Exchange City
Comments
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Jackiegray - Hi and welcome! The length of time it takes for the new girls to drop and fluff varies from woman to woman. Mine really started changing between two and three months post exchange, but some ladies see the changes much sooner. Mine looked like lopsided pancakes at first and then they eventually pushed themselves out to an acceptable projection and dropped in line with one another. Like everything else around here, it just takes some time. You'll feel better tomorrow and a little bit better every day. Welcome to Exchange City and the squishie side of your new life!
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mnmbeck - Good to hear from you! I was able to sleep on my side about two months into my TEs and have always slept on my side ever since my exchange. Have you tried it with pillows packed around you, especially under the new girl (whichever side is your preference)? I'm aware of the new girls when I bend over (to pick something up) or when I initially lay down to go to bed at night, but other than that, I don't notice them that much anymore. It gets better, it really does.
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budrfligal13 - Hi and welcome to you as well! The answer to your question sort of depends on who you ask.
That particular questions can get you a dozen different answers around here. 
Personally, for me, exchange was a breeze, so I was one of the 'lucky ones' if you consider all of this lucky in any way. I literally had to remind myself to take it easy. And yes, the implants are MUCH softer than the TEs (we all seem to agree on that). Some people have more trouble with tightness post exchange than others and it seems to depend on the condition of your skin, how much you have, the size of your implants, and the shape of your ribcage (believe it or not). We're all different, but everyone is happy to get to the point of exchange. Do you have a date yet? 0 -
Hang in there Myers421. Things will get better. Praying for your quick recovery.
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budrfligal.....I agree with AZ. It is so different for everyone. I am 9 days out. My PS is a funny, wonderful guy....always joking around. He said my biggest problem after exchange would be that when I was shopping at Target, I would be constantly feeling myself up saying "I can't believe how SOFT I feel!!!" LOL! Well, at 9 days, I can't say I feel any of that. I didn't wake up miraculously saying "WOW", like I thought I would. I was completely miserable every second with TE's, so I thought I would really appreciate the change. BUT....I also had a lot of liposuction on both sides(with this surgery). I was bruised and it felt like I had open wounds on both sides (I didn't). And, I wear a snug-fitting, underwire bra on top of it all. My husband hugged me today and said, "Wow....that really IS softer." I still feel tight across my chest, and it isn't my skin. It is my muscle, as it always has been. My skin has never been the problem. It's inside. I now know that many people feel this way. So, I'm hoping with time, it will get better. It's not the same as the TE's, but somehow, I was used to the miserable way the TE's felt. I am not used to this new "post-surgical" discomfort. So, hopefully, as things heal and loosen up, I will feel better. It is NOT the same as the TE. But,it's not the 'wow' I was expecting, either. The good news is that this discomfort that I feel is limited to the surgical area. With the TE's, I couldn't move any part of my body (it seemed) with out discomfort, jabbing, etc. Sometimes, I couldn't laugh, sneeze, or even breathe without discomfort. But now, it's JUST the surgical site....between my armpits and above my belly....just where he did surgery. NOT inside, NOT breathing, NOT anything else. That is a relief. Even the tightness is just tightness across my chest. No "missiles" inside. Nothing in my armpits. That is a relief, too! It's so hard to know what to expect. And again...everyone is different. Many (maybe most?) people DO feel that immediate relief. Some are back comfortably sleeping in their beds a couple of nights later. Others have drains, are in the hospital longer, or (like me), back on the recliner for awhile. I guess I maintain the attitude ..."Keep your eye on the prize". It's another step closer to the end. My fear was always that I would be miserable forever. I just can't think like that anymore. I have to keep hoping that all will be well, as it is for MOST people. Staying focused on the future, that doesn't include miserable TE's or any of the discomfort that goes along with it.....is the trick! Hang in there.
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Hi welcome to the Newbies! As everyone says it's all individual in your reactions. I had a real rough TE time but an amazingly quick healing with squishies. So hang in there everyone.
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I am almost 4 weeks post exchange surgery. At 2 weeks with follow up appointment and stitches/ steri-strip removal, I had lots bruising and swelling. This has gotten much better. In fact, the bruising is all gone and I can't tell that I have much swelling since the skin isn't shiny like it was. My question relates to something I've noticed. My left breast looks perfectly proportioned and the scar is pretty soft in the incision (infra-mammary under the breast). I had nipple sparing surgery. Since my surgery, my right breast is a little off. First of all the nipples are lined up and both are equal distance from the center. The issue is that on the outer side of the right breast, it looks a bit flat. The left breast outer side is nice and rounded. Now that I was given the clear this week to massage vitamin e on the scars, I notice the right scar is harder than the left. I hope this isn't capsular contracture and it's just swelling. The hardened area is a couple of inches out from the outer edge of my incision and runs an inch or so up the outside edge of the breast. Wonder if that hardening is causing the implant to flatten. If I get on my hands and knees and look at my chest, the right nipple is angled out to the right and not straight down like the left side does. I can also feel rippling on the right outer side implant where the flat spot is when I'm in this position and run my hand along the outside edge. Has anyone had this issue and then it resolved and the flatness went away and rounded? Thanks for any feedback.
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pinklotus - You probably have a flat spot. Flat spots and rippling are pretty common with implants especially if you have thin skin. If you've never seen one, or held one, they look like this:
(Wow, that got big!) Anyway, it can be fixed later on with fat grafting during a revisional surgery. To soften up the scar, just massage the hell out of it. Ask your PS first, but I had one that I had to massage vigorously for a couple of months and it helped a lot. It hurts at first, but gets easier the more you do it...
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I'm jealous of you all at the squishy side already. I am sick of being uncomfortable all the time. Exchange booked for 9th May but still haven't finished having my fills. Does that seem too quick? It seems like a lot shorter than others. What would be the problems if it was too quick?
Thanks
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previvor101 my exchange was 4 weeks after my last fill. It seems all PS do things a little bit different than their peers.
For all your lovely ladies with. TE I can now attest (my exchange was Friday) there is no doubt you will feel a billion times better as soon as you have your exchange. I was in pain every second of every day with the. TE.
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ummm so really weird thing just happened I moved my right arm and it sounded like my right side burped. Is this normal?
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I too have an odd area on my left side. If i tap the skin up near the top of the implant its hounds hollow like there is air under the skin! I was able to have a shower this morning and it felt very nice to just let the warm water run over the skin. The only area I have that is tender is under my arms where the excess skin was removed. I am not taking any pain meds but I am taking it very easy.. It is a wonderful feeling not to have the bricks (TEs) attached to my chest..
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Jackie - I didn't have anything like this but I remember others talking about once in a while having sort of a 'sloshing' sound after exchange, which if I recall is not a problem. Not sure if a 'slosh' could sound like a 'burp' though???
Rosebuds - so glad you're feeling content so far! Continue to rest and heal and keep us posted.
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Jackie,
Yep!! I had some sloshing and crackling and assorted odd sounds for a short while. PS said it was "normal."
Just part of the adventure!!! It DOES go away!
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Hi Ladies,
I am new here..but I have problem and I thought i would ask it on this forum. I had the exchange into gel implants on 2/25/14. About a week after the exchange I started having pain behind my right shoulder blade. The kind of pain caused by knots that have formed in the latissimus dorsi. I have tried massage on the knots, used moist heat, pain pills, and sleeping in a recliner. I just cannot get any relief. My daughter is a physical therapist and she has given me some exercises to strengthen my upper back. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what did you find that relieved the pain?
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So much depends on what kind of implants you have. Until you know exactly what you have (or will get), take everything you read with a grain of salt. It may not apply to you at all. Do you know what these words really mean: saline, silicone, rounds, smooth, shaped, textured, fluff, drop, anatomicals, projection, height, gummie bears, cohesive gels or any of the other words you've read that all apply to implants? Do you understand what "poles" are? IMF? Pockets? Do you realize that implants do not project as much, are wider, and flatter? (Hamburger buns many say, not volcanos.) Have you looked at the manufacturers data on your particular kind of implant? Do you understand that your new implants will not look like perky breasts of a 20 year old? That bras are made for cones, not mounds, so finding one to fit can be a challenge? Do you realize that your new implants will probably be misshapen the first weeks or months? That one side will not necessarily look like the other as you heal? That if you have nipple sparing, the nipples may "point" in different directions? Do you know that those flat spots can also be because there is less fat under the skin in places? Do you know why that can happen? There are a hundred other things to know...but most won't apply to YOUR kind of implant. Some implants slosh, but I have cohesive gel gummie bears so there's nothing to slosh around. Mine are firmer than more common saline round implants and are much taller. They feel a bit different under my skin & muscle. (I've had smooth rounds too, so I can compare.) Even if two women have the same kind of implant, their healing experience and appearance can be different. So much of your finished look will depend on what kind and condition of flaps the plastic surgeon had to work with after the mastectomy and whether or not you had radiation.
Please, please, please educate yourself so you have an idea what to expect from YOUR kind of implants after YOUR kind of surgery and YOUR way of healing.
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Hi everyone!
I had exchange surgery in December 2013, but will have a revision in late April to correct capsular contracture and to add more separation between my implants. I will also probably go down in size. (From 275ccs to something closer to 210ccs -- I know this sounds strange, but I really want to be smaller. With the 275ccs, I am currently 30D and I'd rather be a closer to A/B cup.)
Does anyone have experience with capsular contraction? If so, how did it go? And have you experienced recurrence?
Many thanks,
Emma
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emmalou1 - Hi and welcome! Capsular contracture is one thing I've (thankfully) managed to avoid, so I have no advice for you, but just wanted to say hi!
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Thanks very much for your warm welcome AZ85048! This is such a helpful community.
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Sandra - a HUGE thanks for your post. Great questions for everyone to read & very informative. It really takes time for each individual to learn the answers about their own process, but you're right - it's really important to know these things before comparing apples to grapefruits.
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I'm sorry you feel that way Shorfi. I rarely feel knowledgable enough to answer people's question as I am only a "newbie". Also don't feel experienced in some areas, in particular dealing with recurrences and some cancer issues as I was a prophylactic mastectomy. Also have had major BCO issues as their automated software thinks I am a virus and each time I post, I get locked out until the moderators manually let me back in.
I'm sorry you don't feel supported. I'm there for you (when I am not being locked out!!!).
Good luck for surgery on the 9th. I am having my exchange 9th May and so over TE and being tired and doer and....
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shorfi,
How exciting that you are having your exchange this week. I am about two months out and implants are much, much better than TE's. I had an easy recovery but took two weeks off from work. In May, I will have fat grafting (I was not planning on that).
I was nervous and excited for the exchange, as I am sure you are too. You have not had an easy journey. The morning of my exchange, I arrived at the surgery center at 6 AM and was home by noon. At first I thought the implants were too small but I don't anymore because they have changed.
Keep me posted on how you are doing.
Julie
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Thanks Previvor for your support. My second breast cancer is a new primary in the other breast, that is why I elected to have the bilateral mastectomy. Like you, I am so over the TEs and the pain and discomfort that comes along with it.
I just hope I am not sounding weird to the other ladies...
Can't wait until Wednesday!!0 -
Shorfi - you could never sound weird to this bunch.....lol! I'm sorry if you feel you haven't been getting the reponses you hoped for. I try to chime in when I can but I do admit that sometimes I only have time to rapidly skim through everyone's posts, especially during the day. Just keep asking if you don't get a quick response - when the thread is active it's very easy for posts to drop back a page or two and fall off the radar. We're definitely here to help each other and would never want you to feel ignored.
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shorfi - I am new to TEs and do not have the experience that so many of you have. Mine were installed on Feb 25 and I finally have my first fill tomorrow (6 weeks after the install!). I read everyone's notes and hope to type more responses as I gain more personal experience. I send you best wishes and look forward to hearing how it all unfolds.
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shorfi . HUGS! I am sorry you are not getting the support you expected. I can tell you that a couple of people who are usually on this thread a lot are trying to recover from some scenic detours of their own. I am on disability now and so have a bit more free time than most. Also weekends ate slower around here as people try to get things done and put BCO on a back burner while they deal with family issues.
I am glad you asked and spoke up. It's hard for us to know when our sisters are hurting if they don't tell us. You will have to forgive us all as chemo brain is no joke. Even 2 years after I get it still probably, exasperated by Arimidex! Those darn hormonals! LOL.
Just know that everyone on here does care - a lot. Hugs again and Much Love.
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installed.. I like it!
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mine were installed in Jan, and are now showing much more where they are going to end up. Allergan 410s
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is in normal to have more rippling today? My exchange was Friday. Will the rippling subside or get more pronounced ?
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