advise me to take advil and hour prior, and that other than discomfort at the time of procedure, there shouldnt be much to it.  I am also glad they are vigilant in watching us, but must admit, this made me so mad (and sad).  Told my DH after phone call advising I would have to have one...."This is my life from now on"  testing, testing, testing....oh well, beats the alternative !   I will have the biopsy Nov 2.  Not sure how long will have to wait for results.

Hugs Team January !

d of a cow bell

RING YOUR BELLLLLLL!!!!!

Our lovin' spouses. Too funny, too true.

I've just posted some photos that I took at the beginning of the summer to my blog. Took me forever to share them. Thought you my Team Janurary family might enjoy them as well.

It was so amazing to watch this beauty 'emerge' before my eyes -- from a bank of fog.

I love how the horizon line is 'lost' amidst the same coloration of water and sky.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

All the best as healing continues for many.

We're headed south to begin our long season in FL for the winter. We hope to arrive tomorrow and tonight are in Tennessee after having attended a wedding this afternoon in KY. Lovely time. Lovely to celebrate with friends.

I am not someone who has had even that much, but switched to grape juice at communion instead of wine after my dx.