Exchange City
Comments
-
Sorry about those blues and I think Lilah's advice is great, too! I had some of the "dark stuff" visit me yesterday when I actually took a good look at my half flat, very ugly looking chest. Must deal with it temporarily by covering it up and putting it out of my mind. Only so much a person can deal with at one time.... Did I tell you that diarrhea struck me in a big way on Saturday and I had to stop the Clindamycin? Still having the same problem and will see the PS in an hour and tell him what's going on and also see what he thinks about this seroma. Don't expect much, but maybe he'll surprise me with some good advice. Have a great day!
0 -
I want to share a kiss and a hug to those of you hurting in your hearts right now. Dealing with the aftermath of what breast cancer has done to you. God Bless you, and we old timers so know how you feel... this is why I offer you my hug and kiss!
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((sisters of bc))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
0 -
Laura -- you are such a sweetheart!
My PS took a very quick look and pronounced my infection cured, which is great news. When I told him about my stomach problem, he told me to take acidophilus (sp?) and eat yogurt (I've been doing this) and basically dismissed me for 6 months.
I believe that today's appointment marks the end of my visits to this PS, though he doesn't know that.
0 -
thank god
0 -
Tomorrow is my exchange! bilat NSM with TE's July 20. I can't belive the time for exchange is almost here. Yipee
0 -
pepper_cook - Best wishes tomorrow!
0 -
Ladies, I need someone to tell me that everything is going to be great. Today is 1 week since my exchange. I was so excited before my exchange..my bmx was 1 yr ago...but, like a lot of ladies I look in the mirror and see two huge hamburger buns....plus I have two drains. I know I should be thankful, since I did have rads and so far so good. But, I just don't think they look like breasts.
I'd love to see photos of post op "hamburger buns" and what they looked like months later.
Thanks for listening to my vent! I can't tell you how much reading all your journeys has helped.
0 -
Best wishes for tomorrow's exchange surgery, pepper_cook!!
0 -
Everett - The new implants take a while to look more natural. That's not to say they will be perfect, but they work. I am almost two years out and I find that I look quite "normal" to me. Actually, I think I have forgotten what the old me looks like. So there is hope. Give them some time to settle in.
Hugs to surgery sisters coming up.
And best wishes to all during this Holiday season! - Jean
0 -
Well, Bonnie, after all this and your PS claims you're cured! Well, good for him. (Saying that very sarcastically!) And GOOD for YOU to say GOOD RIDDANCE to him!! I was really sorry to hear of your reaction to your meds. But, I'm glad I read it, cuz it reminded me to take mine! :-) He didn't even offer you another type of med? sheesh!
everett--the hamburger look is totally part of the deal. As one sister so elegantly put it to me after my exchange--STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR! haha. But she was right. It takes WEEKS, even months for things to settle.
pepper_cook! all the best tomorrow. You're just like I was. Will be praying for you. Let us know how it goes.
All the sisters going through the mental exhaustion of fighting the blues:
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
0 -
Bonnie -- I'm with Claire: thank god you are done with him!
Everett -- so sorry you're down about how things look but I agree with the others... it's SO soon... and you have to give yourself time to heal... and your foobs time to "drop and fluff"!
0 -
MBJ and LG300- Glad the other thread helped!
pepper_cook- GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!!! Hope you are back home quickly and that all goes well for you!
0 -
Bonnie - How many days were you on the antibiotics? Even once an infection is cleared, you should take antibiotics for for the remainder of the prescription to prevent a recurrence. I had a terrible reaction to the antibiotic I was on for my last infection - I was really nauseous and violently throwing up. I went off those meds, but my PS switched me to another antibiotic for the remainder of my prescription. Hope your infecton doesn't come back. Glad you're done with this PS.
0 -
LG -- I was given an RX for 10 days of Clindamycin and took exactly half of it. The PS didn't say anything about additional antibiotics -- he just looked at the incision and said it was closing up and the infection was "cured" so I could stop taking the antibiotics. I still have a pocket of fluid under the incision, but he didn't seem concerned about it. I'm just relieved to be done with today's appointment.
0 -
Bonnie - I've been reading but not posting ... I know you trust your BS. Please call her and get a referral. I agree with LG ... I'd feel better if you could finish out your round ... I know you can't ... but I'd like someone to follow up on you. You still have fluid in there. There is still potential for infection coming back ... I'm praying it won't happen, but I'm concerned. You need someone to care for you and your old PS isn't doing that. PLEASE call your BS and get someone on board whose going to care for you all the way through.
0 -
Bonnie--DITTO what Dawn-Hope said!!
0 -
Bonnie: I agree--talk with your BS and maybe get your meds switched. BTW: Hate your former PS but I am glad he is in the past tense. Grrrrr.
Kate: Thank you so much1 Hugs to you!!!
Everett: If you want access to the picture forum myself, Lilah, Estepp, Whippetmom and Firni can all help, just send one of us a PM. It does take awhile to no longer look like a bun.
0 -
Estepp you always warm my heart! You ladies here are truly a blessing and I am so happy to have found you all.
0 -
I feel better hearing some of you post-exchange ladies saying you don't like your outcome. I went to bed last night seriously wishing I had opted out of recon. My rad ribs are KILLiNG me. I'm just 'done' with all this. There is a part of me tht hopes something goins wrong and I will need to have them removed. My ps swears I'll be happy that I did recon.....not to sure about that.
Did any of you who had rads get put on a drug (I'll have to look up the name) to help blood flow? I saw my rad onc yesterday and told him about my ribs and he prescribed something. He said it dilates the capillaries to increase blood flow and help with healing. Not thrilled with taking a med but if it helps.....
k
0 -
Everett: Many women did NOT post photos until two or three weeks after the exchange, simply because they felt so unhappy with the way they looked in that week to ten days after the exchange. It is the most disappointing time for many during this reconstruction journey. So hang in there...give it another week to ten days....your implants have not settled in the pockets yet....and they will continue to change, even up to a year post-exchange.
Deborah
0 -
Hi...
My surgeon surprised me yesterday by filling 100 ccs (up from 50) and saying we'd start surgery planning next week! So I thought I'd check into this thread...
I had a uni mx, and we're talking about lifting and probably reducing the other side to match (from a D to a C). He's also discussed using nipple sharing for reconstruction.
Can anyone talk about the recovery process for a lift/reduction, and has anyone done nipple sharing? I'm very concerned about whether there would be any permanent loss of sensation on the good breast /nipple with either procedure.
0 -
k - Was Trental the drug your doctor suggested? I was put on that, plus 800 mg. of Vitamin E after first exchange to help bring blood to the area and keep scar tissue from forming. Unfortunately, the drug and I didn't get along very well and I only took it for about a week, but I know there has been some success with this drug.
Laura -- I agree with Anna -- you are a breath of fresh air here! We love you!
Deborah -- sorry for my very blunt reply the other day. KEW and I do share the same PS and we do have some of the same concerns, but our situations are extremely different. I truly appreciate your offer of help, but at the time I responded I felt backed into a corner and am afraid that my response was much too terse. I apologize.
To everyone who suggested that I call my BS -- I know you are right and that is on my "to do" list for today or tomorrow. Waiting to feel a bit better..
0 -
Bonnie, yes! Thank you, that is the drug. Do you mind telling me what made it a problem for you? I hate taking drugs. Hope you feel better soon.
0 -
k -- My body tends to overreact to many different drugs, so my issues with Trental were probably not at all typical. The drug made me light headed and a little dizzy and nauseous, which just wasn't something I was willing to live with for at least 6 months. I hope it works well for you and gives you no problems if you decide to try the Trental!
0 -
Nipple sharing? hmmm not sure I'd want to but it's an interesting concept - something to think about...
0 -
LOL Claire -- I noticed that typo too (nipple sharing) and it gave me a lot to think about!
0 -
xtine,
I had mx with nipple sparing (right breast) Oct. 13th, and lift and exchange Nov. 19th. After exchange mx side was just a little sore. The lifted side is still tender when I do somethings like lifting and driving and has a couple of areas still healing on the incision. Currently I don't have any feeling on either side.
If I had known this I probably would have had a mx on both sides. But it maybe to early for feeling to come back in lifted side yet.I can say I just love my new foob/boob. They look great...DH says how great they look.
0 -
For those of you going through the expansion phase, it's hell but usually there is a wonderful pay off at the end so hang in there. For those of you unhappy with the initial results, give it time, it also gets better. If you have problems or have had an unacceptable PS, we are all here to support you and to help you. Gentle hugs to all of you!
0 -
Pepper_cook, hope you are home, healing and squishy!!
Everett, give it time. We all had to and know it's hard at this early stage.
Bonnie (((((((((((((((((((((((((mega hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))). Hoping things turn around soon for you. At least your BS can follow you in the interim to make sure your infection is really gone. I think you will feel so much better when you body doesn't have to keep fighting.
0 -
xtine -- I had uni mx with Allergan 410 implant on right and lift/reduction on left. Recovery: the exchange side was easy... the lift/reduction side took longer to heal due to the presence of breast tissue (so there was a lot of swelling and it takes awhile for the swelling to go away). I was lucky in that I did end up with feeling on my reduction/lift side. My understanding is it's 50/50 whether you have feeling afterward or not. I am VERY glad I did the lift/reduction as it has helped me to get a better match. I had my exchange/lift surgeries in May and I feel completely normal 6 months later; I was sore for a month on lift side... but felt pretty normal, really, after two months.
0
