Exchange City
Comments
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I never slept in a recliner for my BMX, or exchange - or any of the surgeries I have had. I just used a lot of pillows and slept in my regular bed.
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I never slept in recliner either. If needed, I added an extra pillow in bed. (But as angelina said, I have thought that my husband could accidentally fling his arm into me. So far so good though!
Thanks, Babs. for your thoughts. I, too, have wondered if I could have a smaller implant on that side and avoid the lat flap procedure. He has mentioned FG all along, but now I hope it can still be an option. I will see what he says when I go for post op appointment. Looking forward to your posting ALL CLEAR after the tests that you have coming up! Keep us updated!
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Another- my PS was so-so about my wanting to go with a small implant on the left. He preferred to make the right side smaller to match but I didn't care about symmetry (Realize that a PS tries to get as close to perfection as is possible!) I wear pad on the left. My right is the same as prior to surgery so my clothes all fit well- I just didn't want to have to alter all my clothes! No one knows that they don't match except for me and my husband and we both just don't care. Thanks for the positive thoughts! Will keep you posted. Tuesday is a BIG day!
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intheATL, how long were you under anesthesia? My PS does the exchange in the hospital as outpatient surgery, but I was wondering how long I'd have to be under.
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Leslie, my surgery was outpatient back December. I was under about two or three hours. I had a lot of pocket work done and fixes so I think longer than usual. My PS surgeon had given me the option of spending the night, but I told him no I'd rather go home. He'd told me that at visit previous to my surgery. The hospital was quick to get me out of there since I had opted to go home. I was so groggy and sedated that I could hardly sit up. I wasn't like that after mx. I think I was in recovery longer with mx. I could barely walk out the door and slept the hour ride home. After I got home I was fine after a few hours and went to a party the next night. otherthan the grogginess after surgery this one is a breeze. Good luck to you. Also forgot to mention, with mastectomy I had to sleep in a recliner a few days. Our bed is really high so I had issues getting in and out. With the exchange I was in my own bed with no problem. We have two dogs sleeping with us and I was a bit worried about them stomping me but all was fine.
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As for sleep after surgery...I also slept in a regular bed. I had immediate implants put in 8 days after the BMX and one week after that surgery we went to our place at the beach. There I slept in a recliner and preferred it to the bed!
One thing that helped me with sleep tremendously after surgeries was a neck pillow...The u shaped pillow people use when traveling on airplanes. It really helped.
People said heart shaped pillows were a 'must' after surgery to use under your arms but I didn't find them any more helpful than regular pillows.
Good luck to everyone with surgery coming up!
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After the BMX, I slept on the couch with a backrest for over a week due to the four drains. I've heard the exchange surgery is a lot easier
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I slept in a recliner after every one of my surgeries for varying lengths of time. I had no goal of sleeping in a particular place. I just wanted to sleep! It was much more comfortable than a bed or the couch. It kept me in one place so I didn't wake up like I did in a bed. I tucked soft heart shaped pillows under my arms and the recliner arms kept them in place all night. There is no way I could have slept on my side after the exchange. Took several weeks. Cannot imagine feeling well enough to go to a party the day after exchange! Maybe at two or three weeks, but not right away. Perhaps it depends on how long you were under general anesthesia.
Even after the recent fat grafting surgery, a recliner worked great since it also rocks and I needed that momentum to get up without killing my sore, sore, sore abdominal donor site.
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I have an adjustable bed so I still sleep semi sitting up, and when traveling/cruising, I have an inflatable wedge pillow that I bought online thru a medical supply, I also sleep with a u-shape pillow.....since a disc in my neck ruptured in a traffic accident (on the way home from the hospital from having my gall bladder removed which required another surgery) my favorite neck pillow is the IMAK Happineck....wonderful....have 4 of those!
I was on the books at the hospital for my 4 1/2 hour 3rd revision on Tues, I was marked with BLACK sharpie and I said that a spot near my sternum still s bothering me since I fell directly on my foob over a year and a half......he said I AM CANCELLING your surgery and Calling your Breast surgeon, he did, she was in Hawaii and was coming home Sunday night. He willask for an MRI.....he said if your cancer came back in bone or ribs you will have to have chemo, before we proceed...and I thought I was just about done on the 2+ years journey since my cancer was removed.
Hugs,
Di
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Di. Hugs.
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no recliners for me either. Exchanges have been much much easier than bmx. Side slept after a few days.
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Oh no, Di. I'm so sorry. Hopefully it will turn out in your favor and your revision will be back on schedule. Hugs to you, sweet friend.
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Horsemom, I did sleep in the recliner for 2 nights. My issue was the getting down into the bed, even with extra pillows. I couldn't lay on my side due to lateral pocket work with internal sutures.
Leslienva, My recovery took longer, I think, due to the lateral capsule work. I had 6 weeks no lifting. But, I felt fine after 1 week. For both of you, the recovery was SO much easier than BMX. I did not have drains.
Of course, your own situation may be easier, or more painful, depending on your pocket and scar tissue. Di, good luck with the MRI. Babs, thinking of you as well.
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Hello Everyone, I had my bilateral mastectomy last March and am now scheduled for my expander/implant exchange this week. Just wondering how quickly you can go back to doing every day type activities like cooking, driving, just overall getting around. I understand I may not be able to do all housework for a bit but I have two children I need to care for. After the mastectomy it definitely took a while but I understand this surgery is a lot easier? I'm scheduled for Friday. How does it feel? Is it a relief? Any comments will be helpful. Thank you!
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Melisden, I just had bilateral exchange Jan 2. It was far easier than the mastectomy to be sure. Tylenol only for pain. I was doing regular activities within a day or two. Surgery Friday back at work Monday. PS just said nothing that would lead to working up a sweat and no chest exercises. Slept on side within a few days. High bed was slight challenge to get into with sore pecs but doable.
My original incisions are from nipple out toward underarm. We opted to go under the breast for exchange as the visible incisions have healed so well. One incision slower to heal but doc said looked as expected at the two week check up.
Feels good. Far more comfortable than expanders, especially on the sides. I'm still getting used to size though. I was a small b cup before after having nursed. Implants are 400cc but seem to be a solid c cup for me.
Best of luck to you. It was,by far, the easiest step along the journey.
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Thank you, Kazzy115! This helps a lot. I'm looking forward to this surgery. I hear you feel so much better without the expanders. They've been with me for almost a year now and I've become pretty comfortable. It's amazing what the body can get used to. The first month or so I was ready to have them taken out!! Thought they were horrible:-)
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Kazzy's experience is unusual. While it is true that most say this is an easier recovery than the mastectomy, very few would be back to normal activities in a few days or be off of pain drugs and going back to work so soon. Give yourself two weeks. Much depends on how long you are under general anesthesia and what exactly is done.
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So happy to be on the gummy side. 3 weeks since my exchange. Right side looks great, left is taller than I like (mostly from earlier Brava/AFT extra fat) Getting more comfortable daily. I was side sleeping right away, pain meds for only 2 or 3 nights, super sore the first 2 days (much better daily after that). One drain out after 1 week, other at 2 week post-op. PS is happy with result so far. I see her in 3 weeks.
I am finally beginning to imagine life with BC in the rear view! Happy healing to all on this thread.
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so happy to add my date to this thread. I scheduled my exchange today! I am set for Feb. 25th. I had a fill today and am going to have one more fill in about 10 days. I can't wait to be on the other side of this journey and am grateful that it has been smooth thus far, all things considered. I am hoping to attend a wedding which is about 3.5 hours away by car 16 days post op. My husband will drive and all I have to do is take it easy and attend the events. From what I am reading here, assuming all goes well, this should be doable. If I can't make it my friend will understand. Thank you to all the folks here who have given there collective wisdom to the rest of us.
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Hi All,
Congratulations on having your exchange on Friday Melisden! And to you Gatorgrl for having you date set! It is wonderful to get on the squishy side!
I had my exchange on December 17th and I agree with Sandra healing is a bit of an individual thing. Exchange was definitely easier then the BMX I too could use over the counter pain meds after the first night! I was fortunate not to have drains but I know some ladies have had to have them and it surely would change the healing time. I had 3 weeks off of my job and have a 10 lb lifting restriction for 6 weeks.
Also for whatever reason it took me longer to recover from the "anesthetic" fog this time. I am guessing it was the type of anesthesia they used.However I think you will definitely find it to be a lot more tolerable then BMX! Best of luck to you!
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Another-had the biopsy today-won't have the results till Mon/Tuesday. My blood ca markers were still high so having PET/CT Scan Thursday PM.
This sucks!!!!!
Babs
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As many have said this surgery is much easier, but I didn't want to be misleading by my saying I went to a party the next night. After reading a few comments today I realize I may have made it sound a lot easier than it is. Kazzy definitely is an exception. Mine wasn't that easy. I must clarify that the party I went to was just a small gathering of people to eat and I had taken valium and hydrocodeine or whatever the pain medication is that is usually prescribed. I can't remember. So I was feeling pretty good. I only stayed at the party for about 30 minutes. I just went because it was so special to my mom. She was shocked when I showed up. I had pain for several days but it was easily managed. I was told not to lift anything and not to use my arms a lot. At my three week post op visit I was told not to lift over a gallon of milk. I just now have started to lift heavier things and that still hurts in my left breast. Overall thought this surgery wao much better than bmx.
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Babs, - take a deep breath and try to relax and take it easy. The drs make us crazy with all these tests!
Hoping you are comfortable from the biopsy and that you get GOOD NEWS SOON!!
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Barbs - yes, you are right, it sucks! Do whatever helps you relax and get distracted. I will be saying a prayer for good news on Monday. It wouldn't be the first time I hear there was a error.Hugs, Nisa
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babs, thinking of you and praying for good results.
My exchange was yesterday. Surgery was successful I didn't get home till 8pm last night I'm really out of it today. They had a lot of trouble getting my IV in so that made me very anxious. After 4 painful attempts in one spot then 4 more on my hand, she got my hand but it wasn't in my vein it was in my tissue and all the IV was backing up so then they had to do it in my wrist. And despite all the anti nausea meds I just kept heaving after my surgery and when I got home last night. But PS prescribed a dissolvable anti nausea med and that worked last night.
I'm all bandaged up, can't see a thing, boy I hurt the most on my right good side. Got a 375cc implant on lefty (lat flap side) and a 200implant on righty, and righty is letting me know she ain't happy! resident dr called me earlier and said to take my meds around the clock for 3days. I ended up with a drain on flap side, but hope that gets pulled tomorrow morning at postoperative at 10am.
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kfinn, - so glad that your procedure is done! feel better soon!!
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kfinnigan - Even though your trip was a little rocky, Welcome to the Squishie Side!
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thanks I am so relieved now!!
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Kfinnigan, oh my goodness. I know you were freaking out! You deserve a medal for going through all those tries to get an IV in. I would have been a basket case! Wish things had gone better for you. Maybe your reward will be an easier recovery period. So many people told me exchange surgery was going to be easy, and when it wasn't, it was hard to deal with. Emotionally it was my most difficult recovery of the 6 surgeries.
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kfinn-welcome to the squishy side. So sorry you had issues with the IV and nausea!!! Hope your recovery goes smoothly.
Well, the biopsy results came back negative as they thought it would. I am relieved but, my real fear is tomorrow with the PET/CT scans since my last two blood tests (both done last week) showed my cancer markers to be high. I'll have the results on Friday so until then it's work, work, work to keep my mind off everything!
Babs
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