February 2015 surgery

Hi ladies,

I'm new to this forum.  I just wanted to say you all inspire.  I will soon have to think about going in for a 2nd revision to correct rippling and was wondering if any of you ladies from NY could PM me the names of the PS you have used.  My PS that I've had for a year doesn't know why my last revision didn't work so I must start anew.  Thanks for any advice or suggestions you have. 

Hi ladies,

I went for my second and final fill yesterday. If all things go well I will have my exchange the beginning of June.

They did what is called a rapid fill. I am at 600cc now.

I think I was right, that because I had lost weight there was more skin than they thought.

Jilly, I hope your first day back to work went okay.

Jean, you always make me smile as well.

Arlene, my PS told me I can begin to exercise in another 4 weeks. I'm glad you are drain free!

Justamy, I really am praying for everything to get better for you. You need a break now.

Nurseshark, you sound like you and your husband are being very considerate and sweet with each other.

Love Robin

jilly59 -  yes, some of those antidepressants can make you feel like you're having an anxiety attack.  You just need to find the right one for you.  Call your psych and tell him you want a differnent script.  When my was battlling leukemia and before he passed away two years ago, I went to a psych and he said I have acute anxiety and stress so he prescribed one of the newer antidepressants that's on the market (I forget which one) and also Klonopin cause he said it works longer in your system than Xanax or Valium.  Anyway, I took only half a tablet (10 mg) the first night and I thought my heart was going to come out of my chest and also had to take a Klonopin to calm down.  I called the pysh the next morning and gave him an earful.  He was supposed to make my anxiety better not ten times worse.  I don't care what all the literature says, find something else.  So he switched me to Remeron and I didn't have those side effects anymore.  Good luck!!

Thank you, Amy! I have been reading you're posts and glad you're doing better than last month!

MJH1- Thanks!  I just googled it and will definitely ask him about it!

justamy, get the sleep while u can! Give urself a break and enjoy it.

Speaking of depressants..I've been put on Pristiq, it's supposed to be kinda like Effexor but it doesn't go through ur liver apparently. Still waiting for it to work. I thought these things r supposed to make u less anxious

Thank you, Rak1 and Jilly

Oh, the Drain SUCKED! I am sorry...I had to say that.

And I will wait on the exercise...just wondering if I can ride my stationary bike a bit...I will definitely ask, first.

Thanks for your help,

arlene

Arlene, I was sent to PT for lymphedema evaluation after my mx. They took the measurements of my arm, checked my range of motion and were quite happy about it, given the timing after my mc. I had already been doing the "hand walking on the wall" stretches after my first surgery, after being cleared for them by my BS.

The PT went over the exercises with me again, and I'm supposed to go for the follow up soon.

Don't be discouraged by the difficulties you're having with the stretches though. It takes time to stretch to the comfort level, it goes gradually.

Thank you, mjh1 and BB!

I will keep up with the stretches, I just could not believe how "tight" I felt the first time I tried...I was in good shape on 2/25. My BS and MO don't think I need/should to go for PT now...going to start chemo next week. I just always feel I have to "overdo" everything...lol

arlene

MJH1

Wow...crazy coincidence with the dates...never was too fond of February...lol...but guess I should see the surgery as a good thing...getting rid of that BC Crap! Good luck with the insurance...Mine can also be a royal pain...I actually feel anxiety when I see an envelope from them in the mail. When I spoke with the PS office, insurance was my first question...and so far, no probs. Hope the same for you.

arlene

mjh1,

Why don't you work it the other way and call your insurance and ask what PS are in your network and start there? Make it their problem to find you a new PS.

fourminor - I don't call the insurance company and get referrrals because they all jackasses.  Ever since Obamacare came into play Empire BCBS has been a nightmare.  Every time you talk to a person you get a different answer.  They're still trying to sort out all my claims from last year because I was enrolled in a plan January, somehow or other there was a glitch and I was accidentally disenrolled and reenrolled in May but with a higher deductible and then finally in October I was put pack to my original plan but of course all the claims they processes between May and October were wrong so they still trying to sort that out.  Yes, since October.  I found out at the end of January whoever was supposed to be taking care of it just left it open so they never went anywhere so that will take another two months.  Their website is never up to date either as far as doctors in network so I learned it's just easier to ask dr's office.

RAK -  no, I haven't called yet.  Spoke with my PS last night and he really want's me to consult with the system chief at NS-LIJ said he would go with me cause he said he showed him and also the chief of plastic surgery my pics and they both said fat grafting now.  I said well, did you tell them I don't have extra fat??  He also recommended a PS at NYU (you were right FK) and one at Lenox Hill if I didn't like the system chief.   So I am slowly tryng to go through the list to see who takes my insurance and who doesn't and who I can get free consults with.  RIght now I'm thinking consult the system chief at NS-LIJ since that's where I had everything done, go to NYU because I got a lot of recommendations for doctors at the breast reconstruction institute and also go to Lenox Hil and see what each of them has to say.   Of course, I have to find the time to do all this since no doctors seem to open past 5.  How is all going with you so far??.

FaithHopeCourage-

Glad to hear you're doing well! My surgery was 2/13. Met with MO Friday and she too said she was ok with no chemo. My Oncotype was 19. They also told me no surveillance... Just to pay attention to pain that's not my typical pain. 

She wants me to wait on starting arimidex until my infection issues resolve. They're currently on the fence about putting me in the hospital for IV abx. One of my incisions opened 4 weeks post op.

MO says arimidex 5 years...BS says 10. Hmmmmm.

I am new to this forum but did lots of searching and reading before my February mastectomy and really appreciate the information and experiences that everyone shares so openly. It helped me as my surgery date came closer and inspired me to join the forum in case it can help someone else as you have helped me. Except for having to get the TE removed a couple weeks after placement (the original plan was to start reconstruction immediately) due to infection, everything was smooth and I'm feeling great. The worst part really was the drain, it was annoying when it was in and to get it out it hurt worse than anything up to that point. Looking forward to starting radiation soon and we'll try reconstruction again sometime in autumn.