May 2019 Surgery Support Group

Christene,

I wish I had been much more detailed about asking about returning to my full exercise routine...specifically if they had recommendations about returning to weight lifting, aggressive stretching, and full yoga poses. Ask you plastic surgeon if he has any bra suggestions (does he recommend part time compression bra wearing, or just whatever....)

I don't remember if you did direct to implant or not. I wish I had asked my PS what (if any) sorts of massage I should be doing to help prevent capsular contraction and what his opinion is on oral antibiotics before dental work with implants (it seems the medical community is a little divided on this).

Good luck with the visits!

I’m not sure how to post a question, so I’m posting a reply....I had bilateral mastectomy Jan. 17th with tissue expanders placed. June 6th I had the swap out for silicone implants. Is it normal for my chest to feel so tight sometimes? Especially at the end of the day. Am I supposed to be doing some kind of massage?? And about how long till I feel somewhat comfortable in my own skin again??? Thank you!!

Ladies ask your PS for a prescription for a post mastectomy bra. When I was interviewing my PS, prior to actually choosing her, she gave me a prescription for 1 with 3 refills. My insurance company covered about $300 for the 2 I got and I paid about $55 out of pocket for them. There are stores that are around that will help you get fitted for one and work with the insurance company about them. I had mine prior to my surgery which my doctor liked as I went home from surgery in one of them. One is like a sports bra that zips in the front and the other is a cami style that also zips in the front. Both came with drain holders and the cami came with inserts for those that don't do reconstruction immediately but want to look like they have breasts.

This is the label from my cami one. Not sure if it will help anyone.

Regarding excercises my PS said no stretching over the head until drains were out and no weights above shoulders for at least a month as I had the aloderm placed and it's only held in place in 3 spots and those areas could tear with too much stretch causing issues. Increasing heart rate is also not re recommended... still not sure why and I'm a nurse lol, probably related to increased chance of bleeding.

Best of luck to everyone and keep kicking cancer's ass!!!🥊🥊🥊

~Katie💗

Hi OnTarget (love the name, btw!)

I'm also finding camisoles with a shelf more comfortable, but I'll check out Athleta - I've heard good things about them. I'm having some success with Jockey.

I'm almost 4 weeks out and still tender, but not in real pain. Some parts of me are numb, and others super sensitive, so I'm navigating that. I haven't had any fills of my TEs yet post surgery, but I'm actually kind of liking where I am right now. They are perky as all get out, and much smaller than I was, but to be fair, I was *huge*! My original plan was to get to about 2/3 of my original size, but I'm thinking that might actually be too big. I like being able to button my shirts without a gap!

Met with my PS this morning. I decided against further fills, but will check in immediately post radiation in case I have shrinkage, which is common. We also plan on doing fat grafting to round things out, so I may end up being a bit bigger than I am, which is totally fine. In the end, I'll end up about 50% of my old volume.

I also got the green light to move up my radiation start date - also a good thing.

On the downside, he didn't like how my scar was healing on my non-cancer side, so he cut it out and resealed it. Not a big deal and apparently it bled well, which means the blood supply is well established, so hopefully there are no further issues.

Finally, he squashed my dreams of finishing up my surgeries in 2019, which means I'll have to meet my deductible and out of pocket maximum all over again in 2020. I have a high deductible plan, so the cost is not insignificant, but there does not seem to be any medical leeway, dang it.

Oh Britgirls - that's such a shock - and not the best way to get the news! I'm sorry.

I had a port put in for my chemo and I'm oh so glad I did! It made things so much easier.

My chemo was neoadjuvant, so I was able to get that over with prior to surgery. It was very successful and I went from 3a to no residual cancer. Chemo sucks, but it works. Best of luck and hang in there. You've got this!

Hi everyone!

I am 7 weeks post op, and thought I would check in to see how everyone is doing.

Britgirls, I am sorry about your news, but so freaking happy about the clear PET scan. Kber probably says it best "chemo sucks, but it works!" I will be sending you good vibes.

Kber, I am tickled pink that you are so happy with your smaller, perkier breasts! You deserve some happiness from all of this mess . I totally understand where you are coming from about the deductible....I'm trying to get every possible procedure that I could need this year now that I have met mine!

Ontarget--I am glad your PT figured out the problem, and I hope it goes away soon. Good luck with the next fill.

ipenelope, my insurance also covered my postop bras. I don't have to wear a compression bra anymore, but I am still wearing them to yoga...they are really pretty good sports bras!

I am healing well, and back to doing planks and down dogs in yoga. I still sometimes have some nerve type pain along my incision, but it isn't bad. I am still waiting on my Oncoscore (I got notice last week or the week before from my insurance that it was approved, so I assume we will have the results any day). My current plan involves no chemo, so I am hoping the oncoscore will not throw any ugly surprises at me. However, one thing I have learned is that cancer LOVES to throw you for a loop, so I am prepared for the worst while hoping for the best!

I am using silicone sheets on the scar...the evidence on them isn't really compelling, but it isn't going to hurt anything (except my wallet) so I figured I would give it a try.

My cancer breast was quite a bit larger than my healthy breast before surgery. It is still a little bit bigger, but I am really wowed by now natural it looks and feels (other than the scar and lack of nipple, of course). I didn't want any surgery on my healthy side, but now I am toying with the idea of talking to PS about maybe adding a little implant to the healthy side to make them match a little better. I'm not sure...again, it is really hard to imagine choosing to have a surgery that I don't really need.

I've lost 20 pounds since my diagnosis at the end of March (I needed to lose weight, so that is a good thing). I just find that I'm not hungry.

hi girls! I’m wondering for my mom, how long did you girls wait to have surgery after chemo? My mom finishes chemo July 23rd and we have an appt with BS July 10th to discuss the MX and MRi. Curious how long Thewait is between end of chemo to surgery. Thanks!

Britgirl- Technology is wonderful unless your medical app gives you info before your doctor can talk to you about it! Sorry that you had to find out the way you did. Yay about the scan showing no systemic changes!!

Ok ladies having blonde moment over here...I keep seeing people talk about onco scores.. what and where do you find that out?? I've done the generic testing and have recieved patho results from BMX so guessing i have it just not sure what I'm looking for.

Thoughts and healing hugs to all you cancer kicking women!!!🥊🥊🥊

~Katie💗

hi!

For anyone who has had a MX here, how often are you seeing your BS? When is usually the first follow up appt to discuss path results after surgery? I am a planner and i have so much anxiety bc ofthis