Exchange City
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LOL I have got to start reading everything BEFORE I post. Sorry about the repeat video .
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Hi everyone, I am still reading and the love and compassion and prayer for everyone is so amazing. I garner so much from reading the posts here.
TCK, I think you get the prize for reading all 282 pages, I try to read each and every post but some days, I am lucky to get the computer turned on.
Jan
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Colleen - You already gave up your boobs! I wouldn't want to give up my alcohol either. Anything in moderation can't be so bad, could it?
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Welcome Hannasmom. You will find what you need here.
Lilah and Nae: I love your discussions about those who love us. I have a wonderful DH who is a clinically trained hospital chaplain and even he has times of feeling helpless with me. I realized yesterday (1+ days being out of my exchange) that he had not felt the new girls. When I asked him, he did so very gently, but the smile on his face with them being so soft was worth a million bucks. Then I showed him the "pink glove dance" that Karen had so graciously sent the link. He loved it and just let me cry and laugh at the same time. I love what Lilah said about some things we can control and how we might hyper focus on it. I see no problem with that in all we've gone thru.
I have a question, When does the swelling go down from the oophorectomy? My gut looks so big and I had 200 cc's lipo-ed out of it. I'm not thin by any means, but my gut was going down before the surgery. I really don't like how swollen it is. Surgical sites look good with no fear of infection, but the swelling bothers me. Any good answers out there? Blessings to all. Mary
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Mary: Have you been wearing any sort of compression garment? If you had liposuction along with ooph, you should have been wearing something to keep the swollen tissues under compression. If you are as swollen as you describe, I would definitely tell the MD and have this checked out.
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Whippetmom I called my PS's nurse whom I know well. She said the lipo done is not considered cosmetic and only a certain amount can be done at a time (at this cancer hospital), therefore due to the small amount, I did not need any type of compression garment.The swelling is in my lower belly area, right where the ooph was done. I've put a call into the nurse of the gyn doc to ask her if this is normal and if I should be doing anything. Just took a nice walk in shorts--still warm in Florida and it felt great to get outside and outside of my head
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Hi guys,
I posted a couple of weeks ago that after a lengthy expansion process (infections, TE removal, you name it) I'm finally scheduled for exchange. My PS told me he would be using textured implants. He uses Allergan exclusively.
I visited him today(on an unrelated matter) and talked about my January exchange. Ever since I had researched the textured implants, I just couldn't get happy with the projection that they offered. I have 600cc 133MV TEs that have a projection of 6.3! They are overfilled to 690 which makes them about 6.6. I was just devastated at the prospect of going with the 4.9 cm projection which is the highest available in my size range in textured.
My ribcage is 32 in.(5'6" 144lb) so I need a pretty large implant. Since I had to go 7 months with my left TE removed, I have the *benefit* of knowing what my flat chest looks like. It was concave! That 4.9cm projection would practically disappear!
My PS agreed today that we would consider smooth! Either the high profile 20s or possibly even the full profile 45s! I would like some advice from all you experts as to what I should push for. I also posted a similar question with my pictures on TinTam's site. (My screenname is sandollars there).
My specific questions are: Since I had a TE with dimensions of 15x14 do you think the 14.2 cm 45s (with 6.7 projection) would be large enough widthwise for me? Would the 14.5 cm 20's with 6.2 projection be better? (Whippetmom you had suggested this one before. However now that he has offered the 45s my boob greed is kicking in (LOL). Or ... since the width dimension of my TE is 15 should I be looking for an implant that is 15 cm. or larger? I notice most of you ladies have implants that are a bit wider than your expanders.
He did tell me the reason that he preferred textured for me. He said that with an implant as large/heavy as the one I would be getting, he was concerned about the smooth slipping down. He cautioned that he would insist on a pretty heavy duty bra at least initially.
Thanks so much ladies for this thread. It has been invaluable to me on this journey! Since I developed infections after my last two surgeries, I really really want to get it right the first time.
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Mary--My tummy was only a little swollen after the ooph (I did not have lipo, yet :-)) and it faded away after a few days. I agree with Deborah you should see or call your doc. Keep an eye out for reddness and heat in the swollen area.
Hi Sister Sam! Slip down? Maybe Deborah will have a contribution on this. Mine are 800cc smooth and I've nothing slip. I guess I don't understand where will it slip to? I'm excited for you to finally get to this point, make sure you get what you want!
Hugs--Karen
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Mom of Hannah ~ that must have taken you days!!! This is the best place to be and the most incredible women. My advice is to not wander too far from this thread, there are some wierd things going on in some of the other threads . . . That is the surgery I haven't had to have so far so no advice from me there.
Peg and Deborah ~ we are on for lunch in January! Maybe we should schedule it around Deborah's next scheduled appt here?? I am really flexible and will PM both of you with my contact information. Anyone else in the area that wants to join us???
Take care, Colleen
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Maybe that came out wrong. There are a lot of great threads out there with incredible women on them. Some just have more "personality" and "energy" than others.
Okay, back to work for me!
Colleen
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Hello!
I read about the different bra that you guys recommend. I just want to ask if I'm 2 weeks after the exchange what kind of bra can I use to feel comfortable. I work and yesterday I use a sports bra and it was too tight by the end of the day. Today, I used the regular bra from the store and It feels just not enough support to be comfortable.
Do you guys wear bra day and night after 2 weeks of surgery. My PS said I could do anything with or without bra but I feel I still need the support.
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ASSYMETRY D/T RADIATED BREAST
I cannot recall who posted about having assymetry after the exchange due to the radiated breast being smaller than the non-rads side. I posted a new topic in the RADS forum about using fat grafting to change the texture of [soften] and add volume to the previously irradiated breast. It is worth a consideration. But I would find someone who knows what they are doing....someone experienced with fat grafting....
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samiam: Stick with the Style 20's. If your ribcage was around 30 inches or less, I would say you could consider the Style 45's. But I feel you also need to have a long torso - an exceptional sternal notch to nipple distance - over 21cm in length - to really carry it off. You will be fine with the smooth round silicone and you will want to wear supportive bras yes - but it is a worthwhile trade off if you can get smooth vs. textured.
ADDED TO STATE:
You do have TEs with a width of 15.0 cm which means your PS will need to do some pocket work - tighten them up a bit so that you will not have laxity.
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Deborah Thanks so much for posting that article it really give's us rad girls hope.
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Just a question: What would the procedure be called if they took part of my aug breast nipple and made one for my mx side?
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Whippetmom;
Question: I followed up with my PS last night, unaware that I had seroma on both breasts. He recognized the volume, texture and shape were indicative of seroma(I thot it looked 'normal', but then again i've never been thru exhange to impants b4). The one incision opened and leaked fluid just b4 my appt., the second remained closed. He opened both incision's and manually drained with a 'canula sp??', and drained off a large volume of fluid(maybe 80 cc's?-i have no idea-felt like 1000. The problem is the seroma ruptured the muscle incision.... so, he could see the implant (where it should have been completely covered and protected by muscle. It WILL require surgery to close the muscle back up, but my question to you is do you see ANY contraindication(in your experience here) with waiting until nipple recon (maybe 6 months)?
His first reaction was fix it now.. but logistically was bad for me.... so we settled on Saturday... but, I asked if it can wait. Another general anesthetic at this point doesnt excite me, and if no problem with waiting.... why not piggyback onto the next surgery. The muscle rupture appears to be about 3 cm's long(translates into a small depression when palpated.
He stressed the IMPORTANCE of monitoring for infection at this stage, repeated my anti-biotics, and gave me his cell phone number if I should have ANY symptoms of unwellness.
Will the muscle stay expanded, and will the implant stay intact - CPG323's for six months? Or, would upping the nipple surgery to a sooner date be another approach to keeping the anesthetic issue at a minimum? What do you think?
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Angel 40 - I'm the one with the ps who's insistent on underwire bras 24/7 for the first three months post-exchange, and have researched and tried on more bras in the past two months than in my entire lifetime! I will be the first to tell you that comfort is most definitely NOT part of that picture! (at least for me) The kind of support you need is somewhat dependent on the size of your implants and any particular issues your body may pose for them, but for most of us it's lateral migration. So, you need a bra that has good side support to bring the implants "in and up." I wear an unlined, underwire during the day and the same at night, just in a looser band size - a bit more comfortable, but still supportive. The only time I've been braless since exchange is at the ps's office and in the shower!
Ladies, thanks for the hugs....Iike the rest of you, I just wanted to see the light at the end of this tunnel.....I'm coming up on my diagnosis date and approaching it with trepidation.......I know waiting for my next surgery is obviously the right choice....... One bright side - at least now I can wear cute clothes to my Christmas parties without having to hide a taped up chest and a drain!
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Well to those of you who were surprised that I read the entire thread, I was off work for 6 weeks after my BLM (had alot of time on my hands) and I was very interested in your experiences. I've been back at work for a month. Since going back to work,I have just tried to keep up day to day with new posts. You are a very interesting group of women and I have learned so much from you. I can really feel the genuine concern and support that you offer. Thanks. TCK
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Geneskirt- I know that I am new to the board but I felt compelled to respond to your post. After everything that you have been through up to this point, I wouldn't want to take any chances of infection. I think 6 months sounds like a long time to wait if the implant is not properly covered by muscle and there is an opening. The area could possibly open more as you increase your activity. Please consider having this addressed as soon as possible. I totally understand not wanting to have an unexpected additional surgery but if infection occurs then that would likely require more surgery. Hang in there. TCK
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Angel 40 ~
When I saw my PS yesterday, she advised for me to wear a sports bra with good support for 3 more weeks...then I can start to wear a "real" bra again. Christmas gatherings are coming up so I will "cheat" a few times...sports bra & formal wear do not go together! LOL!
Rockwell_girl ~
How are you? I have a "port" underneath my aug. breast...ouch!! Exchange went well but the only area that is bugging me is the port location. This will be staying in for a few months until the symmetry is met. The band from the sports bra impinges the area which is also where my incision was done to place the implant (along the fold). Any suggestions to make it more comfortable...more tolerable. It is very annoying. I'm trying use a bundle of guaze...helps a little. Is it also normal for the aug. breast to appear bigger? I am only a week out from surgery....I keep thinking I'm superwoman still. My PS did not think a lift was necessary at the time of surgery but my aug. side has dropped slightly thus she will do the lift later. I return in 6 weeks now. It will be nice to take a break from all of this .
Kew ~
See what we started with the Pink Glove Dance!! LOL!! When I need to
I go back & watch the video. My boys tell me...goodness Mom, are you going to keep watch that over & over???...I tell them it is nothing different than them playing & listening to the Beatles ALLL DAY LONGGG!! LOL!How are the rest of you? Hope everyone is recovering well. Prayers to all the surgeries this week.
God Bless!!
NAE
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Hi all,
Kew - The Pink Glove Dance video is awesome! What fun! Looks like a great place to have gotten your treatment!!
Deborah - I'll be sure to check out re fat grafting on the rads boards. I hope I don't need it when the time comes, but it'll be nice to know there's stuff I can do if it's necessary.
Tamoxifen and weight gain -- after my bilat mx my doc took me off the Tamoxifen. I never gained weight on it (3 years on it). However, I've gained 8 pounds since the bilat mx -- exercise has been limited because of pain, more sedentary lifestyle. I can hardly wait to be able to lift again!
Hope all of this week's surgeries went OK!
Geena
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P.S. on Tamoxifen and weight gain: I remember asking my oncologist about the connection and he said that they were not sure if Tamoxifen caused weight gain or if the use of Tamoxifen coincided with a cancer diagnosis which could cause depression and therefore a more sedentary existence for a bit... he also said most women being given Tamoxifen could be given it at an age when their metabolism might have slowed down anyway -- 40's and 50's....
Geena
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Computer problems -- sorry for the repetitive postings...
Geena
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geneskirt: I would not at all want to go through a pectoral muscle repair and reimplantation AND have nipples all in the same procedure. You are opening too many doors for complications. I need to do a little research on pectoral muscle repair. I presume you have partial unders, right? This would mean the top 1/3 of the implant is covered by the pectoral musculature. Your lower 1/3 is not covered by muscle as well, is it? I just think that this is a significant surgery - repairing that muscle. Many plastic surgeons do the nipple procedure under local anesthetic. Depends on what technique your PS uses I suppose - but ask if the nipple can be done under local. I would wait on the nipple until you are three months out and well healed, with no complications of the muscle repair and reimplantation. You don't want any complications messing up your nipple reconstruction.
Deborah
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Deborah, great advice as usual for geneskirt. I think that would be a lot of procedures to correct at one surgery. I know my PS is doing my fipple under a local.
Mary, keep us posted on the swelling issue, I hope it is just part of the healing process.
Angel, I agree the anniversary dates of diagnosis and surgery are hard, it make one a little melancholy 12-29 is a date I hope I don't have to do over again. For those that have had so many issues and repeated surgeries; I am amazed by your strength to endure this process and take time to share and comfort other sisters that have similar issues. This forum is the best.
Jan
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I am worried now as I have not worn a bra (except a sports bra when I run) since my exchange!!! My PS said it's no big deal. If I want to wear one fine- If not fine!!! What is UP with that. Are they gonna slide to the side or look bad?????? YIKES!!! What kind of bra should I look for underwire or non underwire? I have absolutely been having a field day with the no bra thing. There are no nips to look strange so it is all flat and smooth. Looks great under a sweater or shirt. I hope I am not doing damage to these precious things! Advice needed!
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Deb... RADs.. Fat Grafting.. WHAT... oh... oh... oh.... I am off to read.......
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Okay, this is off the subject of what you ladies have been talking about and I'm sure it has been posted somewhere in the 284 pages of posts, but since I am a newbie here could someone please answer this question......Is ANYONE who has had an exchange to saline implants actually happy with them? It seems so many of you have gone with silicone, so I was just wondering if salines are really that miserable. I am asking so I can know what to expect, of course. Are they as hard as the TE's? Can you sleep on your stomach if you have them?
I am actually having issues with my tissue expander making me feel as if I have a ton of bricks on my chest when I lay on my back to sleep. Is that a problem when one has the saline implants too? I posed these questions on another thread but haven't gotten much response. Could any of you ladies please offer some advice here?
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johnson7599 ~
Welcome, welcome!!! You're in the right place!!! I joined back in Oct. with the same concerns & questions you are now having. Now I am 9 days out from my exchange surgery. I actually have 2 different implants...one silicone, the other saline. So far I cannot tell a difference. I am unilat. MX patient. The silicone replaced the TE & the saline was used to aug. my healthy side. Oh yes...the TE's did feel like "cannon balls" stuck to my chest!!! Towards the end b4 the exchange I did on occasion sleep on my stomach...not the most comfortable. Once you exchange over to the silicone/saline implants it is like night & day....soo soft/comfy...not like hard balls!!!
Bring on any concerns or questions...we're all here to help you along your journey!
NAE
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Hello everyone. I am much better today, less swollen and in general feeling better everyday. I did talk with nurses yesterday about my concerns at Moffitt. They reassured me all is well and the swelling went down considerably overnight.
I can't comment about rads as I did not have them, but I did just have the fat grafting done on Monday. My PS put in 100 cc's on each side up on top of the implants. I love the look. There is no noticeable step-off ledge as was with the expanders. The drape looks natural. I also found out that at the hospital I use (a cancer hospital) the PS cannot do any more than 100 cc's in one place at a time as anything above that is considered cosmetic and this is "not" cosmetic. All I have to say is whatever you can do that my insurance company will pay for to redistribute my fat, I'm a happy woman. Also, I am most sore at those sites. Thank God I did not see or know what was going on when they did these procedures. I, like Jan, commend those who have to do more and more. This is brutal to get thru.
Cheri, I am also at the bra predicament. I wasn't really told anything about a bra, but see my PS next Wednesday for follow up. I love the bras Karen talked about from VS. I may go for those if I get the go ahead. Too many choices
Deborah, you are an angel in your ministry on this site. Prayers continue to go to you to keep up your work which touches so many lives.
Take care everyone and continue to heal up in all areas well today.
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