Exchange City
Comments
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I am very behind on reading so others may have already said the same thing.....
Sherieb 99 - I had pocket work done so my sides were very sore. It was 6 weeks before I could comfortably lie on my side. I was told to not lift over 5 lbs for 4 weeks and then gradually up the weights. Thanksgiving was 6 weeks after exchange and I did lift my 20 lb granddaughter. The only pain was her leaning against the breasts. At the 7 week post-op I was told I can do whatever I want, including lifting the 25# grandson and pushups / plank exercises. Your limits will depend on your individual surgery and how you heal.
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Sandra4611-- My PS did not mention massage and I was getting worried since many on here talk about it. Thanks for saying most Don't. Hearing about your 5 surgeries make me nervous too. But, I will stay confident that mine will be fine. Is that 5 total cancer surgeries or 5 exchange surgeries? Glad this one is looking good. And Happy late birthday.
kfinnigan - I sort of had a choice on incisions but the nipple had to go since the tumor was right under it. PS recommended the anchor so I went with it. I thought the straight across / horizontal incision would leave a scar that would be visible if I ever wore a plunging neckline. I would go with the IMF unless there is some reason to remove your nipple. Ironic, before cancer dx I was thinking of a lift but the anchor incision freaked me out and looked painful. With the BMX, not s painful since nerves were cut.
NisaVilla - Likely the pain this time is due to scar tissue from previous surgery. Perhaps the PS had to do more work inside than the first time. And the nerves as Linda mentioned. (I am catching up on reading so maybe you have written another post saying that the pain is better or worse)
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Ocean Sky --- I don't think that "each 200cc means a cup size" is accurate. At 7 weeks out from exchange, with 425cc rounds, my bra size is 32 DD, same as before BMX. That is what I was hoping for and my PS said that was the perfect size for my frame, he didn't really want to go bigger. Plus I was tired of the TEs and the stretching pain I had with each fill. I am 5'5" and 128 #. That's why Whippetmom says to not talk about cup size now. My DD could be a B on a larger frame.I don't remember who talked about gabapentin and memory loss but I have not experienced that. I have been on it 3x daily, for several months, due to neuropathy from chemo. And it has helped with that -- I don't drop my forks and pens anymore and walking is more comfortable.
It didn't occur to me but maybe it is helping with nerve pain too since I haven't had that problem either. Leslienva -- I was negative for BRAC1 and 2. My mom and her 2 sisters both had breast cancer. The genetic counselor, at the time 2 years ago, said there are more genes, that hadn't been discovered yet, as there are many family histories like mine that are BRAC negative, Are you saying that now there is a test for other genes? That would be awesome for my 3 daughters to see if there is a genetic flaw in my family.
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Oh my, the activity level of this thread is beyond my ability to keep up right now.
Dianems - pain is a little better and I agree with you and those who suggested nerve damage and scar tissue as likely culprits. I let an entire year go by because the synmastia was not awful but finally decided for a repair. Regardless of this round's outcome, I think I am done with surgeries. The only person who sees my boobs is my hubby and he wears glasses, lol.
Leslienva - you are the first person I know who has had 2 different cancers in one breast 14 years apart. Although I should not be completely surprised about weirdness of cancer since I had 4 tumors in the same breasts and they all had different Oncotype scores - and 2 were somewhat connected and stil had different Oncotype scores
OceanSky - by law, unless you sign an informed consent specifically designed for research purposes, no medical center will ever use your materials for learning purposes. Please include your stats in your profile so we "get to know you better" - lol.
Minus two - thanks for input about LE. That had not crossed my mind and it is something that deserves much attention. Will keep an eye on it, thx.
Hugs to all, Nisa0 -
Dianems, there are more genes than I was originally tested for in 2004
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You can't say 200ccs equals one cup size because....it is not the same for every woman. It all depends on ribcage size, whether your chest protrudes out or sinks in, how thin your skin flaps are, and so on. I was a 30E before surgery, with about 371g on one side and 446g on other. My implants are 435ccs and I am still a 30E. The difference between one cup size and another is actually more like measurement. For example, a 1" difference between ribcage and bust is an A, a 2" difference is a B, a 3" differences is C...I have roughly a 6" difference between my ribcage and my overbust so am a 30E (about 30DDD in US sizing). On someone with, say a 36" ribcage, the same volume would be more like a C.
All modern silicone implants are cohesive in a sense, but anatomicals are highly cohesive and form stable. Rounds can vary in cohesiveness, but none are that more liquid form of the past. If cut or poked, the silicone will not leak out You can find videos on YouTube of various implants cut open.
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dianems,
About 10% of all breasts cancers are hereditary linked. Only about 25% of those are BRCA-related. That being said, BRCA is the most common known mutation to date. There are many other potential mutations or polygenic factors out there, some are discoverable but many are not. Some are still being researched. It does not hurt to talk to a GC, to see if your family history could indicate another potential mutation just be aware there are still am a lot of unknowns yet. Members of my family including me have tested for a few genes on top of BRCA and everything is still as clear as mud
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Oceansky, my ps never told me what size I would be. I just said I felt gigantic in the 450 te's and wanted to be a bit smaller but at least a c cup. He said he used what looked best on me. I wish I could see what your 500 cc look like since we are about the same frame size.
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Neurontin (Gabepentin) can really wreck your memory but you probably won't notice. If you are working, others will notice for you! Right after my brain stem stroke last year, my neurologist put me on it. It is supposed to help damaged nerves heal faster, among other things. I was an accountant so used to very detailed work projects and much to remember. After about six weeks, my assistant would say things that I swore she'd never told me about but she insisted we'd even had discussions about them. I was sure I was right and she was wrong. After all, I had to rely on my memory in my field due to deadlines and the importance of being 100% accurate. I was working on an important tax project with an absolute deadline that took days of work to finish. As I was filing the copy, I noticed in the file that I had already done the entire project and submitted it the week prior! I had absolutely no memory of doing it. Talk about being shaken! I spoke to my neurologist and he said amnesia/memory loss was a common complaint. So if you are not having any issues with Neurontin, I'm glad. You probably wouldn't notice it at home or in certain kinds of jobs. But if your job requires a great deal of attention to detail and the ability to keep lots of "balls in the air", know that it can greatly interfere with your memory.
Leslie, TE's do expand sideways before they expand out. The silicone is like any liquid. The "base" of the form fills first. You are completely normal in being bothered about boobs in your armpits. Many, many others have been in your shoes.
Ocean, it can take months for implants to assume their final position, regardless of whether they were immediately placed or done after TE's. Sometimes it is so gradual that you don't really notice unless you take photos every week. Whippetmom says she's seen some take up to a year! It's not the implant, it's how soon your pec muscles will relax and allow the implant to settle. Maybe you just have some nice "loose" pecs! More docs are learning how to do Direct to Implants so we're seeing more of "us" on bc.org than 18 months ago when I got here. I used to read about certain people not being candidates but I'm a big girl with big native breasts...so much for the "only small breasted women" can have Direct to Implants. Of course, I did not have nipple saving so maybe that's the difference. I don't know. I'm just glad I got it. One and done is a wonderful thing! Avoiding TE's is a worthwhile goal for sure.
Formed implants don't fluff. The regular ones wait for the muscles relax, allowing the silicone to flow to the bottom of the implant and expand it more (fluff) so it looks less like the top half of a hamburger bun and more like a breast mound. If a woman has AlloDerm or another dermal matrix, that can have an effect as well on how soon and how your implants settle. That's why Whippetmom says we really can't compare even the same kind of implants in two women the same size. There are many variables. I've sure noticed the difference after all my 5 surgeries.
Dianems, after the PS finishes repairs to the pockets, I get new implants each time for infection control and my body starts all over again. So I guess you can say I've had a BMX with Direct to Implants plus a TE and 3 exchanges! It's funny to think of it that way. During the second surgery (because of the infection) I went from an implant to a TE...totally backwards.. .on one side only! For the next couple of months I got to go through the fascinating experience of a growing TE on one side while watching an 800 cc Style 20 round drop and fluff on the other side. I'm an expert on the difference between the same number of cc's in an implant vs. a TE. The TE wins...big time! When the TE came out, I switched to 410 gummy bears on both sides in the 3rd surgery and also had extensive muscle repairs. For surgery 4, I had extra sutures placed to correct bottoming out on both sides and a capsulorraphy for migration on the left side. Also more left side repairs from the original infection tissue loss, and another new set of 410's. Surgery 5 was six months later, and was done to try again to find a solution to bottoming out on both sides and left migration due to lingering effects from the infection. The pockets were again dissected and reconfigured. AlloDerm was placed everywhere on both sides and of course I got a new set of 410's, this time placed much higher on my chest in the reconstructed pockets. Surgery 6 is in 11 days and for the first time, I don't think I'll get new implants!.The final left side repairs will be done and I'll get a bunch of lipo for fat grafting. Don't worry. Your surgery will go fine. You won't have all these scenic detours.
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Ocean, I can back up Sandra and say even immediate implants will change. In some ways even more so as the pocket is not already pre-loosened up by TEs! In my case, there was very little change in the first few weeks, aside from skin healing and swelling going down (swelling can stick around for a lot longer than we think it is there apparently!), but after that and until about 6 months out there was a lot of "drop and fluff" as the silicone settled more to the bottom and also dropped over the IMF to give a more teardrop appearance (though they are still rounds and not anatomicals so not a true teardrop shape like anatomicals).The pictures I have taken over the days, weeks, and months really do show the difference. My PS has said changes can occur up to a year or so after, one of the reasons he personally likes to wait a full year before doing any fat grafting, though I know many other PSs will do it sooner or at exchange.
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Sandra - I was unaware of all you went through. I am sorry that happened to you. Sounds like your advanced of troubles started with the infection that should have never happened. And a brain stem stroke! Was that after the infection too? Your story about gabapentin really touched/scared me. Have you recovered from that? Will you be going back to work after this upcoming/last surgery? Hope you can!
My news is that I had my post-op appt today. PS removed bandage and what a relief to see my new boobs look like my native breasts (well, before kids). Just one size smaller made a nice difference. Not so high and out anymore. The down side is my chest no longer qualifies for Victoria's Secret commercials lol. I was told to be very-very careful for 6 weeks. PS said next step is nip-reconstruction. I said maybe I will do 3-D tats.Hugs, Nisa
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Will the appearance of implants decrease in size after surgery? I am two weeks out today and feel huge - cannot stop crying - I want them out!
I was looking forward to putting this all behind me nut its clear that will never happen - sorry having a moment :.(0 -
jj3221--Sorry you are having a bad day. What size were your TE's? What were the TE's filled to? How did you feel about the size of your TE's just prior to exchange? What size/style implant did you receive?
You may very well still be swollen from the surgery too!
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TE were filled to 330. I do not know the size - exchange to round 400cc silicon. most people said that the actual implant is smaller so i didnt feel uncomfortable about going to 400. I felt ok about the 330 size it was just high.
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jj3221 - take a deep breath. It can take 2 months or longer for all the swelling to go down and changes to occur. I too was disappointed at the large size originally but they will change. I know it sounds silly, but try to avoid mirrors for awhile.
In the mean time, when you get a chance go to My Profile and fill in your information so we'll be able to follow your progress w/you more easily.
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Thank you Minustwo. I read that but I was afraid that they may even look bigger!!!! down the road
I feel a little less upset with clothes as they do not look so bad - and I was wearing a padding for the past year anyway but when I look at myself out of the shower - OMG - I feel ridiculous I know I have to tell myself that this is silly to worry about after all that I have been through but I feel it is the final realization that I will never be the same again - before this I still had hope. Thank you for your response - I will go to your profile.
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jj - It's not silly. We all go through shock & worry about everything that happens. No, you won't be the same, but you may really like the results in a couple of months. Give it some time. If not, you can always have a revision and go smaller later. BTW - it's "my profile" at the top of the page where you enter your own stats.
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OH - got it. my profile - LOL See - my head is not even thinking clear.0 -
jj--like others have said and many have done, if you are still unhappy about the size a few months down the road, you can have a revision to smaller/different implants--almost all insurance companies cover this as it is continued reconstruction. Most people said that their TE's seemed huge compared to similar sized implant (+/- 50cc's). My TE's were 650's but were only filled to about 450/460. I got 500cc implants and they seemed only slightly larger than the TE's. I am having a revision to slightly smaller implants in a different shape/style in February (going from 500cc Mentor Moderate Plus silicone rounds to Allergan 410's FF [full height/full projection] 475cc). February will be two years since my BMX and 19 months from my first exchange.
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Thank you LoriWYN - I wondered if that was something that insurance covered. And also - if there was any benefit to having a revision smaller sooner than later - as in - will a larger implant stretch out - or make it more difficult to go down to smaller implant - if that makes any sense.
This seems much larger than my expander which i know is odd. I read so so many people that were shocked at how small the same or even a few more ccs looked - so I thought no problem going up 70cc :
Thank you so much for the info on the insurance - it is somewhat comforting knowing I would have an option should this not shrink. I cannot thank you enough for your responses!!
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Nissa, my moderate brain stem stroke was first. Then came the discovery of the large aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart which will need open heart surgery if and when it grows. (This is what killed my grandfather and uncle, so I know it's literally a ticking time bomb.) The breast cancer was last and proof that I had really pissed off somebody up above. If I had any lingering hope, it was dashed when somebody in the OR shared their gram positive staph infection with me and the 14 month nightmare of surgeries began. The man above and I are no longer on speaking terms apparently.
Unfortunately I will not be able to return to work. The brain stem stroke affects your eyes, hearing, voice, and above all, your balance. It's not like the kind of stroke most people think of. There is no paralysis or one side weakness. I've overcome most of the acute problems and through rehab learned to have the confidence to walk even on bad days with only a cane. Still I do not drive often because of double vision that comes and goes. It is getting better but the imbalance is with me forever. My hiking days are over. I was a fitness professional for 17 years prior to the stroke, specializing in Pilates and was one of the first Zumba instructors. I taught 2 classes every evening after work. My husband and I taught ballroom dance on weekends. All this was in addition to working as an accountant during the day. So having to quit everything cold turkey was something I never could have anticipated. I was healthy and active to the max. No strokes or breast cancer in my family history. You just never know.
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jj3221:
70CC =2.36 ounces (4.73 tablespoons) It may help you visualize that mere 2.36 oz all over each implant, it really isn't much and you are now still swollen. You need to give it time...
Gentle Hugs,
Di
(After my 1st revision I thought my foobs were perfect....but about 3.5 weeks later the swelling went down and they were NOT perfect) Then I had revision #2 .......looking at 3rd revision, see my PS on Friday to make decisions.
ANYONE have the new anatomicals made by Mentor?
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I was fortunate to meet Sandra, on a cruise to Alaska and she is a real leader and a sweet sweet lady that had been through so much! Here is Sandra:
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Anyone have the "gummy bears" or the tear drop? Those are the ones I'm considering...
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11/7/14 sandgar - exchange completed
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Leslienva, I have Allergan 410s, style FF, 650 cc (aka gummy bears). My exchange surgery was a little over four months ago, and I'm pleased with the results. They look like about a C cup on me.
sandgar, congrats on completing the exchange surgery!
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Janett, I'm trying for a C, which will be a change from being pretty flat all my life! lol!
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Di, what a great picture. Thanks for posting it. The girls over on our "over 60" group would get a kick out of it too.
Leslie, I also have gummy bears - Allergan 410's - Style FF, 740 gr, which is the largest size you can get in the U.S. I switched to them from Allergan Style 20 rounds, 800 cc's so I have experience in both kinds.
I got measured by a Wacoal pro fitter as a 36C and tried about 20 styles that she brought into the room. Only 3 came close to fitting in the cup. She said since we have breast mounds, not regular conical breasts, we don't usually have enough breast tissue to fill out the end of the bra. Also our implants are wider than the average C cup person, in fact more like a D, but the cups would be a worse fit. I ended up buying Wacoal's Awareness style 85567 ($65) and style 85276 ($60.) Both are 36 C, stretchy soft fabric with no underwire and no defined cup so they accommodate our wide implants.
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Thanks Sandra! I love your profile icon of the cartoon kitty.
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DiveCat and leslienva , My genetic testing was done in 2012 but I will ask about any new research since then.
Sandra4611, Wow, you have been thru a lot. Hope this surgery is your last revision.
jj3211, When I didn't have to wear the surgical vest anymore, after 10 days, I got the first good look at my implants. I thought they were too high - almost right under my collarbone! I didnt like them but now, 7 weeks out, they have dropped and look much better.
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