Exchange City
Comments
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Hi Smaarty,
Thanks for checking on me! Surgery was a piece of cake and I got to watch! It's catching up with me today though. This hurts! Plus with the pocket collapsed and the drain in there now my hand is swelling back up. Ugh! Like Sandra says it is always something! I knew it was lymph fluid collecting in the vacant pocket!
On the plus side my PS was very positive about moving forward once this is healed up. He even mentioned going in with anTE. I wanted it hit him for flopping on me again, but was happy to hear him talking about getting this repaired! He is one of those VERY anylitical guys that needs time to process things!
Hello to the rest of you ladies! I had around 582 removed from the right cancer side and had an 800 cc style 45 put in. They removed 528 from the left and there was a thicker fatty layer since it was a prophy so to even them out that side has a 700cc style 45. I was really about where I started measurement and cup wise, maybe slightly larger but not much.
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Catey I would think so- I see him again this week and right now the plan is to remove the 410s and go to a smaller round. I need alot of lipo around both sides, and you cant even tell the 410 shape is in there. He is totally fine with all that, or even removing them if it is what I would want. I think he wants to make us happy. Short of doing fat grafting!
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Re: Converting grams to cc's
If you use an online converter, you will see that the number of grams is the same number of cc's. For most of you that's all you want to know. My 740 gram cohesive gel implants = 740 cc's.
http://www.convertunits.com/from/grams/to/cc
For those of you who are geeks like me and want to understand, the complication comes in when you realize one is a measure of weight and the other a measure of volume. You cannot directly convert between weight and volume. The link between them is density, the mass or weight in grams of one cubic centimeter of a given material. For example, 1 cc of lead and 1 cc of helium occupy the same volume, but while lead weighs 11.35 g, the same volume of helium weights only 0.1785 g.
So, refer back to paragraph #1.
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I was quite surprised that my breast tissue only weighed 370g and 380g at mastectomy. I have always been quite buxom and wearing a D cup since breast feeding. Was sure they were going to be at least 750g each. I have 400ml expanders in (only filled to 220ml so far) so not sure how big I will go with the final implants but don't want to be too out of proportion to my build. I have seen some fantastic info on the sizing101 forum but feel a bit daunted with all the info out there.
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I had around 1200g of breast tissue removed and a 700cc implant. My non cancerous breast had a reduction, and had about 600g of tissue removed, so I'm roughly half the size I was. I was a DDD prior to surgery, and I am so happy with my new, smaller size! Granted, the two breasts do look a bit different from one another at this point. And yes, my stomach does appear to stick out more than it did before I'm going to have to get back into my walking/jogging routine, or invest in some Spanx!
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So am I getting fatter or what? It seems like my stomach has expanded or was it always that way? I really don't know. I was a 40DDD but want to be a B cup and my PS says that is fine with him. But this stomach is really big. It has probably always been this size, I just couldn't see it with the breasts hanging all over the place
I am so depressed today. I am tired of being in pain and uncomfortable all the time. My exchange is scheduled for April 9th. My sternum is killing me like I am having a heart attack and I am so tired of taking pain pills.
I'm sorry, I just needed to vent. I really want to cry, but I am sitting at my desk at work and I cry really ugly and don't want anyone to see. I am just plain tired of it all.
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Hugs shorfi. Hang in there. We all go through the crying. It just hits some days. We are here for you. Much love
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Thanks Moon...is this normal. I even called the nurse at the PS office and she had the nerve to leave for the day. I am so depressed and it seems to be getting worse the closer I get to the final surgery. I want to feel normal again. The TEs hurt like HECK. Then I broke my tooth in the bottom back of mouth this weekend...next!!!
Thanks for the hugs...I needed that
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oh. One of THOSE weeks! Yeah it happens and is normal if shortlived. If it lasts longer get help. Sometimes we need help from outside. It's ok. This is a major life change and it isn't easy. You are dealing with a lot. So we shouldn't be surprised it is HARD. But it usually blindsided us! LOL. Don't be afraid to tell your MO or NP about it. They can help if you feel like it's not getting better for you. Much love.
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shorfi, you are almost there. Hang in there. I had the same feeling at work yesterday but had a therapeutic pan-au-raisin (beautiful French pastry) and felt much better. Re the tummy, my feeling is the healing is the most important thing at the moment. So take it easy and can work on the tummy down the track. Until then, Spanx and Flexees do great tummy hold in camisoles.
Thoughts are with you cos I know how you feel.
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And it doesn't help that this is my second time dealing with this. My BS tells me, well at least it's a new primary on the opposite side. But I hate that it is triple negative. That scares me the most. Thank goodness I am also taking Lexapro because if I wasn't taking an anti-depressant I would be a MESS. I can't wait for my hubby to pick me up from work so that I can cry. Poor man...
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OH Shorfi.....your 'stomach' comment is EXACTLY what I have been saying the last few days....as well as the pain of the tissue expanders. Horrible. I had my pre op appt today and my PS is so positve. I am starting to get scared that the reconstruction won't take this pain away. I just cannot imagine. Hang in there.....you are not alone. We will get through this together.
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good morning ladies
I am so grateful for all of your complete honesty....yesterday I told my husband I feel like this whole experience is sucking the life out of me. I am constantly in pain. I don't sleep more than an hour at a time and even then it's so uncomfortable. I slept on the couch 2 nights ago like one of you fine ladies suggested which was mildly better but then my shoulders hurt haha! I did however find out yesterday my exchange surgery is April 4th. It's very hard to comprehend a life without pain and constant thoughts about my breasts. I have definitely lost some confidence in my PS over the months which does not help my poor attitude. I had 495cc removed at mastectomy. I asked to go a little bigger. He said no problem. During the TE process continue to say "you can go as big as you want just remember you are the one who has to carry them around". Fast forward to 2 weeks ago when he tells me of by the way the largest implant you can go with is 12cm wide therefore the largest volume available is 470cc. (I have a very narrow chest apparently, although he didn't bother to mention this post mastectomy). I did verify with whippetmom and she said we have to defer to the PS in this case. I then ask about another manufacturer. He responds nope they are all the same. Long story short. I go home find that Mentor has a 500cc implant that is 11.7cm wide. So that's what I'm stuck with. Oh and BTW he over expands and Always puts a smaller implant than the final TE fill. I'm expanded to 535cc. He is very very very much into a "natural" look. Which is fine except I feel it clouds his ability to listen to what the patient wants cosmetically. I'm not asking to look like a stripper but I most certainly don't want built in droop. I did tell him that so we shall see what happens. I know I can get a 2nd opinion but honestly that would take time and I just want to be done. I want to be me again and waiting for another appointment and records to be transferred etc is just to exhausting and I don't have the energy to put into it right now.
For those of you who have had revisions post exchange does the insurance company pay for another set of implants?
Thanks for listening to me whine.
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Jackie,
I had a revision. Yes, my insurance covered at the same rate as my first exchange. I still lost money (copay), time off work, and I lost time in the healing-over-again, and of course, every surgery is hard on us physically.
If you KNOW your PS is not listening to you and believe already that you'll need a revision PLEASE try for a second opinion before your exchange just to verify what he has told you.
My first set were Allergan Style 45's which are a narrower based implant. At a width of 11.9 they are 500cc's.
Your PS is the eyes-on expert of the particulars of your unique body, but I hate that you are already sounding discouraged!! I understand the sleep thing. I slept in the recliner...NOT reclined for 4 months with those horrid TE's. But I would have done it for another month or two if it had saved me the revision surgery. (Which went very well for me and I'm happy with my results. But none of us want more surgeries.)
Wishing you a restful, peaceful day!!
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mnmbeck...Thanks. Just so tired of it all. Today I feel much better mentally than I did yesterday. I was in such a funk. But I am a little miffed because my PS nurse still has not returned my call. Really I just need to get permission to have some dental work done 6 days before surgery because I cracked my bottom back tooth. In the instructions they sent, they said not to have any medications or alcohol 2 weeks prior to surgery. And I also wanted her to know if the sternum pain was normal. The pain did go away with the help of Vicodin.
Like you mentioned, we are all in this together and hopefully we will begin to feel "normal" again very soon.
Pervivor...Thanks for your encouraging words. Instead of the sweets, I did some on-line retail therapy and the hubby says to me, "get what you want"...and I had fun doing it.
Good morning Moonflwr...thanks again for your kind words
Oh BTW...I didn't even have the cry last night. My husband put me in a good mood and we had a laughing good time.0 -
Jackie- I'm sorry you're feeling so discouraged and I second Dulci's comment above. Get that second opinion BEFORE your exchange. If your current PS's plan doesn't jive with the second opinion it's better to make adjustments to that plan now and be able to avoid another surgery, or perhaps even change to a different PS.
Just a note regarding the 'built-in droop'......a touch of medically achieved ptosis (natural droop) can help make our implants look a little less artificial as far as shape goes. I love my implants but I do not have any ptosis at all that I can tell. I look great in my clothes and really don't look half bad nekkid. You could never, however, mistake my implants for the real thing when I'm nekkid. I've seen some photos of reconstructions that do look quite natural, though. Does your PS have photos of previous patients' results you could review?
Keep us posted.
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March 11 was my exchange surgery which was moved up from the 31st when we realized my right TE sprung a leak! Crazy huh?
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Wow. I am feeling very lucky so far. I have had TE in both sides since Nov. and besides getting used to what I now lovingly refer to as my "bullet boobs" since they are rock hard, I have not had any major issues. They do move around and due to this they are sometimes a little uncomfortable but nothing major. I hope my exchange goes as smoothly. I had radiation in my left breast 12 years ago so I have been warned by my PS that this may cause issues with my implant in the future but he has been careful not to push my expansion too far. I am a smaller stature (5'2 - 115 lbs) so I am fine with smaller implants anyway. I am crossing my fingers
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I have had mine TEs in since August 1st and I am still in pain and still using Valium for the spasms. I also had radiation almost 10 years ago to the left breast. At the time of my immediate reconstruction he filled one side with 500cc and the other side with 550cc. They are extremely uncomfortable and I also told him I wanted to be smaller with the final exchange. We shall see...
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sorry you are so uncomfortable Shorfi. Such huge fillings during surgery! Hopefully you will feel better after your exch.
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Shorfi - my PS would not go over the 400 cc mark in my radiated breast (which is more than fine with me). He was very worried about overfilling it. My non radiated breast is only at 325 cc's. 550 cc's seems like a lot for radiated skin to get used to! I wish you the best of luck. Keep me updated!
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shorfi I'm glad you feel better. This process is not an easy one.
Jackie get a 2nd opinion if you are not happy. Sx are not fun. And don't be afraid if the drop and fluff. They don't drop much just settle into the pocket. Howeber, all you newbies should REMEMBER YOU WILL NOT GET THE SAME DEGREE OF PROJECTION no matter what kind of implants. You just dont. TEs By their nature are built to push out. Implants do not have the structure to do that. That's why. Although I hear they are doing research on TES that can stay in. But Ouch I don't think I'd like that!
Sharli, I too had to move up my sx but only by a week. There was a mixup at the hospital and he had to move me up. I took it because I didn't want to wait longer so even though it was Friday the 13th! LOL I hope you are feeling pretty good. I will repeat our mantra JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL GOOD ENOUGH TO DO THINGS DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO THEM!!!
Simplified, "Just cause you can doesn't mean you should! " LOL
MUCH LOVE TO ALL
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Sandra: Not sure which is the best thread to post you a message, but wanted you to know that you will be in my thoughts & prayer for the upcoming surgery. Let us know when you can.
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ditto on that Sandra!
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I'm in your pocket Friday too Sandra!
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I will be taking off 2 weeks for my exchange. Should I just go ahead and schedule my colonoscopy which was due back in January while I was undergoing treatment. They found polyps 3 years ago and wanted me to come back every 3 years. At the time my MO said don't worry about it, but I am worried about it. I see the MO on March 28th.I just need to be reassured that everything is fine.
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Shorfi, I also had a colonoscopy scheduled but had to skip it when I had a stroke at the beginning of last year. Six months later I had the mammogram which started me on this breast cancer journey, so the colonoscopy was forgotten again. I tried to get it scheduled this week before my next breast reconstruction surgery, but they said no, I should wait a month. (I have to have a different kind of anesthesia then the fentanyl they usually use for colonoscopies and have to have an anesthesiologist there. Usually they don't have an anesthesiologist present for colonoscopies.) So what I'm trying to say is there might be some reason why they don't want you to have anesthesia again so soon. I didn't really ask why I had to wait a month. Maybe there's a medical reason, but maybe it was just a scheduling issue with the anesthesiologist. Couldn't hurt for you to try to schedule your colonoscopy while you are off work. All they can say is no.
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Minus, Moon, and 4Sew, thanks so much for the support. Minus, LOL. I don't know where to post either. This upcoming surgery is part of the ongoing reconstruction so I'm in the right vicinity, but nothing is getting exchanged this time, so I guess I shouldn't be here.
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Question..., when I had my BMx the bs and ps were in the OR. When you have the exchange done are they both there again or just ps?
I'm still, after 7 weeks out of work recovering from BMx. How long should I expect to be out for exchange? I'm a teacher and have summers off so im trying to schedule during summer, but what is typical recovery for exchange?
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Mommyathome, just the plastic surgeon will be there. Most people say they snapped back very quickly after their exchange. (I didn't.) It may depend on how much pocket work will be done, if any. For a simple, uncomplicated exchange some women go home the same day and area back to work within a couple of days. It doesn't always work that way. You could have healing issues that could keep you out longer or some other reason that could cause a longer recovery. Doing it in the summer is a good idea. That would keep you free of kiddie germs while you heal.
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