Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Join our Webinar: REAL Talk: Healthy Body and Mind After Breast Cancer Treatment - Jan 23, 2025 at 4pm ET Register here.

Exchange City

1112411251127112911301387

Comments

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Thanks ladies!  I knew you would steer me the right direction. Good idea Ally about the tattoo picture.   It is so weird not having anyone in real life to talk to about this stuff - I mean I talk to them but they don't really understand.   I feel strange undergoing yet another procedure just to make my new breast look a little better but after hearing all the praise on fat grafting I am def. thinking about it.   AZ- were you up and about the next day after the fat grafting?  I don't want to be out of work again if possible.   

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    CLYDAY I highly recommend you tell your PS how you feel and that you like your current size.  It is his/her job to listen to you! 

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited July 2014

    hjpz - YES!  I felt fine the afternoon and evening of the surgery, but I was really drowsy from the anesthesia.  Once that was flushed out of my system, I had a terrible time 'taking it easy' because I felt so good.  I was a bit bruised for a few days, and only sore for a couple.  I didn't take anything for pain, but my PS did insist that I start taking 1000 mg of Vitamin C per day starting a week prior to surgery, and for at least two weeks after.  (No one had ever had me do that before...)  It's been a month and I'm still taking it, but I sincerely believe that it made a big difference in the healing and swelling aspect of the surgery and fat grafting.  My scars are barely visible and everything has healed beautifully. Keep us posted on what you decide...

    Winking

  • LisaMarie67
    LisaMarie67 Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2014


    Hi ladies. I have been using this website since I was first diagnosed, September of last year, but I never joined and contributed. I must say that reading all the stories has helped me tremendously and I am so grateful to you all. It has been a long, hard road. Now that I am over chemo and starting to feel better, I feel the need to share, learn, make friends and hopefully help someone along the way. I am currently going through the TE process. I have had complications, but things are going pretty smooth at the moment.

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Thanks AZ!!  I took Vit  A, Vit. C, Arnica Montana, and Bromelain before/after my double mastectomy and TE exchange and I had no bruising or swelling and rebounded fast so I truly believe in the power of some supplements.  In fact, I just had to print out what I took and the doses for my PS this week because he was impressed with my recovery and may start telling other patients to take them so I am excited that he is willing to share the idea with others ( p.s. I found the info on a few other PS websites so I felt it it was reputable info).   If I do the fat grafting I will definitely take them again.  Glad to know it is not a major procedure that would require too much time off work/life.  Thanks again. 

    LisaMarie- welcome welcome! 

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited July 2014

    Welcome LisaMarie67!  Although I'm sorry that you ever had the need to find us, I'm glad you've found BCO.  It's a great group of women from around the world who aren't afraid to share the ups, the downs, the ins, and the outs of BC.  Ah, yes, the TE phase - the part we'd all like to forget!  Mine felt a lot like this... 

    Winking

    image

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    AZ--  Always enjoy your posts!!!  Ba ha ha ha!!!  

    LisaMarie-  Welcome!!  Those TEs are so fun...where else do you learn to walk like John Wayne.  They were so wide that my arms couldn't hang down but had to go out from my body.  Having the exchange in August and can't wait.  Glad you posted!

    Ally

  • simplelife2
    simplelife2 Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2014

    Budrflygal, good luck to you today!!! Hoping all goes well with your exchange. It is so much easier than the BMX!!  Take it easy and get your rest!!  Thinking of you. Love and hugs, prayers for a speedy recovery. 

  • simplelife2
    simplelife2 Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2014

    Oh AZ, you are exactly right with your pic!! It's how it feels!! 

  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2014

    Hi ladies. Simple, thanks for the good vibes!!! Exchange went well today. I'm bound up and cannot really get an idea of how I'm looking, so we will see in 2 days when I can shower. No great expectations, only that we achieved the mass of a C. I can tell that my right side is more swollen (cancer side), by it being puffer at the top. I feel pretty good now, so it's hard to sleep like suggested, but I'm resting. Thanks to everyone for the kind words!!!

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Best of luck on your recovery Budrfligal!!! I still think it is crazy how different everyone is after their exchange.  I had no bandages and no shower restrictions!  Hope all turns out as you hoped after everything settles  :) 

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited July 2014

    budrfligal13 - Welcome to the squishie side!  Get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids to wash away that anesthesia 'hangover'.  Above all else, take it easy and don't try to be Superwoman.  Please keep us posted on your post op visit in two days - wait, that's Sunday - so maybe three days?  Glad you're feeling pretty good - now just don't overdo...

    Winking

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938
    edited July 2014

    bdg, welcome to the Squishie side! Remember the mantra: Just because you can , doesn't mean you should.  Because we usually feel so good after exchange compared to before,  we sometimes forget that we still need to heal inside!  Much love. 

  • Olaf
    Olaf Member Posts: 133
    edited July 2014

    HappyBuderfligal, I am going to have a second glass of wine in celebration of your exchange! Take all the advice that was posted because it's all good advice! C

  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2014

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you ladies!!!!  I'm so glad I have a place to come here. Much luv right back at y"all!!!

    It hasn't hit me yet that I'm on the squishy side now! I'm looking forward to the moment when it does.  I can't wait to take this "rubber band" bra off on Sunday. I still have to wear the elastic breast wrap for 2 weeks, no exceptions. But this bra!!!! It's seriously digging into my skin. I have to figure out a way to deal with this. My boyfriend said "stick a sock under that! it's cutting into you!". Now if you could hear the way it sounded, you would laugh too. His voice and tone. Too funny. 

    AZ, I am drinking so much water that I'm in the bathroom about every 25 min or so. Oh well. I'd rather that than the cottonmouth from hell.  

    Sleeping is going to be a challenge. I had a rough time with it after the first surgery.  I gave Melatonin a shot and it works great for me. But you just can't get sleepy enough when it comes to having a super tight corset on.  I hope I don't have to sneeze!

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited July 2014

    ...or cough! ShockedWinking

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Bud- I am finding this wrap you have very interesting.  As I said I had nothing on me when I woke up.  You have to wear it for 2 weeks??? Are you talking about the wrap or the special bra??   

    I just told my PS this week that "All you plastic surgeons really need to get it together because from what I have heard you all give 10,000 different recommendations to your patients".  I also told him as an example that some women are told to wear underwire bras after surgery (he told me no underwire for the first few weeks at least)  or that some women are wrapped and given surgical bras to wear and he did NOT believe me!  Seriously.  He looked at me like I was making all these differences up!  *sigh* I tried.

  • iwannaseeyoubebrave
    iwannaseeyoubebrave Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2014

    Budrfligal, congratulations on your exchange!  Wishing you a comfortable recovery and some peaceful rest.




  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2014

    Hipz, to clarify, I have to wear the tight compression bra for 2 days and the breast strap for two weeks.  The strap just goes over your breasts above where the nipples would be.  I'm surprised how sore I am. I mean, I didn't expect it to be peaches and cream, but I thought it would be fairly minor. 

    I think it's great that you talked to your surgeon.  Mine agrees about no underwires. I never wore them before, I had no need. I had a small b cup so there wasn't a whole lot to push up. When I'm healed I plan on getting fitted for a really nice bra. My stepmother says it's the best thing! Expensive, but worth having a pro fit you.  I'm twenty min from NYC so it would be a nice day trip!!  

    By the way, who else has all their family and friends dying to feel them? I do! It's funny. I told them, it'll be a dollar a squeeze! 

  • Olaf
    Olaf Member Posts: 133
    edited July 2014

    Hipz, I saw my PS this past week and he said there are just a lot of different opinions out there. I was not wrapped either nor did he put me in a surgical bra. He told me to stop reading so much as a lot of it is just rubbish. 😁  

    Budrfligal, so far only my husband. The rest of the family is in Texas. My son (23 going through Army helicopter training) was asking me questions about the implants because he had read an article about a woman weight lifter who had had an augmentation. DD has only been home once since the exchange so I think she was reluctant or just to squeamish about the whole issue!😁I find my friends don't ask me many questions. Except how I am feeling.

  • julieped
    julieped Member Posts: 42
    edited July 2014

    Wow, lots of exchanges!  The implants are so much better than the TEs.  There have been questions about fat grafting and lipo and I have had both.  Can't keep up with the thread so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.  Thoughts and prayers for everyone. 

  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Member Posts: 2,618
    edited July 2014

    bud, hope you have a large family! That'll pay for your new bra in no time! I took family to each fill so everyone got to see the process. One girlfriend for 20 years never even wanted to see them, it freaked her out.  Hope everyone is enjoying the new girls and not hurting too much.

  • janett2014
    janett2014 Member Posts: 2,950
    edited July 2014

    I'm doing great 10 days after my exchange surgery. I woke up from surgery in a surgical bra, no bandages, but I do have nipple stitches. My PS said that I could shower the next morning and wear any kind of bra I wanted or no bra or a camisole. I would say my size is a C cup. I continue to like my comfy, stretchy Genie bras (and the price is right!). I wear one with inserts during the day, and for a few days after surgery I wore one without the inserts at night. I quit wearing a bra at night about five days post surgery which is about when I was able to comfortably sleep on my side again. I will have my stitches removed in 2 days. They haven't bothered me at all, except they are ugly. On day three I switched from Hydrocodon to Advil and started driving and have felt good. I even had two workdays on days seven and eight. I'm a teacher, so I have a couple of weeks before the endless meetings and classroom preparation begin.

    I feel very lucky at how my recovery has been, after reading this thread. May we all continue to improve!

  • hjpz
    hjpz Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Bid- thanks for the clarification I am always fascinated  by all the discrepancies - best of luck to you on your healing.  p.s. I went to Soma about 2 months after my exchange about got 3 wonderful bras for way too much money but they are worth it!  I say go for it!

    Olaf - glad I am not alone!  I am seriously so confused about all these different options out there!

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669
    edited July 2014

    You know, I think at least some of the differences in opinions or recommendations our various PSs give us are the result of many things. Where/how they were trained/educated. Position of incisions (across nipple line, IMF, etc). Amount of pocket work done. Implant size. Fitness level. Skin integrity.  Existence of or lack of ptosis/droop)  And then again there are the PSs who simply think they are gods and we're all idiots.  I have no logical explanation for that Winking.

  • Olaf
    Olaf Member Posts: 133
    edited July 2014

    Sweetandspecial, I think you hit the nail on the head!

  • 3littlebirds
    3littlebirds Member Posts: 54
    edited July 2014

    Sweetandspecial, I hope you are right! I hope most doctors treat the individual, and do not have a one-size-fits all mentality. I'm thankful my PS really listens to me and never makes me feel she is too busy to answer all my questions. My exchange should be in about 2 months and I'm really looking forward to being done. I never dreamed that my breasts would be such a source of worry and attention! 

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited July 2014

    As always, sweet, ThumbsUp

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    Budrfligal- Woohoo on the exchange!!  As for fittings, everyone says to go to Nordstrom because they actually have traines personnel. We used to take trips across the river to NJ to shop at Nordstrom (I didn't know if they had a Nordy's in NYC as I moved 20 years ago).  Plus back then no sales tax on clothes. Probably all changed now. Treat yourself...you deserve it!!  

    Ally

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,422
    edited July 2014

    Sweet & Special - good explanation for the differences.  I also agree that many surgeons believe they are gods.  Yes, you can scare yourself on google, but also get a good list of questions.  How can you get answers if you don't know the questions?  Imagine a doc telling Olaf "stop reading".  This is NOT 1945!!!  Believe me, I lived through it and will never go back to being just a nice, little, ignorant, patient who had to bow down & believe everything to get patted on the head.  Sorry for the rant but it's one of my hot buttons.  Probably started when the pediatrician took me up in the elevator to have my tonsils out at age 4 and told me it wouldn't hurt & I could have all the ice cream I wanted when I woke up.  It did hurt & I didn't care about ice cream for several days.