PBMX - April 20... help me prepare!

I'm going to ask for slow fills. Let's take 3 months folks!!! I'm not trying to win a race! And since my back has been spasming since the initial surgery, I really don't want to leave every fill with a back cramp! No fun!

I've gotten the go ahead to start ROM exercises. With the comment they want me to be able to raise my arms out straight to my sides and up to the 11 o'clock position by next week! That sounds insane! Everything I've read indicates I should take it slower. Does anyone know if ROM restrictions are not placed on women undergoing prophylactic BMX?

I did not have any nodes removed so I guess that is the difference for my schedule. I no longer have much pain, only an occasional stabbing when I move wrong. Not bad or long lasting.

thanks for all these posts, katykids.

I'll watch the video. I will also ask about PT recommendation once I'm cleared to work out again. I want to resume weight lifting and general body conditioning as soon as possible. I Devin it ely want recommendations on do and don'ts. I managed to lose 30 lbs in the past year by working out and attending to my diet. I want the trend to continue!

I think I have figured out that all the stabbing post surgical pain I have been in is associated with my drains. After they removed two of them, so much of my localized pain has diminished. Now I only have pain on my left side, right at the spot where the firm part of the tubing rests on a rib. Did you have any issues like this with drains?

Katykids, Great stretching videos! Thank you for the link! I'll start them today! She Is so comforting to listen to. Explaining every sensation to expect and how to address it. Excellent!

I'm mystified that my Dr's have not directed me to any if these types of sites or even some documents outlining specific post surgery stretching of their own design. It is as if they don't acknowledge post surgical trauma or the adverse impact of mastectomy on ROM.

Maybe they are dismissing my case since I did not lose lymph nodes, but I am certain the reality of breast removal and insertion & inflation of TE's will require that I stretch daily. I wish they would give me more guidance on the specific stretches that will provide the best outcome in my recovery. Maybe they simply don't know...

I might need to ask for post surgery PT if I am unable to regain my desired ROM. this site should help for sure!

Thanks, thanks, thanks !

I LOVE that statement! "I'm strong because of me!" That is so true of you and every one of us as we each battle our personal wars... whatever they are.

Hang in there and never doubt that you are indeed STRONG and your strength is from within!

Hugs and applause, my friend!

Thanks everyone for your good energy and well wishes and prayers.

My biopsy results are clear!. NO CANCER! Celebrating in my house tonight!

LRGO

Thank you Jacklin! My surgeon indicated there were atypical cells present but none had turned cancerous yet. This means I made the right decision, just in time! As my BRCA+ status indicated, my breasts were ticking bombs, waiting to explode. We diffused the bombs successfully!

My first fill today was only 40 mls each. I started with 100 mls at the time of surgery. So as of today, I have 140 mls in each. No pain with the process! I'm still a bit sore/bruised from the surgery so the pressure of the needle and fill made me more aware of my post surgery tenderness, nothing more. The feeling of pressure on my chest, which had subsided, is back. No doubt because the pec muscle is under extra tension again. It doesn't hurt but does feel constricting.

It was quite interesting to watch the breast mound lift a bit. I am capturing each phase of my journey in photographs so my hubby took pictures of the procedure! Syringe, tube, needle, breast, inflation underway! Very cool clinical photo. New foobs, here we come!

I'm really elated to learn I had no cancerous cells in the biopsies. Tonight will be the first night I can sleep easy since learning of my BRCA status.

It has been months! I feel like shouting out to the world and every woman I know, get tested, find out your risk, do something, BEFORE cancer strikes! Every person on this forum is here because they are affected by BC. It breaks my heart to hear their stories and be powerless to help. I believe that someday a cure will be found, and this disease will be easily cured without the invasive and otherwise harmful treatments we must use today to kill cancer cells.

My journey to this place and the loss of my breasts began when I was born. My genetic makeup dictated my path. My choice to address my risk proactively has saved my life!!! It is as simple as that.

I want to start a new foundation to raise money for Breast and Ovarian cancer research! I am going to name it after my Grandmother, Bertina Edith Connor, who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 49. I was only a baby when she died and was too young to remember her. But my mother says I have her personality and remind her of her mother.

My vision is to help families gain awareness of the power gained with genetic knowledge. To stimulate a proactive movement toward using genetic risk to make appropriate and life saving decisions, and to fund genetic research into finding ways to transform broken genes into cancer killing cures! The study of genetics is so young, we have so much to learn, this means we have tremendous opportunity!

My thoughts tonight are with every woman and man struggling with cancer. I will do what I can to help you in your fight! Keep fighting and have hope. I and many others are also fighting to help!

LRGO2016