Exchange City
Comments
-
Dafne, I really think you will find it is not bad at all. I had no pain by the 2nd day and am able to do most of my normal activities except the restrictions my PS gave me (no driving or lifting arms above head or lifting >10 pounds for 2 weeks after surgery). I feel fine, maybe just a little more tired than usual since my body is healing. I think you will do fine! It's a breeze compared to the BMX.
0 -
HEllo my pink sisters!! Tera thanks for the info...Sounds like our exchanges & recoveries are similar:) That’s great you are not bruised! My hips have been since day 2 and my breasts and chest started yesterday. They are pretty sore to the touch. So glad your recovering well!! Minute so good to hear you are doing well too!!
Scrafgal thanks for your update too! Sounds very good on your end as well! Yes my crew at MDA in Woodlands are great as well! I feel blessed for sure.
I had my follow up today which was fine & it was so quick that I forgot to even ask how long I need to wear a bra or sports bra to help the implants settle? Do any of you know? I plan to wear the stomach Compression & spanx for at least another few weeks! My PS won’t need to see me again until I am ready for nipples lo
Dafne I agree with the others the exchange was a breeze compared to the BMX! Try not to stress to much. I know its hard since you have already been through so much but you will be pleasantly surprised
Keep us posted ladies. These blogs are wonderful! I usually find out more from yall than my drs lol 🤗 hugs
0 -
Dafne I also had a lot of anxiety leading up to my exchange- I felt like I was finally feeling like myself again and then had to face another surgery. But the exchange was SO much easier than BMX and ALND and pain level was very small (if you are like me, most of your nerve endings haven't come back from BMX, so pain is really so much less.) You will be so glad to get it over with. The only thing I found I needed was a pillow to wear between me and the seatbelt when riding in the car and some extra pillows in the bed to keep from rolling onto sides at night. Otherwise the hardest part is just taking it easy- you really feel so much better, faster so its tempting to do too much.
0 -
dafne, don't worry! (That is something my Greek grandma did very well too!)
I had nasty alergic reactions to all my surgeries, and if I hadn't had that I would have barely noticed I gad cancer. Only thing was to really watch lifting for a good long time to allow the implants to heal in place.
I am 4 months post, and if I wasn't having AI SE'S I would be back to all my usual activities. I also had another cancer removed (thyroid) when I had my exchange, so just an exchange should be a breeze! (Ok, not a breeze, but nothing to worry about! )hugs!
0 -
Dafne your stress is understandable, completely. We all been through a lot. Even though most of us have been through the worst of it with surgery and chemo, just the thought of another surgery and recovery can be daunting. Yet, like the other ladies here, I really believe that you will find this surgery to be far less taxing than your previous surgery. I am only 6 days out, and I can tell you that at this point during recovery from the mastectomy, I was in excruciating pain. Today, after writing this post, I am getting ready to go for a long walk, and I haven't taken even a regular Tylenol in days! I only have minor discomfort toward the end of the day and that is thanks to gravitation pull after bopping around all day! When I lay down at night, that discomfort subsides. Keep us posted as you approach and recover from surgery. I can't wait until you join us on the other side!
T-Sue, I am happy that you are well and didn't experience any bruising. My breast area is fine, in terms of bruises too but, as with Lynae, I am really bruised/tender at my outer hip/thigh area! It looks as though I was mugged and kicked on both sides! It actually looks worse than it feels, but it still is very tender. Every time I slide the spanx over it, I feel it...nothing that I need to medicate. It is only for those few seconds of getting up, sitting down and putting on/pulling off spanx.
Lynae, I called the plastics clinic at TMC where my PS nurse re-confirmed that I am supposed to wear a surgical bra AND spanx, 24/7, for six weeks!!! She said that is pretty standard for the PSs there. Doing so helps hold things together--like casting on a sausage, as ,y discharge nurse put it. I am not so sure that I like being compared to a sausage, but she made her point!
Best to everyone!
0 -
Scrafgal thanks so much for the info from your PS! I thought that would be the case that we would have to wear both the bra and Spanx for a long time. It definitely makes sense but wow six weeks is a long time LOL. But hey after going through 5 months of chemo and 2 surgeries...I think it is nothing compared to that haha
0 -
"like casing on a sausage"!!! LOL!
People who don't live on Planet Cancer can be clueless sometimes!
0 -
Thank you all girls for words of courage, I surely needed them! 2FUN, yep, my mom is the best in that too, and myself not that bad LOL (it must be something on the Greek gene). I'll try to keep calm as much as I can. -easier said than done. My TE journey was not easy too. My right TE somehow was found leaking back in July during my short holidays, so I had to go every two weeks for refilling it just to maintain the shape, volume and stretching of the skin. Unfortunately, due to that event, my ps could not fill it up as much as he wanted at first, we had to stop at 600ccs, which are really small for my frame. It was supposed to overfill the TE up to 800cc so he could swap them for 600-700 implants (I know other ps have no problem replacing with implants that are actually bigger than TE volume, but mine is a firm believer of bigger TE smaller implants). Another solution was to have a surgery back then in July and remove my bad TE, replace it with a new one and start again with the fillings, but once again he was not comfortable with the idea of another surgery only 3 months after my bmx and believe me I did not want that either. So now, I need to settle with smallish 400-450cc implants which are gonna look smaller and have less projection than my TE. Well, I'm trying to make peace with that too, and also trying hard to lose the extra weight I ended up having in the first 6 months after surgery. So far I'm doing great with the diet and lost about 6 kg (13 pounds) in two month's time and I plan on losing more after the surgery is over, so maybe, MAYBE (lol) those tiny winy implants will manage to look proportionate with my body frame.
0 -
I forgot Dafne if you are having pre pectoral implants of not. I am a European size 50/52 and I have a 695 implant. I can't imagine how the skin could hold more than a 695. My PS said that was pretty big for a prepectoral. I was a 40 c and I'm about the same size as before
0 -
Hi there! This is probably a silly question....My exchange surgery is scheduled for 11/28. My company holiday party is 4 days later on 12/2. Do you think I'll be able to attend? Thanks!
0 -
I personally didn't feel like socializing. Not for a week or two. Is wardrobe a big thing? If you can plan to go and make last minute decision I would do that. You will be v. Tired
0 -
Not only did I not feel like socializing, but also this surgical bra is very bulky and would not fit under anything that I would wear to a party! I don't know whether you will have ine. Every PS seems different.
Also, I would also be very afraid that my friends would hijack hug me a bit too hard at the party before I could warn them to be gentle!
0 -
Well, I didn't go to a party, but I did usher at church 2 days after exchange...surgery Friday, no opiod pain meds once I went home just Tylenol, ushered at 11am service on Sunday.
I would totally leave the decision up in the air, but for me, doing something normal was a huge aid in my healing...so I think it is all unique to each of us. TT
0 -
I was out and about, going to dinner, etc, within 2 days of exchange and after revision and fat grafting. You may not be able to "shut down" the party but will very possibly be able to go and have a good time.
0 -
I agree to leave your party participation up in the air depending on how you feel. And best case scenario, plan to hit the first hour of socializing and then bow out.
0 -
Hello Ladies,
I've been reading thru the thread this afternoon and getting more anxious as I near surgery. Not really afraid of the pain per say because the change out of a faulty expander wasn't bad at all but I'm a bit concerned about the FG and anatomicals. I've had the TEs in since 5/3 and I guess I've just gotten accustomed to them as other than reaching or crossing my arms I really never give them a thought and have been sleeping on my sides for quite some time without even realizing when I started. I'm afraid I will migrate to my side and from what I've read that's a big no no. I'm definitely going to have a discussion prior to surgery that morning with the PS to find out his specific instructions and apparently build a fort around me so I don't roll to my sides. I'm happy for all you wonderful ladies who've had surgery and pleased with the outcome and hope that things go equally as well for those of you getting revisions. We deserve a "prettier than expected" normal. You ladies are wonderful and my hats off to those of you who have children at home. My kids are grown and it's just me at home so I don't have all the daily responsibilities a lot you have other than when I'm at work and my 2 box turtles (Pickles and Pokey) at home I do have a wonderful friend though whom I love him dearly and we've dated for 4 years now. He's very supportive and I know as anxious as I am for this to be over. He was in favor of staying flat so can't really understand my wishes to have reconstruction anyway but has been there every step of the way. I'm rambling now. Just wanted to wish everyone well and say thanks to everyone for sharing.
0 -
Dafne: As others have said, Exchange is MUCH easier than BMX. And I had lots of pocket work. You'll do great.
Maui-Jen: I think I could have gone to the party but I had the surgical bra on. Mine looked like a Daisy Duke halter top except plastic and very tight. Not sure how that would have gone, clothing-wise. But you may feel up to it.
Letty: Sounds like you have a wonderful support system with turtles and a great companion!
I'm pretty darn happy with my outcome. I bet you will be, too. Just give it TIME to heal (don't do more than you should because you'll feel so much better than BMX, you'll be tempted to) and time to settle. I'm only 9 weeks out and still swollen a little (I think). And feeling like what I see, though fine, is not final.Good luck to all you lovely Exchange ladies!
0 -
Eastcoast....thanks for that 9 week preview. It is nice to know that you still like what you see. Me too. I keep looking from all angles and think that my PS did a darn good job considering that I had a unilateral mx on the right. I think he picked the correct implant size to match my left natural breast (which was lifted) and used the grafted fat well to get the left to match the right. All the measuring and photos hooting was worth it.
Btw I LOL at the Daisy Duke comment on the bra...mine was even tighter because they wanted me to insert surgical pads on both sides for the first week. I just took them out a few minutes ago and it feels less tight and bulky aready. I also just ordered a black one with less halter straps. I think it will fit better under clothing!
0 -
Come to think of it, I had my exchange and thyroid ectomy and lift on Tuesday, and was at a grad party on Sat. My problem Iwas breaking out in hives from the antiseptic scrub and I was barely able to move, plus my neck looked pretty bad and it was a picnic party and 90 degrees. LOL I almost forgot. But yes, it was good to get out, have everyone say "you look so good" (liars) and let my DS and his friends who had just graduated HS that I was going to be fine and people get thru hard stuff by sheer will. (teaching resilanace)
0 -
You Ladies are always so supportive and funny. My compression top (much like a Daisy Duke) after the faulty TE exchange was pink with little flowers and not so bad (I guess) except the rather "plastic" area around the velcro which continually jabbed me. I don't know it the rest of you had an area between your turtle shells that created a sort of stretched raised, bridge between your TE foobies in between the fold under them but that was the most irritating for me. I so wish that a wonderfully talented woman who has had breast cancer would go into design and create at least comfortable "after surgery garments" as insurance would call durable medical equipment (DME). As always, I appreciate you ladies so much and wish you all well.
0 -
letty, I can tell you that the only reason. I did not sit down.at my sewing machine after surgery to make a more comfortable undergarment was that I was restricted from lifting so I couldn't get to my box of stretchy fabrics. That and I couldn't cognitively process to actually make something at the sewing machine!L LOL
0 -
2FUN, I'm subpectoral (under muscle).
I was a 52 European size too, now I'm 50 going to 48 and keep going on with my keto diet, so I might end up 46 at some point.
Nevertheless, my rib cage and back are wide, due to my body building years when I was younger. This is not gonna change with losing weight, at least not by much.
Pre bmx my measurements was bust 45 inches and under bust 40 and I was a 40DD. Now, after losing some weight and with my current TE at 600cc, my measurements are "bust" 43 inches and under bust 37 inches. If I end up with a "bust" circumference at the same size as my under bust measurement, well... you get the picture.
On various FB pages for women with breast cancer and reconstruction, I see many ladies ending up with huge implants (up to 800ccs) and they don't look that huge. In Greece I don't think we have anything bigger than 800 and my ps said from the start this was not for me anyways. He was aiming for something close to 600ccs range for me. Now he doesn't want to go for anything bigger than 450cc... Well, not much I can do about it, than losing some more weight I guess.
0 -
Just checking in here as my revision is finally just around the corner. So glad to hear the recent exchange ladies are all doing well! Best wishes for continued healing and strength!! Also now thinking of the next group, Letty, Dafne and Maui-Jen, prayers for smooth sailing!! Dafne, I know others have given you words of encouragement but I wanted to say I too was quite nervous before my exchange last April. Much more apprehensive than I was for my BMX. I think it was because going into the BMX I didn't know what to expect, but leading up to the exchange I remembered the pain from the BMX/TEs. I was REALLY a ball of nerves being driven to the hospital for the exchange!! But once you get there, and they give you the sedative, you will start to relax and it will be over and you will be in recovery before you know it. Plus you get to go home that day!!!
Thank God for the women who have gone before us and shared their experiences to give us the reassurance that it will be okay!! For me with my upcoming revision, my strategy to combat the nerves is to just stay as busy as I can with other things and not dwell on the upcoming procedure. But I am not going to lie, now that it is just over 2 weeks away I am getting butterflies!! 0 -
Thank you for the words of encouragement Shoregirl. I guess I'm getting nervous too. This weekend was pretty rough, for apparently no reason at all just a lot of little things made me lose it for a bit and I cried remembering every injustice I felt had ever been done to me. I find the older I get the less mess I'm willing to overlook things and the fact that someone(s) not only scratched my brand new car (apparently twice) as they got the passenger's side front and back doors (2 different colors so must have been two different incidents or someone with an older mismatched car) :0( That an of course the friends ex always interjects herself in my life at the most inopportune times. At least Alabama pulled out another win so that made still not seeing the first deer this bow season hurt a little less. It's bucks only from her on out. Absolutely nothing yet (not even seen anything brown) and I already had 3 this time last year. That and the fact that my PS is probably going to be upset come Wednesday when he sees a bruise on my upper chest and shoulder from sighting my rifle in for rifle season (when I'm cleared to hunt again). Oh well, such is life I guess. Best wishes to all you remarkably strong, brave women.
0 -
Letty, it's okay to cry when thinking of life's injustices. We ARE brave, but we are human, and we hurt. Putting on a brave face for this last year has been tough!! I believe I speak for everyone going through this bc crap, whether they want to admit to themselves or not. We don't want our loved ones to worry about us, so we internalize a lot of our emotions. But once in a while they are going to just pop out unexpectedly. They have to. We have to grieve a bit, acknowledge the emotional pain, even if only to ourselves, and to God. I know I find myself speaking out more too, as you said "not overlooking things" as much. I am a touch more irritable and I don't like it because I am by nature very easy going. But I know this is temporary. I give myself a little grace, and frequent pep talks! I would absolutely be ticked about scratches on my new car, and the ex nosing in! It is good to vent here once in a while Sis, because we understand, no judgement. And sometimes just getting it off your chest really does help. Looking forward to your post op check in!! Roll Tide!!!
0 -
Shoregirl you said it perfectly! We have all definitely had to put on brave faces to get through this last year. I know I do it all the time and I continue to do it even now because I still find myself sooooo tired (like today at work) where I just want to go lay down or take a nap but I cannot. I miss having my old pre cancer energy-I want it BACK!! But I keep hearing it will not be back for awhile longer. I just wonder how long is "awhile" ha. I finished chemo up in June, had surgery in July and Nov so maybe now I can start finding more energy, however I hear tamoxifen can effect our energy levels as well sooooo who knows.
But I wanted to tell you that I feel the same way you do above
Letty - go get em...you have all of us here for you!!! Do not think you are alone
we are all here so anytime you need advice, to vent or just to cry we are here Hugs to you my sisters !
Amy (that is my name..lol...Lynae is my middle name)
0 -
hello
i had my exchange surgery yesterday , i think it lasted around an hour and then around 3 hours in recovery,i can say that indeed the pain is much lower than it was in the mastectomy, they gave me some norco but didn't need it just took some tylenol and spent most of yesterday sleeping , also gave me some cephalexin to take for 3 days .the ps said that he is worried cause the skin is very thin esp on my radiation side and that there's around 10% risk of wound healing issues and that he wants to see me tomorrow instead of his nurse next week so i don't what's the deal with that.
but generally i feel much better that i finally got rid of those annoying expanders
good luck ladies
0 -
Mssz, Glad things are going well for you. I am finishing a 14 day, 2x per day antibiotic from my surgery. Apparently, infection risk is high with any implant surgery. So, I think that a lot of PSs give some type of antibiotic. The 2-week, twice per day part reminded me of antibiotics back in the 80s or earlier!!! It is such a pain to have to remember to take it. These days, I though most were 1-3 day courses! Oh well. I set my alarm and never forgot. Will finish tomorrow and get back on the T-train with Tamoxifen!
0 -
Hi Ladies,
Speaking of post-surgery bras, I was wearing a more standard bra when I went in to my post op and my PS didn't want me to wear it. He gave me one of those awful, scratchy post surgical bras with a zipper. It has seams across the cup and I barely have anything to wear over it that doesn't hide the seams and high front. I have a Coobie bra (which is just like a Genie bra) and some sports bras that I'd rather wear if he'll let me (I just sent a message to his office to ask). Did any of you get told you could wear a sports bra or Genie bra?
Love the idea of a woman designing a post-surgery bra! This cheapo one they gave me is just awful!
Other than that, I tried on a T-shirt with my regular Coobie bra for the first time, and I like my foobs! :-) They don't look that much bigger than my real ones when I'm naked, but the fullness is definitely very apparant in a t-shirt. I think they look pretty good and natural. (Mine are Mentor Saline Smooth Round, filled to 290 ccs - I was a very small 34B or 32A pre-BMX).
Hope everyone has a good day and is feeling better.
0 -
I wore a carefix post-op bra for the first 4 weeks, then switched to a variety of Coobie bras...as a UMX I found a "yoga" Coobie bra that has adjustable straps so I can give my native breast side a little more support...the implant doesn't need any!
0
