Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited October 2012

    Exchange surgery today. All went well...but much more painful than I expected. Anybody else in pain after? Just under the breasts. Ugh!!! Haven't taken a full look at the foobs yet. Maybe tomorrow.

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  • Judy6
    Judy6 Member Posts: 54
    edited October 2012

    Keonghi,

    I also cannot take tamox.  The doctor told me if I have my ovaries removed, my body would still produce some estrogen.  She said it would throw me into menopause thus being able to take another form of hormonal therapy.  Is this what you are doing?  I am afraid of ovary removal because there is no reversal.  UGh I hate  all this!!! Hugs to all of you!

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited October 2012

    longislandmom- are you incisions right under your foobs? That is where my PS said she will make the cut so the scar doesn't show. I hope you are happy with the results. I am looking forward to getting rid of the rocks and having something soft. I start my last round of chemo today. Done in 14 days Cool. I get a 3 week break then on to rads. I am so sick of appointments. I never get a real day off from work. They all revolve around this crap. When I do my exchange in the Spring I too am going to have the ovaries removed. I am sure the pain from that will take away the pain from the foobs. This has been such a long haul. I started in Sept 2011 with a bad mamo, so already over a yr. I forget what my life was prior too.

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited October 2012

    hi, dianarose--  my incisions go straight across my chest and are large and unsightly.  They are even larger after i went from TE to Implant because he removed a bunch of extra skin.  But i had very large breasts before my BMX (34DDD) and am now fairly small (my choice), so the incision lines are where they had to removed extra skin etc..  the Pain under my breast was from (i think) the internal sutres and pocket work-- not the incision itself.  Two days of very bad and unexpected pain for me...but fine after that.  i'm now 5 days out from surgery and not in pain (still tender, but that's it).  i am sooo happy you are almost done with chemo.  Rads will be done soon, too.  and then....onward.. new life.  feel good. xxooo

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited October 2012

    Hi everyone writing from CA at a friends house in Ranch Mirage just outside of Palm Springs, weather is fantastic, doing some work and relaxing. Ok so 14 days out of surgery, I still have stitches in, black and blue all over, wearing spanx like compression garments, boobs well lets say the nipps look to big to me but maybe (or I hope are swollen and will get smaller) I go back to the PS next Tuesday and we'll see what she says...And I shouldn't complain but the heat makes me itch so much I'm not even in the sun...oh well



    Longislandmom: glad all went well and you're out of pain, hope your happy with the results. Are you done now?



    Flislander: no tissue expanders with DIEP. The mastectomy cleans you out and the fill with the fat, in my case, from my a domain...finally my fat came in handy!! After that recontract nipple, tattoo and done.



    Keonghi: did you decide to just do ovaries? I am sure you have made the best decision for you and that's what this is all about. My sister, mom, and cousin all took out the ovaries this past year. They say aferwards you feel a little cramping and thats it. Based on all the shit you've already been through this should be a piece of cake! Good luck Nov 1st!!!!



    The only thing I can say at this point is thank heavens for clothing! Xoxo to all...

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2012

    RTNYC, Looks like we are in the same boat, Tamoxifen = ugh, oopherectomy (O removal) = ok.  Good luck to you on the 1st.  Mine is on the 29th (4 days away - wow). 

    I had TE's put in but not for DIEP.  From what I understand, they don't put them in for DIEP since the 'expansion' comes from another part of you body (likely the belly but sometimes the back).  I thought about DIEP but now that I will have to heal from the oopherectomy, I'm glad I'm not doing that.

    Keep in touch and let us know how your surgery went!

    Kristi

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2012

    Hi all,  my sugery (3rd one in 6 months) for the ovary removal is tomorrow.  I hope you are doing well! Dianarose, I think you are on your last week of chemo this week, right?  The end is almost here, hang in there.  RTNYC and Longislandmom, I hope the new foobs have settled in nicely. :)  I think I will be getting mine in the spring also and I too, can't wait to get rid of the rocks and "side boobs". 

    For those of you on the east coast, hunker down for Sandy!  I live in south Florida and we are still getting a LOT of wind.  Be safe!

    I'll see you guys on the other side!

    Kristi

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited October 2012

    Good luck, kristi!!! Will keep u in my thoughts and prayers!!! We r getting ready for sandy!!! Bathtubs full of water, flashlights, food, etc!!!! We r in the storms crosshairs, ugh!





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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2012

    Oh man!  I hope Sandy calms down before she hits land!  Glad you are prepared...better to be safe than sorry.  I'll keep you guys in my prayers also!  Talk to you on the other side...of Sandy! :)

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited October 2012

    Keonghi- I will be in your pocket tomorrow. I am on the last week of chemo and the last infusion is supposed to be Tuesday, but this dam Hurricane Sandy might screw it up. I just want it over with. I have been really depressed latey and feeling so ugly. I hate looking like a chemo patient and I want me back. Work has sucked lately too. I had asked for a weeks paid vacation and the owner said not a problem and then when I came back to work she handed me a pay check for 15 hours. I had a melt down in the car and turned around and went back. I did get more pay, but not a full week. I was so hurt as I am a hard worker and have worked through all the chemo and never slacked on my job. She really took the wind out of my sail. Well, enough bitching for me. Good luck tomorrow and my it be painless for you.

    Diana

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited November 2012

    Hi everyone...so 3 weeks out of surgery for the nipp's and as I thought they were huge out of surgery they have settled down and are still as wide but much much flatter, almost flat; I'm happy about that. tattoo is scheduled for 2nd week in december or as the PS says, we have to get you some color!  Still think it all looks ugly at this piont, once again the PS says it will look great when totally done.

    How is everyone?

    Week out of Sandy, Upper westside in NYC was as if there was no hurricane. the rest of the NY metro area is devastated, it's just horrible and terribly sad.  Longislandmom/dianarose, how are things in Long Island, hope your safe and warm.

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited November 2012

    All you Northeastern folks are in my prayers!!  I hope everyone came through it with minimal or no damage.

    Kristi

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited December 2012

    hey...did anyone decide to wait a long while before doing tattooing?  I am considering it cause I want to loose a lot of weight and concerned that could change shape size of boobs and will need a revision later on and i've heard that insurance considers you done once you have tats done.  If I delay, it puts me into next insurance year and I'll have to cover deductible and greater percentage of total cost but is't it worth it cause if I don't wait with tat's then they might not cover a revision at all???  Does that make any sense? Anyone thinking the same or experienceing the same or knows better than me???  Have to make a final decision tonight cuase I'm scheduled for friday tat's.... comments.

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited December 2012

    RTNYC- I don't think weight will change your boobs ever again. I know that mine will stay the same if I gain or lose. It's kind of a beautiful thing when you think about it.

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

    If you've had DIEP your boobs will change with weight loss/gain, if you've got implants they won't, at least that was my understanding.

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  • spicedlife
    spicedlife Member Posts: 182
    edited December 2012

    Mine have already changed and I had diep phase 2 on November 5th.  I am not getting tats or signing off on the finished project until I lose 20 pounds and do some serious firming and wait 6 months to see how everything turns out.

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited December 2012

    jennyrjd, my thoughts exactly. thanks.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited December 2012

    Hi Ladies , so sorry I have not been here . I have been going through a major depression since my mastectomy and exc.hange . I have been on different meds and nothing helps . I have not even been to PS in months . I have a appt Jan 9th .. then I need to decide on getting the implants out or not . I am still tight all the time . don't feel normal at all.. one bigger than other and itch all the time .. anyway the Hurricaine caused Long Island a lot of damage and I was stuck at work for 36 hours but for the most part we did well. I miss you all .. I will read today to catch up on all the time I have missed 

    Lisa Marie

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited December 2012

    Hi Lisamarie- I was wondering where you have been. I have the depression too, but I try to find something else to focus on so that BC doesn't rob me of anymore of my life. Sorry you are having trouble with you new girls. I have had the dam expanders in since April and probably won't be able to do the exchange until June. I finished the long 5 months of chemo and now have 19 rounds of rads to do. I really understand how you feel. I had a melt down on Monday. I am tired of this crap.

    I don't understand how one of your implants can be bigger than the other. I would be upset too. You can PM me anytime you feel down. We can bitch together.

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited December 2012

    add me to the depression club.  it snuck up on me after my exchange surgery in october.  perhaps because it was the first time i didn't have a "task"-- i.e. now i'm mostly done with treatment and it all just sinks in.  the lack of excersize and the weight i put on after exchange didn't help.  trying to dig my way out of it now....get back into the swing of things.  re: implants.. my PS used to say to me...they may not be twins..but they should look like sisters.  Lisamarie, if there is a dramatic difference between your breasts, you should talk to PS about it.  Mine are not exact, but a very good match.  I, too, have a lot of phantom itching, which i hate.  and i'm tight..but have gotten used to it mostly.  hoping it will get better with time.   DianaRose..all i can say is i so admire your strength and am sorry you continue to go through so much.  congrats on finishing chemo..and hoping the rads is over soon, too.   Wishing you all peace and love -

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited December 2012

    Hi Girls, well don't forget about me, depression is with me too. I delayed the final stage of tattooing I think because I'm just so scared to have everything classified as "final" when I don't feel like it should be final. I had DIEP and I have the itching all the time, I feel like my boobs are on the side a little, so not exact, scars all over, still can't wear a bra to push those babies in, I wore a gown and although I looked good in this dress, I think it kept sliding down and I didn't even know it cause I couldn't feel it...just hate everything. I just joined a gym and planning to go this coming week hoping that helps me feel better.  All I can think of is that I just don't want to start the new year the same and it look like it will start that way.

    Hey Lisamarie and longislandmom (and anyone else who wants to join), want to try to plan to get together, maybe we can bitch and that will make us feel better? Just a thought!

    So proud of all of you, your strength to move forward everyday and your, our, conversations here help get me through everyday.  

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2012

    Hi gals!  Sorry to hear all the depression and I can totally relate.  I feel like the rest or the world (my family and friends) have adjusted to my BC and I am on an island by myself still dealing with all the crap that comes with BC. Such as my arm pain (due to 26 lymph nodes removed), the expansions seemed to just fatten the "side boobs", I've gained 10 pounds since the first surgery, and I'm getting pressure to have sex from my partner when I still feel pains all over the place.  I had my ovaries out about 6 weeks ago and luckily I am not feeling any menopausal symptoms yet but knowing that I will never be able to have a child really hit me hard.  I keep telling myself this is just the adjustment period...I just wish I knew how long this "period" was. 

    Love to all of you!  Hang in there, Kristi

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited December 2012

    Keonghi-I am on the island with you. Even my BF spends little or no time with me anymore. Family and friends don't call as much anymore either. I have gained about 10 from chemo and my hair that is growing back is so ugly. I wear a hat from the time I am up until I go to bed. I still have 17 rounds of radiation to go. The chemo shut down my ovaries so I have all the hot flashes and shit that goes with it. It was a yr ago yesterday that I lost my dad and I am just so depressed. I wish Christmas was over already. My skin is starting to get sore and my shoulder hurts since I started rads. I still have to have my exchange in 5-6 months and have my ovaries out. It is endless. My sex life is just about little to none. The only positive thing for me is no more periods from hell. I go to radiation, work, and then to bed. No wonder no one bothers with me anymore. I am just to fun.

    Lets pray and hope that 2013 is a better yr for us all.

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited December 2012

    So to recap:  depression, loneliness, body aches and pains, lack of sex, no desire for sex, wants sex but in to much pain, partners who don't get it, scars, scars and more scars and let's not forget appointments with BS, PS, gyn, chemo, rads and oh yeah we all work and have families...Smile

    An amazing group of women and don't let anyone tell you anything else!!!  xo 

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2012

    Love you guy!!  Wouldn't know what I'd do without you all! <3

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  • FLislander
    FLislander Member Posts: 243
    edited December 2012

    Hi guys, just saw recent posts and I'm an island alone also. Nobody gets it, but everyone here nailed it! I just started a post of Christmas venting. I love Christmas, but considering last Christmas I thought everything was going to be normal again this year. Just couldn't be further than what I'm feeling now. Just an emotional mess, putting on a happy face when I can. All my best to you guys, much love through Christmas.

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited December 2012

    We all forgot the finacial burden of F'n BC. I have put over 4000 miles on my car since May so we can all do the math for the expense of just the gas alone.

    My boob is getting pink and sore. 16 more rounds to go.Cry

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited December 2012

    Diana Rose, you are an amazing tough cookie and I should not complain so much ... I admire you and your strength. I pray for you as well as all the other amazing ladies here all the time . I am trying to not let this BC take my life .. I have started Ballet classes (yep at almost 44) I have been to 2 classes so far .. I also found a breast cancer center here on Long Island and they offer all types of free programs so, so once a month they offer creative writing and then a support group and a chair massage . So I have been trying to do that . I have been I guess single since all this . I had a guy friend but thats all he was and he made sure I knew it , he hurt me so bad that I had to delete him from my life ..So now to date haha .. I cant look at myself and my scars .. rather than meet someone new .So I work and i WORK..haha and I sleep and sleep except for ballet class .. My uncle just passed away from the big C too ... a beautiful service yesterday.. hey at least I got to see family .. and then they ask oh and how are you ??? Duh I am fine thanks ...

     I think it would be great for some of us to get together .. :) wow a biotch session ..lol... I feel bad for not being around.. The foobs .. yes the right is smaller than left .. but thing is .. I still cant shave under my arms .. I cant sleep on my sides long I guess I just feel uncomfortable all the time .. I think when I had the old girls at least when i layed on my side they went with me .. ya know these things are stuck ..lol .. and no bra for me either . I am so sad I cannot find anything that fits correctly with the implants so I live in ugly sportsbra .. and if I dont wear one I feel more uncomfortable .. I think having the support of the bra helps me a little .. anyway I hope everyone has a great Holiday ... hugs and Love to you all..

    Lisa Marie 

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2012

    Lisa Marie and Diana Rose, You inspire me to keep going!  When I think no one understands, I come here and see that you all do, and that some of you have it worse...so quit whining Kristi. :)  All of us ladies have been through so much already, so we should only look in the mirror and say, "You're here girl, you are loved, life is good and only going to get better."  I would love to meet each and every one of you and give you a huge hug.  With you, all of this has been bearable.  Merry Christmas ladies!  Love, blessings, and HOPE to each of you.

    Kristi

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2012

    Merry Christmas Ladies!  Regardless of the pain, depression, adjustments, or anything else...we are still here and kicking!  We could have been dead if we didn't do the things we had to do, and for that, I am grateful. :)  Love you all and hope today is filled with love and gratitude!

    Kristi

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