Exchange City
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Stfne- Woohoo!! What wonderful news!! Sounds like you are doing so well...keep on that path!
Ally
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Lonnie,
I had fat grafting at the time of my exchange and it didn't work out well for me. I ended up with fat necrosis and many small lumps which my BS follows every 6 months with ultrasound. (You know how nervous lumps make us all feel!). I'm not sharing this to frighten you, as I'm sure you will hear from many others who have had great success with it. Just don't want you to be as naive as I was about the process. Good luck with it!
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Pinkwalker, I also see Jennifer Reed but my PS is Ivor Kaplan as Uroskie does not take Tricare. Do you attend Dr. Reed's support group? I initially started with Claire Carmen but was not happy with her scatterbrain.😉
Marybeth
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Sorry about your issues Pinkwalker! My PS would not do fat grafting with my exchange because he indicated he was not sure I would need it at all and wanted to take a wait and see approach. I don't think he ever does it with the exchange. Overall I am happy with my results without fat grafting despite the rads I had on one side (although all Dr.'s agree that my skin "handled the rads really well"). My radiated side can look a little different when I wear something like a swimsuit but I don't think that little difference is worth me going through a whole new surgery (even if it is minor surgery) and taking off work plus having my husband take off work. If it was something that could be done in the Dr.'s office without anesthesia I would be all for it.
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Kamm you could be right. My PS gave me strong antibiotics after both surgeries to avoid infection so that could be why he felt drains were not necessary as protection against infection. Either way I am glad I didn't have them with my exchange and did just fine without them!
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About the drains... I think the pain is prob due to tissue that starts to form around them and/or the way they are laying in there. We used to assit pulling them at the bedside when I was working and I remembered that for some it was painful and others a piece of cake. Unfortunately, mine were the painful ones so I was glad I didn't have them at the exchange. I'm pretty sure I yelled out a few expletives in the office when he pulled the last two! Had to apologize for that one!
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Olaf,
I don't know Dr Kaplan, or any other PS for that matter. Love Dr U. And Dr Reed. I actually had a different BS for my first diagnosis and liked him OK, but with second diagnosis, his "nurse" treated me very badly ( like I was a child asking for a cookie) so after my initial visit with him, I switched to Dr Reed. Much happier! If nothing else, BC has made me more assertive! I also fired a nurse at chemo. I'm pretty tolerant, but I do insist on respect! I knew from talking to other BC friends that Dr CC was not for me! Too many stories of rudeness to the patient. I'm not in Dr Reed's support group. Are you? Don't really know about it but might be interested....
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Pinkwalker,there are 2 support groups at Sentara Leigh. On the 4th Wednesday 6PM Women within Wings. You can call Pat Thornton 261-5404. The other is 2nd Thursday 7-9PM. It is described as young survivors group. I ain't no spring chicken,54, but that was the group Dr. Reed had me go to.
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Thanks Olaf. I'll keep it in mind. I'm 7+ years out so don't feel the need as much as I once did. And I'm definitely not a young survivor?..I've got more than 10 years over you! Does Dr Reed lead and/or attend these groups?
Do you mind if I PM you with a few more questions?
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Pinkwalker, instead of us hijacking the thread, PM me and I will answer all questions you have.😉
Marybeth
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Lonnie
I had fat grafting during a revision surgery three months after my exchange. I am happy with the results and no complications.
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Budrflygal, thank god for your earlier post about a sloshy sounding foob. I was freaked out to hear the sound but less so than if I hadn't seen you mention it. Today is day two for me and if I raise my left arm my left foob makes a sound similar to digestive ssounds! You think that it is fluid? I wonder if there is air trapped around the implant. I don't like it but at least it doesn't hurt. I can't believe that I have NO pain at all. I hust got home from a neighborhood block party and seriously feel great. I even let some girlfriends listen to the noisy foob. You should have seen their faces!
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Glad to hear you are doing well Stfne!
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Stfne, I'm happy to hear you are feeling so great so soon after your exchange! Already entertaining at the block party? You go girl! ;-)
Do you have silicone or saline?
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I have silicone. The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was touch my foobs. I think I do that everytime I wake up. Today I smiled. I feel almost human! Such a huge difference. I don't think that these will feel like foreign objects in a few days. Especially if the noise stops!
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ok. Time for the warning Mantra!
"Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD! "
Please remember you are still healing inside. We know that you probably feel so much better that you want to do so much. But you are healing inside. So please take it easy. It will help you get through this without any problems!
Much love.
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Hi Stfne,
Yes, that sound you hear is the fluid. It went away in a week and I am 9 days post exchange. I'm so glad you read my post and got an answer rather have another thing to worry about. Also, I am happy that you feel so great! I do too. I just saw my PS Friday for a follow up and she says I'm looking gorgeous. (I bet she says that to all the girls, lol) The worst part is the stupid strap which I can stop wearing in two days. I can't believe how soft they are! Really! I mean, I had no idea what to expect, having never seen or felt an implant. I love the way they feel. I can't wait for nips!
Much love to ya!
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I cannot imagine pulling a drain tube without pain! I swore like a trucker for each and every one of mine (6 at BMX and 2 at exchange). Three were taken out a week after BMX, three more at 2 weeks out. The ones from exchange were only in for three days and still hurt like a mo-fo. DH has been an awesome support throughout the whole journey so far. He's find with blood and guts and incisions in a general way and had no problem being my drain emptier and recorder, but he really hated seeing me experience the pain after the BMX and during drain tube pulls.
Stfne - I was very much like you post-exchange. Really no pain whatsoever which was sooooo different from BMX it was heavenly. I actually drove myself (wasn't supposed to) to the office the next day (wearing a very loose button up shirt due to afore-mentioned drain tubes) for a brief meeting about my beloved boss who had left without notice and moved out of the state. I love him dearly (best boss I've ever had and a true mentor to me) and didn't want to miss whatever management was telling my department about the situation. He and I still correspond and I have visited him once (right on the way while helping my daughter drive home from Florida a couple of months later). That was the only real transgression I had during my recovery. I'm glad you're feeling so good - it's much easier to be happy and stay optimistic that way
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Stfne-Gald all went well!!!!!
Babs
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Stfne and Budrfligal- so glad both of you are doing well and happy with the newest additions!! It is great news for those of us heading into the exchange soon.
Ally
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I had fill 2 weeks ago...probably my last one. My right TE over the past few days is extremely tender and sensitive! I almost have to roll out of bed...sometimes have trouble bending over...and just overall painful! I called PS and he said last few expansion are very uncomfortable. If it gets too bad I can come in and get fluid taken out. Anyone else experience this? Trying to decide do I suck it up or get some fluid out??
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I had fill 2 weeks ago...probably my last one. My right TE over the past few days is extremely tender and sensitive! I almost have to roll out of bed...sometimes have trouble bending over...and just overall painful! I called PS and he said last few expansion are very uncomfortable. If it gets too bad I can come in and get fluid taken out. Anyone else experience this? Trying to decide do I suck it up or get some fluid out??
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Hi everyone, so happy to know that I'm not in this alone, I just had my implant put in on 7/29 it was so much better than what I heard from others yes the first couple days I was out of it under anastesia , my morning are really stiff but once I get to moving around i feel better. I also like the way my implants feel, my Dr stated everything looks great he will see me in 10 days to take stitches out, I was so glad he removed those drainers in 48hrs much better than first time no pain at all pulling them out i was like praise God. I feel so much better today still sore but not as much..wish everyone the best..
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My last fill was somewhat painful, and my PS told me the same thing - "BUT - try and deal with it if you can, because if we have to remove some, we're going backwards." Maybe you slept on your side funny. I did that one day last week and was in a lot of pain. The side pillow is back on my bed now so I don't roll in my sleep.
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latisecannon - Welcome to the squishie side of life! I know I had that AHHHHHHHHHHHH moment right after exchange - it was such a huge relief to be rid of those turtle shell TEs!
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yes! What she said! LOL!
And, yes, those last couple of fills HURT. I had 2 fills that hurt. Went down to 50 for the last one. All my other fills were 100 cc and no pain. But those last 2. Who oooh weee! Owie. Of course the relief of squishies was so much better.
Once again though. Say it with me ladies!
"Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD!!!!!"
Remember that you are still healing on the inside, so please, I know you feel so good comparatively, but TAKE IT EASY! Take the time to HEAL.
Much love
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Congratulations latisecannon!!!!!
I've discovered the bra threads! Thank goodness because I need serious help!
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I have no idea how anyone survives a 100cc fill! Last week I tried 45, and I was in terrible pain. I could barely drive (stick shift car).Today we did 25cc, and that's much better for me. I've got two more to go, and they'll both be 25. I'd definitely vote for smaller, less painful fills.
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For some odd reason....my first fill after the initial 120cc at time of TE surgery....was 120cc and it was relief the more they expanded...I did feel slight fullness & pain in the evening of each fill but not enough to take anything.....every fill was 120cc or more.....the most alarming part was my first fill....he hit a vein or blood vessel and I bled all over everything and he was grabbing the paper cape I had on and using it to stop the bleeding until he turned around and grabbed gauze out of the drawer.
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Elizabeth, I did a couple of 100 cc and some close to 100 cc. The first day not great but not so bad. But if you think shifting is bad with TEs, it doesn't get any better after exchange. I have a 2009 Jetta and to put it into reverse you have to push down and up. Not fun a week after exchange! It is much better now (4 weeks!).
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