Securing the pocket -strange post op

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CandaceMM
CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
in Breast Cancer #1
Recap: exchange surgery 12/29/2010. Both sides slipped to underarm. Revision surgery to secure pocket Feb.11.

It's been a rough 3 weeks. Having the chest tissue stitched to reinforce, feels just like the description. Yuck! Every move you make tugs and pulls at the stitching. Just the thought makes me queasy. I have been living in sports bras with the hope that this extra support will reinforce the area. Saw my ps today and he found this humorous?? He said to either wear a regular bra or none. I expressed my concern for another failure. His response "well, we need to know if its going to hold". I said "what if it doesn't?". "more reinforcement".

Am I being illogical to think that 3 weeks post up needs additional support, while healing? I cried my entire 3 hour drive home from Houston. I have had 5 surgeries in 8 months. What's worse-my ps has never seen this happen before. Gravity is a factor in life, right?

Have I lost perspective? I have everyone cinched in their place for the night! Haha. Dare I unleash the foobs? One last note, they look fabulous!

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  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #2
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    grrrrrr!
    Dear Candace -

    On another breast cancer board I've read the reconstruction thread almost every day since May. What has happened to you is not uncommon. I'm angry at your PS for telling you so.

    YES, gravity is a factor! So is our anatomy ... some of us have a ribcage that is more sloped than another thus the implants are more likely to slip.

    I'm angry and I don't want to say something that I'll regret but I so don't agree with your PS and it is so not what I've read from other women. He thought it was humorous? grrrrrr! That's all I'll say. He may be a great surgeon, but he's not telling you the whole truth.

    I wouldn't dare unleash the foobs! :) I really wouldn't. I am sooooo glad they look fabulous! I think I sent you the links to the other board in a PM.
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #3
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    Dawne.Hope said:

    grrrrrr!
    Dear Candace -

    On another breast cancer board I've read the reconstruction thread almost every day since May. What has happened to you is not uncommon. I'm angry at your PS for telling you so.

    YES, gravity is a factor! So is our anatomy ... some of us have a ribcage that is more sloped than another thus the implants are more likely to slip.

    I'm angry and I don't want to say something that I'll regret but I so don't agree with your PS and it is so not what I've read from other women. He thought it was humorous? grrrrrr! That's all I'll say. He may be a great surgeon, but he's not telling you the whole truth.

    I wouldn't dare unleash the foobs! :) I really wouldn't. I am sooooo glad they look fabulous! I think I sent you the links to the other board in a PM.

    Ahhh
    What a relief!! That is exactly what I needed to hear. Yes, you sent the links and I will go there for info. I know it's somewhat common... Clementine and I have been on the same path.

    Thanks for the support!! Xxoo
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #4
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    CandaceMM said:

    Ahhh
    What a relief!! That is exactly what I needed to hear. Yes, you sent the links and I will go there for info. I know it's somewhat common... Clementine and I have been on the same path.

    Thanks for the support!! Xxoo

    Giant Poodles
    Candace -

    Giant Poodles is going to have some securing the pocket procedure ... she was asking questions about it too ... her foobs bottomed out. See ... you ladies are not alone. IT IS A PROBLEM no matter what your PS says.
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #5
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    CandaceMM said:

    Ahhh
    What a relief!! That is exactly what I needed to hear. Yes, you sent the links and I will go there for info. I know it's somewhat common... Clementine and I have been on the same path.

    Thanks for the support!! Xxoo

    Oh my gosh!
    What an ordeal! I hope hope hope that your foobs take this time and that you don't have to undergo any further operations! As you know, mine started to slip a bit and I wore a sports bra for a couple of weeks and that helped it. Your PS is a wee bit insensitive to make a joke out of this. Sheeesh! Mine still is a little wobbly and not entirely sure of itself, but it feels more secure since I have been wearing the sports bra, that is for sure. Well, on the bright side, I am so happy that they are fabulous! You definitely deserve to have an incredible rack after all of this. :))

    Thinking of you!

    Clementine
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #6
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    not the only one!
    Candace you are not alone I had my secure the pocket surgery on the 18th as well as nipple reconstruction. I have been told to wear a good bra (I was told not to wear a sports bra) for 3 weeks to give support and to allow the stitches inside to heal. I was also told to not do any type of lifting, pushing, pulling stuff, my husband is putting laundry in the dryer, no picking up grand kids etc. I too had a portion of my breast tissue (there was a bit extra) removed to lessen the "play" available to the implant. So far so good I do not notice much if any play with the new secured pocket. I hope you heal well and find that you are indeed done once the healing time has past.

    Hugs,

    RE
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #7
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    RE said:

    not the only one!
    Candace you are not alone I had my secure the pocket surgery on the 18th as well as nipple reconstruction. I have been told to wear a good bra (I was told not to wear a sports bra) for 3 weeks to give support and to allow the stitches inside to heal. I was also told to not do any type of lifting, pushing, pulling stuff, my husband is putting laundry in the dryer, no picking up grand kids etc. I too had a portion of my breast tissue (there was a bit extra) removed to lessen the "play" available to the implant. So far so good I do not notice much if any play with the new secured pocket. I hope you heal well and find that you are indeed done once the healing time has past.

    Hugs,

    RE

    Why?
    What's the reason for NOT wearing a sports bra?
  • pinkapples
    pinkapples Member Posts: 54 Member
    #8
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    You poor thing!
    Oh, to cry all the way home, what a desperate feeling :(
    I dont think you have lost perspective, this process is a daunting one to say the least. We prepare ourselves mentally for the journey then something like this happens that shakes us up and rattles our foundation with a looming "added procedure". How much more can any one of us take! :)
    Well, I too have to get my pockets secured, have an apt this week to get that scheduled, and as I see by the responses here we are not alone. Dont loose Faith now> I bet if you look back at some of the things you have endured, and actually take a moment to reflect, you will be amazed at what you have conquered so far, and this is just another step towards the finish line. You will get there before you know it, and soon be looking back at this thinking "wow, I made it through THAT too!"
    Carry on Warrior!
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #9
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    pinkapples said:

    You poor thing!
    Oh, to cry all the way home, what a desperate feeling :(
    I dont think you have lost perspective, this process is a daunting one to say the least. We prepare ourselves mentally for the journey then something like this happens that shakes us up and rattles our foundation with a looming "added procedure". How much more can any one of us take! :)
    Well, I too have to get my pockets secured, have an apt this week to get that scheduled, and as I see by the responses here we are not alone. Dont loose Faith now> I bet if you look back at some of the things you have endured, and actually take a moment to reflect, you will be amazed at what you have conquered so far, and this is just another step towards the finish line. You will get there before you know it, and soon be looking back at this thinking "wow, I made it through THAT too!"
    Carry on Warrior!

    Thats very sweet
    I sooo appreciate all of the positive words and support. It's exactly what I needed to hear. I love you all!

    Apples, lots of pillows is my advice to you for sleeping. You will need more support to lessen the pull/tug feeling. Keep us posted.

    Candace
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #10
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    CandaceMM said:

    Why?
    What's the reason for NOT wearing a sports bra?

    too much support!
    Yup thats what they told me, go figure! Oh they also told me to sleep on my back as much as possible (I am a tummy sleeper so its not easy!) Big hugs, hope you feel much better really soon!

    RE
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #11
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    CandaceMM said:

    Thats very sweet
    I sooo appreciate all of the positive words and support. It's exactly what I needed to hear. I love you all!

    Apples, lots of pillows is my advice to you for sleeping. You will need more support to lessen the pull/tug feeling. Keep us posted.

    Candace

    Second opinion
    I have asked around and found a great reconstruction ps thru M.D. Anderson. I will be following up with her if anything changes. For now, I'm reading everything I can find on the subject AND keeping everyone bound tight in this darn sports bra.
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #12
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    RE said:

    not the only one!
    Candace you are not alone I had my secure the pocket surgery on the 18th as well as nipple reconstruction. I have been told to wear a good bra (I was told not to wear a sports bra) for 3 weeks to give support and to allow the stitches inside to heal. I was also told to not do any type of lifting, pushing, pulling stuff, my husband is putting laundry in the dryer, no picking up grand kids etc. I too had a portion of my breast tissue (there was a bit extra) removed to lessen the "play" available to the implant. So far so good I do not notice much if any play with the new secured pocket. I hope you heal well and find that you are indeed done once the healing time has past.

    Hugs,

    RE

    Sending healing and positive
    Sending healing and positive thoughts!

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