November 2014 Surgery Sisters

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  • mommacat4
    mommacat4 Member Posts: 215
    edited March 2015

    That's always better to get it done in the early morning. Prayers to you and before you go under just imagine all of us around you holding hands and praying for you. I know your sister will be there physically but we are there too.

    Take care

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Yes, November sister rock! Great messages all the way around. We've got each others backs..... ☺️

    Thanks Mommacat for the kind words. Simply put, I would have never made it through this journey without you guys. This is my refuge. It would be awesome if we could all connect on FB... We could make a private group.

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Happy surgery Morn Alexa P! Here's to a wonderful day for you

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Awest, I'm all for a private FB group. Love our special sisterhood and knowing even when friends and family may have reached their BC "quota" there's always a gentle listening ear here amongst the Nov sisters

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Let's work on the FB thing. Anita West, right now my profile has a Relay for Life background and a collage of Brave sayings. See if you can find me.

    Alexa....... Goodbye tissue expanders!!!!! Hugs, prayers, and lots of love.

    image

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    Hey girls I'm home!!!

    Surgery went well, came home on no narcotic painkillers. Of course I'm sore but otherwise feeling good. 👍

    Will follow up with dr tomorrow. Right now I'm cozy on the recliner 😊 zzzzzzzz

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Great news and very thankful. How long did it take?

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    I went in at 7:30, got to recovery at 9:30 and home by noon 😊

    Had lunch & took a nap. Watched some Netflix took another nap.

    Took a Tramadol (non narcotic painkiller) 4ish and propped up in the recliner.

    Took a peek from the top, as incision as in IMF this time... Looks good... And it's squishy!

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Glad the surgery is behind you. Squishy is good! What were you saying about the incision? You feeling okay tonight?

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    Every once in a while the incision hurts because it's right where're band of the bra is... A little soreness in general foob area when I got out of recliner last night to get ready for bed. Otherwise it's all good so far. No narcs needed, just a Tramadol and my antibiotic and no pain this morning.

    Sleeping in the recliner sucks but I did it so I wouldn't accidentally roll over onto the new work and disrupt stitches. These are good problems 😊

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Way to be a trail blazer Alexa. I've been on pins and needles waiting to hear how your night went. You are helping make surgery number two a little less scary. (((((Hugs)))) brave girl!

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Just signing on to read the fantastic news, Alexa! Sounds like everything went perfectly and that is so reassuring for those of us lagging behind on the exchange surgery timeline. Must be wonderful to sneak a peak and see the new squishies! Do you have much swelling or can you tell yet?

    I was with plastic surgery at MDA yesterday and finally have an exchange date. Not untili June 18th because that was the only date the clinical trial doc said woudl be allowable under the protocol. I'm just happy to have a date :-)

    Keep us posted on your progress...very proud for you


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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Awest, I couldn't find you on FB. I'm Cherie Findley Belcher on FB if you search on that.

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    Ladies, it's a real blessing to have gotten this done as soon as I did. Had my follow up at dr today, he took all the gauze off and I have steri strips on the incision. It IS a little smaller than her sister, but I knew that would be the case, and you really can't see the difference in clothes. There is minimal swelling, the upper pole is a little full which will change as it settles. Overall I'm thrilled! Now just gotta take it easy. Cleared to shower tomorrow and drive next week 😊🙏 very thankful

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    That's right - take it easy! Go into princess mode so you don't undo all the good work there :-)

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    Found you - yay! I went and changed my pics yesterday. Prob threw you off.

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Found you now too Awest. Anyone else on FB wanting to do a private group?

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    let us know about FB girls. Alexa dear, it's time to check in.

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    Sorry! I'm not one much for facebook...

    Anyway, things continue to go well. I took a shower today - that always feels great! I had a little bit of discomfort at the very end of my incision but nothing major. I was able to shampoo my own hair and blow dry, etc...

    I don't see any bruising or really any swelling either. I put a bikini top on to see how it looks and it looks pretty good - you can hardly tell that they aren't quite the same size and all the scars are covered. :)

    Overall so far I'm really feeling grateful. I'm still being extra cautious with germ prevention too, sanitizing hand wipes and washing with Phisoderm.

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2015

    All of that is good news! How long are you off work?

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  • mom2threeboys
    mom2threeboys Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2015

    Alexa - glad to hear you are continuing to do so well! Nice to be able to put on a bikini again :-)

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited March 2015

    Haha I have no business wearing a bikini, my bmi is way too high... But I do wear it at home in the pool. Hopefully summer will actually arrive this year...

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2015

    Friends,

    I meant to post sooner and then got busy. It is six hours until my exchange surgery. It's important to have my November sisters with me. Sorry for the late notice.

    I'll keep you posted but say a prayer for me please.

    I want updates too on all of you. I'll be off work a few days so I'll have time to respond. 😊

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2015

    Best of luck with your upcoming surgery Awest.

    We're thinking of you!!

    Sending big hugs and prayers your way!

    The mods


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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2015

    Thank you for the kind words. Surgery went well just need rest now.

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  • mommacat4
    mommacat4 Member Posts: 215
    edited May 2015

    Awest, you need lots of rest. Take it as easy as you can. Rest is important to your recovery. Take pain meds if you need to and take stool softeners. The constipation is difficult but if you can manage it with your meds that's best.

    I will continue to pray for your recovery. Did you have a bilateral mastectomy?

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2015

    Yes, in November I had a bilateral mastectomy and started reconstruction the same day. Today was the exchange.

    Thanks for reminding me about the stool softeners,I had forgotten about those.

    I'm so tired today but thepain is minimal to none. I'm on meds though so maybe that's why.

    It looks like I don't have boobs compared to the expanders. Oooops! Lol

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  • mommacat4
    mommacat4 Member Posts: 215
    edited May 2015

    I hope when my exchange happens I will end up smaller. I told my recon surgeon I wanted to be a "B" cup. I used to be a "DDD". I know it's a big change but since I have had tissue expanders since November it's not going to be a huge change from the NEW NORMAL for me. I just want them to look like breasts. Right now they are lopsided and one is larger and misshapen from the other. They don't look normal right now. I have faith in my surgeon!

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  • Awest
    Awest Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2015

    I hope that works out for you. I went with a small C but they seem smaller. I'm not sure how long it takes for them to settle in their new position and look normal.

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  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 194
    edited May 2015

    Awest sorry I haven't been around lately... But I have been thinking about you and glad to hear exchange went well. Welcome to the squishy side! I'm about 6 1/2 weeks out from exchange and it all seems a distant memory. All the pain from the TE vanished and I have been cleared to exercise and do whatever I feel up to doing, using common sense! There is the possibility of fat grafting in my future but I'm taking a break from all surgery for the summer. Soonest I'll go back is november lol. Everything feels good so far, I just have to wear a bra ALL the time because it's big. It doesn't look much different than right after surgery but it's dropped a little. It feels like a boob and in clothes you can't tell at all.

    Continue to rest and recuperate, you will be feeling great in no time! :)

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