Exchange City
Comments
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Geena, once I'm through, there are tops I think I'll burn!
Bobbi, no I didn't have anything like you describe but I'll bet they are sutures.
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Thanks for all the kind wishes for my exchange and for the guidance on the stairs. I've been able to move around just fine. It's been 24 hrs. since surgery and so far so good!
The pain was a little more than expected as I had fairly extensive pocket work on the right side. My PS lowered and opened up my right pocket laterally. He also added stitches at my sternum as the implants were closer than he liked. The right implant still needs to settle in the pocket and is a little higher than the left.
I got the Allergan 45 - 650s and am very happy with the size. I love the projection and the upper pole fullness that this implant gives. I had 600cc moderate height expanders overfilled to 690. I was worried that the 45s would be too narrow for my chest, but I believe the width will be fine. My expanders were a bit wide for me (too close in the middle and under my arms!) While my chest measurement under my breast is almost 32 in., my ribspan - armpit to armpit is only 11.5. I guess I'm just thick! I'll post on the picture site in the next couple of days.
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Yeah, Texas, I'm pretty sure they are sutures. But will the bumps go away when and if they finally dissolve?
Kathy, I also have one of those blue surgery shirts. Mine is nearly transparent from all the laundering. I've found it is a lot easier to dress after surgery in the winter. My big surgery was in July and that good old shirt was the only thing I could find in my closet to cover all the humps and bumps from drains, bandages, etc. I should burn it in a show of confidence that I am done with surgery, but there is always the chance of some problem.....
Don't want to think about that.
Good healing, ladies.
Bobbi
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Alitman, You sound just blah and I'm guessing it's more than just the elbow for foob deal. What's going on
Kathy, Thinking about you. With extra good vibes for the IV (and the stuff that goes in it)!
Geena, you crack me up with the paisley stuff. I have an aversion to this really nourishing lentil/rice stuff that a friend made for me after my first surgery. I ate tons of it, it's so yummy and ayruvedically (sp??) it's great for after surgery but oh the thought of it gives me the willies now. I think I've developed a bizarre psychological aversion to it. Crazy the psychological stuff we go though, I'd take a paisley aversion over this, I think, especially since you can make a pillow out of it. :-)
Deen, I'm thinking that I thought your pictures looked great, it seems like they were some of my favorites. I'll have to go back and look, so sorry you're struggling! Ok just went back and looked, yes, I love yours. You know why, they don't look like foobs! Those things look so darn real it blows me away. I wish you could see what I see.
Samiam, Great to hear from you. Yeah, I think had it not been for the extra pocket work, I'd have felt pretty darn normal after my exchange. Mine was under both arms though. Glad you're doing well!
Julie
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Val, did you find the bra thing?
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I had a wonderful mini vacation with my husband and daughter! So great to see her, she makes all my worries disappear! I can't believe how much I have to catch up on here!
Whippetmom, just had my PS appointment, and I must have been delirious during the last one, my numbers were all wrong, leftover anesthesia, or maybe because it was around the time my sister was having her lumpectomy, anyway, here's my new #'s. (5'7", 135 lb, 31") PS ordered both 460 and a bit smaller 425 435?(geez, already forget exact#), both pairs in case he wanted to use different sizes to help with eveness. I was happy about the 460 #, since my last one was 450. It is allergan style 45, a high profile like you had recommended! I am overexpanded now. He went over how he arrived at those numbers, thanks to you I understood what to ask. The right pocket will be worked on to move down to match left better. It had so much scar tissue removed, I am going to be sure to follow the massage guidelines! I was bruised from armpit to waist, no pain just nasty looking! So exchange on Feb 4th! Have a lot of confidence in my PS, and am feeling good today:)
My ankle still bothers me from thrombosis caused by iv. Even tho it's only 3 nodes removed on left side, it sounds like the anesthesiologist will still use my foot again (guess the other one). Have any of you had iv's in arm with node removal?
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samiam: When you post photos, please make sure to describe your TEs - mfr and style/volume and your height, weight and ribcage. A lot of women will want to see the Style 45's. You might be only the third person to have that style!0
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Hi, it's me, Brenda. This is my first time posting here on this thread. I have a question for those who have had their exchange: Is there ever a time when you forget about your foobs? That they feel so natural you don't even realize they are there? Just curious.
Take care...
Brenda
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whippet mom
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my disappointment following my exchange surgery. I had a BMX 10/19 with tissue expanders placed. I think I ended up with about 450 cc in the TE and got 450cc smooth round high profile gel implants. I was a C/D cup before and actually wanted to be smaller (B/Cish).
I want to post pics so I can get some advice but haven't heard from TimTam. I guess I will e-amil her again. I don't post a lot (though I read quite a bit) so I wonder if this is why she has not responded.
Anyway, I am 5'7" 165 pounds 33 inch rib cage. My "foobs" are SO flat, esp. on the side that didn't have cancer where they took out much less skin initally. (And I had plenty to spare:) I was very surprised that the PS didn't do a scar revision (if that's what thye call it) and take out some of the excess skin on that side when he did the exchange surgery.
I guess my main question is whether or not larger implants might decrease the flat look. I am going to the PS thurs for my follow up and plan to discuss this with him then.
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Adnerb ~
Say...nice to see you here! I am 8 weeks post exchange & yes...they are feeling natural to me finally! Almost cannot tell they (implants) are there now...thank goodness!!! For awhile I always felt like I still had something foreign attached to my chest...just recently I realized I do not notice them as much. I am soo content with them now that I keep wondering if I should go forth with the lift since I am feeling so good but if I want that symmetry then I must go on...!!!! LOL!
Take care Brenda!
NAE
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amym: You certainly had sufficient expansion and tissue to exchange to implants larger than 450 cc's - and you needed at least 550 cc's in my estimation. If you have excess skin, this is contributing to a draped effect which seems to make the implants look flat and shapeless. Please PM me and I will give you my email so that you can send me a couple of photos...one frontal and one side. I will contact Timtam.
Deborah
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NAE: Hearing that response from someone like you who had a unilateral is very promising. Since you had a uni, you must really be able to feel one from the other, and to hear you say that you don't notice them as much is good news.
I think you will opt for the symmetry eventually. Take care...
Brenda
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Brenda, I just had my exchange last week and the next day I was shocked because I thought "wow, this feels like me". I'm still adjusting to the look but the size/texture/skin feels natural to me. I know many of us take a lot longer, but I was pleasantly surprised in this regard.
Amy, Timtam had a close friend that just passed away, that may be adding to her delay in response. I know it's hard from your standpoint but try to be patient.
Deborah, Thank you thank you thank you for the pm, it made my day!
Julie
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Brenda - Yes, I can actually say that my implants are me, especially since I had my nips. They still are not exactly the same, continued numbness and what-not, but they don't bother me. Actually I went a little larger than I was naturally and some things don't fit. Which still puts a smile on my face.
Geena/Julie - Before my BMx I had a relaxation CD that worked wonders. It helped me get through losing my job the day before my surgery and coping w/ the surgery. I liked it so well that I tried to use it for my exchange surgery. NOT!!! Man-oh-man, it took my brain right back to pre-BMx and job loss, and I so didn't want to go there. I eventually gave the CD away, it will never work for me again. I can relate to certain clothes and meals being distastful after being so great when we needed them.
Take care ladies! - Jean
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amym159.... I feel your pain. I am 5'7 and 155 and I feel the very same way... PS is acting like I should not have a problem, I trying to find another PS here in Dallas that will look at me for a revision. Good Luck!
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ajones: Val PM'd you about a doctor in Ft. Worth....did you make an appt?0
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Julie - I don't know. I recently found out my former BF has found a new love. We both used to live in AZ but I moved to NE and he moved to NY. In a knee jerk reaction, I joined match.com I am beginning to think that was a mistake as well. It's one thing to be rejected in person but I think it is just as bad to be rejected based on a head shot. I guess I miss the thought that someone cares about me. I know I have dived into my own pity pool here - I just need to figure out where the stairs are so I can get out!!! Sorry for the pity talk - I'll get over it.
Allison
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I'm so sad....
I went for my fill this Monday thinking they would put in an additional 50ccs bringing me up to 550 ccs but the PS in Fort Wayne didn't want to add anymore due to the fact that I said I wanted to end up with full C cups and I was already wearing a D cup bra! I had my surgery done @ the Mayo Clinic and the PS in Fort Wayne spoke with him and my Mayo PS agreed that if I was already wearing a D cup not to add anymore! I want to see if I want the additional 50 cc's or more. I will complete my surgery @ the Mayo Clinic and the PS there said he would fill me more if I wanted when I come in for my pre-op appointment. I haven't scheduled that yet. I guess I feel as if I'm not making my own choices. 0 -
Mehere: ACKKKKKK....The size of bra you are wearing has nothing, nothing, nothing to do with the end result. These are TEs! It is like putting a bra around two boulders! It is DIMENSION - not VOLUME! Also, a 50 cc fill one week before surgery is not sufficient time to sustain expansion. Unless you have nice big skin flaps, you need at least two months between last fill and exchange. Let me look at your numbers again...
Okay...I checked and you currently have sufficient volume in your FX-13's to exchange to 600 cc's - Allergan Style 20 HPs. I think you need to write down the dimensions of your TEs - and at 500 ccs, you probably are only a couple of millimeters short of the TE projection...and the width remains the same. So then look at the Allergan Style 20 600 cc's.....and I personally think you also could use 650 ccs....and write down the dimensions of this style and respective volume of the implants. Show your PS these numbers. Print out the Allergan Style 20 page to take in with you. I know you have sufficient skin flaps because you are downsizing from your natural D cup size.
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(((((Allison)))), Don't be sorry, just because of all the bc stuff, the other crap in our lives doesn't go away--it should but it doesn't. When you've been with somebody and then they're with somebody else, it doesn't matter how long you've been apart or what the circumstances are, it hurts. Talk to us here or pm me, but make sure you talk to somebody. Hang in there!
Mehere, That's kind of crazy, it does seem like they should let you decide how much more you want. On the other hand, 50cc's doesn't make much difference as far as what implant they decide on. I overfilled by 125cc thinking I wanted a bigger implant and then changed my mind and many have implants larger than they were filled so try not to stress about it.
Julie
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Brenda - I am a full year out from exchange. They still don't feel like my own and I think about them them 24/7 but they are MINE!! So, I think the answer is that you learn to accept them as your own and that's important. I had nipple recon last March and guess what?? they kind of have a little feeling all their own because of what they did to the skin. The other skin and implant area doesn't have much feeling but that little bud has some reponse - strange. It's so weird but I believe it to be true and I will exploit that. I still wear a loose fitting cami to bed and for intimacy(I know TMI) but it works
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Did anyone here used to eat flax meal but stopped because of Tamoxifen? I am getting so many contradicting opinions and reports on this!
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Whippetmom:
Mayo PS nurse told me when I like the size I'm at to add 75 to 100 cc's more; she sent a paper with me so that the PS in Fort Wayne could follow it! The Mayo PS nurse also told me that she thought I would need 200 ccs more to get to where I wanted to be and I believe that included the additional amounts listed above. She said I would know when enough was enough. The whole time I've been told that they couldn't give me a cup size that it was done by cc's and now all of a sudden it's cup size. I suppose it's my fault because I said that I was self conscious regarding the current size; but that's due to the fact that THEY are large--they go up further than my natural breasts! I know some RN's and I may have them do the fills for me.
I was a medium C cup before this.
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Mehere: Your TEs are sitting high and TEs can be all sorts of crazy wonky in their position on your chest wall. All of this will or I must say SHOULD be corrected at the time of exchange. Sorry about the confusion in size. I had you mixed up with someone else who was a D. But STILL....500 cc's is sufficient to exchange to 600 cc's. If the TEs are sitting up pretty high, I would not want much more expansion - certainly not 200 ccs. You don't want to damage your pectorals. These are full "F" height TEs with "X" extra projection. This is a good deal of expansion in that style of TE. Can you find out WHAT SIZE of implants your PS at Mayo intends to use? I just don't want you to be disappointed....we want to try to get it right the first time around.0
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Whippetmom:
I think the fills are high; but the PS nurse in Fort Wayne said that they were sitting pretty low that she usually sees them higher. I suppose everything is relative to what each PS does. There is roughly 4 1/2 inches from the top of my expander/start of the fill to my collarbone. I don't know if that matters or helps you in anyway. I will call tomorrow and ask at Mayo if they have any idea what size they are planning on doing. When I make my pre-op appointment; which was supposed to be after where felt I wanted to be and their additional expansion, which I calculated would be roughly 8 wks; my surgery would be in 4-6 months. Does that make sense to you? So, since they feel I am where I want to be I will make my pre-op appt and see them in probably a week or so and they will fill me then if I want to go bigger (they do more than 50 cc's if they have too) and than I will wait 4-6 months to have the expanders replaced. You're right, it needs to be done correctly the first time, because I don't want to go through another surgery to correct it! I will do what you suggested regarding the Allergen 20 and show it to the PS. Thank you agains for all you help!!!
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Julie:
Thank you for the encourgement!! It's so frustrating to feel caught in the middle of my own destiny with others calling the shots! It was ultimately supposed to be a total of 200 cc's. I will do all the due diligence I need to do and then hope and pray for the best end result!! Thanks again!
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Mehere - I found literally bringing in pictures of the "look" I wanted helped. My doctor said it gave her a real good idea of my desires - and it is NOT the look she would have given me - she would have gone bigger. I think it is important to be as visual as possible with all of this. I also gave her adjectives - "pretty" "streamlined" "delicate". All of this resulted in the look I've wanted.... I think.... they are still struggling to heal from exchange... but I feel it is along the lines of what I was looking for.
((((((( Allison))))))) - I'm joining the group hug. I soooooo hear you. I too am single and I've done the online dating thing. I recently went online "just to look" and saw the man I last dated had put himself up online again - i.e. looking for someone. It is different from your situation - I wasn't attached to him, it was only a couple of months, and it would not have worked out - but this stuff is hard. I think too knowing that he liked me, said I was "wonderful" yadda, yadda - and yet pulled back as soon as he truly understood about what was happening with my TE's and breasts - this is sad to me. Again, I know we were not a match, but it still felt somewhat rejecting. My head knows better, but the heart is sore. I DO believe that the online experience can be successful and you can bet I will begin again when I'm feeling more physically healed and less vulnerable. I DO believe there are men out there who will love you, love me - you'll know when it's time to put yourself out there again. This BC experience is difficult on so many levels. My brief attempt to date while under reconstruction - I felt brave and bold and "I'm still me" about it -- but I realized I needed to step back and just hold myself in sacred regard, grieve, write, talk it out - beneath the bold I was still too vulnerable post 3rd cancer and bilat mx and I just needed to be soooooooooooooooo (not enough "o"'s) gentle with myself and my process. PM anytime.
Geena
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Erika09 - I was on Tamoxifen for three years and flax was/is a daily part of my diet. Aaaannnnnnddd - the Tamoxifen didn't work - got BC again despite the med and radiation. So - who knows? Is the info you're getting about absorption or something?
Geena
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Hi single girls, there is a thread called Dating After Recostruction (and CANCER!)
I like it and it is where I like to vent about dating and get some great feed back.
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Erika, I'm really curious about what you've been hearing about flax/tamoxifen???? Have you talked to your onc?
Julie
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