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Exchange City

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Comments

  • swest
    swest Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2010

    Texas-My doctor had me wear an ace bandage real high to keep them down.

    Sonia

  • bobcat
    bobcat Member Posts: 526
    edited January 2010

    Sonia and Texas -

    My PS had me wear an ace bandage also - for about 2 weeks while all the internals took hold and healed.  It was comfortable and no problem and I'm happy with the results.

    Bobbi

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 332
    edited January 2010

    Makes me wonder if it's too late in the process to use the band. I'll be 5 weeks out of surgery on Wednesday.

  • swest
    swest Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2010

    I'm not sure Texas.  It cannot hurt to try it.  Just wrap the ace bandage snug but not tight around your foobs.  Place the band above the foobs and under your arm pits (sorry, did not know what else to call them).   Let me know if you try it.

    Sonia

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited January 2010

    LittleRed and others considering a LD - I believe that's what Linda54 had and she is very willing to provide her insight. She does not frequent this site these days, but she will respond to a PM.

    BigApple - The group hug was wonderful - thanks!!!!!!

    Alicia - Your name is up there. Congratulations on getting a date!!!

  • cnemeth
    cnemeth Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2010

    Sonia ~ i visited teh pic site and think that you look great!  Was thinking about the 'filling the bra cup" on my way home tonight as I have been bra shopping and dealing with that same issue. 

    Here was a thought that I had ~ did my natural breasts fill the cups before the surgeries??  I don't even know and can't remember.  If they did it could have been because they were so flabby that they were shoved in there.  Am I expecting something because I am so focused on it and it was something that I never even had before?  Nor even thought about?? 

    Don't know the answer but am curious if anyone else has experienced this.  Have yet to find the perfect bra for these babies but won't give up just yet.

    Need to find that pre-surgery photo . . . . .

    Take care!  Colleen

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited January 2010

    Regarding the breast "straps"  - My ps had me wear them for what seemed like forever after my bmx and TE placement to keep the TE's from rising.  I still have two of them if anyone wants them; my ps doesn't use them after the implant exchange because he wants to keep everything "up and in" (his words, lol)  They are white and even have a little pink flower on the edge.....Just let me know and PM me your address.  I'll get them out asap..... 

    Colleen - I can definitely say that my God-given breasts never filled any bra cups....even when I was nursing.... Laughing

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Member Posts: 351
    edited January 2010

    Colleen ~

    It has been 6 mos. since I had (2) natural breasts & 2 mos. since having (1) natural one augmented.  It is interesting that it is getting harder & harder to remember what those natural ones looked like any more.  Did they fill my bra cups or not???  Hmmm...  I do recall.. although I wore a 36B before BC...I always wore push up bras..& did not fill my cups.  Now I fill UP these 36B-C's...& loving them!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2010

    Colleen -- seems to me that one of my pre-BC breasts always fit better into the cups than the other (in fact I'd daresay the size difference was enough that they were differet cup sizes, one bigger than the other, so I wore what fit the larger one).

    NAE -- so glad to hear you saying you are LOVING your new boobs!  I think that adjustment has done a great deal to improve your feelings about them.

    Lilah

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited January 2010
    Katey - I agree - I was SO thankful for all that core work from Pilates to let me sit up after my bmx (and exchange, too) without using my arms!  As for the soups, do you like French onion?  That would be yummy with some leeks and then melted gruyere on top.....  or bunnernut squash, which I've really been into this season, maybe with apples....
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631
    edited January 2010

    Val -- I was gonna suggest butternut squash soup as well!  And what about black bean soup, Katey?

    Lilah

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Member Posts: 351
    edited January 2010

    Katey ~

    Can you send some of those soups!!   It's been raining all day today!  Good soup weather..right?!

    NAE

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Member Posts: 351
    edited January 2010

    Katey ~

    Can you send some of those soups!!   It's been raining all day today!  Good soup weather..right?!

    NAE

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited January 2010

    Like Vals PS.... mine is not a fan of the band AFTER exchange... at least not early on. Now, if my rads breast/implant had started rising... hmmmm... that might have changed his mind.

    My rads breast is higher. It is not higher because IT raised, It is higher because the NON rads breast dropped and fluffed to its new home.

    A RADS BREAST WILL NOT DROP AND FLUFF....it will stay perky. So make sure you are actually RISING with the rads breast. If scar tissue ( I HAVE TONS)... squeezes the rads implant up up and more up.... surgery is needed. IF the rads breast is not rising .. but just getting firmer... surgery will most likely not help much.

    You PS will know if you have CC and to what degree on the scale.

    God Bless!

    Miss you ladies.....

    If you are gonna be at my home in a few weeks... PLEASE PM ME HERE..... I want to go over it all with you.... :)

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited January 2010

    Made this tonight sisters:

    Laura's Barley and mushroom soup...

    3 cups mushrooms, 1/2 cup onion, 1 garlic clove, ( cut these all up and cook  in a pot with olive oil)... after these are soft... put in 6 cups beef broth... 1 cup cut carrots... 1/2 tea Thyme... 1 cup Barley. Bring to boil..... turn down to low and cook 20 min....

    Enjoy...

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2010

    Colleen and Sonia--When I went bra shopping after exchange I was really disappointed because I needed a D, or DD (that part was fine!) depending on the bra, but I didn't fill out the most front part of the cup, I remember my post here, I was a little emotional.  I'm 7 months out and I now do fill out the entire cup.   I three different VS bras and I guess things "fluffed." 

    Portland/Vancouver area Sisters--I'm going to attend the Komen conference on 3/13, my onc and bs are speaking.  If you decide to go let me know maybe we can meet up!

    Hugs to all--Karen

  • frywoman
    frywoman Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2010

    Hi all It has been a few months since I have been on this site and posted. I am back for some advice once again. I had a second revision surgery in early November that I hoped would fix some wrinkling. They put in a larger implant and I am embarrassed to say how big because after reading through so many posts I haven't run across many who have 750cc implants. Funny thing though on my body which is of average size (I'm 5'8 and weigh about 154 lbs) they are a large C.

    I LOVED them at first but now it has been 12 weeks out and the wrinkling is worse then ever and the dropping is more like drooping. It seems as if I have too much skin. When I gather the skin slighty at the bottom of my breast (it doesn't take much at all -- just a pinch) the wrinkles go away and also the implants seem to raise back up and have a nice round upper part. Without the "lift" they have a bit of a ski slope kind of thing going on. I don't know what to do. My surgeon is the chief of plastic surgery at the hospital that he works out of and is supposed to be the best at this and he never mentioned anything to me about fat injections. Now, I haven't actually gone in to point out the flaws with this new set so he doesn't actually know about these wrinkles and ski slope issues but he never mentioned that with the last set either.

    I just don't know that I have a 4th surgery in me - especially after the last revision resulted in a worse outcome. And that 154 pounds- I would sure like to widdle down to 144 but I just can't seem to have a run of energy and good health between all my surgeries and other health maladies (migraines - uti's) to excercise. I have gotten my nipples done and am scheduled for the aeriolas on March 4th.

    I am just so disappointed but that makes me feel guilty. I had DCIS and I feel as if I hardly have any right to complain about the aesthetics of my breasts. Afterall, they certainly beat the alternative and I was so blessed to have avoided the chemo and rads like so many.

    So I guess what I am trying to really find out is how many of you have some wrinkling and ski sloping issues that you are living with. Is this the norm? I think sometimes it just helps to know that things are normal and you aren't the only one.

    Thanks all.

  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Member Posts: 125
    edited January 2010

    Karen I was hoping we could go together!  I was planning on talking to you about it.  I haven't sent in the registration yet, but I will!  Lets start making plans!

    HUGS!

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 332
    edited January 2010

    Estepp, my implant is definitely rising. I can tell because I have permanent "cleavage" higher up on that side where there was none before. However I can also tell that my prophy side has dropped a little. So it's a combination of both.

    I plan to email my PS today to ask about the strap.

    Frywoman: So sorry about the issues you've had. Never feel guilty about wanting to be comfortable with your own body. We have that right!  

  • TXBadboob
    TXBadboob Member Posts: 109
    edited January 2010

    Kookiesmom, My mentor gels feel very heavy, too.  I have complained on here about it before.  They are causing me to have permanent indents on my shoulders where the straps from my bras dig in.  I think mine hang down too far, which is part of the problem.  I'm going to see another PS to see if this is normal, but I haven't gone yet, I'm just giving myself a little time from surgeries.  I'll let you know if I find out anything.

    frywoman, I have the wrinkling, too, which we call rippling.  The ski slope we call stepoff.:)  I had fat grafting for these, but I think it has absorbed back.  My PS said it may take another.  Talk to your PS about these options.  He will be familiar with them.  They lipo from your tummy or another fatty area and shoot it into the problem areas.  It is an outpatient surgery and you will usually go home the same day.  Don't ever feel bad about being proactive and saving your own life!Smile

    Prayers going out to the women having surgery this week!

    Deen

  • kookiesmom
    kookiesmom Member Posts: 57
    edited January 2010

    TXbadboob - thanks for letting me know I am not the only one who has heavy feeling gels.  I plan on writing down my questions when I go to see PS and will ask him if there are any other impants that are soft but not so heavy. You let me know what yours says and I'll let you know what mine says and we will compare notes!

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Member Posts: 351
    edited January 2010

    Frywoman~

    Don't feel embarrassed or guilty about yourself. We are all on the same journey...& we all take different paths!  As far as the implant size (cc's)...it varies w/ everyone...someone with 400cc can be a C or someone like me at 500 cc's can be a C (I'm only 5'1"). 

    We're all in it together...

    NAE

  • Katey
    Katey Member Posts: 496
    edited January 2010

    Thanks for the soup ideas!  So far I've made butternut squash, lentil, and this great veracuzano soup I found in the nytimes, it has tomatoes, capers, olives, zuccini, cilantro and then you squeeze fresh lime on top!  You can add seafood to it also.  Wish I could send you some cross country today Nedeza and maybe you could run some up to my daughter who moved to San Fran!

    val61, I think it's so great that you teach aerobics, I have never been able to find an exercise class where the teacher knew about problems after bc, some have never heard of lymphedema. You must be a great source for women in your area. 

    Colleen, too funny your description about filling bras.  I've been trying to figure this out too. I'm hoping I will be even enough to not have to wear one, but from the looks of these te's I doubt it. I've worn a vs padded non wire one which disguises any uneveness. They're a bit tight now and I can't wear one all day. I think the rising has to do with how your body heals and scarring developing. Whether the strap/band works this time, I plan on wearing it for as long as possible, would love to have this one side finally in it's rightful place! 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited January 2010
    frywoman:  Just wondering....did your PS overexpand the TEs and place you in a smaller implant?  How much volume did you have in your TEs?  About your implants:  What manufacturer and style? Can you post a picture on the picture forum?
  • udpt82
    udpt82 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2010

    So, this just keeps going and going.  I had my exchange on Dec. 1st, but the incision on the rad side started to drain after about 2 1/2 weeks.  On Jan. 5, it opened and the implant was exposed.  It was replaced and the area cleaned on the 7th.  I then started the hyperbaric chamber on the 8th (two hours monday through friday for anywhere from 20 to 60 sessions).  Unfortunately, I have a pin hole and some pinkness under the incision again.  I saw the PS yesterday and she didn't look happy.  I am back on antibiotics and antibiotic cream.  She said we will see how my body responds.  If this one opens, she said she might want to remove (but not replace) the implant and continue the hyperbaric chamber.  Emotionally, I am not happy with that prospect (did BM with TEs originally).  Then of course there are lots of questions such as what will we do for reconstruction afterwards and how will that heal if I am having so much trouble now.

    I am just wondering how other women did in similar circumstances.  My PS refers to radiation as the "gift that keeps on giving".  I could do without these ongoing "gifts"!

     Thanks. 

  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 191
    edited January 2010

    Katey, I've been curious about NIA but haven't found a schedule I like, I'll have to look harder if it's that good.  How about tortilla soup, if you live in the southwest and have access to good salsa, it can actually be as simple as just heating some salsa and adding veggies that you like then toping with crisp tortillas.

     Texas357, It may not be too late for the bad.  You're muscles are well trained so using the bad may be a good nudge for the to do what they need to do.

    frywoman, You sound heart broken and have every right to be.  DCIS is a real thing so don't feel guilty about that, you found it early, if you hadn't found it till later would you have more right to your emotions--I think not, you have every right now because of what was and what could have been.  If you're feeling like you don't want to be larger to fill in the ripples and if fat grafting can't be done I wonder if some skin can be removed?  

    Leaving for the hospital in 30 minutes.Undecided 

    Julie 

  • Hannahbearsmom
    Hannahbearsmom Member Posts: 266
    edited January 2010

    Sending wishes for fast healing and painfree recoveries for those having surgery this weekSmile

    TCK

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited January 2010

    We are thinking and praying for you Julie!

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 332
    edited January 2010

    Good luck Julie!

  • frywoman
    frywoman Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2010

    Sadly I know none of this. It is liking milking a stone to get information out of my plastic surgeon. He never told me  how many cc's he expanded me too. I know he didn't want to overexpand because he didn't want to risk stretch marks or something. I had a few on the left breast from breast feeding. And the implants definately look larger than the expanders ever did. I think I just have really skin awful skin that is stretchy.

    He asked how big I got breast feeding and I told him a D. My implants are Natrelle High Profile 750cc. I don't remember the model. I am at work right now so don't have the cards with me. I will look that up when I get home. It was the high profile kind though. Also, as an afterthought, I don't think I am really a large C. It is probably more of a small C because I am wearing one of my old bras this morning and it fits pretty darn good.

    As far as posting a picture. I am cracking up that I have to say sadly no. I don't know how. I am very technically unsavvy to say the least. Perhaps my husband can help me figure that out. But I am not sure I could capture the wrinkles because I have to bend over and my head would be in the way unless I bend over and look up at the ceiling and imagining what this picture would look like embarrasses me to put it on the picture forumSmile but I will see what I can do. Thank you all so much for your responses so far.

    I did make an appointment to see him on Monday to discuss this so I welcome any feedback and advice. I am going to get that stone milked this time! (Is that even a real expression?) 

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