Just wondering how careful do you have to be with nips after having reconstruction.  I have not had nip recon yet, but I am hoping to get it done.  I think that I'm afraid that they will fall off if handled  too roughly. 
 
I know that this may be too graffic, but during sex, how careful do you have to be with any touching or normal foreplay?

diagnosed 2/13/08
dbl mastectomy 3/03/08
BRCA 2+
IDC ER/PR- Her2- triple neg
Stage IIb
3+ lymph nodes
tumor in breast 2.5cm
starting chemo 3/25/08
4AC/4 Taxol
chemo finished 7/1/08 rad done 8/29/08
ovaries removed 10/3/08

HA!  OMG I'm having a good laugh.....of course I have the same questions! ha!  What a visual......

I'm pretty sure they graph/sew the new nips on......and after a few weeks I'm betting they become "one" with the new boob.....I'll know more on Thursday when I see my ps for pre-op.... having my nip done on November 12th..... so I'll ask him about it.  Any other questions for the ps?  I'll be happy to grill my doc for us.

I am giggling.... I can just see my poor hubby's face if it were to fall off! ha!  I really don't mean to giggle but hey....we have to laugh about it right?

Debbie P in Dayton, TX
Diagnosed Stage II Oct 2008
Mastectomy Nov 2008 (2 lymphs removed)
After initial clean lymphs, 1 found cancerous so
Lymph removal Dec 2008 - all clear 
Cytoxin/Adriamycin 6 rounds started 12/08
    Final Chemo 4/2/09!  Femara started 4/16/09 for 5 years.

OK, ladies. Take a deep breath before reading this. About 10 days after my surgery, I had the bandaids off my nipples because I had just showered and was preparing to put on ointment and replace the bandaids. As I reached my arm across the chest, my fingernail "nipped my nip." I looked down to see it hanging there. After bracing myself with the sink so I wouldn't pass out, I called my doctor. Her nurse said, "No big deal--put it back in place, put on the ointment and the bandaid, and it'll be fine." It ended up healing fine, but boy did that scare me. So, just be careful--no quick movements until it heals! Rena

Rena age 60 California Central Coast
23-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Sweet, sweet, Rena - you've seen it all haven't you??? 


Hug,
Elaine

Belmont Shore, (Long Beach) CA
DX 2/08, ER+/PR+, 9.5cm (YIKES!)
IIIA, Grade 2, 2+nodes out of 4 SNB         
left br mast 3/13/08 w/tissue expander, 
dose-dense A+C 4x T4x, 33 Rads DONE 10/08! 
8/08 Arimidex five years (4 yrs to go)           
Recon: silicone implant/lift  7/09 DONE!!!
"Today is here - tomorrow is wa

Sadly, yes. But I'm still alive and kicking!

Rena age 60 California Central Coast
23-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

OMG!  This is too funny!  I'm sitting here cracking up at the idea of my nipple popping off during sex! 

I had the nipple reconstruction where they make an S shape incision and sort of twist the skin to make a nipple.  I had to wear a plastic eye patch over it for a couple of weeks, but mainly to keep my bra and clothing from squishing it down.

To answer the question seriously, I was pretty careful for a few weeks while it healed.  But after a couple of months, well it was fairly normal.  I can tell you that nothing short of a hatchet is going to make this nipple fall off.  Without going into detail....foreplay away!

Alison, 44. Woodland, WA.
DX 08/14/06, Left Mast, Nodes13-/1+, 4-AC/1-Taxol/3-Taxotere, Rads, BRCA neg.,Tram flap. Medullary carcinoma, triple neg. Carepage: Alisonirwin108

Oh my gosh Rena!!  Coffee just shot out of my nose!!  I was told that they will build my nipples out of the 'paddle' that has been used since the mastectomy to seal the breasts.  It looks like fake skin? Anyone else using this?  Do they generally do the areola tatooing first?  I told my mom that I going to get 2 tatoos and she freaked.....then I told her they were the areola's!!!! 
YA gotta laugh ladies right?????

Well....I would have hit the floor and been in shock! ha!  you are one tough cookie to have been so calm about that! ha!

I have nip recon a week from tomorrow.... he said he is taking the skin from the crease of my leg between the hip and "private" area.... not toooooo close! ha!  He is sewing the new areola into place after pulling the nip through the center.  He said it will take several hours mostly because of all the detailed sewing he has to do.  Hopefully that means this puppy won't fall off in the shower!!!! ha!

Debbie P in Dayton, TX
Diagnosed Stage II Oct 2008
Mastectomy Nov 2008 (2 lymphs removed)
After initial clean lymphs, 1 found cancerous so
Lymph removal Dec 2008 - all clear 
Cytoxin/Adriamycin 6 rounds started 12/08
    Final Chemo 4/2/09!  Femara started 4/16/09 for 5 years.