Exchange City
Comments
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Jane
4 weeks sounds a bit ridiculous. I am a hairstylist and I only took 4 wks for my Bi-lat MX with immediate Bi-lat LD flaps and TE placement. I had my exchange a year ago and it was on a Monday and had 2 drains. The drains were removed on Friday and I walked the Race for the Cure 5K that Saturday at a 15 min pace. I drove myself to the race. I only took 6 days off work. With you sitting at a desk you should be able to go back to work in just a few days. You said that you would be under more stress by not being at work, well I say go to work as soon as you feel you can handle it. I even had some pocket work done on one side. Sounds like you have a uni....so it should be even easier on you than if you were having a Bi-lat exchange. Hope your surgery goes well and you will be pleased.
The best to you
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Things are better today, thank goodness. Now that I don't have to use "my own" medications and can use ones prescribed for me, I'm taking them every four hours faithfully and that helps. I still feel very beat up and now my stiches are burning but I feel like the worst has passed.
Now, I need to figure out how to clean myself. I still have a compression bandage across my chest with guaze and whatever else underneath. It was extremely hot in the hospital and i was sweathing the whole time (and I'm more like a 90 year old, always cold) and it's still warm here in my part of the world so I'm still hot and sweaty. I feel that that guaze has sweated through and is stuck to me. I need to get this smell off me! I was not left instructions on being able to remove the bandages so I'll leave it but oh, it's awful. Being clean is certainly a basic human desire, isn't it?
Bad news though - my right hand is swollen. I sure hope it's just from surgery and being in a bad position rather than lymphodema. I only had three nodes removed in the SNB so I wasn't expecting lympodema.
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Hello Jean
How are the nipps doing?
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Allison:
Hope you feel better. Keep us posted.
Jane
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Thanks Ladies:
My exchange is bi-lat. I'm in great shape. I do think maye my PS is very conservative. I will play it by ear but it helps to hear how well you all have done. I "think" my exchange is pretty simple.
Jane
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Hi everyone. I am still on the to be exchanged later list. (pout) My PS looked at my foob last week and said still too much swelling from the radiation tx. Maybe I'll be able to set a date by December. Hopehopehopehope.
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Coolbreeze - I am so pleased that the pain is getting under control. I am bummed that you have arm/wrist swelling. Hugs my dear.
Linda - I still LOVE them! Tonight I went out to dinner w/ my husband and just wore a sports bra, no nipple protectors. I will put them back on for the night. But it was nice to be able to dress normally for a change. The incision across my belly is uncomfortable in blue jeans, but it is okay w/ soft pants and sweats. Thanks for asking!! Your pictures and support meant the world to me going into all this!
Jess - I will add you as a "sister in waiting," okay? At least then you can see your name on the list. Just let us know when you get a date. You should PM me since I don't always catch all the dates.
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Hi Jean...Can you please add me as another sister in waiting! Maybe it'll bring me good luck and I can get my exchange in Dec as promised....
Many thanks,
Terri
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Coolbreeze you might go on the lymphedema forum and ask Binney her thoughts on the swelling. She is the resident expert and was very helpful for me when I was having a variety of issues and concerns regarding swelling in my hand and forearm. Like you need another thing to worry about, maybe she can ease your mind.
A friend forwarded a techinical article on BC to me just for information and I was howling when they referred to "chemo brain". How long does it last anyway?? Will it take me right into the senior moment era?? Ha!!
Back to football ~ take care everyone!!
Colleen
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Ann so glad you are feeling better! I stood in the shower with the hand held shower head washed the lower half, kept the surgical bra and bandages on ~ and just washed the upper body with a washcloth. Then my daughter washed my hair in the sink. It was an exhausting process but so worth IT!
I will be 4 weeks since my surgery this TUESDAY. I hate these freaking tissue expanders. THEY SUCK! (Ok I feel a bit better ~
) I dread Friday's 2nd fill.........0 -
Ladies... HELLO!... I love you all! You are ALL so tough and yet so sweet! You are the bravest ladies I have ever known. I am honored! I agree with Judy though...GET REAL tough on what you want and need.. DO NOT NOT NOT feel bad about a darn thing in this journey.. I have learned this too... Be nice... and sweet...( as we ladies know how to be) but get EVERYTHING you need.. and do not feel bad about anything. You are worth it all!
ROBIN... ROBIN ... ROBIN.... this is for you....................
Go Robin Go Robin Go Robin Go Robin Go robin Go Robin Go Robin......... PERFECT TATS!
Join me ladies in giving Robin ( Firstmate) a great big Tat send off........
Tomorrow is your day...... and it will be GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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There is a lot of comfort in that no matter what you are going through there are still only 24 hours in the day and it goes by at the same speed whether you are at a wedding receptiondrinking and dancing or enduring pain in the barcalounger watching bad soaps. Trust me on this. Time does fly by ~~ okay it might be in a long drug out way but it really does fly by!!
My story, was disgnosed the first week of November last year. Have had a lumpectomy and re-section in 12/08, had chemo from February through April, a bi-lat mx in June with TE's and fills every three weeks since then. Started Tamoxifen in August. It truly all seems like yesterday (yes, in a long drug out way). Now I am scheduled for an exchange on 12/4.
Love the people in your life who support you and focus on them and their support.
My 2 cents ~ now I really have to get back to football, it is Sunday you know. This isn't really directed at anyone in particular, must be the wine talking. Maybe I need to wander over to the drinking thread . . . Ha!!! NEVER LEAVING AGAIN!!!
Take care ~ Colleen
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Ladies who do not exchange dates... they will come. Hang in there..ok..:).... we will be here waiting with you...:)
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Robin ~ I will be thinking of you all day tomorrow and sending good thoughts your way! Let us know how you are when you can.
Jane ~ I had a lot of pocketwork with my exchange and I felt better after about 1 week or 10 days. I didn't lift because I didn't want to ruin the pockets but 4 weeks off work seems like a lot of time.
Laura ~ Your time is soon approaching. How exciting!!! I hope you are feeling good and Wed. will be here before you know it!
Peg
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10/26 - Robin - areola tatoos--I'm with Laura--YAY tats! I hope you love them.
10/28 - Lorraine - Nips!! You are days away from being done--you've been very patient.
10/28 - Laura - Foob lift and 550 cc implants---Lift and plant, lift and plant---You are going to be hot--although I think you already are.
10/30 - athena204 - Exchange surgery---No more TEs, let that be your mantra of the week. Soft breasts in time for the weekend!
I'll be excited to hear how all of you are doing. Good thoughts and prayers--Hugs too.
Shoulder still hurts. I just threw my pain meds out two weeks ago...stupid, I'll never do that again. The Naposyn (sp) doesn't help at all! Monday school, Tuesday bone scan, Wednesday work is hosting an honoring ceremony for a Native American man who has beautifully linked western science with ind igneous ways of knowing--dinner for 150, and panel discussion on Oceans, Climate Change, and Human Health, Thursday--talking to kids about why science is cool and to STAY IN SCHOOL, Friday OFF and bugging my PS--and Judy--I'm not going to worry about pleasing him, you are so right.
Trust me I will be thinking of the ladies of the week, more than my mind will be on all of this other stuff!
Have a wonderful week everyone!
KarenW
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I am so happy to find you guys! I had my bilat with recon in May and just had my exchange for gummy inserts a month ago. I wanted to ask you about stinging "sensations" in the chest area. It's kind of freaky but I get this pain in the middle of my chest but it fades after a few breaths. It comes and goes - it is not around all the time. My PS gave me larger implants than my TEs. I wonder if the muscle was a little shocked after the exchange. I also get little stinging sensations in different places at different times - could be the nerves coming back? Anyway, it would be helpful to know what others have felt so I can dismiss these as benign side effects from the surgery. I am by no means complaining, I guess I just want to be on the lookout for symptoms that have nothing to do with the recon process.
Happy thoughts to everyone!
Angela
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About implants floating.... I had breast augmentation long before this BC journey and had saline implants. Yes, they do "float" in the water. My hubby and I would laugh about it, whenever I went into the pool or hot tub. It wasn't really obvious, but it was funny. I haven't been in the pool since my BMX, so I haven't tried out the TE's floating. Although, there isn't a lot of room for them to go. LOL!!!
Question... How much time did most of you ladies take off of work for the Exchange Surgery? I took about 2.5 weeks off for my BMX. I actually did a business day trip about 3 weeks post surgery - I was wiped out the next day, but was ok overall. I'm having my surgery on Dec 15th, which is a Tuesday. Should I plan to take the rest of the week off? What about the week after that? I am going to call my PS tomorrow and ask. I need to have someone cover for me, while I'm out. I'm sure no one will want to, since it's a week before Christmas. Oh well.
My PS told me he'll probably put in 550 cc's in both sides. I have 550 and 575 in right now. When I had my augmentation done, my right side projected more than the left (like a half inch or more). I hated that. Anyway, my PS put in 25 more cc's on the left as a test, so he can gauge what they'll do. What I don't get is that my right side hasn't been projecting more like when I had my aug. My DH and I are thinking that my former PS might have screwed up or something....???
I can't wait to get the space ships out!!! LOL!
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I took 5 weeks off for Exchange, but I had a TAH and appendectomy along with it, and I respond slowly after surgery. I was off for 10 weeks after mx at 2.5 weeks, although off pain meds during the day I was still pretty fragile, couldn't eat much at all, and required tons of sleep, and frankly, still in shock. So, everyone is different. For me I think it is the anesthesia that slows me down.
I've had the same floating thing with the implants. I like to run in the pool and man do I look great in my suit from the wasit up! It is a strange feeling.
Back to sleep.
KarenW
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Hi Ladies: Thanks for all the feed back on exchange surgery (12 days but who's counting?). I think my PS is probably being conservative. He did tell me no drains. Seems like there are no two surgies alike.
Has anyone PS suggested that several months after exchange that they woudl go in and lipo fat from the hips to fill in imperfections from implants and/or Lat flap? That's what mine is saying and I don't believe I have heard that anywhere else. I love my PS I told him to lip awa!
Jane
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I took 12 days off for the first exchange and capsulectomy. I am a Stylist. This time I Am taking 7 days off.... and I am having the same thing done. Here's praying...:)
I actually thought exchange was no big deal. About three days I needed pain meds.. but they felt so darn good , I took them for 5 days...WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hehehehe.
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Hi Angela... I am in KC!
The burning, tingle thing is probably your nerves trying to reconnect... drove me nuts!
The pain inn th middle of the chest.. I have too. If I push on the cleavage area.. it feels bruised.. my PS says it is normal... and he did tell me why it hurts ( recon).. but I forgot..
..... I probably did not help too much eh? hehe....
Welcome to EC!
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Laura: In answer to your question a page back re: the style of TE vs. range of motion after surgery. I don't think it has much impact. For one thing, the taller TE's do not get expanded out and expand the upper pole or pectorals until you have had a few fills - and we are talking about mobility the first few weeks after surgery. I think that your fitness level has much to do with it. You have a lot of strength in your arms because of your work as a hairstylist. I had full height TE's - and I had good range of motion with my arms within ten days after surgery - because I do a great deal of work with my arms. I think there are other mechanics involved for many women - especially their body habitus - ribcage issues - nerve impingement issues - who knows how many factors are involved. I know that personally, I started lifting my arms and really stretching within ten days after surgery. Some doctors advise otherwise.
Allison: I don't monkey around with a fever so soon after surgery. If you cannot bring it down today - go to the doctor.
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Estepp- Thanks so much for the feedback. It truly consoles me. It is good to know your doc gave an explanation. Mine just tell me everything looks fine and I should expect weird feelings in the chest region. I too had lymph node involvement plus a triple negative tumor so you can guess what my biggest fear is
To the others who asked about recoup time after the exchange - I was out of it from the anesthesia for about three days but once that passed, I was productive and fully functional. I would plan to take a week to recover or make arrangements to work from home ot be on the safe side. It is easy compared to the previous monster
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Nips on Wednesday, YAY!! Actually a little nervous, I hope they are not wonky!!
Good luck to everyone with surgeries this week!
Kew, have been thinking of you a lot girlfriend, please let us know how you do tomorrow......
L
ox
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Fairy49 - Yay for nips on Wednesday! I go to my ps tomorrow to discuss a nip or a re-do of the good side to get better symmetry. I hope your nips don't turn out wonky!!! He He! FUnny girl!
Have you seen any of his previous work?0 -
Hello my friends. I go for my last fill (hopefully) on October 30. My PS said 2 1/2 to 3 months from last fill for exchange. I guess you can add my name to the January list. I can't wait to see my name on the list. The faster time goes by the slower it seems. I know you all know what I mean. I can't believe it will be six months since my surgery. I feel like it was yesterday, but so much has happened. I love this site. I love you all. God Bless You.
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hood! I haven't seen her nipple work
but she did such a great job on my recon I am trusting her! She is doing a modified C Flap, I am not doing the areola recon, I will have tatoo's once the nips are healed. I am taking my fake fipples with me, so she knows where to put them LOL!! I understand that she does good nipples!! here's hoping! I will definately post some pics when I can!! or I should say, when I know how! Good luck at the PS!!L
ox
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Robin.... what do you think about your tats?
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This weeks surgeries are all great!! I am excited for all of you!
Karen- I had bursitis in my left shoulder a couple of years ago. It took a while to get over it. The primary thing that helped was PT and swimming. But it DID get better. Hugs my dear!
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Wow Lorraine, NIPS on Wed !! I'm sure they won't be wonky...........you're going to look FABULOUS!
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