Exchange City
Comments
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sandra, I didn't realize it had a name but that is what the anesthesiologist did for me along with the patch. I forgot to mention that part. She used more propofol and little gas. But, I didn't remember waking in recovery or talking with PS post op. I was wondering if it was from the patch. Anyway, that combo meant no nausea for me. Kfinnigan sorry the patch didn't help. Moonflwr Thanks for the encouraging words and the laugh about the bubble. I appreciate it!
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Scuba - glad to hear that you are feeling well physically. My projection falls a little short on the implant side too, but I think it's more due to the fact that my natural breast is cone shaped, where as the implant side is more of a mound. It's all still adjusting, but I've accepted the fact that it is what it is, and they are never going to match. Thankfully, not too many people see me naked, except me and my hubby, and I don't plan on going to a topless beach any time soon! I actually was at a topless beach one time years ago in the caribbean, and a women who had a UMX with no re-construction came strolling by. At the time I thought "wow that takes a lot of courage" and now after being on the receiving end of all of this I look back and think "BRAVO - good for her!!" She wasn't letting BC stop her and what she enjoyed doing. As you said, we have dealt with BC and were fortunate to avoid the chemo and radiation that many others have had to endure.
I felt decent yesterday. My PS told me "you will have good days and bad days" boy was he ever right on!
I was fortunate with both my UMX and exchange, I avoided the nausea all together. Any time I had ever had anesthesia in the past, it has been horrible with nausea and vomiting so I understand where those of you who are dealing with it are coming from. Before I went into my first surgery, I told the anesthesiologist that I was prone to that, so they made a special "cocktail" to avoid that. I did have the patch too, and I wore it for 3 days. Same thing for the exchange, I told him whatever they did for my UMX do the same thing, get the records from the hospital because I actually woke up hungry!. He adjusted what they did for the UMX somewhat (I'm sure because I wouldn't be under as long), wore the patch and again no nausea. So thankful - because that is the WORSE feeling!
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Thanks Sandra for all that great info! I am remembering now that a nurse had me take off the patch the following morning after my surgery, I wonder if that's why I had vomiting that day after it was removed.
Jeanie, I think you have me mixed up with someone else. I had a lat flap on my uni mastectomy side and TE placed. Just had last fill 10/2 and now have to wait until January for my exchange on left side with a small implant on right. I can't wait for this TE to get out.
PS says they won't be an exact match but he will get as close as possible. But hey, after 6 years with no reconstruction on the UMX side, it is nice to have a mound there now.
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Do y'all suppose that fat grafting would help the cold feeling??
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Funny you should be talking about breasts looking different from one another. I had my 4 week check up with the PS this morning and he was saying women don't realize that almost no one has natural breasts that are the same size and shape, but during reconstruction, that's what we all strive for. He says we don't obsess over our pre-BC breasts but after breast surgery we study our chests so carefully we notice every tiny difference. I think he's right. I had enormous breasts and always knew that one natural breast was a tiny bit larger than the other, but when I got the pathology report after the BMX was shocked to find out that one was 5.5 lbs and the other was 3.99 lbs. That's a huge difference!
Now I have the same kind and size of implant on each side...but one looks bigger than the other. I asked him why and he said it was true, one side IS bigger. It's because the skin flap on that side is the normal thickness. The other side has super-super thin skin with virtually no fat layer below it. He said when you look at that side, all you see is implant. He said even with fat grafting later, there will still be a difference.
So, now I can just look at them as relatives with a family resemblance...not identical twins.
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I have a question-asking for my cousin, but also curious. I know many of you have had multiple reconstruction surgeries. She had surgey 5 years ago and has never been happy with her outcome. If she seeks out a new PS and wants to get them fixed, does the insurance still cover it?
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It wouldn't hurt to check. I know of women who have waited many years between surgery and reconstruction but don't know about insurance covering it.
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Hello ladies....I had my exchange surgery with Fat Grafting yesterday. I had to stay overnight due to my pulse rate being high...I took a shower today and my abdomen looks like someone beat crap out of me!! Is that normal??
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clyday
If they took the fat from your abdomen then yes it is normal!!!
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Dianems: the Genie bra is super easy to "pull over hips". I think the term pulling is a little misleading, it is more like you can step into it and pull it up. They are so, so stretchy since they are a nylon material. It should be no different than pulling on a pair of comfy pants. My PS had no issue with that kind of "pulling"!
Re cold implants: this is one of those things I was totally prepared for after hearing so many so many experience it, and I have yet to really feel cold implants! I have Allergan silicone rounds. When *I* get cold and shiver though, my breasts do feel weird as my pec muscles twitch so I do notice that I guess the cold hits me harder in my chest without the extra warmth from breast tissue.
Re uneven breasts: the majority of women with natural breasts have a discrepancy in size, many with differences of 1/2-1 cup size or more. I was one of those who was quite aware of the unevenness in my natural breasts. I am much more even now. I did not expect a perfect match, but I did expect more symmetry in size (and got it). I had 371g removed from one side, and 446g from other, and 435g placed in both. They turned out pretty even. Still they are sisters, not twins!
vettegirl: revisions for reconstruction should be covered by your cousin's insurance. I am not in the US, but the PS sure ensure the proper coding is used, etc.
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Breast reconstruction is covered years later if the PS gets a pre-cert first. The PS must know the correct codes to use which should not be a big deal-they do it every day
Babs
I used to work for a PS who rarely did breast recon and we always got it covered-one case 10 years later!
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Clyday, i had fat grafting too, and last night after getting out off the hospital, my belly was leaking fluid, clear, pinkish fluid. i panicked and called the after hours PS on call. he said this is normal for the first day or two after lipo. but it doesn't really hurt much in the tummy or the exchange side. the reduced breast is in agony, probably from rubbing against the surgical bra, and no amount of gauze seems to protect it from rubbing. but i guess that with time, as the scar closes up, it will get better. very happy with cosmetic results so far.
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I had the exchange almost 4 weeks ago and everything went smoothly. This weekend however it seems that I developed an infection on the radiated side. I am in extreme pain and the breast is very red. My PS was quite confounded by it, I guess because it's so long after the surgery. I have been on antibiotics for 3 days but they haven't helped yet. As long as the redness hasn't spread, the PS nurse says no cause for concern even tho I have pain. Has anyone had similar or familiar with this? Help, I'm going crazy with the pain. Thanks!
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Calibea, i don't have an answer to your question, but i hope and pray that the infection and pain go away soon.
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Thank you Scary! I just hope that it goes away and doesn't mean that the implant didn't take and I need another surgery.
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Calibea- fingers crossed for you!!!!
Babs
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I'm 4 days out from exchange and doing ok. Still a little sore but trying to only take Tylenol and Ibuprofen. This bra however is killing me. I asked my PS at my post op appointment if it looked too tight. He told me it was only for comfort and I didn't have to wear it or anything if I didn't want to. ?! I want to rip if off but nervous they'll never look like anything but hamburger buns. Has anyone else's PS told they didn't have to wear a bra??
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thank you babs.
Smilinkar - my PS said the same thing. I was a bit nervous after seeing all the discussions on this forum. Maybe it's because I have a relatively small size and the surgery was relatively straight forward. Once I was given the go ahead, I tore off that instrument of torture and never looked back!
Good luck
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anyone else having pain when clots come through the drains? i have been milking them with an alcohol pad while holding on to the part attached to me to avoid pulling it out.
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Mine are of average size and I think I had a fair amount of pocket work done. I think I'm going to try a looser fitting bra and if that still bugs me go back to my comfy Costco camis. I'm so looking forward to never wearing a dumb bra ever again, Calibea!
Scary wish I had an answer for you but no drains for me this time. Hang in there!
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Smilinkar and Calibea,
My PS said I didn't have to wear one, so I didn't. What a joy to be bra free for the first time since I was about 13. I asked my PS why some docs insist on bras and he said it comes down to physician preference but that there are no studies that show it makes a difference unless there is some unusual situation. (Like I have now.) He did say that women should wear a sports bra if they are doing something that will cause bouncing or jiggling but otherwise it's not necessary. He acknowledged that some women feel better wearing a bra and if I chose to wear one, there were rules - soft band only, no underwires, no tight compression that could restrict adequate blood flow to any part of the new breast during the healing phase in the first couple of months, and if it left a mark anywhere when it was taken off, it was too tight.
It's a controversial issue on this forum because some PS do require bras. In fact, some say patients must wear underwires only and there are others that put their patients in tight compression bandages 24/7 for weeks. A few even put patients in a firm band that goes above the implants in order to force the implants to drop down sooner. Just like every part of this recovery experience, doctors disagree and it makes us CRAZY. Bottom line is that in spite of different paths we take, we seem to get to the same place in the end.
I'm 4 weeks out from surgery #5 and have to wear a bra for the first time. I understand why it's important after this particular surgery and know my PS wouldn't require it unless it was necessary but I miss my 13 months of freedom. I really don't like how it feels even though it was professionally fitted and is not restrictive at all. I end up tossing the nice soft supportive bra across the bedroom in the middle of the night because it turns into a painful medieval torture device in the dark. I'm not proud of that and truly am trying to be a compliant patient. It's just easier to be one in the daylight.
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I had to have my TE's replaced on 10/27. One had ruptured, had a seroma and infection, and both sides needed extensive scar tissue removed. My PS decided to just replace both of them, putting 200c in the left and 100cc in the right. ….sigh… I feel like I'm starting over. The good thing is I have full range of motion back in both arms and I'm in no pain on day 6, compared to still on narcotics 6 weeks out last time. Still, exchange seems forever away. I'm trying to plan a girls weekend to Vegas the middle of March. I wanted to be on the squishy side and well healed by then. Looks like it's gonna be tight!
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Thank you Sandra. I feel safer tossing mine now after reading that. I'm sorry you have to wear one this go around. Hope it's only for a short while.
Noonrider, so sorry you have to start over that really sucks. I see no reason why you couldn't be squishy for your Vegas trip though. It'll be over before you know it!
I'm going to try to post pictures today. It might take awhile because I can't ask my computer genius son for help. Don't want to tramatize the boy.
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Ok a few questions. I know a lot of you had fat grafting done. I'm considering it due to flatness right above implant and divots from lumpectomy.
First question, if I'm taking fat from abdomen how is it done? Does it leave a divot there? How do they know how much to take?
Second question, the day of surgery what happens? Is it an overnight? Do you have drains? Are you put out? How long is surgery?
Third question, what is the "general" recovery time? I realize we are all different and each surgery is different but is recovery like a day? 3 days? A week? I'm a teacher of 19 kindergarteners, what would a realistic leave be for recovery? My PS said if I had it done Thursday I'd be good as new and ready to go back to work on Monday! Is that realistic??
Thanks ladies!!! I appreciate your help
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Sandra - GREAT paragraph about bras. My PS also said I would never have to wear one if I didn't want to. Like you, I was never so happy to get rid of anything in my life.
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Noon - so sorry to hear about the additional surgery but it's great that you have range of motion back. Hope the healing & the fills go well.
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Sandra sorry you need to wear the bra!
Noon sorry you had to replace the implants nut it sounds like it may go better this time. Fingers crossed for you.
Much live to all.
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I am almost six weeks out from exchange surgery. I am still wearing a very supportive sports bra 24/7. I find it very uncomfortable to go without one especially after getting out of bed in the morning. The implants seem to move around too much and it hurts.
Has anyone else experienced this? I have an appointment on Wednesday so I will ask my ps about it. I also have to decide by then if I want nipple recon or 3d tats.
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Gravity is not my friend either, Turtle. Whether wearing a bra or not wearing one, it was no fun to stand up. It goes away in just a few seconds fortunately. For some reason it's less of a problem after this last surgery than the other four before it. Don't know why. I still kind of cringe, expecting the pins and needles feeling when I stand, but it rarely comes. I sleep with a pillow against my chest. Just feels better.
Nipples are one of those personal decisions. Some women don't feel complete without a nipple. I have a friend who just had it done with my PS and she looks great. In an outpatient procedure, he cut a U shape, formed the nipple, then glued the edges below it together. Because the new nipple tissue had never lost it's blood supply, it healed quickly. I saw her at 2 weeks and was amazed. She was a Uni and the new nipple looked just like her other side. She'll go back one more time to have the areola tatooed. Of course the downside is that your nipple is always "out" and unless you want that wet t-shirt look, that could be a problem. Vinnie's 3D nipple/areola pictures are incredible and look 100% natural. My decision was to keep my "Barbie boobs" au natural. No nip slips for me! It's nice because I can wear the sheerest of summer tops and you can't tell I don't have a bra on.
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I am still waiting for my implant to drop into place.
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