Exchange City
Comments
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algranna - I'm surprised your PS didn't give you any restrictions other than 'if it hurts, don't do it'. Mine did tell me that but it was only after I questioned the need for another 6 weeks of weight restrictions after exchange. Don't forget your pectoral muscles have been cut through again to get the TEs out and the implants in. Those internal incisions need time to heal before you do too much. Just take it easy now that you know you over did it a bit, use pain reliever as needed........you'll be as good as new in no time
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Thank you for sharing what you know about how much you can overfill the expanders. Great info! I will take that with me the my surgeon!
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I have been MIA for a couple of weeks. Reading some posts and wishing Sandra to get one last surgery that will bring the results you want and deserve.
Now that I am 4 weeks post exchange, I noticed that as the inflammation goes down, hollows have appeared. My chest looks a bit bony at the top. You can even see a bit of that when I'm wearing my (modest) gym clothes. I know my PS will want to do fat grafting there. I don't know I have what I takes to go through that.
Can someone post how to find and post photos? Would love opinions about my hollowed-chest although I feel weird at the thought of posting pics of my boobs...does this qualify as sexting? LOL
Moon - Great to hear you are doing great!
Algranma - I think SweetandSpecial is offering great advice. Take it easy for a few weeks. I too have over-extended myself several times but nothing bad happened yet. Take good care.
I fixed my "send me notices" on my Favorite Topics again. Boy, I fix and gets unfixed, and then again!
Love to all, Nisa
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I can post pics on my phone if they are on my phone. But if you post them on the the threads they can possibly be viewed by the public with a simple search. There is a picture forum that is a private setup. You need to get a password by email to post there. They have someone moderate those to make sure you are a real poster and not a wierdo. Search picture forum to get the info thread.
LOL @Nissa. I keep knocking threads from "my favorites" too. I hate that!
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T-minus 9 days to my exchange! I'm looking forward to making some more progress in the recon journey.
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A mantra that bears repeating here. I just saw it on another thread and haven't seen it here for a while.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should!
Important to remember, especially after exchange, because the exchange recovery is typically much smoother and less painful than the mastectomy. It's very easy to overdo it post-exchange.
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I go in in two hours, sort of looking forward to it, mostly just wishing to being on the other side and hoping this is the last time someone cuts on me! Glad to hear that this surgery should be easier. Haven't had much of a hard time with any of it so far. Going to be good, do nothing for 4 weeks like last time. He did say that he was going to shift things a little towards the middle. I've always been wide between the girls. Right now if I hold my hands together the boobs can just touch. Never could do that before. Just don't want a uniboob when I wake up. Hoping I don't wake up sick!
Yes, just because you can, you shouldn't. Did that and paid with weekly needle aspirations for 4 weeks. No one said to take it easy after the bmx. Didn't hurt but I ask more questions now. I'm all set to start watching Downton Abbey. Have all 3 seasons to catch up on!
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hi Smaarty,
Wishing you the best! My TE's were so far apart, looked strange. PS did an awesome job with implants, much closer together, nice cleavage, no uni-boob. Just to let you know: one morning a couple weeks after exchange, I woke up to a panic when the implants seemed to have "moved" towards my arm pits. Just sat up, squashed them together, they were perfect! Even now, I often wear my post-exchange bras to bed, definitely not sexy but more comfortable for me. (Also, I find sometimes I get pains but the light compression/warmth of something on my chest cures it)
See you on the squishy side in a couple hours!
Hugs!
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Smaarty------>If you have woke up sick after another surgery, let your anestheiologist know.....he may give you something in your IV and/or the scoplamine patch behind your ear....they REALLY WORK!
Di
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Smaarty - Best of luck to you today! We'll be waiting to hear how it went....
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Ooh Smaarty - enjoy the Downton Abbey marathon. I love that show! Hope all is well with you today - let us know how it went when you're able.
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Good luck smartie! Hoping for the foobs of your dreams! And easy and fast recovery. Much love.
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For those of you had alloderm with your exchange...Did you have drains and about how long did you take off from work if you did work?? My job is very hands on and my PS said I should be good with 2 weeks??
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So I'm home, about 3:30. Tired but can't really sleep. Just catnapping. He put in the larger implant like I asked. A little more sore on the sides where he put in a couple of sutures to close the pocket up a little. I should be able to drive in about 2 weeks, so shorter recovery time this go around. Yeah! Drains should come out In about 12 days. Hopefully. I'll talk later.
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CLYDAY - I had alloderm, no drains with exchange. Went back to work after 1 week. I am a nurse but they have been having me do phone triage.
Smaarty - welcome to the squishy side. Here's for a quick, painfree recovery!!
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No drains for my exchange. First one of 7 surgeries.I felt so good after the exchange I had to tell myself not to do to much. But everyone is different.
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No drains for my exchange either.... (WHEW!)
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OK, all of you who have had your exchange......I often feel 'bruised' against my chest wall, where the TE seems to 'rub'. I am getting close to my exchange surgery, and still feel soooooo tight, bruised, limited ROM, etc. My PT says my ROM is pretty good (it's 100x better than it was 4 weeks post op!). I am just wondering....does this all go away with the exchange surgery? Especially that sore, deep bruised feeling? I've had it almost constantly since October, when these were placed. I can't twist my body much....the TE's just dig and hurt. It's a real bummer for driving! Also, still don't put my hands on top part of steering wheel....twisting my arms around from up high is SO uncomfortable! I am hoping this is all normal and can be resolved with the exchange surgery!
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mnmbeck - I had TEs for four months, but during that last month, I could have sworn that I'd cracked a rib, which of course I hadn't. I had that deep bruising feeling if I moved wrong and my PS thought it might be costochondritis. The good news is that it disappeared completely after my exchange, so hang in there!
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Smaarty - welcome to the squishy side, honeybun!!
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thanks, I can already tell the armpits are happier. Yeah!
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Sandra I am having the Lat flap surgery in 3 weeks. Not looking forward to it, but ready to have this implant taken out that is squeezing me to death!!
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mnmbeck - what I remember about the TEs was ALWAYS uncomfortable & usually a bunch of pain for 7 months. I can do a personal reality check because when I mention possible revisions to my grown son (my care-giver) he said - how can you even think of going back to something that made you so miserable. Hmmm. Guess I burned up the phone lines between TX and CA with my whining. I was so glad to have exchange finished.
I had 2 drains w/exchange but no alloderm.
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Smaarty,, congratulations on getting rid of the TEs! Happy armpits is a great feeling!
Tangles, good luck on th lat flap. I hope you have great results and that it will relieve the pain you've been having since rads. Please keep us updated!
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smarty glad you are on the squishies side! Now remember Take it easy. It's not hard to over do when you feel good.
Mmbeck, TES are not fun. I actually used to hit the door casing by misjudging where my foobs were! Ouch! LOL. I got bruises on the inside of my arm from them. Now after exchange it feels good. The only difference I feel is if I put a tassel on my foobs I could spin them like an exotic dancer because of my pecs! LOL when I tighten my pecs the new foobs "dance" LOL
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Moon - I never hit a door so hard that I got bruised but the lack of sensation will always be a little weird, I think. I can feel pressure but definitely no feeling if it's a light touch.
I told my group fitness instructor this morning 'I think my pecs are sore. My chest is sore from my shoulders to the top of my boobs but since I have no feeling in my boobs I can't really tell if they're sore or not, but they must be, right?!' lol
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Moon.....I LOVE your attitude! LOVE IT! I was thinking after my last fill that I will just be done. I could use a little more, but the last one really kicked my butt, after having a couple that weren't so bad. After a week, I am still more sore than I would like to be, but I have a different perspective. I am going to have one more fill. I can do it, right? :-). Then, I'm going to schedule my exchange surgery. It's strange....I could have scheduled it, since I felt pretty sure I was going to be done, but the idea of putting that date on the calendar is scary!....even though I'm miserable! But, after the next fill (I'll do it next week), I'm going to schedule it before I leave. YIKES!
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I have four more days until my exchange surgery. I will be so happy to be rid of the TE's. I am a bit anxious about the surgery but will be happy to have it done. Lots of positives comments about exchange surgery on this thread so that helps. I hope this is my last surgery. I need reassurance that the implants will be a lot more comfortable that TE's. Thanks for listening.
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Julieped,
Congrats - you will be done before you know it! Remember to get lots of rest after your surgery, and drink lots of water before & after! You will be so happy to get those iron rocks off your chest!
I'm 8 days post exchange, and can't believe how much better I feel than last week. The day after surgery, I couldn't believe that I would ever be able to move around and feel happy, but here I am! No pain, my drains are out, and I'm so happy (so far!) with my procedure, and it's getting better every day.
Just remember the mantra I've seen here: Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should!
Good luck! Keep us posted!
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dayzoo - thank you for your postive comments. It really helps. I will let you know how it goes.
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