Get connected day!

Hi Ree -- what an interesting experience you're having with the Furry Brazilian implants.  It's great to hear your updates. 

I just wanted to give you a heads-up that when you post on this blog post, people may not find it as it was started back in January and new people may not visit here.

I think what you have to say would be of interest to lots of our members, so you might like to make a post in your own blog each time you have an update. That way they'll show up on the "All posts" page (which is here: http://www.bcna.org.au/node/all/blog/network ) and everyone will find them.

It's totally up to you what you do, though -- just letting you know what might give you the widest readership.  If you're not sure how to make a post in your blog just let me know and I can help you out. :)

-- Di

Hiya girls,

Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that my surgery has all been organised and I'm finally getting my final implants! So excited - can you tell???  hahaha Going to happen on the 1st April - I think I might have already mentioned that - but it is all confirmed now. As usual, I'm last on the list for surgery so have all day to think and get nervous and stress about it, LOL. But of course I can understand that they need the early operating times for women who need the day services of the labs etc....

Spoke to my surgeon about the furry brazillians and she is as excited as me that I want to go with them. She has only done a couple before now but has found them to be much better in positioning than the traditional type. Something about them being similair to cockleburs - once they are in place, they will stick in spot. Of course, that is one of their flaunted capabilities, dramatically reducing the ocurrence of encapsulation which is part of why Mel is so excited about getting the go ahead to use them. Can't wait to have boobies the right shape and profile to actually fill a bra cup!!! Apparently she has broached the topic with several of her older patients but they get nervous about the thought that they are covered in polystyrene - althohg I looked at the specimen Melissa had in her office and found it to be a much nicer shape and feel to the traditional type - maybe I was merely projecting as it was what I was hoping to get??? They cetainly seemed to have a better projection than their same sized counterparts...

Anyhoo, just wanted to share some postive news. I hope everyone is well and taking care of themselves. Big hugs and can't wait for updates from you all!! I'll keep you all posted about how it goes - if I can stop squirming enough  :OP

 

Ree xoxox

Hi Ree,

I think the Physio was just part of the care offered by the private hospital I went to. The breast care nurses came out a few times then the physio came about 2 or 3 times. I was 38 so don't think it was an age thing. The physio was fantastic she told me things no one else had and made me push myself that little bit harder to get full movement back which I have, my pilates instructor said I have 100% movement. The physio did make me stop using my little pillow thing given to me by the BC nurses she said I had to let my arm rest where it normally did. She was brilliant I am very grateful to her, and would recommend a physio consult.

Yah so glad it is Friday work is over, sitting here with my glass of bubbly one boob on ,one thrown on the bed  feeling lucky/ grateful my hubby still calls me sexy : - ) Life is good....

Have a fabulous weekend girls remember to take time out for you the house work will wait.

Hi Ree,

I think the Physio was just part of the care offered by the private hospital I went to. The breast care nurses came out a few times then the physio came about 2 or 3 times. I was 38 so don't think it was an age thing. The physio was fantastic she told me things no one else had and made me push myself that little bit harder to get full movement back which I have, my pilates instructor said I have 100% movement. The physio did make me stop using my little pillow thing given to me by the BC nurses she said I had to let my arm rest where it normally did. She was brilliant I am very grateful to her, and would recommend a physio consult.

Yah so glad it is Friday work is over, sitting here with my glass of bubbly one boob on ,one thrown on the bed  feeling lucky/ grateful my hubby still calls me sexy : - ) Life is good....

Have a fabulous weekend girls remember to take time out for you the house work will wait.

Hi Ree,

I think the Physio was just part of the care offered by the private hospital I went to. The breast care nurses came out a few times then the physio came about 2 or 3 times. I was 38 so don't think it was an age thing. The physio was fantastic she told me things no one else had and made me push myself that little bit harder to get full movement back which I have, my pilates instructor said I have 100% movement. The physio did make me stop using my little pillow thing given to me by the BC nurses she said I had to let my arm rest where it normally did. She was brilliant I am very grateful to her, and would recommend a physio consult.

Yah so glad it is Friday work is over, sitting here with my glass of bubbly one boob on ,one thrown on the bed  feeling lucky/ grateful my hubby still calls me sexy : - ) Life is good....

Have a fabulous weekend girls remember to take time out for you the house work will wait.

It is overwhelming! But as we all said, take time out from thinking about it as well. Don't foret, you can always look for other opinions if you aren't happy with what you have been told by your medical team. I chose to have both taken as I didn't want more issues in the future (re-occurance of the cancer, more lumpectomies etc) - well, at least not as big a chance but a significant part of the decision was having matching boobies :O) Self image is so much a part of our egos and recovery has been easier - mentally - knowing that my results are going to be the same on both sides in the mirror. My surgery was done at St Andrews Private Hospital in Adelaide. It's about an hours drive from me but was worth it. The team there was fantastic, my surgeon Melissa Bochner is a treasure and the breast care nurses are amazing with the amount of support they offered! Col, I'm curious about the physio - I wsn't offered physio as part of my recovery, maybe that was because I was younger than most patients? It took me about a month to get back to the point where I could look after the kids and do basic household chores but some things are still difficult - pegging out washing is uncomfortable so I tend to use a step ladder so I don't have to reach up, as such. LOL Have had a few physical set backs with the ectra surgery to replace the faulty expander but was only down for a week after that one. According to my surgeon, I can expect about a week after the next op to get back up to speed. Ree xxx

Thanks Colb for yur story, I think I will do a lot of info gathering before making any decision. If I go for the bilateral it will put enormous pressure on my husband as there really is only the 2 of us, being out of towners. It is all so overwhelming at times.

Thanks again for your willingness to share.

Jacqui

Pardon my ignorance but don't they make the reconstruction to be the same as the other boobie??? Was it your choice not to have the recon at the same time? I will have to ask the dr what are the chances of getting it in the other boobie as I am thinking after 3 op and facing this next one don't know that I can stand worrying if I will have to go through it all again down the track....boy oh boy! there is a lot to think about. What is the recovery time for a mastectomy before you were feeling well enough to maybe go back to work?

Thanks for your patience,

Jac

We do not have private health cover so that puts me at a disadvantage I guess,my own fault of course for not having it , I am on a small property in the Inverell district and it so far seems that my closest McGrath Nurse will be Armidale. I understand that Tamworth where I have had to travell for previous surgery does not do reconstruction. Do you mind telling me where you had your surgery done as I may have to look around if I go for the recon at the same time. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

lol Jac

Hi Jacqui

Damn those stubborn cells  :O( On the other side of the coin? If you have a bi-lateral mastectomy (both breasts), it takes chances of re-occurence down to less than 10%, according to my surgeon. And upside - perky new boobies that won't sag like your peers will  :OP

It's goingto be a tough time but one step at a time. Like Colb says, if it is too much at once, step back and look at the big picture and you will find your focus again.

As for the mastectomy and reconstruction, I had mine started in the same operation. I had a bilateral mastectomy. This meant that although she took everything (skin, breast tissue,nipple, areola) I didn't have a muscle flap taken from the back or abdominal area, she has used my chest muscle for the pocket. For this I was incredibly grateful as I had read ans since learnt from people going through thistype that is a much longer recuperation time and can be more painful/uncomfortable. First the surgeon placed tissue expanders in (then regular trips to get them inflated with saline to expand them and stretch the skin), the next step is permanent impants. After that (a couple of months for them to drop) she will do a nipple reconstruction with tattooing to follow.  My costs are zero as I have top level private health insurance (thank goddess for hubby's company throwing that into the renumeration package!) and between that and Medicare, I have no out-of-pocket expenses and that includes staying in a private hospital. So I don't know if that helps unless you have private health insurance, make sure you mention that and check your level of cover with the provider.

As for when, I think that is a combination of when you are ready for it and whether your surgeon advises that you could go ahead with it straight away or need to wait after radiotherapy.

I don't know if any of this helps but all my thoughts are with you and your family.

Hugs Ree xxx