Exchange City
Comments
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Angela - Great look! You must be psyched. Thanks for sharing.
Kathie - I am so sorry that you had a hard time w/ the pain last time. I will be thinking of you this week and sending all kinds of soft gentle cyber hugs your way!
Sue - I find that my pillow w/ the small beads still helps a lot. Sometimes the hard lumps on my chest get the best of me at night, but mostly I can just wrap them in the pillow and they are not too bad. I still take advil sometimes when they bug me.
Lorraine - I think I saw it suggested somewhere that we have a surgical bra burning party. I bet we could all mail them to someone and have a huge bonfire!
Facecrafter - Thinking of you. Take care!
Laura -
Thinking of you too!Sue - I have tears in my eyes right now. Thanks so much for sharing.
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Sue, that just ROCKED! Thank you !
Me and my TE are becoming friends..LOL... I never really know they are there unless I bump into something with them..hehe. We have a memory foam mattress and so I can sleep on my belly or side. ( my boobies sink into the foam I suppose..lol) Thank you for checking.. I will deal with these guys.. the rads are just making the one side tight.. so I stretch a lot...
Lorraine...DD good way to bring in the big 50 huh??? Wahoooo.. 18 yr old boobs.. and DD at that.. WOW!!!!
ladies.. still praying for the upcoming exchanges!
Jean..I almost forgot.. I hope you have fun meeting the two gals from BCO you are meeting soon.. how fun... It seems like a lot of gals live close enough to meet.. that is just awesome!
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Ah ha....was trying to remember who gave me the fantastic idea of the "airplane" pillow.....thanks Jean. It has been a tremendous help along my journey.
I asked about burning my TE's....surgical bra will have to do. TE's are considered medical waste....BUT on a what comes around goes around note.....hospitals incinerate medical waste....LOL....vindication ladies...vindication!!!!!
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Sue....
I agree...that was beautiful....just beautiful
xxoo Kathie
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Sue, thank you, that was beautiful and says it all!! and yes, I have to say they are tight still, I am waiting for the softness everyone talks about, kind of frustrating, however, I am staying positive! Also, I did have larger implants put in than I was expanded to, so I am thinking its a bit like having a large fill and I have to wait for them to relax a bit, its going to be 2 weeks on Tuesday since my surgery so I am hanging in there!
Laura, thinking about you as always and hoping you are doing ok! You are going through so much yourself, but still have time to pray for others, bless you!
Mykidsmom, I think having a surgical/sports bra buring parting sounds awesome! Maybe in Vegas we can have some kind of ceremony!! LOL!!
I am back to work tomorrow, I can honestly say I am actually looking forward to it!
Lorraine ox
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Good luck to this week's ladies.......lexi4, sam1991,firstmate ,boyzbeebs,Lisasayers, Whippetmom......I wish you speedy recoveries.......and soft boobies.
Loriaine.......wondering if when you give up the sugical bra things will start to feel softer for you......fingers crossed......
I am still leaking ever so slightly ........just want this to go away......PS said it was normal for up to 3 weeks.......It's been 2........anybody else experience this.......just a teenie opening in my scar line........but it continues to leak just a bit.......I am tired of always wearing a sanitary pad stuffed down my bra.......and would love to start wearing the new bras I bought for Vegas....with the little silicone implants......anybody else have this and did it eventually go away.....or did your PS do anything to help it go away......I definately have no redness or swelling.....bu it feels like enough already.
Cheers and luck to all!
Jax
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Good luck everyone going in for their exchanges this week! I hope all goes well for each everyone one of you! The rest of us here will be thinking of you & remebering you in our prayers! God bless & a speedy recovery dears!!!
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Hello Ladies, This is my first time here on exchange city. It is great to see the friendships that have been made and the support you offer each other.
I do have a question that I am hoping you can help me with. How do you know when to stop with the fills? My PS told me to go and try on bras to see what size I will be. Is this accurate? I see that some doctors go large than the expander, but my PS told me that he goes smaller. I am filled to 500 now and my old 34D bra fits me. He said that if I stopped here he would put in 450s. How did you decide? Does the bra trick work?
I hope you all have fun in Vegas. Maybe someone should warn them you are coming:) Your attitudes are so encouraging.
Kristin
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Kristin! welcome! ummmmmm, good question, I think if your PS tends to go smaller than your expanders, and your bra fits now, then I would go a little more on your fills. I know a lot of the girls here, were smaller after their exchange and they weren't happy. There is actually a thread on here that says "Implants smaller than expanders help!", which might give you an idea also. I think go a little bigger, but thats just my opinion, I am sure others will post soon to give you their ideas also. Nice to "meet" you!!
Lorraine ox
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Welcome Kristin! You've joined a wonderful group of women, but be careful, this site is habit-forming! I'm sure you'll get lots of advice regarding implant size. It sounds like those who were upfront with their plastic surgeons and knowledgeable about the implants got the best results. I'm one of those who feel my implant side is smaller than my natural side 5 weeks after exchange, but I see my PS soon and will ask about it.
Someone mentioned being apprehensive about flying to Vegas alone--same here, especially landing in Vegas alone! I would probably fly out of Milwaukee. Maybe both of us will find a travel buddy in the next few days!
Jax: You mentioned some leakage from your incision--my PS told me I would have a whitish discharge which would turn to a reddish discharge, which is part of the healing process. I've had a very slight orangish discharge, hardly nothing, but I wear a bit of gauze taped in place inside my bra. So you think you have too much, and I think I don't have enough! Wonder which of us is normal??
Suzie
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Hey Ladies
At the wise advise of Laura and Linda I will start a Vegas thread next week to help us in planning the trip. It will have a current list as well as updates. Suggestions are welcome. And please know that it is a trip of sisterhood so all sisters are welcome!!!!! We are gonna have a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tracey
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Oh, and I have three of the nasty flat ugly white bras--would be glad to add them to the bonfire!
Best wishes and good thoughts to the six beautiful ladies on the exchange list this week, and of course good vibes to those we haven't met yet!
Suzie
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gals! there is a thread going where its suggested that we save our surgical bras for new sisters, I think that is a fabulous idea, pay it forward!!
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Kristen: I bumped up the "Implants Smaller than Expanders" thread for you. It is long and full of many stories, details and discussions. The key is to let your PS know that you want to be the size you were previously and that you do not want to be smaller than your expander. Tell him/her you want the same width and projection. If it means he needs to put in a larger implant, then he needs to put in a larger implant. Find out the make and manufacturer of your expander and the FINAL fill volume. One of us can help you out further.
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just wanted to say a quick hi and hope everyone is doing well
sorry I haven't had time to read everything but see a lot of the gals are helping out with the questions
feel free to PM me and I will make sure I check it out if you have a question your not getting a lot of responce to
I doubt that will happen with this great group of gals but just wanted to offer it
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Ok....4:20 am my time...Trouble sleeping. Not excitement. I wish!!! Can't take ibuprofen because my excange is Wednesday, so the discomfort just nags at me. I will say it's not painful so to speak but I'm back in Yvonne's dying queen position to sleep...LOL. Actually not so much LOL...more like verge of tears/frustration. Supposed to work today. Thankfully my work has been incredibly understanding. It's a nice distraction tho. Just not sure I'll make it today.Good thing I can do some things at home.
Thanks for silently being there for me at this ungodly hour of the morning. I know it will be better in a couple of days.
xxo Kathie
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Thank you for your welcome. Fairy49, I will be proceeding with the fills. Thanks for your advice. I see you recently had a birthday. Happy Birthday and you look awesome. Whippetmom, thanks for the bump. I will read the thread. I should be getting ready for work, but I just had to check my computer. My next fill is tomorrow. Yeah! Time to wake up the DH and kiddies. Hugs to you all!!
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Jax - I leaked for a couple of weeks after my drains were removed post - mx. I just kept a pad over the area and eventually it stopped on its own. I hope your's stops soon!
Kristin - Welcome! Do you want us to add your name to the upcoming list of exchanges? And, yes, this thread does become habit forming.
Suzie - It will be quite a bonfire! But, sigh, I guess Lorraine is right. We should recycle them. THough I hardly think anyone would "want" these bras. Thanks for setting us right Lorraine!
Kathie - Hugs my dear. It will go well! And just think, you HAVE to sleep tonight. You will be exhausted!!!
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Kathie - I should have hopped on the computer at 4:20 also. That was when I made the switch from bed to the recliner. I feel your frustration. Only two more days for you!!! That's so exciting!!
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Congrats to all my BC sisters who have made it to this stage of reconstruction. I will be thinking of you this week.......((((hugs))))
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(((((((((((((((((( KATHIE)))))))))))))))))))))))))
Welcome Kristin..... glad to have you here!!!!!
((((((((((((((((Tracey))))))))))))))))))))))))
Off to rads and Herceptin....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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Good grief, this is the first time I've been on this thread since Jean (I think?) started it, and I knew you ladies were busy over here but 44 PAGES of posts? Holy moly!
For those of you who don't know me, I'm coming over from the October 08 reconstructioneers thread. My exchange surgery was Oct. 9, and now I've got fipple surgery scheduled for April 9. Exactly six months later -- although it does NOT seem like 6 months!
It might take me a bit to catch up with the women here I don't know from the October thread, but I wish you all successful surgeries and beautiful results! Special hugs to all who are still getting through treatment.
Oh, and Vegas -- looks like I WILL be able to go (I mentioned on the October thread that it was iffy), but DH won't be leaving on his trip til the Monday after that weekend. So count me in!
Sheila
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Morning - so happy to hear from you! I am glad you are closer to the end - the exchange is WAY more comfortable. As for the puckering, I don't know what it could be unless your muscle is still fighting the implant. If so, it will probably calm down after a few months.
Firstmate - bummer that you got CC on one side in spite of the massage. I guess we're all hoping for some kind of magic bullet to prevent that.
Karen, my support bra is a back-closing athletic bra that has some separation between the breasts (so I don't have a total uni-boob.). My PS likes sports bras initially.
Lexi - hang in there! You are going to be delighted to be out of those hard expanders! A couple of days of sleeping, and life will be sunnier for you. : )
angela - heading over to see your photos next. Thank you for sharing!
Dear Sam, I found the pain MUCH more manageable than with the MX. The incision is only through the skin (original scar), and unless they do some pocket work, you won't have much pain. I had pocket work, and it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I expected. I'll be thinking of you!
Kristen - Welcome! Go as big as you want! My PS overexpands by 50%, which yields a very nice result, and I told him at 450 cc that I liked that size. He continued expanding to 600 cc and placed 450 silicone (high profiles) at the exchange. I love them! They are perfect for me. Good luck in your decision.
Laura - God bless you, sister! We're praying you through these rads. You're such a fun and encouraging person.
Going in today to see my PS and be released to return to work tomorrow. Thanks for all your posts, ladies; as always they are wonderful.
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Sheila - Welcome. I hope it is okay that I added your name to our list of upcoming surgeries. Seems like there are many here that will want to know all about fipples. Congratulations on getting to that stage!
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Sue,
Wonderful quote. It does say it all and I have found it to be so true!
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hi girls, surgery went well was able to do lap, just waiting on the pathology (gulp). getting around pretty well, just very tired.
i'll write more tomorrow, but wanted to say hi to all and good luck on all surgeries.
xoxo
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Psalmist, Mykidsmom, Janet, Karen... Thank you for your replies to my question. I am hoping to get answers from my PS on Wednesday to find out if I do have deep stitches that will eventually settle down and quit causing the pain. I'll let you know...
Blessings on all of you for a wonderful week to come!
Margaret/Meg
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ugghhh. Talked to my PS today and I may have to delay my exchange. She's worried about me recuperating from my recent hospitalization, plus I keep losing weight. I was so sick at the end of chemo--just couldn't make myself eat, and then since I've gotten out of the hospital it keeps coming off. She wants my weight stable --otherwise what she puts in may end up being uneven if I keep losing, or gain the weight back, since I'm a unilateral. I know it makes sense, but I've been so looking forward to that 4-23 slot. Very hard to think of postponing.
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Yeah Annie!!!!!
So happy you were able to do the lap. Yoga pants that you can position in between your belly button incision and your belly incisions are perfect. I used the little Gap ones that were light and tied at the waist.
Very happy again for the lap and am sure will be just as happy for the path report!
Huge hugs and prayers
xxoo Kathie
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Annie - I am so pleased that you are home. All fingers and toes are crossed for you my dear. The path MUST be good! Take it easy and get some rest!
Kmmd - I am so sorry. I know it must be very difficult to consider a delay in your exchange. Are you able to keep your weight steady yet? My heart goes out to you. Know that we care!
Lexi - Thinking nice soft, bouncey foobs for you today! Let us know how things go!
Kathie and Firstmate - We are all going to be there with you, gently sitting on your shoulders. All will go well!
Take care sisters! - Jean
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