Still Uncomfortable with Implants

LilliM- You are absolutely right.  I am not concerned with Dr. K's reputation when I post because that is not the purpose of this site.  BCO is here to support women throughout the BC experience.  It is a haven where we can share our fears, vent our anger, console one another and be validated in our feelings.  It's a forum to share information with those newly dx to hopefully make their experience a little easier, their fall a little softer.  

I think the whole BC journey is so much harder than it needs to be and I try to help where I can.  Women still aren't being told about nipple sparing and whether or not they would be a good candidate.  They aren't being told about fat grafting before damaging their pecs with TE's and implants.  They aren't being told about the risks of LE and how to reduce it.  I could go on and on.  I try to share information that I wish I had been told or things I'm grateful I found out about in time.   

So, no, my concern is not to toot the horn of my surgeon.  I'm sure any one of you can do that on his website, the fat graft site or any of the multitude of online reviews.  Meanwhile I will cotinue to share my experiences honestly and openly without regret. 

i gotta say in my mind the whole point of this board is to give our HONEST opinions and experiences...without that, there is no point. I have learned a lot here and on the picture site...and I must say this regarding Kate...she has been awesome in her honesty throughout the whole ordeal....I really admire her honesty...she shares her pictures on the other site wholeheartedly....her experiences encouraged me to have my little bit of fat grafting....I don't think I ever read another's posts who so badly wanted something to work out well as she did when she went for that step of her journey to Dr K...it was apparent she was on board...c=it een pushed me to consider that if I needed some major tweaks done the road perhaps I would seek his opnion despite loving my PS- that is how good she portrayed him....but I read between the lines and investigated his website....and somehow I didn't totally jump on board...i think the techniques are good but to me...the PS personality is essential...just a fact in my mind...my PS has taken the seminars with Dr. K....but here is something interesting...I have had an awesome experience with my PS and the results thus far yet I have met others who do not see my PS in the same light...that is the nature of people...and everybody has their own opinion...where I see confidence and admire his healthy ego (I want my surgeon to be a bit ego-centric) others do not...i think it is because we are PEOPLE...and we all react different...I question mine every step of the way...even when happy I always say I WANT GOOD ONES...it ticks him a little but he gets where I am coming from...he listens and we talk and I do not get passed off to a PA or a nurse...every single visit over the past year I have seen him except ONE time and he sees me a lot....up until last month I saw him a minimum of every two to three weeks...this month long gap leadin up to this Friday's appt is the longest I have gone between appointments since my BMX in Nov 2010. Art, ego and skill....all required along with compassion and understanding....essential for this stuff....I was told I am in Houston...head to the med center where the superstars are...I found my superstar who has themost god awful website on the planet hahahaha....he does not advertise and has more patients then he can handle...only recently hiring a PA to help him out....for he does not want to lose touch with his patients....so that is my two cents...honesty lights up dark corners...which need lighting.....blind faith in any one person is dangerous and in my opinion, wrong. While there are some of us who question easily, others not so much and I would hate to try to sway anybody in one direction. So I post my experiences and pictures as honestly as I can....but that is all they are- MY experience and it may not be what is right for another.

Hope everyone has a good day:)

Kate I too have always appreciated your posts, your willingness to open up and share personal details and honestly share your experiences. I too remember when you first learned of FG and how excited you were and how you also thought it might benefit me as well.

Summer, I loved my doctor until I ran into problems and I found he doesn't back up his work. I am still on his list to call if someone wants to do the same procedure I had. I haven't been called but if I am I will now have to decline as I can't support him any longer. I am not surprised I haven't been called. When I first was diagnosed, I really wanted to talk to women who had this surgery. In the end did I do it? Nope. Things just moved so quickly, I was in shock, scared, worried and it was just all too much at the time. Do I regret that? YES! I had found this site but I only went so far as the just diagnosed and what to bring to the hospital. In hindsight I wish I had read and learned more and that is what this whole site is about. Learning from each other. Makeing it easy to learn- you don't have to wait and set up appointments to ask other women - how did this prodecure work for you! 

I don't want it sugar coated - I want the honest truth and I certainly don't want someone's advice who is trying to protect a doctor's reputation. That statement by itself give me concern. Lilli- did you really mean to say that? 

i too lerned so much on this side thank you Ladies i have one question please how can i get to the whippetmom side to see about implants

wishing everybody a great Day

Erika- The name of whippetmom's thread is "IMPLANT SIZING 101".  She has some great information listed there and under implant sizing information she has a list of different measurements.  If you post those, or PM her with them, she can help you figure out the best size and style of implants for your frame and desired result.  She is wonderful and has helped so many on here.  Here's a link to her thread-

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/746448?page=1 

thank you Kate

I agree as well - the support and care are what is important. Thanks!

In the absence of concern on the part of its members, breastcancer.org has no guidelines in place to protect a doctor from unsubstantiated, libelous and/or defamatory comments?

Hi Kate, I miss my blog too! Actually tonight my DH is helping me start the "Contnuing Journey." The blog started as a way to keep family, friends, and colleagues informed either by me or DH about my surgery and recovery, but now I want my journey to be with people I choose!



Yes, i think the majority of my pain is on the outside (glad to have that terminology) with the exception of the upper right pole. If I push on the left pole there is no ache like on the right. Question, I have had three lumpectomies over 7 years to the upper right pole do you think this could be part of anything? Yes, I think by rubbing I mean touching my skin! By 5pm I just don't want anything touching me. So nerve generation, does that mean feeling is already returning? My BS said that would take about 3 years.



WhippetMom thot I could go up to the 600s, so I am well under that size. I did have a professional fitting but was SO disappointed. My chest measurement is 34 and the bra sizing thread said to add 4", but they fitted me in a 34 D. I couldnt even breathe, but bought it assuming they knew more than me! Wrong!! I am now wearing a 38B/C.



I feel relieved thinking it could be nerves. Kate, I am 4 months from exchange today. How long did this "pain" last. I have noticed the back of my arms "on a hot skillet" feeling is going away! Yeah. :-). I am still swollen, so we took a 3 week PT break, but the swelling is still there, so am going back to work on the frozen shoulder and scar tissue.



My PT said that women who have had cancer for years with multiple lumpectomies have a tendency to protect the cancer side and carry that shoulder forward, resulting in a frozen shoulder. The PT work is soooo painful, but she has me doing lots of stretches more for the shoulder but they stretch the pec as well.



Thanks for yr help and insights. I feel relieved! Hugs to you!

Lindsey and Kate - wait, now what is a pole? Sorry I missed that one.

Interesting about the nerve regeneration. I was told my back would take two years.... well so far nothing which I really hate. I have this odd electrical feeling of pain especially when I turn over at night. I was hoping it was nerver regeneration but now I think it is just pain from the lat muscles perhaps pinching a nerve. Great!.

I still haven't tried the bra fitting in earnest as it is just too painful. Who knows maybe I'll feel like it this year.... 

Kate: you are such a great resource for us!! Thank you. I have a question about discomfort in the upper pole area. I had my exchange 1/17/12 & had discomfort in the left upper pole area immediately, none on the right. The PS said he did more pocket work on that side & that might cause the discomfort. I developed cellulitis 2 weeks ago, oral antibiotics didn't work so I was in the hospital for 2 days, came home yesterday. This same area was more sore during the active infection and still persists. Do you think the cellulitis is what is causing this or just more pocket work. Or is this what happens with having implants. I initially was dissappointed that were smaller than we had hoped, but after reading here I'm more content. I think I will need some FG to fill in but right now just trying to get these ones to take.

tenaj- More than likely the discomfort is from the pocket work.  It can be really painful and I'm sure the cellulitis didn't help matters.  You may still have some inflammation from that.  Discomfort from pocket work can take awhile to resolve.  I had that with exchange and felt like I'd been run over by a truck at the time.  Hope it gets better for you.  

eirka can you get a pad from a shop that has prothesis?  I have heard other women do that.  No dumb question here   Buy the bra or use one that fits the larger breast and then get the pad from the shop to match and even it out maybe.

Erika- I know at my cancer center gift shop they sold camisoles that had pockets inside it for different sized pads and I think it even came with a few different sizes.  The cami was really comfortable.  Another option for the pads is it seems like every swim suit I bought had removable cups that might be able to do double duty.  Like hopefulhealing said, just use the pad to even out the sizes.  With my TE's I had to get a little creative with dressing like loose flowing tops and stuff.  Luckily, I've seen lots of them in stores this seasons.  Sounds like a good reason to go shopping.  

Erika- If you can't find something locally just google "mastectomy camisoles" and click on "shopping".  It looks like there are lots of sites out there.  I wanted to mention, too, that your insurance may cover these things but you should check with them first.  Sometimes they require you to purchase from certain stores or sites.