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  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited February 2013

    Cheryl e ,

    I have PM her and no response...

  • Dulcigirl
    Dulcigirl Posts: 864
    edited February 2013

    Would the moderators have access to her primary email account and be able to attempt contacting her through it?



    Praying she just has computer/tech issues and hasn't been able to log on.....

  • mamatwinz
    mamatwinz Posts: 193
    edited February 2013

    2nd time..my first few fills, i felt pressure with needle and pre med with ibuprofen only; then took vicodin if needed after..the last 4 or so I didn't take anything and needle sticks seemed better or I was just more relaxed and knew what to expect.. i tell myself if it does pinch, it will only be for a second and then done.. said the same thing to myself when i had spinal for csection with twins..that it was temporary and I will be okay..!!  My ps talks with me as he is doing, so that helps to distract me too!  I think you will do great!!

    Dang 2 wks for mastectomy..phewww!  that is amazing!  My mom told me today that she is coming in for exchange and staying through the weekend..I am glad now she is!  My exchange is 4/23 and the twins bday is 4/19..so kinda sad she won't be in for their bday-she always comes in for that..she didn't have enough time to take whole week..feel bad she will miss it for the first time and they will miss her..  :(

    So excited for you exchange ladies..!!!!  :))))

    I have not heard back from annemarieh..I have sent a quite a few PMs to her..  :(

  • cheryl_e
    cheryl_e Posts: 111
    edited February 2013

    I have also sent AnneMarieh a pm but never heard back.  That is a good idea, Dulcigirl.  Maybe the moderators could do that.  They would also have access to her last name, right?

    One thing I have learned after reading our discussions the last few months is that, while we all have underlying similarities in our BMXs and reconstruction, each lady's journey to recovery is still unique.  I am amazed at how quickly some recover and feel sad for those who have multiple bumps in the road along the way.  

    My fills really bothered me.  I am not numb at all where the ports are, and the nurse had to push hard and gouge the first couple of times to break through the muscle.  She told me I had the tightest chest muscles she had ever dealt with, and I wasn't filled at all during surgery for this reason.  I think the TEs themselves were all I could take at the time of surgery.  Toward the end of my fills (I had only 6), I could take only 30 cc's at a time and hurt all night and the next day each time before the pain would ease up.   

    After being somewhat traumatized after the first fill, LOL, I always took Aleve and half a muscle relaxer beforehand, and it seemed to help a lot.  The last fill was unexpected.  I thought I was done and then he said one more, so I had taken nothing before and did fine driving home.  The tightness and pain always set in for me about an hour after each fill.  I have a friend who is three weeks ahead of me in her BMX and reconstruction and has been filled to almost 700 with only tightness and discomfort.  But she was pretty large before BMX and I wasn't, so I wonder if that is why?

    Cheryl :)

  • stewbie2
    stewbie2 Posts: 29
    edited February 2013

    Lisa Jayne~~ Yep, my last fill was on 2/12 and exchange is set for 3/1. He said i'm stretching nicely, and 2 weeks after the last fill is the soonest he'd do it.

    2nd time~~I never took anything before my fills. After each fill, i'd be sore about 2 hours after, with some moderate pain that night and the next day--then it would start tapering off. I NEVER watched the needle go in, though. Not a big fan. I never felt anything more than pressure from the TE filling up (no needle pokes).

    Blessings~~I was cleared to shave with a razor. Amazing how doctors all do things differently!

    WHen life...~~What i've learned from perusing these boards, is that all doctors do things in different manners. Some doctors make you wait 2mths from your last fill, some make you wait 2 weeks. My PS initially said 2-4 weeks based on how i was healing and how well my skin stretched.

    Went in for pre-op work this morning. Did the 'ol pee-in-a-cup/blood draw/chest x-rays. I go in for a pre-surgery consultation with my PS on the 27th, then on to the exchange on 3/1. I'm just hoping that I don't go in on the 27th and he says, "You know...I think we could pump more into those TEs...."

    Steph

  • cheryl_e
    cheryl_e Posts: 111
    edited February 2013

    Yay, Stewbie2, my fellow Texan!  I am sure you are getting excited with your exchange being right around the corner!!

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Posts: 14,084
    edited February 2013

    Thanks to all you ladies for your words of wisdom! Just returning from PS. We still did topical so no pain at all (wish I had tried this earlier), nurse gave me squishy toys to squeeze and kept me talking. Only did 50 cc - reached the limit! Surgery scheduled for 4/19! Yay! Literally did happy dance in exam room for my PS & nurse as other PS had Grammy music playing loudly enough to hear while waiting!



    Hadn't watched the process & didn't this time either. Had nurse show me equipment & explained process after we were done (glad I waited). Have had friends question why my recovery taking so much longer than their reductions - now I have info.



    Wore pre-mx bra to appt to show PS that I'm where I was pre-surgery. After fill, bra is tight (also real cleavage - first time in 16 years due to delayed recon). Felt the difference putting laundry from front-load washer to dryer - never thought I'd say my boobs got in the way!



    Whippet Mom - yet again you were spot on correct! PS was surprised I was so educated! Like you said, she plans to bring a couple sizes into surgery, but the Mentor 750 HP style are the ones she's planning on using. Thank you for your advice! This site would be very different without your assistance.



    Sorry I'm so wordy -- so excitedly happy to see the light at the end of tunnel!

  • rozem
    rozem Posts: 749
    edited February 2013

    hi ladies

    i was on this thread...then dropped off as my exchange seemed soooooooooo far away. I just got my date, Mar 04 i am so ready to get these a**hole ailens out of my body.  A few questions:

    1.  have any of you done fat grafting at the time of your exchange? if yes were you very sore in the harvest area?

    2.  did you get immediate relief - ahhhhhh feeling? or am I just dreaming that this may happen.

    3.  did anyone get a relief from shoulder/upper back pain with the TE's out?

    4.  what questions should I be asking the PS next week before my surgery.  i am filled to about 450cc now and I like the size

    thanks so much

  • Dulcigirl
    Dulcigirl Posts: 864
    edited February 2013

    1. I did not have fat grafting.

    2. I got immediate relief from the sternum pressure, but right now (one week out) I am still very sore from the IMF creation. So I expect to feel much more "aaaaah" once that has finished healing. But there IS a sense of relief and being better able to breathe!

    3. I did not have shoulder/back pain with TE's. mine was all rib/sternum.

    4. I would be VERY specific about WHAT you like about your TE's. Size? Projection? Shape? Fullness? Cleavage space? Position? Find a picture of what you WISH you could achieve, then ask what do we need to do to get as close to this as we can? Ask if he will be taking different sizes to try into your surgery and tell him...if in doubt go (bigger/smaller)...ask about recovery times and if he wants you in any kind of bra after. Restrictions after surgery?



    I'm sure others will chime in with more questions. Just know going in that our "originals" weren't perfect and these won't be either. But even after just one week I am amazed at how I'm getting used to them. Can't wait til the swelling is gone so I can really see what I paid for! ;-)

  • Doragirl34
    Doragirl34 Posts: 38
    edited February 2013

    Cindyloowho

    Thank you. Today was a much better day. I still cant reach high or to low. What was interesting was I went to run and grab a door open for this elderly lady (yes I felt pain!) and felt my implants move. Just like normal boobs. I know it sounds silly but it made me happy to have normalcy in my chest.

    I'm waiting until right before I go back to work to attempt to purchase a bra. I haven't worn a bra since the day I had my mastectomies. My new boobs are so small I really don't need one but I want one. Im thinking if I get a good padded one, I'll fill out a blouse and look ok. At least I got some pretty cleavage from my new boobs.





    Thanks again for your experience.



  • Dulcigirl
    Dulcigirl Posts: 864
    edited February 2013

    How long did you all have to take pain meds after exchange? I normally don't take meds and post BMX stopped them asap. But I'm still having a lot of pain in two spots. One on each side where the IMF was created, but the keft is particularly bad.



    Were you still on prescription strength meds/having pain one week out or more?



    Thanks!

  • rozem
    rozem Posts: 749
    edited February 2013

    thanks dulci for your advise!  hope u are feeling better

  • CrystalAnn
    CrystalAnn Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Dulcigirl -- I am 9 days post exchange, and stopped taking the prescription pain meds four days post-op. I still have some pain, not unbearable, but uncomfortable, particularly at night. I hurt mostly where the PS put Alloderm in upper pole to fill in the "hollows." It actually does keep me up sometimes. I did (and still do") feel very tight, but I think it's because my implants are 800cc. It gets a little better everyday. I hope it does for you, too.



    When I had the BMX and lots of pain, the PS suggested 2 Aleve in the am and two Aleve in the pm with dilaudid for "breakthrough pain." Once I started taking the Aleve, I didn't need the dilaudid anymore. I switched to Aleve as soon as I could after the exchange. I hate how constipated the pain meds make me!

  • Dulcigirl
    Dulcigirl Posts: 864
    edited February 2013

    Me too!!! And the prunes are getting tiresome. Plus they aren't working.



    Mine are 800's too. I don't feel tightness. Everything feels and looks good except the left side of lefty and curving around underneath just a bit. The right has some pain in the mirror image spot, but not nearly as bad. Lefty makes me nauseous sometimes. It's like a constant burning with occasional BAD pain if I get up or down.



    I'll try picking up some Aleve today and give that a shot. Thanks! If it's still this bad on Monday I'll call my nurse. I was just hoping to compare and see how others progressed. A couple of my friends only had pain meds for the first 4 days.

  • shellshine
    shellshine Posts: 930
    edited February 2013

    For some reason I thought the exchange surgery would require less time off. I'm worrying about timing because I was laid off from work after 22 years last August, and need to finish nurse practitioner grad school before my severence pay ends in June. My clinical (pediatrics) placement was given to another student when I told my professors I had DCIS and needed time off for BMX, new  clinical doesn't start until 4/1, so I will have 2 months to finish 200 hours of peds clinical and get breast recon. Kind of irritating because I am ready to start clinical now.

    Since BMX recovery went so well I figured on a week for exchange recovery. My last fill will probably be mid March and Exchange mid April. I hope I can go back to clinical after a week and be able to find and start a new job by June. At age 57 it feels so strange to not have access to all the sick leave accumulated that I never used, or the TDI and long term disability I paid into all those years.

    Will just have to stop worrying and go with the flow. Can anyone recommend how long I will need to be off for exchange surgery?  I was able to go to low impact aerobics (compression bra and no hand weights) at 3 weeks post BMX.

  • summerm
    summerm Posts: 6
    edited February 2013

    Hi Ladies,

    I recently joined, and hope to gain some insight from all of you.  It's great to hear all your stories.  I'm BRCA1 and have a horrible family history.  I'm 34 and very fit with 3 small children 5,3,2.  I had my nipple sparing bmx on Jan 31, and so far I cannot believe how well things have gone.

    I teach fitness classes and have already started teaching them again.  I was expecting the worst, but so far so good. I'm not sure if the fact that I had small breasts to begin with 32a(a) has made things easier, but I'm hoping to have my last fill of the TEs on March 1.  I'm currently filled to 270cc and will probably go to 370.  I'm hoping to have 100cc put in on 3/1 and then begin the 'settling period."

    My main question for all of you is what type of experience have you had (heard of) with the pre-shaped cohesive gel implants (gummy bears)?  I was initially considering the Sientra anatomical implants because they were the only FDA approved implant of that type, but the Allergan 410 implants were just approved so now there is 2 options.  The hospital I'm going to is an Allergan implanting hospital so I'm sure that's what my PS will recommend.  I've spoken with a friend who has a very similar build to me that had the Allergan 410 iplanted 4-5 years ago in a clinical trial, and she loves them.

    I started as a small A cup before the bmx, and would like to be a full B cup.  If you have any experience with the Sientra or Allergan 410, please let me know what your experience has been.  I'm also curious what sizes people may have had implanted and what the resulting cup size was.

    Thank so much,

    Summer

  • nurse_lizzie
    nurse_lizzie Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Shellshine

    I took 10 days off from work after my exchange, but I really could have been back after a long weekend.  I was out of work for 3 weeks post BMX, then went back to work half days for two weeks, full time after that.  My biggest issue for both surgeries was maintaining my lifting and reaching restrictions.  We nurses forget how much lifting we actually do, and underestimate the physicality of our jobs.  As long as you can maintain your restrictions, you should be able to go to your peds clinical.  BUT----NO LIFTING BABIES!!!

    Lizzie

  • RunnerMom
    RunnerMom Posts: 17
    edited February 2013

    rozem,  I had my exchange last Friday (one week ago today).  PS used Sientra Textured Shaped Round Base High Projection 425cc.  My TEs were 400cc and we filled to 400cc.  

    1. I did have the fat grafting at my exchange.  She took 350 from each outer thigh.  I am in compression shorts (crotchless spanx-ha!) for two weeks.  PS said the pain would probably be like I had never gone to the gym before in my life and then went and completely shredded my legs....that's pretty accurate.  It's not horrible, and not as bad as I expected, just tender.  And eases some each day.  

    2. I did not have the immediate ahhhhhhhh relief feeling that I had heard a friend tell me about.  I felt a little less pressure than with the TEs but it wasn't this overwhelming thing.

    3. I didn't have any shoulder/upper back pain with my TEs. 

    4. Questions to ask- Restrictions, and ask about massage.  My PS told me today to start massaging the area where the fat was grafted and also where she did a lot of fold/pocket work.  

    Don't expect perfection-I did, and I cried every time I took my bra off for the first 4-5 days.  I have to remember to be patient.  This is not the final product...there is so much swelling and stuff that has to go down and things will change.  I just had a perfect, perky picture in my mind and it's made it a long week!  But my PS assures me that I will have beautiful results and we will work together until it is exactly like we want.  

    Hugs and prayers for your upcoming surgery, sister!

  • rozem
    rozem Posts: 749
    edited February 2013

    thanks so much runnermom -  what areas were they filling in with the fatgraft?  do i get to pick where they take it from ?  i would love my thighs to be thinner and maybe take some from my tamox belly!!!!

    also i noticed you had rads - how is your rads breast holding up  - they did the lat flap on my rads side because they told me it was necessary because of the damaged/comprimised skin (i regret it every single damn day) but i see so many women who have had no issues with it -

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited February 2013

    Rosem,

    I had fat grafting from my ABD ...my radiated side is a little different then the left..just had all the tape and sutures out this morning ...what an experience...Good luck

  • shellshine
    shellshine Posts: 930
    edited February 2013

    Thank you Nurse_Lizzie, Runnermom and everyone else, I appreciate the useful information.

  • CrystalAnn
    CrystalAnn Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Got my drains out this morning post exchange. Seems I had a reaction to either the Tegaderm adhesive or the drain tubing. I am more inclined to think it's the drain tubing, as my skin is all red, itchy and full of hives where the tubing has rubbed my skin the last 9 days, and the drain incisions are red and itchy. Ugh! I want to scratch my skin off! Any ideas to stop the itching? I've already taken two Benadryl and put topical Benadryl on it. I am getting no relief!

  • C-squared
    C-squared Posts: 338
    edited February 2013

    Shellshine I had my exchange 12/27 and was back to work Jan 7th without a problem.  I'm a therapist working in elementary school with kids.  Any "heavy" lifting or uncomfortable reaching I just asked for help.  I think it varies from one person to the next.  I think it also depends on how much 'pocket work' needs to be done.  I think mine was a simple, straightforward exchange.  I didn't even go under general anesthesia for the exchange (felt I had had enough for one year!).  Maybe ask your surgeon how much work he/she thinks will need to be done and if you will have drains?  Sometimes drains= more pocket work / sometimes drains= more conservative surgeon.  You just never know.  Whatever you do, just DON'T OVER-DO!  Allow yourself to heal without compromising the surgeons work.  And remember the mantra.., just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.  I don't recall where I hear that (one of the bc boards) but I like it! Laughing

    CrystalAnn- I had the same exact thing happen after my exchange, UGH! It's awful! The irony (& I laugh every time - have to or I'll cry) of it though was that I remember the anesthesiologist (of all people) asking me if I was allergic to adhesives and I said YES! They didn't use tape, nor did I have drains, but whatever the glue was that they used on my incision made me itch for days! In addition to the remedies you've tried, I also used cortisone cream.  It was all temporary relief until it finally cleared up! Hang in there.., it WILL go away! Embarassed

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Posts: 14,084
    edited February 2013

    Thanks, C-squared for that mantra! I need to adopt that one... Should have done so after mx!

  • mamatwinz
    mamatwinz Posts: 193
    edited February 2013

    i would check with surgeon..ijust had irriration, no hives and used aquaphor around it, but ofcourse not in or close to sites... congrats on drains coming out..i remember how great that felt!  :)

  • CrystalAnn
    CrystalAnn Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Thanks, c-squared! It is a tiny bit better this morning, but I will go get some steroid cream. Last night I was sitting on the sofa with ice packs on the hives. It felt so good!

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited February 2013

    C-squared - "Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD" came from me.... only because I learned the hard way. MANY times. Embarassed Guess I'm a slow learner!!!

    ~~~~~

    Sisters - the first minute we're without pain or discomfort, I think it's only natural for many of us to leap back into doing things we haven't been able to do for so long.

    Unfortunately, we usually find out afterwards that maybe whatever we did (or overdid) wasn't such a good idea....

  • CrystalAnn
    CrystalAnn Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    So true, Blessings! I didn't heed my PS advice and folded two loads of laundry today. It's 10 days post exchange and I am feeling pretty good, so I figured, "why not?" Now I know "why not..." I am sore and tired.

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Posts: 14,084
    edited February 2013

    Blessings, AMEN! Edging back into my normal life - wish I had a crystal ball to know which tasks to avoid and what point to stop. Baby steps are hard to do for me. So eager to get back to being ME.

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited February 2013

    2nd time around ,

    I second that

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