Exchange City
Comments
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Mai605: Best of luck on your surgery today! Hope the snow doesn't cause a problem for you as you travel.0
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Mai605 ~
Thoughts & prayers for you!
NAE
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Diane-best of luck to you on your surgery and we will be here when you wake up
Thanks to all that responded about the itching. It is getting better daily and each time I get to shower the surgery goop off it helps.
I am glad that someone else asked about the foobs settling in because right now I am depressed that I do not like them more. I was really looking forward to getting the implants because the expanders were so hard. I had gotten used to them though and now have to get used to these soft mounds on my chest. I like the thought of them "fluffing" and I think that will help me like them more. My DH says that they are great but I am not there yet. He is so amazing that he would tell me that just so I would feel better but he was honest about the expanders and how unreal they felt. I think he is just glad these won't hurt people when I hug them:)
I got my surgery in SC so snow is no problem for us! I do miss it sometimes though and get my fix when we go up north for the holidays. Stay safe to everyone who is dealing with the cold and the snow.
Jenn
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Is anyone else a little disappointed after the exchange surgery? Mine look smaller than the real boobs I had. I was looking forward to at least looking like I had some bigger boobs!
I also heard that they are flat until a couple of months.....
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Sandy: I found that you can completely bypass www.picresize.com - you don't even need to go there first - and just go directly to www.drpic.com. This helps bypass a confusing step....perhaps you could change this on your sticky on the pictures forum?0
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inlove: Well, you should not be unhappy. Perhaps we should assess what happened. Can you post pictures on the pictures forum? OR>>>>>Let's back track and tell us the history of your tissue expanders to implants. What TEs did you have? Mfr, style and volume? And what implants do you have? What is your ribcage circumference, measuring below the bra line? Your height and weight? We have to start from the beginning here....
Deborah
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NAE - for me, there's absolutely nothing warm about my foobs! It takes me probably 10 minutes in the shower for these puppies to warm up...... Since they seem to assume the ambient temperature wherever I am, I can't wait to find out how they feel in our 100 degree + good old Texas summers!
Alitman - you mentioned that when you lay down, your left cleavage flattens out - mine does exactly the same thing. Even my gyn doc commented on it during my check up last week. It's like there's too much play in the pocket, I guess. When I'm wearing a bra, it's better, though because my implant rests too laterally, it results in a difference of projection. My ps believes that it can look better - thus my revision/exchange scheduled for January....... My advice would be to support that side as best you can and maybe you can avoid my fate. Mine was probably due to lack of support soon enough because I had the drains in for so long.......
Darn it! I just burned the second batch of Christmas cookies! I just can't multi-task like I used to, ladies......tamoxifen brain........I'll just blame it on that......surely not age!!!
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Oh - no surprise here! - I forgot to tell you all the main thing I wanted to share today........just over the weekend, my foobs felt different - softer, more buoyant maybe - just different. There's no visible difference- at least to me, gotta take some pics and compare, maybe - but I'm wondering if perhaps this is the "fluffing" that's referred to here so often? It's doubtful there will be any "dropping" for me due to the TE style I had and very tight skin, but that's okay. I've loved them from the start.....and I'm just loving them even more! (just wish I didn't have to almost start over in a month....c'est la vie!)
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Hi all. I got Allergan Natrelle style 20 650 cc's as my silicone implant. Anyone have an opinion on these or good/bad story? I looked up style 20 and it says smooth surface high profile. I am glad I got the high profile but it does not seem very high profile. Anyway the deed is done but I am looking for some opinions in case I need a do over. Thanks!
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Cheri, I think "Simply Sleep" is benedryl, so if you have concerns with it you might want to ask a pharmacist if that is what the single ingredient is.
Blessedby4. I was uneven after surgery, part of the issue is that I have dense breast tissue on my natural side which is firmer with a nipple which adds projection that the mx side doesn't have. My mx side dropped and fluffed a lot and gained about a 1/2 to 3/4 in projection gradually over 12 to 14 weeks. I am hoping that when he makes the nipple that it will equal out a tad more. Don't worry about the first impressions, I was concerned at first, you may feel differently as the weeks allow the mx side to take on a shape as the muscle relaxes.
Val, What a difference a day and a few weeks make! Can I have a cookie?
Diane-Mai, Hope all went well, looking to read how it went for you.
Jan
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Hi every one!
Am I the only person who doesn't know or care what style TE or implants my PS is using on me? I read the posts here daily and feel like I should care about all of this, but I am just so happy with my results that I am letting him make the choices.
The only thing I requested was to be a D cup and I feel like he knows what he is doing and I trust him completely. Next week will be my last fill and I can not imagine how the implants will look - but I know he will do a wonderful job.
This week I will have the chance to see his nipple work on a friend from support group and last week I showed a potential patient his work on me so that she could get an idea of what to expect after her BLMX.
Am I being naive? or do I just have a fabulous doctor?
Kimberly
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Oh, such an active site. I can hardly keep up.
NAE - Warm? Oh my goodness, I feel like my boobies are always cold to the touch!
Diane - Welcome and best wishes. I will add you to our list of surgeries, even though you are today!
Jen - Yes, our implants are flatter than our normal breasts. My PS warned me that lack of projection is generally the case. That being said, I have found that they look more like "me" all the time. So I think we get used to that. Plus, I have had my nips and areola's reconstructed, so that helps w/ the illusion as well. Though my nips have flattened out almost entirely at this point.
Kimberly - I didn't tell or ask my PS what style or type of implant she was going to use, I left it in her hands. And I am happy w/ my results as well. So I can relate!
Sandy - Glad to see you back and posting so much. We missed you!
Hugs to our surgery sisters! - Jean
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Musiclovermom,
I don't think you are naive nor do you not care about your TE or implant because your doctor is fabulous. I think you don't care about your implant type because YOU don't care about your implant type. I posted my question because I do care and really do want opinions on this. Neither is right or wrong, just different. I have asked the same question about chemo, hormonals, recons, etc. I just like to know. I thought this was appropriate because the thread is about the exchange surgery. I think it is great that the people on this site are such a support and resource for information about this journey. You have been pleased with your doctor's work so far and I think that you will be equally pleased with the implants. I love my PS but he does not have to live with the foobs, I do. You are a few months from exchange but I wish you the best with your reconstruction
Happy holidays to everyone!!0 -
Hi everyone,
I just got the ace bandage wrap off. And yes the girls are soft esp the old rad side which was VERY HARD. The only tiny thing is that the non rad side is a little bit lower than the old rad side. PS said he will fix by lifting just a tiny bit when nips are done. But that has to wait for a while. PS also moved the girls medially which meant internal stitches on both sides. No wonder I had some pain because he had to lower, do a capsulectomy and stitch the lateral side on the old rad side. But I'm feeling much better and the itching is better also. PS was able to give me what I wanted, Allergan 20, 425 cc. I will post pics in a few days as I have hamburger buns right now. No physical therapy for a few weeks, don't want the girls to get lost and move to the sides.
Good luck to all having surgery this week.
Janet
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nene2059
Thank you so much!
I had so much other crap going on im my life that plastic stuff is not much of a priority - other than loving my results!
I am learning so much from every post and am thankful this is a resource of information.
I am still waiting on chemo decisions and hope I will feel the need to know more.
Kimberly
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inlove16: At this point I am not happy with how I look after exchange but I am trying to hope that maybe this will all even out as healing continues.
musiclovermom: I can relate!! I have no idea what my PS put it in, never really asked, guess I felt I wouldn't know what it meant anyway. I do know that at exchange he put in 480cc on this mx side and 150cc on the augmented side but that is all I know about them.
Jan1: Thanks for your encouraging words, I was/am so disappointed with how I look at this point. My augmented size seems very large compared to my mx side. I am so hoping that this is due to swelling and will calm down as it heals but I feel like I look awful.
It seems that some of you have mentioned that the implants can be flatter than origianl breasts and I am sure noticing that but sure hope it gets better over time. I go see the PS on Wednesday to get this drain removed and hopefully he will see things differently than I am seeing them.
I had Herceptin treatment today and it was awful when they tried to access my port, due to surgery just being on Friday the nurse had a hard time finding the prongs telling me that the area was swollen. I cried when she finally went ahead and stuck the needle in...boy did that hurt!!
I am on some kind of emotional roller coaster, crying all the time and can't stand that I am reacting like this.
Hopefully I will be feeling better about the choices I have made but right now am questioning everything!
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mykidsmom
Thanks for the input!
I still learn more every day!
Thank You Every One!
Kimberly
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blessedby4
I am so sorry to hear you are not happy with your results!
I am in tears reading your post.
I may freak out after the exchange - but now I just consider myself "a work in progress"
Kimberly
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music,
If you don't want to know that is fine too. I have a friend that has had BC 2x's and does not know what her receptor status was either time. The only thing she knows is that she is BRCA +. I did chemo first so this exchange should be it for the year (I hope). I can't believe that I was diagnosed in January 09 and this year is coming to a close. BC changes your life that is for sure.
Janet- Glad your bandage came off and you are feeling better
Good luck to all getting foobs or fipples this week.
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Val - sorry you burned your cookies. I am glad that you understood what I was talking about. I don't see the PS until mid January. I am going to try to get some bras this weekend, I plan on calling around to see who has a bra-fitter on staff 'cause I know I'll need help. I slept in a sports bra last night and it actually felt pretty good. It is the first time in my life I've ever slept in one. I'll try it again tonight.
Music - I didn't know what kind of TE's I had and I didn't care - I do know what kind of implants I have because they gave me a card telling me..... Otherwise, I might not have remembered to ask.
Allison
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Thank you Allison!
Kimberly
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Val61
Hello, I haven't been on in a few months, but am schedule for my exchange next Wednesday. Yep, two days before Christmas. I have been miserable with the expanders, and my PS assures me the implants will be a world of difference.
Our diagnosis are very similar, and we are both here in North Texas. Sometimes I feel very isolated and alone, it nice to find someone to connect to.
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My surgery is officially bumped to 12/29/09.They wanted to know if I wanted the 31st,I was like "umm New Year's Eve, ummm, no" I kept trying to imagine what it would be like to reach a Dr if anything went wrong that night or the next day, it would be me in the ER listening to people tell stories that all start "I was at this party and ..."
Wendy
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My surgery is officially bumped to 12/29/09.They wanted to know if I wanted the 31st,I was like "umm New Year's Eve, ummm, no" I kept trying to imagine what it would be like to reach a Dr if anything went wrong that night or the next day, it would be me in the ER listening to people tell stories that all start "I was at this party and ..."
Wendy
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Blessedby4
I too am not completely happy with my exchange. Lefty is bigger and projects more than righty. I did not have rads, so I can't use that as a comparison. Saw PS last week. He stated he could not see much difference (he must be blind). He said he would work on it in late April when we do the nipples. It seems like the left breast has already "dropped and fluffed" but the right breast is smaller and still looks like a hamburger bun. I'm just listening to our sisters here that I need to give this more time. I did not go home in any kind of bra/vest anything from the hospital. My PS does not want me to wear anything, but I did buy cheap sports bras from Walmart, larger than the last, to wear to work. He also said not to start the massages until another 2 weeks. Have you started those yet?
Val I baked cookies yesterday and of course, had to almost burn one batch. It almost isn't Christmas unless I burn one batch
I still itch. I am allergic to ALL tapes, glues, etc, except paper tape. They used glue on my incisions for the oophorectomy and that almost made me crazy. I like Deborah take a benadryl every night for sinus stuff living in Florida and to help me sleep. The itiching still remains and I think some of it has to do with nerves trying to figure out what they are supposed to do.
Don't stress my sisters over holiday stuff. It is what it is. We are alive and that is enough to celebrate this year. Blessings, Mary
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nene2059
I'm set for next Wednesday, suppose to the same type and brand as yours, except at the most 550. I am woried I'm going to be disappointed. afraid my expectations are to high. All I want now is to get these horrible expanders out of my body. Now I'm afraid the implants won't be any better.
I'll let you know how mine do, I don't want to have to do a do over.
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That is so funny!!! I just checked both bottles...simply sleep and benadryl are the one and the same!!! Here I thought I was doing something good and not taking that antihistimine and I am taking the exact same thing!!! It is probably more expensive too. Thanks for sharing that!!! I learn so much on this sight!!!
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nene....Yes, Style 20 is one of the most common and popular styles in the silicone rounds. The high profile - like yours - and the moderate plus profile are the two preferred styles.0
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Cheri:
After my surgery I have started having trouble sleeping. Since I would sleepwalk in college, most sleep meds are not ok for me to take, so my Dr RX-ed xanax, which helps me fall asleep, he said if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can take a second one since they only last 4 hours. So far I only take a 1/2 every now and again.
Wendy
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Kimberly -- I think we get SO much info thrown at us all at once (on top of the absolutely horrible and worst thing of all which is that we have cancer) that it makes perfect sense you are happy to trust your PS in this matter... maybe it becomes something to know/pursue when one is not so happy with the results. I know that I have decided to trust my PS even though I have done some research.
Blessed -- ugh so sorry the port was so sore! They should have a topical cream (at the very least) that they can put on the area (ask for it next time) that can help with some of the pain. I usually have no pain with my port but did once have a sensitive day and the nurse said she would use it next time if I wanted it (I guess it's one of those things they can't actually know HOW sensitive you are til the deed is done).
Cheers,
Lilah
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