Exchange City
Comments
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Have often experienced itching and it's so frustrating because often the skin is numb so you can't even find a place to scratch (if that makes sense). Pain meds definitely cause itching. For me, Percoset is worse so I steer clear of it. Benadryl absolutely works but keep in mind it will also put you to sleep!
I'm feeling very nervous today. Trying to concentrate on work to keep my mind off the procedure in the morning. Didn't sleep much last night and walking around with a nagging tension headache. I'm mainly worried that this is my last chance to "cure" the capsular contracture and that if it comes back, I'll have no choice but to go flat or do a flap procedure. Just got to stay positive I guess...
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Itchyness here too! It was mostly around the incisions (in IMF), but also my back. I attributed it to the nerves being cut or reconnecting and thought it was a good sign that things were healing.
LADYnKY - I slept on my side last night but also turned to my back in the middle of the night. I don't think I was concerned about the implants, just that I was so used to sleeping on my back that it happened naturally. I also bought a new mattress a few weeks ago and it still feels strange to me, so sleeping on my side felt different somehow.0 -
Marketingmamma, Yes! That does make sense. It kinda feels like the itching is inside, not on the skin, so even if you find the right spot, scratching doesn't help. I had thought of the sleep effect of Benadryl too, so will have to be careful when I take it. Good luck with your procedure tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!
Grandma, I also thought of it as a good (but annoying) sign of healing.
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Grandma- Yeah, I'm into medical stuff. Worked for a surgeon for 10 years as the sx coordinator so not only vids but I've seen many of his sxs live! Always been fascinated with medicine. Amazing what they can do.
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Wild, I am 21 months post EX and I still can't get to an itch!! It is usually somewhere under muscle so you can't tell where it is!!
Hang in there! Swelling is a big factor. I don't know if you have rounds or anatomical implants so it is different. Rounds will drop and fluff where anatomical do not. Side sleeping comes in time.
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Robin, I have Mentor memory gel rounds. Oddly enough, I have no idea what volume or profile I have. My PS knew that I liked the size I was expanded to, and I trusted him to make appropriate calculations/adjustment for the implants. I'll get the info next time I see PS. I did read many times on BCO that it takes a while for implants to settle, so I'm trying to reserve any opinion.
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wild - implants are unique medical devices implanted so you should receive a card for each from your PS that state the specifics about size, as well as the serial numbers and the implantation (exchange surgery) date. Everyone who has implants should have these cards because they establish the ticking clock on the warranty, and the manufacturer's obligation to replace them if they fail during the warranty period. You can't necessarily count on your PS to retain your records, or this info, for that period - they could close the practice, lose the info, etc.
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SpecialK, Thanks for the info! I expected that I would get a card at post op, but forgot about it in the moment. I am supposed to see PS in another couple weeks, but in the meantime I'm going to order surgical notes, just because I'm curious.
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Got a message from the women's center confirming an appt I have tomorrow with Dr. Pham. I call back. Uh. Who and for what? Says here you are booked for a consultation about removing your IUD. Uh. First of all, I don't have an IUD.... Oh. So sorry...
Hope they have my sx booked correctly. Stuff like this doesn't make me warm and fuzzy inside.
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Artista, Wildtulip, and SpecialK: as I was getting discharged from my exchange, the nurse gave me my medical implant card in this biohazard bag:
It did not give me the warm fuzzies about the medical devices they had just implemented into my body.
The nurse saw the look of horror on my face and quickly explained that those are the only bags that they use. They just didn't want the card to get lost! Note there are still some dressings in the same bio bag. Again, they did not them to get lost.
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Artista: sending you all best wishes on your exchange today. Wishing you a smooth surgery and a gentle recovery. Madelyn
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Madelyn, That's funny!
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Agree, that wouldn't give me a warm fuzzy either.
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I went home with my cards! Then were required to register them with Allergan. Make sure you get them!! They are a tracking system!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend abd best to the ladies having surgery.
Robin
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Wildtulip: how are you feeling today? I hope your recovery is going smoothly and you have a comfortable weekend.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
Madelyn
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wild - the serial numbers and implant sizes should also be noted in the op report. I know a lot of people don't get copies of their surgical reports, but I do for each one. For the last couple I also asked for the anesthesiology reports because I wanted to see what drugs were administered. I had asked the anesthesiologist at the last exchange in May not to give me Zofran - it doesn't work for me and gives me a wicked headache - he gave it to me three times while I was asleep despite talking to him about this in pre-op. I brought this up to my PS because I wanted her opinion about how to handle this going forward and she said that we would add Zofran to my allergy list - then they couldn't give it to me. Genius. Love her. In fairness - my son, who is a paramedic, also suggested doing this.
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Madelyn, thanks for asking. I think I'm doing ok...I don't feel a need for pain meds during the day. I tried going without meds last night, but ended up taking acetaminophen & muscle relaxer. One particular area hurts, where PS did IMF, but he warned me about it. I'm more tired than normal, but I have kids home too. Trying to take it slow!!
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Special
Thanks again for you knowledge and sharing. I was in my mother's hospital room yesterday, she had been admitted for irregular heartbeat, no heart attack or stroke, we just don't know yet...
At any rate, after 15 hrs of monitoring and the 4th dose of Zofran that wasn't helping and her complaining of a full face head ache...there was you comment!
Gave me the data point to speak up!
Thanks again. TT
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Hi ladies. Had my capsular contracture removed and received a new implant. I can absolutely feel the difference and so nice to have the tightness gone. He also lipod extra fat / side boob. Thought he was going to excise the skin but he decided to try and avoid giving me more scars. Hoping it looks ok down the road. More important was fat grafting done on my opposite breast (the one without CC). He took fat from my inner thighs. Told him I didn't have a preference. He seemed to think the fat there was particularly good! Ha! How do they know?! Well needless to say the lipo areas are really painful now. But I love how the grafting looks. Ripples hidden, breasts feel warm, filled in cleavage enough that I have flesh covering my sternum. Plus softened the drop off. So of course praying I keep the majority of the fat. PS said a sports bra is fine. Just no compression. Wearing the bra he sent me home in and ordered a few sports bras that are a size or two bigger than I am now. He said we wants to support the implants but gently. He didn't give me a garment for the thigh lipo so I'm wearing my own spanx. Ordered compression leggings. Really don't want inner thighs to wind up with funky contour issues. Not sure how much fat he took but will ask at my follow up.
Ok, hardest thing overall is sleeping on my back. Assume side sleeping would be a problem for fat grafts. Post up directions said stay on my back for 3 weeks. Ugh!!!
DH is being amazing. Feel so lucky to have his support.
Sending healing vibes to all
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Marketingmamma, Hope you're feeling well.
SpecialK, Interesting what you said about Zofran. I've had horrible headaches after surgery, but attributed it to lack of caffeine/food. It took me most of the day Monday after surgery before I could hold anything down. Good idea to get the anesthesiology reports and track the meds they give. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I hope everyone is healing!
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Thank you, Orca and MrsB888. I did have my exchange at last. It doesn't hurt like my TE surgery. It's another kind of pain. Now is a continuous sensation of burning in the site of the incision. As soon as I got here, I just went to sleep cause I think the anesthesiologist used too much anesthesia on me. I felt sleepy also the next day. When I woke up at 9 on the day of surgery, I had my bra and bandages stained on blood. So I took the bra off and went to wash it. Next day I called the PS's office to ask permission to change the bandages on the left breast (the one I was bleeding). The left breast is the one donating nipple and areola tissue to the right MX breast. Except for the burning pain everything is well. I can tolerate the pain quite well with acetaminophen 500 twice daily.
However, I would like to find out why it itches and burns so much. I have been using on the area around the incision cortizone 1% to manage the itching sensation. The burning is not controlled with pain med or cortizone. I will ask him if he used betadine; maybe that's why I have the reaction in both breast.
Bye ladies, sweet dreams. Happy holidays.
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"Except for the burning pain everything is well."
Mariangel, I hope your surgeon has an explanation and a cure for the burning pain sensation.
Sending gentle hugs, Madelyn
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Hi ladies,
I had my exchange on 10/28 and wore a bra 24/7 until 11/29 (my last PS follow up) when I was told it was ok to go braless. So I did so at night and I've been waking up with a distinctive deep crease on the left side that runs at about a 45 degree angle on the bottom half of my breast. It fills out back to normal after a couple of hours once I put a bra back on. I know I am sleeping on my side so maybe that's it? Is this implant "rippling"?
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Mariangel - So glad you got those expanders out & the exchange is behind you. I would definitely check with the doc about the burning since that isn't lessened with the tylenol. As for itching, a lot of the EX ladies have had it & it sounds like you get relief from the cortisone. Did the doc approve the cortisone cream? If not, let him/her know you're using it in case a change of meds might be in order. Best wishes for a quick recovery with excellent outcome! Happy Holidays to you too!
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Angtee - I wear a sports bra to bed to avoid any possibility of creasing the tissues. You might still be experiencing swelling & that could cause the depth of the crease you mention. If the crease is only on the left side & you only sleep on the left then that's your answer. Consider continuing to wear a supportive bra to bed awhile longer & see if the crease lessens with the extra support You might want to check with you doc too. Maybe some of the other EX ladies can chime in about creasing & possible rippling?
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Angtee, I wore a bra 24/7 for a year and I still put on a bra at night occasionally when my foobs just don't feel right. Sometimes I do something that is more strenuous and like to have the girls feel supported. Do what feels right and always check with PS if you have any concerns. I can't speak to rippling because I have gummies.
Take care
Robin0 -
Saw my PS the other day and says I am doing fine since implants latter September. Need some filling and a bit of lipo in a few months to improve appearance. I asked if I should be wearing a bra and he said I could wear anything I want or nothing at all. Staying with my tank tops and camisoles. Don't wear any undergarments at night. Starting to sleep on my side for short periods.
Robinblessed54, how is having the nipple tattoo done? I still have not decided.
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Novmoon, I had nipple tattoos done 18 months ago in PS office. They look like target signs and faded. They use medical grade ink and it isn't permanent enough. I am going to Cory Miller in Upland CA on December 21 to get real inked nipple tattoos. He is so popular that his receptionist is booking him for April. The receptionist is a BC survivor! She convinced him to take this on and got me in! He hadn't done nipples before but if you google him you will see his art work is amazing! If he can create a portrait on skin he can fo a nipple!!
Robin
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Scheduled for EX 12/28...and my mom had a stoke this weekend. Besides being devastated, I am torn as to proceeding or postponing.
I will be her primary care taker when she comes home, she will come home to my home vs her's. I can't imagine not finding myself having to "catch" her at some point in the time I am not supposed to carry more than 5 or 10 pounds.
My PS is REALLY ready for me to have my EX...so much so that I think it is more a paycheck for him than my treatment plan (in my small town he is more elective PS than serious injury/BC PS) ...the TE is there, but not a problem, I could push out even several months if necessary...while I am 3 months since last fill, I don't have any issues with the TE, so if it is there for a few more months -- no big deal...right?
I guess I am writing to find the pro/con arguments (and discussion points for the PS)...I fear if I postpone I may be one year with the TE, I am already at 6 months but it seems like many have a TE for a year.
I don't want to hurt me or hurt her by not being capable...
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TrmTab - I am so sorry you have to make this decision. Hugs to you either way. Despite the "iron bra" I would probably have postponed if that were my situation. Is there any chance you can get a home health care aide to do the lifting if needed? That would be one possible way to care for her and do your EX.
Makes my lame issue of still having my drains in almost 4 weeks post EX seem petty. Will be thinking of you
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