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Exchange City

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Comments

  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited January 2016

    Leslienva, where did you get that bra?

  • katykids
    katykids Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2016

    kingster I have seen them at Target. And I also tried them on at the Jockey outlet. Great price there. Amazon too, if you do that. They were a little tight for me right now to get into. (I am still regaining ROM.) I like Yummie bras the Audrey day bra and Mallory racerback. She usually runs good specials. There was a groupon but I missed it. :/

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited January 2016

    I love Cobbie bras and they are having an online sale. Buy 2, get 2, and they are not expensive. Great colors and even polka dots! Goggle Cobbie Bras.

  • LoriWNY
    LoriWNY Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2016

    On the subject of bras, I found the No Boundaries Seamless Cami Bra sold at Walmart to be very comfortable and inexpensive (under $5!). They have removable foam pads and they worked very for me when I had my TE's and even now that I have exchanged to implants! See this link: http://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Seamless-Cami-Bra/39212538.


  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2016

    Lori-I already one of these and bought 2 more today. Love them! My fills are just starting next week and I think they'll be perfect during the process, and at $5...can't go wrong!

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited January 2016

    Kingster, I bought it at Macy's.


  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,173
    edited January 2016

    Looks like I'm first up this month for exchange. Only 4 more sleeps until my exchange on Monday, January 18.

    I am sooooooooooo looking forward to getting rid of these TE's. Every morning I am "greeted" by muscle spasms, especially on the left side. The spasms were painful enough to take my breath away for two weeks after the fill.

    Funny how I'm not really preparing that much for this surgery. Considering that I already had a neurosurgery in March and the BMx/TErecon/BSO in November (and a debridement), this same-day "procedure" should be a piece of cake, right?

    Everyone at the PS's office kept referring to the exchange surgery as a "procedure." Will that make it less scary than a surgery? It still involves anesthesia, which constitutes surgery in my book.

  • PNY
    PNY Member Posts: 90
    edited January 2016

    Mominator; I hope its a piece of cake!!!!

    I go in for my exchange the next week. 01/26. I am not in pain just find these hard rocks uncomfortable. Hard to sleep at night. Every time I want to turn to the other side its a production. The worst is trying to get up after bending down to get something. I feel like I am hauling a ton of brincks!!!!

    GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! Hope the "procedure" and recovery go smoothly.

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited January 2016

    I posted on Dec 13 that I was unhappy because after my exchange on Dec 8, my two sides were different heights, so much so that it was obvious in clothes.I had a 350 cc Mentor smooth round high profile implant in my mastectomy size and 100 cc Mentor smooth round moderate plus profile implant in my non-mastectomy size to lift it up to the other side.When I looked at myself just a few days after surgery, I could see that the mastectomy side was a lot higher than the other.I realize they have to drop and fluff, but I was concerned because mine had to drop a long ways and until then, I would have to keep my top covered up.

    Yesterday, I saw the surgeon for my 5 week checkup.He was shocked that the two sides looked so different and he said he would not have let me out of the OR looking like that.At first he couldn't figure out what had happened, but after closer examination, figured out that the non-cancer side, with the 100 cc implant, dropped right away and the mastectomy side, with the 350 cc implant has not dropped at all.He says he's never seen that before.He wants me to wait 6 months to see if the other side drops as well.If not, he'll go into the non-cancer side and lift it up again.I had been so discouraged because I couldn't believe everyone came out of the exchange looking like me.At least I know now that it's not normal and I won't have to live with it the rest of my life.

    Has anyone experienced anything like this, or am I the only one?How long does it usually take for an implant to start dropping?Does it drop all at once or a little at a time?Evidently, my good side dropped all at once before I even had a chance to see it.

    The good news is that all my restrictions are lifted and I can go back to running, swimming, snowshoeing after five months off! Yea!

  • Angela2015
    Angela2015 Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2016

    Hi

    I had a doble mastectomy and they put TE. I'll have my surgery on January 22, 2016. I need help trying to decide what's best for me: smooth or textured silicone implants. My right breast encapsulated with the TE, so I would like to get some opinions/advise.

    Thanks


  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,173
    edited January 2016

    Welcome Angela,

    This is a great place to ask questions. Some PS prefer textured silicone because it adheres to the chest wall. For anatomical implants, textured helps prevent rotation of the implant, which is important because anatomicals are not symmetrical.

    I see that you were also over at Breast Implant Sizing 101. Be sure to check out the introductory post on that Forum, lots of information there.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited January 2016

    Angela, I have the textured Allergan annatomicals gummies. I didn't want to be bigger than I was and wanted a natural look. I am very happy with them. You need a very experienced PS for these. They are more firm and don't move as much as smooth rounds. But I think they have a natural feel.

    Robin

  • MsVeryDenseBreasts
    MsVeryDenseBreasts Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2016

    Angela, what is your PS recommending? If you are having the exchange on 1/22 I'm guessing you already had your pre-op appointment which is when the PS rechecks your measurements and does the order sheet for the implants. Is he/she going to try more than one size or type on you? I struggled with being able to envision the end result and worried about it. As it happens, both my BS & PS immediately had (the same) opinion as to what would look best on me when they saw my torso shape etc. I went with their recommendation since I figured they see a lot more of this than I do :) I'm very happy. I went with textured anatomicals and I think they look so much more natural on me than the TEs did, I did some searching on RealSelf for pics of people with a similar build to mine to get an idea of what it would look like. That was helpful. Good luck.

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited January 2016

    Has anyone had laser done on their mastectomy scar? My right side scar still looks bad, even after using silicone scar treatment.

  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,173
    edited January 2016

    I finally did some preparation for Monday's exchange surgery: I stocked up on non-perishables, especially heavy items, and I have been doing a lot of cleaning, organizing and paperwork. For the BMx, I knew that I'd be in the hospital for 2 nights and unable to drive for 2 weeks, so I had to arrange for transportation and meals for the children during that time. At least this time I don't have to arrange for transportation and meals for the children since it's same-day surgery, on a holiday from school! Plus, hubby now works from home, so there's less pressure about transportation.

    I got two pre-op calls from the surgery center today. The first was from the anesthesiologist to re-check medical, especially surgical, history. The second was from the nurse to re-check all my medical history (yep again), pre-op instructions, medication check, and so on.

    I think they forgot about me, as there is a list of meds that should have been e-scripted already: hibiclens, Zofran, scopolamine patch, and Keflex. At least we caught that in time, and the scripts have been sent to the pharmacy. I have all weekend to pick them up.

    Yes, I will repeat: I am sooooooooooo looking forward to getting rid of these TE's.

  • Tina1969
    Tina1969 Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2016

    Good luck to you Mominator. I'm envious. My exchange surgery has not been scheduled yet. I'm having my last fill on Tuesday. Keep us

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited January 2016

    Mominator, I bet you won't even need those meds! I never even took a Tylenol after my exchange! Sometimes meds make you feel worse and the Zofran causes constipation. You will do fine!

  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 185
    edited January 2016

    Mominator-so happy for you! Hope everything goes well. It sounds like you are ready!  I wait until April to get these darn TEs that go under my arm pit out. Let us know how everything goes. 🙏

    Patty

  • Suzanne50
    Suzanne50 Member Posts: 221
    edited January 2016

    Hello ladies - I am counting down the days till I get my surgery date. I got back to my PS on 1/28. My radiation site looks great so I am sure he will say we can move forward. I can't wait to get rid of my TE - it is like a brick.

    From what I read, I can expect to miss a few days of work? No drains, right? I hope not. They were a drag.

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited January 2016

    Suzanne50, I had a drain on my radiated side. I took over a week off work.

  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,173
    edited January 2016


    I'll be heading to the surgery center in 10 hours. I am ready. I made a double batch of vegetarian chili and also some roasted veggies.

    robinblessed: I think my TEs are too big.

    PNY: thanks

    Tina1969: congrats on the last fill!! My PS schedules exchanges 2 weeks to a month out from last fill.

    mysunshine: thanks. I'm hoping to use as little medication as possible

    PMR: thanks. April will come soon.

    Suzanne50, most PS's don't use drains on the exchange. However, my PS uses drains on anatomicals. He said any fluid buildup could to lead to rotation. I suspect this time my drains won't be in as long as they were for the BMx (13 days for me). My exchange is tomorrow, I'll keep you posted on the drains.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited January 2016

    Tina1969,

    My PS waitrd 3 months after last fill to make sure the skin and pocket are stretched to take the implant. I was filled to 420cc and he used a 475cc gummy. They are perfect! I know how hard and annoying the TEs are, but don't rush the process. You don't want to have a revision if st all possible.

  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 185
    edited January 2016

    Mominator- good luck and know we are in your pocket!! So happy for you!! My PS waits 3 months from last fill. He uses drains for same reason. Too much fluid can cause rotation. Please let us know how it goes!

    Patty

  • Suzanne50
    Suzanne50 Member Posts: 221
    edited January 2016

    Thanks for the info ladies...I am going to ask about drains when I go next week.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited January 2016

    I was told by my PS he might have to use drains if he saw it necessary when he got in there. I didn't know until I woke up what I would have. I didn't have drains!! After my bmx my drains were taken out after 6 days. I hardly had any fluid after bmx. But whatever is done, know it is for a good reason.

    Robin

  • new__me
    new__me Member Posts: 53
    edited January 2016

    Mominator - i was thinking of you today. I hope surgery went well and that you woke up to amazing boobs Loopy

    warm hugs and peaceful healing

    Diane

  • darumama
    darumama Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2016

    Hi Ladies, I'm going in on 1/28 to have my TEs swapped out. I can't wait! I had my mastectomy on 1/19/15 so these hard expanders have been with me an entire year due to chemo and radiation.

    I was a little shocked when my PS told me to take two weeks off from work. Hopefully, that's just a conservative suggestion. Very afraid of reliving tough recovery from last year's surgery

    I'm going a lot smaller than my original breasts on the reconstruction. I was very large busted prior to mastectomy- my bras were in the 34H-I range. I'm am finding the lack of extra "baggage" delightful- a crumb of a positive in a bad situation. The PS thinks I should go bigger, but I'm just not having it.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,357
    edited January 2016

    Darumama - stand your ground!!! I too wanted to be smaller, but you have to insist. I have been happy with my 410 anatomicals two sizes smaller that the PS first envisioned.

  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 47
    edited January 2016

    I have to admit, my exchange surgery recovery was just about as tough as my BMX. But, I am also having lots of SE's from meds that I wasn't on during BMX.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited January 2016

    Darumama. . .my PS wanted to keep expanding me and I said NO. I ended up a small C and I'm quite happy with that. Best wishes for your transition to the squishy side.

    Scottie

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