Reconstruction group-Nov-07

Deborah,

I was 42 when  I was diagnosed with CDIS also. No complications or other measures were needed. Just the mastectomy on my left breast. for 12 years I have struggled with the idea of implants and finally decided to go for it, as I had / have a hard time mentally with the mastectomy and with other women showing cleavage all the time. anyrate, I am scheduled for March 19th 2008 and wish it was a lot sooner. I am having an expander first, then after 6 months or so, I will have the silicone implants put in the expanded side and one put in on my old floppy side. I am a bit nervous, as the ps said that I will be a "c". I was a small "b" before and don't want to over do it, so he said ok, a small "c" as the floppy older breast looks like a ski slope ! I am now 53. Well, I didn't want a perky one and my ski slope so I went with having the other one perked up. Hopefully, all will look well in the end. I do know where you are at and so many questions and feelings to deal with.

Good luck in your decision.

Please add me to the list for 12/27/07.  Then I will be really, really done.

I am doing well.  The redness on my chest is practically all gone.  My temp is running between  98.6 and 99.9.  I haven't been over 101 in a day or so.

Sandy - hopefully you won't have any more muscle spasms. I had my bilat and expanders done at the same time and had spasms for a few days but didn't have any during expansions. My first expansion was very uncomfortable as my ps put in 120cc, after that we never did more than 60cc at a time. Also, the 2 tylenol plus 2 advil were a big help!



Good luck



xJackie

Dear cc01, of course you are scared and it is such an unknown. This board has been very helpful for me and I'm sure you will find a lot of support here. I had a bilat and removed both nipples, then had expanders during chemo, and recently exchanged for silicone implants, I still don't have nipples. Everyone has a different experience with the surgery. I handled it well although I did have discomfort and pain, it also took me a while to get used to the new look. I wondered a lot about implant type and size and eventually my ps chose something in the operating room that worked with my proportions. I was a 32b before and am now a 32c, my new implants look great.



Keep us posted on how you get on. I felt the same way before as you do now, it will get better



xJackie

Hi all

7 more days till my recon surg.  I am nervous.  I wonder how I am going to look and feel when I wake up?  What a journey:<}.  Went to see my parents this weekend only to find out that my dad, who finished chemo for lymphoma.....now has stomach cancer.  I am a wreck!!!!!!  After all that treatment his lymphoma is gone and now this.  Please, take a moment and pray for him.....his name is Rick!!!!

Thank you

me

Jade, I'm sorry to hear about your dad.  I'll keep you both in my prayers.  I did get the expanders filled a little bit when they were implanted and if I hadn't had trouble healing (bruising needed another surgery) then my PS starts fills as early as two weeks after surgery.  I had my first fill last week and it was so fun to actually get a little more cleavage and small almost "A" cup breasts. 

I will be thinking of you on your surgery day.

Traci,

Glad that your exchange surgery went well!! 

I have been on & off for awhile, and don't remember seeing your recent posts...

Hope you are feeling good, without much pain!!

Harley

P S  I pm'd you...

Hi, good to hear many are healing and happy.  I fully understand that feeling of not wanting anything else done to my body.  Going into surgery on the 29th of Nov. thinking that was it, only to wake up and be told in order to have the proper outcome, I have to wear the expanders for 4 more weeks and one more surgery.  I just want to be done.  There is a nagging problem that I want to push under a rug somewhere and ignore.  I have been running a low grade fever for 6 weeks.  No one seems to be able to uncover a reason.  Some days I am so excited because it is near normal, then like today my temp will be 101.3.  I don't want to call the oncologist because I am afraid it might mean there is a cancer growing somewhere and I just don't want to deal with that.  I want to be healthy.

Has anyone else had this problem of running a low grade temp. with expanders?  The ps thinks the expanders are causing my body to run a temp.  My husband doesn't understand why I have had these expanders for a year and why now for the last 6  weeks I would run a fever.   Any info would really be appreciated.  Love, Sammie Kay

Mary-Anne,

Add me to the list for 12/17 - free TRAM unilateral recon & augment (good side).  Someone said the waiting is the worst part -- I hope that's true.  I'm anxiously counting the days....10 to go.  Thanks ladies for your recovery posts....it's encouraging to hear from you after your "done"!  Mary-Anne, I hope your post-op appt. goes well!  I can understand your frustration with the symmetry issue after all you've gone through.  I wonder if anyone gets good symmetry after unilateral recon?  I'm trying for an augment on the good side to get symmetry but I'm not setting my sights too high.  

Mary-Anne, I don't have my port anymore, however, I can see the expanders as a source of the fever, just like the port.  Any foreign body, don't you think it is possible that the expanders could cause the same reaction as the port?   I feel good this evening.  I was real dizzy and wobbly feeling this morning.  Have decided I am not going to be able to take the Lyrica for my fibromyalgia and back pain.  I would rather have pain and feel like myself.  I just don't seem to me able to take those drugs, like neurontin and Lyrica that work on your brain.  Messes me up big time.  I am going on the assumption that the expanders are the source of the fever and if after I get my silicone implants on Dec. 27th I continue to run a temp. then I will contact the oncologist.  My internist has run all the blood work, urinalysis, I had a chest xray for pre-op, had IVP and ultrasound of kidneys and then a dedicated CT scan of the left kidney because they thought I had a tumor in the left kidney.  Turned out to be a "normal" abnormality some people are born with a little hump on the kidney.  They even call it "dromedary" kidney on the report.

I hope everyone who is fresh post-op is doing well, especially ballamay and Deborah. 

Good luck and God bless 2curvy, jade, and cc01 on Monday.

I will have my tatoos done in the office on Monday, the 10th.  Then he will do the nipple recon. on the 27th.

Hugs all around.  Stay warm, take that pain med and take care all.

Love you guys, Sammie Kay

Ladies,

Do not rush the expansions, go for 45 to 50 cc's at a time. Our skin can handle so much. I only had pain towards the end. One tylenol and it worked. You are control of this procedure not them. You should not have to be in this much pain. We have been through enough and should be able to enjoy this part. Looking forward to my implant (right side) and a little lift on the left. One year ago I was diagnosed (Stage II , 2 lumpectomies, one mastecomy and chemo later I feel great and looking forward to 2008.

Katherine

Jade, I can't believe it about your dad.  I sure hope everything works out OK for him.

I know what you mean about wanting your mom.  I wanted my mom too, but I had my husband to help me--and be there with me and he really stepped up to support me.

I just know you will have good support from your husband too.  I'll keep you in my prayers.  From what you posted before your plastic surgeon sounds like she really cares about you too.

Hugs and good wishes!

Hi

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  My husband is a FANTASTIC man, and he went far beyound love, and care, with my bilat mast.  Just something about a mom, you know?:<}  I will be OK.   Keep my dad in your prayers.....I have been losing sleep, just not knowing what is going on, and praying that the cancer (for him) is gone.  He has a bad cough again and that scares the bleep out of me.

Anyway....I cant believe tomar is my day.  I will be thinking about all your journeys and cross my fingers for mine:<}

WOW...me with boobs.....I forgot what I look like

j

2curvy, jade and cc01, just wanted to wish ya'll good luck. I'll keep ya'll in my prayers tomorrow. Wishing you all successful surgeries and quick and easy recoveries.

Jade,

I'll keep your dad in my prayers too. I hope he'll get good news.

God Bless!