Exchange City
Comments
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Catey, sounds really great. You must be so psyched for the exchange. Did he say at all about how long your recovery will be? My fills all have been no problem, but now this week my right is pressing on a nerve and I have bad pain in my neck and upper back. I called office and they said it should resolve by itself-- I sure hope so cause 8 weeks of this will be horrible. Im now going to try using (the worlds oldest) heating pad and see if it helps.0 -
Aviva, please be really careful with the heating pad, especially since it is old. They told me to never use heat or ice in areas that I can't feel anything. Have you asked for muscle relaxer's?0 -
I have it on my back and shoulder/neck, it seems to work fine, and feels good. (Ok I had it on awhile before and again now, not this whole few hours!)...I will wait til middle of next week or so and see how it is, she said call back then if its not better, so Ill ask about meds or what to do next...0 -
Aviva,
My husband has pointed out to me that I hold my neck and shoulder's different as these things have expanded. Maybe you are doing the same thing, and have caused yourself to have some spasms in the neck and shoulder area. Heating pads are great for that, and you could try some gentle stretching too.
Yesterday when I went for my pre op they took some pics for the doc to look at in the OR. The women taking the pics kept telling me to lower my shoulder's. I didn't even realize I had them raised. So, I guess my hubby is right!0 -
I too think since my last expansion that a nerve is being pinched in someway when I sleep on my right side as my arm goes numb
Aviva, didn't really ask specifically but he said so much easier and because of my job probably about 3 weeks or so0 -
Well at the moment it feels better- Im anxious about sleeping tonight, as thats when it seems to get aggravated. I did heat a few times, motrin all day and self medicated starting a zip pack of steroids Ive used in the past for a lumbar strain I used to get. Also tried to stretch during the day, and kind of massaged the right te a bit to try and move it a fraction. Hopefully all the things together might mean its easing a bit- heres hoping!0 -
Goldie: I did have lots of muscle spasms after the TE were placed and the PS eventually gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxer, Flexeril, about 2 weeks post-op (what took him so long???). I took the Flexeril during the day initially, but it made me drowsy so I ended up taking it only at night and was on it for about a month. I am not really sure it helped that much because about the same time I started the Flexeril, I started doing stretching exercises I found on WebMD. I was also taking Percocet for pain but I think I weaned myself off of that and onto Tylenol at about 3 weeks post BMX. I think I took Tylenol every 4 hours for about 3 months post BMX. About 10 weeks after BMX, the PS recommended physical therapy (what took him so long ???) and that REALLY helped immensely. I wish I had known about PT at the start but I didn't find this board until after my BMX
. But thanks to the great posts on this board 
, I have learned so much! I also had ALND so I am sure that was the source of at least half of my pain.
I still get chest muscle spasms when I am cold or chilled and it is uncomfortable but not very painful. I like to swim and when I get into the pool if the water is chilly, the chest muscle spasms start but once I warm up, they go away. With winter around the corner, the outdoor cold has been causing me to get chilled and then the chest muscle spasms start again. I give myself a "hug" and the spasms subside fairly quickly. Now, if I can just get my doc to write me a script for "move to warmer climate," I would be on board with that!0 -
Lori, I know what you mean about the muscles spasm's when it's cold. I hate that feeling. It happens to me every time we go to Costco, and we have to go in the cold room to get fruit. OMG...people look at me weird, but I bring a heavy hoodie in with me, and have to put it on to go in there. I live in Texas, and I am carrying a hoodie with me in the summer...lol.
I have had back issues in the past, and the muscle relaxer my regular doc gives me is non-sedating. It is called Skelaxin. They don't make me sleepy at all. I also have one (forget the name now) that puts me on my butt, and I take those at night. But, my PS and his NP swear that Valium works best for the pec spasms, but personally, I think they just make me not care that I am having them.0 -
Well my nerve pain has eased, yay! Now its just a small upper back ache, more normal for the te pressing back. So bearable, and its off to work for me today!0 -
Oh Aviva, so glad you have found some relief.0 -
I stretched, heating pad, Motrin, smooshied it around ,half a norco before bed, zip pack of steroids... Just small upper back pain today... more luck things have gone pretty well
... like button!0 -
Aviva, yeah! Glad you are feeling better.0 -
Hi Andrea, guess you got snow. You have radiated skin so don't know what else you would need for recon. I had cap contracture and got that removed. During that surgery, I got new bigger implants. I like them a lot. PS is doing the nipples on Dec 11 and some fat grafting. I have a lot of upper pole or fat on non cancer side so want to pull fat from abdomen to put in former cancer side top to get more symmetry. Worried about all this. Wonder about all the nipple care afterwards. Not a popular surg in our area so nobody to ask except dr and she is always busy.
You are waiting for more healing after the radiation? I did not have radiation and chemo because the lymph nodes came back negative.0 -
Even though I'm going to have it, the only thing that worries me about fat grafting is if it's like DIEP, when you lose weight, the foobs do too. It makes sense that the fat grafts might be lost with weight loss too. I have a friend who had DIEP and lost about 30 lbs two years later. She has lost so much of her reconstructed breasts but isn't willing to put the weight back on so she can get them back. She said her doctor never mentioned that this was a possibility. I assume the same thing can happen with fat grafting.
If you are one of those whose weight stays the same it's one thing, losing the fat grafts might not be a major concern, but I tend to go up and down 20+ lbs or so, depending on my exercise level and what health challenges I'm facing. Once I'm past the breast reconstruction, and as long as I don't have another stroke, I'm going to have open heart surgery next year to repair an aneurysm. I wonder how the fat grafting will respond? I don't want to end up having to have another fat grafting surgery. I'm nearly 65 and want this surgery business to be OVER.0 -
Hey Sandra, I say have as little done as possible that makes you happy. I am very stable when it comes to my weight, so I don't think I am going to worry about the fat grafting disappearing due to weight loss. I hear that fat grafting even improves the skin quality dramatically. They figured that out when they used it originally in women's faces as a filler, and noticed amazing rejuvenation of the skin. So, I am thinking my new boobs will look 20 years younger than the rest of me.....lol. But, sweetie, you have so much else going on. Heart surgery, etc. Do you have serious divots, etc that they want to use the fat grafting for? Because, if it's not to fix something really upsetting to look at, then I would pass. I am even considering passing on it once my PS told me that is going to be the most painful part, but he really feels it will improve any rippling that could happen in upper pole. Ugh, I wish we could just wake up and this would all be done!!!0 -
Goldie,
I'm with you, girl. Let's just wake up and have this all over with. 2013 has sucked! I'm sick of having life revolve around my chest! Actually, I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired...and taking Tylenol...and going to the doctor. (Note to self: Stop whining Sandra! The brain stem stroke didn't kill you, the aortic aneurysm hasn't burst yet, and they found the breast cancer early. It could be a LOT worse, so shut up and swallow that fist full of pills that are keeping you alive.) OK, I've gotten that out of my system. I feel better now.
I don't have to have the fat grafting. I'm just hoping it will help with the discomfort on my chest. After the BMX my chest above the implants was quite bruised. It's been nearly 3 months and it still feels bruised. One divot is big enough for the length and width of three fingers to fit. Having a second surgery on that side, the implant removed, and a TE placed hasn't helped. The top of my 740 cc filled TE pushes into that area so it's sore all the time. I need a fat cushion! I hope the new gummy implants will help some because they are taller than the round saline's I started out with and will cover a little of this tender area. The fat grafting will fill in the rest. I also need it under my arm and onto the side of my chest where I lost so much tissue & muscle in the second surgery. If I ever want to wear sleeveless tops again without frightening little children when I raise my arm (look Mommy, Frankenstein) I need a fat graft. The scars are bad enough.0 -
Tomorrow....In early celebration of Turkey day, I am having my gobbler neck and jowls fixed, face lift....I paid for this!!!
then 2 weeks later I will have my nip and fat transfer to my divots and also dips (with insurance)---
--and---
---a mini brow lift and lower eyes fixed,bags and tear trough that is what I paid for, along with anesthetist and PS services
so excited....I will be a hermit for a while......6 to 6 1/2 hours tomorrow and about the same in 2 weeks .....not sure how vision will be after either of these surgeries, but PS did say I will go home with a suture holding my lids for 24 hours and surgery #20 -
Di, you're going to look fabulous! Congrats and good luck. May you heal quick and have no pain.0 -
good luck tomorrow, Di! You're going to look like a whole new woman! Rest up and check in when you can.
Layla, I'm discussing fat grafting with my PS in January. The radiated side has an indented area, which he is going to try to fill, and I'd like a little on the other side along the scar line too. I still think they look too wide. He said that after the fat grafting, if I still feel they look too wide, we could go a little smaller, which is fine with me.0 -
Sandra, I see where you are at now. Of course, comfort is everything. If the fat grafting can help that, then of course it should be done. I know we are all going to be okay. You are right about 2013 sucking. Somebody wrote on my Facebook page about what a great year 2013 had been for them, and I thought about how ironic that was. My worst year was somebody's best year! Oh well, I have had great years too.!
Di, you are brave. You go girl!!!! Keep us posted on your progress.
Andrea, which implants did you get?0 -
Sandra I hope all gets better for you, on the fat grafting I just had it done on Sept 20th looks great but beware that the area they take the fat from will be bruised and very sore. It took almost 6 weeks for me to be pain free in that area.
Di You are brave and I will pray for a speedy recovery for you, Good luck!0 -
Katlebbie - My PS said she's going to take fat from my thighs (where there's plenty of it & use it around the outside of the implant she's putting in. How sore do you mean by sore & when they say they're taking fat - how much is it? Are my thighs going to look notably different? (I have fairly small breasts).0 -
Di - good luck today! Unfortunately, you'll probably look (and feel) like you've been hit by a truck for a while after the facial surgery (I saw pix of my MIL after a blephoplasty procedure......oweeeeee!) but oh, the end result will be so much fun for you! Focus on the end result instead of the temporary scars and bruising. I'm excited for you!0 -
Goldie, I have the Natrelle 20s. Lefty is a 325 and righty, my rads side, is 350. I am 5'4", about 118 pounds, and I feel they're too wide for my size. PS thinks they look fine, but then he didn't think I looked that bad after my exchange either. I disagreed, so we're looking at a revision next year and possibly swapping them out for a different size.0 -
Ziggy,
Those were my questions too. My PS says he only takes 100 - 200 cc's. He said a little goes a long way. I am thinking it will be like liposuction - suck it out here/put it there. Yes? No? Those who've had it, please fill me in.0 -
Ziggy and Sandra fat grafting is pretty much like lipo, how much they take out depends on each person and what their needs are. My fat was taken from right under the breasts and I love the results on both the donor site and the girls! I had CC and needed both implants removed and replaced with new ones. I needed a lot of pocket work and reconstruction done. I was bruised, swollen and in pain for awhile but I feel the result was worth it. The donor site needs to have a compression garment on for around six weeks. I hope this helps.0 -
Andrea, that isn't very much fat sucked out. I guess it won't make much of a difference where they take it from, unless they do you a favor and take more than they really need.
So, do you think you are about a B cup now?0 -
Hi ladies, just wanted to post an update as I'm a week out from my exchange surgery (TE's for 13 months (way too long!!) went to Natrelle 550 cc). I'm feeling really good and do not need anything other than Advil for pain. The left side (not radiated) looks and feels natural. It has already dropped some and I'm very happy with it. The right side (radiated) had a lot of work to remove scar tissue and is still higher and tighter, but I can tell today it is starting to soften. My PS says it will drop just like the other side in time. Cateyz2, I also had a nerve pinched by my right expander and my right arm always fell asleep during the night if I laid on my left side...weird, right? That has disappeared. I lived on muscle relaxers this last year, especially after radiation as the muscle tightened even more and caused spasms to flair up if I used my right arm too much. Anyway, hang in their ladies. This phase is such a relief and you can see the light at the end of the long tunnel!!0 -
Goldie, I am bigger than a B cup now. The implants are wider than my pre-bmx shape, but there still is not a lot of projection. Sometimes I think I look like I have body builder pecs!0 -
Add me to January! 1/10/14 for my exchange.0
