Exchange City
Comments
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Hi. I am now 3 weeks post exchange. I have been working from home for the past two weeks and today is my first day back in the office. Overall, I feel pretty good. Still tightness and soreness in my chest. I will see my PS in 2 weeks and will have to ask her about that. While things look pretty good, my radiated breast is smaller and higher than the other one. My PS said that that is to be somewhat expected. She said not to make any judgments for 6 weeks because they are still settling in. I always assumed that she would be able to do nipple reconstruction but she said that she has to make that decision when she sees me next. At the time she reconstructs nipples, she would be doing any tweaking. This is not for WIMPS!
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Mominator- I am so relieved all those antibiotics cleared that up!! You did not lose your Implant!! That is my biggest worry. It seems to happen more than we think.
MarketingMama- so happy it cleared up!! What a relief. I had some teeth chattering too after surgery. I think it's from anesthesia and the shock your body went through! I agree with the pain. I have had 5 surgeries in last 12 months and this has been rough. I will take my pain meds as long as I need too. My liposuction and drain/pocket work areas the worse painful areas. Hoping you get healed and your pain gets better everyday!! You will be tired after you start work. Listen to your body and rest when you can. I way overdid it after my MX in October and I am not doing that again.
Sknitter- hope you are doing well on your first day back! I think we are going to be sore for quite awhile! Don't overdo it. Hopefully your job isn't stressful! I am anxious for my final results too, anything is better than my TE.
DeeRatz- glad your implant feels natural. I am only 5 days postoperative but I love mine. It is really amazing what Plastic Surgeons can create. We have been through so much at least we can get implants and look somewhat normal.
I am going to attempt a walk around the block!
Patty
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marketing - yay, yay, yay! So happy there is no infection and things have settled down for you!
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marketingmama, I am glad to read you are feeling better and fever has gone away. I hope you don't mind me asking about the new, smaller implants. There is less rippling? I have more rippling than I expected and my PS that I am not seeing anymore told me that if I went smaller I would just get more rippling. My new PS said he didn't want to talk about surgery until the "dust settled"--I had my implants in November.
I wish I had asked more questions before all of this rather than just trusting my PS. She had been my mom's. And it was a second opinion. So, I felt like I had done my due diligence. Anyway, I hope the pain has diminished!
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suzanne50, yea, I worked with my drains in. My parents drove me to work. My teenager, who had his permit also went with me to work. I don't know what I was thinking. The PS said I could walk the 2 miles to work but...no. I couldn't. Not in that heat. And I couldn't even if it weren't so darn hot. I have a new PS now.
There were signs that I should change but I was afraid to make a change like that mid-stream.0 -
Monimator - I am rather small in the chest area. I only had a single mastectomy so that one is getting the exchange. The other side is getting a lift and then a saline implant to try to give me the same shape. That is where my PS doesn't know if he can do both for that very reason - blood supply to the nipple. He said he would have to make the decision when he was in there.
I go for my pre-op on Wed. - surgery still 2 weeks away. Can't wait to get rid of this brick. So done with that.
Glad to see everyone coming through ok.
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I had my exchange last September. I now feel a small lump at 3:00 position on the right Breast. My surgeon thinks it is a suture granuloma. He did am ultrasound, but wants to check in a couple of months. I am worried. Anyone know about suture granulomas?
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Suture granulomas and "spitting stitches" are pretty common. If it is a granuloma caused by internal stitches (usually dissolvable ones) it may resolve if the stitch dissolves, or continued inflammation and immune response may keep it irritates and necessitate removal of the stitch. This is not a serious problem, but I understand why it is worrisome. If your PS was really concerned he would not delay for two months - I think he is trying to allow your body to deal with this on its own
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I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. I had my exchange in late December, and when I went in for my eight-week checkup the PA took one look and immediately noticed an area I was going to ask about, about an inch or so above my incision, maybe a little less. It looks small and white and is just below the skin (less than the size of the end of a pencil eraser), does not move (the skin shifts above it) and is hard and a little pointy on one side. I was a little freaked out, but my PS said he was "100 percent sure" it was scar tissue or a retained suture or a combination, as he knows that area was where he had to split muscle and then suture it back up, and sometimes it can take 3 or 4 months for everything to be absorbed. I was nervous, because on one of these threads I had read something about looking out for recurrences that felt like gravel, but when I mentioned that and he examined me he said "cancer isn't pointy."
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Hi Everyone,
Just checking in for a quick hello. Thank you for all the prayers I truly believe that they help. I'm doing pretty good but that could be the pain meds and the valium talking. Lol I haven't actually seen the "girls" yet but I can already tell the difference just like you all were saying. I don't feel the tightness or the heaviness anymore. It is wonderful. Don't get me wrong I am in pain but it is tolerable with pain meds and valium.
Fipjoemom I hope your surgery went as well as mine did.
Dee I'm so happy to hear you are doing so well. That is great news!
Night Night all
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Tina, it's great to see you doing well. I hope you continue to improve and have an uneventful recovery.
Fipjoemom, check in when you can. I hope you are resting comfortably.
Mysunshine and Czechmate, sounds like you both have suture granulomas. SpecialK did a great job explaining them. I had neurosurgery in March and I had a bunch of suture granulomas. Sometimes it takes a while for them to dissolve.
Suzanne, thanks for the clarification. The nipple supply has been mentioned on many boards I've been on, usually in regards to nipple sparing Mx. But I understand now, your PS is worried about putting an implant in and cutting off the blood supply to the nipple. I wonder if putting the implant under the muscle would solve that problem? I only know what I've read in the breast reconstruction and breast augmentation brochures in the waiting room, LOL. I'm not a doctor!! Definitely some questions for your PS.
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Hi Ladies,
I have a question for those of you who have had your implants a while and are settled in:
How long does it take to feel normal again, especially to feel comfortable sleeping on your sides again?
It's been 5 weeks since my exchange. Although it's getting better, it still feels uncomfortable to sleep on my sides, it feels like things are moving in there. The left side feels slightly better than the right. The left had more pocket work done, but the right had more fat tissue removed at exchange. Maybe the left is slightly more settled so far?
I know we're all different and recovery takes time. I'd like to feel normal again.
Thank you for your help.
Mominator
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Good morning everyone. Just checking in to say thanks for all your thoughts for my surgery yesterday. All went well. Having some pain but like Tina the pain meds are taking care of me. Glad you are doing okay Tina. Like you said what a difference in feeling with the tissue expanders out!
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Good Morning everyone! I am 1 week out from exchange and am very excited for it! I did have to stop taking my tamoxfin this morning. my oncologist said to stop taking it 1 week pre and 1 week post surgery due to the increase risk of blood clots. It is making me feel a little nervous not taking it since I feel its what is keeping the Cancer away. Anyone else have to stop taking meds before/after surgery? Thanks and reading all about your exchanges had me very excited for mine!
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Katykids, as for smaller implants and rippling.... My PS said that Inspiras help with rippling. Something about the surface of them being textured. I also had ADM so wondering if the combination of those things helped. I was at 650 with Mentor rounds and he changed to 615 Inspiras. So not a huge difference. He actually brought in 3 sizes and went with the smaller Inspiras. I was surprised but he said that after raising and lowering me multiple time with different sizes (I laugh at the thought of this process!), he felt the 615s looked best (I wanted to be a small C). I also had pocket work done around the entire implant (on both sides) so the "internal bra" might be helping to keep things taught around the implant. Or perhaps the Inspiras are just different in size/dimensions. I was sure I would need fat grafting for rippling at some point but if things stay as they are with these new implants, I won't!! Perhaps speak with your PS about the type of implant. I'm so glad I have the Inspiras! BTW, I'm only 11 days post-op so I should acknowledge that rippling could still occur once the implants settle and swelling reduces. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the well wishes from all of you ladies. Every time I take my Bactrim, I remind myself how lucky I am to be infection-free.
Special K, thank you so much and I am pulling for you come your exchange time.
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marketing - nothing but good for both of us, I hope! Things are progressing and for the first time in 18 months I don't need a prosthetic on the left, so I am happy. I think my PS is encouraged, she was reserving enthusiasm as she came into this process late in the game and had never seen my skin healed. Her attention to detail, use of antibiotics to prevent issues, and efforts to minimize the things I am allergic or sensitive to has meant all the difference this time. I have an appt with her on Fri and we will finalize the plans - will most likely exchange and FG the left side, and downsize the implant and revise the right side in June - she likes 3 months after last fill.
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Great news Special! Sounds like your PS is wonderful and addressing all the risks well. How nice to lose the prosthetic too!
Pulling for you !!
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Special K, thank you for your response on the granuloma - I hope that is what it is!! Still, worrisome.
Good luck on your journey to exchange. I am sure you will be so happy to get this done!
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marketing - yes, the PS is a great combo of skill, caution, and is also risk averse - all of this has meant that I have made great progress while under her care. I am grateful I made the change when I did and this seems to be coming together. Due to the litany of issues my finished recon will not be aesthetically pleasing, but I will look mostly normal in clothes - that is all I need at this point.
sunshine - hoping the granuloma resolves on its own, but if it doesn't, it should be an easy fix. I will be happy to have all of this in my rearview mirror, it has been going on for so long it will be odd not to be dealing with it any longer! I'm sure I will adjust though, lol!
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Tina, fipjoemom glad you are both doing well. I can tell you the pain slowly subsides. I am four weeks post exchange today and every day I feel a bit better. I probably should have taken pain meds or even tylenol longer than a day or two post op as I had extensive pocket work, but chose not to.
Take things slowly; don't over do things, especially don't lift too much. I actually woke up this morning and commented on how I felt nothing, no pain, I was lying on my side and felt totally fine.
Hang in there you will be back to yourselves or at least your new selves very soon:)
Phyllis
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Tina and Fipjoemom- welcome to the other side!! The Valium and pain meds make recovery bearable. I am so happy you both are happy with your implants. My TE was so horrid I am overjoyed with mine. HaHa! I am 6 days Postoperative and have turned a small corner. I was able to walk yesterday and today do some baking. Be gentle with yourselves and rest!! Listen to your body.
MarketingMamma- pulling for both of us! No more infections!!
Mominator- I miss my side too, I can only sleep on my back. I am only 6 days though. I had surgery only on my right. My left side had liposuction for the fat grafting so that side really hurts. This crap is not for wimps that is for sure.
Czech and MySunshine- it's Probably nothing major, praying it resolves!
SUzanne- counting down the days for you!! It will be so much more comfortable.
Hugs to all!
Patty
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Marketingmama, thank you so much for the information. I will ask my new PS about those implants when I see him in a couple of weeks! I have Mentor 620s. I agree, that sitting up and lowering down process sounds pretty funny. I don't know what my PS did in the OR. She and I just didn't get on very well at the end.
I hope you are feeling better and better every day. Fingers crossed--no rippling! Feel good!! And thank you again!!
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Mominator. . .I believe I am the exception to the rule when it comes to side sleeping. I still have nerve pain nearly 7 months post EX so I can't sleep fully on either side. I sleep curled up with a total body pillow.
Ajbenefield. . .I also stopped taking Tamoxifen before and after EX.
Scottie
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Thank you Patty and Phyllis. Today is day 2 and feeling a little better. Still taking the pain meds though. I'm a side sleeper but I'm afraid to sleep on my side. I wasn't told that I couldn't i just don't want to mess anything up. Lol. I've been sleeping with my husband pillow and the traveling neck pillow and it is working fine. I seem to have more pain under my breasts this time. I know it is going to take some time but I'm really looking forward to the day when I wake up with no pain. That will be wonderful!
Suzanne50 you are up next.....not long now. You are going to be so much more comfortable on the other side. Those expanders were horrible.
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Tina--so glad surgery went well!! I have a ways to go still with expansion but all these posts about how much better it is after exchange are helping me get through.
Rest up and prayers for an uncomplicated recovery
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Tina1969, Glad your doing well. Underneath is where all my pain is/was. PS says its the pocket work done. its like an internal bra they create to keep the implants here they belong. For me it was moving them in toward each other as I could have driven a Truck between the TE's. Now they are so much closer and nicer looking (and of course softer). (although I would have even liked them closer) But they are fine.
When you first hear you have to go through all this your thoughts are not on the reconstruction and what you will look like, its let me get through this and come out a survivor. Once your in the thick of it, you say hey I may as well get some benefits so you want to look like a movie star:) I was never large and had no cleavage to speak.of. I nursed 7 children so they certainly were no longer perky. But when your not large saggy is not a big deal:) Now I am so picky I want perky and I want cleavage. I definitely have the perky and I look nice. But if they were a drop closer I would have that cleavage:)
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I am counting the days till I get this expander out. Today is my pre-op appointment. Less than 2 weeks to go! I just want it over with. I am taking a week off of work - i can take more if needed but that is what I am planning for (I'm a teacher and need to leave sub plans). I hope that is enough.
And I know I am being pushy, but I really want to resume my exercise routine as soon as possible. Exercise makes me feel so good! I don't think I can go 4 weeks without going nuts. But I assume I can at least walk. I did that after my mastectomy.
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Suzanne, I was always encouraged to walk. Maybe to a fault with my doctors. But, yes, I could walk after the exchange. And I did. It felt so refreshing. Although, the boobs took a bit of getting used to. They move differently.
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Suzanne50, I did walk as much as possible after my BMX as well as my exchange. Good luck
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Tina-Glad you are doing well. I was very bruised on the bottom of my boobs from the pocket work. They are finally looking better 2 weeks post Exchange.
I had my post op appt with my PS today. I told her about my concerns re size. She said to leave these for 6 months and see how I feel about them. If I'm still not happy then she will exchange them with larger ones. She said she put the biggest ones in she could at the time of surgery. She said my skin was pretty stretched. It made me feel better that I can change them if I want.
She cleared me to do light cardio. No weights for at least 4 more weeks. I am not feeling like I could do any weights at the moment. I can still feel things pulling in there when I do too much.
Suzanne-you will find the implants much nicer to exercise with. I don't feel the pec muscle flexing over the implant like I did with the expanders. I think it is due to the fact that the implants are soft and squishy, rather than the muscle flexing over top of the rocks(aka expanders). Oh and my implants aren't in my armpits.....that is nice.
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