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Exchange City

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Comments

  • vettegirl
    vettegirl Member Posts: 136
    edited April 2015

    mhj1-Yes, I got that letter from BCBS late yesterday in the mail-woohoo :)  I hope that means they have to honor it.  I have pre op today so we shall see.  I will feel so much better going into this if I am covered.  What a bunch of stress to put us thru...ugh.

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2015

    So I didn't sleep great - BUT - I must say that even though I hurt from surgery I feel a hundred times better than I did with those expanders on my chest. I can already roll over in bed and cross my arms and my boobs are soft and squishy. Phew, I think i can finally let go of the fear that I will never feel good again.

    I didn't realize how HUGE that last statement is. I hope it's true.


  • enlm20Erica
    enlm20Erica Member Posts: 38
    edited April 2015

    Hi all! I'm 2 weeks post Exchange and I must say that I'm Loving it! All of u know how much of a PAIN the expanders are! I feel so relieved...No more surgeries, no more "Going Under" my PS said he could do the nipple reconstruction in his office and just numb the area. Has anyone had the nip reconstruction already? Just wondering if the skin is fairly tight around the implants is it still possible to have the nipple Reconstruction...are there any other options? I really want to have the recon done with the skin on my breasts and just tattoo the areola...just need a little More info about it all...Also plan to get Newgel strips to fade the bmx scars has anyone tried these?

  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited April 2015

    Well I have great news for once. I went in for a fill today and was not only told that it was my final, but my PS had a cancellation so I am having my exchange surgery tomorrow!!!!! He said he will take a tablespoon of fat from just by my belly button. I am so excited. I have only had to wear the TE for a month. I will have a drain for a week though. What should I expect from the recovery period. He already told me T-Rex arms for one month. I am over the moon today!Nerdy

  • mared4
    mared4 Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2015

    @Fe: that's quite early. aren't you still getting your Tes filled. I guess since your in a time crunch it would work out good. Goodluck with the exchange and hope you will love your soon to be squishies.

    Hugs

  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited April 2015

    I got a breast reduction. I was going for the instant implant but needed to have my muscles stretched. I am ready to go as I am only a B cup. I used to be a D cup. I long to sleep on my side.Singing

  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited April 2015

    Good luck fe princess! I had to wait a full 6 months after my final fill. It took 2 months for the fill process for me. So your reconstruction is going faster than the speed of light, lol. Keep us updated. Try to get some sleep tonight.

  • Cindy_K
    Cindy_K Member Posts: 31
    edited April 2015

    Hi All. I have my exchange surgery on 5/5/15. Having mixed feeling about going back in for surgery... I know it's a necessity and I really look forward to removing these expanders but I am not looking forward to the surgery or recovery. For those of you who took off work, how long where you out?

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited April 2015

    Exchange is so much easier than MX. I had my surgery 8 weeks ago. It was during spring break which was 2 weeks but could have gone back to work in a week. Everyone is different but should be much easier. Best wishes for a good recovery!

  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited April 2015

    Cindy, I was off 2 weeks, and my job is pretty physical. I had no pocket work, just an even swap out. Healing nice. I think they are looking better with time, more round and fuller at the bottom. Still, doesn't look like a natural breast, but much more comfortable and soft compared to those expanders. They were impossible to get a decent nights sleep with. No drains for me. No complications. One hour surgery, started at 0730, home by 11.

  • Cindy_K
    Cindy_K Member Posts: 31
    edited April 2015

    Thanks Robinblessed54, Kingster - A 1 hour surgery? That is amazing! I was told mine would be about 3.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited April 2015

    Mine was about 2 hours, no drains. Mine are looking and feeling more "natural". I have anatomicals so are settling more like a natural breasts.

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2015

    my exchange was on monday, about 3 hours, one drain. Fat grafting and alloderm. Recover is much easier than bmx, very little pain, just tired.


  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2015

    AAaaaaaargghhhhh! The itching! Anyone else? I can't tell if it's from the incision or from the drains (I haven't been brave enough to pull up my dressing to see what's what.) Any suggestions to calm this beast?

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Member Posts: 370
    edited April 2015

    Has Anyone had positive results with the mentor memory shaped implants and did they like the overall appearance after surgery.. I'm having exchange revision on May 7th and was curious how others liked the implants. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited April 2015

    Hi Kingster, I had my exchange yesterday. PS ended up taking some fat from around belly button. I am wrapped in an ace bandage around my chest and my abdomen. I also have one drain. I am having some significant pain but nothing compared to MX. The belly area just burns really badly. I am having a hard time keeping anything down. It was rough coming out of anesthesia this time for some reason. I hope to the heavens that this is my last surgery. I have to stay wrapped for 48 hours so I don't know how they look yet. I am going back to work on May 11th. I wish the best for everyone here and with your exchanges.

  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 263
    edited April 2015


    jenwith4 and Fe - Welcome to the squishy side.  Hope you'll love the new rack!!

    Iwanna - sorry, no advice on itching but hang in there.

    Sherry - I my mentor memorygel exchanced for the mentor memoryshape to try to correct rippling,  I definitely do love them much better than the rounds.  However, I have now found out that one of my implants is malpositioned , so my advice to you is to make sure that your PS has a lot of experience using anatomicals and I would ask to see pictures.

     

  • thinkingpositive
    thinkingpositive Member Posts: 564
    edited May 2015

    Need some help!! Went to my plastic surgeon today. Scheduled my exchange for May 13th. He is doing implant on the left side that I had mastectomy back in October. Right side = we decided that he would do a small implant to lift and remove some tissue to make a little smaller so it will be same size as implant on left. Mastectomy was done in October. Had an MRI which discovered the invasive cancer.. so prior to all of your tissue expander exchanges... and reconstructions on the good side...what tests if any did you have or should be done before the surgery. Had a very small ductal cyst in the good boob found two years ago and followed up on it but it wasn't anything that was of concern and I guess the cancer side took over. I am just concerned that maybe I should be doing something prior to surgery for that good boob. Had a diagnostic mamo and ultrasound a few weeks ago, but nothing was found? Did anyone have an MRI prior to reconstruction?

  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 263
    edited May 2015

    Thinking - I had a BMX and my BS said she wouldn't do an ultrasound until six months after my final boobies and then yearly after that and have an MRI every two years.  Lucky for you the MRI did pick it up because they are not always acurate.  It certainly didn't pick up the DCIS in my right boob pre surgery.  Being that it's less than a year since your last MRI, I'm not even sure if insurance would approve it being that nothing showed on the mammo or ultrasound and maybe this is why your BS hasn't recommended it.

  • thinkingpositive
    thinkingpositive Member Posts: 564
    edited May 2015

    mjh1 - I have not seen my BS since my followup for mastectomy. She didn't want to see me until next October. Should I be seeing my BS before the reconstruction? I have only been following up with my PS and my MO. Just want to make sure that I am seeing the right doctors before I have the reconstruction and that I am not missing anything. I tend to worry.... both the PS and I decided that since he is doing reconstruction on both sides that it might be better for me to remove my ovaries at another time. I was originally thinking of having it done at same time. I have an ovarian cyst that I have been following up on for the past number of years. Ultrasound and CA125 tests all the time and the cyst is just a cyst and CA125 is normal range. So PS would rather OBGYN do it during a different surgery just in case they can't do laproscopic... he doesnt think I can handle doing both same surgery.

  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited May 2015

    ThinkingPositive, I just had my exchange yesterday. I saw my BS for follow up, but now it's up to my PS for my reconstruction and follow up with that. I didn't need to see my BS for anything regarding my reconstruct is what I am trying to say with too many words...I had my ovaries removed and thought they could do my SNB biopsy at the same time. They won't do it because there is too high a risk of infection with any abdomen surgeries.

  • vettegirl
    vettegirl Member Posts: 136
    edited May 2015

    Fe-I just had surgery yesterday and had a bunch of itching during my recovery time at hospital.  They gave me benadryl for it-says it was a reaction to pain meds-and it worked.  So try that-it makes you a little sleepy tho so make sure you are home if you take it.

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited May 2015

    thinking positive.... I'd probably go to the BS before Reconstruction. Just for peace of mind.

  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 263
    edited May 2015

    Thinking - sorry, I thought it was your BS that ordered the mammo and sono.  This is something that's weighing on your mind.  I would just call the BS, tell her your concerns and see if she wants to see you sooner.

  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited May 2015

    Hi Vettegirl, are you in an ace bandage? Did they take fat from anywhere to fill your pockets?

  • vettegirl
    vettegirl Member Posts: 136
    edited May 2015

    Fe-I am in a binder wrapped around my whole stomach/back torso.  I had a lat flap in December-he had to lippo my back where I had a hump from the lat flap.  I also have a surgical bra with gauze stuffed all in and a big styrofoam piece covering on my new nipple he just made yesterday.  I am pretty wrapped up-like a mummy.  I did not have fat grafting. 

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited May 2015

    If fat or other tissue needs to be added to the radiated side, does the other side just get a regular implant?


  • fe_princess
    fe_princess Member Posts: 125
    edited May 2015

    Hi Vette, I am going to unwrap tomorrow but have to re-wrap after my sponge bath, yay! I'm afraid to see the final result. How long are you wrapped up for?

    Leslienva, what do you mean by regular implant?

  • vettegirl
    vettegirl Member Posts: 136
    edited May 2015

    Fe-The styrofoam stays on my new nipple until my post op next Weds-so I cant see it until then.  I have to wear my binder 24/7 for two weeks.  But I am allowed a shower starting tomorrow so I can unwrap the binder for that-just cant get the nipple wet. I peaked at my boob-its the same except 100 ccs were added so it was cut back open and I have stitches again and also the new nipple.  Be glad when I am all healed.  Have to wait three months now to get the area tatooed...then i hope to be all done except for scar patrol.  I really want to get the scars as gone as possible so plan to really work on that.

  • stephaniegee
    stephaniegee Member Posts: 42
    edited May 2015

    Sorry to change the subject slightly….but to those who have already done the exchange: what is your bra situation?

    My PS says I don't need to wear but I am more comfortable with a light sports bra. I went bra shopping today but had a hard time finding anything without an underwire…found mostly sports bra types.

    What is everyone else wearing?