Exchange City
Comments
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thanks Juliecc--for some reason I was hoping to wake up without the iron bra!
On another note, as I was putting on my bra this morning, I heard a gurgling noise from my left breast! As I mentioned, I had the mud flaps lipoed but they look exactly the same as before. Could this be fluid build up? My ps doesn't use drains for implant surgery. I see him on Friday and everything else looks great, the sloshing sound was weird though! Anyone else experience this?
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Hi Calibea: Good luck with your PS appt! Does your PS want to do FG before, during, or after y your surgery? I've read new stuff where some PSs are doing FG before (or during) exchange surgery for those who have irradiated breasts to avoid future complications - like capsular contracture. My understanding is it's like adding a layer of fresh new tissue to prevent scar tissue from forming around the implant. Ask your PS why so you understand. Then let me know because my PS won't do it (says it's too "new" and no long-term data supporting it) but I want to find a PS who will perform this since theoretically it makes sense, and what's there to lose anyway?
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Congrats on the new squishies girls!
The gurgling noise usually goes away. The mudflaps or side boobage will usually diminish with time. If not it's a revision sx. I had 2 sx for that but they were when they put my new TES were put in.
My phone is acting up so I haven't been posting much. Much love.
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Juliecc,
I'm so happy to hear your iron bra feeling is dissipating! I'm 10 days from exchange and I feel that a lot more than I did when I had TEs. All in all my exchange things are going pretty well, but I was beginning to get concerned. Did anything help while you waited? Sometimes I think a snug sports bra helps other times I think I'm just crazy.
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Pilates,I didn't do much stretching because I did't want to mess anything up. But when I was 4 weeks out, I started doing more with stretching my arms over my head. That helped stretch my chest muscles more. I was pretty worried too.
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That's really good to know! I have a lot of mobility so I haven't really been stretching. The PS said I could stretch, I'll definitely give that a try. I figured the stretching was just to make sure I could reach over my head and the like--which I can. But, maybe I should make sure I feel a stretch.
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How long did you all wait to sleep on your side? I am only a few days out from exchange but I can not sleep well on my back! I am ready to roll over to my side but I know I should probably wait longer than 5 days...
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Today is my sixth day out and I feel lousy. I don't know if it's the antibiotics (they upset my system), or just from healing. The output from my drains has slowed down, so I hope they'll be pulled soon. I don't have a fever, just feel completely exhausted. Anyone else feels under the weather after your exchange?
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Andrea - Yup. Right there with you. I was just telling hubby that I feel worse now, then I did after BMX. I have more strength, but my arms, and incisions definately hurt more. The anti-biotics do make me feel sick, but I know they are a must. Hang in there, we can do this!!!
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Me too, thought I would be feeling great today but seriously just want to take a Percocet and sleep. Not in pain just pooped. Not to mention rainy and gloomy here today and all by myself. Im weighing in favor of sleep over anything else. Not in a lot of pain trying to cut back on pain meds but feeling like Dorothy in the field of poppies, sleep. Sleeping on my side isn't working yet, still hurts, hope to have drain out Weds.
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Thanks twoam and frostecat. It makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone. I feel more swollen today too,. This surgical bra feels tighter. I wasn't expecting to feel like I could run a marathon, but I felt better the first few days after surgery! I'm thinking of you both, and hopefully we'll be turning the corner any day now.
Frostecat, I'm still sleeping propped up and have my drains. I'm sure that doesn't give us a good night's sleep either. I can't wait till I can sleep on my side again!
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Andrea and Frostecat - I am trying to only take pain meds at night, but I swear, even before I saw your post, I thought..."hmmm, maybe a percocet and nap would be nice" LOL. My PS said not to do ANYTHING. Keep arms at side. That is very boring. I vote we all take a nap. I have my drains out, and still have to sleep propped up on my back. Its not so bad for me, because I am a back sleeper normally, but I feel for you!
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Mischief,
Your body is going to tell you if you can sleep on your side or not. At first, it wasn't possible, it just hurt and felt wrong. I'm 10 days out now and I'm sleeping on my side and stomach. No problem.
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ladies, please remember "Just because you CAN, DOESN'T mean you SHOULD! " Sleep if you feel tired. You are still healing. You have healing to do on the inside. The abx take it out of you as well. Now is your chance to rest and recover. Everyone is different as to how the heal, but they still need to heal from the inside too. Cut yourself some slack and rest when you can it dies get better. It's Only 54 degrees here and Grey and dreary. I'd sleep if I didn't feel guilty and I'm 9 months after my exchange! LOL
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Hi Olaf, my ripples are visible when I'm just standing still. They're on both breasts, and they're only on the middle (cleavage) side. Since I'm only 11 days post-exchange, I suppose I should just be patient!
Still, if anyone with persistent rippling could tell me when it started it would be nice to know!
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Elizabethaw, sorry I really can't help you. I do have rippling but only when I raise my arm in a certain direction or bend over in a certain way. It is toward the cleavage area. I am sure someone will chime in soon to help you out.
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The nap was great! Seems like I'm on a pattern of Percocet about noon, nap at 12:30 - 3:30 and Percocet again about 9 and sleep all night it just seems to work for me right now. Not really taking the Valium too much staying on antibiotics and taking bromelain, arnica, pro-biotic and baby aspirin.
Moonflower you are so right I'm not gonna push it, ill know when it's time, it's just not yet.
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Frostecat, I took a nap too!
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Haha - and I don't know about you but I sure feel better!
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Lol, I'm almost ready for another!
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I tried, but couldnt fall asleep, so just ended up reading. Still a good rest though!
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Twoam, at least you got some rest. What are you reading? I think I'm putting on weight just sleeping all the time!
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Hi everyone,
I haven't been here in a couple of weeks because my husband and I took a fantastic Alaskan cruise. We got back a week ago, and it took 3 days before I even felt like unpacking or even getting dressed for that matter. Having fun can be hard work!
Those of you who are having a harder time after your exchange, please know that it is normal for some of us. I had a much harder time after the exchange than the BMX and it took me a full 4 weeks to turn that invisible corner. Everyone else was talking about instant "ahhhh" feelings and how they were ready to tackle the world while I was in pain and in the middle of a pity party for one. Now I know this isn't exactly common, but it does happen. We're living proof, right? Even if you've never been on the Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread and you've already had your exchange, do yourself a favor and read the header. There is a section about post-Exchange that you really should read. We really are normal! All of you who are waiting for exchange can get a wealth of information in the header. Whippetmom is sort of like an implant whisperer.
This morning I was back at my hospital for another pre-Admission appointment. I'll have surgery #5 on Friday. Those of you who know me are saying, "Oh crap. Not again." My plastic surgeon has reneged on his promise that this would be the last surgery, and says he's going to postpone the fat grafting for #6. Turns out some of the "fixes" from my March surgery didn't solve all the problems he hoped they would and surgery #5 will take longer than expected. He wants to wait to see how this one turns out. If it doesn't do the trick, my last resort is a Lat Flap procedure where tissue and muscle from my back will be used to basically start the left side reconstruction all over again. There is no point doing fat grafting when it might have to be done again later. If this surgery works, I should be able to have FG in about 3 months...so another December surgery. <sigh>
For those who don't know me, I'm one of those people like Moonflower, Jbdayton, Purple, SpecialK, and others here who should be able to get frequent flier miles. My initial surgery Aug. 23rd last year should have been "one and done." Right after the BMX, the plastic surgeon took over and placed permanent implants, not TE's. Unfortunately somebody in the OR gave me a nasty gram-positive infection. Within a few hours the fever kicked in and the infection resisted all the IV antibiotics they threw at it until Vancomycin finally slowed it down on day three. By that time the infection had done some major damage on the left side of my body. The armpit (axilla) was fine...but down my side below it and up about 1/3rd of the side of the left implant was a mess. I ended up losing parts of three muscles and virtually all of the skin, fat and tissue on that side. (But not a big mud flap!) There wasn't enough skin to cover the implant so I got a TE and 3 months later, a new implant. Since then I've had other surgeries to repair the damage. I just want to be out of pain. Not interested in how the implants look or how many scars I have. Nipples? Surely you jest. But I would like to brush my hair with my left arm and be able to leave the house without making sure I have enough Tylenol to get through the day. (I'm deathly allergic to all narcotics...Tylenol is my only friend.)
Sounds awful but I've been very lucky. My cancer was caught early and I didn't have to have rads or chemo. I haven't had healing issues and no further infections. (I get IV Vancomycin before surgery and for 10 days after to prevent it.) Most of you have to deal with much more than I have. But we CAN do it with the support of the women on this wonderful website.
Moonflower, glad to see a post from you. How is your new knee? (As if BC problems weren't enough.) Jbdayton, thrilled to hear your wounds are healed and you are ready for the next step. Kisses and virtual hugs to the rest of my surgery sisters. Alaska photo below.
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I am definately putting on weight since BMX. It stresses me a great deal because it took me 6 years to lose 90 lbs and I had kept it off for 3 years. I seem to have leveled off at about 10-14 lb gain, but it gives me a lot of anxiety. I am going to ask PS Thursday if I can at least get back on my treadmill. As it is right now, he says "Do not move your arms, or anything that raises blood pressure". Blahhh
. Right now I am reading "Up From Orchard Street" by Eleanor Widmer. Right before that I read "Alaska" by James Michener. I love reading. Keeps my mind of "things" lol. A friend from work gave me a whole crate of books, so I dont even have to venture to the book store for a bit 
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Sandra - Will be praying for you on Friday. So glad that you are back
Your posts have always been very helpful. Hope you had a wonderful vacation!0 -
Two, some docs say exercise as much as you want. Mine said I couldn't even walk in the neighborhood for the first month. He wanted all my energy directed at healing. Sure do wish they all had the same protocols...shower, no shower, drains, no drains, underwires, no underwires. Grrrr.
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Sandra, I had surgery #5 on sept 8. I didn't have rads but did have chemo. If I opt for fat graphing, it will be in 3 months. I am so happy you were able to take a vacation. I am approaching my 1 year diagnosis date and I feel happy yet weepy. I will keep you in my prayers. Twoam, how are you feeling? I like the tummies much better than my saline ones. I miss feeling cute. My husband was the mardi gas king and the big party is this weekend. I just don't feel like partying, WHY WHY WHY do people hug me when they know I just had surgery. Hello? It hurts! I had to vent. Thank you.
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Sandra, it look like you had a fantastic trip! We'd like to do an Alaska cruise someday too. I'm right there with you in this frequent flier club. Just had my fourth surgery, and I know there's a number five on the horizon. During my last exchange with a new PS, he wasn't able to do fat grafting because the skin on my rads side is paper thin. He hadn't expected that before the surgery. There were two layers of alloderm, one had folded over on itself. He's worried about healing issues and infection and wants me to hold off on more surgery for a while, so my body can heal. I've decided if this exchange doesn't work out, I'm going to go ahead with the lat flap.
Twoam, I had maintained a good weight for years, but when I had my third surgery last January and was taken off hormones, I gained 12 pounds. I have body image issues leftover from a 13 year battle with an eating disorder when I was young. Nothing fits now, and it's discouraging. I can't wait to start walking again, but right now I doubt I'd make it around the block. I've been reading a lot too. I've downloaded books on my kindle and nook apps for the iPad, and am finally getting around to reading them. Netflix has also been my friend this week!
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So, as I've mentioned before, this recent surgery has been my fourth. I'm getting a bit hurt that my friends and coworkers tell me that they don't know why I keep doing this. They think I should just be glad I'm cancer free and move on. One told me she'd love to be flat instead of having large breasts. I am thankful to be cancer free, but I would also like to feel feminine again, without the discomfort and asymmetry I've had. I don't even want to talk to my friends about this journey anymore. I know they haven't been in my shoes and can't understand, but it's still difficult for me when they act like this. Has anyone else experienced this?
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