Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.

Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)

1202123252671

Comments

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited April 2011

    Susan it sounds like you are doing well. My PS said I would need to get spanks. I assume I'll be wearing that instead of a corset. Believe it or not I don't own any spanks. I always felt given my my age if I need spanks I need to get in the gym and/or reduce calorie intake. I guess now that I'm 49+1 that I might allow myself to wear them… nah. Tongue out

    So how long before you can go back to work? Any limitations? I'm worried about job hunting after my exchange… I have a 9.5lb portfolio to carry around.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2011

    SUSAN - Be careful, there may be a fine for excessive use of E-DAY!!!!  LOL

    Its SO GREAT to read about your exchange!  Interesting about the FGing....My PS says it wont be happening with me. pooh.  But good to know about it in case it DOES come up.  I cant wait until you get to see them drop and fluff....Im all ears and so excited for you!

    And Youre RIGHT about the sweater!  I bought mine because I love the color...and I had to go back and exchange it for a smaller size.  We actually bought them on HER birthday and I think we were feeling a little sappy and wanted to get the same thing.  Then I saw her one day IN the sweater with that gorgeous cleavage and I made a mental note to NEVER be in the sweater on the same day as she. 

    Fluff - I had to laugh about things getting stuck on the TE's.  My 'fluffed side' doesnt look as good as the TE side and my snugger shirts are always 'stuck' on the TE side and weird looking on the fluffed side.  Im getting anxious for more fills because matching it is getting harder!

    Cameron - sorry about your mom....hope she is better soon.  And Susan canNOT win the free nipple....save the award for someone who is down a nipple as it is!  LOL

    Well, my TE is still hurting since my fill.  Its like a pinchy feeling.  I keep knocking it which doesnt help...and my snugger hoodies are REALLY snugger around my boobs.  Now I am thinking 'do I REALLY want to go for a C?'  I guess I have 3 weeks to decide and hopefully it will get easier.

    Oh and Susan - the class is on setting up a home based career.  Its with this lady who was on Oprah and she gives lectures on how to avoid scams and get into working from home.  I thought it might be good to see if I would be a good candidate for that (since I am job hunting now) with my background and abilities.  My fill is at 8:30 and the class is 9-4:30.  I guess once again I have a few weeks to decide if I really want to do the class.  But my instinct says I am too social to work from home and would get bored fast.

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited April 2011

    Yay, Susan!!!!

    So glad things went well, can't wait to hear about your visit for post op, you will be able to check the girls out better, I bet...glad you are feeling well, given you are recovering, but glad its going smoothly...definitely can't wait to hear about the fg and see what you think. So excited for you!

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited April 2011

    Kitty mama, thanks for the compliment :-) that pic was from before bc - no bra, but built-in cups in the dress...I have to post a pic of me now with the new gals, ;-) they aren't that much bigger, but a whole lot fuller for sure!

    Yay for the black dress, those damn TE s get in the way, dont they?

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    So I had the post op and he removed the drains! Hooray! The ps said they look great. They are a little hamburger buns looking now..so I sure hope they do some drop and fluff in the future. The divet is gone because of the FG so that is cool. Cut down to 1 percocet every 6 hrs and will prop ditch them all together by tomorrow. I just feel a bit spacey on it, and I don't like that feeling,



    Another thing is that they don't feel all that soft? But I'm wondering if that gets better with the drop and fluff?

  • Cameron
    Cameron Member Posts: 128
    edited April 2011

    Have I been in a coma for awhile?...I log on, everyone and their mother is saying E-day, (YES!!!) And Susan had her POST-op already?!?

    I have to wait a week for my post-op, once E-day rolls around...MAY23RD,OMG. Then I am off work until June 1st and everybody says E-day is easy...but none of them are doggie groomers! My job is ridiculous on a GOOD day, WITH all your muscles and strength and boobs and incision free areas. You know, for kicking with the tiny paws.

    Susan you sound happy and full of energy!  You remind me of me, after two bowls of Cocoa Pebbles!.

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Lago~ spanx is a good idea! Though we'd probably need your hubby to help getting them on because you really need to "pull". And FYI , you can get the less expensive version from Target..they are from the same company that makes spanx , they are called "assets" and the only restrictions I have is the arms: no lifting them above head nor reaching behind back, and can't pick up anything above 10 lbs. So your 9.5 lb portfolio would be cutting it close! I'm planning on returning to work on Wednesday. I don't think I'll need the narcotics after today.the chest area doesn't hurt at all...it's the FG sites ~ where he took it out AND where he put it in that hurts the most! It's kind of a burning/stinging kind of hurt.



    sue~ I promise I'll give the nipple to you if I win! Lol! I agree with u on the working from home might be a bit boring. It would be nice to maybe have the option to do that a couple days a week. I really enjoy seeing my coworkers ~ and they have been so supportive during this crazy BC ride!



    Megan~ I haven't really gotten a good look at the FG sites or boobs really because I'm supposed to leave everything on for 72 hours. And now I understand when you were talking about having a hard time taking it easy with the arms! They feel 100 times less sore than from the BMX! I can't wait to get a better look at the foobs! Like I said...they sure do look like two tops of hamburger buns"



    Cameron~ I'm not sure how hard it would be to go back to dog grooming.? You def would not want to be picking up any dogs! But however much time you took off for work the first time..you could prob cut that time in half! I took off 5 weeks for the BMX , but could have gone back at about week 3. While I'm planning going back after only 5 days.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited April 2011

    Thanks Susan. Yes I was worried about how I would get those on as well as put on my compression sleeve for my LE. I'm even concerned about getting my jeans up over my hips. I think I'll be wearing yoga pants home from surgery.

    Looks like I won't be able to do my range of motion exercises for a while too… I hate that. Every time I get my range close to normal they do something to me and it sets me back. Maybe I can get a suitcase dolly to lug the portfolio around.

    Sounds like you're doing great. 

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Another great idea with the suitcase dolly! And sweats to wear home is smart because you want to be comfortable. He took some fat from the "love handle" area and having jeans over that would have hurt! I tink maybe I'll wear the spanx even after I can take the compression garment off...just so I can be sure the FG sites stay tight. I'll ask my PS about that at my appt next week. Do u know where he is going to take your fat from? You sound like you prob don't have many areas to choose from!:)



    And I totally understand about the frustrating arm restricts! I also had just gotten to the point where my arms had full range and didn't hurt at all anymore! Granted they don't really hurt right now..I did notice opening a pill bottle and pulling a door open. But this time it does not hurt to pull up my sweats, So that's nice! How are the TE's doing? You are done with filling, right?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited April 2011

    When I last met with my PS he grabbed my belly to see if there was enough fat… then he grabbed my love handles so he might be doing the love handles. I have plenty of areas of fat but they are on my butt and thighs not so much stomach and love handles but I do have some. I mean I am 49+1. In order for me to be muffing top I need to be wearing pants that 

    BTW after my BMX I discovered that pliers work well to open things like water bottles. I still do it because of the nail issues. Back then I would open the fridge door with my foot too.

    BTW most pill prescription bottle covers can be turned upside down so they are not people proof.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2011

    The thought of my PS 'grabbing' my belly or love handles....OMG!!!!  He has poked my natural girl which I didnt like so much but I am sure that was to see what my skin tone was like.  But he just LOOKED at my belly and declared not enough fat to make a boob...well, thats fine I guess.  And I know I dont get the free FGing with purchase of the boobs. Darn.  My inner thighs have never been thin.

    Susan how long are the arm restrictions?  I was thinking today during Zumba about my return again....I HOPE its not 8 weeks this time!!!  I doubt it.

    Lago - I second the motion on the pill bottles...I remember struggling with water bottles for a while - my 11 year old son was happy to oblige on those.

    Oh and a neighbor update - well, I joked to PS about stuffing a 420 implant under the muscle all in one shot as opposed to the TE side (funny how I used HER possible implant size to ask about my augment side - I was thinking about reporting back to you all)....he said its 'way different'.  Hmmmm.  Now what does THAT mean?  It sounds like my augment side will have an easier time than the TE side is having.  My current fill is T-I-G-H-T this week and I SO cannot wait for it to loosen up again.  Zumba was tough today!!!  I couldnt stretch at all.

    Cameron - yikes about the dog grooming.  My 'career' is on the computer so I have NO excuse for not working....except that I dont wanna!!

    Have a great weekend!

  • asr51
    asr51 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2011

    Susan, although I've not posted here before, I have been keeping up with all the posts.  I had what my PS calls Lipofill this past Wednesday.  I had bilateral lat flap reconstruction back in June and I have a huge bulge under my right arm.  The PS was supposed to take the fat from the bulge and fill my dents, etc.  He also took some fat from my stomach.  My question is can you tell a difference from where the fat was taken?  I know I'm swollen, but it seems like my bulge is still completely still there.  I'm very disappointed. By the way, I was told to wear spanx for 2 weeks.  It's interesting in that I'm not bandaged at all.  I have steri strips over some of the spots, but that's it.

    Thanks,

    Ann 

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Oh I like the pliers idea,lago...and yes I still use my foot alot to open/close doors!



    And the pre-op appt last week was the first time for us to discuss exactly WHERE I wanted the FG to come from. And he was grabbing my love handles, which I shouldn't care since he's seeing my naked boobs...but somehow that seemed more embarrassing! Sounds dumb , but when he does the next FG I would love him to do the thighs...but I'm not sure I want to be pant less with him grabbing my thigh cellulite! Lol!



    Sue- how the in the world is it "different" for the augment patient to have it stuffed under the muscle?? I will try to remember to ask my PS next week about that one and see what kind of answer I get. And doc says SIX weeks for arms :( he's really adamant about giving the site time to heal. I will resume my walking - went for a stroll with hubby today and I felt fine. Again , only the FG sites are sore. In fact I took my last percocet at 5 am ....and took 2 advil around noon...it's now 5pm here and I'm not in any pain. I may just take something at night so I can sleep better since I have to be on my back again.



    Ann, I still have my compression garment on so I'm not quite sure how the FG sites really look, but I do know that when my neighbor had lipo, it took awhile for the swelling to go down and everything settle before she could really tell. Now I can notice where he put it in...especially where my divet was! My boobs still seem kinda denser than I thought they would, and a little " flatter" but hopefully the "drop and fluff" will help with that a bit! And yes, no stitches for me. Just some bandages on the varios FG sites. I think I will be doing the spans soon since this corset one is very uncomfortable!



    Ann, I would think your bulge is just leftover swelling? Did you ask your doc about it?

  • asr51
    asr51 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2011

    I haven't seen the PS since the surgery.  When I woke up, he was long gone.  I don't see him again for 10 days.  I guess I'll have to wait until then to talk to him about it. The spanx aren't too bad.  I got the kind that's just the panty with a high waist.  I already had the thigh kind, but I think just the panty is more comfortable.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2011

    asr51 - after my MX I was shocked to see my PS but not my BS!  I also got the pleasure of seeing a gaggle of residents at one point.  I was a little beside myself and it mustve showed because when one of them came back the next day he said I was a little foggy the night before when I met him (read: attitude problem - the 6 of them walked in and stared at me while one said "how are you feeling?" and I didnt know what to say - um, shitty?)  But ANYway, when my PS came in, I was happy to see him, but I really wanted to have a chat with my BS about the lymph nodes and such.  Hmm..

    Susan - I know...the only thing I could think of was the incision is in a different place and there is a lot of trauma that happens to the area before the TE gets put in with a MX....plus pocket work?  My TE was really high up on my chest at first...maybe another inch or two higher than where it is now.  I remember that because I had BFF feel how hard it was and how high.  So maybe they make a larger pocket for the TE too? 

    I am so glad youre coming through so well....its awesome and inspiring to see us all get the gold star award here! 

    Diane - welcome and congrats on your successful surgery too!  Ibuprofin only!  Go you!

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Diane~ it sure IS nice to have this part over with! And I can't wait to get back to my normal exercise activities either! Sounds like you got he size you wanted :)



    Sue - yeah , what your saying makes sense regarding under muscle for boob job ladies. ..Speaking of boob job ladies ; ). How is yor neighbor doing? Does she have a surgery date yet?



    Happy Easter everyone!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2011

    Susan it's May 5th.  I offered my cooking and babysitting services but got "I think we'll be OK"....well, OK then!  LOL

  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 467
    edited April 2011

    Susan congrats on the exchange!

    Don't fret over the hardness right after exchange surgery.  Mine too took a while to soften up.  I didn't have any fluff either - maybe not with gummies - but I did have some drop and that kind of hurt!  Like a burning stretching kind of pain just on the bottom of the breast as the gummy settled down.

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited April 2011

    helllo ladies!  Seems like everyone is doing pretty well - nice! 

    congrats on the exchange, Diane - I'm in the sports bra still 24/7...

    I have one more week left on restrictions - come next Monday I will be able to head back to the gym and participate in classes, I will take it easy and see how it goes...tomorrow I finally start PT for my winged scapula.  It'll be great to get started on getting some range of motion back, I've been slouching for months now and cannot wait to get 'fixed'!  Next week I'll probably go and buy my first non-sports bra.  I'll head to Nordstom's and see what they say for size...

    Susan - glad things are going well, I am still seeing a shelf on top, it's not bad and I can't see it all the time, I am going to wait until I get moving and maybe strengthen the muscles a bit and see if it's still noticable, eh - I'll be going back to see my PS in June so I think I've got to wait and see how I drop and fluff still...

    Sue - so the fills are starting to get tight, huh?  It is great when a couple days go by and the super-tightness fades a bit.  I saw you were asking about arm restictions - I was on 6 weeks no lifting 10 lbs, and no arms over the head.  I gotta say that I find myself doing things I probably shouldn't - I just forget and then whoops! 

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Sue~ I'll be curious to see how your neighbor's experience differs from ours. That is if she will even tell you! ;)



    Thanks Marie. I did think the silicones would feel a lot softer...but being just 4 days out I can definately feel them softening up. And I swear they have even fluffed out a little! They really had the flat hamboober bun shape at first and I was wondering if I made a mistake going for the med high profile...but just today they seemed to have "relaxed" a bit and look more "boobish". And they fit nicely in bras I was wearing with my TE's. Much better actually because they squosh in their nicer. Now I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures yet since the exchange so I could really see the difference. I also find it odd that I have pretty much ZERO pain in the chest area. The only part that hurts right now is the fat grafting sites...like a sting or burn type of hurt. I haven't taken a percocet for over 24 hours. And I'm just taking an advil at night for the hell of it..not necessarily because I need to. I am a bit more tired than usual but other than that this surgery has been 10 times easier than the BMX! I still find it hard to believe I need to be on the 6 week arm restrictions again... No raising above head, no reaching behind back , and no lifting over 10 lbs. I know my PS says it takes 6 wks for the area to fully heal, but you just think it would be a little shorter this time around?



    Still waiting for my danskin sports bras to get here...hope they do before I go back to work Wednesday!

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Hi Megan! How exciting to go to get fitted! I'm looking forward to that! Will be nice to finally wear some cute sexy bras and not have the first consideration be whether or not they come padded!



    You say you see the shelf on top...did you see it at first or only after the swelling went down? I had the fat grafting in the upper poles..more on one side for the divet...it will be interesting to see how/if it changes or if the fat gets reabsorbed and doesn't "take". I also wonder worry about ripples. You said you can see a few in certain contortionist positions? ;) ...how soon did they show?

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited April 2011

    Susan - I see the shelf more now than in the beginning...I think as swelling went down I noticed it.  I am trying to make no judgments till the 3 months pass, alot can change I hear - and I am so anxious to see how everything pans out. Like I mentioned I am going to start to work on developing some muscle tone up there, of course, slow and steady, I won't take any chances with the new girls shifting! I feel like my upper back and chest have zero muscle left, and I wonder if toning up might smooth out my look...who knows, I am just guessing at that one!  I'm very interested in your FG, too...your results and experience helps me to understand it better - I think it's such a great option and wonder sometimes why I wasn't offered it, or maybe just not offered yet...

    As far as ripples, I noticed them a couple weeks out, if not a little before.  I see them when I bend over (flat backed) at the waist - I don't tend to hang out like that too often, (it is crazy how I have checked myself out lately, everrrry angle! ;-)  so I don't see the ripples just standing.  In a bra, the rippling and shelf aren't that obvious.   

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited April 2011

    Susan, Megan, SueBee, and all the rest of you wonderful women!!!!
    I have been keeping up with you all, but not posting much.  I have been a lurker!  First things first, I needed to finish my chemo yesterday.  It was a great finish, but very emotional as both my onco and PS had shared.  My kids wrote me love notes and it was quite clear that they were happy to have the chemo all over...especially the steroids.  Guess I was quite moody, who new?!!  Foot in mouth

    You ladies are so inspirational....now I am just starting to think about this new adventure!  I have gained 10 (ok, maybe 11 or 12!) pounds with chemo, so I need to get that done too before my exchange!  I just love reading about all the energy, excitement, worries, solutions, patience.  For now, I am sitting in bed recovering....

    Annie

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited April 2011

    Annie - I am sooo incredibly happy to hear that chemo is over for you!  You moved me with your post and sharing how emotional it was, and the love notes from your kids, how special! ...so glad you get to move forward and get ready for the exchange part! 

    I hope you get your rest and recover from yesterday - we are all here for you, please spend some time on this thread, it's done wonders for me as I navigated my way towards exchange, these ladies are super, aren't they?!?!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited April 2011

    Anniemom  - you betcha we are here for ya!!!  I am so happy it all went well.  You know Ill catch up with you on 'our thread' but for now, YEAH to you!!!

    Megan I think its all of the humor that goes along with the information that makes this thread so great!  We would have a blast all together!!!

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Meagan, I hear ya about it being hard not to make judgements until a few months after E-day. Seems like most people are happier with the results after time passes, but then you hear a few that aren't - so it can drive a girl to drink!



    Annie, nice to hear from you. I teared up reading your post because I know so many have more difficult journeys than others here. I could have chosen chemo and there has been a few times that I've realized that I would be still in the midst of that at this time. It must feel wonderful to have the chemo behind you. the notes from your kids are precious! I'm doing the Tamoxifen ( I call it the fatsweatybitch pill) and have a built in excuse for any moodiness my hubby or son complain about for the next 5 years! ;)



    I hope you are still relaxing, taking care of yourself, and are able to soon start focusing on the "fun" part (oYo) !!! :)



    ~Susan

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited April 2011

    Thanks ladies...i LOVE the humor on this thread.  By the way, I am not sure what has happened to me lately, but I am letting (no encouraging) EVERYONE to feel my coconuts.  What is up with that??????

    Oh, I and I going to take the sweaty pill in January, after my herceptin.  Lucky me.  Really, so happy there are these great drugs for us girls!

    Annie

  • Cameron
    Cameron Member Posts: 128
    edited April 2011

    Hey dudes.  I am soooooooooo sick right now with a cold.  I've pretty much decided to stop obsessing over size, and start obsessing that my boobs are too far apart. PS says they'll move a little closer together, E-day is 5/23!

    Good news: I dropped a size, I fit into my skinny jeans! Wore them yesterday with a scoop neck tee, and if I don't replicate this bod after E-day, Lord Help Us All. I really don't get why I've lost weight; I have been drinking nothing but water which is good, but I'm also on a BLT with avocado and beansprouts kick.  So I will take what I can get. I think it's multiple tiny decisions adding up to a healthier diet, BLTs being the exclusion. I love bacon. 

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited April 2011

    Who doesn't love bacon! You know they have this funky donut shop in Portland Oregon called VooDoo Donuts and they are famous for their bacon maple bar. Sounds odd,but it is delicious! Congrats on moving on to a new boob obsession, Cameron! ;) and big congrats on fitting unto the skinny jeans!



    Annie, I went through the "cop a feel" phase too! Lol! And you sure get to throw everything at the BC beast with your triple positive status! So how exactly do they do the herceptin? Is it through an IV, it's not a pill is it?

  • fluffqueen01
    fluffqueen01 Member Posts: 1,801
    edited April 2011

    Big news for me today.  After the initial culture came back negative last week, my plastic surgeon was frustrated so had them grow it. He just got the results today that it is pseudonomas aeruginosa, mild on one side, moderate on the other. Not a good bug to have.  However, I have few symptoms except pinkness of my breast, and a very low grade fever once a week. Other than that, I feel great.

    Plastic surgeon talked to my oncologist (they are next door to each other) who told him I can have surgery with the chemo I am on, expecially since I am on chemo only to mix it with the herceptin that is really important in my case.

    So, he started me on cipro today (second time...but we didn't know what the infection was last time since it came back negative), and has set surgery for next Monday. If he gets in there and it isn't bad, which he is hoping since I don't have many symptoms, he will flush it all out with antibiotics and whatever else they use, and put in my permanent implants. I am fully expanded and will be either 525 or 550. He said with my TE size now, I should be pretty similar, and I am a little bigger than what I would like so that should work.

    In a worst case scenario, the infection will be too nasty and he will have to take everything out and start over in a couple of months, which will suck, but he assures me we can move pretty quickly if that is the case.

    Whippetmom, I finally told him that you agreed with his assessment of siz and type and he is all puffed up now, grinning away..even went out and told his assistant. Then I added to it by telling him that my urologist (had a kidney stone two weeks ago) said I had a great plastic surgeon. Now there will be no containing him, but I thought he could use the positive reinforcement before surgery. LOL

    The best part of this story is my oncologist, whom I also love to death. He is an Indian guy, a yoga master, and the most positive of people. When I stopped by his office to drop off this info, and tell him surgery was Monday, he said, in he perfect Indian accent, "Well, unless there is bad infection, you can still come for your chemo on Tuesday morning with no problem, and to have the ps call him after surgery and let him know!" Now there is an optimistic guy.

    So...I am breaking all my plastic surgeons rules. He like to wait three months (I will be just over two months) and he likes to wait one month after chemo is done (I am halfway through on 12 weeks of weekely taxol-no side effects and blood counts are all good-including the ones that should recognize infection-go figure). Poor guy.

    So send some prayers my way for a positive outcome that involves a chest of some kind. LOL. I probably won't be on too much more until after surgery as I now have to go on a major cleaning initiative in the next five days, as well as try to figure out what all I need to have ready for after surgery.

    He said not drains though unless there is something that requires it, so I am thrilled about that!

    Jill