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Exchange City

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Comments

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

    BethL: I hope you are feeling better now. Are you still taking strong/narcotic pain medications? Those can make people nauseous. Or maybe the anesthesia is still working its way out of your system.

    mvspaulding: I'm not sure, it could be a muscle stretching or a pull. Please give your PS office a call and ease your mind.

    chapagonzo: remember that the implants are placed under the muscle and that it is surgery, plus your long incisions, so you have some healing ahead of you. I had extensive pocket work done as well, I think I was tight, although not as tight as TEs, for about 3 months.

    Alex276: please speak with your doctor about your concerns.

  • ggpai
    ggpai Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2016

    OrcaPorkka. Our stories are very similar. Just signed up today but have been following since my diagnosis last September. I had a bi lateral mastectomy in November, followed by radiation and my reconstruction date is Sept. 2nd. I am 5' 10" tall and 155. I am going with 490 in one and about 540 in the other. I am choosing the natural shape. I had implants before cancer and they were AMAZING. I was a C cup and nobody could tell they were fake. Considering I don't have any of my own tissue to soften the look I decided to go smaller (plus everyone thought I looked thinner when my TEs where barely filled). I am hoping the tightness goes away after reconstruction. The side that was radiated is very hard and uncomfortable. I am starting to get emotional about the reconstruction surgery already (my oldest just started college in NY, which might be causing emotions too), but ready to close this chapter. Good luck to you and whatever you chose will be good if you are healthy and happy.

  • ggpai
    ggpai Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2016

    SanFranKitty. Good luck with your surgery. I am two weeks out from mine. My PS is waiting to do fat transfer until later. Seems easier your way. I share your nervousness but after what we've all been through, this is the easy part (thats what I'm telling myself). I felt me mastectomy recovery was harder due to all the emotions regarding the cancer and waiting for test results and treatment plans. I am getting emotional about the reconstruction but excited to continue wearing bikinis far past it being appropriate!!

  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    thanks! Now that I'm just two days away I'm stressed. Like yourself I was also thinking bikini! Why not right!? Funny.

    Oh yes doing it at once seems easier because you get all over with. I hope you don't have to wait to long to get your fat transfer done.

  • OrcaPorkka
    OrcaPorkka Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2016

    Ggpai - I know what you mean. I have been told I look thinner too. I hope your exchange goes smoothly

    BethL -

    My PS said just a slight increase in rippling risk, so I wouldn't worry too much...

    Mominator - thanks so much for the suggestions. I will definitely hit those threads too

  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2016

    Update- my nausea is much better. Still comes in waves but not like last week. I have not taken pain meds, so I know it's not that. Just odd, I normally have a pretty strong stomach.

    Already I can see an improvement in my new breasts. My cancer side actually looks great, the other is good but not as great because if my mastopexy 2 1/2 years ago. Things have changed A lot just in the last few days. I didn't realize how much swelling I had. I was certain I was getting symmastia, think I've been watching too many of those shows "Botched". To those getting close to surgery...Just be patient and don't jump to despair without letting things settle like I did. I am at the beach with my kids...compression and bathing suits-not so much. But I must say the girls look good in a suit! Not getting in the water above my hips.

    Beth


  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    Yay! Awesome that you can tell everything looks good. PErhaps your doctor could give you something to prevent nausea

  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2016

    I take zofran when I need it. I just don't know why this is still going on. Like I said it is much better so hopefully it'll be completely gone soon. You would think I'd lose some weight...but nope. Things that settle well are carbs. I really need and want to get my norm back...whatever that is. I haven't been the same since surgery in December. Cancer stinks.

  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    It does stink. I think if you are craving carbs go for it! Your body knows what it needs when you are healing. You can worry about the fine details when you aren't dealing with nausea anymore. And make sure you drink plenty of water.

    I have a question. Did the bandages on your belly keep you from wearing certain types of clothing

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2016

    sanfran - are you asking about the lipo bandages if they use the abdomen as the donor site? If so, it is basically a small piece of tegaderm or tape with a folded up piece of gauze under it - not really much in the way of bandaging. The incision for the lipo cannula for most is only about 1/4" long, so not much is needed in the way of bandaging and mine have been removed within a week and just a band-aid worn after that.

  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited August 2016

    I didn't have any bandages on my Lipo sites. Just open to air. Drained for a day or so. Closed very quickly. Scars barely visible over time;)

  • trmtab
    trmtab Member Posts: 869
    edited August 2016

    Just back from latest fill (now at 750!) feeling really big and hard...and the PS started talking dates for the exchange surgery for the first time, yeah!!!. Currently looking to have one or two more fills in Sept, then two months downtime before an exchange in December. With my teaching schedule that would make it Dec 10-15 probably.

    I am a L-MX, so my right will need a "lift/reduce" procedure...did folks do both the exchange and the revision surgery at the same time? I really would rather do one at a time, but was wondering what others have experienced ... so many are BMX so of course both sides are done at exchange...but for the single MX, what has been your process??? Did you get to choose?

  • JCS28
    JCS28 Member Posts: 92
    edited August 2016

    Hello everyone! Just wanted to report that I had my exchange with lipo 11 days ago, and I feel great! I really only was tired for a few days. I came back to work yesterday but probably could have sooner. I'm pleased with how I'm healing so far. I am small though, only 280 CC and was only an A cup before. And I'm fairly skinny. The only minor pain I have now is the bruised feeling on my abdomen. I still wear the compression garment at night, but I've been wearing Spanx in the daytime. It's annoying but I think I can manage for a while. I had my post-op appt this morning, and he said everything looks good. I had 4 lipo incisions -- belly button, just under panty line (old C section scar), and 1 on each hip. And I have implant scars under the "breasts". I was fortunate to not have drains since I did not need alloderm. So, just saying all is well! And I hope this is almost behind me. You can do it! WE can do it! Thanks for all the support.

  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    It's so nice to hear peoples updates :). Makes me feel less scared. I am about to head out the door for my exchange surgery right now!!! I'm less excited about the day since I haven't been able to have any coffee this morning. But I plan on having one as soon as I wake up. Wish me luck ladies.

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2016

    TimTab, I had exchange and an implant to the non-mx side at the same time. No problems.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited August 2016

    I hope you are doing well, SanFranKitty!!

  • ggpai
    ggpai Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2016

    Thinking about you SanFranKitty. Hope you are enjoying that cup of coffee right now. Speedy recovery.


  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    i am home! My surgery went well. I am in pain ans have two drains ( bummer ) But the pain is nothing like mastectomy pain. I do need pain pills though. Hope i get them out when i see my doctor friday! I was okay to eat dinner and now im on the sofa watching tv with my husband. I could not walk out of the hospital on my own because of the anesthesia. But yes i did enjoy that coffee! I will try and add a photo.

  • Wildtulip
    Wildtulip Member Posts: 470
    edited August 2016

    Congrats on your exchange, SanFranKitty!

  • JCS28
    JCS28 Member Posts: 92
    edited August 2016

    Just wondering how long y'all really wore your compression garments after lipo. I had lipo from my abdomen for fat grafting. My PS said wear it for 8 weeks. At my post-op yesterday he said wear it 24/7 for the first month but then I can switch to half days. He said I would know when my body didn't need it anymore. I'm only 12 days past surgery. Any advice? I've switched to Spanx for daytime but still wear the compression binder from surgery at night. What did everyone else do? Thanks!

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited August 2016

    I could not wear the binder I was put in at the hospital because it was too tall and chafed, so I switched to tight Spanx within the first week and wore them 24/7 for 8 weeks.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited August 2016

    Ggpai

    You live very close to me! I am in Yucaipa. My daughter used to live in Perris.

    I have annatomicals and love them. I am 17 months post EX. I am having nipple reconstruction on September 12. I had my treatment/surgeries at Kaiser. Where are you going?

    Robin


  • OrcaPorkka
    OrcaPorkka Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2016

    hi all!

    Thanks for the advice and sympathy so far. I had my second to last fill today and I am at a very tight (breasts feels like a basketball) 600cc, which is the official TE volume. Next week will be a 60cc overfill.

    So, I was going to go with the smaller Natrelle 410 series FX at 560cc, but when she looked at me today with the TE, we noticed that my upper pole fullness was good right where my TE's stopped and they were only 13cm high, and the FX would have been 14.5cm high, which would have oven me bulgy upper pole, so we are going with the Mentor MH 620.

    Honestly, I feel like it was meant to be and while I am worried about the rippling, I am happier with the idea of the slightly softer Mentor vs Natrelle. My kids have said multiple times that they miss "my old hugs" and I think it has to do with softness, so I will give up smoothness for some good hugs. :)

    So now I get to schedule my exchange. I am hoping for the second or third week in Nov as that should work out beat for July and husband' schedule, plus soccer and cheer will be over for my girls, phew!!

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited August 2016

    Orca, i have the Natrelle anatomical 475 FF. I am very happy with them and yes, they are a bit firmer. I am 17 months post EX and they continue to soften. There is absolutely no rippling. Mine are pretty much twins. If you want more movement then don't get Natrelle.

    Robin


  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2016

    well so far I dislike my binder. I think it s a little big on me because it buckles in certain areas,? Also it irritates my hip bone.Right now I'm to scared to take it off and too scared to see what's underneath. I am just like 48 hours post op though. I see ps tomorrow and hopefully I can see what it looks like and get drains out. Would be nice to switch to the surgical bra I was given instead of this huge bandage around my chest. I still don't know the fine details of my surgery ( like how many CCs I have or how much fat was used) ,because I didn't see the ps after my surgery. Will get all that info tomorrow.

    I seem to have picked up a bit of a chest and throat cold in the hospital, or right before surgery. NOt fun. But hey at least I'm already on antibiotics so it's not likely to become an infection😐.

  • Mom2fourplusmore
    Mom2fourplusmore Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2016

    I just found out my exchange surgery is on October 3, 2016. I'm glad to be done with this process. I'm not sure what to expect of the surgery. Both my BS and my PS said they've never seen anyone in so much pain after my BMX. I'm not sure I can go by what they say for this next surgery. They tell me most women have the surgery on Fri and are fine in a couple days and they are back to work on Monday. I own a daycare and lift babies all day long and I'm very active. I don't have a desk job. So what can I expect and how long should I plan to be out for? Thanks for the help

  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited August 2016

    mom2, I had so much pain that I had a total melt down at my 1st post op appt after bmx with my ps. I cried so much, that they didn't make me change into the gown. Horrible. Anyway, I am a nurse and also have a lot of physical work. I took off 2 weeks post exchange, but had no pocket work and no drains. Take as long as u need. I would say 2 - 4 weeks because babies can get heavy, esp if they are wiggly. Ha ha.

  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2016

    I had planned to take off 4 weeks post exchange so I could use my last week for beach recuperation with my boys. Last week I get a call from fmla group stating I'm aporoved until sept 12 which would be 6 weeks. I don't need that and will get my is to release me when I see him next week. I did have pocket work and fg but 3 weeks would have been ok. I too am a nurse and work with newborns who often weigh mee than my lifting limit.

    One thing that started up today is pain down my inner arm on the side of lymph node removal. I was told I had cording s few months ago but it only hurt a little. Now it's pretty bad. I'm guessing from not using my arms as much the last couple of weeks. Gonna start the massaging again. Ugh.

  • Mom2fourplusmore
    Mom2fourplusmore Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2016

    wow, my PS is telling me I don't need any more then a couple days. I called again today to question that. The issue is that I own the business. If I don't work then I don't get paid and this disease has already left my business in shambles. People left when they found out I had cancer and getting new people isn't easy because of parents reaction to the cancer. Every day and every hour I miss I lose my livelihood. I'm drowning financially. It sucks. So I'm hoping that somehow the PS is right

  • Alex276
    Alex276 Member Posts: 17
    edited August 2016

    I had my exchange and small lipo under my arms on Monday. The only pain I have now is in my sternum where he did pocket work and the lipo areas are tender to the touch. I only took Norco Mon and Tues night and advil during the day. I actually haven't had any advil today and I'm tolerating the discomfort just fine. It's probably at a 2 level. I would say since you will be picking children up and using your arms alot you would need a full week at a minimum, 2 weeks would be even better. Take it easy if you can

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