Exchange City
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Thanks Mominator. You are great, mom like.
For me this was just as bad if not a bit worse than bmx with te's in. It was a 3 hour sx for me. I have 2 drains. Pain was bad, was dizzy, headache at times very bad. But the goal of outpt sx center is to get you out the door. I had original sx in the hospital. I wound up staying there for 2 nights cuz of pain and all. The IV meds and fluids I know helped me come home and be ok. They had a tough time waking me up. When I did, the pain hit despite all the meds. I got out of sx at 3 and it wasn't until 7:30 pm that I was trying to walk but really couldn't and bro trying to get me in my suv. There is no way I could go up my steep concrete long steps to get to my apt so bro called Anna, my bff who lives a few miles from me. Of course we can go to her place. She's in a large house with spare rooms with just her bro and pets in there. It was pouring rain of course. She has this huge comfy chair with ottoman so with a few pillows, I was comfy. It was a task though. I was in terrible pain. Couldn't see straight. Bro had to lift me up out of the chair by my waist and take me to the can cuz I could barely walk. At 2 am I called my ps saying can't take this. Since I had a big infection fiasco last year he didn't want to admit me so he said to take 3 advils on top of the 2 oxycodones every 4 hours. Was at friends through today when I went for po and he took the dressings off and sx bra. Asked why the left looks angrier and is more swollen, discoloured and painful. Said cuz it's my radiated breast. Way too much fluid in drains so will check again a week from Wed.
So SO thankful for my bro who took care of car stuff and got my house organised, some things stocked. He did a lot of work. He drove up from LA, an 8 hour drive no traffic, on Thurs night and really didn't sit down until his drive back down today. Anna too for helping and giving me a place to stay. No need to come out the door until next week's appt which is great cuz rain is on it's way!
Hope everyone is recovering well.
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TrmTab, I'm so sorry about your mom's stroke and the decision you have to make. I find it odd that your PS is anxious for you to have your EX. You are fortunate that you are not having any issues with the TE's, and I am under the impression that it would not cause any medical issues for you to continue with TE's until you are ready for surgery. Being just a week out, I can tell you that it would have been difficult for me to care for anyone else right after EX. I spent one night at my mom's, then one night alone, then my kids came home from their dad's. Once my kids were home it was more exhausting, and I wasn't able to rest as much as I should have. Although easier then MX, it's still hard to recover and care for another person. Only you can make the decision, and I'm not trying to sway you, but wanted to give you a realistic snapshot.
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TrmTab, you probably shouldn't be doing real heavy lifting with the TE's in. They can move and could cause trouble. Is there any way your mom could go to a rehab facility temporarily until she recovers more? I had my TE total of 8 months, 6 full months after the final fill...and it was torture. Unable to sleep at all for that long was rough. I could not wait until my exchange.
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TrmTab, you probably shouldn't be doing real heavy lifting with the TE's in. They can move and could cause trouble. Is there any way your mom could go to a rehab facility temporarily until she recovers more? I had my TE total of 8 months, 6 full months after the final fill...and it was torture. Unable to sleep at all for that long was rough. I could not wait until my exchange.
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Thanks for the comments that have come in...
My mother's current plan is to leave the stoke unit of the hospital and go to an actute rehab hospital for 14-21 days...the goal of the acute rehab is to get her home vs a skilled nursing faciltiy.
Only yesterday did I find out that "home" doesn't just mean a family home (my home vs her home and alone) but that someone would be home 24/7 until the outpatient Physical Therapy folks say it is okay for her to be alone -- not sure how to pull that off as I wasn't planning on not teaching in the spring semester, but that is a different issue.
So, while I have told them they will need to get mom sufficiently strong to get herself up with at most the slightest of a steadying hand (and I have been gentle with myself given the TEs), I can't imagine having mom come into my home within a day or two of the EX.
I guess I will send the nurse practitioner for the PS an email and raise the question of postponing vs risks of moving forward...
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Trm Tab, I have had one of my TE's since September 2015 . I am in no hurry to do exchange due to my complicated life . PS said no longer than two years with TE . Sorry about your mom .
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Thanks Molly
I am really favoring pushing out my exchange to the spring/early summer...which would be one year with the TE.
Right now I am too distracted to focus on my own health issue...that is not pressing...and needing to advocate for my mother. Definitely not in a peaceful spot to prepare for a surgery on me right now.
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TrmTab- Sorry to hear about your mom. Ditto on TEs ok to be in up to 2 years. I had 16 months in with no prob. Wish you and your mom the best.
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TrmTab - I'm sorry to hear about your Mom's stroke & hope she will have a full recovery. You'll need your strength to advocate for her & provide support as needed. Your PS will just have to wait for you to be ready for EX so don't let him push you into it! You've said you are comfortable with the expanders & there's no pressing reason why it must be done now. Although EX is easier than MX, it's still surgery & creates stress on the body. Whatever you decide, I wish you & your Mom all the best in moving forward in your healing journeys.
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TrmTab - I'm sorry to hear about your Mom's stroke & hope she will have a full recovery. You'll need your strength to advocate for her & provide support as needed. Your PS will just have to wait for you to be ready for EX so don't let him push you into it! You've said you are comfortable with the expanders & there's no pressing reason why it must be done now. Although EX is easier than MX, it's still surgery & creates stress on the body. Whatever you decide, I wish you & your Mom all the best in moving forward in your healing journeys.
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TrmTab - I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom's stroke. It sounds like she is making progress so far. How is her prognosis?
I'm sorry you have to delay your EX. But yes, you'll need your strength to take care of her.
Chiming in on leaving TEs in for a year or two: The receptionist at my eye doctor has had her TE in for 13 years. It doesn't bother her at all. Her daughter is the eye doctor and has been trying to convince her mom to do the EX for 12 years now!
My left TE migrated into my arm pit and made it difficult to play my flute (I'm a professional flutist). Even still, I would have left it in if I had to take care of my mom as well. But since your TE isn't bothering you by now, I think you'll be good for several more months if needed.
Best wishes to you and your mom on your recoveries. HUGS, Madelyn
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Thanks so much for these recent replies. I will postpone so I can concentrate on what is primary now -- helping my mom achieve the best results in these next weeks. Overall goal is to get her home...to her actual home...after a period of inpatient rehab, then outpatient rehab while staying at my home, then eventually to her home in late January to February....as a teacher I will plan on my EX after the spring semester.
Thanks for the confidence to make this decision. TT
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trmtab - sounds like you have chosen the path with the fewest potential regrets. To me, caring for your mom now and leaving the exchange for a later date when she is stronger and recovered is the wise and caring choice, and I think you will be glad in the long run. I had TE for 16 months - at least the right one, left was there off and on during that time period, lol! I am certainly hoping that your mom's recovery is uncomplicated and that she makes good progress - my mom had several smaller strokes at about 80, with a complicating degenerative neuromuscular disease, and did have an amazing rebound.
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my insurance authorization for my exchange surgery came . The PS office left a message too. I just need to figure out when I can fit surgery in .
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i finally had my exchange!! it was originally scheduled for 11/22, but it got pushed 1128. i am now just a little over two weeks post op. i had bmx with te back in july. i never did find out what brand of te they were. i believe they were naterelle. i think my suregeon preferes this brand. They were inflated to 500. I ended up on exhange getting naterelle inspira round cohesive gel high profile 560. I am 5'3, 130lbs. i was before surgsery 34c. Due to swelling, it really is hard to say what i am now, but my medium sports bras that i owned before all of this started fit. (Havent tried any other type of bra on yet). He did have to move my nipples as they were no longer centered. They were way over by my axilla. So now they are in a more normal spot. My original surgery was skin sparing. It left me with a ton of excess skin so he trimmed that up on the sides. My breasts looked like a sharpei, so he was able to fix alot of that. He did fat grafting around the upper pole areas to smooth out divets. My two week check up was wednesday, He took off the tape and everything looked good, but when i showered the next day i noticed a stitch is coming throught on my left breast, so back i go today to have it looked at. I also went for the abdominoplasty. He had used whatever fat i had from my hips and flanks for the fat grafting, and took the excess skin off my belly. I had lost 60lbs three years ago, so while there was not alot of fat or tissue in my belly, there was a lot of useless skin. Same reason he had to do a lot of trimming of skin on my breasts. Alot of skin, with little breast tissue (before bmx). I did not want large implants, 560 is big on me, thus the need to trim.
My surgeon moved me into sports bras. i believe he was looking for both support and some compression. I only feel a little pain (more of an irritation where the stitch is rubbing) and some discomfort when i raise my arms above my head to put dishes away, or slide the shower curtain back. All in all not bad.
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Bigblue, congratulations on EX! But be careful about lifting arms above your head. You shouldn't be only 2 weeks out. When you see PS today ask about limitations. Sounds like you have a lot of stitches inside. Don't risk pulling something loose. Remember, "just because you can doesn't mean you should "
Robin
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Bigbluefish, congratulations on your progress.
SpecialK, Whippetmom and everyone.
NSM 8/22; I had my exchange yesterday. PS did some creative stuff to address my concerns, had recovery issues post op 5 hours. I'm sore and achy now but slept with drugs.
I can't wait to see, only peeking down inside my ugly bra. Looks great. I've got about a square foot of Duoderm strategically placed like a jigsaw puzzle. Don't know volume yet, implant card not filled in.
Having breakfast in bed, have soft warm breasts. Very happy.
Best wishes for everyone getting soft boobs for Christmas!
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Bigbluefish
I'm happy to hear about your nips. One of mine was low, PS did some correction, haven't seen them yet. We were lucky to save nips, that doesn't always work. I don't know exactly which Inspira I got. We have about the same size body. I go for follow up next Thursday.
I looked a bit Sharpei-like at first. How amusing. After 600cc more like a shiny grapefruit.
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Bigblue - Congrats. on EX! Sounds like your PS really helped with several issues you needed addressed. It's great that you have minimal pain but don't overdo! Best wishes for happy healing!
Keiki -Congrats to you too on your EX! Glad all went well & you are having minimal pain as well. Breakfast in bed with soft, warm new boobs definitely makes for a very Happy Christmas!
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keiki - yay! Glad to hear from you and that you are doing ok!
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Many of you have mentioned the itching. What's up with that? Not adhesive allergy or irritation, but on bare skin, upper pole in my case.0
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Good to hear that nipples can be repositioned! I have an appointment with my PS on Tues. and that's one of the things we will be talking about. I like the way I look in a bra but will probably need some fat grafting to address the rippling on the right. Can theymove the nipple at the same time?
My DH had a tooth extracted on Thurs. He's a bit squeamish so they put him out for the 15 minute procedure. I had to laugh when the nurse was giving him his "postop" instructions: He was told to sleep in a recliner, no sleeping on his side for several days and be sure to take his pain meds to keep ahead of the pain ....It sounded so familiar
Have a great weekend everyone!
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I had "revision" surgery on Thursday for implants placed in September. My ps did fat grafting from my butt and inner thighs. She told my dh that she didn't get as much fat as she hoped. I asked for more on my right to match my left. I have lots of bruising and it hurts to sit.
I'm hoping the fat she did graft will stay. I very much like the anatomicals - just not the fact one ended up lower than the other.
But no matter how this turns out, I am done. My ps said they look, "good". They are a little wide for my frame but I wasn't perfect before so .... I need to go with this. All good!
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keiki - could be the Betadine wash, or the Bacitracin irrigant, or even itching from the narcotic pain meds administered during surgery, or taken orally afterward.
grandma - not all PS will move a nipple, it is a particular skill set. Not to be a downer, but here is also a risk of necrosis with a move - ask your PS to outline the procedure and attendant potential problems.
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Dear ladies, I have read all the posts in this page. It's good to know how you are doing. I still have the itching and the burning sensations in both breasts. I stopped using the wipe with alcohol cause it could cause more problems than solutions. He (PS) said he did not use betadine on me (only dyna hex to wash area) but itching may come from bandages. I only know that when the nurse use the PS's office gauze and bandages, I receive the full impact of discomfort. I think those things are not latex proof. Last time I told her I didn't want the paper gown. Anyway, when I came home I got the bandage off and changed it to latex free one that I bought in right breast. She told me not to use bandage on left. It was healing nicely.
PS told me everything was fine. I think left breast is still swollen and hurts inside. The right breast also hurts. Sometimes I feel the intermittent pain of sutures inside. He used glue in most underside areas of breasts except where he cut and put the implant in. That cut is over my seven or eight rib. It hurts a lot. There are still bruises but I don't dare to use turmeric because I don't want to bleed like last time. PS added the nipple too at the right breast with skin grafts from left breast areola and nipple.
Artista928, I am sorry to hear that you had great discomfort after surgery. The truth is that health plans are the agents of such problems. I know physicians were capable of some economical burden on health plans but now control is on plans and deliberately are controlling every doctor's move to increase gains for the insurance company.
I however preferred to come back home. I had bronchitis and a cold temp is the most hurtful thing in my life now. It was raining, I had to be there at 4:15 am because I was posted at 5:00 am but the lovely doc came at 8:00 am. If I weren't already tied to the table I would have jumped to his throat. Everyone started to laugh when I told him, "How great, you come at 8 while I have been freezing since 5:00 am." He changed the conversation and comes to me and says to stand up. I asked why. To measure you. Do it while seating. No, stand up. No, you did it last time when I was seated. Stand up. I stand up and says, against my will. The next bickering, drop your arms to the side. No, the gown will fall down. Drop your arms, No. I was not paid to do a striptease. I move my shoulder to the side without releasing the gown, and say now. He then says something of me been a canvas to him and I start to look down to see that the painting over my breasts just like a sail boat. He says to me that I was too curious. I respond, why not, this is my body. Well. we continued this bickering and everyone was laughing. Before going outside he asks me again, size C? and I answered yes, if you want to go back to OR today with me. When PS saw me at office on Monday he said the girls at the OR were charmed by me.
I am not used to leave that area of my body without cleansing. Not water yet, no alcohol, NOTHING. If you know of some technique for peeling off the skin without pain, please tell me. I will led. I hate that. I feel a belt is tightening over my chest and I can't breathe or sleep right. I tried to sleep on my left side by Monday and I could not. These last two days I could be able to sleep on the left side since the left breast is less swollen than at the beginning of the week.
Thank you, MrsB88 and Mominator, for your caring words. The burning is decreasing its intensity; the itching is full flare. I think the areola and nipple extracted from my left is not going fine on the right side. The skin is too dark to see if it is necrotic. And is covered so I cannot see until next Monday. My left areola was light tan and now is dark. Last Monday the nurse took off the sutures of right areola. Since the skin is loose, I don't dare to take off the bandages. I have a cat and I can't sweep and mop the floors so house is dirty and will be compromising the area of surgery. For pain, I am using Neurontin (gabapentin) for both right foot and boobs pains. Only once a day, the orthopedist didn't check for refills. PS recommended benadryl instead of cortizone since the latter was not being effective. And my skin is reacting to benadryl and within five minutes, the cream gets scaled and start to peel off. I JUST NEED WATER. I am allergic to my own sweat. Yes, I am crazy in a good way.
Novmoon, can implants be filled after being inserted? Are you talking about other kind of filling? If they do, I will ask my PS to add 50 more cc to level both breasts. Size B, ladies, no more.
TrmTab, I am so sorry about your change of plans. However, you will be satisfied and feel peace of mind if you do the right thing. The PS can wait; he will not die from hunger. Credits to whom said first; if she has SS benefits, maybe the SSA office can send you an aide to help you take care of her when she is back at your home. But they will send her first to a rehab center where they can provide physical therapy until she is capable of moving again. Sorry, dear, can I pray for her?
Congrats to all who recently did the exchange and have had a wonderful experience. My first two surgeries were almost painless. The last two were troublesome. This last one was less painful than the TE but it hurts, itches and burns. One cannot win them all. I am fine, it could've been worse. I need to add the dates of surgeries and the system does not let me.
See you tomorrow or on Monday.
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You're right Mariangel about insurance driving it all. How sad. I fear it will only get worse. There are some procedures now that used to be a night stay are now outpt. I truly hope it's technology that's changing this and not insurance companies..
My foobs aren't much of a prob right now other than I think there's still swelling despite my wearing a mastectomy sports bra. It's the damn drain sites. Oh man there are some pains from time to time and of course always discomfort. Tired of lying on my back. My bum hurts now too. PO on Wed to check them but I'm still over 30 on each per 24 hours so doubt it. He does 30 or less, but I see some ps do 25 mil or less. Not that I want them in any longer than I must but last time drains were in 5 weeks on 2 of them (2 on 2) and a month later I got infected bad that pills did nothing, had to do hospital and home IV abx before starting chemo. So I'm a bit scared. The left drain has always been orange/yellow after the first couple of days but this right one has always been cherry drink red and is now starting to lighten some. I want so bad to get these things pulled but I fear Wed won't be my day.
Hope you all are doing well, esp those who just had the ex and those who have it coming up. Can't believe it's almost end of 2016! I never thought time would fly when I started this crap end of May 2015 but it has now looking back! Thank God for that at least!
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Hi All:
I've been reading a bit and am thankful for all of you here..
I have a question about capsular contracture.
I had a UMX in July. It's an over the muscle saline implant. Everything started out fabulously well and then I had chemo and 6 months have passed, and now I have a grade 4 contracture. It's painful and I have limited range of motion, plus there are few clothes I can wear without feeling self-conscious because the implant is high and barbie-like. I'm pretty depressed after all this other BC loveliness. In any case, I have an appt for exchange and removal of the scar tissue at end of January.
Has anyone had experience with contracture and surgical correction? I'm just worried that it's going to be a never ending cycle. The surgeon says most people do fine after the correction but I keep reading otherwise.
Have a good night, everyone.
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Hey ladies - I'm on here all the time, reading everything but just not posting that often. I'm wondering if you could share some of your experiences with fat grafting? Does it make a real big difference in how things look? Does it just smooth things out or would it be possible to do enough of it to get more upper pole fullness? How many sessions did you have to have? Did you notice any change in the shape/size of the donor site?
I really don't like my implants AT ALL but don't want to go through another 6 weeks of light duty again so I'm kind of hoping that fat grafting might fix all my problems with ripples and with my implants being too small.
Also, I'm wondering if fat grafting makes the overlying skin healthier at all. My skin is just so so thin.
BigBlueFish, I'm curious about your abdominoplasty. I may go for one this coming winter, and I was wondering if you've already had yours or scheduled it, and if it's worth it. I originally wanted DIEP but they said I didn't have enough fat to make decent sized breasts with, which is funny considering I'm a bit obese.
It seems like so many people on this site are thin - which is funny, considering how they say being overweight is such a big risk factor for breast cancer. I'm on the heavier side (5'4" and 170#) and I think that's a big part of why my results just don't look pretty.
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Willa, I just had my right implant replaced because of capsular contracture. In my view, it's absolutely worth the risk. Although I know I may go on to get it again, I couldn't live with things the way they were. I'd suggest you give it a shot and if for some reason it recurs, cross that bridge if you come to it. Did you PS mention not using saline or going under the muscle? I wonder if there are increased risks if you stay with saline. If memory serves, I think saline is not ideal if dealing with CC.
Stacey, I just had fat transfer (with my CC surgery). I had significant rippling in the normal breast. I'm only about 1 week or so out from surgery so not sure how much will stay with me but I'm hopeful. I didn't attempt to go bigger though--just to cover ripples, fill in a divot and cover sternum. I am 5'2", 140 pounds so I hear you regarding not being skinny. I often think the same when I read these boards as it does sound like many are quite slender. There are threads on here that discuss fat grafting so if you don't hear from many ladies, suggest searching for them. Tons of input on it. Oh, regarding your implants being too small. Why not replace with bigger ones? Perhaps that might solve the problem versus doing fat grafting. For sure I wouldn't count on fat grafting to get significantly bigger.
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Hi StaceySue, For what it's worth, my donor site is different after fat harvest. I noticed this after the first time and it made me seriously consider if it was wise to do it a second time. Although, I did do it again, but I'm still healing so I can't comment on how much difference I may notice this time. I can say that my first look at the area was not pleasant. Lumpy droopy, but after speaking with a nurse I believe that may be in part from the saline they put in the donor area to help with taking the fat. It most likely hadn't all absorbed yet.
I do recall others saying you wouldn't notice much of a change as they don't take a significant amount of fat. I'm sure it depends on where on the body they take it from and body shape.My goal was for upper pole fullness. I loved how I looked after first attempt with exchange but a fair amount did not take. Again, I like the fullness I have at the moment from this second round of fat grafting, but it will be a waiting game again to see how much stays. I can tell you that I'm treating this fat with precious care - no compression, sweet talk and eating well.
I can tell a few ripples were filled in, but if I slouch I can still see some.
I was so uncomfortable the first few days - hold my breath while I would sit down. However, I seem to be bouncing back quicker that that level of pain would have led me to believe. By day 3 I made a huge leap forward in comfort. I'm not sure why or how that happened seemingly overnight, but I'm not really thinking about it too much. Just can't wait to switch to spanx from this lovely girdle and get a regular bra on instead of the surgical one.
Good luck!
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