Topic: Exchange City

Jul 17, 2012 07:31 AM CMartin wrote:

JoanQuilts - glad all is well for you.  I think I'm over-anticipating the ease of this one.  Have you taken any oxy yet?  I don't anticipate much pain?  Mine is 8/24.  No drains for me will be used and we haven't discussed bras.  I'm really hoping he doesn't say an underwire for 24/7 as some do.  I've read a lot about the implants being much smaller than the expanders.  I feel huge and am hoping for a happy "medium".  Hope you have a restful day.

Jul 17, 2012 08:07 AM JoanQuilts wrote:

Hi Cindy:

 I took oxy twice during the night, because I don't mind being sleepy when I'm supposed to be sleeping.  I took some Tylenol about half an hour ago, but it doesn't seem to be working much.  However, I'm not feeling pain when I don't move around and it's bearable when I do.  Very manageable.  I'd rather have this pain than a toothache.  I'll keep you updated over the next few days if you like!

Joan

Jul 17, 2012 02:19 PM Blessings2011 wrote:

Yay, Joan! May your recovery be swift and your healing be good and complete!!!

Jul 17, 2012 05:25 PM 1acme wrote:

It is here any female, with reconstructed breast who is working in LAW
ENFORCEMENT wearing BULLET PROOF VEST !!!

I had today appointment with my Plastic Surgeon and we are scheduling
Replacement Surgery (after Right Mastectomy) ... in about OCTOBER 2012.
They will Replace - Add IMPLANT on my Right site and
my Left side it will be immediate Replacement (Mastectomy at the same time).
So I will have on BOTH side Implants.

(1) I do understand that they will "install" Inflamers - under the
muscle (recovery time 6 weeks)
(2) every 2 weeks - injection to increase volume
(3) Replacement surgery - remove inflamers and replace them with permanent
implants (recovery 6 weeks)

I was wondering if anybody here have experience with Implant replacement
who is as well working in LAW ENFORCEMENT and wear a BULLET PROOF VEST.

My surgeon is telling me that they should be "fine" ... Well I am not so
much concerned about wearing my VEST as much for re-certifying for the vest -
which is including extensive 5 days TRAINING when I will be tossed on the floor
mats SEVERAL times a day.

a) it will my implants last my training ?
b) do I need a "special" made Vest for my self ?
    or regular vest will be enough?
c) how confortable is to wear Vest over the Implants ?
d) RECOVERY TIME - when is realistic to be ready to
    (1) Wear Vest and
    (2) be able to attend 5 days long training (to re-certify)

Thank you

Jul 17, 2012 06:16 PM 1acme wrote:

Thanks for reply ...

Well my Surgeon told me that 6 weeks recovery after Implants will be sufficient .... however he does not have any "experience" with this matter (wearing a Bulletproof Vest) ... therefore he will NOT sign any longer recovery for my agency ... I am just trying to find some more info  

Jul 17, 2012 09:10 PM Summer2recover wrote:

1acme- I hope that you can find someone with firsthand knowledge.  This is a good place to look.  Hopefully you will have a very uncomplicated exchange and will make out okay if you have to do the certification after 6 weeks.  But five days of being tossed around on mats.......  yikes!

Jul 18, 2012 02:26 AM Sleep wrote:

Thanks ladies for responding so quickly. I know for sure I will do both procedures at exchange. You helped me get over the fear factor about having surgery again. God bless you all good night I will sleep well tonite. Love to all

Jul 18, 2012 10:53 AM, edited Jul 18, 2012 10:57 AM by TonLee

Thanks everyone for the well wishes :)

Here's an update I posted on my triple pos thread..

Got the TE out and implant in!!  WOO HOO.  This has been by far the best experience I've had.  Now I don't mean the way it looks, because I haven't seen it yet..hah.  But the people at the medical center were so friendly and awesome.  I didn't meet a single person who wasn't an "up" personality.

An old man, volunteer, kept coming up while in pre-op telling me jokes.  Everyone.  Even administration was nice.  My anesthesiologist was from Russia and her name was Tyetonya...my name in Russian!!  lol

So I'm sore, of course.

I am wearing a support bra and a BAND.  Because my TE was in so long (almost 2 years), the pocket it formed was way up high on my chest, far from where my other side droops.  So my PS cleaned out the scar tissue at the bottom and lowered the "fold" to match and inserted the implant.  This band (kinda like an ace but industrial strength) has to be tight against the upper chest. 

The implants natural tendency will be to go and fill that original TE space up high.  The band stops it.  It chaffs and I have to wear it at least 2 months.  But so what.

Oh!  I asked specifically about the exercise.  My PS doesn't want my heart rate up because it causes:

1.  bruising

2.  Hematomas (sp)

One more thing.  He said since the pecs pull the implant up and out...that I should refrain from pec work for a little while.  He mentioned a year.  And I thought he would go under the breast for the implant, close to the crease, but he used my original nipple scar from the skin sparing MX! 

I'm sore especially when I open a door or reach for something before I remember. OUCH.

Oh well, at least I no longer have the rock!

IDC, 2cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 4/4 nodes, ER+/PR+/HER2+, Skin Sparing uni-MX with TE, TCH, Rads

Jul 18, 2012 11:28 AM Lezza13 wrote:

dipad - glad everything went well. Very strong lady with no pain killers. I knew I was a wimp.  I agree even after my BMX  I do feel better than before the BC.  Good luck to you.

tonlee-  glad it went well even with the band

Good luck to those having exchanges soon!

I am post day 7 and feel really good. No pain just an annoying bra I have gotten used to being stuck with! Thanks for the info about pecs. I have lots  of questions to ask my PS in two weeks

BTW I am proud of any lady who had fills. You all are very strong

Jul 18, 2012 12:37 PM Lezza13 wrote:

lisa2012-  I am 5 weeks post chemo  Yes, they were about the same place as my bmx. I do have small one under each breast and will have to ask why.  The only thing that would stop you would be the lifting restriction  I would think,  Otherwise the riecovery seems pretty easier so far.  Good luck with everything

Jul 18, 2012 01:51 PM TonLee wrote:

My PS went right back in through my old scar where the nipple used to be.  He had to make the incision longer though because the implants don't "give" enough to be inserted through a small incision.....  But a tattoo nipple will cover most if not all of it or the scar.

Jul 18, 2012 02:59 PM Layla2525 wrote:

lisa, yep my PS says she will use the same incision/scar to take out TE and put in implants..talked to her today & was excited today when I found I will get high profile,600cc. My "cut" is down low where the fold would be... if I had one but; dont have one cause its a square bottom TE there. My surgeons are awesome. They might not have been able to do it except for the fact that I had a small IDC spot behind the nipple on the right side. So cut,go in laproscopically (the breast surgeon has that as her specialty) and take out the cancer,do the non cancer side to match(86% patients have cancer come back on other side & I didnt want to be one of them,esp with 2 aunts dying of BC)   Got 2 tiny women surgeons with small hands so the cut can be smaller and then the lapro specialist surgeon,they operate usually thru a hole,anyone know much about it? Am I telling this correctly from what I understand, I do  trust law so dunno much on surg.

bummed out tho,i kept having a low grade fever and dental issues,when the dentists & board cert endodonist got finished with the xrays,bad news,a root canal which means to my PS whom we consulted,I gotta reschedule a mth out from that to get my exchange so my Aug 2nd is cancelled! Arrrgh! Well, at least they got to the root of the problem..lol

Jul 18, 2012 06:15 PM CMartin wrote:

Ddeal14...hope you're back to normal soon. I'm fearing no instant relief

Tonlee...great news. Did you skip nipple recon?

Great news from all. Five weeks to go.

Jul 18, 2012 08:52 PM CMartin wrote:

Thanks. I had made that decision and reconsidered. Not sure???

Jul 19, 2012 07:44 AM janiceg415 wrote:

CMartin

I did not have nipple reconstruction yet, as my PS waits a bit , and then does it in office.  However, I am not yet certain that I am going to have it done.  Have read comments that lean me towards not having it done.  Even the nipple tattoo is questionable.  They do offer it at the clinic but I don't know how great the work is.  I have read about 3D tattoo which I think would be fun, or even changing it up a bit by being more creative perhaps with a vine to cover the incision scar, and something fun like a shamrock or rose.   I live in central rural Wisconsin and am unsure of any other tattoo artists doing nipple tattoo. 

What are you thoughts for yourself?