Exchange City
Comments
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I am sure the rounds will look great and cheers to getting a revision that sounds like it will complete a lot. I took off the bandage last night to shower and I am not sure what Jeannie was thinking it only being suture because it is definitely the implant showing. Maybe the skin opened up more since she put the bandage on or there is nothing really that can be done until he returns. I am 110% positive it is the implant, it looks just like it did my last exchange. It will be back to surgery and most likely TE placement and/or complete removal.
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Amy ~ I hope Monday gets here sooner than later.
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Good morning Ladies!
I just wanted to update you in my Exchange yesterday. Not even a good midwest snowstorm was stopping me from showing up for the all exciting and important E-Day
I will post photos later of day 1 in the Under construction gallery. I had mentor Medium height Siltex 275cc expanders filled to 430 cc. Much to my surprise, I was exchanged to 650cc. Mentor smooth round HP!! So, needless to say I am a tad nervous that I will resemble Pamela Anderson and not athletic, fit Mimi.
I started out a small B. I really have grown to trust and adore my PS and in pre-op I showed him two photos as a goal. I also explained that i do run and am athletic and do not want big floppy breasts to contend with. He said once in there, I had a really deep chest wall which swallowed a lot of the implant. I wanted cleavage and full and round, but not 2 cantaloupes! I will stay optimistic, he is very good. Meticulous!
So, I solemnly swear I will not post my feelings of shock, horror etc until I have let them do their thing for 2-3 months. I will post progress pictures though.
I did great pain wise. I DO hurt and feel a bit like I was stitched onto something, I had LOTS of pocket work. He explained to me that when I said I wanted symmetry for a broad shouldered girl like me, smaller implants did project but they would not give me upper pole or width as I desired. For pain- the Oxy is doing its thing and the worst part is now being restricted with arm movement etc. Exact opposite of the post MX instructions.
Finally, a HUGE thank you to all of you and especially Whippetmom for guidance, reassurance and a place to go where most of our friends at home can never, because they haven't walked down this path. You truly are amazing women!
My dear sweet daughter plays Division basketball in illinois and is a Senior, they have their annual "Pink game" on friday and it is a very special thing to be there with her, her team and to promote the message of early detection and breast density.
Hugs to all..
Mimi
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Mimi68-Congrats on the exchange! I will look for your photos in the other website, hopefully it will help me with my exchange dilemma. Glad to hear you are feeling ok. Why did you need so much pocket work?
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Congrats on the exchange, Mimi! Feeling softer and squishier? Did you say that you have restrictions on arm movement? More than the BMX? Is that common?
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Amy - so sorry! Completely not fair. Hang in there - will be thinking of you.
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Hi McBeach,
The pocket work is his standard basically. He has a very low revision rate and migration is one of the main reason for revisions. I hope I am the exception and will never need one. He stitches allacross the bottom of the pocket to the muscles of the upper abdomen for prevention of dropping out of the pocket. My only concern today-and I absolutely know these things are going to do a lot of changing over the next few months is that he made them too lateral. The left TE was slipping left and i think he positioned them that way yesterday. Not sure if I will love that, they are closer together for sure than my TE's I do have broad shoulders but i do not think that means i have to have a super wide uniboob! Lol, I will not panic though. They are flat and facing east and west today but I am wearing a compression surgical bra x 2 weeks.
Pictures later tonight or tomorrow!!
Mimi
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mnmbeck
Yes they are soft, squishy AND SUCH A RELIEF AFTER THE TE's!!
Yes, total opposite of the MX in terms of restrictions. No stretching of anything, no driving, no lifting. I cannot even go on an elliptical or recumbent bike at the gym because it engages your core and can affect the sutures. So, for me, it's a short investment for a great result!
So so so glad its over and now just a nipple and tattooing in 6 weeks. Thanks for checking in
Keep you posted!!
Mimi
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Amy - I will be thinking of you.
Mimi - isn't it nice to be rid of the TE's?
I had my exchange last Monday and had my follow up appt. with PS today. I will be going back in about six weeks to talk about fat grafting and some lipo. Anyone have experience with this? I am also having trouble deciding if the implants are big enough (480CC). Any thoughts?
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I felt great for a few days after the TE. Then I felt pain for awhile. However, I drove a car a hundred miles on two days, back-to-back, 6 days later. My restrictions were for one month, no lifting, no running, no golfing, etc.
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Mimi68 - I was thinking about you yesterday getting your squishies. So happy that everything went well. I will be checking the picture forum for your updates. So very exciting to get rid of the TE's!! And wow 650 cc's to boot!
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You know - here I am just over 6 months out from exchange and I never did get my pix posted to the picture forum. I'm such a lame-ass!
Amy - I truly hope and pray you have a good outcome. It doesn't sound good, but even if you have another setback, you're in this for the long haul. If the implants have to come out for a while I hope it's not for too long and the next attempt is a masterpiece. Hang in there sister. My thoughts are with you!
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Sweet - LOL... it's never too late to post them pics!
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Not-me ~ oh boy! your comment about still feeling tightness 8 months post exchange is not one bit encouraging. I am feeling very discouraged today. I am 5 weeks postop and I swear these implants feel worse than my TEs. When I roll over in bed at night the poking and shifting wakes me from sleep. They settle down after a few seconds until I roll again. When I'm lying or sitting down and then get up, they feel so tight. I am so frustrated tonight I am nearly in tears. It feels like I have a bra on that is too small and is digging into the sides and top of my breasts. If I could just unsnap it and get some relief that would be awesome! For about a month prior to my exchange, I did not even notice my TEs even filled to 800 cc. I was so hoping I could look forward to the same scenario with my implants, but they seem to be bothering me more as the days go by. They look awesome, but just don't feel awesome!!! Almost regretting going with recon.
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cjc1961 - I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I always thought when we would have our exchange it would be great. Have you spoken to your doctor about what you are feeling? Does pain medication help at all? I know you mentioned this already, but which implants did you get? I don't have any advice to offer as I didn't get my exchange yet. But I feel your pain and I am sorry you are so unhappy. Hopefully day by day you find relief. Did your doctor say this is normal?
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Happyspring and Julieped
I am ecstatic to be rid of the TE's!! I am still stunned by the number 650cc's wow..I am praying that they are not too big!! I took a short walk in the snow today and showered. felt amazing but wiped me out!
CJC- I would see an OT for this, they are wonderful and can usually help with exercises, biofeedback and other modes of getting a handle on why there is so much discomfort. Your PS can refer you.
take care..
Mimi
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CJC,
You are not alone. Every time I stand up, there is a rush of painful sensation in both implants. It fades quickly. It's been like that since the BMX over 5 months ago. Lately I've found that if I grab them and hold very tight when I stand, it doesn't happen...as long as I wait like that for about 5 seconds. I would love to know what that rush of painful pins and needles is.
I do not have the bad pain you speak of, but still have the occasional swollen or tight bra feeling two months after my exchange. I still sleep with a bunch of small pillows so I don't wake up. Without them, it's uncomfortable on the sides of the implants. I get aches & cramps in my left shoulder too. That's because of the damaged muscles and tissue I lost because of the infection. The shortened muscles don't like many sleeping positions so I try to find one that's good and then build my pillow fort so I don't move. Hopefully that won't continue to happen after my next surgery to repair some of that damage.
Whippetmom says sometimes it takes up to a year for things to settle down, so I'm trying to be patient.
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I wonder if different surgeries/surgeons have different restrictions after surgery? I have asked about how long recovery will take after the exchange surgery, and he just keeps saying "a long weekend." he keeps telling me how I'm going to feel great. I haven't asked a lot of specifics except driving, and he said "a few days." He said I would wear a bra for about 4 weeks. I haven't asked about lifting, etc. If there are going to be restrictions like that, I would like to be able to play for it!!! When I talk to him, it sounds like it's just nothing....but when I refer to women (like here) who have experienced it, I am seeing a different story!!! Yikes!
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Oh Amy - I am so sorry. Fingers crossed that your PS will get things fixed asap.
I agree though. I somehow thought that the implants would feel like "normal". But I do feel some tightness (Bio-oil helps a bit), and don't really like how it feels when I sleep too much on my side. Bottomline, I am usually always aware of them.
I spoke with my PS about it a few weeks out of surgery and he said he could go back in and "loosen things up a bit" but then the profile I have now, which looks so much like how I used to, would not be the same. He said though if I was uncomfortable then by all means I should have more surgery. If it was just this tightness, then it was more personal preference.
So at least for now, I am trying to get used to the new "normal". But for whatever it's worth, if I had some of the real discomfort some of you feel, I think I would go back to my PS.
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mmbeck - I had exchange surgery on Feb. 10th and the recovery has been quick. I took pain meds for 3 days and now have no pain. There is some tightness and I am aware of the implants most of the time. My PS said this will improve with time and I had very few restrictions. I took two weeks off of work but one week would have been enough. I do have to have some fat grafting so I will need to do this again but PS said the recovery should not be bad. I am disappointed that I have to have another surgery to make them look better but I will get through it.
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Looking for advice... My PS is out until Monday, the implant is exposed (about eraser size). Do I wait until Monday (not sure if I want to risk infection) or do I call someone else? I called into the Plastic Surgery show on sirus xm last night and the 2 surgeons I spoke to did not recommend waiting until he go back. My dilemma is my current PS is my 2nd PS, do I go to a 3rd? If I do go to a 3rd I would like someone who specifically specials in breast recon only and how do I find someone like that?
Thanks for the help.
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Sandra4611 - I would not really classify my symptoms as pain, but more of an annoyance and always being able to 'feel' the implants in there. It almost feels like someone took a plunger and suctioned one on each side to my breast (without the handles, of course). I can feel the edges up near my armpits and down the sides. They just feel plain heavy and tight. Of course, they are soft to touch and not hard like the TEs, but I hate this sensation of feeling them every time I move. Hoping in time they will settle down and become less obvious.
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Myers,
I would start by sending Whippetmom a pm and asking if she has a recommended PS in your area. She keeps a list of doctors who have had great reviews. It's not your fault that this happened and it's also not your fault that your PS is out of town. You do NOT want to risk infection and you don't want the hole to get larger. Hopefully there is someone great and available close by. I drive an hour each way to see my PS. I would drive further if needed to get someone with his experience and expertise.
Please let us know how you're doing!!!
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Myers-Yikes, sorry to read about your situation. I believe you met with the nurse? They MUST have someone else on staff that is a Dr. that can take a look at this esp with the risk of infection and your prior similar issue. OR a way to communicate with the PS who is out. Did you push them to see another Dr. is his absence? I'd start there and then ask them for a Dr. referral at another hospital if necessary.
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Thanks Dulci I will post on 101, and MC I did see the nurse, and I called yesterday and she said there is nothing we can do until he gets back and she said they have seen this before. She led me to beleive not much can be done unless there is sign of infection I do find it odd there is no back up.
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Hey Amy, did she recommend keeping it covered with gauze , neosporin, something that would help prevent any infection? It is really odd they have no one who can see you further. Id call again today and push that. I also would think that if it was a problem they would have said so and have had you see someone already- as opposed to letting it go til Monday. He can fix it then, so if you can get reassurance there is no problem waiting then guess that might be ok. Hate for you to start again with another guy, and that has nothing to do with me seeing same ps!
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I am covering it with gauze and I am keeping bacatracine on it. I also started an antibiotic yesterday maybe that is prevention enough?
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Of course, what do I know, but I would think so. I just cant imagine that if they did think that there was a concern that they would put you off at all til he is back. I would probably still call again today and push it a bit more...but you are being preventative, so that is great.
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Jeannie was adamont yesterday about nothing can be done until Monday. Maybe I am just being impatient?!?
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myers,
If you can send Whippetmom a private message through that feature here. She'll see it quicker.
It DOES happen. I wonder if you could use the Search feature and find other simikar experiences just to reassure yourself. You're doing everything right right now, so try not to panic. Hugs!!!!
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