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Exchange City

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Comments

  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 29
    edited August 2014

    How do you look so beautiful coming out of surgery? So glad that parts done for you!

  • Ninany
    Ninany Member Posts: 12
    edited August 2014

    Congrats!  It's over, let the healing begin!

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited August 2014

    Iwannaseeyoubebrave,

    Congrats. Here's to a quick recovery!

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited August 2014

    obviously still high!!

    no-- you look great, congrats!

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

    iwanna, welcome to the squishie side. Now heal fast!

  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2014

    Hi ladies.  I haven't been on here in a week or two so I'm catching up.  Congrats to all the lovely ladies who recently exchanged!  

    Heal well! I'm working on putting some pics in the pic forum.

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

    Congrats iwannaseeyoubebrave, it's nice to have this behind you, isn't it?!

  • iwannaseeyoubebrave
    iwannaseeyoubebrave Member Posts: 67
    edited August 2014

    thanks ladies! I'm feeling great!  I'll post pictures tomorrow. I get to take a shower tomorrow so I will get to do the unveiling!  I'm surprisingly sore around the sternum area due to pocket work. She pulled them closer together and down a little more. Or so she says. I guess I'll find out tomorrow !

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

    Susan - You look so relieved and just plain happy!  CONGRATULATIONS on crossing over to the squishie side!  Happy  ThumbsUp

  • juliecc
    juliecc Member Posts: 4,360
    edited August 2014

    Susan, the sternum is the only thing that hurts on me except for an occasional zing somewhere else.  Maybe because we got final implants that were 100cc greater than our final fill?  I have tightness too.  The sternum pain reminds me of the one time I got a 100cc fill instead of my usual 50cc fill!  I'm sure it will get better in the upcoming days and weeks.

  • simplelife2
    simplelife2 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2014

    congratulations Ally, Bunny, Susan and all others who have recently had your surgeries!!!! Welcome to the squishy side!! 

    Thank you AZ! You are so encouraging and make me smile. Thank you too Mommy! I'm sorry you are struggling so much. Always remember you are never alone, there are so many wonderful BC sisters here and many know what it's like to have those setbacks. It's hard with our families and friends sometimes who really don't have any idea what you feel like. Posted are with you going you heal fast and receive some financial support. 

    I am home, resting, having the expected surgical pain, so I'm taking 1/2 of a Percocet for pain. Hate the anesthetic effects. But drinking lots of water and know it will be better each day. Bulky dressings on, and no peeking until tomorrow night! No shower for 2 days. No pressure to nipple area, but soft supportive bra for a week, so I had DH cut holes out of one of my bras for nipples:))))  write a sight!!  Gotta do what we gotta do.

    Thank you for remembering me today, I do appreciate it! Thank you all for hanging in my pocket today! Hope it wasn't too stuffy!!!

    Love to all

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

    Simple heal quickly.  

  • simplelife2
    simplelife2 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2014

    thank you moon!! Much less sore this morning!:)) can't wait to see when I change dressing tonight!:)

  • CLYDAY
    CLYDAY Member Posts: 40
    edited August 2014

    Does anyone have experience with allergan 410s (gummy bear) implants??  I am very small framed 5'3 110lbs.  My TE are filled to about 475 and I am miserable!!  I am wanting a more natural look.  I worry these implants shifting after placement?? I will be able to do my exchange in Oct. and am trying to make a decision! Stressing me out a little!!

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited August 2014

    Simplelife2,

    So, did you do the big unveiling? What do you think?

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

    CLYDAY - have you been to the Implant Sizing 101 thread?  If not, you need to go over there and address your questions to Whippetmom.  Read carefully through the entire header on that page and then post your height, weight, ribcage measurement and TE details.  Whippetmom is an expert at helping us choose the right implant for our body frames and expectations.  Good luck!

  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 29
    edited August 2014

    Juliecc- I had tightness that tightness too. As the swelling goes down over the next six weeks evrythign should begin to lighten up and get softer and more comfortable. It's amazing the difference. Just give it time. For some people it takes months but I saw your pic an you looked alot like me post op so in a few weeks it will be better. 

  • juliecc
    juliecc Member Posts: 4,360
    edited August 2014

    Thanks, Kamm.  I already feel like the tightness is a little better.  My current worry is uniboob!  My implants seem close together and my PS said to keep a wad of gauze between then for the next 1-2 months.  Some of it might be swelling but I'm doing the gauze thing.  Did anyone else experience this?

  • Elizabethaw
    Elizabethaw Member Posts: 165
    edited August 2014

    Hey Mommyathome, how are you doing?

  • babyo20
    babyo20 Member Posts: 92
    edited August 2014

    for all if you who have had exchanges especially recently so happy for you! 

    For everyone who has had exchanges do you find you can sleep on your sides after since they are softer? I wake up several times a night with pain in my TE area along with back but not sure if it's the weight of the TE or Somethjng else. Does this stop after exchange?

    Are the implants less bulky? Mine are the size I would like but sometimes they get in the way because they are so hard and big with holding my son or even hugging someone. wondering if the softness really will be less interfering if that makes sense. 

    There is always discussion with TE size compared to implant size. For those recently exchanged how varying was the size both as far as how it feels and looks?

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited August 2014

    That's a loaded question Elizabethaw!! I wish I knew, for sure! I have picc line in still but off I'V antibiotic, I'm taking bactrim (pill form now). I'm still real sore on right breast, but redness, fever are gone. So far the incision is closed!!!! I am waiting for the visiting nurse to come change my picc line bandage and flush the I'V with saline and heparin. I go next week, on Tuesday, for my follow up appt after my TAH/BSO. I'm healing good from that, just have a round hard spot under the skin to the left of my belly button that concerns me. Then on Friday, I go to breast surgeon to have my incision checked and possibly have picc line removed. Then, on Tuesday August 26 I go back to plastic surgeon. I'm planning to set up my class next week and then I start the following week (aug 25) a lot going on!!!! I know I can't lift so setting up should be interesting. Trying to get some help

  • Elizabethaw
    Elizabethaw Member Posts: 165
    edited August 2014

    Mommy--I'm glad the fever and redness are gone, that sounds really good.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.  Do be very, very careful about not lifting anything.  

    Hang in there and keep healing!!

  • Elizabethaw
    Elizabethaw Member Posts: 165
    edited August 2014

    Baby, I have the same issues with my TEs. They don't really bother me during the day (except for hugging the kids!), but at night I wake up with them hurting. Every time I roll over they hurt, and when I wake up they're sore. I'm sleeping on a small chair futon cushion in my bed, scooted down so that it's under my lower rib cage on down. Then I have a pile of pillows for my head and a gap of space for the TEs!  I'm thinking that we'll be ok after exchange, but it'll be interesting to hear from those who have been there.

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited August 2014

    Because of the infection in my right breast and picc line in place, I have to sleep on my side or back. Last night I turned from my side to back and got shooting pains from the implant. I yelled so loud I woke up my husband... It must've hit a nerve or something....

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

    I could not side or tummy sleep with my TEs. Not painful, just uncomfortable because they had no 'give' to them.  Plus the arm range of motion was much more limited too.  I can do both tummy and side sleeping with no problem now.  It did take a while for the tummy sleeping to be comfortable after the exchange, but you should find it's a vast improvement with implants instead of TEs.  They're just softer, less like ceramic cereal bowls and more like, I don't know, jello or finger-jello filled balloons. At least mine are (silicone).

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

    babyo20, I guess I'm in the minority from what I read on these boards. My TEs were never hard; they were actually more squishy than my gummy bear implants. Sleeping on my side did happen faster with implants (a few days) than with TEs (2-3 weeks) though. 

    Size-wise, I could tell no difference between TEs and implants. I wore the same bras and looked the same with clothes on with both. Without clothes of course my shape is MUCH better with the implants.

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

    It may depend on your TE capacity and level of fill too.  I had 600cc TEs but was filled to 750cc so they were very nearly hard as rocks.

  • babyo20
    babyo20 Member Posts: 92
    edited August 2014

    Julie that must be hard having something  in the middle of your chest like that. I would be worried about it shifting. You must be wearing a bra of some sort? Thanks!

  • iwannaseeyoubebrave
    iwannaseeyoubebrave Member Posts: 67
    edited August 2014

    Babyo,  I just had my exchange two days ago and I can tell you that the implants are heaven compared to the expanders.  For the past 6 weeks from my last fill,  I was terribly uncomfortable every night and it was difficult to get up in the morning.  That discomfort is completely gone since the exchange.  I am one happy and comfortable girl!


  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2014

    Baby,

    My mentor gels are very soft. They honestly feel like real breasts. So the outside feels great. But on the inside, I still have the "iron bra", tight feeling.  But I'm going on the words that it will get less and less over time.  But over all, I am WAY more comfortable since my exchange 3 weeks ago.  My TE's were 550's and my implants are 700's. I definitely got what I asked for when I said "Bigger!!". I am happy with my results except in one spot the implant shell sticks up a bit. I can see it under my skin and I can feel it. This is hard to describe. I can push it in and it snaps back. Think of one of those old clicker toys from way back. It's not terribly noticeable, but I find myself playing with it all the time. Does anyone know what I mean?