Exchange City
Comments
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Linda - I definitely think you should get a commission!!
Welcome to our new posters. We love having you!
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Hi Everyone! It took me a while to catch up with everyone. I hope i get everything right. So here I go! First of all Tracey: I am so sorry your friend Naomi has to join us on our journey, but, she couldn't be with a more wonderful , and caring group of ladies. I wish her strength and hope as she joins us. Prayers to you and her family. My threesons : I am surprised your PS couldn't make you the size you desired. After all , that is his job. I am sorry you are not happy with the results.WELCOME ROOSTER! You are not the only Gramma here! There are alot of us.{ I am 55, 4 grandchildren and lovin it!} What a sweet comment your husband made about your flat chest. Getting closer to your HEART.He'll love the new look when you decide what type of reconstruction you want. Keep in mind Tissue Expanders take a while from start to finish. Everyone is different, but it looks like 8-10 months is the norm.You'll have to research the other options, NOT all PS do the TRAM FLAP. So make sure you know what they do and don't do before your appt.SHEILA : Good LUCK with your nipple surgery. My case is not the norm, so don't get upset when you read about mine not healing. They looked fine the first week, then I noticed that they were turning black, so when I went to have my areola tattooed, MY PS took one LOOK
at me and said NO WAY your having tattooing done until we get that infection cleared up, so I've been on topical and oral antibiotics for 2 weeks now. He said he made the nipple extra big in case they shrink or become necrotic. So now I just wait to see what is left after they dry up and scab off. SANDY SUNSHINE! Good Luck with your NIPPLE surgery too. I had the CV flap too, Let us know how they look ! udpt82, I had 600cc TE exchanged to a 550cc saline implant. I ended up being a 36 c cup. Everyone is different depending on their frames. { I am a TINY TA TA Sister} I am barely 5' tall and weigh 123Pounds..KRISTIN: Glad to hear you had your last fill. Now you can look forward to your EXCHANGE!! I waited 3 months from last fill to exchange surgery. I would call your PS if you are still having pain in the port area. I have been on TAMOXIFEN for 10 mo.'s now. I am not moody, but have HORRIBLE night sweats! There is a forum called " HORMONAL THEROPY- BEFORE , DURING and AFTER. and a thread called" BOTTLE O TAMOXIFEN". There are many women experiencing all kinds of SE's. WELCOME tg33! Glad you found us. When I visit other forums I tell the ladies about this thread! Isn't it GREAT!! I didn' t know there was a 5 entry limit. I swear I've posted 5 at a time before. What does that mean? On different threads? JEAN: I think it would be a good idea to start the EXCHANGE LIST from April! { IT is getting quite LONG!} WELCOME TO ALL NEWCOMERS!!! WELL, I am done for now. LOVE and GENTLE HUGS TO ALL. HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE IT APPLIES TOO! JEANIE 0 -
Ha, Sandy, just saw your post here after I posted on the October board -- I'm still going to beat you, but not by much!LOL
Thanks for the good wishes - I'm psyched!! Have to be at the hospital at 6am tho. Ugh. At least I'll have my coffee before noon!!
Deborah, good to see you back! Was wondering where you had gone off to!
Linda, LOLOL on the commission -- no doubt there was a run on them thanks to you!!
Sheila
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....That 5 posts in a 24 hour period is only for new members to the bc.org website. It is to prevent spammers and phishing mongers from joining and infiltrating all of the forums. I believe that the limited posting moratorium for newbies ends after three days....or something like that...once the moderators see that you are "legit."...
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THINKING OF SANDY AND SHEILA TODAY.....PRAYING ALL GOES WELL...
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OK Ladies - I can officially be added to the Exchange City list. My last fill was Monday, and my exchange surgery is scheduled for 13 May...expanders to gummy bears. I don't have details as to which type yet - will talk about it in my pre-op consult. I think my PS uses Mentors though, and I'll probably go for somewhere between 350 and 400 cc.
Best wishes for fast recoveries to all you fellow exchangees....
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Ladies - I have what is probably a really stupid question: are there any problems with flying with expanders? (that sounds like a really bad novel..".flying with expanders"!) Anyway, I just found out my mom will have major surgery rather emergently next week and would love to go and support her. She was so good to me my first few days post-bm. Also, I'm supposed to have my 2nd fill, probably the day of or the day I'd leave. Are there any problems with that? I'm imagining all kinds of weird air pressure things that could wreak havoc on those darn TEs!
Thanks for any advice!
Valerie
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Valerie - I flew with my expanders 3 weeks after my bilat and had no issues whatsoever, besides being uncomfortable from just having surgery. Hope your mom's surgery goes OK, and good luck to you on the trip!
~jasminn
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Thanks, Jasminn!
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Val61: I was told to be prepared for any pressure changes causing some expansion/contraction, that most likely I would only notice as "swishing noises" from the air that would result in the expander. Also, depending on the type of expander you have, and sensitivity of metal detecters at the security point your are at, some expanders can set off the metal detector and to bring a card explaining your expander ( I was given one at time of my surgery) or a letter from your PS in case you run into trouble.
I hope things go well with your mother
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wow I beat Sheila here after all
I'm really tired but the pain isn't much
to remove my port on my healthy side from my expandable implant they used the scar from my lift instead of making a new scar by the port
I took a peek at my nipple but it's hard to get a good look with the dressings and sponge she has on it
It doesn't look like I expected but maybe it's just because I can't get a good look at it
Sheila and all you girls I hope thinga are going great
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So good to hear from you Sandy! Glad all went well today! Get some rest!!!
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The flying question has made me wonder if after the exchange and things are healed, etc. Can I do water aerobics? Does anyone know how silicone implants behave in water? Silly question, I know, but it is about what the new "normal" will be! Sandy, I hope you feel great and are pleased with how you look once everything comes off. Valerie, I too have heard that some expanders will set off the metal detectors, a note would be a great idea. I hope your mom is ok.
Karen
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Hey Jasmine,
Just wanted to let you know for the most part I had no problems flying when I had TEs but they did make the security alarm go off twice. But they took me to the side and wanded me and I was fine.
Sandy, I am so glad you are finished with the nip surgery.
Sheila let us know how you are.
Tracey
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Thanks for the good wishes Ta Ta Sisters! Surgery went well -- 3 hours for both nips and skin graft areolas. Not much foob pain but the tummy incision is a bear. I put a longer post on the October 2008 board -- been sitting at the 'puter too long and need to get back to the recliner now.
Sorry to not make all the comments I want to, but am thinking of all you lovely ladies!
Sheila
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I didn't set of the security alarms off on the way to or home from Vegas......also never felt any changes with pressure......although had less than 200 CCs in.......don't know if that makes a difference....
Sandy glad you are home and not too uncomfortable
Cheers and hugs to everyone!
Jax
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Hi there Exchange City fill experts ...any advice to a newbie to the fill process??
On March 10, I was filled 60ccs during my surgery (bilateral with TE). Then, at my post-op 3 weeks later I was filled 50ccs. I was still feeling the effects of the initial surgery, so I'm not sure how much the fill impacted me. The next week (this Monday) I was filled 60ccs and my oh my!!! I went back on heavy meds. I couldn't even use my arms to push myself out of the couch. The pain was incredible. Then one episode of spasms. I had started driving pre-fill and was fine but after this fill, my chest was so sore I couldn't turn the steering wheel Tuesday. And here it is Thursday (my fill was Monday) and my muscles, although better, are still sore and tired. I'm due for another fill on this coming Monday.
Will it be this way through the whole process??? Does it get better? Worse? I'm only at 170ccs total now and need to get to about 400ccs or so for a full B cup. I was hoping to go back to work soon, but had no idea it could take me 4 days to recover from a fill. Doctor said it should just be two days of discomfort.
I'm just so disappointed. I thought the hardest part of the recon process was going to be the surgery and initial recovery. I had no idea how painful and disruptive the fills would be. I can't imagine 6 more weeks of this. I don't know how so many of you do it with 100cc fills!
Should I be trying to stretch my chest muscles while they are sore or let them rest? Would love to learn from your experience! Any advice is appreciated.
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Karen - I started gentle stretches 3 weeks post - op and then increased. Now I do them daily. I found that the stretches are critical for comfort. Also, I found that I needed hot water (baths or showers after a fill) to soften the muscle contraction. That being said, I never had much pain after the first two days. You are only about one month post BMx now, right. I think that may be your biggest problem. You will feel better over time. Best wishes.
Jasmin- I added you to our list. Congratulations on your date!
Sandy and Shiela - New nips!!! Congratulations!!
Jeannie - So I did it! I think the list is too long w/ all the dates, so now it is going to be this month forward. Thanks for supporting the idea.
Take care everyone!
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Thanks for all the flying advice! I did end up calling my ps's nurse. She said there shouldn't be any problems, but she said I would need a note for the metal detector issue. It's bad enough when your belt or jewelry sets of the alarm, but foobs?! LOL!
Sheila and Sandy - so glad your surgeries went well. Rest and heal!
Laura -everything okay? Haven't seen you here for a couple days. Rads are almost done!
Valerie
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Hi Casey;
I was a D now I am a C with the reconstruction. I'm only 5'3" and the C looks better, plus my shirts fit better.
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Red did your PS give you any muscle relaxers which might help
if your not in a big hurry take this process slow
do fills every 2 weeks instead of every week
I've even heard of gals to wait a month and than started back up every 2 weeks
things will get better just give it some time
Your PS should have given you some exercises to do . Just like crawling your finger tips up the wall, laying on your back and starting with your hands at your hip and see how far up you can raise them. Don't be surprised if you can only get your arms level with your ears. Sooner or later you'll be able to go all the way to the floor. This just all takes time.
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Jean good idea with shorting the list
thanks for all you do here on this thread
are you looking better, as in what you had going on with your boob
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Red - Welcome to Exchange City! Take your time on the fills. There is no rush and everyone seems to find that they do better overall when they take it slower. It gives your skin and muscles time to stretch and the skin integrity is not compromised as much - especially if you are going to be augmented larger than you were pre BC and/or you had wide nipple dissection [like moi.] For me - it was every three weeks between fills...
Hang in there....it does get better eventually. I remember having a great deal of rib cage pain - especially under the expanders - but once I got to that 400 cc mark, they felt remarkably better.
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Karen, I remember being in a LOT of discomfort the first month or so after my mast. Plus, I think the sudden presence of TEs throws your whole body out of wack. I remember that I could hardly even sit stll in a chair for several weeks. The tissue expander is pulling your muscle outward, and the muscle retaliates by pulling back, which causes you to hunch over to compensate and so throws off your posture and everything else. I was walking so funny one day that my nephew (who wasn't aware of the TEs) "diagnosed" me as having something called Morton's foot. I remember thinking, If you only knew....HA!
Anyway, there is no time limit for TEs, so go slow with the fills. My PS even encouraged me to time them as I felt comfortable. It does get better. It's just that, in the first few weeks, your body is really thrown for a loop!
Laura-Are you down to your last rad?
Sandy and Sheila-Big props to you on the nipple front!
Janet
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Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to tell you I spent 5 hours on Wednesday at the breast care center. My PS wanted to make sure of no cancer in my rt breast before attempting recon. again. Everything took forever. After the first set on mammogram views. they came back to me after awhile and said the radiologist saw two spots on my chest wall and needed tighter views. By then I was in tears. My DH and I waited forever for them to come back and say it was okay. Then we waited over an hour in a freezing room before they did the ultrasound,
That took forever too, and the tech brought a second person in and they kept going over the same spot. They said to wait in my surgeon's waiting area and she would see me after consulting with the radiologist. When the surgeon came out to get the patient before us, she took one look at our faces and said "you're okay, we'll talk in a minute."
She explained I had a lot of cystic tissue which we already knew. She even told us that the mass that they biopsied last fall was completely gone....Praise God!
So...long story....I'm all set for my 2nd attempt at reconstruction on the 16th. I have been so nervous, almost nauseous at times because I dread the pain I'm in for with the reinsertion of the expander.
Also, my husband's Dad was just diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. They are begininnig treatment to give him the best quality of life they can.
Keep me in your thoughts guys, it's been a rough emotional few weeks.
Thanks,
Candi
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Oh Candi, what an awful day that must have been for you. Good for your surgeon for saying something to you while you were still waiting. I'm so happy it turned out ok, and wishing you the best with your new reconstruction attempt. I'm so sorry about your FIL. This certainly has been a rough time for you. I'll keep you and your DH in my thoughts and prayers.
Janet, Valerie & Jean - thanks for the good wishes! Janet, how are you feeling? And yeah Laura -- where are you?? How many more rads?
Karen (Red), Sandy gave you great suggestions for stretching. The floor one especially helped me, plus I would go for walks and really swing my arms -- when I got back home a lot of the tightness would be gone.
Jeanie, how long til you know how your nips are doing?
I'm still in quite a bit of pain today from the tummy incision, although if I don't move it doesn't hurt. hehe -- how's that for an excuse not to do anything today?!?
Sheila
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Sheila and Sandy!! You girls are real troopers posting so soon! I'm glad you're both feeling as well as could be expected. Give yourself enough time to recoup.
Candi - My heart was hurting for you while reading your posting. I'm sure that is the worst fear for all of us and can't even imagine the horror of waiting that long. ((((((((((((((((Candi))))))))))))))))))))))
Red - Welcome and I ditto Deborah's thoughts...take your time and go slowly....there is no race and filling too quickly can cause all kinds of problems...I'm the poster child for that!!!
Shortened list is a great idea ladies!! I don't seem so far from the top now!! LOL
Laura - how many rads left???? Any????
I want to wish you all a very blessed and happy Easter! I am fortunate to be spending Saturday with my in laws and Sunday with my family so will get caught up on all the family news!!! I am hosting over 20 people on Saturday and then helping my sister with feeding 43 on Sunday. I don't think you'll see me here much until Monday!! Love you all!
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Sheila,
Im sorry your are still in pain. Just dont move and take the strong pain pills! This is your cyber nurse talkin to ya!
Candi, that would have scared the you know what out of me! Yikes! But I am sooooooooo HAPPY it was not anything bad! Good look to you with your recon journey!! I know your gonna do GREAT!!!
Tracey
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Candi - Sorry I forgot to add that I'm praying for your FIL. Your poor DH must be going through a terrible time with two people so close going through this. Sending prayers to your family and cyberhugs to your DH.
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Candi wishing you the best with the 2nd try, sorry they gave you such a scare
Sheila I think you have a great excuse. My nipple isn't very sore but where I had the port removed is. I think it might be that they opened my lift scar and my port was a good 3 or so inches over from that. I guess it's good I didn't get another new scar but I think it made them dig around some which might have made it sore.
well I better try and do a few things than later I want to catch up on this thread
I hope everyone has a great Easter. This is the 1st year we didn't buy any candy. The kids were with us the other night and Jared was happy with getting a watch and Kelsey got a cool bag she wanted. Darn I would have liked a litttle candy lol : - )
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