Exchange City
Comments
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Havent had time to be here much and get caught up. I had my 8 week up check up today, and I have to say I think I have the most wonderful PS. First of all he said my lat flap,radiated breast was just fantastic. Said he was super soft compared to many others that have had the same procedure. It is soft but since it has no feeling what so ever it is hard for me to tell, lol. He said the other implant would drop just a little bit more and soften up where the scar was.
The tissue that he removed from my back sticks out further than the breast skin and I told him that was the only thing that really bothered me. He said he could liposuction that out. He could also do nipples at the same time. At first I wasn't going to do nipples but now I have decided it would help me get a more normal look. If we can do it all at once that is another plus. The other factor is that I won't have to be under the deep anesthesia and not have a breathing tube. I have about made up my mind to schedule this sometime July or August. I can't believe I'm actually excited about this.
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congrats to all you guys that have had exchange and those getting closer to theirs..I have been MIA..just busy with work and everything else! Been checking in here and there. I am 3 weeks post op and definitely doing better day by day. I have been stretching alot; which helped me so much after mastectomy and again after exchange..
Foobs look very natural. I think my right pocket that ps had to do a lot of work on is a little narrower and subsequently the foob appears a little fuller in upper pole than my left ..not sure if this can/will change or if it is worth it to try to adjust? I would be okay if left was adjusted to increase upper pole fullness like right, or if he released pocket a little on right to match left. I like them both! I see ps on june 5, so was going to wait and see then..or would you guys call now? I feel like if I call now..office may say to wait til appt as I am just 3 weeks out... or..am I being too critical..picky?0 -
Boy all these posts about having family support really makes me jealous. I don't think I realized how much of this I had to endure all alone until it was all over. My mom was in an assisted livng facility in Florida and I live in Kanas City. She had breast cancer twice once at 30 and once at 80. I didn't see her the whole time I was dealing with this and I never told her. I wanted to, so bad, but I thought that would have been selfish. She was a little out of her mind too and I think I would ahve had to tell her over and over and I did not want to do that to her. By the time I got done with all the surgery and chemo and reconstruction I was going to try to visit her and she passed away. I said goodbye to her on the phone while she was unconscience in the hospital. She died from her breast cancer. I beleive she stopped getting mammograms at some point. The mass was so big they found it in a regular xray taken of her lungs when she was coughing a lot. The mass was not on her lung but on her breast. She had the breat removed and it was in two lymph nodes. They put her on aridimex but no chemo or radiation. She died two years later.
Thanks for letting me vent . . .
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Well fortunately you have a virtual family that is here for you 24 hrs a day and they understand what you are going through. Vent away whenever you feel the need ((((hugs))))
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Hugs to you, Carrol2. I lost my mom to cancer as well, and two aunts. Nasty aggressive breast cancer. (We dont have the BRCA gene but something else in our DNA, clearly). I am so sorry for your loss. I had a super hard time on mother's day, being alone and wishing I had her to talk to or take shopping, and I bet you had a tough day as well. But yes, it is so great to have this virtual family who "gets us". Thank you ladies!!
So, speaking of non-understanding male PSs, I had my pre-op appointment today (my squishy exchange is coming in a week- woohoo), and he told me that he does not want to reconstruct the other side with an implant because I am so likely to get cancer on that remaining side. How reassuring.
My lymph nodes are clean right now and I am sure hoping for the best! But I might need to get a female PS, after reading the stories on here. Geez!0 -
carrol..so sorry..
my grammy passed away frim breast and colon cancer...i had just moved here to nc..wasnt with her when she passed, but flew home as fast as i could... everything goes thru ypur mind at the time and u make the best decisions u can make at the time..take heart in that.. 0 -
Exchange ladies question for you all post op: my surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, 05/22. It's my son's senior year and a lot going on over the next few weeks.
How will I feel 1 wk post op? I have his graduation ceremony to attend. My PS said she thinks I'll be fine. Just no big bear hugs lol
2-1/2 wks post op and I'm throwing a graduation party for my son. I'll have some help but will I feel ok for cooking, decorating, setting up, cleaning up, etc?
5 wks post op, I'm planning on moving to a new place (downsizing). Will I be ok for packing up boxes and moving light items? Of course I'll have help for heavy boxes and furniture.
Just want to know what to expect after surgery. Most ladies here say much easier than BMX and I know we all heal at different rates, but curious if I'll feel up to all these things coming up in the next few weeks??
Already know my PS is keeping me out of work for 2-1/2 wks so I'll have time to rest in between. Could I logically feel well enough to work from home a few hours a day 5 days post exchange if I wanted to?
Any advice is most appreciated! Getting excited and nervous at the same time!!
Jen0 -
Hi Jen - So glad to hear your exchange is scheduled. Did you get your heart issues sorted out?
IMHO, I think if you use care, you can do all the things mentioned above. My PS does drains at the exchange and also wanted me to keep my arms to my side as much as possible. Also, no lifting for 4 weeks. She is pretty strict, but I can't argue with results.
Be sure to rest and save your strength for the main events. Surgery alone wipes me out.
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Thanks for the advice farmerlucy! Yes heart issues all clear. Turns out on second opinion I had no heart issues! Lol
Got a normal ekg result the second time around and cleared for surgery.
My PS said no drains this time around and no heavy lifting for only 2 weeks. I was surprised by that. But I'll make sure to take things easy and rest when I can. Gonna take things one day at a time and accept all the help I'm offered!
Jen0 -
Hi Jen... You've got a whole lot coming up, please get and accept some help. I'm only speaking from my viewpoint, others will too. I'm 4 weeks out Friday, my PS is also fairly strict, as she told me its easy to overdo, and damage can result (as well as pain). There are internal stitches as well as the visible ones. She still has me lifting no more than 10 lbs at most, don't over reach or over stretch. And as proof of this, was involved with a slip & fall at a grocery store, it's very easy to get injured and cause pain. As each case is different, I would tell your PS what you've told us and then listen to the advice. Again, the frequent mantra seen here: just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Good luck!
Edited to add: and don't forget to ask for help0 -
Question, I am 2 weeks post op for bmx with te's and the nurse did my first expansion today after my surgery so I am now at 330cc and she told me that the type of expanders I have only go to 400cc. what the heck?!?! I am tall and am not petite- As it stands with only 330cc I don't have much protrusion. I am so confused...has anyone else heard of the expanders having a max amount of saline they can hold? I'm wondering if the nurse was totally wrong.
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Chantel, can you find out what kind of TE's you have?
Yes...I had short-height expanders with a recommended 400 fill. I was filled to more than 600 and ended up with 800 implants. Much depends on your TE style.0 -
Chantel -
Many PSs overfill TEs, some overfill by a LOT. Please check out the "Breast Implant Sizing 101" thread. You will find lots of helpful info in the thread header. Whippetmom created the thread and is very knowledgeable, but she will likely ask you for your stats as well as manufacturer and model number of your TEs.
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Thanks for the kind words, yes this time of year is very hard for me.
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Thanks for the kind words. Mother and fathers day ahve become very sad for me. I decided to allow myself to be sad for a day. I wear my mom's jewlery on her bday and mother's day. Somehow I feel like she was still there or at least I still have a part of her.
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Carrol2: I'm so sorry you've had to navigate this journey feeling so alone
. My kids were great cheerleaders but they don't live at home any more, and my husband was incredibly supportive but had to work every day. My mom(75 yrs old) really stepped in and cared for me every day while hubby was at work. All I had to do was rest, take my meds and get up to pee every now and then. Mom drove me to appointments, catered to my appetite, watched movies with me (until I fell asleep during every one of them!), cleaned house, did laundry, etc, etc. I don't know what I would have done without her!But you did it.....you came out the other side a better, stronger woman! I think it's great that you honor your mom's memory by wearing her jewelry on special days, and by allowing yourself to be a bit emotional at times. She may be physically gone but she'll always be in your heart and you're keeping that love alive. Stay strong, but don't allow yourself to feel at all bad that you're not an Amazon 24/7. Luv ya sistah!
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Carrol2, My heart and thoughts are with you. I lost both parents, my dad in my teens and my mom before I turned forty, but I have my daughter and husband and they are my world and treat me like gold.
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Chantel, I initially had 300cc expanders filled to 400, then had them exchanged to a larger expander. I had delayed expansion so it had to be a slow process, but maybe the plan with you is to massively overfill, or change expanders before going to implants.
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Thank you girls, I definitely need to look into it. Will find out what kind of TE I have and get more info. Have a great day ladies
Carrol2- I read a ways back about you not having a supportive family and feeling a little jealous. I am in your same shoes. My mom and dad have both passed away (my dad was never around) and my family is so disfunctional and messed up that I really only have one sister that helps me or makes me feel taken care of somtimes. You are not alone on that! Hang in there
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Carrol - It's good to "see" you back. I think it's so sweet to remember your mom by wearing her jewelry on special days. And I definitely agree about allowing ourselves a sad day here and there. For me, I realized early on that there would be ups and downs, good days and bad. So when I have a bad one (fewer and fewer as time goes on) I don't beat myself up or try to figure out why it's a bad day, I just recognize it and know that it will pass.
Please take care!
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wow thanks so much for the outpouring. This site really got me through this whole journey with support and information and just sharing and it continues to do that. You ladies have been ab amazing asset to me.
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Jen, I don't think you will have any problems at all. Just take it easy with the lifting etc...You should be fine for everything. I had my exchange on Friday afternoon and was back at work Monday and had absolutely no restrictions after my 1 week checkup. Everybody is different so just listen to what your doctor tells you.
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...sciencegal..my ps is male and very sweet..! My bs is male and very sweet..! My primary MD is male and very sweet..! My OB is male and very sweet..! My med onc was female and apparently brilliant, but not so sweet...! sooo different for everyone..!
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Hi ladies. I just found out today that my surgery was moved up from June 3rd to May 30th. Yay. Im so excited. 14 days and counting. I hope everyone is doing well. Healing hugs.
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Lala and 2nd time- I saw PS today to get some of my stitches clipped and I asked the PS if I would see any "drop and Fluff" with my Mentor HPs, and was told most likely not and if they did it would be so small it would likely not be noticeable. I do not have the flat hamburger bun look I expected and heard so much about. The lady who clipped my stitches today said "those look AMAZING!" I wish I could be as excited as they are, I told her I wasn't planning on a Playboy spread anytime soon, I just really wanted to put on a bathing suit or sundress without prosthetics. Maybe as time passes (and the pain in my sternum diminishes) maybe I will be as excited as they are about how the surgery turned out!
meimcbee- My hair was below my shoulders when I recieved my dx, so the process FEELS really slow, but I agree with you my hair IS beautiful, even if it's not much It's MINE!
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Hi ladies! I'm home from my exchange and all is well. I've got Style 45s, 700ccs. I'm wrapped pretty tightly with ace bandages, but can unwrap and shower tomorrow. PS said tank tops, sports bras, cami's with a shelf bra, etc are okay for now. She said they could take 3 months to "settle in." Thanks to all of you who have shared their stories, I know not to be upset if I see hamburger buns tomorrow. lol
Initially, she planned to take some fat from my abdomen to fill in the upper poles but today she thought looked good so didn't do it. That's fine with me as I wasn't looking forward to having a sore abdomen and wearing compression garments during the summer. She did a little lipo of the poofy fat up top near my armpits. When I woke up, that was the only thing that hurt. A couple of Percocets and I don't feel it at all right now.
I'll be setting the alarm on my phone for every 5 hours to take my pain meds tonight. We'll see how I feel tomorrow and adjust accordingly.
So far, so good. I see PS for my first follow up on Tueday.
Woohoo, over another hump!!
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MnSusan......welcome to the squishy side
....you betcha!0 -
MNSusan, so glad to hear your surgery went well...wishing you a speedy recovery!
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Just testing to see if my info shows up below my posts
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Yay MNSusan welcome to the squishy side.
I called my PS today to see if I can get the drains out tomorrow and he said yes. Looking forward to the weekend without them.0
