March 2014 Surgery

ahh good to hear ucfmom - i started thinking about it and was on my way back to ask if it was possible your were exposed to some find of plant from gardening or something - but I like your doctors answer and especially the part about it going away in a few days.  

On a side note, I was reading Samantha Harris' twitter and she commented about how she was going bra shopping for some Spanx bras for her reconstruction.  I wrote her and told her to check out Genie and Playtex Play, and also to check out breastcancer.org for great info.  She tweeted me back "Thx, I'll check it out".  I also told her I couldn't have made it through all of this without these forums.  So Samantha Harris if you are searching yourself and see this, welcome!

Julie -- thinking about you with 8/8 around the corner.  Just wanted to let you know I have been thinking about you a lot and willing a fabulous exchange to happen.  

I have not been online much -- or just checking in to see how everyone is -- but not leaving notes. It's great keeping up with this online family -- so helpful -- sorry I have not been contributing much -- I have just been letting it all go by, awaiting my exchange in October, quietly worrying in the back of my mind what this entire year means for me for the rest of my life -- and then finally trying to keep up with work (wow this is a lot), and of course family and the love of my life, my Manly Man Stacy. Oh my 2014 is a historic year for me - In many ways I can't wait for it to be over. But I have always lived by "The Prize in the in the Process so Play Hard!" So wishing the year is over -- is against my rules. Hummm.   

The spirit of this group and all that everyone manages through - provides me with so much strength.  Thank you everyone and best wishes that good things will eventually result in all that everyone is going through.  xoxo (Sailon) Linda.

Manly Man Stacy, Me, Daughter Ania, My Mom, Son Nick (NYU Graduation - Lincoln Center, NYC 5/14)

Hi Julie! I didn't realize your exchange was coming up so soon. Do you know if they are placing drains after your exchange. You're ahead of me by about 3 weeks. My exchange is scheduled for 9/2. I had to take 3 weeks off due to the sudden allergic reaction to tape of all things! I am hoping for no drains but have heard a few women say that they had them. I was hoping to be able to go to a family reunion at the beach on 9/13. Won't go if there are drains involved. Glad you and all of the March women seem to be doing good!

Sailon you have a beautiful family! 2014 certainly has been quite the year for all of us. I am ready to put this year behind me. My daughter was diagnosed in 2012 with Triple Negative BC. My husband was diagnosed in 2013 with Prostate Cancer and then I was diagnosed in Dec. 2013 and treated in 2014. Can 2015 be a cancer free year for all of us...please!!!

Take care xoxo

Kim

Thanks Sandra! I am going to check with him. I have my pre-op appt. coming up. I just got a phone call today asking if we were going to make it and the thought crossed my mind that I still didn't know if I was going to have drains or not. I am really hoping for no drains I just want to go visit. Not planning on spending too much time sitting on the beach but a nice walk in the morning and evening sure does sound good right now! I think I am actually missing Florida a bit right now

Julie, we now know along this journey to expect the unexpected.  So sorry that you can't finalize everything, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.  I have the fear of fears that when they do my lift/reduction on my natural side that they find cancer.  I honestly couldn't think of a worse case scenario, but this is the part about moving forward but always looking over the shoulder.

Just to be the voice of cautious reality here - if you expect perfection at any point along the way you have to be ready for disappointment.  While we all think that we deserve a wonderful aesthetic result from reconstruction after all that we have been through, it doesn't happen for everyone - maybe even the majority of us.  One of the things that good plastic surgeons do is to manage expectations, and gently let their patients know what to expect, that after this experience you can have a variety of results, and to be honest about what can and should be revised if the patient is less than satisfied.

Julie - and that is why I posted about that - not that I was seeking perfection by any means, but if I knew then what I know now - I would not have replaced my alloderm in March - I had two more surgeries after that, and need at least two more just to have anything on the left other than complete flatness.  That surgery was not for aesthetics - it was a structural repair, and things went way wrong.  Everyone should allow some time and truly consider whether any revision is really necessary, or whether they can adjust their thinking to be content with what they have.  I am so hoping that you end up with exactly the look you want in your exchange - that would be awesome!

sandra - here's hoping your doc can get this figured out for you - you have been through enough.  Not to speak for you, but I am guessing that like myself, you want a decent representation of a chest, no more pain, and a shot at moving on from all of this.

Special K and Sandra -- thank you for all the perspective.  It is important to go in with realistic expectations - your conversation was good to hear as I likely do not have realistic expectations.  My religion of choice in this scenario is positive thinking yet believing it will carrying the show on this one might be a little out in left field!   

Juliecc - thinking of you this week.  I hope the little red spot is just that. Fingers crossed.  Good luck with the surgery and the initial recovery. You have already been on my mind all week and I find myself willing the cosmos to make good things happen for you.  God's Speed and Good Mojo dear --  looking forward to hearing from you soon.   

Amen Sister Sandra!