Happy Birthday to me!

Chin to the wind indeed Tanya, love that expression :) Thanx for your comments ~ so good to hear everyone's experiences... hope life's treating you well since those ops...  

Julesx

Welcome girls

I had a double mastecomy, left in 2007 and then 2010 (my choice) had my right off with expander on the left and immediate implant on the right.  I have now had my expander exchanged for a implant and now have 500cc on both left and right.

I chose the expander rather than the tram flap surgeries mainly because of the recovery time as my children are still primary school age, I could not be away from them for too long,

Hope you are all doing well and great to read some positive posts.

chin to the wind girls.

Love Tanya xx

Hey Jules! I am not sure if I will be having the expanders removed and silicone implants put in or not.  The plastic surgeon said he does leave the expanders in some women.....although I must say the shape is not quite 'real'.  Will find out more next Thursday.  Thankful it is winter as scarfes have been a wardrobe staple for me!  Totally hear you re sleeping!  My beloved was recently thrilled to find me on my side in bed....exclaiming ' we can spoon again!!!'  I know it can be rough, but  keep up the beautiful postive attitude! (I truly believe it helps!!)  Will keep in touch xxx

Hey Jules, just wanted to say 'hi' and welcome.  You look like you have the site pretty well figured out but if you need a hand with anything, just ask.

Don't worry about tone -- however you're feeling is fine here, there's usually someone who'll join in! :)

~Di

Hey Liz, thrilled with your reply ~ thanx so much for all the gorgeous detail!  It's so reassuring to read that you're going thru a very similar place that where I'll be visiting :)  I met my Plastic Surgeon this morning, and I'm probably going for silicone implants, following a very similar path to the one you describe... having a saline filler top-up every 3wks or so until we reach an agreeable cup size.  It's unbelievable what these surgeons can do!   And imagine not having those nasty shoulder indents any more!  Bring on the new boobs, I say:)  I'd been wondering about the sleeping position... no looking forward to being limited to sleeping on my back! (side-cuddling is infinitely more comfy!!)  Anyway, look forward to hearing from you again ~ all the best to you too luv, Jxx

Awww Merrylynn, shucks. If I could hug you right now, I would!  I was a little concerned that my tone might be a little too jovial, maybe offending some people who might be dealing with their prognosis differently, might be at a different stage... but this is what works for me.  And judging by the responses, i've not been toooo offensive :)  Thanx so much for your feedback, it's really appreciated luv:)

Girls - I want this to be like - dare I say It - Facebook. Some of this stuff i'm reading is fantastic and I just want to say I like it. You Jules - are amazing!!!!! Hey that's right as they say in that old Stevie Wonder classic- Happy BirthdayTo ya!!!.

Hey again Jules!  I too had no idea about reconstruction. It all happened so quickly after my diagnosis. My mum has had one breast removed and wears a prothesis.   But I too had a pretty poor relationship with my old  boobs. They were enoromous in my teens, gianomous during pregnancy, absolutely useless during breast feeding and then just saggy and ugly. They had let me down, so in truth I wasn't really distraught to see the girls go. lol!!!  My plastic surgeon told me at the inital consult that it is not like a cosmetic boob job.  His job is to make my chest look as 'normal' in clothes as possible.  I had hoped to be a C cup. He informed me it would have been possible to go bigger than before but not smaller (due to excess skin!!!!!) aaahhhh!   I had an expander put behind my chest wall and put a small about of saline in them. When I woke from surgery I wasn't dead flat. Then every couple of weeks I would go back to town and he would put between 60 -90mls in each boob via a port under the surface of the skin.  It is truly bizzare to see them literally grow before your eyes.  And yes I was usually sore for the next day or so, but it is only temporary.  Since my last fill (which was 8 weeks ago) they have gone from being absolutely rock hard to partially spongy.  My biggest complaint would not be able to sleep on my side for the first couple of months post surgery.  They are so perky, I can run and there is no wobble!!! Yay!!  Will find out more about the nipple options at my next consult.  Not keen on skin grafts, reckon tattoos will be the way for me!  Will keep you posted!! Keep your chin up luvy!  xx Liz

Hey again Jules!  I too had no idea about reconstruction. It all happened so quickly after my diagnosis. My mum has had one breast removed and wears a prothesis.   But I too had a pretty poor relationship with my old  boobs. They were enoromous in my teens, gianomous during pregnancy, absolutely useless during breast feeding and then just saggy and ugly. They had let me down, so in truth I wasn't really distraught to see the girls go. lol!!!  My plastic surgeon told me at the inital consult that it is not like a cosmetic boob job.  His job is to make my chest look as 'normal' in clothes as possible.  I had hoped to be a C cup. He informed me it would have been possible to go bigger than before but not smaller (due to excess skin!!!!!) aaahhhh!   I had an expander put behind my chest wall and put a small about of saline in them. When I woke from surgery I wasn't dead flat. Then every couple of weeks I would go back to town and he would put between 60 -90mls in each boob via a port under the surface of the skin.  It is truly bizzare to see them literally grow before your eyes.  And yes I was usually sore for the next day or so, but it is only temporary.  Since my last fill (which was 8 weeks ago) they have gone from being absolutely rock hard to partially spongy.  My biggest complaint would not be able to sleep on my side for the first couple of months post surgery.  They are so perky, I can run and there is no wobble!!! Yay!!  Will find out more about the nipple options at my next consult.  Not keen on skin grafts, reckon tattoos will be the way for me!  Will keep you posted!! Keep your chin up luvy!  xx Liz

Ahh, thanx so much for your beautiful message, Lizzy!  Really good to hear about your journey, and particularly about your Mastectomy experience.  I really have limited knowledge about what to expect, but terrific for you not to have needed both chemo AND radiation!! Well done :)  I'm a bit intrigued about the "filling" process... and had wondered about nipple options; I guess that's all ahead for me!

Do you mind me asking you about your Reconstruction? Did you have implants or the tram flap thing? (technical knowledge a little lacking!)  Despite the DD-cup, I've never thought that my boobs were much chop (pardon the pun), so imagine my delight at being in possession of a perky pair!!  I'm taking suggestions from girlfriends about what cup size they think I should opt for ~ happy to keep the good humour if I can.  Jx