Exchange City
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I was never numb anywhere.......
Special K is right about padding.....I just used maxi pad, pads, and mini pads depending on padding needed folding and sticking them on my stretchy bra (most of padding towards wounds...I never had drains, except for BMX and it was NO recon at that time.)
Di
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Well, today was my last fill - at 640cc for a Mentory MemoryGel 620 MH implant and scheduled my exchange surgery for Nov 17th. Now just the waiting around with the TEs. I appreciate all posting here and am learning as I read..
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Yay OrcaPorkka, halfway there!
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Hang in there Orka... even with all our grumbling about the drains, spanks and side effects of this round of surgery, for me, it has been much, much easier than the BMX!.
I stopped all pain meds by day 7 after my surgery. I simply don't need it any more. And, the areas numbed by the lyposuction are already waking up again... itching like crazy now as the nerves start working. A good, if bothersome, sign.
As a bonus, my post exchange figure is looking pretty good given what I've been through in the last 4 months. My husband has recently nicknamed me "Barbie".... so the process must be working...
You will get through this and you will love the softer and more natural shape of the Mentor anatomicals. Mine are sooooo much more comfortable than the TE's. I hardly even notice them after only 1 week!.
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Hi everyone! LRGO, I am glad your healing and feeling well
. I was actually going to most tomorrow after my appointment but I'm posting today. Tomorrow will be two weeks post op for me. I'm healing well. This time around I have not had anywhere near the the pain of the mastectomy surgery. The thing that was the worst was that up until a couple of days ago I was still very tired and was having some dizzy spells and nausea due to anesthesia. But I seem to be over that. And two days ago I woke up and noticed something interesting....my belly is shrinking! My belly hasn't been this flat since before motherhood. I am good about getting to the gym and I have never been able to make a dent in that area. And with my new fuller bust line I actually look pretty good. I feel that my plastic surgeon did a very good job. Still more swelling to go down though, and a while before I can wear jeans again. I'm still stuck in leggings and tunic tops.
I have a lot of questions for my doctor tomorrow about when I'll be able to do cardio and arm exercises!
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Had my 10 day followup today. My drains stay in for 1 more week - rats!. It is a mixed blessing i guess. Because my fluid production is slow to diminish, my PS has extended my leave for 1 more week. My body seems to produce lots of fluid when injured.
I have a hard patch of fat (necrosis or scarring) under my arm pit that needs to be massaged many times a day to break it up or soften it. Does anyone else have this and what seems to work best to help soften these troublesome spots?
Good news about the spanks though, I've been given the freedom to discontinue wearing them if it is comfortable to do so. The amount of fat they removed was minimal so they are not worried too much about seromas for me. I find it still a bit painful not to wear compression, so am going to keep my spanks on for another week, then see if I can go without. I'll let you all know. Guess it pays to ask your Dr. How soon you can go free!
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I had my two week appointment today
. I got my stitches out and it was painful. I'm still pretty swollen up top, especially on one side. But they say that will diminish. PA said they look phenominal.I too am allowed to stop wearing my binder ( and other devices). Mostly because it was hurting me so much. I am still very bruised, and on one side of my waist I have a painful hard area. I was also advised to massage it when it hurts less.
Otherwise, I have been given the all clear for aerobic exercise. But no weights or heavy lifting. Back in 3 weeks.
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Lucky you SFKitty! To be given the go ahead on exercise! I'm just dreading my entry into the restricted activity phase beginning tomorrow - exchange day! Though, sorry you still have some pain and bruising, but glad the PA said you look great!
I threw myself into this past weekend and biked a ton in anticipation of being sedentary. It was so enjoyable and my teen daughter was a great companion. She had me working harder than I would do without her setting this crazy pace ahead of me. What a role reversal for me, but it's great that she seems to have developed a passion for biking that we can share.
I keep getting butterflies as I realize periodically that tomorrow is the day. Nervous anticipation - not so much about my actual implants, but about the procedure, all the needle pokes, how I will react to anesthesia, how much pain will I be in afterwards. I know I'm the first case of the day which I sure appreciate. Hopefully I'll be home before my kids are from after school sports.
My PS is bringing 3 different allergen anatomical implants - they are extra full projection style in sizes 295, 325 an 330. I'll be very curious to see what I end up with after surgery. Oh, boy, here I go!
I'll check back afterwards...
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Omg Jessiejake. The big day! You will do fine. Surgery is no fun but the recovery for the exchange is easier than the mastectomy. Post when you can and let us know how it went and how you're doing.
Yes I am very happy I can exercise. I miss my workout friends
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Jessejake good luck with surgery tomorrow can't wait to hear how it goes... I'll say a prayer for you, I can't wait to get my little turtle shells swapped out!
SanFranKitty congrats on being the go ahead on working out...I think that's the one thing I've missed the most in this process these modified workouts just don't do it for me
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LRGO - thanks for all the positive words! I am so looking forward to something softer than these softballs! I pulled a muscle while sleeping last night.
SanFranKitty - great job on the exercise front. Even if you don't utilize it, it means you are back on the path to "normal" life! I had some hard fat and it just resolved on its own..
Jessejake - hope it all went smoothly!
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Hi Everyone,
I just last week seen my new plastic surgeon. I was originally going to get my dog ears removed. Then about a week before my appt. I decided I want boobie's again. It's been 2 years since my double mastectomy. I had one removed 9-9-14 and the other breast removed 9-18-14. I usually just go flat. I hate wearing foobs. I'm really excited about getting permanent implants. My surgery date for the T.E. is Holloween this year. I am expecting a new granddaughter the middle of October. (if she waits that long). I was wondering what restrictions to expect? Also how painful are the T.E.'s? Mine is going behind the chest wall muscle. I'm so happy to find this group.
Jessejake, good luck and keep us posted.
Carolynn
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Carolynn,
Congratulations on your decision to do implants. I think you'll like them. As far as restrictions, I think every PS is different. Mine was very conservative. I couldn't do anything with the TE-not running, biking, swimming, lifting over 10 pounds, sleeping on my side, lifting my arms over my shoulder, etc, etc. All I could do physically was walk. It was a long 4 months. However, I have heard of other ladies who live a fairly normal life with TEs. I'm sure they will chime in. You will have to see what your PS says. I didn't find the TEs painful, exactly, except for a couple days after fills. They are hard and uncomfortable, but when you get your foobs, it will all be worth it. Just be patient. Good luck.
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Hi Carolynn, I had my tissue expanders in for 4 months. For the first month I couldn't do much. But by the end of the four months I was sleeping on my side, and was able to work out and do arm exercises that included light weights etc. The only thing I wasn't able to do was anything that worked my chest muscles. I also did regular house work without any issues. So I wasn't that restricted.
It will be interesting to hear what it is like to go from flat to tissue expaders. It is great that we have choices and options.
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Carolyn - I had some restrictions for the first several weeks after my UMX and tissue expander placement in June. Most of the restriction where on how much I could lift. I was restricted to 5lbs for first few weeks and then 10lbs for next several. All restrictions were lifted at 6 weeks. My medical team encouraged me to walk right away and I resumed running (slowly) on my treadmill at 2 weeks - they advised I keep my heart rate low until 6 weeks. Once again all restrictions were lifted at 6 weeks and I resumed normal outside running and exercise routine. My tissue expander is also under the muscle. I am now 11 weeks post surgery and am able to do pushups and weight lifting. I have gradually increased my activity levels without any problems. It's still a bit uncomfortable to sleep on my side but with a pillow I can sleep "semi" side. The tissue expander has been uncomfortable but not unbearable.
I am very excited the be scheduled for the exchange surgery on 9/29. I know that there will be at least a few weeks of "restricted activities" but based on how the first recovery progressed, I believe I will resume all normal activities in a relatively short period of time.
Good luck to you as you go through this process!!!! I bet you will do great!!!
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Thank-you for your information gals. Bikefam, where in Michigan are you? I'm about 30 min from Jackson. Down by Brooklyn. I am going to call the ps tomorrow and ask what to expect in restrictions. If I'm restricted thru the Christmas holidays, I might have to delay till the beginning of the year. I don't want to leave work short during the holidays. I sure don't want to tho. I'm really ready to do it now and get it done with. Plus, since my surgery is scheduled for halloween I was planning on bringing in a large cup bra with candy in the cups and hanging it from my iv pole and telling the staff to say trick or treat to get candy from it. lol I'll let you all know what happens tomorrow.
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Just back from my final fill...now at 800!
Feel let down in some way...guess I had gotten used to the rhythm of fills and having regular check in's with the PS...plus just found out that my swap date will need to be pushed back a couple of weeks due to a conflict with the PS's schedule. So unless I have complications/complaints, I don't have another appt with the PS until December! Love the freedom, but feel oddly adrift, so happy to have all of you on this board to talk to.
Was going to have the swap at the start of the Christmas recess (12/16) so as to have recovery time before the spring semester started up...now will have to wait until January, so instead of 4 weeks will have 10 days before I start teaching again. I know that should be fine as long as all goes well...but feel a little let down and concerned that I have burned through my "recovery buffer" due to a scheduling conflict.
The PS is willing to do it the week in between Christmas and New Years...but who works then? meaning at the hospital...most of the senior nurses, the techs, the anesthesiologist...all the senior folks take that week off and the hospital is staffed with a bunch of locums
Oh well, guess I will have to work hard to not have complications come January 6!
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Exchange complete! I had my surgery yesterday. It appears to have all gone well. I'm feeling quite good today. I actually went the entire night without pain meds and found that quite tolerable.
I had fat grafting from my thighs and butt. Looks like one incision on each side. I'm sporting a lovely crotchless girdle that runs from above my knees to very high on my waist. I actually undid the top waist part and folded it over as I don't need any compression up there. That's slightly more comfortable. I don't have drains.
I'm not positive yet which implant my PS used. After surgery she told my husband I am probably a C cup and I assume she meant 32 as we talked about that before surgery. They don't look too bad as in the incisions are covered and very minimal swelling. I couldn't see bruising. Because my implants are above the muscle the biggest aesthetic thing she was trying to accomplish was hiding the edges of the implant to make it look natural. I have one small incision near my armpit on each side where she must have injected the fat. I think they look good. One small thing that might not be a big deal is that my left nipple seems to still be pointing a little outward. My husband didn't think much of it. I'll see what my PS thinks at my follow up next week.
My thighs have bruising. We just went for a short walk outside and it felt more to me like sore muscles. I think it was on here that people were discussing numbness in the fat graft area. The little pamphlet I received about fat grafting did list that as a temporary result.
I was so relieved to wake up not feeling nauseous after surgery. Just very, very tired. I made the mistake, though, of drinking some apple juice shortly before I left and that made me nauseous. I was sick all evening, but finally took zofran (anti-nausea med) and feel asleep. When I woke up a few hours later I felt fine and I've not been nauseous since. Yeah.
So, just taking it easy now and contemplating how difficult it will be to restrict my activity for the next 4-5 weeks. Girdle, too, for 4-5 weeks.
Hope everyone else is doing well!
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Congrats JessieJake! Glad everything went well. The nipple thing could be due to swelling. Two weeks post op and my body is still going through all kinds of changes.
They took from your thigh? That sounds painful for some reason. Hope it's not to bad. That's awesome that you have no drains, and are already going without pain meds.
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My PS had warned me that the fat grafting would be the most painful part of this surgery. She said for thin women (they had my BMI as 17 so not a lot to grab!) they have to work harder to get fat and that cause more bruising, etc.. So, I'm somewhat pleasantly surprised that it just feels uncomfortable but not super painful.
I figured there might be some swelling going on. I can definitely feel some between my implants. The PS made mention I might see more swelling next week.
Hope you are enjoying your return to exercise!
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Congrats JessieJake
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Congratulations JessieJake. I'm so excited for you. TrmTab, I also work a a hospital and during the time between Christmas and New Years the main part effected is the office people. The other departments just keep going. Actually, we are not allowed to put in for vacation during that time. Keep us posted on your recovery.
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Carolyn,
I'm "Up North", in Gaylord. My PS is in Traverse City. I know where Brooklyn is. Grew up downstate. Even though I had alot of restrictions, I was able to work all through my TE, but I have a desk job. Depending on what you do, you should be able to work.
Carla
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Hello all you new and soon to be on the squishy side! I am 18 months post EX. I didn't have fat grafting. I allowed 2 weeks off and could have gone back after a week.(I have a desk job)
Much easier surgery. No drains, even with annatomicals. I had very little fluid after bmx. Just remember to follow your PS instructions they are for a reason. Better results when you follow the rules.
Take care,
Robin
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TrmTab, I worked at a hospital, and the nurses with the most senority, would grab up the holidays since they could make a lot of $$$$ quickly.... I also has my BMX (no recon at that time) the aftenoon of Dec 21 and went home Dec 22 10;30 or 11AM, I also had one of my revisions on New Years Eve.....and went home that evening......NOT a problem....no where was was there short o staff during holiday period.
Di
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I have been up since 5am feeling negative. I'm sick of sleeping on my back for one thing, and sick of the healing process. lol. Sounds spoiled I know. But even though I'm two weeks and a few days out from my final surgery I still have foobs that are swelling at different rates and a sore abdomen. So I am not feeling "normal" yet, and I'm very anxious for "normal" to just get here.
Went to the gym yesterday with one of my workout buddies, and did 30 minutes of cardio. Kind of funny just doing cardio because I'm used to doing so much more when I'm there. But that will have to wait. Going to work my way up to an hour of cardio each visit.
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Di2012 - thanks for your reply...the PS's admin is really pushing for me to have the surgery on Wed Dec 28th which to me seems like the dead zone for doing something significant.
What is really steaming me up right now is that his limited access to the hospital surgical suite is only now being made known to me! ...despite talk all along about my giving dates that work for me, working around my teaching schedule, etc. I today find out that his solo day at the hospital surgical suite is the last Wednesday of the month! Like, one day a month!
So now I find out (with a fully expanded TE in my chest), that he is mainly a private practice PS with in-office surgical suite and has very limited hospital time solo. My first encounter with him was at the partnered mastectomy with the BS and PS "passing off" mid surgery. My BS does surgery every MWF...and until now that was the impression I had re the PS surgical schedule, that he has in-office surgery on M and in-hospital surgery on WF. Now it appears that is only when in partnership with the BS.
Need to calm down, but am upset.
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I am both excited and nervous - my PS has moved my exchange date to 9-23-16. Only 2 weeks away! It's still outpatient surgery but he has decided the larger UTSW Clements Hospital might be a better venue than the originally planned Professional Outpatient Surgery Clinic in his building. Hopefully that does not mean he's anticipating issues with my recovery. I am not planning on staying over! I do wonder about having surgery at 3pm on a Friday afternoon - hopefully the staff will not be in a hurry to end their week.
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Hi!
I had my surgeries at Clements. That place runs like a well-oiled machine. I had both of my surgeries on Fridays. It was no problem!
If you don't mind sharing, who was your surgeon? I had Dr Teotia.
Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery!
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Hi Carla,
Thanks for the reassurance! I am ready to do the exchange but still a bit nervous about another surgery. How long did it take for you to recover from your exchange surgery? Was it also outpatient? My BS is Dr. Ann Leitch and my PS is Dr. Nicholas Haddock. I have been very pleased with my entire UTSW medical team. Which includes my MO Dr. Froehlich and also the Research Study group. They have worked together and been very supportive and attentive from my first visit to UTSW in December.
Do you have any words of advice before I have the exchange? I am going with a silicone implant and they are going to do a lift on my native breast. The only downside to the exchange is that Dr. Haddock will send me home with drains. I believe that was the most uncomfortable part of the first surgery.
Thanks again for responding!
Laurie
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