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Exchange City

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Comments

  • NJsurfer
    NJsurfer Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2016

    Tina - I had my exchange on Jan 25th, so I am only about 7 days out. The new implants are significantly different. Rather than look like two (albeit small) grapefruits high on my chest, they look like real (albeit moderately small) breasts. The look terrific. At this stage they still feel firm to me (I have the Allergan Natrelle Teardrops) but each day they seem to soften a bit. They still feel like a foreign body in my body, but I suspect these feelings fade as you adapt. The sleeping is better, but for now I am still sleeping on my back or 45 angle side. I think this is because I am worried to move them! But I do feel them those positions at this stage! Good luck and try not to have anxiety before your exchange - I am sure you will do very well!

  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 185
    edited February 2016

    Thank you Kingster!

    I didn't know about additional abdomen holes. Sore boob and sore stomach. He said I will wear a compression garment for 2 weeks and will have  2 drains until they are bone dry ( I have had fluid problems) Ugg. It sounds painful. This I pray will be last surgery. 

    PMR53

  • summerangel
    summerangel Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2016

    I've had fat grafting twice, once with the exchange and once with the nipple reconstruction. So glad I did, the fat helps the foobs look good! I only had two holes on my thighs the first time (fat had to come from the inner thighs), two very small incisions on the foobs for the fat injections. I had four on my thighs the second time because the fat came from both inner and outer thighs. Recovery was easy, just a bit tired. I was very bruised both times but that didn't bother me, and I didn't have to have drains or wear compression garments.

  • PNY
    PNY Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2016

    PMR53: I had my exchange last week. Also had fat grafting from my abdomen. My PS went in through my belly button. Two tiny little stitches in my belly button. I was wearing a binder but it stopped a day ago as I could not get it tight around my belly so I figured it was not really compressing anything.

    I don't have drains or any additional holes anywhere. My implants feel pretty soft although I have to wait till they "fall" to see how the end product will be,

    My PS told me I would be out of work for two weeks, although I am really feeling so much better after just one week just sore. (the most soreness is just under each implant by my rib cage. Not sure why it hurts there. (if anyone knows please tell me).

    Good luck PMR53, hope it all goes well for you.

    Phyllis


  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 185
    edited February 2016

    Thank you Summerangel and PNY-

    Good information! I didn't know going through the belly button was an option.  You both sound like you did so well! Thank you for your encouragement!! Does the new implant feel better than the TE? My TE feels so uncomfortable !

    Patty

  • summerangel
    summerangel Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2016

    The implant feels so much better than the TE I can't even describe it! :) So comfortable in comparison.

  • Anniekay80
    Anniekay80 Member Posts: 92
    edited February 2016

    Just an FYI for you ladies still having trouble sleeping on your side...

    I absolutely could not sleep on my back without panic attacks even right after BMX with TEs. I found a way to sleep on my side by sleeping on the couch with my back to the back of the couch....I have a body pillow I use in front of me stuffing parts of it under my arm I'm sleeping on...2 pillows so my head is at mid shoulder height...and the final piece is a small travel pillow I got at Wal-Mart that I stuff under my other arm. I then sleep sort of hugging the body pillow.

    Hope some of that made sense and helps someone else with trouble side sleeping. I was able to do this even with the drains in place. Then again after a week of no sleep, I had to get creative. Hoping I'll soon be back in my bed!

    Cyber hugs to you all......

  • Suzanne50
    Suzanne50 Member Posts: 221
    edited February 2016

    I just can't wait to get this TE out of me. I find it so uncomfortable at times. I thought I was getting used to it and then I had radiation. I think that made it sore. Done with radiation now but still can't sleep on that side. Whatever- pretty soon it will be gone. March 8th can't come soon enough!


  • Tina1969
    Tina1969 Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2016

    Thank you NJsurfer. I appreciate the reassurance. That makes me feel better. I'm looking forward to being more comfortable. :)

    Anniekay80, I do something similiar to that with the pillows but I'm in my bed. ;) I

  • PNY
    PNY Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2016

    Good morning. I had my exchange 9 days ago. While I am feeling great and just feel slightly sore around the liposuction site and implant site, there are two spots, one below each implant that literally kills. Not all the time, more when i stretch or raise my arm causing a "stretch", or go from a lying to sitting position, or sometimes It feels like its my rib. It does hurt to touch but mostly it is when i move.

    Anyone else have that pain?

    Thanks Phyllis

  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 185
    edited February 2016

    SummerAngel-

    I am so glad to here that. This TE is so uncomfortable and weird feeling. What kind did you get?

    Patty

  • summerangel
    summerangel Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2016

    I got Allergan Natrelle 45s (500cc). They're smooth, ultra-high profile implants. Love them! When I had TEs (Allergan 133FX-12-T), I was very uncomfortable, never could sleep very well on my side when I had them.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited February 2016

    PNY

    Sounds like you had pocket work done! Don't raise your arms above elbow height!! Be careful because you don't want to pull anything loose. OTC extra strength Tylenol should help. I had pocket work on one side to even them out. The pain didn't last long. Just take it easy and do what they tell you.

    Robin

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

    For those having trouble side sleeping, I highly recommend the total body pillow. Dh bought me one from Sam's Club about a week after my BMx because I was sleeping propped up on about 6 pillows. The total body pillow is U shaped and wraps completely around and under head/neck. I still can't side sleep but can do a modified side position with this pillow. I even travel with it.

    Scottie


  • deeratz
    deeratz Member Posts: 318
    edited February 2016
    1 week until I get rid of these awful expanders. Since my last fill they have been really bothering me. They are 400cc and are overfilled to 500. My right one isn't in there straight and the seam is causing me pain in my cleavage area. The right expander kind of squeaks in the pocket when I wipe the counter or do any chest exercises. It is a weird feeling. A squeaky boob. My left side was my cancer side and I have had no problems with that one at all. Maybe the right is protesting being taken away against its will.

    I sooooo can't wait to have my newer, softer and hopefully very improved gummies!
  • fipjoemom
    fipjoemom Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2016

    Thanks for the pillow recommendation, Scottie. I have a couple of weeks to go for my exchange and have gotten all my fills but the last week or so I am having a lot of trouble sleeping on my side now. I will head out to Sams Club tomorrow and get that pillow!






  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited February 2016

    Deeratz, I had gurgle noises in my chest after my exchange, lol. So, I can see how you could squeak😂. Implants are so much better, but there is not too many things more uncomfortable than the dreaded tissue expander!

    Phyllis, I had rib pain after my left side tissue expander replacement, because he lowered the inframammary fold so the expander would not roll up again. Sneezing was so painful. I would brace myself with a pillow if I knew a sneeze was coming. Just ask your ps if he did work in your painful areas.

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited February 2016

    PHY, Agree with what Robinblessed said to not raise your arm above your shoulders. I was not to raise my arms on either side until 5 weeks after exchange, or on the TE side the whole time I had the TE in (5 months). After so long, I wasn't even sure my arm would go above my shoulder. It was quite stiff, but I have to say that 3 weeks after restrictions were lifted, things are about back to normal and it feels wonderful to do everything again!

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

    fibjoemom: have you tried a reading pillow for sleeping? After my BMx I could not sleep on either side or stomach, and even sleeping on my back was uncomfortable. I sleep while propped upright in a reading pillow similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Brentwood-Originals-Brushed-Twill-Bedrest/dp/B002S0NJNK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452955954&sr=8-1&keywords=reading+pillows+for+bed which was fine. My husband later bought be a bed-lounge: http://www.amazon.com/BedLounge-Classic-Regular-Natural-Cotton/dp/B006VQQOV6/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452948252&sr=1-3&keywords=pillow+recliner which works just the same as the reading pillow. I can roll a little to one side or the other. This is how I have slept for the last 12 weeks, from BMX to Exchange to recovery. I did not want to rent a medical bed.

    I tried sleeping last night on my side, without the bed-lounge. I didn't last 10 minutes on my side. I still have some fluid pressing in from the infection. So back to the bed-lounge. It's really quite comfortable.

    PS Don't tell my hubby, but the reading pillow was almost as good as the bed-lounge.

  • fipjoemom
    fipjoemom Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2016

    Thanks, Mominator, for the pillow suggestions. My daughter-in-law has that reading pillow so I will give that a try. Guess I will be sleeping on my back until my exchange recovery is over too!

  • PNY
    PNY Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2016

    Thanks Robinbelssed54, I figured I must have had pocket work but did not think NOT to raise my arm.I am one of those that this you need to get back to doing everything immediately or you won't be able to do things later on. Now i have a good reason to just sit back and relax a bit:)

    THANK YOU

  • katykids
    katykids Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2016

    Deeratz, I had gurgle noises after my exchange too. I didn't have drains and someone told me it could be fluid. I am not sure where I heard that. As you hear so much from so many places! :) But I did feel reassured by that! Feel well!

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited February 2016

    I too had gurgling but was told not to be alarmed! Can't remember how lomg it lasted I am 11 months post EX.

    Robin


  • Anniekay80
    Anniekay80 Member Posts: 92
    edited February 2016

    Okay this might be a stupid question, but I don't see my PS until next week. Before BMX I got my underarms waxed every 3 weeks. I'm 7 weeks post op now, can I go back to having them waxed or will that possibly cause lymphedema at least on the side they took 4 lymph nodes. Too risky or should I invest in an electric razor? I don't date try my old razors because I cut myself all the time and that was before surgery and the weird shaping the TEs have left me with in the underarm area.

    Anybody wax?

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited February 2016

    I don't know about waxing but I've used a razor for years and never had a problem. (I had 10 nodes removed in 2000). Has anyone used that No No hair removing product? That might be safer than a razor if you cut yourself a lot.

  • Anniekay80
    Anniekay80 Member Posts: 92
    edited February 2016

    My sister has a No No and swears by it. But it is pricey. The years of waxing ended up reducing the amount that regrew which is why I want to get back to it. I was told to prevent lymphedema I couldn't let them take my blood pressure or blood samples from my left arm, avoid cuts and insect bites (how do you do that?), and not to cut cubicles on that side just push them back. So if a cut ups my chances of lymphedema (which by all reports is horrible and to be avoided at all costs) then I have to stay away from my regular razor.

    If I can't wax I'll probably go the electric razor route. The No No has so so reviews and my sister who loves it had laser treatments years ago........her hair didn't start growing back for over 7 years. So I wonder if the No No works for her because she had those laser treatments. Anyway anything that costs that much better have some gurantee. Besides it burns the hair off and can cause some irritation, so why not wax?

    Obviously I won't do anything until I talk to my PS but he tends to be really conservative so I'm betting he will say no to waxing.

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited February 2016

    I would think with only four lymph nodes out, you're at a pretty low risk for lymphedema. I've had insect bites, cuts, etc. over the years but luckily nothing ever came of them. I even had a third degree burn on my finger. In retrospect, I think I would've had electrolysis on my underarms BEFORE the lymph nodes were removed. That would've eliminated the shaving problem.

  • Anniekay80
    Anniekay80 Member Posts: 92
    edited February 2016

    Thanks for your input. Since my PS is sooooo conservative I figure he will say no Just like he already said no to razors. He said pluck. Obviously as a man he has no clue how difficult that would be to do by myself. My hair stylist does waxing from my eyebrows, lip, chin and underarms all for $10. She barely charges me anything because I'm a loyal customer who followed her to 3 different salons because she does such a great job. I never have any irritation when she does the waxing and it doesn't hurt at all. So I've decided I'm probably going to go ahead and wax no matter what the PS says. This is the same PS who wouldn't let me exercise....not even slow walk...for more than 6 weeks just because.

    Besides these 10 or so hairs are now 2 inches long and sorry just gross..... They have to go.

  • deeratz
    deeratz Member Posts: 318
    edited February 2016

    Anniekay-I use an electric razor on mine. I did have laser hair removal many years ago and have only a few hairs that grow back. I use a Braun silk Epil. It rips the hair out (epilator) vs shaving the hair off. I have to do this about once a month. I use it on my legs as well as I got sick of going to get them waxed all the time. I have not had any problems.


  • cheddiecat
    cheddiecat Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2016

    Anniekay80: I've been where you are with those 2-inch underarm hairs! Cracked me up! ;) My PS told me to use an electric razor for life. Not thrilled about it, but not worth the risk, even though my BS said that since I had so few nodes removed the risk of lymphedema is low. But I've met women suffering with it at support group and would prefer to avoid it if possible. I learned the hard way to follow doctor's orders early on, right after MX, when I thought I was feeling well enough to go walking and ended up with swelling that lasted several weeks and made it necessary for my drains to stay in longer than expected.

    Had appointments last week with both BS and PS and they don't want to see me for a year!!! Yay!! Now that I'm "finished" with BC, would like to move on and get back to normal life. Unfortunately, I gained 11 lbs. in the process thru private pity party eating and lack of exercise due to having surgery every few months. Seemed like as soon as I was healed enough to exercise it was time for next phase of reconstruction. Totally worth it, though. Started walking a few miles a day several weeks ago and resumed Zumba classes this month. But I'm so flabby. When I asked my PS about using weights, was told to avoid anything that activated the pectoral muscles because it would accelerate the natural effects of gravity, moving the implants down and out. OMG!! Reminded me of those dreaded TE's in my armpits. Thought that tidbit was worth sharing. Sticking with arms and shoulders!

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