March 2017 Surgery

raven, I am not a litigious person, but if you drop a few carefully chosen words and tslk to the office manager, you might get quicker attention. Keep us posted, and try to stay calm. No use getting the rest of your system put back on a hightened state. More hugs to you today.

Raven! Oh my goodness! Didn't the intern use the magnet to find port? How upsetting. I hope your PS agrees to bump up exchange.

Congrats 2fun!!!

And, Raven, I know I posted to you on another thread -- but UGH, TEs SUCK!!!!!!!!!! I hope for the most successful Exchange for you very soon.

Mine are set for getting-the-hell-out-of-Dodge (me) on 9/7. Can't wait!!!

Girls hi to all and Raven here's what happened with my damn leaking expander. When it started leaking I was almost 3 months out of my BMX. When I went to see my ps he said he didn't feel comfortable putting me in for exchange surgery as for him it was too soon. For the same reason he didn't want to risk a surgery in order to remove the faulty TE and replace it with a new one. He said why risk it with possibilities of infections and no reason to receive one extra anesthesia. So he opted for refilling the TE as soon as it was loosing some of its volume. Now we know it's loosing abt 100-120ccs every 10 days or so, so I am at his office every 10 days.

Pain in the ass to be honest. Plus pain has increased with every refill for some strange reason. Now I get pain in my back too between my shoulder blades. Another crappy result of the leaking is that bs told me now he will have to use smaller implants as he can't be really sure the expansion is done properly and/or how many ccs the leaking one has in reality. So he will go for a smallish (for my dimensions, rib cage and broad shoulder frame) 450cc round silicon ultra high profile implant which I am sure will make me look like a plate with a fried egg in it

Did I say I hate TE? UGRR

And some good news for a change. My BRCA tests, against all odds came back NEGATIVE!

Hallelujah sisters! Still can't believe it to tell you the truth.

Hugs to you all.

Oh, my exchange surgery should be sometime in September or early October. We should make a topic for it, what do you say?

Dafne, what a story you have! Good news on the BRCA testing! raven, I hope you get your exchange soon. I am slowly adjusting to these implants. They are much more comfortable than TE's but my right side (non cancer) migrated slightly off course and LOOKS smaller than my radiated side. My radiated side is lumpy and misshapen but I guess I can live with it. What bothers me most is the right side really wrinkles up with movement. I toy with the idea of asking for fat grafting but honestly I just don't want to mess with anything. I am unhappy enough to not bother with tats yet. I am 4 months out and I am hopeful that by 6 months they will both look better.

2FUN, I massage my radiated breast all throughout the day. I work at home and am alone most of the day so I don't have to worry about office mates walking in and thinking I'm feeling myself up! LOL! And, yes, the PS said that massage is the best thing I could be doing.

LisbethS, you should see one of your docs ASAP so they can do a culture and start you on abx. Those are all classic signs of infection. I'm all for supplemental treatments but don't mess around with an infection. Yes, I have done high dose IV vitamin C but that was IN CONJUNCTION WITH abx. You can also look into liposomal vitamin C, which is taken orally. If you are already familiar with or know someone who can help you with essential oils, oregano is said to be supportive to the immune system and antibacterial.

Please, please, please see about abx ASAP.

Lisbeth- I'm going to jump on the Call you doctor train, too! And that's all about that.

EastCoast- my PS said to quit the Armidex, which surprised my MO, because that does not have a risk of blood clots. Tamoxifen does, though, so I can see getting off that before surgery.

Thanks, Scottie. Exchange is scheduled for 9/19. Just got the date this morning. Can't wait!

Raven, yay for 9/19 exchange date! My exchange is 9/20.

Dafne, great news on the negative BRCA results. Sorry to hear you have a leaking TE. Was it very obvious in size, as I'm wondering if my left TE is slowly leaking?

LisabethS, I'm hoping you got to the Dr and are on the mend.

Sounds like everyone is making progress. Has anyone heard from or seen bluebirdgirl lately?

To each of you,

My Exchange is 9/7! That's three of us with Sept Exchange dates. Excited to get rid of the TEs but a little nervous, too.

Lisbeth:

I've talked to two MOs who have said zip about deodorant -- or that it's not clinically proven as a risk. However, I am using natural deodorants now because why risk anything? EXCEPT -- they don't work as well! So I have regular deodorant for days I have to use that (meetings, etc.).

For my children going through high school, I'd let them use the stuff that works because can you imagine the social issues without? And maybe limit on weekends when it's just family. At least then you're making an effort.

Lisbeth. . .My MO never said anything about antiperspirant. I agree that for kids it's better to use something that works well especially if they're active and in school.

As for the PS, I would get a second opinion evendors with the infection. I had a new PS for my third surgery to correct CC and other issues from my original implants. I really liked my first one but she wasn't on my insurance anymore and she missued the CC on my last visit wit her. She also really wanted me to go with DIEP and would have pushed for that to fix things. I love my new one. He fixed everything and gave me twins.

Scottie

Girls, seems like most of you here are doing great, since the group is no longer active. I've been away for long time, busy with life. I guess most of you who had scheduled exchange surgeries have done them already, and I would really love to know how you all went since it's not easy locating each of you to ask

I guess I'm the last one still waiting for her exchange surgery which was supposed to be done early September but many things happened, except my right TE leaking. Main thing is my ps got diagnosed with cancer. It was quite a shock to say the least. He is a great guy whom I really like, and he has been great to me all those months. Well, he went ahead with surgery and they removed the tumor, he did not need chemo or radiation, and some 20 days later was back at his place in the hospital. When I went for another refill on my leaking expander and to see how he was doing he told me if he stayed a week more at home, in bed and with his wife always checking up on him, he would jump out of the window LOL. I saw with my own eyes that work therapy was really a therapy for him! I wish I could say the same about me and work...

Either way, that was the reason we postponed my surgery, and I was willing to wait for him to be able to operate again than changing surgeons at this point. Thank God he did ok, and I hope he remains NED for the rest of his life

If any of you sees this, and you feel like it, please share your news and how everything went. I'm scheduled for 23 of November and believe it or not, quite a bit stressed about the whole new surgery, but I'm managing it the best I can.

Tappermom383, so glad you wrote your news!

Yep, it seems almost unbelievable that we are all somewhere between 6-8 months of our initial surgeries (although for me it's a year since my first double lumpectomy). Time flies, and how I wish it will always flies with no more worries and no more bad news!

Hooray for finishing your radiation treatments, so glad they were not a big discomfort for you And great that the AI are not giving you a hard time. All the best for the new exams on January.

I forgot it's Thanksgiving on the day of my surgery. I should have remembered, my ex is Greek-American lol. Thanks for reminding me though, I definitely have a lot to give thanks for, and surely all of you here for all your support on those first, difficult steps of my cancer journey. God bless you all, girls.