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Exchange City

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Comments

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

    Rememeber... rads skin DOES not wanna be cut on over and over... I had Exchange.. and then three months laster.. andother exchange.. I feel I have already pushed the limites.. Rads tissue grabs on.. yes... it is SCAR TISSUE due to radiation. It is being squeezed out by scar tissue. Massage DAILY!

    As far as should you wait or tell your PS about having different sized implants... NEVER NEVER wait... ALWAY speak you mind BEFORE exchange. Sometimes you cannot look back. THIS IS YOUR BODY ! SPEAK UP!!!  

    ((HUGS))

    DEB... JAZ... How are you ??

  • Hannahbearsmom
    Hannahbearsmom Member Posts: 266
    edited February 2010

    Thanks everyone for your input. I guess I should have said that I did not have radiation so that is not a factor in my situation. That's why I wonder if it will stretch out over time if both implants are the same size.

    TCK

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 885
    edited February 2010

    Hi ladies, just checking out this thread...I think I have a lot of reading to do.

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 245
    edited February 2010

    Just got my arrival time for surgery tomorrow... 12:45p.m.

    OMG it is going to be a long day with no coffee!

    I am guessing I will not go into the OR until 3pm?

    It's almost like flying - get there 2 hours early to hurry up and wait.

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

    LOL Musiclover :)

    Brenda -- yeah I agree with Laura (even though I don't know much about rads) -- talk to your doctor... ask him what he thinks... he certainly would have experience with this issue. 

    TCK -- I am sorry but I had to laugh since your question prompted a lot of good advice that had, as it turns out, nothing to do with your question!   I actually don't know why one would be a different size than the other (if no rads).   Since I am a uni I only have the one TE and my worry is entirely about symmetry between an implant and a lifted/reduced breast (very different).  It's a good question and so you will have to wait for Deborah (I think she will know the answer) to get home from surgery :)

    I will add: the smaller size of your BC breast after the excision should not have anything to do with the size of the TE.  Once all the tissue was removed you were at square one with size (since the pectoral muscle is being stretched on both sides ... AND since the excision had nothing to do with said pec).

    Hope the nips don't hurt too much Deborah and Jazzy!

    Lilah

  • Hannahbearsmom
    Hannahbearsmom Member Posts: 266
    edited February 2010

    Lilah:  It just seemed to me that the bc breast "shrunk" after my excisional bx. My original BS(who is not my current BS) said that she had removed about half of my breast tissue at that time. Anyway, I don't know if the skin would "shrink" and need to be stretched out. It does make sense as you said that the pectoral muscle wouldn't have been affected so that's why I am unsure why there is a such a difference. It is noticable to me naked but not in clothing and my bras do fit. I guess I will email my PS and relay my concerns.

    TCK

  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2010
    Geena, If it makes you feel any better, I think my right side is smaller and I didn't have rads.  I'm 99% sure I do not have swelling still. Hannahbearsmom, I had a lumpectomy on the left then BMX two weeks later.  After exchange, the right does seem to be smaller but I had problems with that side expanding all along so I'm not sure the size difference has anything to do with the lumpectomy. Musiclover, Tomorrow, wow, lots of warm wishes going your way! Kristen, I think you take the prize for getting the most done.  It's kind of a nesting syndrome, but instead of bringing home a baby you bring home foobs.  :-)  Julie 
  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2010

    So I'm sure this has been discussed many times but I don't recall and I wasn't at that stage yet so maybe I didn't pay attention.  

     I'm starting to think nipples.  Are there different ways of building nipples?  What are the advantages/disadvantages to these methods?  I hear they sometimes go flat, why, how do you prevent that?  The tattoo, I know my PS is good but he's not a tattoo artist, is it better to go to a permanent makeup person?

    Julie 

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010

    Kristen - Wow, girl!  I thought I had the nesting award before this last surgery - and I made 3 pots of soup, 4 loaves of bread, cookies, finally put away the summer clothes under the bed (they'd been sitting in baskets in my away-at-college son's room), and cleaned all the ceiling fans!

    Julie - there are different methods for the nipple recon, but usually the ps "specializes" in one type.  Some do grafts - handy if you have an old c-section scar  - and some do a flap - sort of like skin oragami......   As for the tatoos, there are definitely options, though I'd certainly use someone who had experience with tatooing foobs......

    Musiclovermom - the waiting is the hardest!  This last surgery, I originally had a 10:45 arrival time......then they sent me home for an hour or so (I live 5 minutes from surg center, luckily).......then I waited another hour.......finally got to the back about 2:30......went to OR about 4:00.........the hardest part was smelling coffee!  I did wake up rather nauseous, though, which I was blamed on being NPO for nearly 24 hours......

  • typhoon55
    typhoon55 Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2010

    Brenda,

    My rad side has dopped ever so slightly so it is just about even with the other side now.  The old rad side is now looking bigger than other side, more projection and slightly more rounder. Your PS should go by first what the rad side can take and then go to the other side.  And I am getting nips done on 2/19.  PS said he does the origami type along with a skin graft from upper inner thigh.  He said he can do it on the old rad side also.  I know it will take longer to heal as the exchange scar did take longer by a few weeks.  Maybe I can do it because my rads were 17 years ago. I will let you know how the nips go.  

    Geena,

    My old rad side has the same size implant as other side but is larger (more projection).  Not sure why.  

    Janet

  • cnemeth
    cnemeth Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2010

    Am thinking that Exchange City would be a great basis for a reality TV show.  Although our reality might be too much for some.

    Val ~~ Good boobs with flabby thighs and butt . . . . isn't that what Spanx are for???  Ha!!!!

    Colleen

  • Katey
    Katey Member Posts: 496
    edited February 2010

    cleaning carpets and fans, yikes, is that supposed to get done?!

    Musiclover, this might sound weird, but I read a good page turner mystery murder to keep my mind busy.  Ann Rule books are good for this type of occasion!

    and this year I am tightening up these thighs, finally have decent boobs, need the rest of the bod to go with it!

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010
    Colleen - so true......so true......sure wish I'd invented those things!........there's just the small problem of swimsuits......it takes these 40-something bodies a lot longer to behave.......
  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010

    Oh.....almost forgot......advice, please.....  I wasn't paying attention this morning when I was putting on my coat, and reached back with my left arm.....it REALLY hurt.........and continued all through Mass...... it's better now, but is it possible I tore some internal sutures at this late date (3 weeks post-op)?  I couldn't bear the thought of compromising all that work......

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited February 2010

    Reeltchr - Sorry about listing your surgery twice. I even marked you as completed! Wow - two exchanges in one month! LOL. I am a crazy lady these days.

    Teresa - I am not sure if you had your answer yet, but I oozed for quite a while after my nip surgery. Actually one side oozed for a couple of weeks. All has turned out fine, except my nips are almost entirely flat. One of these days I will discuss them w/ my PS, but for now I am sick of surgery and ready to enjoy what I have.

    TCK - All kinds of opinions. I would discuss your concerns w/ your PS. But I have to say, ultimately I decided to trust my PS and her professional experience. She filled me two different sizes, but then put in the same size implants and I look balanced. So it worked.

    Val - I am so sorry you hurt. Did you call your PS? Is it getting better?

    Musiclovermom - Boy will you enjoy your first cup of coffee! Best wishes!

    Hugs to our surgery sisters!

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

    I'm home with my new nips!  I have not seen them yet, but my PS says they look fabuloso. 
    They should, as I spent more time in front of the mirror in the office, readjusting the stick on nipple positioners and then putting on my shirt to see what they looked like in clothing.  Back and forth, back and forth.  My husband asked the nurse, "have you had anyone take this much time before?"  She said, "no", but I would be taking this much time too! 

    It was wonderful, as I got to pick my doctor's brain about plastic surgery issues while he performing the procedure. 

    Referable to previously irradiated breasts, he has started doing something which has been very successful and his patients are very happy.  This is for women who have reconstruction AFTER rads....He says that he prepares the pocket for the TE, but prior to placing the TE, he performs a generous fat graft transfer procedure on the rads pocket - in all quadrants and then randomly over the entire pocket.  He then places the TE and gradually expands as usual.  Prior to the exchange to the implant, he does another fat grafting procedure.  By now, the rads pocket is much softer and the patient is very happy with the outcome.  So.....this is something for the post-rads reconstruction gals to discuss with their surgeons....Adnerb....thinking of you in this regard.

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

    Deborah.. I am glad you are home.. I would look a million times too.after all... how odd if they are not in the right area?? WOW.. Cannot wait to see in a few weeks..:) Congrats.. you did it !

    As for the previous radiated information. This sounds pretty good. It would not work for gals who put in TE at time of mast... THEN have rads.. but for those who had rads 10 yrs back or so. THEN have a mast with TE... GRAND Idea.. for the softness idea. If their skin will survive after rads so many yrs back.. then the internal fat might just do great! THANK you for asking him this...

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2010

    Whippetmom...so glad all went well!

  • Kristinka
    Kristinka Member Posts: 223
    edited February 2010

    Congrats, Deborah!  Hope you love your new nips. 

    Kimberly, I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.  Best wishes!  I wouldn't complain about an afternoon arrival time - I have to get there at 5:30 am for a 7:30 surgery.  Painful to even think about, not that I'm sleepng that much these days.

    Dropped off my donations (and favorite sweater by mistake) at the homeless shelter.  Will be happy when my brain is a little more functional...

    Kristen

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

    Laura:  He believes that the radiated breast can be softened at any stage with fat-grafting....it was just that a more intensive effort could be made in the delayed recon patient.  So if I was presenting to him now with a really tight radiated breast with my implant already in place, he would employ fat grafting in an attempt to change the texture of the skin.  So I honestly believe that this would be the least invasive method of getting a better result for someone who had a problematic reconstruction because of a very taut, firm radiated breast. 

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited February 2010

    Deborah, I am happy to hear that you are home. 

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

    Oooh...Val...I would call your PS tomorrow and ask him what he wants you to do. He might want you to mobilize so that there is no further disruption, if any there was.  It also could just be tightness of the scar tissue there, but I would call because you went through a lot to get to this point. 

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010

    Thanks, Deborah.....I think I'll do that.  I'm already SUPPOSED to be immobilzed (my left side, at least), so this was MY big boo-boo.....moving at all, I mean.    I was going to ask my dh what he thought, but only saw him briefly before he got called back to the hospital......

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 245
    edited February 2010

    Deborah - glad your surgery went well! Am I reading your post correctly? Did your PS let you choose the nipple placement? That's the best!

    Julie - I finished the Deliverance Dane book - loved it! I am going with the skate flap nipples when my time comes... the skin grafting freaks me out.

    Val - I am trying to stay up late so I can sleep in and leave the house by noon. Hopefully the waiting room won't smell too much like coffee by 1 pm.

    Kristen - I would love to be there as early as you! I am usually awake by 4:30 am... but since a friend is driving me, the noon time probably works best for her! She can even eat lunch before waiting for me all afternoon.

    I guess I am going to eat and drink right up until midnight since I will be waiting over 12 hours before getting hooked up to an IV. Just wish I was hungry! I didn't finish dinner but am really thirsty from the Thai Food.

    Good Night!

    Kimberly

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited February 2010

    Deborah:  Congratulations on getting your nipples!!  I am sure you got what you wanted.  If you didn't I am also quite certain you will get it, eventually.  Thank you very much for asking your PS the radiation question on my behalf.  That was very sweet.  I am sure that information will help not just me but others as well.  It's also good to know that he has done this procedure before.  My "issue" now is:  The only fat I have are on my jowls and cheeks.  I would need a face lift after he gets done harvesting all my fat! LOL!  Maybe I can "grow" some in preparation for fat grafting.  I am to the point of obsessing this symmetry argument.   I need to learn how to knit or something...

    I just finished reading 4 books, and I highly recommend all of them: Sand Castle, Blink, Like Water for Chocolate and Agnes Browne.   (How do you underline words?)  If you have any fast paced books to recommend I would appreciate it.

    Take care, ladies! 

    Brenda 

  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2010

    Oh Val, I feel sick for you.  Just the thought of having torn a stitch.  Maybe you're just super tight from being immobile and that's what you felt.  

    Julie 

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010
    Julie - I'm thinking that's what it was.....and hoping.....I have moved inadvertently a few times and felt exactly the same thing.....just hasn't happened in over a week.....fingers crossed
  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited February 2010

    Deborah - I forgot to say "congrats!" on being ALL DONE!!!!!  Hope that vanilla malt was yummmmmmy!

    I'm hardly ever on the computer at night because my dh usually is.....kinda fun talking to y'all!  Heading off to read my book - The Help  - Nighty night everyone.....

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited February 2010

    Janet:  You know how I'm very, very, interested in your progress.  I am pulling for you!!!  Don't forget to post pics!!!

    Val:  I hope you just strained something.  The ache from a strained muscle can linger, but it doesn't need urgent medical care.  Just TLC.  Be still, Val... 

    Take care...

    Brenda 

  • juliempw
    juliempw Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2010
    Val, We're talking in two places at once.  :-)  When I thought I tore a stitch, the PTs I work with told me that if I had torn it, it would likely have more of a constant hurt.  Next time, I guess you'll have to just stay home from church, you can't be hurting yourself to pray!
    Julie

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