Hi pinks, it's been a long time

pinkkari09
pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Well, I have to say I miss this site, it's been awhile since I've posted. A lot has happened, I have my new breasts and I hate them!! My expanders looked way better, now I have this really big right breast, and my left side is about half the size (left side had cancer, 25 rounds of radiation, latisimus dorsi flap). I'm so embarrassed I can barely leave home. I thought my plastic surgeon was great till now, and he has a good reputation too. I'm so disappointed, I was looking forward to the implants being more comfortable and looking better and now I'm this walking lopsided glob of uneven boobs. :(:(:( has anyone else ever had this happen, how do they fix it? Is it normal for them to wait 3 months?
Frustrated,
Kari
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Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
    Kari
    welcome back. Sorry for the plastic work. You look gorgeous, I love your picture.
    Hugs,
    New Fower
  • survives
    survives Member Posts: 254 Member
    #3
    New Flower said:

    Kari
    welcome back. Sorry for the plastic work. You look gorgeous, I love your picture.
    Hugs,
    New Fower

    I agree
    I agree with New Flower, Kari...you look Mahvelous, dahling! I didn't have reconstruction, but from what I've read, after you have your implants in, it takes a while for them to "settle" properly. When do you see you bs again?

    Hopefully, someone else will come along who has had reconstruction, and be able to give you more information.

    survives
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #4
    survives said:

    I agree
    I agree with New Flower, Kari...you look Mahvelous, dahling! I didn't have reconstruction, but from what I've read, after you have your implants in, it takes a while for them to "settle" properly. When do you see you bs again?

    Hopefully, someone else will come along who has had reconstruction, and be able to give you more information.

    survives

    I am sorry Kari that you are
    I am sorry Kari that you are so unhappy with your implants. Did your plastic surgeon say why this happened? I had a lumpectomy, so, I don't know what to say to you.

    Hugs, Angie
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #5
    PS says it's because of the
    PS says it's because of the radiated skin, it didn't let the implant settle. I was given exercises to loosen the skin and I'm praying this will help. I was really looking forward to this surgery and now I'm very disappointed, it's painful to sleep too, the expanders were better. I really really really pray this gets fixed soon. Thank you pinks and any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
    ~Kari
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #6
    pinkkari09 said:

    PS says it's because of the
    PS says it's because of the radiated skin, it didn't let the implant settle. I was given exercises to loosen the skin and I'm praying this will help. I was really looking forward to this surgery and now I'm very disappointed, it's painful to sleep too, the expanders were better. I really really really pray this gets fixed soon. Thank you pinks and any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
    ~Kari

    I read on your other post
    I read on your other post that it has only been 11 days. That isn't very long Kari for you to heal and for, I assume, your implants to settle. I wish I knew more to help you, but, I know many here will post back to you. Did your PS say what he will do in 3 months? Could he put a smaller implant in your right side making it more like your left?
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #7
    He did say he could put a
    He did say he could put a smaller one on the right side. I know, I need to be patient, I was just so excited to have the exchange and really had high hopes of a good turn out. Now everything is on hold, nipples, tattooing.....I will wait it out and pray he can fix it or it fixes itself some.
    Thank you :) this all helps, every little bit makes me feel better,
    ~Kari
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
    pinkkari09 said:

    He did say he could put a
    He did say he could put a smaller one on the right side. I know, I need to be patient, I was just so excited to have the exchange and really had high hopes of a good turn out. Now everything is on hold, nipples, tattooing.....I will wait it out and pray he can fix it or it fixes itself some.
    Thank you :) this all helps, every little bit makes me feel better,
    ~Kari

    I had DIEP
    on my left side and yes they are not equal. My plastic surgeon said because of radiation of the new radiated breast
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #9
    New Flower said:

    I had DIEP
    on my left side and yes they are not equal. My plastic surgeon said because of radiation of the new radiated breast

    Kari .. My mouth is still open .. I too have put alot of
    faith in my plastic .. I did not have radation. I am scheduled for my exchange on 7/21.. I have opted to go with saline.


    Best of luck, and never give up! We all have the right to look the way we did before breast cancer - took our breasts away. Yikes .. I am so mad ... some doctors ...

    Bye the way .. You look GREAT .. healthy, and love your short hair-do.


    Vicki Sam
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #10
    VickiSam said:

    Kari .. My mouth is still open .. I too have put alot of
    faith in my plastic .. I did not have radation. I am scheduled for my exchange on 7/21.. I have opted to go with saline.


    Best of luck, and never give up! We all have the right to look the way we did before breast cancer - took our breasts away. Yikes .. I am so mad ... some doctors ...

    Bye the way .. You look GREAT .. healthy, and love your short hair-do.


    Vicki Sam

    Kari, so nice to see you here!
    I didn't have a mastectomy, so I'm of no help to you -- I just wanted to say how beautiful you look with your post-chemo 'do! The short hair really suits you.

    I hope they'll be able to find a solution that makes you feel as confident and beautiful as you look!

    Traci
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #11
    Thank you so much Traci,
    Thank you so much Traci, what sweet words!! I really missed this site, I have been so busy, I don't even get on facebook.....I know crazy huh. Anyhow, thank you for the encouraging things said by everyone. I'm going to ride it out and see what time brings me....I will keep everyone updated, I pray this turns out ok, I had beautiful breasts before my bilateral mastectomy, I just want normal looking ones now.
    God Bless,
    Kari
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #12
    pinkkari09 said:

    Thank you so much Traci,
    Thank you so much Traci, what sweet words!! I really missed this site, I have been so busy, I don't even get on facebook.....I know crazy huh. Anyhow, thank you for the encouraging things said by everyone. I'm going to ride it out and see what time brings me....I will keep everyone updated, I pray this turns out ok, I had beautiful breasts before my bilateral mastectomy, I just want normal looking ones now.
    God Bless,
    Kari

    I haven't even had my
    I haven't even had my surgery yet, so I don't have any advice, I just wanted to comment on your great pic. Beautiful :)
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #13
    pinkkari09 said:

    He did say he could put a
    He did say he could put a smaller one on the right side. I know, I need to be patient, I was just so excited to have the exchange and really had high hopes of a good turn out. Now everything is on hold, nipples, tattooing.....I will wait it out and pray he can fix it or it fixes itself some.
    Thank you :) this all helps, every little bit makes me feel better,
    ~Kari

    I am sending you a prayer
    I am sending you a prayer Kari that your PS can fix it to where you will feel better and be happier with the outcome. I can understand how you feel, yet, I can't because I had a lumpectomy. ( if that makes sense )

    Hugs, Angie
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #14
    Hey Kari
    I was just thinking yesterday where you were! You look great. Sorry you think you're lopsided, but in the picture, you don't seem to be, or were those expanders? Don't be embarrassed about going out. I don't know all the terms since I had a lumpectomy, what is dorsi flap? Can't the plastic surgeon fix it if you're unhappy? I hope they can. Good luck and post more often.
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #15
    Hi Laurissa, a latisimus
    Hi Laurissa, a latisimus dorsi flap is a paddle of skin taken off my back because I didn't have enough stomach to use, it's suppose to hold up better for radiation and leave a better outcome. My PS says he'll look at me in 3 months and determine what to do, the implants need to settle in, I know for sure the right side will have to go smaller in order to meet the left. Thank you everyone for all the prayers and thoughts, I will try and get on here more often and post more, I need to share my experience, strength and hope with the newcomers, Lord knows I've been through a lot.
    Love to all,
    ~Kari
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #16
    pinkkari09 said:

    Hi Laurissa, a latisimus
    Hi Laurissa, a latisimus dorsi flap is a paddle of skin taken off my back because I didn't have enough stomach to use, it's suppose to hold up better for radiation and leave a better outcome. My PS says he'll look at me in 3 months and determine what to do, the implants need to settle in, I know for sure the right side will have to go smaller in order to meet the left. Thank you everyone for all the prayers and thoughts, I will try and get on here more often and post more, I need to share my experience, strength and hope with the newcomers, Lord knows I've been through a lot.
    Love to all,
    ~Kari

    So sorry Kari that your
    So sorry Kari that your outcome with your exchange wasn't good. It does sound like you will need a smaller implant on the side that wasn't radiated. But, give yourself some time and your body some time to adjust. I hope you feel better soon.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #17
    Heatherbelle said:

    I haven't even had my
    I haven't even had my surgery yet, so I don't have any advice, I just wanted to comment on your great pic. Beautiful :)

    So sorry Kari. Like
    So sorry Kari. Like everyone else wrote, you look beautiful!

    Hugs, Debby
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #18
    ???
    Ooops - double post...
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #19
    Yes, it's been a while - too long!
    Hi, Kari! Glad to find you here - though I'm sorry for your frustration. As others have stated - you look GREAT in your new photo! I agree - love the short hair! Honestly, can't offer much without first-hand experience (lumpectomy for me). Maybe more time, to heal? Heal from both rads & surgery? Additional time might make a difference? I really don't know... Hoping you'll find a solution, soon.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    #20
    Christmas Girl said:

    ???
    Ooops - double post...

    Hang in there~
    Kari~ your pic is amazing! I thought "wow, what a nice rack of boobs"....and you are only a few weeks out from surgery??? Give yourself time to "settle", which our bodies need to do. I am a year out from my expander exchange, and i look amazing (minus some scars) but in a swim suit, clothes..I am very balanced. There is no way we will ever be, what we used to be. We have to grieve what is gone, and welcome what is new, and rebuilt! Give yourself time, I know it is hard, I am very impatient...but cancer actually taught me how to be patient with my recovery.
    Melanie
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #21
    Kari, it is so good to see
    Kari, it is so good to see you on this site again. I have to agree with everyone else and say you do look very good. I, too, had a lumpectomy and can't offer any advice but I can say that it seems like getting through every stage of this disease is a waiting game. I sure do hope that once you get a little further along that things become what you desire. Take care of yourself and continue to post.

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