Exchange City
Comments
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Has anyone had any problems with a suture poking out? My incisions have been healing really nice but I noticed today I had a little loop of suture popping out on the incision line. I'm exactly 1 month out from exchange surgery and all my sutures we're dissolvable. I couldn't just leave it alone so I tugged lightly on one side with tweezers and it nicely came out. Then I tugged lightly on the other side but that side didn't move. So...now I'm left with a couple millimeters of suture poking out. I realize NOW I should have left it alone. Any suggestions?
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nursepatient - this happens to me all the time - my body doesn't like to dissolve stitches! In fact, I ended up with a suture granuloma alongside my cancer side implant that grew to 3cm. I would use some sterile scissors and trim the end so it is as flush with the skin as possible, and then just wait. Chances are it will let go from the inside given some more time. I also very gently used a clean soapy washcloth - or you could use a baby wipe, and rubbed across the incision line periodically in the warm shower.
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Nurse, I'm 4 weeks out of surgery too and the nurse at my PS's office just took an emerging stitch out yesterday with tweezers. Then she put some iodine on it and told me to hold off with the silicone strips for a few days to let that part heal. She said the "self-absorbing" stitches very often come out on their own. I bet if you wait, like SpecialK says, the suture will work itself out.
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Nurse, I agree with the SpecialK and Sweet Pea...I had one that was poking out a bit and the nurse trimmed it with sterile scissors. If you have manicure scissors ( they are nice and sharp and very tiny) that will work just wipe them down with an alcohol wipe prior. My nurse also point out the suture really needs the body to help break it down...time heals all.
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Nursepatient, I was told to use Vaseline on the dissolvable sutures that we’re sticking out.
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I did use some sterile scissors here at work and trimmed it down. I asked a surgeon I was working with and he said these types of sutures usually dissolve in 1 month. I will try the Vaseline and see if that speeds up the process. It's funny, I see them sew people up all the time and don't think much of it, but it's a new ball game when it's on you.
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thanks for your reply and for the referral to the other board. I will definitely check it out. My exchange surgery went really well...tons of scar tissue released and I no longer have shoulder pain! Hoping they heal well and stay that way. Fingers crossed.
So interesting about different plastic surgeons not wanting to do nipple reconstruction after radiation. After a little pushing, mine said he might consider it, but warned that on radiated skin they always flatten out so it’s kind of useless to do anyway.
Does anyone know where there might be a resource with photos of nipple reconstruction on radiated skin?
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my Ps said he’d do my nipple recon about five months after I completed radiation.
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Nickel103, I had nipple reconstruction and my radiated side looks as good as my prophylactic side! As Imcopy mentioned, I’mvery happy with my results.
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OK, weird situation: has anyone noticed pain in reconstructed side before it rains?! I always thought this was something that happened with joints when the barometric pressure dropped, but it's almost like I can feel the chest wall behind my implant...the oddest thing.
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I still have TEs but I feel them unsticking from my chest wall a lot (will check the rain angle though!). I’ve noticed it more when I’ve taken off a bra or tight shirt, or when I get up in the morning and they “drop” after an hour or so. It has gotten better since I’ve had fills - but it is still there and creepy!
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Sweet Pea,
I used to ache on my lumpectomy side when rain or bad weather was forecast. But I don’t notice it now that I’vehad a mastectomy and implants.
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Lanne...whoa, that sounds like a weird feeling! Leslie, that's so interesting about your lumpectomy. I wonder why I didn't feel anything after the mastectomy but I feel it now, after the implant has been put in!
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6/6/18 Exchange surgery
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Ladies: My exchange surgery date is 06/25/18. !!!!
I had a uni mast in May last year and after a year with a TE, I’m so ready for a squishy foob! Pre pec implant with fat grafting, as I had rads in 2008. Hoping for a good result, but with one native breast and one implant, I know I’m likely to have Perky and Droopy.
Peace to all of you waiting for exchanges.
M
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Mom-mom-Congrats and good luck! I also had rads however I had a BMX...my first PS did my exchange and my results were mediocre. However my current PS is fabulous and gave me beautiful results, FG works wonders with radiated skin, remember to step away from the mirror for awhile, it takes time for things to soften and settle.
Alicia good luck tomrrow and update us when you can.
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Had my right exchange on 6/4. I've had a lot of mid back back pain since the surgery. It makes me wonder how they handled me on the operating table. Has anyone else had this problem?
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Over70, I too had a rough exchange...not back pain, but a too large implant was placed which clearly required a lot of pulling and straining of me. Afterwards, my natural breast was all bruised and it wasn't operated on. The left that was the exchange was bruised and swollen for over a month and to this day, nearly 9 months later there is a permanent bruise (an echymosis) due to internal bleeding. Given my circumstances, I will have another exchange to a smaller implant and try to remove some of the lingering necrosis...with a Different PS!
So, I can't help your case but to share...odd things do happen when we aren't fully there. TT
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Alicia: I hope your exchange went well today! Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way!
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Hi ladies,
I have a question about comfort of your implants. I had the smooth rounds done in February of this year. ( 4 months ago). I'm still feeling uncomfortable a lot of the times. my chest hurts a lot of the time and even the skin hurts to touch it. It all feels so tight yet. Is this normal? I don't see my PS for a while now. I've tried sleeping on my side but I can't without it being uncomfortable. Just wondering how long it takes to start feeling normal.... what ever that is.
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TrmTab. Yours was a rough exchange! Your right about odd things happening when we're under general anesthesia. I saw a test result sayimg a chest X-ray was done at the end of my surgery looking for a missing surgical needle. None was found in me, but I suspect manipulating me for the X-ray caused the back pain. It's so frustrating to come out of surgery with more problems.
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Thank you. The surgery itself was easy, just so much easier than the mx. Today I took off the gauze pads to look and I apparently was not adequately prepared for what I saw. I'm trying not to freak out, to be grateful, etc., but I don't see how these can settle into normal looking. I knew they would be smaller and was fine with that, but they seem a lot smaller and there is so much puckering, and caverns where there weren't before. Please tell me there will be a big change during the next few weeks. I'm having a really hard time right now.
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kmb4, my exchange was in April and I don’t have pain or discomfort. I don’t think it’s normal. Definitely speak to your doc
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Alicia - first rule - STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR. It's hard, but you have to discipline yourself not to look. Things progress slowly and there's no way to judge so soon (you don't have your surgery date posted but I assume a couple of days?) Anyway - it could be from two to six months before all the healing & changes finally finish. Rarely before 8 weeks.
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alice, listen to Minus two, she and I both have gummies, not sure what you have. But yes, it takes a long time for your body to accept something different and settle down. It has gone through a lot. I am out 3 1/2 years and things are fine now but I frlt like it was almost a year before my foobs took on a natural look and that I felt good in them.
I didn’t sleep on my side for a year either.
Also, remember “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should “. Don’t overdo. Take care and give yourself a chance to heal. Stress slows the healing process.
Robin
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Okay, thank you minustwo and robinblessed54. I guess I just didn't know what to expect. I'm so happy to have the t.e. rocks out from my armpits but I was thinking they would be a little less mangled-looking. I also have the gummies (smooth round) and I'm happy with how they feel, I just wish I had seen pictures or something so I would have had an idea what to expect visually. Thanks for the advice and support! I'll keep away from the mirror for the next month at least.
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alicia, my PS doesn’t show pictures, I think that is for augmentation not cancer reconstruction. Every situation is different. It depends on where the tumor was and how much pocket work had to be done. They will never be like a natural breast , but will be your “new normal “. Take good care of yourself and let your body heal.
Robin
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Hi everyone. Just thought I would pop in. I will have my exchange surgery in July. I was lucky and got all my fills in just before chemo started ( PS won't fill during chemo and makes u wait a month after) so I have been "topped off" for awhile. Just wondering how much choice you had in the type of implants? I haven't done a lot of research. Figure i will ask at my appt and still have time to research before surgery date. Silly question ( I'm pre pec) did u have drains again? Can't believe I'm saying this. I have had zero issues with the expanders and they look great..almost prefer to keep them!. Lol. Definitely looking forward to something not so rock hard. Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Deb - you should check in with Whippetmom at Breast Implants 101 - link below. If you read the header, you'll know what information to provide for her knowledgeable recommendation. Lots of information if you want to read back some.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...
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