Exchange City
Comments
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3 days post exchange and i'm feeling better about how they look. I think alot of it is just the strange mental/emotional aspect of the whole experience. I stopped taking the pain meds on Wednesday because they were really making me itch, which I guess is a common side-effect. It occurred to me (duh!) that i don't have any pain in the main re-incisions because the area is already permanently numb. The main discomfort are the new incisions and extra strength tylenol takes care of it. My left TE was under my armpit and to move it over and make it symmetrical, he had to make an incision on the far side of that breast and underneath. He also told me ahead of time that if I was Ok with it, he wanted to go a fat graft on the right side. They took it out from near my belly button and its surprising how sore my tummy is.
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I had my follow up with my PS a bit ago and he is having massage them toward my sternum to get them closer to together. I guess since they are implants I was expecting porn boobs of some sort. The size is larger than my originals some, and very natural at this point. I can't complain. My exchange was Tuesday and all was well, but my gut got so bloated and tight that night I purposely threw up to relieve the pain. Then on Wed morning I leaned over and out came so much liquid, I can't imagine where it all came from. No wonder I my gut felt so tight. Anyway, after that I felt better, gut is still twitchy a bit. I never had nausea just pain in my stomach. The 7 holes in my hands/arms from trying to find an IV vein are sore and my boobs feel good. Just some achyness. I may start walking this weekend of course, they are calling for snow. I am back at work today with no trouble. Re-check in a week
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Thanks, mrenee68. I find I do need more rest and a nap. I went out to eat with hubby after my appt. yesterday and came home and slept for over two hours. I have not had any meds since Wed. evening, the day of exchange. I just do not want to have a reaction. The pain is more like intense soreness, and I am just dealing with it.
Windycity, are you still swollen? I was really swollen yesterday but think it is going down somewhat. Sorry you are having to deal with so many incisional sites and hope your tummy heals quickly.
Cheryl
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Brownlee I'm surprised I wasn't allowed to massage or exercise for two weeks post exchange. Take it easy...just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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So good to hear you are doing so well, Brownlee! Can't believe you are already back at work. My PS requires 2 weeks off. Even if I felt like going back earlier, not before two weeks. Fine by me, I guess.
Turns out my PS stuffed the largest implant he could for my size. I had Mentor 275 cc filled to 300 TEs with a width of 10.7. He put in Mentor ultra high profile 480 cc's with almost 12 width, so at first I thought they looked to be too big for my size. But now that some swelling has gone down, I think they will be perfect. They are exactly the size whippetmom thought I would like after I gave her all my specifics.
It is amazing how natural they look and feel-- so soft compared to the tortoise shells, or as my hubby called the TEs, upside down porcelain cereal bowls, LOL.0 -
I'm not happy with how I look 2 months post exchange, but it is what it is. My friend had hers re-done after 2 years because she was never happy. I decided to hold off on areola tattooing because of this. Life has been just crazy. It would have been so nice if my outcome was better. But, I'm staying greatful I was infection free and I have the expanders out. For the most part, I am very comfortable with the implants in my body.
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CindyLooHoo - well maybe I shouldn't call it massage. I have to push them together and hold for a count of 10 -10x - 2-3 times a day. And my walking it allowed at a conversational pace only. I do have to wear an underwire bra 24/7 at least until next week's appt, likely longer.
On another note, my mom has been called backed for an MRI - they found a potential tumor or scar tissue at the site of her invasive cancer in 2005. She only had a lumpectomy, rads, and chemo. She is very upset. Her radiologist said he will be able to tell if it is scar tissue from the MRI. I asked him if she could have a biopsy regardless of the MRI findings and he said there is nothing to biopsy at this time. The area in question is much larger than my specks and they were biopsied. My PS said that is ridiculous and she needs to demand a biopsy considering last time her tumors were on her mammogram for 5 years before SHE asked to have them checked even though she had cancer at 41 yo 15 years earlier.
I just wish we all had the same shot at good health care.
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Brownlee that very thing just happened to a friend of mine. She a UMX and left 15 years ago. They saw something on her mamm and sent her for additional testing and said it was a cyst. She said yeah that's nice but I have done this before and I'm not leaving without an appt for a biopsy.
So she went the next day for the biopsy and it burst on contact with the needle and was a benign cyst, but now she can sleep.
Your mother needs to stand firm for what she wants.0 -
Cheryl_E I am sorry to hear the experience initally was rough for you. Thinking back, the day after my surgery I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck. I thought to myself "those ladies who said it was easier this time around must have been crazy" LOL . But by Sunday, I was off the Percocet (it wasn't doing much and it made be blow up like a balloon. That along with the anesthesia), feeling much better and by Wednesday I was back to work (even thought I could have gone back Tuesday). I hope you are feeling better with each passing day.
WindycityDCIS, mine still look like hamburger buns and I noticed today if I don't wear a bra, my foobs have and "indent" where my incisions are. Like you, my time from BMX/TEs to exchange was only 3 months (almost to the day) so I need to learn patience when it comes to the girls.
I may not be a candidate for fat grafting but that's 6 months from now. I was wondering how sore the "donor" site would be. My PS does the grafting during the "flipple" procedure and said if I had it done on a Thursday I'd be ready for work on Tuesday. Hmmm....we'll see.brownlee, I am with you on the "porn star boobs" assumption.
Sounds like you are doing well recovery wise. It's so interesting how PSs differ. No massaging for now. I cannot wear an underwire for at least a month, possible 6 weeks. She initially wanted me wearing sports bras and the stabilizer strap for a month but on Wed she told me I could ditch both and go braless if I wanted to. Oh the freedom. I hope all works out with your mom. I have 2 friends that have BC (one had it in '94 and it came back 2 years ago and one had it 10 years ago and had it come back last year) so I'm surprised the doctors would even question a biopsy. Prayers that everything works out for her. Mariasnow, I admit I am not completely happy with the way I look right now. But, as the other ladies have said in posts in this thread, give it time. And have patience.... ha! Not something I'm good at. I'm hoping as weeks go on, they will look more natural. If not, at least I can say I am cancer free. A silver lining.
Ok so for my 2 week post exhange update. The infection we thought I may have had turns out to only be the way my skin is reacting to my implants. My PS still wants me to take the antibiotics for the 2 weeks she prescribed as a precaution. Today was the first day I didn't have that aggrevating burning feeling under the right side and there is not the redness. I'm quite bruised but as my PS put it, she really had to work with that side so I not concerned. They still look like buns naked, but look prettty good in a bra. One thing I have noticed is they are a lot fuller towards my cleavage and kind of "slope" down towards my armpits. Normal? And althought I measure as a D/DD per my PS, I put on a mastecomy bra I bought after my BMX (professionally fitted with removable breast forms). It's a 36B and it fits sans the forms. The sports bra I bought from Walmart to wear after my exhange was a 36C and it was almost too small. It doesn't matter about the cup size to me, I just thought it was interesting.
Well, that's it for now. Happy Friday to all. Hope you have a great weekend.
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Cheryl I'm so sorry I've been MIA. I have the mentor ultra high profile at 480cc on righty and I fill a c cup bra full!! He removed lots of scar tissue on the lat side but everything else went well. My TE's were at 390 so I probably had a bigger pocket. Sorry you have had so much pain but it makes sense. I must not have gotten the mandatory 2 week off work because I was back at my desk 3 days later, lol. I still believe every surgery is totally different for each individual. Way to many variables. When do you go back to see Dr H?
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Hwranch, so good to hear from you! I am slightly afraid I am too big, but maybe the swelling will go down more. Dr. H's nurse told me yesterday I would be a D, which slightly freaked me out. It must be because of my line of work that he said two weeks, no less. I am a school librarian and handle books and equipment all day? I am not complaining because I have the days. I see him again on Tuesday.
Jeagergirl, thanks for the update. I noticed some of my skin has little blood blisters in clusters. Did yours do that or is it something different you are talking about? So glad your PS thinks it's all good though.0 -
Hi Ladies. I hope everyone is healing well from their surgeries. I have a stupid question.... What is hamburger bun look, drop and fluff and I cant remember the other name? I actually was a size a then had implants like 15 years ago that brought me to a full C with a wide chest I never had cleavage. I have had a bmx and my te's are filled maybe to 500 on the right and not quite that on the left. I still have to get the left filled twice before my exchange surgery. I am extremely disappointed that I dont think I will be as big as I was before the mastectomy but I am in tremendous pain all of the time from the stupid expanders. At this point I dont care what size I will end up being I just want these things gone. The pain became worse when I started back to work because I push and pull patients and machines and stuff. Thanks for all of the info that has been shared. It has kept me sane to be able to come here and read. Healing hugs to all.
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Cheryl, hope you are improving every day and feeling better.....
I am not having any expectations for how I will feel post surgery, but my breast cancer support group wanted to celebrate my exchange but it is only 3 day post surgery so I told them I am not sure I will be there. No one else that attends now, has had expanders.
Question ladies.....I have overfilled expanders in right now....(can you say HOOTERS)....oh they are almost to my collar bone!
I think I am at about 575cc and my PS said he was planning to use 600 to 650 gelly silacon inplants...am I going to be big?
My PS said he can't bring my cleavage together as he said THIS IS YOUR STERNUM, THE MUSCLE IS NOT THERE, (about 3 fingers wide) so he said with a bra or bathing suit I can make my cleavage appear closer together.....I trust his knowlege as he teaches doctors at the University of WA and there is always teaching going on when I am being in his operating room suite (with my permission of course)
Di
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Melmcbee, when did you get your tissue expanders placed? I know what you mean about just wanting them out! I think the hamburger bun look refers to the appearance of the implants after exchange. It takes time for the pecs to take the shape of the implants, so they look flat until they settle into the pocket (drop) and the muscle expands to their shape (fluff). someone else will probably have a much better explanation, as I am just 3 days out from exchange and still learning.
Di2012, thank you, I'm so much better. Went to the movies yesterday, came home and took a nap, and then went out to eat with my family. So you could probably make your party, but take it easy. I am still in pain, but it's not excruciating or anything, and I get tired easily. I don't know your size, but that sounds like a good size for the size of your TEs, and it sounds like you have a great PS.0 -
I know I need to wait a few months to see how these 500cc settle, but does anyone know if they will get a bit bounce to them. While they are soft and squishy they don't move much.
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Brownlee- I have 650 cc on left and 800 cc on right. I have no bounce to mine until I laugh or cough. It's quiet odd to not see them bounce if I walk. I was a 38D or DD, I'm sure I never wore the right bra. Now my bra size is a 40C but a 40B cup fits a lot better.
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Cheryl I don't think you will "think" you are to big. The sizing bra the lady at Nordstrom brought me was a 36D, and I thought wow...really? When I got my actual bra I had to get a 36C and the cups were perfect. Anyway, they don't look overly large to me at all and I was a droopy barely fill the B cup before BC.
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HI Gals- Yesterday I was at the Whole Foods in my Chicago neighborhood and, like manna from heaven, there was this display of cute 100% organic cotton bras! I bought 4 of them. I think i'll mostly wear camis/tanks from now on, but it made me feel better to have what seem like perfect bras for post-reconstrution. Here's a web site for the company:
http://www.majamasboutique.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=304
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Thanks, windycityDCIS, for the bra tip. I'll have to go to Whole Foods sometime and check them out! I have been wearing my mastectomy bra for the last 2 days and I'm find for about half the day and then it starts bothering me.
CherylE, no I didn't have the blisters. My skin was so shiny on my right foob it looked liked it had been rubbed with baby oil and my skin was a really bright red, kinda like a sunburn. I called it the Ruldolph the Red Foob because I swear it could have been seen through a blinding snowstorm. Directly below it along my rig cage I had this burning, itchy, achy pain. When I went back to the PS 2 days later, the red had changed to a "safe" shade of red and no longer looked like an infection. Plus by day 2, it wasn't red at night, only about midway throught the day would it start. So glad it didn't turn out to be anything serious.
Melmcbee, the expanders were not fun either. Hated them in the beginning, not so bad in the middle, and then went back to being painful and bothersome towards the end. So glad to be rid of them!
Di2012, it's hard to say how big you'll be. I was only expanded to around 300 ccs, my implants are 495 HP Sientras and both my PS and husband say I'm huge. My PS did some work during the exhange to make my cleavage closer together but they don't touch. I might get them closer depending on what type of bra or bikini top I wear but they will never touch.
brownlee and Chrisrenee77, I have no bounce whatsoever. They don't move. I have even tried to put the girls together and they barely move. The only time I see them move is when i flex my pec muscles. During the expansion, I asked my PS if my implants were going to have any bounce to them and she said there might be some but not a whole lot. I supposed I never had any bounce before my BMX so I I won't be missing anything.
Hope you ladies who is recovering from your surgeries are doing well.
Happy Saturday!
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Cheryl, my expanders were put in during my mastectomy which was 7-9-12. Wow thats almost 9 months. ugh.
Jaegergirl, thats how my experience has been they hurt at first then stopped hurting during my chemo and radiation and now are hurting again. I only have 2 more fills in the left then I can have surgery. My ps just wants to wait until at least 3 months post radiation.
Hope everyone is doing well. Healing hugs to all
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Good to know, Jaegergirl. I'm at the "went back to being painful and bothersome towards the end" stage. I think I have one more fill to 440 ccs, then one month wait, then exchange.
Dulcigirl - THANK YOU SO MUCH - for your guidance. I had such a hard time navigating thru the picture forum that I had given up.
If anybody knows how to look for pictures of teardrop cohesive "after" pictures, please let me know... for me it's really important to have realistic expectations before surgery. All of us are incredibly brave people - we're the real rock stars.
Mahalo!
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You're very welcome!! I can't remember what I helped you with, but am glad it helped!! Lol.
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Melmcbee,
I had my expanders put in on 7/11 and finally had the exchange on 2/15/2013 very long time was ready to go with nothing..congrats to all with their exchanges0 -
Shellshine, thanks for the request for the teardrop cohesive " after" photos . Was wondering that myself, getting close to decision time. When is ur exchange? Don't remember seeing mention of it.
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Dulci it was your thread, "Thank you and Goodbye" (I think that is the name).
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Melissa, you will be fine. I got my exchange in at 6 and out about 11. The actual surg is short but they gotta get all their equipment together and put you under,assuming you are having gen anesthetic. Then they probably start about 7 or 8 am,then done about 9 or 10 then they wait for you to wake up. I got nauseaus cause Mr Helpful brought me a pizza!!! Good grief. men really are clueless. Wonder why he thought I would just jump off the operating table and run home to eat pizza and drink beer?
I was a little sore for 2 or 3 days. I laid in my recliner and took pain pills for 2 days. I was supposed to take 2 wks off but I went back after a week. I figured why waste my vacation days when I felt fine. I have a desk job. How long are you gonna take off work?
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Layla2525....if u are responding to me thanks for the info... I actually had my exchange already last Tuesday :-). It went great. My surgery was 2pm and I was home by 7pm. Took pain meds wed only and was actually out running errands and to lunch with my husband Wednesday. I feel great and have no pain whatsoever. I love my PS! I actually am a stay at home mom so just the no driving was an issue but back to driving Monday.
Thanks again!
Melissa0 -
Hello all,
Back from St Maarten, had a WONDERFUL time and I think I'm tanner than I've ever been in my life!
I'm catching up on the thread and then will share a bit more
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Sweetandspecial, can't wait to hear more about your trip. Sounds wonderful right now, as it has gotten cold again here in Texas.
Hwranch, I think you are right. My swelling has gone down even more, and I am sure I need to wait on things to settle more. Since we have the same PS, and I don't see him until Tuesday, when did he say you could get fitted for a bra, and did he recommend an underwire? (sorry if you already told me this before, but I have forgotten if so.)
Brownlee and anyone else who had nipple sparing MX and exchange, the worst pain is when my nipples contract, ouch! Makes me want to curl my toes and cringe. Is that an issue for you? Anything touching them causes this and especially the cold.0 -
Cheryl - I have no feeling in my left nipple whatsoever. On my right side I have feeling; not sure how much sensation. Still a bit of a sore feeling. But I have no pain with at all in that area. I am liking them more each day. Pecs are uncomfortable when I shiver, luckily I am usaully hot.
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