Surgery this Friday, securing the pocket

CandaceMM
CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had my exchange surgery on 12/29...started driving two weeks ago and now I have hit a major road block. One of the two breasts has collapsed or fallen down into my underarm. I just found out, a few hours ago, that I will have surgery on Friday. BUMMER.

Has anyone had this "securing the pocket" surgery and what can you tell me? I have to say that my exchange was very easy. However, I have read somewhere that this surgery is painful. What do you know about it? I need to prepare.

Thank you and I apologize for posting this story twice, but I have no time!

candace
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Comments

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    I haven't gone through the
    I haven't gone through the surgery, but I wanted to say that I am so sorry that you are going through this and I hope it all goes well. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    [[[hugs]]]
    Candace -

    There are several ways 'to secure the pocket.' Do you know what he is going to do? I know that they can put stitches in that side to keep the implant from moving but I don't know if that is what he'll do in your case.

    Prayers for you. You've made it this far, YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS! Hang in there!
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    BIG HUGS
    Hi Candace, I am having a similar surgery to secure the pocket and to add a nipple via skin graft in two weeks. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!

    RE
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    I haven't gone through the
    I haven't gone through the surgery, but I wanted to say that I am so sorry that you are going through this and I hope it all goes well. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Candace, I am wishing you
    Candace, I am wishing you good luck with your surgery and sending prayers too.

    So sorry that you have to deal with this. Your pink sisters will all be praying for you.


    Sue :)
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    RE said:

    BIG HUGS
    Hi Candace, I am having a similar surgery to secure the pocket and to add a nipple via skin graft in two weeks. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!

    RE

    Good Luck RE, I'll let you know how it goes. I have no idea how he will "secure the pocket" but I'm assuming stitching is the plan. His nurse may have used the stitch word, but I've been spinning off and honestly, not sure what details were given. This has been a huge emotional disappointment for me. It's strange. I'm wondering if maybe the Tamoxifen is messing with my emotions... Don't know, but whatever emotions that arise, I think it's healthy to feel it and go through the process. Whatever that means, I'm really trying to just be gentle with myself and not freak out. haha
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    RE said:

    BIG HUGS
    Hi Candace, I am having a similar surgery to secure the pocket and to add a nipple via skin graft in two weeks. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!

    RE

    I had a lumpectomy, but,
    I had a lumpectomy, but, wanted to be sure and wish you good luck on Friday!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    Good Luck Tomorrow
    Hope all goes well tomorrow. I am hoping to have my exchange in late May, the sooner the better but after chemo. Thinking of you.
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    Hi Candace, I didn't have
    Hi Candace, I didn't have what you had happen, but, I had my right breast fall because it was normal skin and my left (radiated side) stayed up high. Therefore I had to have a couple surgeries to get that right "foob" up there. The second was painful but not unbearable. Best of luck to you!!
    Hugz,
    ~Kari
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member

    Hi Candace, I didn't have
    Hi Candace, I didn't have what you had happen, but, I had my right breast fall because it was normal skin and my left (radiated side) stayed up high. Therefore I had to have a couple surgeries to get that right "foob" up there. The second was painful but not unbearable. Best of luck to you!!
    Hugz,
    ~Kari

    Good luck Candace!
    Hugs,

    Good luck Candace!


    Hugs, Jan
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68

    Good luck Candace!
    Hugs,

    Good luck Candace!


    Hugs, Jan

    Update
    This ice storm seems to have shut down a large portion of Texas. I am so upset. Ps cancelled my surgery for tomorrow. But, the really bad news is that I now have to wait an entire week for repair. Its pretty uncomfortable having a foreign object mobile in your body. Blah!

    Thanks for the responses. It's comforting to know you all are out there.
    Love, candace
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    CandaceMM said:

    Update
    This ice storm seems to have shut down a large portion of Texas. I am so upset. Ps cancelled my surgery for tomorrow. But, the really bad news is that I now have to wait an entire week for repair. Its pretty uncomfortable having a foreign object mobile in your body. Blah!

    Thanks for the responses. It's comforting to know you all are out there.
    Love, candace

    Candace -that STINKS your
    Candace -that STINKS your surgery was cancelled!! We're in the same boat, because I was to have my nipple reconstruction done on Wednesday, and mine was cancelled, too, because of the weather :(
    I have to wait until next Friday. Hang in there! I'm glad you're getting it taken care of & hope your boobs end up looking just marvelous when you're all done ;)
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68

    Candace -that STINKS your
    Candace -that STINKS your surgery was cancelled!! We're in the same boat, because I was to have my nipple reconstruction done on Wednesday, and mine was cancelled, too, because of the weather :(
    I have to wait until next Friday. Hang in there! I'm glad you're getting it taken care of & hope your boobs end up looking just marvelous when you're all done ;)
    *hugs*
    Heather

    Haha
    Heather, I hope your boobs look mahvelousss too! I read you had a bad hair day! Awesome, haha!!! I guess our new normal is bizarreworld. My ps is planning on doing nipples in his office, yikes. He just makes incisions and then twists. I found this humorous and said "oh, like a titty twister"...he did not see the humor. I have to wait three months for this, once I get this latest issue resolved. I'm gaining weight by just lazing around. It's always something!
    Candace
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    CandaceMM said:

    Update
    This ice storm seems to have shut down a large portion of Texas. I am so upset. Ps cancelled my surgery for tomorrow. But, the really bad news is that I now have to wait an entire week for repair. Its pretty uncomfortable having a foreign object mobile in your body. Blah!

    Thanks for the responses. It's comforting to know you all are out there.
    Love, candace

    Sorry Candace that your
    Sorry Candace that your surgery got canceled. Wishing you good luck next week and good weather, so, it won't get canceled again.


    Hugs!
  • kt1127
    kt1127 Member Posts: 51
    DebbyM said:

    Sorry Candace that your
    Sorry Candace that your surgery got canceled. Wishing you good luck next week and good weather, so, it won't get canceled again.


    Hugs!

    Hoping everyones surgeries
    Hoping everyones surgeries go well. I am scheduled for my implant exchange in two weeks and i never new this was an issue. guess i will just prepare for whatevers next Just wanted to wish you all the best
  • kit kat
    kit kat Member Posts: 56
    kt1127 said:

    Hoping everyones surgeries
    Hoping everyones surgeries go well. I am scheduled for my implant exchange in two weeks and i never new this was an issue. guess i will just prepare for whatevers next Just wanted to wish you all the best

    exchange
    Hi I had my exchange on Jan 11th. During chemo my body on the right went crazy,I cramps in my arms, legs, under the expander i felt pain going towards back doc said exspander was sitting on a nerve.It's better, I feel pain once in a while.Thought my inplants would be more confortable. Can't raise my arms so good yet. Especially at work.
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    kit kat said:

    exchange
    Hi I had my exchange on Jan 11th. During chemo my body on the right went crazy,I cramps in my arms, legs, under the expander i felt pain going towards back doc said exspander was sitting on a nerve.It's better, I feel pain once in a while.Thought my inplants would be more confortable. Can't raise my arms so good yet. Especially at work.

    Give it more time
    I've only had mine for a little over a month and all of a sudden (the successful side) righty seems to be softening and looking/feeling much more like a part of me as opposed to a rock in my chest. I felt just like you did up until about a week ago.
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    kt1127 said:

    Hoping everyones surgeries
    Hoping everyones surgeries go well. I am scheduled for my implant exchange in two weeks and i never new this was an issue. guess i will just prepare for whatevers next Just wanted to wish you all the best

    I didn't know about this either!
    I'm a bit disappointed my ps didn't at least warn me or I don't know... this is one of those situations that you have no reason to know about, until it happens. If we armed ourselves with the knowledge of every "possible" outcome, I'm afraid we'd jump off a building. I have to limit what I read because it just scares the hell out of me. So, in an attempt to stay positive and try to return to "normal life" I just can't expose myself to it all.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    RE said:

    BIG HUGS
    Hi Candace, I am having a similar surgery to secure the pocket and to add a nipple via skin graft in two weeks. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!

    RE

    Good luck Candace and Re
    Good luck Candace and Re with your surgery's!


    Hugs, Leeza
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    CandaceMM said:

    I didn't know about this either!
    I'm a bit disappointed my ps didn't at least warn me or I don't know... this is one of those situations that you have no reason to know about, until it happens. If we armed ourselves with the knowledge of every "possible" outcome, I'm afraid we'd jump off a building. I have to limit what I read because it just scares the hell out of me. So, in an attempt to stay positive and try to return to "normal life" I just can't expose myself to it all.

    Good Luck
    I'll be thinking of you and I hope everything goes smoothly. :)
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68

    Good Luck
    I'll be thinking of you and I hope everything goes smoothly. :)

    Thank you Clementine and
    Thank you Clementine and keep us posted on how things are going with you.

    love, candace