July Surgeries - exchanging "Expanders" ??? I seem to recall ..... there are several of us schedule

Jean 0609 said:

I was supposed to have my implants in July
However, when I finally got to see my Oncologist, she decided for me to have 4 chemo treatments. So for now my exchange has been postponed until after chemo. I don't need anymore saline fills, so once the chemo is done, I'll be ready.

Same thing happened to me, Jean
Jean, I also had 4 chemos (Taxotere/Cytoxan) after expander placement, so had to wait for my implants. The PS said it only postponed my implants "a while," but I felt like I had them forever! Glad to hear your fills are done at least.

2Floridiansisters said:

Good Luck Ladies
To each and everyone of you, I'm wishing you all the best in this transition.

Love Ronda

Adding my good luck to my bc
Adding my good luck to my bc sisters also!

VickiSam said:

Ladies .. I have taken M-Star's advise and I am now
wearing my 'support' bra again. I almost feel perky .. my right football breast is still somewhat now on the same level playing ground as my left breast -- but the shape is different. Just knowing that my exchange is 2 weeks away, I can handle this and walk in pride.

I am curious .. where can I get some additional support bra's .. snaps in front .??? I've been looking on line ... fastened in the back ...


Any ideas?


Vicki SAm

I found some exercise bras
I found some exercise bras that hook in the front at Wal-Mart and Target. Had to buy them a little big because can't stand tightness and squishing on my expanders. They really do hurt. Cannot wait to get them out. I feel like I'm sounding like a broken record ....

VickiSam said:

Thank you so much .. Dawne.Hope .. I go in for my
pre-OP on 7/15/10. I seem to recall my plastic nurse stating that I would have to wear a 'support bra' .. clasp in front for 1 year .. Has anyone said anything to you regarding wearing a bra - 24 hours a day ?

Dawne -- Please confirm with Plastic .. issues with anesthesia // perhaps you can get a sit down, or telephone call with anesthologist a few days before surgery and express your concerns. I know how everyone seems to think that the general meeting - 5 minutes before being wheeled in surgery serves as a meeting.

Yes, thank you for remembering my never ending battle iwth infections. hehehehehe

God's hand on you my friend.

Vicki Sam

I know nothing about what
I know nothing about what bras to wear, if any post-surgery. He hasn't told me yet. Maybe I'll hear something about this at my pre-op.

I am so going to let them on at pre-op about the nausea post-surgery. Don't want to deal with that again. I live 2.5 hours away and don't want to deal with that on the drive home.

When I know something about a bra, I'll let you know!

God's hand upon you too!
dh

Christine Louise said:

Tomorrow - July 7!!!
Thanks for doing this, Vicki Sam. I get my lovely, soft, gorgeous implants at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Woooo! Just in time -- my expanders have gotten soooo annoying this last week. I will certainly let you all know how it goes. Woooo!

And?
Do you just love your new implants?

I hope your surgery went over well and that
you are satisfied with your results.

Ayse

Sally5 said:

Good luck
Good luck to everyone with the exchange.... I have one more fill and then I need to wait two months.

I'll be anxious to hear how you are all doing... Anything must be better than these rocks.. (my expanders).

Congrats and take care.

sally 5
yes, it has to be better than these rocks, or tortoise shells, or coat of arms or whatever else hard, painful objects one wishes to use to describe them.

Hang in there! You're time is coming ...

lolad said:

Hey there!
Just found out today that im having my exchange on August 12th. I am soooo ready for it. Ive had expanders since july of last year and had to have one removed in Feb because of an infection. Now they have to borrow my dorsal muscle from my back to build more tissue on the left side when they do the reconstruction. When i got my infection, it formed a big hole in the middle of my breast and that is what caused the tissue loss. Plus i have so much scaring that they are using the extra skin they get from my back to cover for the scars. Let me know how it goes!!

Take care
Laura

Just want to say good luck
Just want to say good luck to all of you sisters too!


Hugs, Angie

jo jo said:

Vicki Sam
This Wednseday July 14th...i guess this makes me next in line on this board!

Good luck on Wednesday JoJo!
Good luck on Wednesday JoJo! Wishing all of you good luck!


Hugs, Megan

Not such a good experience
Not such a good experience for me. I hate my implants, they are so uneven and one is way bigger than the other. I had 25 rounds of radiation on the left after my latisimus dorsi flap. I was so excited to get my expanders out (June 29th, 2010) eleven days ago and now I look in the mirror and just cry, I can't even look, it's so horrible. Surgeon says I have to wait 3 months before he can do anything, says the radiated skin is the cause of this. My right side lays nice and normal, looks like the old breast (good skin) and my left side sits like the expander did, up high and looks like an implant. I'm so so so so so disappointed

VickiSam said:

Oh my Lord .. KMSmclaughlin .. I am so sorry ..
I don't know what to say .. a first for me. I wonder, if this is normal with breast that have had radation performed?


3 months .. Gee, Louise ...


So Sorry ..

Vicki Sam

I'm sorry too, Kim.
Please
I'm sorry too, Kim.

Please check out the board 'exchange city' on breastcancer.org.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/728266

What you're experiencing is not uncommon.

Hang in there. It CAN and DOES get better.

dh