Exchange City
Comments
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Molly, for you and others planning recovery...I was sore from internal stitches for 3 weeks following EX. Very tender at first, of course, and gradually less painful.
Im 3 weeks, 3 days post EX and still waiting for things to settle. I have read here many times to walk away from the mirror, but I'm starting to get impatient. Normally I would have seen PS this week, but he's on vacation so I won't see him till the 9th. No concerns anyway.
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Ladies, it takes a lot of time for things to settle and before you will get used to the "new normal". I would say that for me it was a year before I felt like they were a part of me. You will get there!
Remember to always follow your PS instructions. I followed mine to the T and have great results.
I recently had my 3D tattoos redone by a professional tattoo artist here in SoCal. So happy with the results! It makes a huge difference.
Happy New Year! Robin
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Robin, who is the artist? I was considering Vinnie Myers but he only comes here once per year. I live in Los Angeles.
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Molly, I see you have taken both Arimidex and Aromison. Those 2 drugs almost killed me! I was so miserable on them! I had muscle and joint pain so bad that I could hardly walk or get up from a seated position. I also had arthritis in my hands that caused trigger finger. I had to have surgery on my right ring finger. I have been on Femara for almost 2 years. What a difference!! Doesn't effect my joints at all. Well, except fir my left hip, but not sure if that is the med??
Robin
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Robinblessed...thanks for your encouragement! My surgery was December 5, 2016 with TE inserted. This journey is a one day at a time one, that's for sure!! Thanks again for the reminder it takes time!
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Robinblessed...thanks for your encouragement! My surgery was December 5, 2016 with TE inserted. This journey is a one day at a time one, that's for sure!! Thanks again for the reminder it takes time! 0 -
Patti - Since this is a public forum, you may want to remove your picture if you don't want everyone in the rest your world to associate you with all your posts. Glad your moving ahead.
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Robin, I did horribly on Anastrozole. I felt like I had the flu 24/7. I am doing fine on exemestane. Some minor joint pain but nothing significant.
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Molly50
Would you be willing to share your Dr's name? I am looking for a PS with a lot of experience using Alloderm. Thank you
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SeattleBound, I sent you a pm
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Having my exchange surgery Tuesday - hoping it's as "easy" as everyone says.
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Sending healing thoughts. Good luck.
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Praying for successful surgery with no complications! Please post when you can.
What type and size implants are you getting?
Robin
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Good luck mom2allboys! I am from NJ too and having my exchange surgery on 1/16 in Morristown. I can't wait to get these expanders out!
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Thanks Minustwo, Robin, and tennischick.
Robin - I'm most likely getting round, gummy bear silicone. Not sure of exact size/manufacturer (I think the doc said Natrelle), and my expanders are filled to 380 so I think my implants will be similar. My PS is bringing a few different options into the OR so I don't know if he's even sure what I'm getting yet.Tennischick - good luck to you! Seems like we had a similar diagnosis/treatment too.
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Mom2 - I have Allergan 410 implants - the original gummy bears. I think the rounds are not called gummy bears - only the anatomicals. Anyway, I've had mine 5 years and am very pleased. I hope you are as pleased with yours. But remember, step away from the mirror for awhile since it take some time for the swelling to go down & everything to settle. Hope your surgery is easy.
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Mom2, I have the Natrelle 410 as well. I was filled to 420 and gummies are 475. They are always bigger so they fit snug in the pockets. I love mine, 2 years in March.
Minus2 is right, it takes time for them to settle. I loved mine right away even though they were swollen.
Robin
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mom2 good luck and best wishes for a happy exchange! I am 10 months post exchange with Mentor gummy bear anatomicals 475 . I had no complications and they are still settling in. I am very satisfied .
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best wishes for your surgery momtoall
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best wishes mom2allboys for a smooth surgery and an easrecovery
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I posted earlier but not sure where it went.
I'm home, surgery went well and not having much pain at all. They put in round, gummy, 400 cc and I have 1 drain. The round gummies are a newer implant I think, they used to only have the anatomical gummies.
Just resting in my recliner and friends dropped off dinner.
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4 weeks post exchange. The EX wasn't as bad as the last fill! My incisions are healed, starting scar treatment and waiting for something to happen. I had anticipated implants in the 500s, Inspiras. Whippetmom concurred. I was filled to 600 and ended up with SRX 750. PS said so much skin, nothing smaller looked good. She knew I was not going to consider any revision and I had told her to give it her best shot. I had wanted to be a little smaller but am pretty happy with what I have. My nips are not exact, and some minor scarring.
My native breasts were quite wide for my size, I'm 5'2"' about 132#' and I have moderately spaced breasts. When I was heavier I wore D cup, probably DD now. I plan to have professional fitting soon and get underwires to keep these big girls right where they are. Pocket work caused some remaining discomfort. I'm still in ugly surgical bra-scared to be unprotected.
I'm editing photos for the forum, should be posted in a few days. So glad to be this close to the end. Some of you were really there for me. I am very lucky in my situation with no major issues. No chemo, rads, infection so can't help there. But If I can help you in any way, just post or PM. Keiki0 -
congrats on making it to the next stage of reconstruction mom2allboys!
Good luck on your surgery tennischick!
5 months after exchange, I'm headed into nipple reconstruction with more fat grafting on Jan 26th. Thanks ladies for posting about nipple tatooing with a tatoo artist vs the PS office. When I am ready for that final phase, really don't want "target" results. I want something that looks natural and pretty. After all these scars and disfiguring phases of this BMX process, I will be SO happy to look something closer to my old normal again!
Good news is, I'm back to being able to lift a 30 Lb sack of dog food again! Will be on restrictions after the 26th, but now know that is only a temporary setback in my strength. Good luck to all of you, no matter what phase of treatment or reconstruction you are in. May 2017 be your best year yet!
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LRGO - I'll be interested to hear about your nipple recon. I lost my left one and would really like to have it reconstructed rather than tattooed. My FG is in March, but my PS wants to wait until all is done before deciding what to do about the nip. Good luck with your procedure!
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Well, rats and drats! Preop meeting PS informed me it appears that somewhere along the way my right implant rotated 90 degrees. Rather than getting my new nipples next week, we are going to replace my right squishy instead. So it's drains again, healing process, weight restrictions, no showers....erg! New nipples are officially 3 months away again...
The pattern is too familiar now. Oh well, the alternative is much worse. So disappointed to have to start this over. Bummer, Bummer, Bummer!
Could be worse, could be both squishies being replaced.
On the plus side, more lypo and fat grafting will be done during the exchange. So my flabby belly will look better than it has in years after the bruising goes away!
Is this really 2017? Sure seems like 2016!
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LRGO2016,Do you have gummies or rounds?
Robin
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Mentor gummies, anatomicals.
Right one has turned about 60 - 90 degrees or so.
Rats rats rats
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well lrgo (aka screams with twig) ...
You get to live up to that name again! LOL
Sorry to learn of your setback
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LRGO, I'm so sorry for this setback.
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Thanks for your kind thoughts and words of support, ladies. I'm frustrated but won't let this get me too down. Compared to what some of you have been through, this is just a small bump in the road and will soon be behind me. I'm beginning to get some stoicism about all of this. I still recognize that I'm extremely lucky to have had a choice. I chose this path because the alternative was so much worse and I was tired of living in fear of that alternative. With my choice comes risks and consequences. The risk (or reality) of a slipped implant is worth the peace of mind I now have regarding my significantly lower risk of developing cancer. I much prefer my 5% risk over the 87% risk I had before bmx.
Here's to hoping my next surgery gets my right girl hanging properly!
I hope all of you are doing GREAT!
And yes, I have my twig in hand and am ready to scream at each new challenge as they arise!
L
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