Reconstruction group-Nov-07

Good Luck!  If I can do this with little problem, so can you!  I went to the ps yesterday, and they took out the stitches, but left the drains in (Bummer!).  I feel great and can even sleep on my side now (the left one, not the right yet!).  I think everything looks great and am surprised how easy everything has been.  I have almost finished cooking Thanksgiving Dinner, only have to put the bird in!  I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.  Mary-Anne, I will be thinking of you today, and pray for a successful surgery!

MaryAnne,

I have never told you what a kick I get out of your pink boxing gloves. Your positive attitude will definitely carry you through this stage. Sleep well, our prayers are with you. I look forward to hear how you are doing. As you say, "Fists up!!"  Debbie

I had expanders and silicone implants (exchange was October 22) They look better than my old boobs!!!! My only complaint is that my 36d's were exchanged for 36b and now I can see the belly fat that my boobs were hiding from my view.  Other than now knowing i need to do exercise, i am pleased with the outcome. very little pain or problems. Good luck. (reply to Traci who was worried about expanders)

Maryanne and GeeGee - hope you are both resting and feeling well with very minimal pain.

Jackie - did you have much pain when the expanders were placed, and how did the exchange compare.  I just had my expander placed two weeks ago and still am a bit uncomfortable.  I hate to think this is just going to get worse as the expansion proceeds.  Does th impland feel more natural than the expander?  I appreciate any info you can give me. Thanks - Sandy

Hey everybody.....my chemo brain made me forget about this thread! I'm sorry.....I just saw it when I discovered the "active conversations" in ..... the middle of the dang screen!!!! Good grief.

Maryanne...everybody...I hope you are o.k.

I had my hysterectomy on Halloween. It wasn't bad at all. I can't wait to get these concrete turtles out of my chest on Wednesday!! And yes, out from under my armpits! I'm so afraid my ps put my expanders too far apart.

I hope mine goes as easy as y'alls except for the poor girl (sorry, when I hit the other page I lose my message) that has had three surgeries! Oh my GAWD.... you poor thing. I am so sorry for you. I hope they get it right finally.

And, for the girl getting 800 cc's....holy moly! You go girl. I had to stop at 550. I couldn't take the pain.

Anyway, I hope everybody had a good Thanksgiving.

Maryanne, can't wait to see how you are doing.

Hugs, Traci

Dear Sandy,

I did have pain when the expanders were placed, it was done at the same time as my bilat mastectomy and I felt a lot of pressure on my chest, had difficulty taking deep breaths, and ached all over. The exchange was completely different. It felt a bit more intense than some of my expansions but nothing like the mastectomy. I had some pain the first two days and then it tapered off and is now controlled with just some tylenol. I am small chested and started off as barely a 32b, I was expanded to 550cc's, ended up with a 32c (I think). I found many of the expansions uncomfortable and got into the habit of taking 2 tylenol and 2 advil before the expansion, again that same night and possibly something the following day, it really helped. The area under my arm and also where the ports sat (under my bra strap) were the most uncomfortable. I used to call my expanders my "coconuts" because they looked like I had just attached coconut shells to my chest and were difficult to conceal even in clothes! The first 2 days after the exchange I was still sore where the ports were but was generally so much more comfortable. The implants are so different and much softer. I walk around the house squeezing my breasts because I can't believe I'm finally rid of the coconuts and now have something so soft instead. It almost feels like I'm back to my old self.



Traci - my expanders looked really far apart before my exchange and in fact on one side I had an indentation of the skin where the cleavage should be. This was all fixed during the exchange, my ps said the breasts should be about 2 finger widths apart and drew it on my chest before surgery. Then after he removed the expanders he scored the skin and placed the implants in the new location. My implants look nothing like the expanders did both in terms of shape and location.



Hope everyone is doing well and look forward to reading your news!!



xx Jackie

Traci,

I know that your surgery is coming up soon... Nov 28th, right? 

I just wanted to wish you all the best!  I'll be thinking about you, and praying that all goes well!!

Hugs

Harley

Mine are rock hard too.  I get my first fill next Wednesday if I am healed up enough from the second surgery to remove the badly bruised, ''non-viable" tissue. 

It will be four weeks since the expanders were placed, but only two and a half weeks since the second surgery.

I still feel really tight in the chest and it hurts over the ports and along my breast bone...  I am hoping things will be OK.  I am sure looking forward to the expansion process being done (and I am just beginning).  I think I had 20cc in my left (cancer) side during surgery, and 60cc in my right side--then 40cc was removed because of the tissue damage--so I only have 20cc in each side, that I am aware of.

I think I will get 60cc at my Wednesday appt.

Oh, and I am still sleeping on my back, half sitting up...

Hey Jade,

Welcome to the group.

You will find that our experiences differ to say the least. I had an o.k. time with my expanders until they got to 550 and then I literally couldn't take it anymore.

I hope your experience is more like the tons of girls on here who had no problems to speak of.

Good luck girl.

Traci

ps.....o.k. Maryanne....we are waiting!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, this is going to be a very busy week and extremely successful for everyone! I am so glad I have found this site. As soon as I learned (here) that there were other options (ie DIEP), I began to put the wheels in motion. My dear husband keeps saying, "So, you are going to do this./?" I can't make up my mind if it is a statement or a question. My children aren't that excited either and believe me I understand how they feel. To actually put ourselves through this is a huge decision. But after reading so many of the comments, I knew this was a step I could take.  Geegee, today is the 25th and I know it has been two days since your DIEP. I hope you will be able to tell us how it has been going for you. Mommytms2, Morgaine, Traci, Laura, Sammykay, and Abby consider yourself hugged. I understand how you are feeling. I will be following you next week and everytime I get a twinge of anxiety, I tell myself it is too early and just think of something else. So far it is working. If we can spare ourselves added stress, the better off we'll all be. Any suggestions on how the rest of you kept a handle on your emotions? Take care all.

Hi

Did any of you ladies have "falsies" when you were getting expanded?  I am kind of getting alittle sad not filling ANYTHING out, and I was thinking of investing in something.  My friend gave me her breast (doesnt that sound strange), and now I have to get a bra for them.  I dont think I can wear them after my expanders are in.  I am going to the mast shop tomar.  Any advise??????

How do the expanders look when they are being filled?  Do they look like a secound puberty????:<}  I tried to look up some pics on line and got nothing.  I feel like I am living someone elses life.  What a rollercoaster.

j

Hello all,

Mary-Anne, thanks so much for starting this group- I'm thinking of you as you recover.  Have you heard of using the SeaBand wrist bands for nausea?  You can get them at Walgreens and I wonder if they would help you.  I just got some today for my exchange surgery this Thursday.  I was so sick after the expander surgery in September and hope to do better this time.  Take care of yourself and you don't need to add me to the list.  I've been following this group all month and am keeping you all in my prayers.  

Traci- you're going in a day ahead of me dear-  We're finally getting rid of the coconut shells! Best wishes,

Jill

Maryanne - good to see you back.  Hope you feel a bit better each day, hang in there.

mommytms2, Morgaine Tracy, Laura &Sammykaye - good luck to all of you.  What a busy week!!

I was supposed to start my fills this week but put it off for another week, I'm still a bit too sore from the expander placement.  Also, has anyone had swelling in their arm after having the expander placed?  When I came home from surgery on a Friday my arm was fine, but Saturday AM could hardly lift it up and now I am noticing some slight swelling.  I only had 2 SNB with mast so I didn't think I really had to worry about lymphedema - any ideas?  Thanks. - Sandy

Crstal-

Thank you for the great laugh....well needed!!!!