December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited May 2012

    I still have that "Iron Bra" feeling, but I still have my expanders in. (Exchange in September) Have full range of motion from my BMX, and have just started going to the gym.

    Kayce234 -  Have you seen either a Physical Therapist or a Lymphedema specialist? Lots of ladies have reported good success from seeing one of these professionals.

    I know there is also something called Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS) - perhaps you could search for that.

    Hope you find resolution and relief!!!!

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited May 2012

    anyone who had umx or bmx consider nipple reconstruction or tattoos?  My PS asked if I was interested and I wasn't at the time, but now I'm thinking about it.

    Thanks for your 2 cents.

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  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited May 2012

    going for a new nipple in June.  No date yet, but that was the plan all along.  Nipple will be made from the circle of skin where my former nipple was.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012
    Spunky - I had UMX so will do nipple recon. and areaola tatoo, just so that they match. PS can use DIEP skin already there to make nipple, he says, so no new skin needs to be moved from somewhere else. I'm thankful for that.
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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2012

    Kayce- I had my BMX in June 2011 and I feel a pull on one side and pain on other. But I have a frozen shoulder on that side and LE. I suggest being checked out by a LE therapist.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited May 2012

    I am not really interested. I have asymmetry anyway - one delayed and one immediate. I recently read somewhere that the tattoo people don't tattoo scars. I did not know that, but my immediate side has a circular scar in a sort of areola diameter and position. Not sure what the implications would be. I'm enjoying the Barbie doll look for now. Never say never, but...

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited May 2012

     A few interesting factoids I learned yesterday:

    For what it's worth, I saw a new Gyn/Oncologist yesterday for my future ooph.  She is well regarded at her teaching hospital for her ovarian cancer speciality.  She indicated, using two fingers as in ruler, that chemo helps about (imagine 4 inches), then she took both hands and spread them apart atleat a foot and said anti-hormone therapy helps about this much.  A much bigger impact than chemo.

    For all of the BRCA2 women here...one?  She said that if BC comes first, then Ovarian cancer usually comes 9 years later on average.  This was in response to me worrying about keeping my ovaries until August. 

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012

    Kam - Thanks for the info. Interesting on the chemo. vs. hormonals stuff.

    I see you added in your surgeries and made them public- I'm a little bit afraid to do so because I've had 5 and so the list will get LONG. I might do it just to see what it looks like.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited May 2012

    It is long isn't it...and yours will be much longer than mine.  If you figure out a way to edit it when it's all done, can you post the "how to?"  I know you can edit some discrete lines of information as public/privae, but that's about all I saw.  Why in the world they spread everything out double spacing, everywhere, is beyond me....like Favorite Topics or Active Topics...so inefficient.

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  • Kayce234
    Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
    edited May 2012

    Thanks so much for the replies --- I'll check with the doctor and look into that Post Mx sydrome!

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  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited May 2012

    gong in today for 6 month mammo - a little nervous.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited May 2012

    Fitz-I'm certain all will be fine-stay positive.  Good luck. I'll be thinking of you.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012
    Fitz - I just scheduled mine for June 11, just under a month from now. Hopefully all will be well. Are you having it on both sides or just the non UMX side? (I can't remember if you were DIEP or not) Mine is on both sides. Let us know how it goes, we're all here pulling for you to get no bad news!!
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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited May 2012

    One gets a mammo with a DIEP??  Is there still breast tissue left?   With BMX-Implants, I think it is a manual (word?) and visual breast exam, but I don't even know.

    Wishing all well that are coming up on this anniversery. 

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2012

    Good luck Fitz!

    With my implants they just did a manual and visual breast check.

    I am going to ask next time I go to PS or surgeon to see when/if they do an MRI to make sure these implants are not leaking. Has anyone been given direction on this?

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012

    My BS wants mammo on both breasts - DIEP and original equipment. My MO wondered about that though, and I don't know if they've discussed it yet or not. I'm not super sensitive to the mammo (not painful for me) so it shouldn't be a big deal - at least as long as we do it before my next surgery.

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  • jstunme
    jstunme Member Posts: 47
    edited May 2012

    I'm a retired mammo tech - I cannot imagine why they would want images done of a 'diep' breast.  I wouldn't imagine a radiologist wanting to 'read' it  ......  I also cannot imagine any insurance company paying for it to be done - as records would show a mastectomy previously done.   Just sayin'.....

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited May 2012

    Helloooo December Sisters!

    Wow...it seems weird to be going for six-month checkups when it was only yesterday we had our surgeries, right? Wink

    Saw my MO this morning - she did a thorough manual and visual exam (I still have my TEs in); asked if my PS recommended breast massage (he didn't) and said that I was done with mammos forever. From now on, it would be exams just like this morning's, although she didn't say how often.

    She was thrilled with my progress on Optifast (22 pounds lost on program for a total of 35 pounds down from my highest) and said that there was a study - I'll try to look it up - that linked weight loss and fitness to a 23% reduction in recurrence. That's good for my already low 1% - 2% risk.....

    We're also holding off on Arimidex til I'm done with the diet. My liver enzymes have been wacky, so she wanted to wait to make sure the origins of any side effects would be specific.

    So far, so good!!!!!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012

    My BS said mammo on both sides after DIEP (DIEP on one side only). Guess I need to push back on it a little bit harder, will get my MO to talk to her, I suppose.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited May 2012

    Post bilateral DIEP, my medical team said no mammo. That was MO on behalf of BS as well. Annual check by manual exam only. I cannot have MRI due to other equipment, so if they ever do feel anything weird, who knows what they will do... 

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  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited May 2012

    Hi - I had a lat flap so only mammo on the remaining breast.  No way I want to damage that flap by flattening it out!  I was so dang nervous.  Had mammo, had again as results were 'blurry' and then waited 15 minutes before being told I needed a ultrasound for 'diagnosis.'  Not again, I thought.   I am not ready to go through this again.  After ultra sound, tlaked to radiologist who told me that i had micro-calcifications - lots of them - and we will keep an eye on them. 

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited May 2012

    Hi everyone....I am counting down in the June surgery group and am thinking of you.  I can't thank you enough for sharing your experiences in December when I was having my lumpectomy.  I feel so much less anxiety and fear than I otherwise would.

    Wishing everyone the best!

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited May 2012
    Faithopenluv - if you have just finished AC DD 4x and Taxol DD 4x, a BMX should be a breeze.  You are a chemo warrior!!  I don't mean to minmize the surgery, but I know you've been to hell and back 8 times - LOL.   No doubt you will have those post-op days, but after enduring what you have, the worst of it will be over very quickly by comparison.
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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited May 2012

    Thanks Kam! I hope you are hanging in there, you are almost through.



    Cookie I was thinking of you in particlar this week too. I know you've had issues with allegeries to adhesives. I've had a very mild irritation to some, but with the last chemo they had to give me a shot before the treatment, plus I guess my resistance was down. Actually I don't even know why I try to guess 'why' anymore - but a simple bandaid has left a bright red itchy mark in the exact shape of one of the sticky sides. It's a bandaid that goes on children, but add it to the mix today and I find a SE.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited May 2012

    Oh faithhopenluv - sorry to hear about the allergies. I, luckily, have managed to avoid the adhesive ones, at least so far, but I am allergic to chloraprep - the disinfectant they put on your skin before surgery, and MAYBE also betadine - another disinfectant. Either someone screwed up at my UMX and used Chloraprep or betadine was on my skin for so long that I reacted to it, but I haven't reacted to betadine since with shorter surgeries. Gosh, just thinking about it makes me itchy again.

    I hope you all are feeling well and moving forward. Hugs to everyone.

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2012

    Faithhopenluv- I have the same problem with adhesives. Such a pain! I had my sleep study last night and this morning I have lovely red squares in the places where tape was used to hold the wires in place. I have not used a bandaid in a while so not sure if that will also do it to me. Are you having a BMX in June?

    Hang in there December sisters!

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited May 2012

    Count me in with the skin reaction to adhesives. Not fun. When they were monitoring me in the hospital, I had the big  EKG tabs on me, and of course had square red marks when thy took them off. Sometimes the top layer of skin comes off too. Last time it was from the picc line they put in(before I had a port) took mote than a month for that to clear up.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited May 2012

    I remember mentioning to my PS (pre BMX) that I was allergic to adhesives. He said that was why he didn't use anything with adhesives in it anyway.

    What I got was dissolving stitches, Xeriform strips on my incisions, plain gauze bandages, and a huge Ace bandage wrapped around me.

    In past surgeries, I've had SO many of those red, raw, bandage outlines on my skin after they take the bandages off! So I was very glad that my PS didn't use any. Hoping his technique will be the same for exchange.

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited May 2012

    Ginger - yes, bmx on June 14th. The BRAC + made it an easy decision for me. I am ready, and honestly believe I am going to miss my lymph nodes more than my boobs.



    I've never had a reaction this bad, but it was likely made worse w chemo and compromised immune system. It's still pretty bright red!



    Hope it's a great day for everyone!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2012

    Faithhopenluv-I did the BMX for BRCA2+ also. It was a good decision because more precancerous tissue was found in both sides. No regrets on losing those breasts.

    Good luck on 6/14!!

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