Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)
Comments
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Megan good luck girl! Are you putting pics up at Timtams?
Sling99 if your PS said no drop & fluff, it is probably because you're smaller, but things do have a way of settling in and appearing to be more "yours". The proof is in the pics, I've spent wayyyy too long online researching!
Time + Gravity - Swelling = Drop & Fluff!
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Anniemom thats great! I dont know anyone here willing to flash me...lol. Maybe that will be my role someday.
Megan - Good luck today girl! Thinking of you!!!
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I think you get to pick whatever size you want and that you feel good in. I would get the fills as as scheduled (I undersatnd you want to be a bit bigger with TE thans in real life becase they shrink dow a little with the perm implants. This is your turn to get to choose so you choose whatever makes YOU happy. My hubby jokes around (this is how we have dealt with it) about the big "cans" he is going to get out of this deal - he jokes to make me laugh he is not a jerk trust me. But at the end of the day, you are the one having to deal with them so ger your B's and be happy!
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So funny about the bathroom flash since I have become "one of those" women.
I used to comment on "those" women who would show their implants to me and now I get it. In my mind, they are no longer breasts; just pretty decorations and now they are learning tools for those that are frightened of how to deal with breast cancer and what a mastectomy would look like. 0 -
Congrats on your first "flash", Annie! lol!
I bet that was comforting to see someone who was a few years out!Can't wait to hear how Megan is doing!!
Wanted to share with you ladies a nice little "ah ha" moment I had. I had left a message for a friend regarding a school event. I haven't talked to this friend since school started last Sept, and when she called me back she started with, "Hi Susan! Wow, Monica had told me about you and I just can't believe it! I'm so sorry!" ...... for a few seconds there, I honestly had NO idea what she was talking about! ....finally it clicked and I said.. "oh yeah.. the cancer thing". I can't believe in such a short time I'm already pushing cancer out of the front of my mind!
Take that cancer! 
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Yeah Susan!!! I love it!
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Oh, I love to hear that Susan. I want to forget!
I was at a party on Saturday night and had so many people say things like "can you be here in a crowd". Yes, my counts are fine otherwise I would not be here! "I want to walk for you." Why, cuz i can walk, too! "You are my inspiration." Dear lord.
Saying prayers and sending warm wishes for Megan!!!!!
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Ugh, Annie! I've gotten that too! .. also when people would say how "great" I look (when I'm wearing a baseball cap and haven't showered!) because they expect me to look "sick"!
I do still catch people trying to be "incognito" about catching a looksee at my chest while we are talking! It can be very distracting! lol! Sometimes, don't you wanna just stop them and say, "Hey, why don't we just stop for a minute so you can take a nice long look at my chest and get it over with!"
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Gosh Susan I hear ya! You know I havent had a fill yet but Ive been wearing my old bras and filling my right one so I pretty much look the same as before my SMX. Its been easy because its been winter and hoodies and sweaters work wonders.... but last week when I went to Zumba, I could see a couple of people checking me out just for a second....like "i know she had a mastectomy - so why is she....Ohhhh, I get it" I went as far as after class to say "dang with all of that wiggling it was hard to keep my fakie in position today!" (of course this was to a close friend and not to the general population!!! LOL)
But I'm all about the humor to break up the crap in the air sometimes!
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I agree, Sue! I don't know how I would have gotten through the last six months without a sense of humor!
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I am home! Everything went amazing!!!! My surgery got bumped up a hour and a half (which we all know never happens;) started at 1:00 instead of 2:30, and got home about 7 pm. So far, so good, My PS heard me loud and clear and went high profile's at 450's...:-) I was on the fence about 400 or 450's and and left that part up to him, although I am swollen, then size seems GREAT in my surgical bra...
I'm pretty exauahsted and am headed to bed, but I just wanted to check in...I was so touched by all the support and kind comments I came back too...sending lots of love and friendship to each of you, thanks again and I'll check in tomorrow,0 -
So glad you are home! Sweet dreams Megan!
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Megan, I am so excited for you and I think I may end up being 450 myself. Right now I'm at 375. I am so scared to go back to work on Thursday because I don't think I'll have enough stamina to be on my feet all day, heavy sigh...these 5 weeks off flew by.
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Yeah Megan!!! Im so glad it's "so far so good"!
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Yeah Megan!! I was hoping I'd see a post from you this morning! SO glad things went so well for you!! Hey, maybe I'll be getting 450 too? Then you, Cameron and I can be triplets! 0
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Hi girls! I have been resting up today but wanted to check in with you all! After having exchange I am sooooo excited for you guys to go thru it...I was so darn nervous last week, but then finally let go of it and went in feeling pretty excited!
I was even more excited to hear I got the high profiles - just what I wanted. My PS doesn't use them all to often, but said they were a great match to my build...and surprisingly 450 doesn't look monstrous on me. I was torn between 400 & 450, and the minute before they wheeled me in I gave the PS the "go" for what he ultimately thought would be best, but that I think 450's would be "it". My PS also said to go with 400's would have meant more potential divits and that to avoid that would be better for me.
I am more sore than expected today, I had a bunch of pocket work done and am still taking the percosets. I cannot explain the weird relief I feel. I have a follow-up next week, and I am sure things will constantly be changing, but for now I barely touch them and my "boobs" are soft again, it's a beautiful thing and I am excited for you all to get there, too!!!
And I just read back a bit, without the sense of humor - I think this journey would have reallllly sucked ;-) being able to take myself kinda lightly definitley aided in my mood, and my ability to not knock someone's lights out when they would make "those" kind of comments! ...and the looks I got at the gym were priceless sometimes - having a full-on conversation and their looking at my TE's?!?! ...hey girlfriend, don't think I don't notice where your lookin'!!! hahaha
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Oh Megan.. you sound like you are living on cloud nine right now!!!! Yeah!!!!! Looking forward to hearing how things look progress as time passes. So, how long do you have to wear the surgical bra? Were your incisions in the lower fold or to the side of the nipple.. I can't remember. Sorry you are in some pain.. I had heard that the pocket work can cause that. I have no idea if I will need pocket work..... less than a month now for me!!!
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Im so glad to read your post Megan!!! Yippie!! That and the sense of humor is definitely getting me though! I dont know how I would do it without these boards!
Drum roll please....I had my first fill today!!! YIPPIE!!!! The incision is finally healed and I am able to go to the next phase. I am so happy! I hit puberty!!!! LOL. He put in 75ccs and was surprised I did so well. He got to 50 and asked how I was doing...I was like "go, go go!!!' I know Ill feel it later but I didnt feel a THING when he was filling it. If I keep this pace it should be only about 4 more fills. But he is one of the PS's that do fills every OTHER week so it wont be THAT fast. Oh well.
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More good news today! Congrats on your first fill, Sue!!! 75cc's!?! Look at you go, girlfriend!! I did 100cc's one week (usually did 60ccweekly) ... kinda the same thing where the PS says.. how you doing??.. and I felt fine.... the next day was more painful than the usual 60cc...but looking back... it wasn't anything that an advil didn't handle. So I think if you can handle it, I would go for it, Sue!! ..and I'm just realizing you said he does every OTHER week... so I would def keep up with at least 75!
.... You will be taking the exchange "plunge" before ya know it!! 0 -
Susan I am SURE I will feel this later...Im still on the 'high' of seeing visable change going on! He said he normally will do 50ccs so Ill have to see how much I can handle next time!
Oh and I wanted to tell you about the arm - Ill do it publically in case it helps others. He thinks by my description and positioning that something (nerve damage) happened in surgery when my arm was strapped down. He said its pretty common to have damage there because of the boards you are strapped down on for so long (my surgery was pretty long too)....so he told me that it WILL improve as the nerves heal but it could be a while. And dont worry, I will be following up and getting another opinion because Ive learned how to be a complete pest since my diagnosis!
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Yahoooo Sue!!!!!!!! I'm excited you got your 1st fill and braved the 75 cc's! Just take it easy and remember to take something to help if need be, in the next day or so you if you are in pain, it should start to subside...be good to yourself!
So you have nerve damage in your arm? I am trying to figure our what's up with my shoulder. After the BMX it just started to hunch forward on it's own - when I lay down it won't touch the floor. I'll start PT when the exchange heals.
Susan - PS went back thru my incisions under the crease, I haven't really seen them yet, I haven't fully 'disrobed' today...but I think they are still pretty small. I really thought the pain would be easier, not that it's unbearable, but it's back to the whole - don't reach suddenly for things or you see stars-feeling. Also laying down for a long time and the pressure it creates on the chest is painful like BMX. But, it's doable, for sure. I'll wear the surgical bra till I see him next week, then a sports bra for a month. It's pretty exciting despite the pain!
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I was gonna ask about the arm
. Glad to hear it sounds more like temporary nerve damage instead of LE. ... I guess I never thought of them strapping us down! I think it's great that you are not afraid to be a complete pest! Kinda weird to think about what happens while you are under! I remember they initially didn't think I would need a cathetor ... and apparently they did (my surgery was about 5 hrs) ... when I was diagnosed a friend gave me a sexy panty/bra set that was BRIGHT pink with black lace as a kind of "pick me up" .. so I decided to wear the panties into surgery (kinda like that book "I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy"
.... I'm just imagining their comments as they had to take off my underwear during surgery! Too bad they wouldn't let me wear the bra in too!0 -
Megan , I was wondering about the pain. So weird because I've seen everything from one woman saying she attended a football game after her exchange surgery.. to some women saying they needed 4 weeks off of work! I wanna be the football game woman, damnit!
One thing I remember being surprisingly painful was (sorry if TMI) reaching down too wipe after going to the bathroom! It's not that bad this time is it?? Ugh.. I'm really hoping to only have to take one week off of work (I have a desk job)... so I am really interested in how your experience goes!
Nice that you have the incision under the fold... mine on the side of my breast to the nipple. But I could wear that infamous plunging green Versace J.Lo dress and nobody would know.
Regarding your shoulder... is it like the symptoms for "frozen shoulder"? I did go to a PT after my BMX (too make sure I was doing things correctly) and she did say that it's important to catch those things early... maybe you should consider having a consultation to make sure there isn't something you should/shouldn't be doing now instead of waiting?
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I expected to be more comfortable afterwards, too - but maybe because I am literally 24 hrs out of exchange I should think about that, too. You will definitley go back to the "slow & steady" movements. I am being very careful around the house, and those quick movements'll get ya!
I totally remember the bathroom-thing, and it's not that bad ;-) I am home alone right now and will go and sit on the edge of the tub and "sponge-bathe" mayself - I NEVER would have done that 24 hrs out of BMX, so some things are easier. I think 1 week out of work will be good - I am stay-at-home mom, but plan on being back to the school-carpool stuff by Thursday. We have stuff at the kid'sschools all wknd and I am planning on going to it all, that'll be 4-5 days out of surgery. I was told the rule of thumb for driving = no pain meds + able to wear seatbelt comfortably. Probably after 3 or 4 days I will be better, it's the anesthsia, too...I just said to my hub I think my brain is burnt from 8 hrs of anesthesia in 3 1/2 months!!!
...and I looooove the idea of the J Lo.dress!!!!!!! you are so gonna have to find something like that to "flaunt it"!!!
As far as my shoulder, it seems like it might be frozen shoulder. I noticed it 2 weeks prior to exchange (how did I miss this?!?!) and spoke with PS and PT, both said due to the restrictions I am on now I am better off waiting, it'sa pain, butI was stretching and trying to take care of it on my own a bit here and there - if I could take care of it now I definitley would, I am nervous about the permanent damage I could be doing by NOT doing PT yet... :-(
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Megan if you think about it all the muscles across your chest and shoulder are being stretched and pulled to accomodate the TE and now implant(s).
You need to keep moving all of your muscles to help stretch them and relax them.
Before I even get out of bed I'm raising my arms and pulling them across me to help stretch out.
I've had shoulder stiffness since last November (my TE went in Sept and then exchange Feb) and I've had tightness up my neck as well throughout this reconstruction process.
I see both a PT and Osteopath to help me.
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You're right, Marie - I haven't really thought about what these mucsles are doing NOW, and that they are under even more pressure to stretch. I will be calling a local women's therapy studio that works with post-mx patients on PT issues, and they are trained in LE therapy, too - (I noticed some swelling in my pinky finger and palm off & on in the past week, I am very aware of it because my mom suffers horribly from LE,not sure if I am experiencing LE, but want to be careful). I'm going to try to set the wheels in motion and hopefully get PT started soon.
How long after exchange or BMX did you guys wait to start PT?
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Yeah Megan - so happy that you are doing great...sponge bath is a great sign. Did I just write that? Sounds like you are 90 years old! LOL! I think we breathed a sigh of relief that you are out and about, albeit in a bit of pain. Take those meds. This is the time to over-indulge in meds, or at least indulge in meds.
Sue - how exciting on the fill. Holy crap you did 75cc. That must have been fun! Isn't it crazy that they fill so fast and get so big. You get to do the happy dance. Really, before you know it you will be doing the exchange!
Susan - OMG I forgot the reaching down to wipe. I got my period when i got out of bed with my BMX...at least that won't happen now!
Congrats....progress is being made. I wish we could all celebrate with a nice glass of wine or maybe even a margarita. CHEERS!!!!!
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I think post exchange pain is proportional to amount of pocket work done.
I just got another 45 ccs today, I'm in awe of those who can do more! I am now up to 420, and I am thinking I'm liking what I see, perhaps one more fill...and then the final overfill. So that means I'll be done filling SOON! I get a fill and post my pics at Timtam's every week.
I'm thinking "the 450 Club" sounds awesome...
My PS said again today with a smile that I'm going to look like an augmentation, not a reconstruction. That would be awesome, I am realistic in my expectations, but it doesn't hurt to dream!
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hahaha!!! yes - it does sound old to be impressed with a spongebath!!! ...it was pretty lame, tho - it was basically a belly-down wash, I was paranoid of getting the bra wet...tomorrow I'll do a better wash ;-) ...wow, I sound so exciting!
I did sneak a peek, the "boobs" are proportional, good symmetry, but pretty pan-cake-like, but I've read that before and think it's pretty normal. I guess I must wait patiently to "drop & fluff"!
...and Cameron, I like the idea of the 450 club! ...and if there's anything I've learned in my skepticism with my PS is to trust them,I'm sure your PS wouldn't tell you something if he/she didn't think it could happen...I have mentioned more than once that I "wondered" if my PS heard me or was on the same page as me, he NEVER committed to any size, and no guarentees...but in the end he was listening! - He even went so far as to tell my hub that as soon as he put the implants in, they looked like an A+, in grade, that is
not size! 0 -
Annie - hmmmm,since we all can't be in the room for a cheers! to all our finished surgeries someday - we "might" have to plan a virtual cocktail party to congratulate ourselves!
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