December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    Faith-love your new slogan.

    Fitz-hope all goes well at your appt on Friday.

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

    Surgery is June 13.  Getting more nervous.  Know it is a simple surgery however strangley I am somewhat used to how I look now and fearful of change.  Plus have had a severe headache (strange one as it is at the base of my neck and feels like a pulled muscle type of pain as it hurts more when I rotate my head.  Plan to talk to nurse today about it during my pre-op phone interview) and since no meds before surgery, feel rotten.

     -- Like the idea for the shirt!

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  • Bogie
    Bogie Member Posts: 286
    edited June 2012

    My second tissue expander is failing..huh? So Im getting a second opinion with Dr. Song fron University of Chicago before I will agree to a 3rd surgery with TE still in. My breast and truncal lymphadema is worsening and I'm now in physical therapy 2 times a week.



    I have my sleep study results back and I have moderate to severe sleep apnea. I have to go back for a second study with the cpap machine. I tried one out for a few minutes at the sleep study and hated it, how do you get used to that pressured air.



    On a brighter note...The switch from Arimidex to Aromasin has been a good one. Alot less side effects. Only thing so far is fatique and hand and arm tingling, tightnees and numbness drives me crazy,



    I need to keep busy and forget about it all at times.



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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited June 2012

    I'm surprised the December 2011 surgeries is still active. My third reconstruction surgery is July 31st. I'm considering going in for a second opinion. I'm not sure about my reconstruction. The ps wants to do fat grafting and match up the left breast as it too had a lumpectomy a year ago. I feel the edges of the implant, and it feels like a fake boob inplanted under my skin. It feels like a heavy bra I want to take off but can't. It feels weird to stir food as I feel it moving on my ribs. The ps went bigger than I wanted. I'm not that big, but much too round and high up for me. I wonder if the fat grafting around the edges will eliminate the pain of the edges of the implant. Do any of you feel pain from your implant. Not bad, but uncomfortable pain.

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

    Bogie- I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and put on a CPAP machine. I had no trouble getting used to the air pressure; my machine has a setting where the pressure starts out low and then slowly increases while I am sleeping. I hardly notice it. The mask has taken some getting used to though. But I am much more rested and can already see a difference in how I feel after just 10 days. Good luck!

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Fitz - the waiting is tough, but then you will be on to healing. I'm waiting for nerves to set it but so far I'm more excited and anxious, I want this milestone behind me. As you said, you've been thru the hard part with the initial surgery.



    Bogie - sorry you are struggling. What do they do if the TE is failing? Another replacement or can you jump to an exchange? And see my comment below to eve - maybe grafting could ease some of your complications?



    Eveberry - great to hear from you :). I am on a couple fat grafting threads because my reconstruction will be entirely fat grafting (hopefully, barring any complications). Many ladies are getting grafting on top of implants and say it alleviates their pain, some even say it has helped with their LE. That kind of makes sense because the extra tissue gives the lymph fluid more tissue to travel through.

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  • Bogie
    Bogie Member Posts: 286
    edited June 2012

    Faith I loved your post , it makes so much sense. I am asking the second plastic surgeon about fat grafting and I like the idea about fat and tissue helping with the lymphadema. I hate lymphadema as much as the cancer cause mine is so wide spread. I exercised and did Everthing right. I can't believe I got it on trunk armpit, back, breast and chest wall. It's such a large area to do lymphatic drainage twice a day with compression, but gotta do it to keep it under control. I'll be wearing a surgical vest the rest of my life now or a compression cami which sucks in the summer!



    Ginger, what kind of cpap do you have?



    Off to enjoy the day if I dwell too much it gets depressing and I need to

    Put cancer on the shelf for awhile or it swallows you up.



    Love strength and hugs to all the Dec sisters!!

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    What is fat grafting?  I've seen it mentioned on a couple threads.

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Hi Spunky - i can speak best for what I am having done.  It is fatgrafting from my thighs, hips and stomach that will be used to reconstruct my breasts.  It is essentially lipo that is purified and then injected very slowly over about 3 surgeries.  if you search on fat grafting you will find a couple very informative threads.  Others have used it to fill lumps and divets from a lumpectomy or implants. 

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    Thanks, Faith.

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

    BAD NEWS: computer crashed. Hard drive toasted.

    GOOD NEWS: happened right after backup; bought a brand new computer for half the price of the old one, and the tech was able to move all my data over.

    BAD NEWS: there was no place to plug in my old ergonomic keyboard, so I had to use the one that came with the computer. HATE IT! Worse than the laptop keyboard. Can't type for #$%^&& on this!

    GOOD NEWS: Ordered a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic WIRELESS keyboard and mouse and I should be back to normal in two days. Funny what we get used to. 

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    Thought of us when I read this:

    "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell

    Hope everyone is doing well. 

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

    Burned the foobs today. Seriously! I always end up doing crazy stupid things! Yell

    Went out into the sun for 30 minutes today to sit and drink my shake, and relax by the waterfall.

    I was wearing a tank top and shorts (no bra).

    Slathered 50SPF sunscreen all over me - at least where there was skin showing.

    Finished my shake, looked at my watch, time to go in!

    As I get in the shower, I realize my right TE is beet red, the left is hot pink, and my stomach is splotchy.

    I got sunburned right through the cloth!!!!! (Light blue cotton knit)

    Used my Aveeno Bath for sensitive skin, used Aveeno Oatmeal Oil, patted dry and put on Aquaphor. Then I got an ice pack and wrapped it up in several layers of paper towels so it was cool, not cold.

    Emailed the PS and admitted what I'd done....he emailed bacK - no harm done. Keep doing what I'm doing but lose the ice pack. Tonight everything looks normal again.

    Sheesh! What a dummy I am! Lesson learned!!!

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

    Blessings - this seems to be your week for bad luck - computer then sunburn. Hang in there!!

    I had my first post DIEP mammogram on Monday. My PS likes to mammo the foob, and I still have one original equipment right now, so it needed it's anual (although it wasn't actually a full year, but I'm having surgery next month so no mammo after surgery for a while).

    Anyway, I e-mailed the PS last night to ask her to let me know the results. She e-mailed back this evening that everything looks good. She'll give me a copy of the full report when I see her in a few weeks for my 6 month follow up.

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

    Blessings, ouch! Cookie, yay for good results! Everyone, much love.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    Blessings-you were one hot mamma.  good lesson for the rest of us-spf under clothes as well.

    Cookie-good news!

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited June 2012
    Fitzdc and FaithHopeNLuv.....sending you good thoughts for your surgeries this week.  xxo
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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited June 2012

    FITZ, FHL, GOOD LUCK ON THE PROCEDURES .

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

    Good news on the mammo, CookieMonster!

    Hi, Moonflwr! No more ouchies....back to normal!

    spunkyboobster - who knew? SPF under clothing! (or wear a bra, or thicker fabric....)

    Hi, Kam170!

    fitzdc and faithhopenluv - Hope your surgeries went well and you both are recuperating nicely.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    KAM!-good to "see" you.

    Fitz-hope you are resting and all went well yesterday

    Faithhopenluv-hoping your surgery was a success and you're on the road to a speedy recovery.

    Have a great weekend everyone!

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

    Yay for good mammos! Hoping everyone is recovering from sunburns and surgeries. End of school year is crazy so I am not on here much right now.

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

    Bogie- I will look at my machine and let you know what kind I have. I have a mask that covers my mouth and nose. The machine is super quiet!

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

    Ginger - tomorrow's my last day. I'm very excited!! Met with our head of school today to say, sorry to be your problem child this year and thanks for being so great about everything that happened. It was a good convo.

    Fitz & Faithhopenluv - I hope you're both resting comfortably at home. I'm not too far behind you with my surgery scheduled for July 11. Eek. Sometimes I wonder why I'm messing with the good boob, but it's too late now to not mess with it as the foob is considerably smaller so gotta reduce and lift to match. Hopefully in the end I'll be happy.

    Sorry I can't remember everyone to say hi to, but HI!!! to you all. I hope everyone is doing well. Hugs all around.

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  • Kayce234
    Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
    edited June 2012

    Hi All - have been checking in on everyones progress and am amazed by all of you who are still having more surgeries - you girls are amazing! Glad to see most from our December Surgeries are getting along well and life is doing well - {{Hugs}} to all those still struggling.

    Hoping everyone is able to enjoy the good weather coming our way for summer!

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

    Happy 6-month DIEPiversary CookieMonster. You're much farther ahead than me. I am going to put off any touch ups another year. I was thinking about maybe at Xmas, but then I would rather do a half marathon in January and don't want to be healing from surgery again two years in a row. Other than the nuisance swelling on my delayed side, and sort of lumpiness on my immediate side, I can deal with the wait and just want to be "normalish" for a while.

    Glad to see everyone is sort of moving along reasonably well for the most part.

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Fitz hope you are doing well :)



    Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts. I'm doing pretty well. I went in for surgery at 8:20 and came out a little before 3. Was discharged around 5. As crazy as it sounds, I know I was more comfortable and really didn't have much pain. Even now most of my pain/discomfort is in my legs from the fat donor sites. Glad it's behind me!

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited June 2012
    Faith - so good to hear you are doing well!!  I too found my only pain came from one of the reconstruction particulars... You went in and came out the same day!!??? That's pretty amazing.  Keep us updated!  xxo kam
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  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited June 2012

    Thanks everyone for the warm wishes. Went in at 6:30 and home by 2:00.  Although feel tired and sore, the breast looks great!  Dog ear gone too.  I feel like dancing!!

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

    Glad to hear the surgeries went well. Everyone have a good weekend.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited June 2012

    faith and fitz-woo hoo.  Happy to hear things went well, now take it easy on the dancing until you're up to it.

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