Soooo miserable - surgery #5 reconstruction
I hope this doesn't sound too negative. Just want those considering options to understand the many variables out there.
Comments
-
Since I'm in the trenches,fancy0416 said:two more chemo and haven't talked to PS yet...
Dreading the choices I've read about. But still have radiation to go, so not a rush. Any recommendations? Boy, does that sound cliche.
Since I'm in the trenches, my advice is jaded. However, up until the problems began, I was a believer. Also, I found that the tissue expanders and exchange surgery were true to what I read and was told. Definitely worth it and valuable. Just be mentally aware of possible roadblocks.0 -
Candace .. I was instructed not to sleep on eitherCandaceMM said:Since I'm in the trenches,
Since I'm in the trenches, my advice is jaded. However, up until the problems began, I was a believer. Also, I found that the tissue expanders and exchange surgery were true to what I read and was told. Definitely worth it and valuable. Just be mentally aware of possible roadblocks.
side, just my back --- with lots of pillows. Also, I was instructed to wear my surgical bra or sports bra .. 24 hours a day. Still my non-cancer breast (right) fell and I had to wait several months before my PS went back in to push it up. Anxiety, anger and loss of hope ensued. 5 months after my 'fix it' surgery, all is well and my new right breast is holding up, symmetrical and I am finally happy with my look.
Best of luck ...!
Vicki Sam0 -
Nice to hear! Did you haveVickiSam said:Candace .. I was instructed not to sleep on either
side, just my back --- with lots of pillows. Also, I was instructed to wear my surgical bra or sports bra .. 24 hours a day. Still my non-cancer breast (right) fell and I had to wait several months before my PS went back in to push it up. Anxiety, anger and loss of hope ensued. 5 months after my 'fix it' surgery, all is well and my new right breast is holding up, symmetrical and I am finally happy with my look.
Best of luck ...!
Vicki Sam
Nice to hear! Did you have a lot of pain with the correction surgery?0 -
jeep cherokee 4x4's vs. Lamborghinis
Dear Candace,
I had no idea what divas these new foobs were going to be!
I feel like my natural were like jeep cherokee 4x4's ... tough, reliable, and my new foobs are like Lamborghini's ... touchy, moody, sensitive ...
I thought I'd never have to wear a bra again: wrong! And not just ordinary bras, but GOOD, expensive, underwire bras with side support ... the cheap ones won't cut it! Because these crazy girls like to head south or migrate over to the armpit ... Why didn't they tell us this stuff? They seriously are Diva boobs!
I hope your pain goes away soon. I'm sorry you've had such a time of it. Hopefully, this will be your last surgery for a long time. At least, until the diva girls have to be replaced.
Seriously, I sincerely hope your pain does go away and not only will be there physical healing but emotional healing as well.
Much Love to you, xo0 -
Aww Candice hope you are feeling better.
So sorry about the pain and another "wait and see" period. I am praying that this reinforcement will fix the whole problem and as you heal you will feel so much better. Isn't weird that the doctors always say the surgery won't be so bad, but it usually is?? Hmmm, guess if they told us the reality we would run the other way! Soft hugs to you.0 -
Dawne .. You are so right .... LOLDawne.Hope said:jeep cherokee 4x4's vs. Lamborghinis
Dear Candace,
I had no idea what divas these new foobs were going to be!
I feel like my natural were like jeep cherokee 4x4's ... tough, reliable, and my new foobs are like Lamborghini's ... touchy, moody, sensitive ...
I thought I'd never have to wear a bra again: wrong! And not just ordinary bras, but GOOD, expensive, underwire bras with side support ... the cheap ones won't cut it! Because these crazy girls like to head south or migrate over to the armpit ... Why didn't they tell us this stuff? They seriously are Diva boobs!
I hope your pain goes away soon. I'm sorry you've had such a time of it. Hopefully, this will be your last surgery for a long time. At least, until the diva girls have to be replaced.
Seriously, I sincerely hope your pain does go away and not only will be there physical healing but emotional healing as well.
Much Love to you, xo
touchy, stubborn and do their own thing! Yes, my new breast are troublesome at times .. refuse to fit into any bra off the rack -- even the expensive brands at Macys or Nordstrom. When thru 8 bra manufacturer's before finding 1, and only 1 style that fits nicely! LOL
No doctor really explains the true 'side efforts' of chemo infusion, or radiation .. why we ladies thru choose to go thru reconstruction be any different? I wish my Plastic Surgeon would of handed me a booklet ...entitled ... 'how to' use, dress and enjoy your new breast (s).
Barbie and Bambi Boobzilla ... alive and active on body!
Vicki Sam0 -
Candice .. Pillows are your best friends ...PinkPearl said:Aww Candice hope you are feeling better.
So sorry about the pain and another "wait and see" period. I am praying that this reinforcement will fix the whole problem and as you heal you will feel so much better. Isn't weird that the doctors always say the surgery won't be so bad, but it usually is?? Hmmm, guess if they told us the reality we would run the other way! Soft hugs to you.
did I mention those nasty ... drains UGH! ... ok, my surgery to repair my droopy right breast was 1.5 hours long (6.5 for my bi-lateral, and tissue ex-panders), and only part of my fresh incision was re-cut. So my healing time was different, as well as the pain. No drain.. easy - peasy, somewhat.
When in pain, I pampered myself for the first 2 weeks -- Lord, we are out and in surgery for 6hours plus .. all of our muscles are torn, ripped and cut .. I liken my experience to having a C-Section .. OUCH ... hurt to get out of bed, or stand up straight. Bi-lateral is same intense pain .. my arm hurt to lift any object off my shelves, or in my fridge. I asked my husband to keep cups, plates saucers on counter tops -- the first several days. Forget pulling out anything from pantry, or out of the fridge... i.e. a gallon of milk (YIKES).
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Strength and Courage,
Vicki Sam0 -
Boobzilla!VickiSam said:Dawne .. You are so right .... LOL
touchy, stubborn and do their own thing! Yes, my new breast are troublesome at times .. refuse to fit into any bra off the rack -- even the expensive brands at Macys or Nordstrom. When thru 8 bra manufacturer's before finding 1, and only 1 style that fits nicely! LOL
No doctor really explains the true 'side efforts' of chemo infusion, or radiation .. why we ladies thru choose to go thru reconstruction be any different? I wish my Plastic Surgeon would of handed me a booklet ...entitled ... 'how to' use, dress and enjoy your new breast (s).
Barbie and Bambi Boobzilla ... alive and active on body!
Vicki Sam
LOL!
Oh, VickiSam you crack me up! They truly are boobzillas. LOL!
We do need a book, an after-care book to care for these diva foobs/ boobzillas.
Sorry about the bra issue. Have you been fitted at Nordstrom's by a surgical fitter? The crazy thing for me is I was a couple of months ago and they've changed again! Just like a diva ... can't make up her mind about anything!
Hope Barbie and Bambi stay in place!
At least we can laugh about it ... or we'd end up in the nut house. Or maybe we already are?
Love you girls! xo0 -
May I add to this
that it has been now 7 months since my reconstruction surgery and I still
can lie comfortably on back or on my side. I feel them rubbing up against
me when I exercise. I didn't expect this, does it get better?
The one thing I like is that they don't bounce when I run... but then again
where will my sex appeal be running down the beach in a red bathing suite
a la Pamela Anderson in Baywatch, when nothing is trying to spill over... lol.
I used to "all natural" girl.. oh well, I suppose it's better than nothing but I
agree they need to prepare us better and give us more information. But I
think most men (PS) just think we would keel over and die without our breats.
A world without breast.. how dreadful. I don't think it even occurs to them
that we may choose comfort over looks.
I hope they can fix your breasts and put them into their place.
Hugs,
Ayse0 -
aysemariaysemari said:May I add to this
that it has been now 7 months since my reconstruction surgery and I still
can lie comfortably on back or on my side. I feel them rubbing up against
me when I exercise. I didn't expect this, does it get better?
The one thing I like is that they don't bounce when I run... but then again
where will my sex appeal be running down the beach in a red bathing suite
a la Pamela Anderson in Baywatch, when nothing is trying to spill over... lol.
I used to "all natural" girl.. oh well, I suppose it's better than nothing but I
agree they need to prepare us better and give us more information. But I
think most men (PS) just think we would keel over and die without our breats.
A world without breast.. how dreadful. I don't think it even occurs to them
that we may choose comfort over looks.
I hope they can fix your breasts and put them into their place.
Hugs,
Ayse
It's almost seven months since my exchange and only in the last couple of weeks have I been able to sleep on my side. It doesn't hurt per se, but it is not particulary comfortable. While I sleep, I roll over on my side and inevitably I'll wait up and roll back on my back. I'm still sleeping with a wedge pillow because laying flat on my back isn't comfortable.
I know what you mean about the no bounce. I didn't expect that. Are your implants silicone or saline? My are silicone and I don't feel them rubbing against me when I do cardio but I don't run. Are you wearing a good, supportive bra? That might help. My favorite work-out bra post-exchange is a Bendon Max-Out Underwire bra ... yeah, I didn't even work-out underwire bras existed. It keeps everything tight.
I've started lifting again and that feels really weird. ... what is the new normal? I'm still trying to figure that out.0 -
Bra recommendations???
Candace - I HOPE that once you're healed up from this surgery that your boobs will behave for you. My PS also likes to tell me how "pain free" things will be, lol...I'd like HIM to have expanders put in under HIS chest, get fills, etc, and see how "pain free" he thinks it is then!!
You don't sound negative at all, just sharing your story. I just got a call from my PS and on March 1st I go back in to have the fat grafting to fix my flat spot & plump up my boobs a bit.
And - ladies, PLEASE, can you give me some bra recommendations? I need to get some after this next procedure, I have 1 of my old bras that fits somewhat, other than that im wearing sports bras or nothing!
*hugs*
Heather0 -
so sorry...
did they deal you ahead that not all successful? I am sure they did...but so much to take in...at one time..
I HOPE things are calming down a bit for you..0 -
So sorrydisneyfan2008 said:so sorry...
did they deal you ahead that not all successful? I am sure they did...but so much to take in...at one time..
I HOPE things are calming down a bit for you..
Candace, I am so sorry that you have to go through this. 3 months out of my reconstructive surgery and one of mine "settled" while the other didn't. I have been assured that the other one will too soon. I hope your pain resolves very quickly. You (none of us) should have to deal with this - I am sure you are very disappointed. Hang in there!0 -
Thanks everyone, love theClementine_P said:So sorry
Candace, I am so sorry that you have to go through this. 3 months out of my reconstructive surgery and one of mine "settled" while the other didn't. I have been assured that the other one will too soon. I hope your pain resolves very quickly. You (none of us) should have to deal with this - I am sure you are very disappointed. Hang in there!
Thanks everyone, love the humor. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. By itself, a manageable condition. That is, IF I could snuggle into a ball and sleep for a few days. But, thats not an option. So, the misery continues! Haha, at least I'm laughing.0 -
So sorry Candace for allCandaceMM said:Thanks everyone, love the
Thanks everyone, love the humor. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. By itself, a manageable condition. That is, IF I could snuggle into a ball and sleep for a few days. But, thats not an option. So, the misery continues! Haha, at least I'm laughing.
So sorry Candace for all that you are going thru. It is NOT fair!
Hoping that you will feel better mentally and physically real soon!
Sending you a gentle hug,
Sue 0 -
Hoping that your pain hasaysemari said:May I add to this
that it has been now 7 months since my reconstruction surgery and I still
can lie comfortably on back or on my side. I feel them rubbing up against
me when I exercise. I didn't expect this, does it get better?
The one thing I like is that they don't bounce when I run... but then again
where will my sex appeal be running down the beach in a red bathing suite
a la Pamela Anderson in Baywatch, when nothing is trying to spill over... lol.
I used to "all natural" girl.. oh well, I suppose it's better than nothing but I
agree they need to prepare us better and give us more information. But I
think most men (PS) just think we would keel over and die without our breats.
A world without breast.. how dreadful. I don't think it even occurs to them
that we may choose comfort over looks.
I hope they can fix your breasts and put them into their place.
Hugs,
Ayse
Hoping that your pain has lessened for you Candace! Sorry that you are suffering like this.
Hugs, Lex0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 122K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 398 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 673 Leukemia
- 794 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 238 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.2K Ovarian Cancer
- 63 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 542 Sarcoma
- 736 Skin Cancer
- 655 Stomach Cancer
- 192 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.9K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards