Exchange City
Comments
-
Hello to all the new ladies joining us!
I noticed a couple of pointy threads sticking out of my incision line today. Just can feel the tips of the stitch (vinyl) or whatever that stuff is made of. Do they work out eventually or should I try to snip them off myself? I'm a little afraid to do anything with it. The inside of my bra catches on them.
Still a tick sore from time to time and getting zingers again, so I know those nerve endings are starting to fire and grow back in that breast skin again. I don't mind it. I am one of those that prays I'll get some kind of sensation back in my new foobs.
They really are changing somewhat every day. I am going to have my DH take some new photos when he gets home and I'll post them on the pic forum for anybody who is curious.
Have a good evening!
0 -
Beth,
Just saw your post. Leave the suture threads be. They will dissolve in 3 or 4 weeks. I don't it a good idea for you to go near them with scissors. Let the PS do it. It does does like you are getting nerve regeneration!
0 -
Ok girls, what are you putting on your new scars? My PS said massage scars 3x day, but no specific cream, anyone try Mederma? He also told me to start massaging the implants at the same time, but really did not tell me why, it that to keep them soft? prevent capsular contraction? So I am just pushing them in all directions. When I get a random pain ( I also hopes this means some nerves coming back), it seems to help to massage. I also had a bit of stitch sticking out at the end of my incisions, I snipped the ones I could get to and my PS snipped of the other at my appt.
0 -
Funny thing, my PS said avoid sun on my new scars. I told him I would avoid sunbathing topless, until next summer. LOL
0 -
Robo -- Kate33 has been to that doctor in Miami. PM her if you haven't already spoken with her. And you should also check out Breast Implant Sizing 101 which Whippetmom moderates. She has a wealth of info for women planning implant based reconstruction. Aside from the gummies there are also Mentor's gels... which are firmer than regular silicone but not as firm as the Allergan 410s... many choices!
0 -
Those of you looking for information on what to put on your scars there is a thread called, "Skin S.O.S - Scar Remedies"
0 -
Has Anyone gotten cc (capsular contracture) as soon as 7 weeks from exchange either past or present? Or can anyone tell me if there is a thread on it so i can talk to others with this?
Also anyone had rom (range of motion) or soft tissue issues with the auxillary (armpit)muscle and shoulder past or present, been in p/t since mx ,still in it since exchange im at a stand still so ortho is doing an mri hopefully this will tell us what the problem is,but would like to talk to others experiencing this THANKS KARIN
0 -
Beacher -- did you have radiation? I'm sorry you are suffering from ROM and CC issues. Isn't having BC enough??? :::shakes fist at the heavens:::
0 -
Lilah, yes i had radiation and i guess thats caused the cc
i am considering deconstruction at this point, going to get 2n opinions thanks for your reply u are always there 
0 -
Hey ladies ~ I am doing well, but my Mom is not.
She is triple neg. invasive. I get to stay in Cancerland for the immediate future while I help my Mom navigate her beast. This news sucks. I will be getting her signed up on the forum Friday evening and steering her to TNS ladies for some rapport. Working today and also calling to get her into Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis for a 2nd opinion before she makes any decisions surgery wise.
Also calling to see if my insurance will pay for BRCA on me. I have a niece and we need to know if we have the gene mutation.
Thank you for all your support and the encouragement on the pic forum. I am happy with my foobs. Now I have something else to focus on while I wait for them to drop and fluff.
0 -
So sorry Beth. I am sure your mom will be grateful to have your help and guidance at this time.
0 -
westieluv: tri-neg over here. send her over to the calling all TN board. everyone is nice and very informative.
I am two months out of reconstruction and still unsure my breast are still looking like hamburger buns and ill shaped. I have another follow-up appt on the 30th. We shall see.
I have officially joined the photo board and I will post when I am home later tonight.
0 -
fighter-34, did you have radiation? im 2 month out also and no dropping for me either,but i only have one mx side so of course uneven again. i also have cc in mx side dropping may never happen im can my mind open to having them both removed in time i would rather have none then be uncomfortable cc sucks, be patient from what ive heard on here once they drop you will be ok
0 -
by the way way who has had radiation and has had no problem with implants and cc?????????????
i can't be alone in this too?
0 -
beacher - I had radiation and had cc. I have since had my implant removed due to an infection and am waiting for tram flap surgery in January but even without the implant the muscle is still very tight and I do not have full range of motion. I keep stretching and massaging like they say and some days are better than others. Hang in there. Hopefully it gets better.
0 -
hi Lilah...
The split was on the reduction side. Happened about 6 days post-op. And everyday, the seam got bigger until it maxed out. The implant side, healed very quickly..both sides have muscle spasms, nothing I cant deal with. Im still swollen on my reduction side- just look a little lopsided.
I love how people now look at me. Its really quite comical. Eyes up here!!!
0 -
meJoy -- it will get better. It took 6 months for all the swelling to go down on my reduction side (due to the hematoma I had -- I bet your situtation is similar with the split and all). And the mx side will soften up and drop a little (even if its a gummy). For me, since I'm smaller than I was, it's not so much that people stare as they notice I look better
0 -
Hi ladies, I have not been on much lately... Summer is busy and kids are here most of the time... I am 4 weeks from last fill, I hope to schedule exchange for late September in the meantime we are having a new kitchen done! Which was postponed due to the diagnosis....
Been doing OK, started to exercise last week, well today for some reason the sight of myself just got me so choked up, I felt like I woke up and it wasn't a bad dream, how did I get so f'd up... (mind you everything is going according to plan).
Anyway, I think I really need to use the pix forum, I am signed up but have not really used it.... Every time I tried I went off on a zillion tangents and spent a lot of time and never got focus on what I needed...
If there is anyone who has a bit of time to "mentor" me on how to find someone like me, before and awhile after exchange? If so PM me?
Gratefully, michele0 -
Hi girls, haven't been on here too much lately, but I had my exchange surgery 7/28. I was SO excited to have this surgery and then was really surprised when my mood crashed and burned. I was SO sad and depressed when i met the new girls. I don't know if I had unrealistic expectations on what they would look like or just coming off of the anesthesia. On my left side i have Mentor 800cc mid-high profile and on the right 750cc. I am starting to feel better about them, and realize that nipples will help the over all look tremendously. I guess I just miss the jiggly "real" boobs. Yeah, i am kind of morning the loss of my real breasts finally. Going bra shopping this weekend. Go back to work tomorrow, so the normalcy should help my mood too. I guess it will just take a bit of time for me to bond with the new girls. Don't get me wrong, I am so very grateful for the foobs, and my great PS, it has just kind of been tramatic. One day at I time i guess. Good luck girls and hope you all have a great day.
Christine
0 -
Christine47,
I am about to have my exchange surgery 8/9. At least 10 days out from your surgery apple Scar Rx silicone sheets to scar. Leave on 12-14 hours a day. The rest of the hours of the day use the Scar RX cream and use it every 4 hours or so. In 12 weeks it will dramically improve your scar. I am an RN and work in a ER. But also work in a medical spa and do all kinds of plastic surgeries ( he just does not do reconstruction) and the results of this stuff is unbelieveable. I already have mine ready. Any questions and you can PM me.
0 -
Ladies, I've been off the boards (out of town) & just now catching up. So much going on with all of you! Westie, so sorry about your Mom being triple-neg. Lindsey, as you know by now, you have found support here. MeJoy, sorry to hear about your incisions. I too used Xeroform.
Best of luck to everyone navigating these murky waters of post-BC life...
0 -
I have a funny story about my pictures. I took pictures and posted them on the picture form. I printed a copy for my self and then deleted them from my camera and computer. At least that is what I thought I did until I went to Costco to print up some other pictures on the memory card. Well the exchange pictures showed up. I had to quickly cover the screen at the store. I did not click on them to have costco print them for me, but they were printed up anyway. My husband erased the memory card again and we took a lot of pictures on our vacation. Guess what they showed up again when I went to get my vacation pictures printed. They are the breast pictures that will not go away.
At least with out the nipples it is hard to tell what they are looking at. I guess I will have to get a new memory card. 0 -
shortlady: That is too funny! I was sending lots of pix to my PS. I had a separate memory card for those shots, but my computer had lots of copies as I was resizing for emails, etc. I suddenly started having major computer problems ("fatal error" messages) and it almost crashed and burned. I imagined having to drop my computer off for service with all those boobie shots available...yikes. Finally got the computer to work long enough to remove those files. Now I keep a separate memory card AND flash drive dedicated to these photos and tuck them away!0
-
sweetbadger: I haven't had my exchange yet, but from what I've been reading it's waaaaay too early for you to be depressed about your outcome. Everyone keeps saying that it will take weeks to months before things start to settle in. I say this to you knowing full well that you'll likely have to give me the same reminder after my exchange surgery
.Are you on the picture forum???
0 -
shortlady: OMG! That is a funny story!!
sweetbadger: sounds like you are going through a normal grieving phase. Many women get depressed after exchange. I'm not there yet, but I can see how it would bring up emotions. Sort of the "OK, that's done, now it's time to get on with my so-called new life" kinda thing. Cyper hugs to all going through that right now.
Hi Tina! When is your E-Day? Can't remember.
0 -
No radiation...
0 -
Sweetbadger -- as others have already said, what you are feeling right now is the delayed grief of all you've been through. I myself was profoundly depressed for a good 3 weeks post-exchange... I think in my head I postponed all the pain of the MX and the BC treatment (including chemo and losing all of my hair) and then after exchange, when I still didn't look so good, I lost it. It was too much. The dam broke. But now I am over a year out from it all and I feel terrific and I look good... in many ways, better (the old girls hung REALLY low and were too big). So give yourself some slack, wallow in the pain if that's what you want to do, and move forward. It will get better. Sending you hugs!
0 -
Westie, sorry your mom got a tough diagnosis. Breast cancer is certainly not a way we hope for additonal bonding with our mothers, but I am sure she's glad you are there for her. Smart to check out the BRAC testing. Insurance covered mine after some hassling, had to be persistent. I was negative.
0 -
Prottein shake info:
I found the information about protein shakes in the July 2010 issue of comsumer reports page 27. The article talks about the amounts of metals found in protein drinks. arsenic,, cadmium, lead, mercury. It is for 3 shakes a day. Most had below the amount that is recomended, but a few had more. This is a year old so things may have changed since then.
0
