Exchange City
Comments
-
Marketingmama, if I had the choice...I would choose to stay in the hospital. IV antibiotics are more potent, and should help your infection quicker. You don't want to get septic. I'm sure that is why your doc didn't want to wait until Monday. Also, IV pain meds act much faster, and you would have more help available to you. That sounds very painful. Hope things clear up soon.
Thinking positive, even though my implants are exactly the same size, they look different. My left still sits lower and slightly toward the left, my right sits a bit higher and more toward my armpit. I am scheduled for fat grafting in about a month to help improve things. I wear a bra most always to try to keep my implants where they belong. Mine feel heavy and pulley, annoying, but not painful anymore. I am 6 months out. I am having difficulty accepting my new body, but trying very hard. Looks great in a bra and clothes. Looks better with reconstruction than without. If it really bothers you, I guess a second opinion might be in order. If it's a mild displacement, then I would just hide it with a bra. I think there is more risk of complications with multiple surgeries. At least that is what my PS told me.
0 -
thanks kingster
0 -
Thanks Kingster. Yep, decided to stay. DH agreed. Certainly it's also easier on my family. DH doesn't need to take care of me!
They're still running IV antibiotics--- Vancomycin and Cefazolin. Pain meds all oral but don't need a ton since the incision was small. Also Valium. Best news is that I'll have cultures back tomorrow.
Think I'll need to go back to expanders, which sucks!! Just hope they can fully remove all traces of infection since there do seem to be cases where women keep experiencing them. The flap option feels pretty intense. PS said he's only needed to do these on women with irradiated skin. so thinks it won't be needed for me. With TRs and implants I at least know what to expect. Thinking I'll start over in mid-November/December when work is at its slowest.
Warm wishes to all.
0 -
Marketingmama, so so so sorry you had to go through this. I'll say a prayer for you.
I am doing well. 5 days on antibiotics and breast is nice and cool and no redness. I'm praying infection was caught early. Still taking antionotics for 1.5 weeks.
I did go for my bra fitting today at Nordstrom. Lovely woman named Ratna was my fitter. She asked a bunch of questions, then brought me into the fitting room, large room with a desk, leather high backed chairs, flowers on the desk, just lovely. She measured me around, took a look at my chest, then went out to the floor and brought back about 9 bras, the first 5 fit me like a glove. I bought all 5 plus one more in a different color. I told her I wanted push up underwire to create cleavage and to hide my scars, and boy did she deliver. I wore one of them out of the store. Lol. Spent $479 and didn't have to pay tax. She gave me paperwork to submit to insurance company just in case, but I already checked and I'm not covered. Overall a lovely experience.
Forgot to add I'm in 36 DD.
0 -
Happy to hear the antibiotic is working, Audrey! Holy cow! That is a lot of bras and 36DD! Wow! My exchange is this coming Friday. Ready but scared!
0 -
you will do great mysunshine. I can guarantee you you've been through worse. Much worse.
0 -
Thanks, Audrey! Funny, I feel like I know you all like you were neighbors and not just cyber friends. It is comforting to have others who have been/still are going through this.
0 -
I know. All the women here have carried me during the past 9 months. As a matter of fact JustAmy was the first person to respond to my first post here in January. Our paths have crossed over several threads. So comforting to know this is a safe place to share our deepest fears, and our happiest moments too. An amazing group. In 9 months I have never seen an argument.
0 -
marketingmama. . .so glad to hear that you're getting good care in the hospital. Praying the antibiotics work quickly.
Audrey. . .glad to hear you're getting better. Wow, sounds like you had a great time at Nordstom. I mm ay go eventually, but I'm really more comfortable in just loose sports bras. Also like the the option of going without.
Mysunshine. . .hang in there.
Scottie.
0 -
Audrey, yay! Sounds like the antibiotics are working😀. 36 DD, awesome! What size and type of implant do you have again? Actually, I feel beautiful in a pretty bra...and that is why I have 2 drawers full of bras now, ha ha. A great bra can hide all of our battle scars.
0 -
Kingster I have 655cc Sientra smooth round HP implants. My PS could not release my skin from muscle in the cleavage leaving me with a wonky type crooked cleavage. So I got pretty push-up underwire bras that both lift and separate and provide a fuller upper pole which is what I was hoping for, the illusion of cleavage. Also I did not get deep plunging bras as my scars are in my cleavage and all my new bras cover the scars completely. I wore a Juicy Coutoure low v-neck tshirt tonight, first time I've felt really good about wearing something like that. No more hiding. Yay.
0 -
Yay indeed! The perfect bra makes a huge difference;) I have 700 ml mentor memory gels, smooth rounds HP. I am either a 38 C or a 36 D depending on the bra. I prefer the 3 hooks in the back lately because of the weight. Our implants are pretty close in size. So glad you are feeling better. I also have crooked cleavage from scar tissue I think. My ps said that is part of having mastectomies.
0 -
Audrey, I'm glad the abx are working for you Yay for a good bra fitter!
Marketing Mama- Hugs. It's so hard when things go wrong. I had the IV abx for 3 weeks after my infection. I had an at home nurse administer it. Every day around noon. I went to my cancer care center center every week to have my Port accessed. So for 3 weeks I had a needle in me. Whheeeee. are we having fun yet? LOL But it cured the infection without tissue loss. If Sandy checks in, she'll tell you that's one thing you really shouldn't do. After that I had oral abx. I also had the infectious disease Doctor added to my team, especially because I am allergic to so many abx. They had to spend a lot of time figuring it out. So I'm glad you waited in the hospital. Because they'll be able to culture for the right one for this infection.
Much ove to all
0 -
Congrats on new bras Audrey! I can't wait! And even better that your antibiotics have cleared infection. I'm still at the hospital (and running IV antibiotics). We expect cultures back in a few hours and then to head home later today. I'll talk to PS after he finishes his surgery. Still no idea how he'll rebuild me but will ask later.
For now hoping to talk to a nurse navigator about a prosthesis for the side I just lost. I assume they can advise on that--- where to go for a fitting etc. Expecting no reconstruction until December.
Best to all
0 -
hoping you feel better today Marketingmama.
0 -
Marketingmama,
Any word on cultures? Hope you are getting better every day.
Robin
0 -
Marketing mama hope you are tucked in at home by now. Get some rest abx and infection takes a lot out of you.
I had a lot of luck with an Amoena camisol. Mine came with adjustable forms filled with fluff. As i recovered I used them full. Then I pulled out fluff when I got fills. Since then I got an infection I had to out more back in. But they worked when changes were fairly constant. The reason I liked the Amoena ones is the shape is very natural.
Much love.
0 -
Audreyb. How do your underwires feel with implants?
0 -
Thinkngpositive, I'm feeling fantastic! No discomfort at all, except for the end of the day "ahhhhh" when you finally take a bra off. I do not feel the underwire at all as the bras are sized correctly (36 DD). I wore one yesterday, and a different one today. And my girls look really good too. Nice and lifted the way I was hoping they would be. My goal was to life and separate to camoflouge my wonky cleavage, and its working!!!
0 -
I am 48 hours from exchange. My left TE is really sore and annoying all of a sudden. Like the edge is pushing into my side. Is that just me being ready to ditch these? I hope it doesn't mean complications in surgery.....
0 -
Lkscolo, I am the day after you! I have had pain a lot! I also hsve worried sbout complications, but am sure ready to get these things out! Had them over 5 months! Surgery center just called me to go over everything!
0 -
First MArketingmama, I am so sorry you're having to go through this! Infection bad enough but starting all over with TEs SUCKS! Hopig it's smooth sailing this time.
Audrey, so happy the infection seems to be under control. WHEW!
Sunshine...sending positive vibes of great luck in you exchange surgery.
OK ladies....BRAS???? I thought we were done with those! I understand Audrey you're using them to for a look. Bu tother than that, do we really have to wear bras? I've been wearing camis with my TEs and happily so. I was a D cup in my former life and my bras were industrial! So freeing to not wear one!
0 -
Rebecca,
I'm SO with you on the no bra idea. Although I hated my TEs, I LOVED those months without a bra and wearing all of those cute tops! I can't wear anything with this post-surgery bra/torture device and am hoping after 6 weeks I can ditch it all together. We shall see, I suppose. I'm not very big post exchange so maybe there's hope? If I have to, I suppose I'll get used to a bra again but I loved being bra-less!
(Hugs sisters
0 -
I just don't get it! Hummingbird, there you are in a post surigical bra, and my PL uses nothing. Do you really need the bra or just following doctor's orders?
0 -
I'm 5 weeks out from exchange and go to work without a bra a few days a week. Weekends too. I don't have to wear a bra, but I like the feeling. It also depends on what I'm wearing. I just feel more normal in a bra. Going for my bra fitting was like closure for me. Does that make sense
0 -
I'm just following PS orders but I probably don't really need it. Seriously, I'm probably a b cup and they really don't move much. I have wondered how they can all vary so much on what they tell us toto do/not do. I am sleeping in this dang thing. She did say I could switch to any sports bra next week but I don't really like sports bras much.
0 -
Audrey so glad you're doing well, and I agree with all. Braless is liberating. I wear a loose sports bra to work because I would just feel weird if I didn't.
Marketingmama. . .hope you're resting and recovery at home. So sorry.
All TEs definitely sux. Mine knew they were coming out and got more painful the couple of weeks before EX.
Scottie
0 -
Hummingbird, I have worn a Cobbie bra duimg the past 5 months with my TE's. They are stretchy and non binding and comfortable. You can google Cobbie bras if you cannot find them locally. I hope to wear them after exchange.
Msrketingmama, thinking about you. Check in and let us know you are doing OK.
0 -
Thanks to all for the kind and supportive well wishes. I'm home and doing ok. Cultures were inconclusive (as of Monday) but PS thinks that might be because I'd started antibiotics prior to surgery. I'm now on Bactrim oral. The IV antibiotics really helped bypass stomach issues and glad I stayed two days in the hospital. The nurses were wonderful and I felt very well cared for----I'm sure that sounds nuts! I'll see PS on Friday to discuss next steps and a game plan. Its wonderful being home and back in my own bed. But to add to our issues, DH managed to slip going down the stairs and broke his hand. He spent much of yesterday in the ER ( on his own
). He's been very stoic and says pain isn't bad. Biggest worry is that he may need surgery. We're a great combo !! I'll keep you posted ladies!
0 -
Marketingmama. . .sending prayers and hugs. So sorry about your dh. Mine has been an angel throughout but I don't think he'd be stoic under those circumstances. Hope you're dh just needs a cast.
Scottie
0
