February 2012 MX

TJP -- WOW, girl....I'm so sorry you had so many problems.  Saying a special prayer for you right now.  I don't know how many February Sisters had your type of surgery....so if you don't get an answer here I'm almost sure there is a forum for the specific kind of reconstruction.  If you can't find it PM me and I'll hunt it down for you.  Keep on keeping on!!  Love & Hugs

Hey Ladies,

Has anyone graduated out of these compression bras yet?  If so, what kinds of bras are you wearing and what works best for all of you?

God Bless you all....I am surely much older than you gals...don't heal that quickly - age 66 - but I must say I thought the surgery was going to be a lot worse...my BC said I am doing remarkably...I am doing my stretching exercises and I opted for no reconstruction which I believe is easier than the reconstruction so I am not complaining but that tightness that comes across from chest from time to time is very annoying- BS said it is normal healing symptoms but I can't imagine returning to work for another couple of weeks....I also drive 50 miles a day to get to work and back...but I am bored, so very bored and feel very unproductive, so returning to work will be a good thing even if only on a part time basis...I am going to be working part time soon anyway...at my age, I am going to cut back now but I do like being productive and feeling as though I am needed...I have been at my job 40 years and it is hard to let go completely....Good Luck to Everyone when you return to work and take it easy too!!!! (((hugs))

Greetings Feb MX and BMXers!

TJP071 you have been "Fukushima-ed" and Daiichi-ed too!  Like it's not enough to have the quake, but let's throw in a tsunami- oh and nuclear disaster too! 

Please know that we are very relieved to get your post.  There are a few others that we've yet to hear from.  They have been in the back of my mind as well.  Frankly, my dear- your spirit and mood is remarkable for the ordeal you have been through.  Please continue to post.  It's safe here. We care and have great affection for our Feb. sisters.  Pelican girl (and a couple of others) have had a particularly difficult set of physical issues to confront. Numerous Feb. women have had way too much emotional stress dumped on them.  Not easy to put a band-aid on that either.

The people at my work place ahve been tremendous!  They have given me welcome back cards, goodies, hugs, prayers, good will, kisses, they literally have cried tears of joy for me and tears of relief for them.  It has been really something to see someone cry because they see that I am well and they can finally let it out.  They can't get over how terrific I look.  I say thank you and tell them "Im under construction".  They laugh.  It's been emotionally very welcoming and satisfying.  

If I miss a day on this thread, I feel a genuine concern.  I have to hear my fellow Feb. buddies are doing. DH must feel like I'm emotionally "cheating" on him!  All of you are in the back of my mind.  Even if I'm too pooped to post, I have to at least see how everyone is doing. 

Smiles and comfort to all.

 Deborah2012

Hello to all of you

TJP- 13 days in the hospital. I am sorry you had so many complications, hope you feel better day by day

So many have difficult issues that I feel guilty posting this but I will anyway, may be in will help you know that you have better days ahead; so here it is

Today has been one of the happiest day for me since this journey. I feel great; lab results are getting back to normal evn better than before surgery. Surgery was 2/1/12. I went back to work on 3/5/12 for 2 days; was very tired by 2PM on second day; had wednesday and thursady off, back to work tomorrow and off the week-end, same schedule for next week then hopefully full time

Today I saw the BS. He told me that I don't need anymore follow up appointments unless I experience pain or something come up and I want to talk to him. Ok to resume exercise as much as I can tolerate

I also got fitted for bras and prostheses. My insurance covers 6 bras for the year and 2 pairs of prostheses. For the first time in my life I had fun trying on bras. I use to hate shopping for bras.The fitter at Friends place at Dana-Farber was great. Everything fits well and looks very nice 

I wish everyone a speedy recovery; remember to take it easy; give yourself time; you are going through a lot. Good night 

this may sound like a silly question but is it ok to sleep flat again once the drains are out? Ive been sleeping in a recliner the past week, and haven't felt rested. My last drain was out today and I guess I worry about sleeping flat or on my right side. Gonna try to prop up some pillows but Im sure it will be much better than this recliner I have been in.

I was in the recliner for 28 nights....I just couldn't get comfortable in the bed and everything felt like it was pulling and tugging.  Sleeping is MUCH better now, praise God!!

Now....off for a fill.....yay!!

Hi Deborah2012

So sorry to hear about the tissue sample not being big enough. 

Let us know what happens!

Alice

Alicethecat,  Good to hear from you.  How are you doing?

Galsal ah yes, the reconstruction. What are your choices?

This is my situation (and questions for others to assist):

1.  Already had the "parking garage" ready to receive something from a previous elective augmentation implant many mnay years prior.  I had a MX. I wanted a squishy shoved in there during my MX.  Why have a TE if I already had the cavity ready to receive somtething?  Why have a second surgery later? I was told, not as great an idea as it sounds.  Could be because as we learned on this thread, apparently there aren't that many PS s that are trained in that art? 

Here's what mine said. In the case of an MX, one has matching to do. A TE provides more flexibility and betterlonger term results because you have initial swelling etc.from the MX. One's healing,any surprise final patholgy reports etc. can be better dealt with.  For example, don't have to remove or damage the final implant if radiation or infection could go wrong.  In hindsight, I can tell you it was nice to have one side of my body that had been untouched and pain free. I'm glad I'll ahve a chance to thoroughly heal from my MX before I subject my poor body to more trauma.  

I have decided on saline not the realistic silicone or whatever the latest "gel" is implants.  I had saline before (that's what in my remaining breast).  I'm going to be 56 yrs. old. If anything were to happen, saline in my body isn't a problem.  I didn't worry with all my biopsies etc. if a needle burst my implant, vacuum core biopsies- whatever.  No damage to me.  And because I have one breast left- I may have to have a biopsy some day.  I hope not!

The saline will not feel as natural as a silicone or "gel".  However, I've had one for about ten plus years and am very happy.  They look great in clothes, nude, and when one has some of their own remaining breast tissue, they feel good, too.  Have no idea what my foob-in-trainig will be like with only saline and no actual breast tissue to go with it.  That will be new for me.  It will also be nippleless.  She's going to be the mannequin breast.  Meanwhile, the remaining breast will get a change out and a little bit of a lift to match Ms. perky TE.

Dixiemine30, could you weigh in please?  I have gotten one fill in my TE.  However, my TE was almost the same size as my remaining breast anyway.  I'm seeing my PS this week, too.   We may or may not fill 'er up again. I've been directed to bring in some bras and to see how the existing breast and the foob compare in a bra.  We'll discuss what I want and how he plans to "match" them. It's not just size, it's lift/sag etc. So Dixiemin30, here's what I don't know.  I had presumed that my near future change out operation would be like my original elective small augmentation implants years ago.  Easy-peasy, outpatient surgery.  I didn't have them "stuffed" fast recovery- one pain pill and ready to go in around a week (or less)?  Now, PS will have to remove a TE, will have to hike up my existing breast a bit.  I'm down three nodes on one side.  Maybe this will be a hospital procedure and sent home same day? Sounds like there's a bit more than just making a small incision under my breast fold this next time?  My nipple area was not be cut at all for the previous elective implants.  The scar was practically invisible.  No vertical or keyhole scars.

Anyone know yet the scope and particulars of changing out a TE for a squishy and matching with a remaining breast?  

Deborah2012

Lisa, My PS has a list of No no thats amile long and so I asked her if I could sleep in the bed instead of recliner (I have slept in the bed twice since surg and gone back to recliner since my fill..I might buy a fancy leather one later I like sleeping in it so  much!!) anyways she told me that I could have slept in the bed anytime. Wow,when I try it I have to arrange the pillows for hours to get them right so my back wont hurt. Its just not worth it to me. My fiance bought me a wonderful recliner fabric covered b4 surg and it has a massager built in and a cubby to hold your drink and remote. I love it almost as much as him..lol.

Looks like it was a good question.  Unless the PS says differently, the options that I heard from the BS are a standard TRAM or Implants.  We'll see I guess.

Barbie, "nap" has become my middle name!

Hi Ladies,

I definately feeel like a could use a nap, but when I do, I can't sleep at night...  Back to the same old fun of sleep issues.  Trying to get out and do my walking hoping that will help with sleep.

Happy Saturday:>

Hi Galsal,

I had breast augmentation 10 years ago and went with the saline.(I never really had much breast to begin with which surprised me that there was even enough to have cancer)(In fact my brother trying to cheer me up and joke with my sisters said they probably will just us a potato peeler to do the BXM, we have twisted humor that way). Any way I was told because of that surgery the recon will go much better for me and it did.  They were also happy with the fact that my implants never got incapsulated and there was a concern for this if radiation was needed. Since I got the BMX and the old implants were removed and replaced with the expanders I was given the chose for Silicone or Saline when the time comes for the permenant inplants go in. It is just my theory that the reason mine never got incapsulated/hardened is because of the saline so I will be going with the saline this time also.

Barbiecorn...yesterday I napped for 3hrs in the afternoon and still was in bed by 8:30. We have done alot of worrying, and our bodies have alot of work to do healing and I know for myself I am not used to taking pain meds or Valium, so Yes I am still napping.  I seem to be getting more energy between naps but still need to close the eyes for alittle.

Hope everyone is doing better everyday.

Deborah2012, I guess I will be doing the same as you.  I had MX on left with tissue expander.  I will be having a lift on the right and hopefully a reduction cause I don't want to be as big as I was before.  Still waiting to see if I will be doing chemo so I guess the other stuff will have to wait if I need it.  I decided on implant in case anything ever happens with the right breast, I could match them up easier plus I did not want the 10-12 hour surgery!  I want to keep up with you to see how it goes and what you decide.  Good Luck!