February 2012 MX

Hi All,

 You know...after going through all of this mastectomy/reconstruction business...I've decided one thing....NO ONE IS GOING TO TOUCH MY "GOOD" BREAST EVEN IF IT'S HANGING THREE FEET BEHIND ME AND I'M TRIPPING OVER IT!    When I first saw the PS, she had said that after my recon is done I may want to lift my good breast to match it....no way, no how!  I've had enough!  It's amazing how one's perspective can change through this!!

Bern, have your ribs been sore since surgery, did you mean 8 weeks or 8 months? It took me 8 wks for my ribs to not feel buried after BMX now it's gone. Maybe BS can do an MRI to ease your worry. I also had a bad post op path report of invasive but doc assured me, nodes would be the first place it usually goes.



Interesting fact he told me my invasive cancer was there for 10 years, also read that. Still amazes me that monthly mammos, MRI and ultrasound didn't find the invasive cancer yet picked up the ductal in situ carcinoma liitle microcacifications. I will never never get over that one, amazing!



I thought about asking about a full body scan since I had a low oncotype score and didnt need chemo, wonder with my sneaky cancer how one would know. My surgeon still feels optimistic he got it all,and I can't spend my days in worry, that's not living to me and I won't do it!



Stay strong, and take control...

Happy News!! Finally got the drains out last friday from my second surgery (BMX with DIEP and TRAM on feb 1; revision of abdominal incision and removal of additional axillary nodes feb 29). The second set of drains were just awful..both were in an awkward places and the one from where the axillary nodes were removed hurt every time I lowered amd moved my arm. Now that the drains are out I feel free for first time in a month and a half! I am still very swore and swollen under my arm and in the R new breast but got great news (finally!). All of the axillary nodes were negative. What a relief! I meet with breast surgeon and oncologist next Thursday...breast surgeon will check R side for any signs of lymphadema and oncologist will discuss chemo and when they plan to start. I think they will want to wait about 4 weeks until I finish healing from surgery which is fine by me.

I am thrilled to finally be feeling better and hopefully getting past the surgical stage of this journey. I am interested to hear from any of you who have met or will be meeting with your oncologist soon about starting chemo. Hope you are all feeling better too!

P.S. I finally was able to lay on my left side for just a little bit last night. But I can tell it is going to be a very long time before I can lay on my right side due to removal of axillary nodes and all the underarm ,upper arm ,and breast swelling). I have always been a side sleeper but I am gradually adjusting to sleeping on my back. I spend half the night in the recliner and half in the bed...in the bed still need lots of pillows behind me, on each side and under my legs to accomplish it.

It's a new week and weather looks btful here in WI , I hope all of the Feb girls are on their way to  feeling much better. 

I have to be very thankful that I haven't had any of the problems some of you have endured.  In choosing the TE/implant route instead of the TRAM or DIEP, I just didn't feel like it was the right choice, surgery & recovery would be way to long & radical. Everyone decides for different reasons. 

Galsal    I chose to go with TE/ but have not yet decided on silicone over saline.  I know that they say silicone is much safer than yrs ago, and the feel may be more realistic.  I however don't like the idea of possibly having MRIs down the road, we all  we know how expensive they can be. 

 Dixiemine30    Did your surgeon explain how TE may have flipped?  I have been starting to sleep on the uneffected side now and even the MX side w /TE side but not for very long.  PS never said I shouldn't , I was just wondering if it may have flipped because of the side sleeping. 

Nel    I have a side note to the funny story about your daughter wondering if breast would just redevelop.  About 30 yrs ago when my daughter was about 5, an elderly aunt had undergone MX, my daughter asked if she was going to have a breast transplant.  I could see how that seemed logical to her, they can do so many other transplants.  I just had to laugh. 

Here's to a good week to all !!

DebbieOS and Galsal

Explain what you mean by why you might have opted out for skin sparing.  What are you or Galsal not happy with or concerned about? 

I guess I don't know exactly what I should be feeling at th MX site - mine feels all of the following in different areas, numb, uncomfortable to touch, soreness (not really painful- now that the drains are gone and incisions are healing).  The numbness I have been told will last for months, will it eventually go away?  It it were not numb would we be feeling pain? 

As far as compression bra, my PS told me that he prefer I wear it 3 weeks from MX date (Feb 23) so that will be Friday.  Mine is like a really tight tube top with velcro down the front.  It seems to want to fall down on the other side so it isn't really appealing to try to wear in public unless you can layer your clothes.  I did wear my normal bra (with underwire and some foam bra insert in the MX side), I wore it most of the day, church, & out visiting with no problem.  Don't know if that was a bad thing to do but I felt so much better about my appearance.  I don't really want to invest in anything else until exchange surgery is complete, (will that be 3 months or 6 months??) I don't know.  I am sure glad we went thru surgerys now during the end of winter, so maybe we will be much more comfortable in the spring & summer weather with fewer clothes.   

Most of us have been having some unusally warm weather for this time of year. 

Hello All --

I've been sleeping on both sides since I've been back in my bed. I am not a back sleeper and I'm not sure anything could make me become one....I'd just have to move back to the recliner if I couldn't lay on my sides, at least for a little while.   It takes a lot of practice to find just the right "spot" where I can lay and it doesn't feel like I'm laying on a coconut!!! Dang expanders!!

The PS doesn't know why my TE flipped.  He said sleeping on my side wouldn't do it....I asked.  He says I've been doing something repeatitive (I haven't) and the fliuid that was behind it allowed it to flip around.  I actually like it better flipped....wish I could figure out how to do the other side :-)

So...I got my 4th fill on Friday.  Really glad it's Monday and the stretching is starting to relax some.  He said I'd have 2 more fills and then wait 6 weeks for the exchange.  Whoohoo!!!  I am at 590ccs now.  We haven't discussed implants yet, maybe I should bring it up next week.  I've decided to go with saline, I think.  I just don't know!!!!  Have any of you made decisions as to what you are going with?...why?

Love & Hugs to each and every one of you!!!!  I couldn't have made it without you!!!

DebbieOS   I wasn't really told anything about the skin sparing MX , I guess I just thought that was the thing to do.  I thought that would mean I would have my own skin to use as in place of what I don't know???  My BS said that she would not recomment nipple sparing & never mentioned anything about keeping the areola.  I just went with what they thought best.  I have only had one fill since surgery of 70 ccs without much discomfort, will I feel more discomfort as it gets bigger??  I go on the 20th for next fill. 

They have asked which implant I want, and am still not sure?  Any opinions ? 

Are any of you having nipple reconstruction w/tatoo?  I know it is a bit early to discuss that / it is probably 6 months or more down the road. 

Anyone having extreme sensitivity? I wore a cami two days ago and since then my skin has been super sensitive. Not close to the incision but up in the neck area. I didn't have recon, but they did remove breast tissue up that high and it feels like it was where the cami top ended.

I'll check through the preop paperwork I have that spelled out the surgery.  I don't recall it was said before about skin-sparking although if it helps overall with the recon, so be it.

Janice - cost of MRIs doesn't entirely come into play with me.  I'm a Disabled Veteran (although slightly) and use the VA Healthcare system.  For any treatment that is not part of conditions that consistitute my VA rating, I'm still treated.  Instead though, insurance claims are made.  If I didn't have any insurance, I'd still receive the treatment regardless.

Hi Janice,

I also had the skin sparing BMX.  I have areas of numbness and felling but not really much pain.  I didn't have lymph nodes done, so I think that may have a lot to do with it. 

I see my PS on the 22nd at which time we will discuss nipple reconstruction/ tatooing.  If I can get the 3D tatooing, that will be my choice, but I have a feeling that my HMO doesn't cover anything nearly that exotic  I'm hesitant about nipple recon, but definately want the areola tatooed to cover the scar.

Hope everyone is well, just enjoying the sound and light show (thunder and lightening)!

carolyn

Hi ladies,

My sister had the nipple recon a long time ago and said she wish she didn't. They eventually get smaller after they were REALLY long and now she just has what seems to be a round patch of leather over her breast. She adviced me not to take the risk of another surgery/infection and scaring.  So I will be going with the 3d tatooing also. I saw on a website where they were in the shape of hearts but looked just like a real nipple. It actually looked very nice. My friends and family had some other suggestions. I only have one tatoo now but if I have to get nipple tatooing i might as well get something symbolic.

There was something several weeks ago that had a link to the tatoo artist's web site. He had a whole bunch of very impressive pictures of before and after. I don't remember what site here had the info.

Hi Ladies,

My profile pic is the tattoo I am thinking of getting, off course reversed for the right side with the nipple still tattooing behind it to make it seem like a very delicate bra. I was on a site called Johnny Tatto under the breast cancer tattoos...I was hoping most of it would also go over the scars that go across my breast. At this point I figured on "bra on sex" but this may look elegant and still be covered when needed....just an idea...

Hello my long lost Feb. sisters!  I have missed you gals!

I had been out of town.

Dixiemine30 "Houston we have a problem".  I laughed so hard!  Don't know how uyou pulled that stunt!  I'm done with fills. I only had one.  Went to pS today. here's what I learned:

The "pimples" one on foob, two on lymph excision site are stitiches moving their way up to the surface. That was a relief- not some precursor to necrosis or anything.  I may see black threads surfacing.  I've had those before on my foob.  I teased the young female nurse who has to be present during an exam with male PS that "see what happens post menopause?  You might grow a beard on your boob".!  

I have had very strong pain around my rib area.  Again,l it is confirmed due to hiking up my foob so that my eventual saline change out will not be so saggy.  

Great news for me!  I don't habve to wear the sports bra, crushers any more!  My chest has been liberated.  No more foob burritos- I didn't have any Always or Kotex pads as I'm post menopausal in my house.  That's why bubble wrap was my padding of necessity.  After I read some of your posts, I purchased a package of Always regular pads for convenience.  BTW, my PS has no problems with me wearing an underwire.  In fact, my assignment for today's appointment was to bring in some bras and figure out what I want the final product to look like.  I brought in two.  One was an underwire with sheer black lace and zero padding.  The second was an everyday underwire simple lined bra.  They were extremely useful in describing and having the PS explain what his task and results would likely be when I change out for squishies.  We think that will happen 3rd or or last week in April.   Can't wait! Out patient procedure- don't have to go to the hospital. 

 I am soooo in for the eventual 3-D nipple tatoos.  I saw that on breastcancer.org weeks ago, also  Bern25- you clever woman! Toatoos were never my hting but I am loving you idea to have a nipple design incorporate something artistic to minimize the scar.  

I too am tired after my 6-hour work day.  Truly, I think when I get this darned cardboard box TE out of my chest, it won't be as fatiguing.

Galsal, are you kidding?  You really would consider having your torso cut up, after everything you've been through?  My threshold is going to be give it one shot to semi-match my exisitng breast with my post MX foob or vice versa.  However, I had implants before. They have to change me out regardless.  I can completely feel DebbieOs emotions- I think if I didn't requiare a changeout on my good breast (it's been in there for 10 yrs.+) then I might say forget it too!  

No confirmation yet on my oncotypeDX second sample having been sent to Genomic Health lab but it is likely it went out today.  

Love reading your posts!

xoxo

Deborah2012