Exchange City
Comments
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So glad it went well, Amtreb!!!
I didn't have fat grafting, so will leave advice to more experienced ladies.
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Hi amtreb glad all is well. Take it easy. No experience with fat grafting myself.
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Hi amtreb, glad it went well. I had some fat grafting done at exchange, not alot, but some. I was told NOT to wear any type of compression bra so that a good blood flow could get established to the fat. Pretty much stayed in Coobies or yoga type bras so that I had some support without being too tight. Don't know if that conflicts with what your PS told you to do/not do but thought I'd sound in. I think I've kept some of the fat but probably not all of it, since it wasn't alot it's hard to tell.
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Hi!
My exchange and symmetry surgery is set for April 24th.
What should I expect for recovery time if I'm getting silicone implants (no fat grafting) in both the reconstructed and the healthy breast (my PS will remove fat to place implant)?
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amtreb...glad it went well!
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Sweet Pea:
I'm not sure exactly how to answer because I had implant exchange to both sides. Prior to Exchange, I went back months on this forum and read a lot -- just to read other's experiences.
Exchange is SO much easier than mastectomy surgery. So much that you'll be tempted to do more than you should early on. I had a lot of pocket work, so that delayed my recovery a little -- but honestly, I felt very good right away. But some soreness, again, due to pocket work I think. I really tried to take it easy for a couple of months on lifting and all that to preserve the pocket and protect it.
Good luck. I'm sure someone with more relevant info will chime in!
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I’m joining this page too. I’m on board for an exchange in March or April. It’s a relief to know the worst of the surgeries is over.
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Welcome, Ghionik!!!
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Thank you!
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Hi Ghionik Welcome!
I just had my exchange (no fat grafting) 3 weeks ago. My doctors told me to ease back in slowly and yes this surgery is nothing like my first. My PS nurse still gave me same instructions of not raising my arms above my head for 6 weeks and keeping the post op bra for 6 weeks. Also to avoid carrying anything heavy for the first few week.
I started walking for about 20 minutes to half an hour from about 3 days post op. I can do somethings around the house but I am careful not to overdo it, as if I try to get I get pain over my sternum, - I think that is where the insertion of the muscles is. And I get by with some help from my little one and the DH. I have a cleaner in once a week to do the regular cleaning, but I can cook and wash the plates, though I cannot do the bed as the quilts are heavy. My work involves a lot of physical activity so I haven't gone back yet - no chance of easing in at work. Once I'm back, I'm back! I've been told to avoid jogging for a few months and even weights. I found the following post op instructions helpful and reasonably sensible.
I haven't got back to driving yet. How long did the rest of you take before you got back to driving?
Good luck but believe me this one is a dream near the mastectomy and tissue expander insertion.
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Thanks EastCoastTS and BringOn2017! This information is so helpful. Hopefully more people will chime in too! That will give Ghionik and me an even better idea of what to expect.
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Congrats on the successful surgery! I didn't drive for 4 weeks (originally my PS said 6 weeks but then changed, based on my healing..)
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Wow, I had surgery on Friday and was driving on Monday post-exchange. I was told 48 hrs after opiods, but as I didn't take anything but Tylenol after I left the hospital Friday afternoon, I was clear to drive on Sunday afternoon and did drive on Monday.
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yes...my PS said that it was not that I couldn't drive but that he did not want me getting into a situation that caused me to suddenly steered hard to turn or twist around to see behind me...both moves could unsettle things too early. So much about driving depends on other factors I think. Maybe nothing would have happened but I just played it safe according to his advice.
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Thanks for the info Bringon2017! I’m not having fat grafting done - just the implants when I do the exchange surgery. I’m hoping that is a faster recovery. My PS did say I’d be restricted again for doing things, but I didn’t really go into that with her as that was the day she released me to exercise again with these expanders. I left her office and went right to the gym to try a run on the treadmill! Lol
One question to those getting the exchange. Are you all having to deal with the drains again like we all had for the mastectomies? I’m planning to donate my 2 camisoles I bought that have drain pockets, but am not sure if I will have drains on this second surgery so still have them
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Welcome, Ghionlik! I’m a newbie so no advice but reading along to try to learn more about everyone else’s experiences.
Question for you ladies. How did you handle having some symmetry during expansions? I had a bilateral mastectomy but we are expanding my right side prior to radiation. So after my 2nd fill today, I can see my right side is definitely bigger and will continue to change whereas my left side remains flat. Today a baggy shirt is working but I started a LiveStrong program at the Y and I’m wearing workout clothes twice a week. Also have a couple social events coming up.
Thoughts?
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Ghionik, I didn't have drains with my exchange even though the ps said I would most likely have them, but did have them with my revision. Everyone is different, and I guess the ps doesn't know for sure if you will need them until they get in there. I think I got the drains at revision because more Alloderm was placed.
Bringon2017 I returned to driving 5 days after last revision. I think with my initial exchange I waited longer. For some reason it was tougher on my than my revision.
Sweet Pea, recovery after my revision w/fat grafting was quick, I was out at the malls Christmas shopping 4 days later, with the drains!
Amtreb, good to hear you are doing well!!
Flynn, maybe you could pad your bra on the flatter side and just wear baggy tees to workout?
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Ghionik,
I am POD #2 of my exchange to downsize and I do have drains. I also have some discomfort that wasn’t there after the first exchange. So far they look very promising in terms o being smaller. I had extensive pocketwork due to downsizing.
Mimi68
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Flynn - if you have TEs in both sides, why don't you ask them to start filling the opposite side part ways?
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Ghionik,
I also had drains after exchange. My PS said 95% chance I would not need drains, 5% chance I would, and I did end up with them. I actually had them almost 2 wks. I do know of ladies that didn't need drains after exchange but you may want to hold onto your camisoles until after your exchange just in case.
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No drains for me and I have the Allergan gummies. There was a small possibility but when I had my BMX I only had drains 6 days. He was pretty sure I wasn’t going to need them. I drove after one week, but had the lifting restrictions like before. And not putting arms above shoulders. Just remember “just because you can doesn’t mean you should “. It is easy to overdo. I had some pocket work on one side to level them out.
Robin
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Shoregirl, I guess it’s time to go back to bras. My old bras seem so big but maybe I can buy a smaller one and pad it. Thanks
MinusTwo, my RO wants to only fill right side now b/c she thinks inflatiing left side may interfere with the beams. So, I have to fill one side, do radiation, then fill the left. It’s quite a process, apparently!
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I did not have drains but was told it was possible. Had drains with BMX for 10 days.
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Flynn-
I had major asymmetry during the expansion. My right expander was leaking (long story but chose to kept rather than have another sure to replace it). Anyway we just refilled it every couple weeks. But It would go nearly flat while I waited for the next fill. I took all the liners out of my sports bras and put them in the right side of the sports bra I wore. At least in clothes you couldn't tell too bad!
Oh the joy of expanders!
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I’m new to this thread. I had nipple sparing UMX in May 2017 (recurrence from lumpectomy in 2009). I had rads in 2009 and my skin is pretty thin. I’ve got pre pec TE and will be doing exchange surgery sometime in 2018. I’m debating about what if anything to do with the native breast. Right now I’ve got “perky” (te) and “droopy” (native). Any umx-ers out there that want to share their thoughts or experiences?
Thanks!
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Mom-mom,
I am a umx-er and had the same concern/issue while I had my TEs in. I am now done with my exchange, and I have to say that my PS got things pretty right, even though I might have a minor revision. The choice was mine to be conservative, after he explained things to me. So, for example, I definitely wanted the native breast lifted. How could my native compete with the hang of an implant at my age??(51 years). So, a lift was a definite from the beginning of our plan.
Next, wanted the volume and shape to match (as sisters, not twins, per se). That part turned out pretty well, too, mostly because my PS chose the right implant size and projection for my body. I didn't try to tell him what to do, but I did let him know that I didn't want "rack!" I work out a lot and would not be used to my breasts getting in the way. So, although I wanted the native to be fuller (we did fat injection on that side) I wanted things to look natural.
All said, the volume is right and even on both sides. The only thing that we might revise is the upper pole (topside) area of my native breast. Right now, about 10 week out from surgery, the implant upper pole has more fullness. It has dropped into the pocket quite a bit over the past month, but I don't think that it will settle to look like my native side. That can be fixed with a tiny implant or additional fat, depending on the location. We just need to wait and see. I will have another appointment with my PS in mid-March and we will decide on next steps. I asked him about doing that type of implant---on the native side--during my exchange surgery. However, he felt that it is best to add an tiny implant when you know you need it. If you add it, and things then settle differently, removing the tiny implant would leave a non-optimal result with skin, shape etc. I agreed. Cancer has taught me to be patient. I also trust my PS.
Until any revision, I am still really happy with the way things look right now in my bra and clothing. Incidentally, my cup size is much bigger than before, but it looks very normal for my body. I am glad that I didn't oversteer my PS to remain small.
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Welcome newbies Sweet Pea, Ghionik, Flynn, and Mom-mom!
There are so many variables.
My PS uses drains with anatomicals, plus I had a lot of pocket work during exchange, so I had drains for about 10-12 days. I had drains for 14 days after BMX. Recovery after exchange was much easier than BMX, even with the extensive pocket work.
I didn't notice any major asymmetry during expansions, although left TE went into my armpit. I looked symmetrical enough in clothes.
Best wishes to all.
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How long were you out of work after exchange surgery? I have an office job and will ask my PS (he tends to say things like, "well, that's up to you!"), but am even more interested in your experiences. Thanks!
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Hi Sweet Pea, I think it really depends on what work you do. If it's light work where you're not carrying heavy stuff or pushing and pulling with your arms it's one thing and I think it's quite another if it's strenuous manual work. I'm four weeks out from exchange and aim at moving back into work over the next two weeks or but having said that I do have long and very stressful days at work, where I am using my arms all the time. And I'm on my feet all the time. And when I am tired I will not be able to say I'll stop here and continue tomorrow. I essentially stop and leave work when I have finished my work and on a bad day that can mean easily 9-10 hours at work. Also if I am on call it can mean driving back to work even if I have just arrived home.
What do you do and what conditions will you be under when you get back to work? Will they let you go easy initially?
The exchange is nothing like the initial surgery, but I still found limitations in certain arm movements and also I still get chest pain at the sternum if I do a little bit more than I should. I am not taking painkillers as I believe that when I get pain, it's my body telling me not to overdo it!
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