Exchange City
Comments
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ladyredlocks, what a lovely story......I teared up, thank you for sharing, and no you didn't make me uncomfortable or offend me, I thought it was really touching...... big hugs!
Lorraine ox
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Ladyredlocks - What a cute story. There is certainly a lot of love in your home my dear!
Annie - How are you doing? I know you weren't even supposed to be home until yesterday. I hope all is going as well as possible. Take care.
BTW ladies. My PS told me that I would be able to "return" to work after 5-7 days post implant. I am trying to start my business back up and that may mean a trip out of town. I thought that would be no problem until I started reading some of these posts. Did most of you need more than a week to recover?
Thanks. I hope it is as sunny there as it is here. We did another lovely winter hike this winter. It is so cool to be able to do my winter hikes again! - Jean
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Jean - I could putter around easily 7 days after my exchange - it is the lifting that is the problem. If your going to travel I'd worry about lifting your luggage... mine empty exceeds the 5-8 pound limit... so, as you read, I'm 17 days post exchange and I only picked Lyric up maybe 3 times yesterday (she's about 23 pounds) and I used my knees - but my right foob swelled up pretty painfully last night and is still ouchy today... can someone go with you and be "sherpa" for the trip?
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Margaret,
My PS said that, at the time of the exchange, she will put stitches under my breast extending slightly under my arm and that they may hurt for a few days. But because the stitches are absorbable the pain and discomfort are only temporary. Sounds like that may be what you're dealing with.
Ladyredlocks - that's a funny story. Kids are so innocent. I'm sure it all seemed perfectly natural to her.
Janet
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Janet - Good question....but I have not found any specific "studies" on implant displacement exercises and/or breast massage after reconstruction. Some plastic surgeons advocate massage and some do not. I think it is up to the patient to discuss this with her PS. I do know that implant massage is ONLY done with smooth implants - not textured.
Deborah
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Ladyredlocks - Oh, my sister and I had a "Gama" - I loved my Gama! I am a grandmother also - I am "Gigi" to my grandchildren.
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Had my last fill on Friday, got my exchange suregery date of 5-18-09... so very happy!!!!
doing happy dance at this very moment!
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Margaret- I had my exchange 3 days ago and I am having more pain on the right side. I am sure she loosened the pocket because the expander was tight and my implant on the right side is not at tight at all. She didn't tell my husband anything but I there are probably more stitches in the right than left. I am just trying to take it slow (very hard for me to do). I see her on Tuesday and I will find out what she did.
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Ladyredlocks: loved your story. You got to have a sense of humor to get you through this. I had not been able to get the old "fuzzy wuzzy was a bear, fuzzy wuzzy had no hair...." ditty out of my head since going bald, but, I have to say, now I can't get the old grey mare song out of my head.
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Ladyredlocks - Thanks. I will do that. My business partner is my brother, so I will make sure he goes w/ me and carries the loads.
Ladies - I have some fun news. It turns out that two women that I have been corresponding w/ on this site, though not in this thread, live near me. One lives very close. Anyhow we are getting together for lunch next week. Isn't that cool? It will be fun to finally meet. Kind of a like a pre-cursor for Los Vegas! THough not as warm!
Laura - I have a question for you. How long do you need to continue the rads? My friend had them last year and I think they lasted for five weeks. Is that what you have? I am hoping they will end soon. I know you are having a tough time w/ energy and you are always so upbeat. I am sending warm hugs your way!
There are a lot of ladies up for surgery this week, including my Exchange City posting partner (Deborah). Lixi4 - you lead the pack. Take care tomorrow! And best wishes for wonderful, bouncey, lovely results and quick, comfortable healing ladies:
3/16 - lexi4 - Exchange to silicone implants
3/18 - sam1991 - Exchange to 700 cc Mentor moderate plus silicone implants
3/18 - firstmate - bilateral exchange [#1 revision 11/08 - #2 revision 3/18]
3/19 - boyzbeebs - Exchange from immediate expanders
3/20 - Lisasayers - Exchange to 410 gummie bears
3/20 - Whippetmom - Exchange to silicone, Allergan Natrelle implants
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Hi Ladies,
I haven't been on the site for quite awhile. I orginally had dates in March for ultrasound and mammogram on my right (good) breast and if all was okay they had a surgery date to retry the reconstruction with the TE.
Because of insurance changes (don't you just love them?!) everything had to be rescheduled after April. Soooo, my new dates are April 8th for testing and if all okay 2nd surgical attempt at recon. is 4/16.
Must say I'm just about ready to say enough is enough for all of it. Stress manifests itself differently for all of us. I'm just exhausted and I've developed a form of tendonitis in my left arm from the tension landing in my shoulders and neck.
As I'm sure many of you would agree, the length of this illness and treatment is one of the most difficult things to deal with....it's always "with you."
Candi
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Ladies,
Just sitting here on a Sunday morning (skipping church is weird for me) sipping coffee and reading. My emergency surgery on Friday seems to have been successful - the swelling and sloshing are still there but appear somewhat reduced. The pain is diminishing, too. It was really strange - and painful - having a pint of blood suddenly fill up my boob and create a "ball" up to my clavicle.
The doctor says there are three fairly large blood vessels on the inside (cleavage side) of each breast and one of those seems to have ruptured following the most recent pocket revision - probably nicked or damaged during surgery but didn't bleed until the implant aggravated it over time. At any rate, it was like getting expanded to a FF within a matter of minutes. The pressure was everywhere - my arm was numb, my ribs felt caved in, it was like your worst expansion ever.
Anyway, if any of you ever experience swelling in a matter of minutes which is firm to the touch, get to the doctor immediately. It is probably blood, not serum. also keep in mind that this is extremely RARE, so the chances are remote that you will experience it, but the rate is somewhere near 4% after augmentation/recon surgery.
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Candi,
It is ALWAYS there...aware of it every waking moment....
Someone said to me in the past...."Everywhere I go.....there I am!"
Hope you get to move ahead soon.
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My PS has me do these implant displacement exercises twice a day. He calls them quandrant massage. I still got a capsular contraction on one side only. The other side is fine. I did alot of research on massage techniques and it does differ significantly depending on PS (the same as the support bra issue). So who knows want works?
Rockwell_girl -- I couldn't access that link on Aspercreme either. Can you resend?
Psalmist --glad to hear that you are felling better. What a traumatic experience!
PinkyLee -happy to hear that you foobs are loking better!
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Psalmist: How terrifying. I'm glad you're home and resting. God can come to your house this Sunday. I hope you're not in too much pain and recover your strength soon.
Jean: I had to hop on a plane 3 days after my exchange surgery to go see my brother after a bout of carbon monoxide poisoning. He's fine, but nothing would have kept me from going. Take your brother. We could all use a sherpa sometimes.
Ladyredlocks: Remind me never to ask you for a popsickle
Carol(AZ)
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I found it! Here is the link on Aspercreme.
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/cgi/content/full/14/2/197
JUDY
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Baxter - We are both having surgery the same day. I added your date to the list of dates. I wish you all the best. This time it will be great. Best wishes.
Thanks Carol - That's what I plan to do. How's your brother?
Annie - Thinking of you today!!!!!!!!!!!!
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oops sorry. That wasn't it. I'm still looking for the article on capsular contracture. That one was on rads. Darnit.
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I am one week out from the exchange. I don't have much pain except when I do too much. I did spend the night in the hospital. I drove over the pass to my home yesterday. It left me very tired.I slept for about 20 hours when I got home.
I have some questions. The outer edges of my implants are very puckered. Will that, do you think, always be so? The foobs are different sizes. Does one ever get used to that? I want to do yoga very soon. Can I do damage to the new foobs? Thanks for any answers you can provide.
My implants are very small... barely larger than a man's, but I will get used to them. I will have to be careful to stay thin so that my foobs are the dominant lumps on my body. That will be VERY thin.
In my heart, I feel that this nightmare is almost over and that this exchange has been a passage back into the world.
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Hi All!
I just wanted to say good luck to all this week in your exchanges! I will be thinking of you! I know you are all thinking..." it is finally here"... I am so happy for you, then end of your journeys are right around the corner.. hang on... you're almost there!
Deborah, thank you SO MUCH for all your info for me. I am taking it to my Radiation Oncologist tomorrow. I will see what he says about it all, and even if he is not a fan.. I will ask if it is ok to use. Thank you so much for taking the time to post all that info for me, and so many others!
Annie, I prayed your pain is very minimal today, or being 100% covered by pain meds. We look forward to hearing from your cute, special little self!
Tracey, Know I am with you Her2 sister!
I am sorry, I do not remember the name of the new lady to our list that noticed how close we all are. I wanted to point that out again. Thank you to who brought it up to begin with!!!!! I am a little under the weather these days,... and my silly brain does not let me remember...lol
Anyway... I find her statement to be very powerful! Ladies, there are so many ladies on this site that just lurk. Maybe they are just a little shy to post. Maybe they do not feel like they belong in this thread... or whatever.. but they do lurk and read what we write.
Because of all you BEAUTIFUL women here... those BEAUTIFUL lurkers might just feel "better"... maybe they see all of you loving each other and dealing with whatever this darn cancer throws at you/us. So I say, thank you to the lady who noticed how close we all are here! Thank you to the ladies here that are becoming friends.. thank you to the ladies here that might just be loving the lurkers and had no idea... and thank you lurkers for being with us! Jump on in anytime.
I will vouch for this particular thread... these ladies are very, very welcoming and so helpful no matter when your exchange is planned... heck.. mine is not till the end of this year, and I am here!!!
Blessings!
Laura
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Any of you girls who have to wear support bras post exchange do you have any you really like? My surgeon uses the Bestform support bra and it doesn't have that much support if you ask me. Do the surgeons care if you change support bras and wear one that works better? I bought a couple of Olga wireless bras today and they have great under support without wires. Any other ideas? Good luck to all you girls having surgery this week I will be praying that you have as good of an experience as I have so far.
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Thank you for the prayers and well wishes. I am now getting more nervous about the surgery than excited. I am finding myself getting really emotional today. Ready to get the exchange done and hopefully stay out of hospitals for awhile!
I pray that all the ladies having their surgeries this week to have smooth and uncomplicated procedures and speedy healing. In Jesus name, amen!
Hugs,
Lexi
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Judy - But that Aspercream link is still very helpful to anyone undergoing radiation - to address skin reactions.0
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Morning - Do you want us to add you to the list at the top of this thread? If so, when was your surgery 3/9? or thereabouts? I can't help you w/ the puckering, I haven't had my exchange yet, but I do want to give you a special congratulations. This is a major step in your moving on w/ life! And that's what this is all about right?!
Lexi - I think I understand the pre-surgical emotions. It is a totally different emotion from the one pre-mastectomy, right? I think I can relate. I am already beginning to see that this surgery is different. And YES you will stay out of the hospital for a while!
Laura is so right. Everyone is welcome here. I know I find a lot of love on this site and with my sisters on this thread! Please feel free to jump in anytime. No question is too insignificant. We are all learning and leaning! That's what we are here for.
I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday. Take care. - Jean
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Just a note - I got the go ahead from my PS to resume regular activities last week and finally posted my photos on the picture thread under Before - BLM & Tissue Expanders - Implant Exchange.
I am still happy with the results and hope everyone preparing for surgeries or just out of surgery is doing well! All the best to all of you wonderful folks on the boards.
AngelaD
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Good luck to everyone having their surgeries this week. I've been a lurker lately. Thought I would be more excited for my exchange on Wednesday. I'm worried about the pain because they had an incredibly difficult time getting my pain under control after my BM. And that was just to be able to get me out of the OR and to the recovery suite.
So my next couple of days will be spent working and lurking. I'll try to post with good news Wednesday evening.
But thanks to all my sisters. You are supportive and informative....even when you don't realize it.
xxoo Kathie
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Good luck to all the exchanges this week!!!
lexi4, sam1991,firstmate ,boyzbeebs,Lisasayers, Whippetmom
Let us know how you are doing once you get home and feel up to it!! Kathie, going to email you shortly, just got back from Victoria's Secret
the gal measured me and I am a perfect 36DD, right back where I was before bi-lat, but perkier LOL!! it was fun not to have to shove my baggy boobs into a bra and try and make them even ha!! I have had this darn surgical bra on for almost two weeks, so ready to toss it!! Love you girls, you are all so flippin awesome!!Lorraine ox
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Thanks for the encouragement. I am so frustrated. I know I saw a link to a site where Aspercreme helped with capsular contraction. Now I can't find it and I'm thinking I never really saw it? I hate chemo brain! I'm glad that the other link may be helpful for radiated skin. I thought it was interesting.
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I'll be thinking of all you exchangees this week (with jealousy!!) Just kidding! We all have to patiently wait our turn!! Does it remind anyone else of being pregnant the first time!! Counting down the days, being uncomfortable, nervous, yet excited at the thought of what is to come.
I'm still contemplating the Vegas trip. I work at a high school and we're expected to take our vacations during our two months off in the summer, but it's SO TEMPTING!!! However, I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat to travel by myself!! I've only flown twice in my life and both of those times with family. Would anyone else be flying out of the Omaha, NE airport? It would be great to be able to go with someone!
Psalmist - Wow, I can't believe what you went through. Thanks for sharing - that is good information to be aware that that can happen.
Lorraine - Congratulations on the fun trip to Victoria's Secret. Are you still feeling as tight as you were?
Well exchangees, can't wait to hear about your terrific results!!
Oh, one more thing - for those of you that have had your exchanges already. I'm two weeks out from my last fill, and I am finding it hard to sleep flat in bed again - chest and back get so achy. Sleeping on my side ends up being very painful too. I'm about ready to go back to the recliner. Did this happen to anyone else?
Laura - I've been thinking about you a lot lately. Do you have to deal with much TE pain or is it just uncomfortable? I hope it's not painful since you have to go through the summer with those darned things. Plus the fact that you're dealing with rads at the same time. This really tries a person's patience, doesn't it??
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The following was sent to me in an email and I thought it was fitting for the Ta Ta Sisterhood!!
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT........ Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.
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