Exchange City
Comments
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Sandra Sounds like we have the same implant and I am still sore from all the pocket work required for these implants. the right side is the worst, it needed the most work and was radiated in 2010, and that tissue is hard to deal with. they used some alloderm on the right as well and it looks weird under the skin and usually a purple red color. Strange note the alloderm breast is much colder than the non-alloderm?? Wonder why? Im looking at approx. 3 more fat grafting surgeries to improve the look of the right breast, its misshapen, smaller and deflated compared to left breast. one glorious day I will wake up and not hate my boobs! I have to wear padded bras to even the girls out. love the padded genie bras.
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Just curious what you all are referring to when you say you had pocket work done? Is this because you did not have alloderm placed when the TEs were put in?0 -
I too would like to know what "pocket work" means, and if everyone gets it. Thanks!0 -
My plastic surgeon mentioned "pocket work" to me as I asked him specific questions about the exchange surgery. I didn't ask him what it meant (I'm not that close to my next surgery). I do have Alloderm, though. And, he has said something about how he 'created a pocket' with it in previous conversations, I think. I would love to hear from somebody wiser than I on this matter!!! LOL!
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pocket work includes a lot of things. From removing scar tissue, moving the implants closer together or farther apart. Also adding or adjusting alloderm sling. Making the pocket bigger or smaller. All to get the implants to lay just the right way to look the most normal. That way they don't have to say exactly what they are doing as they don't know what actually they will have to do until they get in there.
I just got a call but I wasn't there to answer it. They want to move my exchange up to this Friday. I say yay! But we'll have to see if it goes through. I left them a message. . That would be 5 days earlier and that much more healed by Christmas. Much love to all.0 -
Congrats Moonflwr what a wonderful Christmas present!0 -
Hi all,
I've been following for a while, but just got my exchange date February 21st! Yippee, I think0 -
Congrats Moonflower, long overdue for you!!0 -
Moon: Hope everything is OK'd for you to do the exchange Friday.0 -
Congrats moonflwr and schoolcounselor!
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cj1961 - i just had a slight correction on right implant with fat grafting a month ago. Out of this whole experience i have to honestly say the belly harvesting area was the most painful. I didnt have as much discomfort after BMX with immediate implants. PS said it would b sore - that was an understatement! But now 4 weeks later it is starting to feel better- still swollen. The correction & grafting feel & look great but the belly was a shock. Don't want to scare you, but i'd rather someone told me honestly what to expect.
Sandra u are a warrior!! Hope you are on a much better road soon!0 -
I have a question....My pathology report came back that I still have some active cancer cells in my nipple. So they have to go back in and remove the (one) nipple. My PS says they can go ahead and put my permanent implants in before radiation. He says that it is being done in some Cancer Centers. I am still getting fills every week or two. Probably one more to go. He wants to do the surgery the 1st of January. I was not supposed to get my permanent implants for 8 months and after radiation. Any one else had the implants put in before radiation? I am just worried about it being damaged by the radiation and then having to have this done again.
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Hi, I am new to posting to this thread. I was initially diagnosed with DCIS left breast 6/29/12 and had 2 lumpectomies followed by RT. I found a lump in my right breast in August 2013. I opted for prophylactic bilateral mastectomies and had the surgery 9/13/13. I am a certified oncology nurse of 27yrs and have seen many scenarios, I had Natrelle style 133FX 800cc tissue expanders placed at time of mastectomies. The PS was able to place 360cc at time of surgery. I had 4 JP drains. These were the most painful part of the surgery recovery. I had 2 JP's removed 9/19 and the other 2 9/27/13. My pain went away after these were removed. My first fill was 60cc 10/7, second 60cc 10/17, third fill was 120cc on Halloween, 120cc on 11/15 and final fill was 11/22 with 60cc for a total of 780cc. I never had to take any pain medication once the drains were removed. I only had the sensation of a tight shirt during my fills. I have my preop visit Monday 12/16 to discuss implant exchange. The exchange is scheduled for 1/3/14. It will be interesting what the PS has in mind for implants versus what advice I have gotten from Whippetmom.
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Algranna, I have a friend who had straight to implant recon and then had rads. She just recently had her nipple recon done and she seems to be fine.
Welcome, Elsie. I am curious what you PS has to say too vs Whippetmom.0 -
Algranna - I have implants from my original diagnosis & treatment in 2011. My BS was able to work around the implant for the node dissection in Sept. PS said he doesn't think the rads will cause any problems. But I'd also imagine the recovery timing is an issue.0 -
Minustwo, I was just reading your dx history. First, let me say how sorry I am that you are going through this. You must have been shocked to go from DCIS with clean nodes to stage 3B out of nowhere. How did they find it? What made them look after telling you that you were clean? If you don't want to talk about it I will understand. But, it makes me so angry that this can happen. Something must have been missed.0 -
Moonflower, wahoo! Merry Christmas to you! Love the new avatar too
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Goldie: Thanks for your thoughts. I had a swelling under the collar bone when I went in for my 2 year NED check up. Biopsy showed IDC & HER2+ so maybe Stage 2. Off to chemo. The 3B came after the latest surgery when the tumor was still large after neoadjuvent chemo & there was a positive node. I don't mind talking about it. I learned so much from all you BC ladies & gents that I'm happy to give back what I can. But tonight I'm off to bed so I can head out at 5:30am for Chemo Part II, Round 3. Whoopie!!0 -
Elsiecow - Yes, it will be interesting to see what the PS recommends compared to Whippetmom. If I had gone with my PS's plans I would be 175cc smaller and quite unhappy with the results. I'm eternally grateful for Whippetmom's recommendation for me!0 -
Wow, Minus. That stinks. But, you sound like you have a positive attitude, which always amazing me in women who have recurrence. I give you so much credit. Hope all goes well today.0 -
MinusTwo - my thoughts are with you as well as you journey down this new fork in the road. I hope your new treatment regimen is effective and you'll be able to share good news with us soon ((((((hugs))))))0 -
Minus that does suck. One of the people in my Cancer support group had another cancer strike in her throat. She is ok now after rads. With a bit of an issue with taste buds yet. Sigh. It's never easy. But i wish for you small SEs and much luck with chemo.
It's official! Friday afternoon I have my exchange! Got a call from the hospital nurse for pre op questions. Talked to her for a half hour. Got another call from preregistration. Waiting for a call back. All I had to change was my day, time, and hospital! LOL at least I didn't need to change my Doctor! I told them I was flexible I guess I'd have to be! LOL. But that's 5 less days to freak out. 3TTC x3 for me!! LOL0 -
I had my exchange on 11/12, all was going pretty well when suddenly radiated side incision opened up on Saturday. It was a good 3 inches wide and 1 inch high-you could see the implant! We went to ER. They cleaned it out and bandaged loosely. On Monday I had surgery to remove implant. I'm so disappointed after having TE's for over a year. PS says this is very rare, but radiation can do damage that prevents blood supply which doesn't allow healing. My dissolving stitches were gone and it just opened up. I now have to leave as is for 3-6 months. I have a drain again. At this point I'm so tired of this. He says there are options we can discuss later (Tram or Diep flap), but I'm not sure I should keep pursuing a fake boob. Maybe I can get used to a prosthesis.0 -
mainegirl your post left my mouth hanging open. So sorry~~but now having a forced leave will give you time for a wait and see.
This evening I get to take of my bandages and have a shower. It took a couple of calls to PS office Monday and Tuesday to find out what to do as hospital nurses said I needed to wait to see PS for that. Not true though it seemed also that he did not need to see me until after Christmas said his receptionist. I know I am one of many patients but she and he have known for ages that I am leaving Christmas Eve to meet my husband after not seeing him for 6 months~~he is currently sailing across the Atlantic and of course I did not get to go with my BC and all. Anyway, I have an appt. for Dec. 17 thank goodness as I really want to make sure all is well before I head off for a month. She also said I should be wearing an underwire bra. Told her I am wearing a surgical compression bra and did not bother saying that since my incision is in the inframammory line (think that is what it is) or under by foob underwire would not work. Having possibly the best PS in the city makes it all worth while.
I am nervous nevertheless about taking off the bandages and having a shower.0 -
Awesome news Moon, will have you in my prayers Friday! Goldie, hope your pain level is better! Marian that shower will feel so great, I'll bet! Maine I am so sorry that happened to you
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Five days from right now I will be laying here in bed with new breasts! I'm so excited for Monday to get here. I will come out of surgery in a compression bra that I must wear until my post-op next Thursday, so no full shower for me for 3 days. My nurse warned me they would seem pretty flat Thursday because of the tight compression. I'm a large woman and my new breasts are not that large looking on my frame. I just hope they look decent and give me good cleavage when I look down...lol0 -
Wonderful news Moon. It's almost here! No complications. No infections. Easy. Quick. 3TTC
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Jtapp hang in there. Try to relax. That's the hardest.
Maingirl, SO SORRY You H Ave to go through that. I don't think P'S are very good at giving people considering TEs after rads the full info. I didn't know that after rads made such a big difference, but it should have. But you get through this stuff step by step.
MarianneE doesn't that first shower feel great? My P'S says probably no drains but since I had them for 6 sx, um, I am expecting them, but will be pleasantly surprised if I don't need them!
I just realized why they were able to find a space for me on Friday. It's Friday the 13th! LOL! !!!!!! Which seems just about right for me 3TTCX3 on 12-13-13!!!! Which is 11 in Numerology which is a master number so Good! LOL That's my story and I'm running with that!!!0 -
I had my exchange Monday morning and I have to say I was very surprised at how much pain I have. I had fat grafting from the abdomen and nipple reconstruction on the left side. Apparently all this took a very long time and my PS is very meticulous, which is good! I'm having to take 2 oxycodones every 4 or 5 hours which is more than had to take after my BMX! I also had to have 2 drains. Oh well, this recovery will be long and slow. On the bright side, when I peak underneath my compression tube top, I see cleavage! I'm sure it's also swollen and I haven't removed the compression top yet. I will do that later today or tomorrow. Right now, I'm just trying to deal with the pain and discomfort. My PS put in a 500cc Allergan Style 20 on left and a 550 on right to even me out. 500 cc is what Whippetmom recommended, so I'll have to see how it all works. Will keep you all posted on how things look. Thanks for all the encouragement from this site. I'd be lost without you!0 -
Good luck those with coming up surgeries, and hang in there those who just had them!
Mine is in 4 weeks, and right now I put in for 2 weeks off from work. I dispatch 911, so sit most of the day and do computer work and reach to answer the phone. I took off 6 weeks post bmx then went back half days for 2 weeks. Im starting to think 2 weeks off for the exch is being too optimistic, based on stuff Ive been reading here...
What do you guys think? How long were you off after your exchanges?0 -
Aviva -
I also have a desk job & took 6 wks after BMX then worked from home for a week before going back. I had my exchange surgery the day after Thanksgiving & took 2 weeks off of work. I will be working from home next week (because I can) but could easily have gone back to work this week. This was a breeze!!! We also have the same PS so I think your results will probably be very similar.
Best of luck!
Jenn0
