Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited December 2012

    I second that Kristi, you are 100% correct. Here's to a happier, healthier and manageable new year to all!  Robbin

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

    Kristi, you are right .. I am also a whining baby most days ... I should be grateful for my life and that I just had an amazing Christmas with all 4 of my kids in the same room .. that has not happend in years .. Happy New Year ladies  .. may we all be well .. 

    Lisa Marie 

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    I am sad that everyone is gone probably busy these days .. anyway I am going for surgery once again .. Feb 12th .. I hate my implants and I have lots of pains burning itching stabbing pains ... so PS says he wants to take them out put in smaller ones and give me botox in my pec muscle to stop spasm .. UGH ... well here I go again .. Hope u are all welll 

    Hugs 

    Lisa marie 

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    Lisamarie- well surgery again for you sucks. I hope my implants work out. I have 2 more rounds of radiation and then I have to wait 4-6 months for my exchange. In April it will be a whole yr with these rock hard expanders. I won't miss them. Good luck to you with your surgery. Stay in touch so we know how you are doing. My hair is growing back. I have about an inch. It is really course and unmanagable right now. Thank God for hats.

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited January 2013

    lisamarie-- i check back in from time to time.  more often than i post.  sorry you are still so uncomfortable, but happy you are getting it fixed. stinks that you need surgery to fix!  my implants are very comfortable as those things go...i mostly don't feel them. a little tightness sometimes, but that's it.  i do have lots of itching, which is maddening.  but that is a function of the mastectomy, i think..not the implant...i.e. all the nerves are confused.

    btw...i have had two more east end friends diagnosed with breast cancer.  it's a hot bed out here :(

    dianarose-- congrats on the hair. yea!  and on almost being done with radiation. the end is in sight!  be well.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    Longislandmom , seems the east end is in trouble huh ? I know the itching is not the implant . I know it is the nerves . and it is crazy annoying .. do you have any shoulder pain? my PS says its from getting older , but from what I have been reading it is common in mastectomy patients ... anyway I am glad all is well with you 

    Lisamarie

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2013

    Hi ladies, I too check back all the time just to see your familiar faces. :)  Lisamarie, I have officially been diagnosed with Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome because my pain is constant and it goes from my ribs to my shoulder, my shoulder blade, and my right arm.  You may want to look into it and ask your doctor if it is what you are dealing with.  I am on Gabapenten and Tramadol...indefinitely.  But, they say it shouldn't last forever...thank God.   Good luck on your next surgery.  Dianarose, I will doing my exchange in April also.  I had to wait because of the lymph node dissection and the ovary removal.  They said that my body needed to heal a little before doing more "damage" to it.  So we will be surgery sisters once again! :)

    Good to hear from you all.  Hang in there!

    Kristi

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    Kristi- How was the whole ovary removal? I am having it done at the same time of my exchange. I am a one stop shopper. Are you having nipple reconstruction? I am looking forward to that part and the tatoo's. I just want to feel whole again.

    I have had the worst itching as well. Mine is from the radiation though. It's like a bad sunburn itch. It is making me cranky because scratching skin that has no feeling doesn't help.

    On the 22nd my PS is going to fill my boob that they had to deflate for rads. It will be nice to have them the same size again.

    Lisamarie- what size implants do you have in now? I am only getting 250 CC's as that is as far as my skin would stretch. Still bigger than the old ones. LOL

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    Diana rose , I have Mentor smooth round moderate profile 400cc implants and they are wide and kinda flat looking .. anyway I may have said this here before but I am kinda blogging this journey nd if you google hopeserenitystrength all one word , you will find my blog and you can see my photos ... 

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    Lisamarie- I went to your blog site. Your incisions are much larger than mine (I was a size B with padding) and yours looked bloody after surgery and I didn't have that either. I did notice the indentation on your left side. I wonder if it is from scar tissue. They really don't look that bad other than you look uncomfortable with them. I have made sure with my PS that I want projected ones and not round ones. I would rather her have to go smaller than to look flat or this would all be for nothing. Boy did the photo's of the dam drain tubes bring back memories. They were so dam painful.

    My PS is going to do some of the fat grafting at the time of surgery as well. I will have to go back for some more as she said it works better to do a little at a time.

    Did you ask the ps what type he is going to be putting in this time. I would make sure that you got projected ones this time if you don't want round. You don't want to have to do it again. Is he going to go a little smaller too? Well they did a great job not messing up your tatoo. I want to have the nipple reconstruction after the exchange. She said she does it right in her office. I will get the tatooing done after. I need to get my eyebrows done at the same time as they aren't growing back.

    I hope this surgery works out for you this time and you can finally be at peace with them.

    hugs.... Diana

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2013

    Dianarose, the ovary removal was a cinch compared to everything else.  In fact, the hardest part was trying not to do anything like lifting or stretching for about a month afterwards.  My incisions were open for about a month because I felt OK but I forgot that the insides were healing.  Truly take two weeks off and lay down no matter what otherwise the scar tissue will cause a lot of pain around the intestines.  But, the pain and recovery from surgury was easy. 

    BTW, I only had 250cc put in my expanders because I am happy with and A cup.  Who cares at this point.  And, no nipples or tattoos.  But than again I am gay and my girlfriend loves me just the way I am. :)

    Kristi

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    kristi- glad to hear the removal of the ovaries isn't that bad. For me with 250 cc's in the expanders it makes me a B cup. I quess because I am small and they are projected. I hope I like the real implants as well.

    Finished my last blast of radiation today. Hurray !!!! Done with that crap.

    Lisamarie- hope you are doing ok after your surgery. Let us know how you are. Thinking of you.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    Dianarose , I will keep in touch .. seems all I do is come here to rant and rave .. yaddi yaddi .. but surgery is Feb 12th and I will let you know .. I am very nervous and anxious ... 

    Kristi .. glad all is well with you .. :) 

    Hugs 

    Lisamarie

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    Lisamarie- I thought your surgery was this week, sorry. I guess I still have a little bit of chemo brain. Well that's my excuse for everything these days. Have you done any research on the different implants? Have you decided what you want to go with this time/

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    Ive been trying , havent seen any pics of anyone that is as small as I am .. :( anyway I know they orderd high profile this time but not sure of the cc's , I am just at my wits end ... the more I read the more crazy I get ... gotta call back to ps office today and see what is going on .. it's okay I am not on chemo and have CRS .. ( cant remember shit ) ..lol 

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited January 2013

    http://www.drorringer.com/gallery/breast/reconstruction/

    http://www.drspiro.com/photo.cfm?c=14

    lisamarie- here are two sites with photo's.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited January 2013

    Hey my fav ladies , I have 16 more days until I go in for my second revision .. I am scared to death and hoping I am making the correct decision. all I know is that I cry and feel sad all the time and it seems this is my new way of living ... Dianarose hope you are doing okay .. Hugs ...

    Hugs to you all I miss u lots 

    Lisamarie 

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited February 2013

    Kristi, never her of the post pain syndrome.  My ribs under my breast feel sore all the time, I get shooting pain in  the breast one and off, the itching is crazy, I have pain in the shoulder I thought it was coming from my neck and the pain in my arm is pulling like there is string tighening up. I looked that up and it said, "cording" from the node biopsy.  I actually have a check up with the BS tomorrow morning, glad you posted this I am going to ask her.  

    Feel good everyone! 

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited February 2013

    Lisamarie- I have had a few melt downs lately myself. Work is stressful. They cut my hours and now I can't pay my bills, sick of winter and the freezing weather, I want my hair to grow faster, my MO wasn't very positive the last visit, sick of tissue expanders, etc....... I could go on forever.

    I am going to the eye doctors this morning. My eyes have not cleared up since chemo. They are stuck together in the moring and now I have this annoying twitch.

    My best friend and chemo buddy was admitted to the hospital yesterday for a heart attack. I am so upset. She went to every chemo, fill, and therapy appointment with me. She is a peach. She was so scared when I got to her house yesterday. It took the ambulance almost 30 minutes to get there. I pray she is going to be ok.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited February 2013

    Diana, I am so sorry to hear all the sadness. I will pray for your friend . times are so hard . I am praying for you as well... I hope that everything turns out okay . sending you comforting hugs ... xoxo im here if u ever wanna chat 

    Lisamarie

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  • Judy6
    Judy6 Member Posts: 54
    edited February 2013

    http://vimeo.com/57648966

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited February 2013

    I miss you ladies soooo much , there was so much support here . I am on Feb surgery boards and have not found it as we were here .. anyway I amost 1 week post surgery with new implants and I look so much better with smaller implants. The pain I had was not something I thought I would go through since the last exchange was so easy .. I did have a hard time .. but pain is getting less . I am on tylenol today and working just taking it slow and steady , dont want to pop any internal sutures ... I guess I just miss the way we were always here for each other . this was such a warm loving board ... hope everyone is doing well ..

    Lisamarie 

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  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited February 2013

    Lisamarie, I know what you mean about missing everyone.  I can't believe we are almost at out year anniversary of our first surgeries!  I am doing the exchange in April.  Did you have drains again?  Is the recovery faster than the mastectomy?  Did you have "side boobs" prior to the exchange?  If so, are they gone now? 

    Hang in there girl!  All of this is almost behind you now.  Sending you ((((HUGS))))

    Kristi

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited February 2013

    Keonghi, Hi so glad someone popped on by , I am having a tough time with my recovery this time . my surgery was 4 hours long and the pain is dreadful. I am on 2mg dilaudid but since i am back to work i only take it at night . I did not get drains with either exchange so you should not get them . I did have boobs close to my armpits the first time . becuase they were too big for my tiny frame . I had mentor smooth round moderate 400cc and I hated them . I looked like a body builder . I now have mentor smooth round ultra high profile 320cc and find they look amazing finally . I had to have a lot of internal sutures due to making my pockets smaller . so that is probably most of my pain . You should feel more comfortable after your exchange with minimal pain . I was so relieved the first time around . but as I healed it was so uncomfotable because they were too big .. I wish you the best with the implants . I bet you will feel amazing . I have a blog its called hopeserenitystrength@blogspot.com you are more than welcome to go there it shows you all my photos from pre mastectomy all the way up until now ... if it helps , then maybe you can see what I am talking about ... again thanks for coming back I so miss our April ladies ... I too cannot believe we are almost a year out wow time sure does fly .. big hugs ..

    Lisamarie

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited February 2013

    Lisamarie- your new implants look great. I am glad for you. I hope your pain level is better. I can't wait to get my exchange. The ps said as soon as they can get me in sometime in June. She has to set it up with the other surgeon who is removing my ovaries at the same time.

    Yesterday was my birthday. I was so depressed without my friend Jane. She has been gone over 2 weeks now. I still cry when I think about her. She would have made me an awesome cake. I never get a cake. It pisses me off. I think because I am a pastry chef no one ever thinks to get me a dam cake.

    I had my 6 yr old granddaughter and her 5 yr old friend for the day. I will admit I do have a headache now. They were good, just loud. I sewed a skirt for my granddaughter. I made it with pleats which were so cute, but because she is so skinny I had to really tightened up on the elastic so you really can't see them. She picked out some buttons that were different colored hands and we sewed them on the skirt and one on a matching turtle neck. She looked cute.

    I hope everyone is doing ok. I am looking forward to a spring and summer without treatments.

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited February 2013

    Diana Rose , Happy Happy Happy Birhtday my friend . I know all too well about not getting a cake or anything . I would have baked you a cake and sang too if you could have handled my singing voice lol... I am so sorry about your friend . I hope in time you will soon feel better . you will always miss her but know she is always right there with you . 

    Granddaughters so fun I say, mine makes most of my sadness go away .. she is the best . I can be with her and think of nothing else . I cant sew so kuddos to you kiddo .. I buy her lots of things though .. she is just so fun .. we baked cookies on Friday night and I cooled them down and put second batch in oven and she says grandma I want a cookie , I said ok here you go then she proceded to say no grandma I want the whole plate ..lol I put the plate of cookies on the coffee table and she goes and lays down on her princess couch and falls fast asleep .. so cute ..

    Thanks about the new implants , I too am so happy with the new girls they fit me much better .. but I just wished I would feel better .. I know it takes time to heal and I am just waititng . I have a lot of internal sutures he says .. so I am trying to be careful . but aam also back to work .. lol well hope you have a better weekend , I am off to work .. ttyl..

    Hugs and Love 

    Lisa Marie 

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  • rtnyc
    rtnyc Member Posts: 155
    edited March 2013

    Hi April ladies, dianarose, lisamarie, keonghi how are you doing!!!!!  As we approach April I can't stop thinking where did this year go. Well we know where. Do you believe it's been a year. Wow!  I read through some of the recent posts and heard about sadness, new implants, lisamarie writing a blog...just everyone moving this process along and still needing support. I have to say the April group was and is still an incredible group of women. THANK YOU!!  For me, I am on a mission to lose 25/30 lbs and then we'll see if I have to have any revisions done, right now not 100% in love with the new boobs, they're natural since I had the DIEP flap and not implants but I thought they would be more round and up and they are not. Do you know of anyone who has posted photo's of their DIEP boobs?  I ddi the nipples which are fine, I had them do small flatish like ones so they don't stick out of my shirts all the time but I still haven't done the tatta's yet either so it's still not a pretty picture but have a lot to focus on around me work is insane, my older daughter will probably move out next month, she's 25 and my little one a junior in high school is giving me headaches due to SAT test and college lists...I guess better than thinking about my boobs all day!  Anyway, Ok keep in touch as we move into April!!  Robbin

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  • argynis
    argynis Member Posts: 123
    edited March 2013

    I will have my mastectomy (right side with TE placement for a delayed DIEP after Chemo) on the 3rd of April.

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited March 2013

    rtnyc- good to hear from you. It sure is crazy that we are all approaching 1 yr. We are still all at such different stages. I am glad you like your new boobs. It will also be a yr with these dam tissue expanders. I am looking forward to something other than these rocks. My hair is growing back fast. Very curly. I am looking forward to a ponytail again some day. Instead of surgery next month I am taking a vacation to NC to visit my daughter and granddaughters. Two of my sons are going with me as well.

    Everyone should celebrate next month as we are all still here and are moving forward. It sure hasn't been an easy road. I guess we are all tougher than we thought.

    Lisamarie- how are you liking your new girls? I hope you are happier with the new ones. I don't want to see you having to go through it again.

    Kristi- how are you doing?

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  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited March 2013

    Hi, Ladies--  yes.  the year mark has been a big one for me.  I had the one year mark of the diagnosis a few weeks ago.  One year for the BMX next month.   I was in hospital last year on my birthday.  This year i have booked a one week yoga/hiking trip in CA alone as a time to celebrate and reflect on all.   On an annoying front, i have found a small lump (bit smaller than a pea) in my foob.  Since i had DCIS, i am keeping calm at this point.  Chance of recurrance is less than 1%. BS in two weeks to check out.  I spoke to BS nurse and she says that it is likely something on the implant.  Am keeping very positive and assuming that is the case.  will be  happy when that is confirmed.  hope you all all are well!

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