Exchange City
Comments
-
I will say prayers for you Andrea. I hope that the fever goes away. I am so sorry.
0 -
Thank you. I'm freaking out wondering if I'm getting an infection. I don't want any complications.
0 -
Thoughts and prayers are with you Andrea. Please keep us updated. Had to correct my spelling. I just suck at multi-tasking LOL.
0 -
Hi Andrea--fingers crossed it's just the typical "fall virus"! Good thoughts coming your way
0 -
Thank you. To top it off, the dogs got sprayed by a skunk. I need a vacation.
0 -
I have my first follow up with my PS in a couple hours and will get my first post exchange look at things. I have a strong feeling that initially I'm not going to be happy because it feels like it is sitting as high as the expander was, which was higher than my reduced/lifted native. I keep repeating the mantra in my head "step away from the mirror", but knowing it, saying it, and actually doing it are very different. My PS had said he had to do a lot of internal work on the mastectomy scar tissue, which I assume would have prevented the implant from settling down in the pocket as the expander never did really expand in that area.
Ugh! I think I'm more nervous about what I'll see today than I was about the first look post UMX.
Andrea, crossing my fingers for you that it's just bug and not an infection.
0 -
KLJ, it was a lifesaver for me for the past week and a half. Thank you do much for the suggestion. I have my exchange surgery tomorrow and I am getting nervous although I am so excited about getting these expanders out.
I will only be able to take a couple days off so I hope it goes well.
0 -
I'm back from my appointment. He said the breast doesn't appear to be infected, however, to play it safe, I'm on two different antibiotics. My temperature was 101, and he felt that especially since I've had radiation, he wanted to nip any infection in the bud. If my fever had been higher, he would have hospitalized me, which I don't want. Thank you for your good thoughts. I'm sure they helped.
0 -
Andrea-seding you positive thoughts and am hoping the antibiotics do their magic!
Turtle- good luck tomorrow!
Scuba lady-remember what you see today is not what you'll see in a few weeks- they have to settle and fluff! Be patient-I know it's hard,
Babs
0 -
Good luck and best wishes for tomorrow GracieLou, GrammaKathy and Turtle. We will be thinking of you!!!
Andrea, glad your home, and hope you get to feeling better soon.
Scubalady, hope your appointment well today!
0 -
Andrea - hope the antibiotics do what they are supposed to, I am still on them.
Well, I must have pulled something. I am in a lot of pain on my mastectomy side. I think I pulled a "Sandra", yesterday I went shopping to buy bras and compression garments and I think with all of the lifting over the head, pulling, tugging, I did a number on myself. It is right in the IMF between my nipple and armpit. I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow, but any suggestions as to what to do in the meantime?
I was hoping I was on the healing side of things, but I feel like I want to take a percocet to make the pain go away. If I did pull something on the interior - what does that mean - repair surgery?? Yikes. I didn't feel anything at any given time. Just when I got home, I was in pain and went to bed, hoping it would go away overnight, but no, it is still here.
0 -
Oh Frostecat , I hope everything is ok.
Andrea, hoping the antibiotics do the trick.
My appointment yesterday went ok. Based on size, I think I have a good match, but he again confirmed that there was a lot of internal scar tissue on the mastectomy incision preventing settling into the pocket. He cleaned up all the scar tissue and reminded me that it will take some time for the implant to settle in, so it's still sitting high and I have dents below the mastectomy incision that will be filled when the implant settles. I really hope he's right about all this. My very large mud flap on the side also took substantial work to remove. Right now, it's not the pretty picture I see on some women on the picture site because I have that "bride of Frankenstein" stitched together look, but I remain hopeful.
0 -
Could someone please advise the dosage of Arnica and how many days to take prior to surgery? I'm scheduled for October 6, and already getting nervous so I'm trying to prepare.
Thanks
0 -
Frostecat, I hope you're okay! I'll admit, it's hard not to do our regular activities when we start feeling better, but try to take it easy. Let us know what the PS says tomorrow.
Scubalady, remember, take it one day at a time (says the woman who examines her breasts in a magnifying mirror). Mine don't look like the lovely after photos I've seen on the picture forum either. I call them my Frankenboobies.
I am feeling much better today. Whatever those antibiotics are, they work fast. I do worry about c.diff after taking so many antibiotics, and have been taking probiotics too. I hope they work.
0 -
Scubalady, I'm familiar with the Bride of Frankenstein look. Ha, ha, there are several of us on BCO who look like someone drew a map on us. After a few, what's a few more? I'll never look like the picture forum women, but since Playboy isn't begging me to pose, what do I really care?
Andrea, I'm glad you are on antibiotics. Do you see symptoms going away yet?
Frostecat, I'm sorry you didn't remember my story until after you'd torn something. I didn't have to have any treatment for the torn stitches, but I had to put up with lots of bruising and pain. That sure taught me a lesson.
0 -
Well I have to say the exchange surgery today was a piece of cake compared total bilateral mastectomy. No drains,no nausea,controllable pain.The pain is mostly under my arms where she did the pocket work. Dilaudid is my friend! I took a peek and they don't look bad. I seem to have pretty good projection and the incisions are not as long as the ones from the BMX. All in all, I have nothing to complain about. It'll be interesting to watch them evolve!
0 -
Sandra, the fever is gone! But these antibiotics make me dizzy. I'll be glad when all these drugs are out of my system and I can work on regaining my strength. And lose the 12 pounds I packed on this year.
Gracielou, I'm glad your exchange went smoothly. Rest up and heal now.
0 -
Andrea, be sure to eat something or take the antibiotics with a full glass of water. I took mine one morning without either, hopped in the shower and thought I was going to pass out and felt sick to my stomach. They are strong stuff! Taught me a lesson not to do that again!
0 -
Thanks Frostecat. I've been taking them with food, but one of them, levofloxacin, still makes me dizzy, shaky, and gives me horrible insomnia. Why are the cures worse than the things they're supposed to treat? How are you feeling today? Less sore, I hope!
0 -
I'm feeling a little better - but I'm afraid to move! Gotta hop in the shower for the Dr. appointment so here goes I was literally in tears from the pain. I'm so over all of this!
0 -
Andrea, does your doc know you are having a bad reaction to one of the drugs? You shouldn't keep taking it until he tells you. Your body is trying to tell you something.
Frostecat, so sorry you are going through this pain. With my internal incision tears, I couldn't use my left arm for much of anything. Even reaching for something was out of the question. Just moving that arm away from my body caused pain so I found a sling and kept my left arm immobilized. Seeing the bleeding under the skin was really frightening and sure did result in impressive bruising. The PS said I just had to keep an eye on it, there was no need to go back in unless I developed a hemotoma. I'll be anxious to hear what your doctor says.
Gracie, I'm so happy for you. So many others have reported excellent exchange outcomes too. Please don't do anything for a couple of weeks...even though you feel good and think you can do it. That's the pitfall of women who feel fine. They are sure nothing bad will happen. It can. Sit down and rest!
0 -
Sandra, I called him today. Last night was especially bad; couldn't sleep, was shaky, dizzy, and felt sick to my stomach. The doctor took me off the levofloxacin, and I'm just taking Bactrim DS now. I already feel better.
Frostecat, how are you feeling now? What did your PS say about your pain? I've been thinking of you today.
0 -
Good Andrea. You listened to your body. That's a valuable skill as we get through this miserable journey.
0 -
I'm trying to plan my life after my exchange surgery Oct. 28th.
I plan on laying low the first couple of weeks but after that, how soon will I be able to do things like vacuum or lift more than 5 pounds? Specifically my beautiful 25 pound grand baby whom I babysit once a week. Also, did any of you have to start from scratch with your range of motion?Karmenn
0 -
Karmenn, for things like vacuuming and lifting whatever your plastic surgeon says
I think like most things reconstruction related PS vary a lot on their restrictions after exchange. And then it also has to do with how much pocket work needs to be done. My instructions were no lifting above 5 pounds for 2-3 weeks, arms had to stay at my sides for 2 weeks--but after my first week post-op check my PS said I could gently start stretching exercises. I had a small amount of pocket work done on both sides, one side more than the other. Range of motion was much better and quicker to get back after exchange. Kendra
0 -
Thank you, Kendra
0 -
Smilinkar - I am 6 days past exchange surgery. PS told me no lifting over 5 lbs for 3 weeks. Saw him on Tuesday and said I can slowly raise my arms a little above my head. I seem to have full range of motion and very little discomfort so it makes it hard to remember NOT to do things that I shouldn't. I had some pocket work done on both sides and the incision on my right breast is actually longer than the bmx one was but it still doesn't seem to effect motion or pain. In general, in my case, bmx and exchange are as different as night and day.
0 -
I actually started feeling somewhat better. The pain was still there if I moved in the right direction, but after two days of being in extreme pain it really calmed down in comparison. Like Sandra said, I literally did nothing for 2 days.
When I went to the PS and told them about my dressing room antics, they told me I must have pulled something in my Thoracoepigastric Flap. They checked to make sure there was no internal bleeding or a seroma, and there was not. My PS said you can pull something in there even by twisting the wrong way. He explained to me how when creating that flap he pulls up the abdominal muscles and uses about 100 stitches. He said you are going to have good days and bad days while it heals.
I am feeling much better today, thank God. They actually medically released me to go back to work, I said "really?" I'm still sleeping a lot during the day, I'm still pooped, not to mention I'm still very sore. My lifted side in particular is still painful. The nurse looked at me and said, "call me when you're ready to go back, I'll give you a release". She knew she originally told me 4 - 6 weeks, so I told my work 4, and I think that is just about on par with when I will feel up to speed and could make it through the day. I mean after the pain I was in the last 2 days, I couldn't even imagine being at work, I certainly would not have made it through the day. When I go back, I want to feel like I'm ready to go back and not dragging myself in there and sitting in pain all day.
I am off the antibiotics, he told me to wait until Monday to start back on my tamoxifen (ugh), and to come back and see him in 3 months. He seemed to be pretty pleased with the results thus far. I told the nurse I am still having oozing on under my breast on the lifted side, and she told me to wear a thick cotton pad to protect it from being skin on skin. She placed one there, and it really did seem to help. I seem to be having problems with that, but they both said it is perfectly normal.
Oh, and I did remember to ask how my path results were from the lifted side (that was a nightmare I had one night), and everything was benign. I said "Whew, that was a huge fear of mine, but then the PS said, but if there was something there, it would have been better to find it right away before it had a chance to spread, and I said, you're right, but I think I've been through enough for now".
I can't tell you the sense of relief I had walking out of that office to the parking lot on a beautiful fall day. It felt like a lot of weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, knowing I did not have to go back for 3 months - yippee!!! I actually called a friend and we met for a margarita and dinner to celebrate!
Andrea - I hope you are feeling much better - those antibiotics can do a number on you!
0 -
I remember waiting to hear my biopsy results when I went back for my post op, I was a nervous wreck, I also was benign!!!!! I can relate to the relief we felt,, I was scared to death,,, I was trying to hide my fear from my DH as he went with me,,,,,I cried when he told me results,,, happy tears😉😉😉
Frostecat I am happy you are feeling much better,,,,
For all recouping,,,,,, remember,,,, just cause we can doesn't mean we should!!!!! Hard to follow but soooo important,,,,, healing HUGZ to all,,,,, J
0 -
Andrea, I hope you are feeling better! I have the exact same reaction to levofloxacin too. The insomnia is the worst. I'm glad you were able to get off it. Here's to smooth sailing from here on out.
I think I sort of pulled a "Sandra" yesterday. Sort of. I was at home depot and another customer bumped a medicine cabinet over. He didn't mean to but it was falling on me so just as a reflex, and to protect my head, I caught all 45 pounds of it and slid it to the floor. Very, very, very sore today and feel very slightly swollen under rads arm. I didn't feel anything pull or tear or anything at the time. I just don't really feel like calling the PS office today about it. It's a holiday and I kind of don't want to admit my stupidity.
0
