Exchange City
Comments
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di2013, just wondering if they thought 5 surgies you had this year wasnt enough to cause your anemia? Otherwise ill be praying with you til you hear results.0 -
I had my exchange yesterday..... Yipeeeee!! It is hard to tell what the end result will be as I feel very swollen an uncomfortable. I have the drains in and he seem to be causing me more pain than the implants. Either thus surgical bra is rubbing where the tube is or just the whole drain tube is messed up. I go for my reveal today with mt PS. I can say I had more cleavage with my TE than I do my implants. Once all the gauze and everything is taken out it will be interesting to see. I hope I like what I see.0 -
I hope so too, Togetherness!! Congratulations!!
Can you put a thick piece of gauze over the drain site to keep the bra from rubbing there? I had to do that after BMX.
Let us know how your appointment goes!0 -
good morming my ladies hope all is well.... So many complications and also great out comes... We are here to share our experience to help one another... I feel so bleessed to have found these site ... It's been such an amazing journey with everyone here....
Well I still have one TE in....sent my PS to hell ... I found another PS that is willing to work with my right side radiated damage skin which I didn't have TE while going with radiation..... He has had over 40 surgeries but DIEP..... That's the route he wants to go.... But that's not an option for me I don't want that .. Don't want 10 to 12 hours of surgery ... I will continue to search but had anyone here had implants after their skin had been radiated with no TE ....it's so hard to find someone in Miami but I will not give up!!!0 -
Saw my MO today for 6-month visit. Monday was 52 weeks since BMX and wow, what a lot has happened since then! I did ask about the whole Arimidex for maybe 10 years question. He said the additional 5 years would only be for those whose risk of recurrence is higher. My risk of recurrence is very low so at this point I can truly look forward to being off this drug in another 4 years and 1 month! will have another DEXA scan in 6 months. My SEs are very mild compared to so many of you, I admire your fortitude!0 -
Moonflwr.....I have only had 4 surgeries BUT by the time I have my Dec. 2 surgery to fix one foob & nips I will have had SIX surgeries. My surgery in 12 days (Nov 18) is not BC related and is very much cosmetic FOR ME and is NOT covered by insurance.
ALL my docs involved have OK'd the 2 upcoming surgeries. My MO/hematologist said okay....marrow aspiration and marrow biopsy will be in Jan.
My first FILL I bled like crazy when my PS hit a gusher....grabbed my paper cape and pulled it, wadded it and said hold it....I have to get some gauze...it stopped right away.....he said DAMN I hate when that happens!!!!
Di0 -
Di? I had the P'S hit one too. But he just said "I'm sorry. That will leave a bruise", as he cleaned up all the blood! LOL. You don't go to a fill thinking you'll end up looking like an extra in a horror film, do you??? LOL. If it had happened.on my first fill I'd have absolutely freaked! And 4 or 6, that's a lot of surgical blood loss. Even at minimal loss per surgery it adds up. I know after my most recent sx, it was 10. Because I had 2 sx in a month. What I like to call " surgery of the month club"! I had 3 last year in a month. Oh well. Probably why I needed 2 transfusions during chemo.
I am glad you are having the tweaks you need to make you feel better. You too, will be a member of the sx of the month club! LOL
Sweet and special, happy for you only 5 years. Especially glad you don't have large SEs. I don't know of anyone on these boards who would be happy to hear that you would have problems. We know it's life and NOT a game. So no one wins if they have less SEs! This isn't a competition where we measure how rough people have it and said "you haven't suffered enough" to belong! That wouldn't be right! LOL. Most of us are genuinely happy to hear that people have an (pardon the word) Easy time.
Patritrica, I don't know of anyone who does reconstruction like that. Perhaps look to a special reconstructionist who works with burns? Because that is the type of skin damage rads leave. You might also rethink the success rate of the DIEP and compare that to the rad implant rate. I chose TEs as the right way for me because I have a complicated med history. Diabeties, High BP, a pacemaker and overweight. My P'S said he would do it ( I have since come to find out he's really rare on that!) But 14 hrs of sx did seem too big of a risk. Some people wondered why I keep trying but there are other reasons other than I want to look normal. I need knee replacements and was scheduled for sx for them when BC hit. That was over 2 years ago. I went to the ortho to see what my options are. Not good. He said if I couldn't hold onto an implant in the breast, then my chances for knees was nil! Not to mention if I get to osteoporosis the odds become even slimmer that they would do one because um NO BONE to grow into the implant.... sigh. So I keep trying. But if you are healthy enough maybe you should explore that option a bit more. But you will make the decision and it will be right for you!
Much love to all.0 -
I had my exchange on October 16th. I was supposed to get silicone implants and insted I woke up with saline. The outcome of the surgery is very good. The "girls" look great but this is not what I wanted. I am contemplating having a revision in December to fix this.
During the exchange surgery, my PS had to excise my right nipple and areola because after the nipple sparing mastectomy the final patology report revealed DCIS. The wound was closed with a skin graft from my abdomen. When the dressing was taken out, we saw that the graft was struggling. The color was purple and I had to start HBO treatment to improve the blood supply to the newly grafted areola. After 2 weeks of treatments, the graft started to improve. The purple superficial layer started to peel and underneat there was a pink skin. I am not out of the woods yet but I am hopeful that the graft will get better.
I am just so mad that my ps made the mistake of putting saline implants instead of silicone. He did apologize in person, over the phone and in a long email but still I feel furious that I will have to go again through another surgery. Just tired and frustrated.
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Moon....I never even bruised ...but at that time, I really wondered what did I get myself into !!!!
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Danidayd - I'm so sorry about the mistake your PS made and I'm glad that at least the saline implants look good while you make your decision for another exchange or not. I don't understand how these important details get screwed up. I did have to stay on top of things with my PS in terms of my expectations and implant vs flap, etc. The saline/silicone decision wasn't an issue because he prefers silicone and that's what I wanted. Hang in there honeybun.0 -
My right side is larger than my left not really sure why... larger pocket?! My ps said I can go in for a revision of smaller on the right or larger on the left. But I'll I can think is why didn't he just put smaller on the right to begin with seeing that he did not want to compromise the left (because of the thin skin). It dawned on my last night at one of my fills he said hmmmm the right looks larger we will have to do something about that at your exchange and then he said "remind me". HOLY CRAP I forgot and well why didn't he write it down? I don't know how to confront him about this at all, I am certain he will get defensive and I DO want a revision.0 -
Myers-
What size are each or your implants or more importantly what is the difference in cc's?, I don't remember. But also please be patient as there will be a lot of changes in the next few weeks.0 -
Patrica, you should at least go over to the Diep 2013 thread, and talk to the girls over there about diep. I go there often because I was going to have a diep, but my plans changed for reasons that have nothing to do with fear of diep, I couldn't gain enough weight to make two breasts. So, I am going to try implants, and if I am not happy I will continue to try to pack on the pounds for my diep. It's a great surgery, with some amazing outcomes.
Dani and Amy, I am so sorry for complications you have run in to. The wrong implants? Really. Not seeing one was bigger than the other, really? If I were you two I would be so angry. You are handling it better than I would.0 -
Patricia since it was his fault he candle all the corrections. Especially if insurance wont. Would you be comfortable going down on the good skin side? If so that's what I would lean toward.. I wish I could get silicone but I have a pacemaker so no. So many breasts Are Different Sized P'S usually usually have different sizes right in the OR to chose depending on the pocket size. But I am surprised they had saline ones there. Almost as if someone hoped no one would notice. Wow. Hugs. At least you Can live with them til you are ready for another sx. Hugs.0 -
They are both 700 Katie the right seems to have a little "bulge" idk my husband and daughter say they can't tell but I feel it. Katie what size are you going with?0 -
Not sure just yet, so far plans are allergans rounds have my preop appointment 1 week from today and my TES are expanded to 650ccs0 -
I had my final pre-op appointment with my PS this morning. Thank goodness he didn't want to do anymore fills. My cup runneth over!
The TE did a good job in spite of scar tissue from surgery #2 for infection & necrosis on one side after BMX & immediate reconstruction with saline implants. The scar tissue is extensive on the outer 1/3rd of the full TE and under my arm. Parts of the 3 muscles that come together near the armpit had to be removed and the remaining muscles reattached so I have a lot of "cording" that prohibits some movement in my arm & shoulder. I've been working on stretching those muscles, but it's slow progress with sharp burning pain when I've gone too far. I'm afraid of lymphedema so Monday I start work with a physical therapist on a prevention program & to learn more effective stretching.
Even though the replacement implant will be smaller than the first one, there is now enough good skin to cover it thanks to the TE. For surgery #3 next month, the PS said he will have to cut into the scar tissue to complete the pocket size he needs. (That scares me. It just healed, darn it.) He wasn't sure until today what size would fit. I'll be getting 750 Allergan 410 gummies this time. Unfortunately the perfectly good saline implant will be replaced too so I will have some symmetry. I'm going to miss the natural feel and bounce I get with the saline implant but the shape of the gummies will help to create a natural looking slope and cover some of the divots. Hopefully I won't need as much fat grafting after this.
My mantra, to be said over and over for the next month is "no infection this time, no infection this time, no infection this time."0 -
Sandra - change it to my mantra! 3TTC! X 3
Third Times The Charm, Third Times The Charm, Third Times The Charm!!!
I'll be praying for you too!!!
My P'S visit was to make sure we are on track for my sx. To order blood work. No fill! To tell him about the fevers. Yes pain can cause them. Looking like I'm on track. Reminded them I have a pacemaker so no one freaked liked last time.... LOL. 3TTC x 3 For me!!!
Much love.0 -
I saw my PS today to go over the Dec. 6 exchange. When I saw him in September I was distracted and uneducated so today we went over the options again and now instead of round implants I will be also getting Allergan 410's, 375 and same kind for left which is an augment. He was really happy with how everything looks and said that my radiated skin looks great and thus I am a good candidate for this kind of implant. I did not ask but I am guessing that 375 is the size?0 -
Sandra, you have been through a lot, bless your heart. I have a good feeling everything is going to be fine this time. That is a fairly good size implant he is putting in. You will have good size boobs again. My exchange is Dec. 3. A few of us all going around the same time. We can all sit on here and commiserate.
Maria, I just found out from Catey, that 375 is the weight in grams. The Allergan gummies come by weight, not cc's. Each of my removed breasts weighted 450 grams, and I am getting 475 gram gummies.0 -
Goldie,
Love it that so many of us are "going together." It will sure be interesting to see our different experiences during recovery. (I've put my foot down...NONE of us will have complications!) The 750 Allergan 410's sound big until you learn that they took over 10 lbs of breast tissue during my BMX. I've been FF+ huge all my life and am loving this nice normal D cup 800 cc saline implant that I've had two and a half months now. I'm going to be sad to see it go. (Not so much enjoyment on the other side lately with the grossly swollen 740 cc TE that looks and feels the opposite of normal.) The PS says the gummies will have a different, firmer feel and will take a little time to get used to as they settle in. (What does drop and fluff mean exactly? Can somebody elaborate?) Since they are so much taller and slope down, they will hopefully correct some of the sunken-ness (new word) and reduce the need for so much fat grafting in thenext(make that final) surgery #4 in a couple of months.
How long will you be in the hospital? Will you have drains? Some people go home the same day and don't have drains.I know I will be there 2 days for monitoring because of my past history. The PS says he will put in 2 drains - but that's ok. I don't want to take a chance on getting a seroma that gets infected. (Remember...no complications, no complications, no complications...repeat over and over. Or you can go with Moon's mantra of TTAC, third time's a charm.) This time I'm going to be holding on to those drains..."No, don't take them out." Ha-ha, you guys remind me of that statement when I start whining about the drains STILL being in after two or three weeks.0 -
goldie, I do recall now hearing how many grams my breast tissue weighed though I can't remember the actual number but it was way less that 375! I think I mentioned this before but PS said earlier that to do the augment for my remaining breast, that he had to go bigger on the T/E side as they just don't make implants as small as my breast~~think augments not BC~~women who are getting them want bigger! So at age 64 I will have larger breasts! Sandra, I am with you~~no complications.
Marian0 -
I don't care how we say it no complications, 3TTC, no problems! Just say NO!!!!! LOL!0 -
mykidsmom, any chance of my getting on the list?0 -
Marianelizabeth,
just go to the top of page and click on Mykidsmom....and then send her a Private Message to put you on the list....make take a day or two....but always worked for me0 -
Marian, I'm 64 too. The Beatles song from our young teen days asks, "will you still need me...when I'm 64?" That song has been playing on a continuous loop in my head all year! My birthday is Dec. 4th so I guess my Dec. 6th surgery is my present this year. Woo hoo! New foobs for my 65th!!0 -
Sandra, guess what's in your ST. NICKS stocking? New FOOBS!!!! Marrianelizabet, Congrats! There's a 50s or early 60s song bit running through my head. Something like, just Hoping, and prayin.... and what's really fun is that's the only bit I can remember! LOL. But that's what I am doing for ALL of us!!0 -
Sandra - Happy Birthday to you this year!! I got my new boobs for my birthday too, on August 7 this year. Anyone not in our special club would never understand WANTING to have surgery on or near your birthday, would they? You share a birthday with my baby boy who will be 26 this year
You should also PM mykidsmom and get your name on the schedule in the header so we can all remember your date.0 -
My husband, the EXPERT, says that's Dusty Springfield's Wishin' and Hopin' from the British Invasion days of 1964. He's playing it now for me. ♪♪"Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin', plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms-s-s-s-s, that won't get you into his arms-s-s-s-s....."♪♪♫
Thanks for the ear worm. It pushed aside the Beatles.0 -
S&s and Sandra, I had two sx around my birthdays. One to take the TE out last year. And this year to save my TE! This one worked so far so 3TTC 3!!! LOL0
