Exchange City
Comments
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Scottie -
Ha! I feel your Draughtlander pain! But definitely watch House of Cards and Breaking Bad...soooo good! And if you want to feel like a teenager, I did love me some Friday Night Lights too ;-)
Glad you got a bath though...and slightly jealous. I have yet to do a bath, but when I can take a bath and exercise, I'm going to be one happy girl. Hang in there friend!
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Scottie and Badgergirl--Have you seen Bloodline on Netflix? That was another GOOOOD one! Especially if you like Kyle Chandler! Highly recommend!!!
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Hello all my fellow sisters. Sorry haven't posted in a while. I'm very far behind in this thread among others. I barely have time these days to check the August surgery thread I started. I see you've all been chatterboxes which is great to see. It's hearwarming to know whether you're a new sister or old, there's always someone here. The summer is going by in a blur of activities which has made me lax in posts. Now that I've actually moved up in the tech world and gotten a tablet, I hope to not be as absent.
Had medical clearance for revision surgery today. As surgery is still 3 weeks out, my anxiety hasn't kicked in yet so I passed the EKG on the first reading this time.
To all my sisters that have had exchanges rececently that I missed, welcome to the squishy side!! I hope you are all resting comfortably.
To all the sisters having surgery this week, I wish you all the best. I hope you'll love the new "girls".
While I haven't had time to read all the posts that I've missed, I didn't notice Scottie that you're a GOT fan too. They have all five seasons on HBOGO. You can download the app onto your tablet (had to have my niece do that as I'm tech challenged). That will come in handy when I'm recovering from the revision.
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lorie just checked out Bloodline. Oh yes, first episode tonight. Of course my heart belongs to dh and Jamie Fraser, but Bloodline sounds awesome.
Badgergirl I think I was at least 6 weeks out from BMx before I was allowed to take a bath and no immersion for long periods in hot water probably for life. Hot water tubs only to the waist, since my skin can no longer feel hot/cold.
Mjh1. . . I was a laptop and kindle girl only until faced with 6 weeks+ in bed from BMx. So I spent some of my Aflac Duck cancer funds on a kickin 12 inch Samsung Tab. It saved my sanity then and again now as my 3 week EX just turned into 4 weeks.
Is HBOGO now available US wide? I canceled our HBO at end of season 5 since we only watched it for GOT. I would like to just get the go for season 6.
Scottie
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scottie - 12"?? Nice. I'm taking baby steps and only got an 8" droid tablet but I'm loving it. At least now I can go online when I'm away (provided I get wifi). I even started downloading movies on there in anticipation of sitting on the couch for a week or two (ran out of memory already and had to get an SD memory card). I believe it's available to everyone, but not sure. Either look for the app in the playstore or google it. If you don't have HBO anymore, I believe you can subscribe. I'm using my niece's login. It's been great to see all the extras starting from Season 1. I understand so much more now.
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mh1 8-inch is a great size (my 13yo ds loves his, except when I take it away). Very portable. Does your tablet have a USB slot that will allow you to connect a flash drive full of movies? If not, a cord like the one pictured will allow you to connect an external hard drive. The cord turns your power charge connection into a USB one. You can download the movies to the hard drive play them off your tablet by connecting with the cord. Works with mine. Just a thought. I actually have split cord that has two links so I can charge the tablet and connect the external drive at the same time.
Best wishes for your surgery.
Scottie
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-USB-Connection-K...
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Robin, thank you! I've been taking it easy and when I saw my PS for 2 week post op end of last week he said that I was recovering nicely. My rt side where the pocket work was done is still swollen and little bit larger/fuller on top then left side so I'm at least 3-4 weeks away from any clearance to do anything but walking. PS wants to see how things are when they are more settled.
Christi
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scottie - yes, it has a slot for a USB flash. Have you tried to download movies and had any problem?? Some movies I can put into my SD memory card and play them and some of them I get the message can't play video. When I called tech support they told me if the movies are copyrighted that's why I'm getting that message. I'm wondering if it will be any different if I try to put them on a flash drive.
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mjh1. . .it's probably going to be the same on a flash drive. If you buy the movie,rather than just streaming you should be able to download and play. Just like music. I bought a digital movie from Amazon that way.
Scottie
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Question: After exchange can you use your arms to push off or move on the bed? After my BMX, I was told not to use my arms for anything for quite a while. I remember that I had a really hard time scooting onto the bed, getting off the toilet, etc. Is this surgery better? I know you are all saying no lifting. I hsve my pre op coming up.
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mysunshine. . .I have enough been able to at least not much and I'm 16 days post EX. At the the first week or so you're back to TRex arms and I'm still mostly there. I too had a rough time getting up and down after BMx. I waited 4 more months for EX while I worked out at the gym and walked/hiked to strengthen leg and stomach muscles. I use them to compensate now. Others probably had a easier time with EX though.
Scottie
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mysunshine - your pec muscles are not being cut in the exchange as they were in the MX which is what made everything difficult until the pec muscles healed. You should not have a problem pushing off the bed this time. You may have some muscle spasms but you shouldn't have the loss of strength and mobility that you had after MX. Every time you move your arm you engage your pec muscle which is why they tell you to limit arm movement until all is healed. This is especially important if you're having anatomical implants put in because they need to adhere to your chest wall.
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Lorie -
I will check out Bloodline - sounds good!!
And Scottie, if you need my login for HBO, you're welcome to try it. Of course, that means I need to figure it out first, but I'm happy to share with you ;-)
Mj - thinking of your upcoming surgery!!
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Are the muscle spasms normal years after the exchange? Are we limited to the amount we can pull push?
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Thanks Badgergirl. . .when GOT finally comes back I'll subscribe to HBOGO. Cheaper than what DirecTV was charging me. It's so hard to think ahead to next April while I'm still in the throws of recovery from EX. Also 19yo soccer season is about to start and I missed so many of her Freshman games last year after diagnosis so really what to start a new this year.
Scottie
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Hello my ladies I see that everyone is doing great. I had to go back to work within 4 weeks of surgery some lifting not much. I been recovering well I will see my PS for last check up. I need to have another FG to cover the uneven side of my chest. But I'm not really ready for another surgery.
I wanted to know if anyone here has had lumps under the armpit not right on it but left of the right armpit. I'm going to my PS tomorrow to see what he says my oncologist said she will wait on my on my PS to see if he did anything around there. I have a PET scan Thursday and I'm hoping its some type of scar tissue but it's 2 centimeter.. I'm so devistaded. I don't know what to think of it.
Any inputs?
Why can we move forward?!???
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Patricia--I am glad to see that you are following up on this. I did have something similar feeling and my oncologist sent me for a breast ultrasound. In my case, it turned out to be scar tissue. I hope you have the same outcome. Keep us posted.
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Patricia, I have scar tissue around my node scar. Sometimes it swells and hurts. Hugs and prayers for you.
Scottie
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hello ladies! I have a question for those of you who have completed the exchange surgery. I have tissue expanders in now after a nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy on June 22. have been filled 5 times. I am trying to decide if/how much bigger I want to be. The expanders are starting to bulge a bit on the sides and are in the way a bit when moving my arms. Will this improve after the exchange? What differences did you notice between TE's and implants? I know that I can't expect much protrusion but will there be more or less after exchange? I will be getting mentor high profile. Thanks in advance for your help
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trish - I'm not sure what size you want to be nor how much you were filled, so it's hard to answer. If you're expanders are too much to the side, that can all be addressed in the exchange. Speak to your PS about this. Your implants will definitely not be anything like the TE's. For the best answers on anything to do with implants, our resident implant whisperer runs the Breast implant sizing 101 thread. If you give her all the info as listed in that header and what size you want to be she will be able to quide you which implants would work best with what you're trying to achieve.
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Hi Trish--Im still in TE's also, but I have heard that the bulging on the side will NOT be an issue once the TE's are out.
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Hi Trish,
I'm 9 days post op and I am also hoping the implant will look much different. I feel like my expanders are too far apart. I am also hoping that with each fill I will be less wrinkly. My fill at time of surgery was 300 and my goal is to get to 750. It is so hard to envision a good outcome right now
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I just saw my PS last week and did not realize I would have so many choices to make. I just finished chemo about 3 weeks ago. I currently have TE's that were placed during my BMX surgery in January. I am trying to decide on which type of implant to get. I thought I wanted the "gummy bear" implant but the more I thought about it the more I am afraid they will move and I will be looking at another surgery to fix them and I have read that they are heavier and harder than the saline implant. Now I'm thinking I should go with the silicone implant. I'm also looking at needing FG which will require more than one surgery. I would love to have some input from you ladies that have had either the silicone implants or the "gummy bear" implants. My PS asked that I contact her in the next few days to finalize what type I want so we can schedule surgery for sometime in September.
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Msmath - The implant decision is/was overwhelming for almost everyone, so please go to the BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101 thread run by our beloved whippetmom. Read the header and eiither post your information on her thread or send her a PM. She's really good about get back to you soon. Deborah has helped hundreds of us decide about implants...
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...
Good luck to you!
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Msmath, i know what you mean about the choices. I waffled between rounds and gummies up until 2 weeks before EX. I too had to decide so my PS could order them. I too was worried about the possibility of the gummies flipping. But went with them. You do have to have a very experienced surgeon. I love them!! There is no way I can imagine them flipping. They are very solidly held in the pockets. They look very natural. I am 5 1/2 mos post EX. I didn't use Whippetmom but many ladies here have.
Robin
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msmath. . .I am almost 3 weeks post EX. I have Mentor high profile round silicone and I love the shape and positioning.
Scottie
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msmath,
We are in a similar dilemma. I have my exchange surgery on Thursday. The doctor will have anatomicals and inspiras in the operating room and he will decide what looks best.
It helps to hear from both robin and Scottie that theyare happy.
It seems like each implant type has its own pros. I have read some places that it depends on body type which one works best, but I don't quite know what that means. Height, weight, length of torso???
My surgeon is doing fat grafting on Thursday which makes me more nervous than the actual exchange.
My brother is getting married on September 12th and my surgeon promises me I will be in good enough shape to be a bridesmaid. Fingers crossed.
Good luck!
Mazy
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Msmath, I agree, send information to Whippetmom. And, check out the new Inspira implants. My exchange will be September 25, and am pretty sure that is what I am leaning toward. Good luck! It is scary because I only want one surgery
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Hi! I'm new here and I hope I'm in the right place for some advice. Forgive me if this a tired question as I am having trouble navigating the boards as yet. I had my exchange August 8 after only a month with expanders. My PS put in Allergen silicones, 500cc's. I'm 5'8" and 126 lbs. My question is are they suppose to be this flat and wide? I hate how I look and I'm really upset.
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Angie, you are. Only a week out. It takes a minimum if 3 months for them to settle. Allergan anatomicals ir rounds? Mine are Allergan 410 FF 475cc anatomicals. I didn't even see mine for a week! Wrapped very tight, then sports t24/7 for 6 weeks. It did the trick! They are perfect and have a natural look and feel. I am 5 1/2 months post EX.
Robin
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