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Exchange City

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Comments

  • sheesh1961
    sheesh1961 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2009

    Elaine, I'm sorry you were having a bad night. I hope you're feeling better this morning! If you were in the photo site before, go to your private messages (link should be in your "my home" page that you can link to from the top of this page), and Timtam should have sent you a PM with instructions to get in. You'll probably have to go to your own email to get your p/w, or just reset your p/w when you get in.

    Janet -- yeah, I avoided hugs with TEs too -- mainly because it was too dang uncomfortable! :) Now I'm 6 months out of my exchange and my 10-year-old daughter can hug me pretty tightly without it being uncomfortable at all. Which is nice! But since she notices that I'm not "squishy" I wonder if other people do too?!

    Sheila

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited March 2009

    Bukki - We should have called one another last night. I was restless too! You should be able to get to the picture forum by going back to the PM that TimTam sent you. I finally made a bookmark (favorite) because I kept forgetting how to get there too.

    Digger - I am so tickled that you love your new look!!!!!!!!! Yahoo!! I love it when things are working out!

    Deborah - Hang in there. If they don't fluff and shape the way they should, then we will be there for you and your revision surgery. After all, you were up and throwing a ball for the dog the day of your surgery, so you heal quickly. By the way I think I would LOVE some nipple AROUSERS! Wouldn't that be a nice change!! Surprised

    Karen - I use the same bra from Walmart post BM w/ the TE's. I don't have any idea what type of bra my PS will recommend after exchange. Fortunately I have a friend visiting w/ me after my surgery, so we can shop if necessary.I don't think I will buy anything ahead of time. I don't know what size to get.

    Sandy - My dh loves to go rock climbing. While I love hiking and mountain climbing, I do not like rock climbing, But I think it is so cool that you do all the things you do! Keep it up lady. I enjoy your stories!

    Ah well, time to get to work. Have a good day ladies!

  • Believe1
    Believe1 Member Posts: 31
    edited March 2009

    Just a quick question, I have not yet had my exchange, but am reading up so I will know more of what to expect from the whole thing.  What I am not understanding is the whole fluffing thing?  What is that, and what am I looking for?  I was under the impression that once I had my exchange my boobs were going to be what they were, but from reading I am guessing they change after sergury.  One more thing, I am reading alot on bra's and the different types, but again I was under the impression we no longer had to wear bra's?  So for how long do we have to wear a bra for?

  • karen9516
    karen9516 Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2009

    I could be wrong but I don't think they want them to move much the first 4-6 weeks while they are healing. I guess compressed is the wrong word but tight? I actually hate the Best-form and it is uncomfortable and you are right Lorraine it would not work for exercise. I want to keep them as high as long as I can since gravity will surely bring them down soon as it does everything else.

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited March 2009

    Yvonne! that was so funny!! Its kind of fun shocking people at this point don't you think! LOL!!! I guess we shouldn't have timelines, but it would be nice to be all done as a birthday present huh!

    Linda! Thank you for the compliment, must be the lighting in the photo!! :) or my 33 year old husband keeping me young LOL!!! Is your PS going to tweak at the same time he/she does the nipples? or would it be done before? I am going to check out your pics!

  • PinkyLee
    PinkyLee Member Posts: 427
    edited March 2009

    To all that had a bad night, I am so sorry to hear it.  I have been there and it is not fun.

    Question for the community:  Has anyone elsle go knotting or something weird going on at the bottom of your boob after exchange?  I have started to notice that my right side, which was the good boob, has a ridge or something forming under it.  There is a pocket and then this muscle like knot.  Should I be concerned or will it go away as I heal?

    I feel like having these things will never get to the point of being right. 

    I would like access to the picture forum to see if mine are looking like the should or if it is all in my head, which is what SO keeps telling me. 

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited March 2009

    fairy49

    Yahoo!!!  you go girl!!!  Like I said, you look great to be almost 50 and that 33 yr old hubby proves it....

    My PS wants to tweak before nipps and I want my Nipps NOW!!!!  I do not want 2 surgeries!!!!  He can do his tweaking on that one side if he wants to but please give me my nipps at the same time.....If he could guarantee that the revision would hold this time I would probably wait on the nipps but there is no guarantee.....I  would be fine just to do the nipps only.  Let me know what you think after you look at my pics.....I have been asked if my PS thinks it could get worse as the months pass.  I don't know, I will have to ask him....If he thinks it will then I guess I have no choice.  Would not want it to get any worse!!!!!!!

  • Believe1
    Believe1 Member Posts: 31
    edited March 2009

    I know I have'nt been a part a this exchange board, but as I mentioned I am reading before my exchange to get familiar with what to expect.  I would really appreciate if someone out there could answer my question on fluffing.  I keep reading the word, but dont understand what it means.  Kinda feeling like the new kid at school.

  • Sprtwareor
    Sprtwareor Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2009

    Linda54 you look great! But what's MOST important is how YOU think you look. Trust yourself, girlfriend. I can see that you're getting pretty serious about wanting those nipples NOW!!!  Just speak your mind. Good luck at your next appt.

    Believe1 you GOTTA wear the support bras for at least 6 weeks after the implant exchange. Learn from the rest of us who are now going in for pocket revisions because our stitching didn't hold, and we got sags and medial travel (ending up in the armpits!!). I don't care what my PS says about 'not needing to wear a bra anymore', I'm listening to my sisters here, and wearing one 24/7 for 8 weeks so that I can enjoy my active sports lifestyle after that.

    FOR ALL OF YOU UNDER 50's SISTERS--- You are frisky young pups!!!  You have plenty of time to 'get it right'. I'm struggling through at 55, and still managing somehow. Laughing  hehehe  Although maybe that's why I ended up with these 'matronly' foobs!  I'm going to have to tell my PS that I still see myself as vibrant, young and beautiful, so I want the perky foobs, not the saggy, matronly ones. THANK YOU so much for clarifying this for me. (he's probably going to say 'there you go, with your unreasonable expectations again!!')

  • PinkyLee
    PinkyLee Member Posts: 427
    edited March 2009

    Nothing is unreasonable when it comes to how you want to look.  I too am over 50, 53 to be exact and I don't want matronly looking foobs.  I was lucky enough not to have matronly boobs so I definately don't want it from my foobs.  Mine aren't matronly, but they have puckers and ridges. 

    My PS didn't give me any guidance on wearing a bra.  I didn't even know about the underwire thing until seeing it here.  Now I need to know if there is a difference in the underwire with a wire and the one's that have the new material in them.  All the new  bras I purchased at victoria secrets have some type of wire.  Should I go buy something else to wear?  It has been four weeks and mine are starting to look a little better, but I don't want to cause any damage.

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    Hi Linda - I meant to reply to you yesterday but I didnt' get that far.  So instead of working (because I am at my job today) I thought I'd look at the pictures once again!  My initial impression is that I don't see enough of a problem that would warrant another surgery.  After reading the comments on that website and reviewing the pics again, I see what the girls are talking about but honestly if it was me I think I'd leave things as they are. You look great just the way you are!!!  The differences are so subtle that they are virtually non-existent in a bra and definately a non-issue in a t-shirt.  I know all of us are checking and rechecking out how we look now but I don't think we were ever so critical of the symmetry of our real girls.  Ultimately the decision is yours (AND I HATE WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT TO ME) but I agree with you that enough is enough when it comes to surgery.  I'd get the nips and call it a day!

    Elaine - I am sorry that you had a crappy night.  Doesn't it make you wonder if these feelings will ever end?  To me it feels like everyone around me think thats that I am "back to normal" and often days go by without any mention of the dreaded BC. For me...hardly an hour goes by that I'm not reminded about it, whether it is knocking my iron foob on the table, aching pec muscles, or whatever.  My DH asked me one day if maybe I was spending too much time on this site "dredging up past feelings"!!!!  Well.......I love that man with all that I have but I certainly was quick to set him straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I told him that the feelings/pain/anger are not gone but that I haven't been talking about it much with family/friends/coworkers because I think they have moved on.  I told him that I was on this board for the support that I needed and didn't feel I was getting.  Poor guy was in tears...I felt so bad at lashing out at him but I guess he needed to know.  He thought that I was talking less about it because I was "over it".  Now he when I'm on the board he'll say comments like - How are your girl friends?  Everybody okay on there today??  LOL..gotta love him.

    Lorraine -

  • Sprtwareor
    Sprtwareor Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2009

    You are SOO right Lorraine! We need to be able to vent with our sisters here on the forum because everyone else gets tired of it and wants to move on with their lives. I left the boards for a few months while I was dealing with my recent MELANOMA surgery. I didn't know where to go for support for that, and I just dealt with it alone. I should have known to just stay here and reach out for some empathy when I was scared. My leg is healing right in time for me to be able to handle a 2nd exchange and pocket revision surgery. When my PS had me crying over my 'unrealistic expectations' my husband said, "What about your sisters? Get back online and get in touch with them. They'll help you figure this out!"  He was SO RIGHT!!  I feel so good to be back in touch with all of you. You've helped me feel nothing's wrong with wanting to feel good about myself. And I have the right to speak up and be heard.

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited March 2009

    Marilyn and Yvonne

    Thanks for your comments....If PS says that it could get worse then I suppose I will do as he says.....but if not, then he and I will have a very frank decussion.

    We need to learn from each other about this BRA debate....I believe that if you have a tendency to have pocket problems then you do not need to go braless all the time....If you are a back sleeper then it would be wise to wear a bra that has good side support.  If you do strenous exercise then get a great support sports bra.  Too many of our doctors have different opinions about the bra thing.  I know I have said this before but just use common sense.....If I do get another revision then I will baby mine with all the bras I can get for as long as it takes.....

  • sheesh1961
    sheesh1961 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2009

    Oh Marilyn, we are so glad you're back. We definitely missed you! I'm sorry you had to deal with melanoma surgery too. How is your prognosis on that? I'm glad you're ready to face your revision surgery now, and to HELL with "unrealistic expectations." If we all set our expectations low, then there is NO incentive for plastic surgeons to come up with better ways to do things, right?! So you go girl!!

    Lorraine, I can't remember if you're planning to come to Vegas, but I sure hope you are  -- if you're even half as cool in person as you are in cyberspace, you're going to be a blast to be around. :) I am loving your DH's change in attitude. I also feel like everyone else has moved on --  except for all my Ta Ta sisters, both here and others I know IRL. I think for our other friends and family, it's kind of denial -- they WANT us to be all better so tthey THINK  us all better.

    PinkyLee, I can't remember where you are in your reconstruction -- whether you've had your exchange yet or not. I had a knot of muscle to the right of my right foob after my bmx, and it got worse over the next maybe 8 weeks, but then started to recede. I complained about it to my PS, and he did something at my exchange to get rid of the rest of it. Now you can't tell it was ever there. My PS is funny -- when I mention something to him like my bumpy scars or this muscle knot, he'll preach that I just need to wait because everything will change, but then when I have surgery he does everything he can to fix what I was whining about. :) Hmm, I think I'll whine about my saggy neck at my next appt and see if it magically goes away when I have my nip surgery! LOL

    Believe1, I've been in the reconstruction pool for almost 8 months now and I STILL don't know what fluffing is! :) But the girls do change quite a bit after the exchange from tissue expanders to implants. They normally drop a bit, plus my cancer foob, which now has very thin skin in the lower half, was a bit "flat" at first, where it didn't fill in the front of my bras. Now it does, so maybe that's what the fluffing is. Anyway, the key thing is that they'll CHANGE -- in some cases, quite a bit -- which is why most PSs won't even consider nip/areola reconstruction til at least 4 months past exchange.

    OK, I'm supposed to be working, so I better duck out. Later sisters!

    Sheila 

  • sheesh1961
    sheesh1961 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2009

    Oh Linda, I meant to reply to you too -- I agree also with asking about whether he thinks it will get worse. Because if you'd do nips and then need more revisions, you'd have to get the nips re-done -- well, unless he could do revisions from an incision under your foob?? Maybe that's worth asking too? But then you don't want your nips to end up looking like a Van Gogh portrait either, so maybe not! Anyway, it sounds like you're taking a practical approach, and I don't think you should do the revision just to make your PS happy!

    Sheila 

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 433
    edited March 2009

    believe1  Fluffing and dropping happens after surgery. During the surgery, the implants are "compressed" (sort of)  after a while they drop a little, to form a true mammary fold and generally look like more of a true breast.  It is sort of like a pillow in a tight little package, the muscle of the chest (the package)  has to expand to allow the implant to fill out and fall, and allow the nipple to either go into position, or to be positioned properly.  If your nipples are done too soon, they may be too high as a result of this effect.  Fluffing could be called 'naturalizing'

  • Believe1
    Believe1 Member Posts: 31
    edited March 2009

    Facecrafter, Thank you so much for explaining that to me, because it now makes more sense.  What is with all of the different kinds of implants?  I thought silicone was silicone, and I have read sooo many different kinds, how would I know what is best for me?  Do I leave that completely in the hands of my ps?  And one more thing, I have been reading alot about capsular contracture, not sure exactly what that is, but have seen pics on it, so what is it?  Is there something I can do personally to avoid that happening to me??  So new at all of this, and just want to have it figured out before the big day.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2009

    Sandy - I think you are making all of this up - about rock climbing.  Iowa doesn't have mountains....I have been to Iowa and it is farmland....LOL!  Just kidding - after last night's discussion, we would love to see pictures of something other than boobs...

  • sam1991
    sam1991 Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2009

    Judy,

    Nice way to put it...naturalizing. I love that.

    Tomorrow is my week post op appt. I'm excited. Other than when I take my shower I'm bound up like a geisha girl because of the lipo from the belly to the top of my implants. I still love what I see...and feel (myself up that is..LOL). Tons of bruising but that's my norm. I'm just so thrilled I could giggle all the time. Lots of burning at the donor sites but nothing an ice pack doesn't cure.

    Linda...like I said on the other thread...you're breasts look fabulous. If I were your dh you'd be beating me back with a stick!!!

    And Deborah....you too sister...I see what you mean but I would give it time. I think they look incredibly natural....you're not even a week post op.

    Yvonne...as usual....i smile at your upbeat and witty words.

    Laura....I miss you. Hope you are finding a smile somewhere....grand babies I'll bet.

    PinkyLee...I like Gap body for bras.

    Good luck to this week's surgery sisters.

    xxoo Kathie 

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2009

    Hi all,

    I am new to this end of things.  I am just 2 weeks post op for a PBM and immediate reconstruction.  I had 300ccs fill out of the gate and will begin additional fills this week.  I am 5'2" and 105 so can't go too big having having my foobs being the bulk of me :-).   I was a small B and am looking to go to a full B or MAYBE a small C.  I have been told that it is the scar tissue that will govern how much of a fill I will need.  My PS feel I am almost at the max but it is so hard for me to judge with these hard misformed turtle shells!  Also, could someone explain what the advance is for allergan naturelle and also what is meant by the "high profile" silicon.

    Thanks!!!

    Wanda

  • wbuggie
    wbuggie Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2009

    Could anyone tell me how I get permission for the picture site you are referring to?

    THanks
    Wanda

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2009

    Here is the link to PM Timtam.  Tell her a little about yourself - your recent PBLM and ask for permission to go to the picture's forum

    http://community.breastcancer.org/member/11047/profile

    Allergan Natrelle is just a brand or manufacturer of breast implants.  Allergan and Mentor are the two most commonly used in the US and Canada.  Some plastic surgeon's prefer one over the other or give you an option of using either manufacturer.  So find out from your PS which mfr he prefers.  Here is a description regarding "profiles" for breast implants.  Profile refers to the amount of "projection" of the implant:

    http://www.implantinfo.com/breast_implants/breast_implants_choices_profile.htm

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2009

    Kathie:  Cannot wait to see pictures of your recon someday soon.  I am certainly interested in the topic of how compressing our support bras are really supposed to be for optimum protection and proper settling.  It sounds like you have a compression garment - but is it primarily because of your lipo or does your PS have all patients wearing this type of device after exchange to implants?

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited March 2009

    Hi there - I think a couple of you have asked about getting on the picture forum. To do this, you need to send a PM to TimTam. She will determine whether she feels that you have posted enough here for her to be comfortable providing the username and password. It is a private site and she is very careful to ensure that the visitors are folks dealing w/ BC and the issues associated with it. It is a very helpful site for knowing what's ahead and determining what's right for you!

    Take care. - Jean

    Did I miss any new dates that needed to be added to our list? I was trying to catch up w/ all the posts.

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2009

    Hi Everyone,

    I haven't posted before but I have found a lot of help and encouragement by reading your journeys along the same path as mine.  I had my BMX in November and I am nearing my exchange.  I have had the TEs filled slowly.  Right now I feel like I look like a linebacker with well developed pecs.  The TEs are up so high and under my armpits.   It's hard to believe these will ever look feminine. Was anyone else's TEs like this before their exchange?

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Member Posts: 144
    edited March 2009

    Welcome Peggio!  That is exactly how I felt about my TE's!  My new implants are so much more natural looking!  You could have set a beer can on my TE's! LOL

    Getting my drains out tomorrow...thank goodness! 

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2009

    lisasayers, Thanks for the welcome. How long ago did you have your exchange?  I'm glad you're getting your drains out.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2009

    If you are new to this board and would like your exchange date included above, please PM me with your date and details of your upcoming surgery, e.g., exchange, revision, TE replacement, etc.  I will send it to Jean for posting.

    Thank you!

    Deborah

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2009

    I'm not sure when my exchange is going to be.  I kept telling my PS I wanted to look natural.  After my last fill the other day he said I think you're ready.  I thought I would be filled bigger than I am, so I just made another appt. to make sure he and I are definitely on the same page about the size of my implants. I've already lived  with breasts that are too small, I don't want to wake up after surgery and feel the same way.  So, I would like to be added to Exchange City once I get my date. Thanks.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2009

    Well, I am doing better today.  Just home here, chillin' with the girls.  I have had a little talk with them about shaping up and staying up.  I think they have attention deficit disorder.  Anyway, DH is golfing today so I'm taking the girls shopping to see if we can determine what size they are currently.  They FEEL like about a 36 "K's"....

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