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Exchange City

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Comments

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited October 2017

    Siti and All, I didn’t sleep on my side for probably a year. I also wore a soft bralette 24/7 for about a year. I just felt more support and comfortable. It has been 2 3/4 years and I no longer wear a bralette at night. My outcome is very good. Pretty much twins!! Winking

    Robin


  • sitti
    sitti Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Robinblessed54! I'm only 4 weeks out, I'm not a back sleeper but figured I probably shouldn't sleep on side yet. You'd think I'd be more use to sleeping on back after having the TE's for 6 months but still a challenge. Were you told a year or was that just something you did on your own? I've been staying in a coobie type bra everyday and sleeping in a "worn/stretched" exercise bra for same reason just seems to feel more supported and comfortable.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited October 2017

    It was more of a personal preference. I believe my PS suggested 6 months. It was just more comfortable. And it paid off. I didn’t have any problems.

    If you follow instructions and not rush your recovery, you will have a successful outcome. Remember, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should “. Winking

    Robin


  • lynae23
    lynae23 Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    Meg thanks for the info on the body pillows...I tried them in front & behind so I could sleep on my side & it definitely helped for a bit! It was a welcomed change fron laying on my back so thank you for the tip :)

    T-Sue welcome! I have my exchange Nov 1st & cannot wait! I hope yours & minuteatatime goes well on the 3rd!! It feels good to FINALLY be closer to the end!! Hugs to all you ladies :

  • minuteatatime
    minuteatatime Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Lynae! Hope yours goes well too! Let's keep in touch during our recovery. Will be great to get rid of our TEs!

    Sitti--About side sleeping--I never thought about it but remember that my PS said back only for 4 weeks after he placed my TEs. I asked his office about when I could sleep on my side again after the exchange surgery and the nurse said 4 weeks, but would discuss at Post-op appointment. (But now Robin has me thinking maybe I should wait longer! I don't sleep well on my back though.) I would ask your PS, because they all seem to give different advice--maybe it's based on your individual factors or the implant chosen?


  • T-Sue
    T-Sue Member Posts: 207
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Lynae, I am definitely looking forward to having softer foobs. Hoping I wake up without drains and that the recover is smoother than the brutal BMX. We are on the countdown!

  • sitti
    sitti Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2017

    Thanks Robinblessed54 & MinuteAtATime, I'll specifically ask my PS about sleeping on side. My restrictions were minimal to start with - no restrictions other than no lifting above 10 lb for first week. So it's hard for me to gauge what I should/shouldn't do. I'm like you MinuteAtATime, I don't sleep well on back although I'll tough it out if that helps things settle and heal properly.

    Wishing all you ladies that have your exchange coming up a speedy recovery.

  • veggal
    veggal Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2017

    I was released to side sleep after 3 weeks. I was told, however to sleep in a soft bra at least until I see my PS in December. My revision was 6 weeks ago. There is really no benefit to extended back sleeping as the implants do shift one direction or another whatever your position. Once the pocket is healed you are good to do whatever is comfortable.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited October 2017

    just curious veggal, smooth or textured implants? Textured you have to wait longer or you will push them away from their pocket. Just want to make sure the ladies know that it depends on type and of course your own body. Always check with PS and bespecific. Smile

    Robin


  • veggal
    veggal Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2017

    Now I have smooth but instructions were the same for when I had Natrelle 410's.

  • burner
    burner Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2017

    Hi Sitti- I had some fat grafting done, so I have been sleeping on my back for a while now in order to help keep pressure off the newly transferred fat cells, and will continue to do so. I'm past the period of 6-8 weeks of knowing whether the fat grafting will live and connect to its new blood supply, but my implants still feel large to me, so I'm continuing to sleep on my back for now (3 months post exchange). I had been a side sleeper before this whole mastectomy thing, but switched just because I worry too much on my side. :\

  • eastcoastts
    eastcoastts Member Posts: 352
    edited October 2017

    My PS said I could sleep on my side at my appt last week (hit 6 weeks mark). But she's very liberal and does not seem strict about much of anything. ;) Good or bad, IDK. The PA said I could not hurt the implant at 6 weeks.

    I am doing a little on the side -- but still on back, too, for comfort. I have small implants, so this may be why I am able to do this.

    All different opinions. We must decide much for ourselves as it has gone in this journey! Crazy. ;)

  • LettyF
    LettyF Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    Good Morning,

    My exchange surgery is scheduled for 11/15/17 at 10:30 and I can't wait. The plan is for my PS to do lipo/fat grafting and place 685 cc anatomicals. I must say I'll be happy when the surgeries are behind me. Best of luck to all of you out there waiting too. Speedy recoveries to all!

  • Ptorres60
    Ptorres60 Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2017

    Hello everyone!

    My exchange surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday (yes, Halloween 🎃). I had my pre-op appointment and my doctor called to say that I had tested positive for MSSA (not MRSA). Apparently, 30% of the population have it and don't even know...ugh! I am on a protocol of showering with hebiclens and antibiotic nose swabs. They told me that I will be fine for surgery, but I'm still very concerned. Has anyone else had this issue or known someone that has? I had my BMX surgery on January 10, 2017 and haven't had any issues until this.

  • sitti
    sitti Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2017

    Thank you everybody for all your imput (regarding sleeping on side :)). Burner, I too had some fat grafting with my exchange surgery so that is another consideration although I saw my PS yesterday and was told I could sleep on my side if I'm comfortable and (use support I think). But I think I'd rather not take any chances although it makes sense what VegGal said, that they shift in whatever position your in. Sleeping in soft bra as well, just feels better right now. Burner, how are you able to tell if the fat grafting took? I don't go back to PS now for 6 months. I'm 5 weeks post exchange today, it seems most swelling is gone except under arm where lymph node was removed (which took longer after BMX also). I'm not seeing the initial lumpiness that I saw right after exchange so wondering if it took.

    Ptorres60, I've never heard of MSSA. I did use the hibiclens before both the BMX and exchange though.

    Best wishes to all who have their exchanges coming up!

  • trmtab
    trmtab Member Posts: 869
    edited October 2017

    Wow Sitti, "dismissed" for 6 months just 5 weeks post -op...Is that normal folks??? I saw PS at 4 weeks post-op and see him again Dec 1 which is 12 weeks post-op. I would assume at that point he would say "see me in X months" ...just yesterday I was wondering what "X" would be.

  • burner
    burner Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2017

    Sitti- my 3 month post-exchange appointment is coming up, but I don't think all of my fat grafting "took", despite best precautions... I was really swollen for the initial 6-8 weeks after exchange, and I think the implants have sort of settled in the pockets in the meantime. I have rippling / bumps at the inner edge / cleavage area where I can feel the implant, and I know that's one of the areas where fat grafting was done. My MO said it's OK to do more fat grafting to try to smooth it out, but that it might not take again. I'll give it a try anyway - the upper slope/pole actually looks smooth and good, and I know that's another area where he did fat grafting, but apparently I had some extra fat there anyway to help hide/pad the implant edge.

    My PS said I didn't need to be too cautious beyond the initial month that I was keeping pressure off the fat grafted areas- that the fat cells would find a new blood supply within a few weeks or would die off. So I think the swelling going down and dead fat cells being cleared out over the past few weeks sort of "revealed" the rippling where it didn't take?

    Good luck to all - wishing everyone good outcomes!

  • OG56
    OG56 Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2017

    A weeks ago I woke up and noticed that I had a moderate-sized divot in my right breast, I had exchange surgery back in May. I saw my PS on Friday and he stated that he feels he can get rid of the divot by removing a bit of that skin and lining it up with my previous Scar from my mastectomy and we won't have to do a fat graft. Has anyone had this done??

  • lynae23
    lynae23 Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    looks like a few if us have our exchanges this week...YAY! I hope all goes well for each of you! We definitely need to all keep in touch on here so we can let each other know how we are doing!! Good luck ladies!!!

  • cyclegal
    cyclegal Member Posts: 49
    edited October 2017

    Ptorres60, my PS had me do hibiclens and nose swabs before BMX and will also do them before exchange on 11/6, regardless of any testing result.

    I can’t wait to get these TEs out and continue on the path to feeling more “normal” !!!

  • eastcoastts
    eastcoastts Member Posts: 352
    edited October 2017

    My doctors had me do Hibiclens prior to BMX, and I chose to prior to Exchange as well because...why not? I did not do nose swabs but would have if I'd read about it here first! :)

  • scrafgal
    scrafgal Member Posts: 413
    edited October 2017

    My surgery is on Thursday (11/2).  Can't wait!  Hope all goes well for those of you getting surgeries this week, too!

  • veggal
    veggal Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2017

    I also did the Hibiclens and continued using it until my drains were removed after each surgery. I also used a fresh towel for each shower until drains were gone. Infections happen, but I was determined to do all I could to prevent them. Luckily, it worked.

  • Shoregirl
    Shoregirl Member Posts: 338
    edited October 2017

    Good luck ladies having exchanges this week!!! Trmtab, I don't know about what is normal for post op visits with ps post exchange...I saw mine every month from exchange in April til August when I decided to go with a new ps (female), as the original ps doesn't do extensive FG. I did have complications though, or maybe he wouldn't have wanted to see me as often.

    What did I miss re "nose swabs"?

  • minuteatatime
    minuteatatime Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2017

    I've had to do Hibiclens washing (both night before and morning of surgery) for all my surgeries and they have me doing it for the Exchange too. Definitely a best practice. But hadn't heard of MSSA or nose swabs. It sounds like your team has things covered well!

    Good luck to everyone having exchanges this week. Mine is Friday and I cannot wait!!

  • minuteatatime
    minuteatatime Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2017

    Also, re: post-ops, not sure what is normal but I have one with the NP at 2 weeks and one with the PS at 4 weeks. He said there's usually not additional follow-up until a year later, presumably if everything is going well. I will have moved back to California by then though, so will probably get follow-up out there.

  • 2FUN
    2FUN Member Posts: 789
    edited October 2017

    OG56, sorry, I've never heard of that proceedure.


    Good luck to you all either u our exchanges

    What are the nose swabs for?

  • T-Sue
    T-Sue Member Posts: 207
    edited October 2017

    Thanks to everyone for the well wishes on surgery this week. I can't wait to have my Friday TE exchange behind me. I'll be thinking about those of you who also have surgery this week (Lynae, Minute, Scrafgal) and sending you positive energy.

    A few take-aways from my PS appt yesterday:

    - take Arnica supplement starting two days before surgery (this seemed to help immensely with bruising post-mastectomy, so I'll definitely follow this advice)

    - start stool softener the day before surgery to counteract the pain med and anesthesia effects

    - re post op appointments: my PS scheduled a NP follow-up 1 week post-op and a two-week follow-up with the PS

    - No drains expected (hooray!)

    - can shower one day after surgery, but avoid water hitting scars directly

    - walk around as much as I'm able in order to avoid blood clots and help breathe out the anesthesia from my system

    Thank you again for all the advice you all have provided in this forum. Onward!

  • Dafne
    Dafne Member Posts: 35
    edited October 2017

    Girls, I know this question might be silly, but I wanted to know if anyone has similar experience. My exchange surgery is next month. It's been 6 months since my bilateral mastectomy, and during those months I' ve gained some feeling back in my foobs area. Is there is a chance I will lose it again due to the new surgery? Also I have shoulder issues in my right hand (frozen shoulder), and slight swelling in both arms. How will I convince nurses not to use needles and not take blood pressure at least on my right arm? They get really agitated as I remember from my mastectomy when you give them directions :(

  • veggal
    veggal Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2017

    My sensation stayed OK with the exchange and revision, although you will have those awful nerve zaps as you heal. No escaping those. I also itched a lot.

    Good luck!

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