Exchange City
Comments
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I am 10 weeks post MX and 1 week post last fill. I am still having so much pain when I lay down. The PS looks at me like I am crazy. I am not asking for any prescriptions I just wanted to know if it's normal to still be having pain. I am ok when I am upright but lying down is an issue. And after all this time of trying to find a "comfortable" position my left hip and right shoulder now hurt. My husband is beyond frustrated and made a snarky remark yesterday as if I am making this up. Is this normal??? I read in the book me back together again that Sherry couldn't have her last 2 fills bc the pain was non-stop but has anyone here experienced this?
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Jackie,
So sorry you are experiencng this!!! I don't know about "normal" but you are ABSOLUTELY not alone!! Have your husband read this if you want! I "slept" sitting almost straight up in our recliner for 4 months during my TE phase. Any reclining was uncomfortable and laying in bed?? Impossible. After exchange it took about two weeks, but then I could sleep in bed...and now? I'm happily back in the fetal position. Ahhhhh.....such a relief.
During the day (upright) I had no problems at all. Could almost forget they were there. Night time was a totally different story.
It's a season. It will pass.
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I am 4 days post exchange surgery from a bilateral nipple sparing mastectomy in October. I'm wearing a compression vest/bra and don't really have much swelling. I know that this isn't the final look. I got 600 cc Allergan 45 high profile implants. I knew I wouldn't look as rounded and large as my expanders. I'm surprised that I look so flat at the top and between my implants. I look full on the outsides and at the bottoms. Does anyone know if these implants which are silicone gel-filled will relax and create some rounding at the top and insides. I've read on this forum about dropping and fluffing. Do these implants do that and if they do is it just dropping further in the pocket and what is fluffing? Thanks for any advice.
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Jackie - After my BMX I lived in my Lazy Boy chair for at least 3 weeks. After that I slept on the sofa for another 8 months. Yes, 8 months! It wasn't because i was in pain, it was because the mattress was just too hard (even though it's a great pillow-top mattress) and didn't have enough 'give' to be comfortable for anything resembling side sleeping. The TEs were simply in the way and if I tried anything close to laying on my side it was very uncomfortable. The sofa allowed me to be sort of on my side because I could be kind of leaning against the back, and the sofa cushions were much more forgiving on the rock-like TEs.
Even 7 months post-exchange I still end up sleeping on the sofa quite regularly because I nod off during the evening, but I don't have any trouble sleeping in my bed any longer. I can lay on my side or even my stomach without discomfort.
Perhaps your DH should try strapping a couple of grapefruit size rocks to his chest with a tight ACE bandage for a few nights and see how well he sleeps.........
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Pinklotus,
You will be amazed at the changes that are ahead. Yes, everything will get better in the coming weeks. I had never seen a picture of what implants looked like so after surgery I was quite surprised. (I had my BMX and permanent implants done the same day.) Somehow I thought I would wake up with breasts shaped like a 20 year old girl. When I looked down, all I saw were funny looking, lopsided little mounds underneath the soft surgical bra.
Now I know that implants aren't conical like natural breasts, they are more like mounds. Each side has it's own way of healing so you may have more swelling in one than the other...but it could be the opposite the next day. They do finally smooth out and settle in. The chest muscles loosen up and allow them to drop fully into the pocket the surgeon created. It can take two or three months so be patient. Lots of changes to come for you. Hang in there.
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hi all,
I had my BMX jan 10, 2014. Had 500cc during surgery, then 5 subsequent 50cc fills to bring me to my goal of 750cc. I'm now waiting for exchange surgery on April 11. I'm 5'8 and 135# and used to be an F cup (mastectomy results said left breast was 1,000cc and right breast was 960cc).
I have a lot of skin to fill, hence the big number fills.
My doctor now wants me to decide between round and teardrop. I think he was steering me to round because teardrops can flip, and I kind of like the fullness on the top that the TE has given me (for the record I hate everything else about TE's, including how my left breast is under my arm!).
Any suggestions. I am hoping for a natural feel as the TE's are rock hard.
So glad this place exists- such a sisterhood. Thanks in advance for your precious time.
Tracey
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Jackie, I agree with everyone else. You are no different than thousands of other women when it comes to trying to find a comfortable way to sleep. Whenever I had a good 2 hour stretch in my recliner, it was a major victory! The posts before have given you some great ideas. When I did graduate to my bed upstairs, I found that the addition of a couple of soft small pillows under my arms made all the difference in comfort and a big one to clutch to my chest was my armor. My husband moves around when he sleeps and has been known to toss his arms and elbows in all directions at least once during the night. I was petrified that one would land on my chest. After one too many close calls and one direct hit, I moved to the guest room. It's hard enough to get comfortable and stay that way all night without having to keep one eye open to ward off elbow danger!
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Tracymomof3 - You should check in on the thread called Breast Implant Sizing 101. There is lots of TE and implant info in the header of the thread and it's a very active thread with lots of discussion about various types and sizes of implants.
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Tracy, what Tina said! I had almost 700 cc removed from each of my breasts. I thought that was alot! The only thing go remember is the front projection won't be there. No matter what. Some will be but not like you were used to. The TES are so hard they stick out. The implants, not so much. But Whippet Mom is a genious! I have saline as my P'S said silicone implants didn't come in a large enough size. So you may want to ask about that. I am filled to 850 on each.
Jackie. Honestly! MEN!!!! I'm with sweet and special but instead of rocks how about some small zip lock containers filled with water so they slosh. Tape them yo his chest and tell him to sleep on his side. He'll think he could but nope I bet he won't! LOL. When he complains about the hard edges, just remind him your hard edges are INSIDE! With no skin to help protect them. And if he let's you do that you can take the tiniest pleasure in ripping the tape off! LOL. Well even if he won't agree, you could keep the picture in your head! LOL. And tell him if he doesn't do that little experiment that he has NO RIGHT to judge your level of pain. Most P'S underestimate reconstruction pain. Especially if they usually deal with augmentation! That's a whole different beast!
Much love.
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Tracy - chiming in here to second what the others have said. The breast implant sizing 101 thread is THE place to be for help in implant size decisions. I think I had something like 500 or 600 grams of breast tissue removed (I do remember one side was 151 grams larger). I was able to provide Whippetmom with photos of my natural breasts that I took just prior to BMX in addition to giving her my height, weight etc. Her very first recommendation was what I ended up going with and I'm very happy with my look. I have 750cc Allergan high profile silicone rounds (5'8" about 175 lbs, ribcage about 33"). My figure looks very much like it did pre-BMX when I'm fully clothed. I'm still wearing stretchy Bali bras until one more procedure is done, then I expect to be wearing about a 38D or maybe 38DD, depending on the manufacurer and style. I know it will require trying on lots and lots of bras when I finally get around to it in order to find a style with cups that aren't too deep for my new less projectile boobs, but I an really looking forward to some pretty, girly, colorful bras again.
Keep us posted. I still follow the implant sizing thread too so if you post over there I'll see it
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Tracy, I've had both rounds and teardrops over the last six months. I don't think there is any difference in feel or how they look on the bottom, but the Allergan 410 Style FF 740cc's I have now are so much taller. It results in a nice little slope from the top down to the fuller bottom. It's not like a natural breast but it covers up some of the divots I had in my chest. I'll have fat grafting in the future to give my upper chest some padding. It's skin over bone now. When I had a TE and turned to the side, I looked like a letter b...flat chest and really big full TE. I could balance a red Solo cup on the top. Now I couldn't balance anything.
Even with the rounds, you are not going to get the projection you had with TE's, so be sure you check out the links to information from the manufacturers at the bottom of the header on Breast Implant Sizing 101, which was already recommended to you. Though I have a large implant, it only projects out two and a half inches at the fullest bottom part. The fullness at the top like a TE is not there anymore, no matter what kind of implant you get. I'm 3 months from the exchange. Although my kind of silicone cohesive gel implants don't drop and fluff like silicone rounds, they do look different than they did on day one, thank goodness. The rounds look weird at the beginning too. Everything smooths out soon enough and you have nice little mounds that look great in clothes, even without a bra.
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I think I'm the only one who didn't go with whippetmom's suggestion. She had suggested 375 cc rounds, my PS used a 350 round on my rads side and a 325 round on the other side. I felt I looked too large, especially on the rads side, so had a revision to a 325 on that side and he did lipo on a fatty bulge on top of that breast. Now that the swelling has gone down, my rads side is a little smaller than the other side, but is more "me" than before. I wish the left side matched my right, but I do not want more surgery. I can live with the results, and I am ready to put this chapter of my life to bed and move on with my life.
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Andrea, I didn't go with what whippetmom suggested. I wanted to be smaller so I have 550 textured rounds. They wont drop and fluff from what my ps says. She had recommend at least 650 and smooth rounds.
I'm getting used to them, my TEs were never hard and bothered me mostly in the armpits. Now that I'm done it feels weird to not have doc appts all the time!
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Smaarty, my TEs bothered me most by the armpit too. If I laid on my side, it felt like they dug in. On my rads side, it still isn't comfortable to lie on that side, and I have shoulder issues too. I may try PT again, but I am just tired of going to appointments after work. It's so nice not having to do that!
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Andrea & Smaarty - I too went smaller than Whippetmom recommended. Glad i got the Allergan 410s, but wish I'd gone even smaller. Isn't hind sight something?
Moon & Tina - thanks for the laughs. I particularly chuckled at ripping off the tape when he complains.
Edited to add - Even thought I choose to go smaller, I can never thank Whippetmom enough for her advice and care. I wouldn't have had a clue without her input.
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I too would like to thank whippetmom for her guidance and the time she takes to help so many women with their reconstruction. It was not my intent to sound ungrateful, so if I came across that way, I most sincerely apologize.
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Andrea - you didn't sound ungrateful but I thought I sounded a bit harsh. I think we'd all agree she's a miracle worker.
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MinusTwo, I didn't think you sounded harsh either.
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whippetmom provides a great deal of time and energy for all of us who asked for help. Whether we use the info she gives us or not, I think most of us would be lost without her.
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Just have to add my 2 cents. I am scheduled to have my exchange surgery in almost 2 weeks. I have had constant pain with these TE's. I had my BMX in October, so it's almost exactly 5 months. I don't know how to describe the pain...it's not just the stretching and tightness (which is awful), but it's a pain that is really deep. I can finally be in my bed, with just the right amount of pillows, etc. (add to the picture...I have Lymphadema, so I need to prop my arm up, too....). But, I am never comfortable. I can't even pretend to lay on my side, or even propped to the side. The worse part for me is GETTING UP in the morning. I don't know if it is the TE's readjusting or what...but there is a period of about 30-60 minutes that it really hurts. I hear stories of people who don't have pain with TE's....and don't seem to think they are a big deal. That scares me because I wonder if this really wont' even go away with the exchange surgery. That is one of my biggest fears. So, it does make me feel a little better to hear there are others who had problems are are now pain-free. I cannot imagine being pain-free, or having no tightness. Just cannot imagine! I just keep listening to those who tell me "It will be OK!!"
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I looked on my surgical report to see how big my bodacious FF tatas weighed...1,810 grams on right and 2,370 grams on left. Geesh...no wonder I had dents in my shoulders. My little 740 cc implants are quite a change!
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Wow Sandra. That's a big change for you!.
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wow Sandra. Huge weight off your shoulders. I was a D cup and had only 360g from each side at mastectomy. Felt a little bit disappointed.
Moonflwr, love your proposal to the unsupportive partners. Unfortunately I suspect we will never get to use it but still fun to imagine.
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4sew, how your drainectomy go? You feeling ok. What's the news?
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4sew, how your drainectomy go? You feeling ok. What's the news?
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mnmbeck- You are not alone...those were my feelings with the TEs...they were torture, but post exchange you will feel sooo much better. It will be worth it.
Sandra- wow it is a big change, mine were 1272 gms on the left and 1135gms on the right. My 800cc mentors are flatter but still feel heavy due to the LD recon.
Good to see all are doing well with exchanges, just had nipple recon and awaiting tattoos. HUGS to all!
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I hope you all are right about feeling better after exchange!
For those of you with large amounts of tissue removed compared to the size of your implants....do you at all feel like your entire body is different, now? I had about 750-800 removed from each side (If I remember right). I am currently filled to 550 with my Te's. They are, of course, very high and great projection (my only positives to say about them). MyPs says he'll have to replace these with a higher cc implant to attempt to achieve the same 'look.'
My old breasts were just different, and because I am now 'different', it affects how my whole body looks to me. I have always struggled with my middle/gaining weight. Before diagnosis, I was doing a great job with diet and exercise and lost over 40 pounds. I have since gained 15 back....lots of sitting around and eating those casseroles that people so generously give when you have surgery.
I feel like my 'smaller' breasts make the rest of me look bigger. Is anybody else struggling with this? I am working on diet and some exercise (I also have LE that is limiting how hard I can exercise). But,I feel like I am 8 months pregnant, now!!! Ugh! I didn't like my big, 'pendulous' boobs before, but now I realize that they evened me out!!! However, I don't want to be as huge as before. I just need the rest of me to be smaller!
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Mnmbeck, yes, my whole body is different now. I didn't realize how much those big things got in the way until they were gone. It's been fun to have small foobs now. A whole new world of sundresses and cute tops has opened up for me.
As for weight, that a big change for me too. Last year I had a brain stem stroke. Prior to that I was a long time fitness instructor and ballroom dance instructor. I worked as an accountant full time and taught 2 classes after work everyday and on the weekends. Busy! The stroke permanently affected my vision and balance so my life changed literally overnight. I had to quit my job, couldn't drive, couldn't walk without falling, etc. Just as rehab was helping me cope, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and began this spiral of surgeries and recoveries. In the past year I've gained 35 lbs and my recliner and I spend most of the day together. I may not have control over anything else in my life, but I can still eat what my husband cooks! The weight has become something I can't ignore anymore, so I'm ready to try to get it off. Unfortunately surgery #4 is next week. Sigh. It's always something.
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I don't know if the amount of grams is equivalent to cc's but it sounds like I was REALLY small. From my BMX report, I had 178.4 grams removed from the left & 187.1 removed from the right. My implants are 550ccs but I still feel like I could have gone bigger.
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Jenn, I had roughly 320 grams removed and 550cc style 20 and wish I would have gone a little bigger. to add to matters I have a few indents and Madry is not a fan of fat grafting to breasts, on the 10th plan to ask him if exchange to slightly larger would improve appearance
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