Exchange City

p.s to MBJ:  I also, had really think rads skin, and my foob can be purplish or not, depending on how much I am moving or the temperature.  I think the circulation isn't as good to them.

I guess I'd ask my PS, but for me, that went away in about 1 year....now she's pink and warm and I have most of the feeling back in my boob and my back and side.

Before I get sensation back, (yes, even hot and cold) this is preceeded by intense itching, which is the nerves regenerating.

Good luck!  This takes alot of time, but it's worth it.

anniealso:  It's always great to get your input--it's tough on our husbands, and I also worry about him no longer finding me attractive.  He is still chasing me around the house, so I guess I don't have any problems yet, but he loved my small breasts and now I am going to have maybe average sized breasts to try and make them match.  Every once in awhile he voices concerns about me going bigger and I keep trying to reassure him that once the expander is out, it won't be as large, but I secretly think he is going to like them.  He went with me to every expansion appointment and by his reaction, I think we are going to be okay

anniealso:  It's always great to get your input--it's tough on our husbands, and I also worry about him no longer finding me attractive.  He is still chasing me around the house, so I guess I don't have any problems yet, but he loved my small breasts and now I am going to have maybe average sized breasts to try and make them match.  Every once in awhile he voices concerns about me going bigger and I keep trying to reassure him that once the expander is out, it won't be as large, but I secretly think he is going to like them.  He went with me to every expansion appointment and by his reaction, I think we are going to be okay

anniealso-  I always love reading your posts!  Love the analysis of restuffing the couch cushions!  LOL!  And the fake boobs, real hearts.  You truly have the soul of a writer.  Thanks for inspiring!  What a great way to start my Sunday!

No worries Kate   I was more nervous before exchange too.  I was petrified before MX/TE but about a week before the surgery I entered a sort of state of denial (or something) where I just stopped worrying because I knew it had to happen.  The week before exchange I was more nervous (and yeah I did the nesting thing too -- though I did do that before MX as well)... I think it's the fact that this time it's the "final" surgery (or so we hope) whereas with the TEs you know it's temporary.  Anyway breathe!  And know this: the implants will feel MUCH better than the TEs   And given how good your TEs look, Kate, I'm thinking you're going to be very pleased with your implants!

Dawne -- what are your concerns about the silicone?  (Since you're leaning that way, I'm assuming that is your real area of interest?).  I think unless you want something larger than 800 cc's (which is as large as silicone currently comes) the general concensus is that silicone will feel better (softer) and ripple less than saline... but saline is best if you want a very large size (since only saline comes in sizes larger than 800 cc's).

Lilah - I was a child of the 80's when the whole silicone scare came out and that's really all  I knew about silicone.  So, I've had to learn a lot.  My big concern was safety.  Are they really safe?  What if they do leak?  I know the gel is more cohesive than the past.  I'm a bit of a worrier (I'm trying to get over that!) and just want them to be safe.  And the other big question that I've worried about is, will insurance cover the cost?  I don't want to get them and then three years later my insurance company says, "Sorry, pay those thousands of dollars yourself, we're not covering that MRI."  I don't have insurance through my work now, but will in three years, or I would call and ask.  Not sure what the company will be in three years.

I can't help re: MRIs and insurance... but when I was going through this I attended a seminar at Sloan Kettering in NY (where I had my surgery) on the subject of reconstruction.  They covered every option (all the surgeries that use your own tissue as well as implants) and made a point of saying that after the scare of the 90s there was extensive research conducted over a period of 10 years and the conclusion was that the rate of health problems in women with silicone implants vs. women without was the same and so there is no evidence to support claims that silicone causes health problems.  That said, if you opt for the cohesive gel (gummy) implants then you would be getting a silicone that can literally be cut in half and does not leak (just forms two halves).  These are firmer than traditional silicone (I have one) but still soft and shapely.  Maybe an implant of that type would give you more peace of mind?  There are two brands: Mentor CPG and Allergan 410.  You could put that on your list of questions for your PS and see what he says.  I think they are both still in clinical trials here in the US but have been in wide use in Europe and Canada for over 10 years.  (I know Allergan is still in trials -- in it's final year of trials actually -- but not sure about the Mentor CPG).

DawneHope & AStorm: I believe that after all of the extensive studies that were done, silicone implants are now much better made as a result.  It's the exterior of the implants that deteriorates on both saline or silicone, so the re-do is going to be necessary no matter what.  Many last longer then 10 years and my feeling is, that in ten years we will have better options so I might want to change them out no matter what.  Unless you do crazy physical stuff ie.: pole dancer, you are karate kid or a boxer or you receive a hard blow to the chest-your chances of leaking are pretty slim.  I personally want to go with silicone.  You can have rippling with saline even if you aren't having reconstruction and the silicone is less likely to, though  there are no guarantees.  Also, I hear silicone looks and feels more natural.  Lilah is right, unless you need to go larger then 800 cc's, silicone is esthetically a better choice.  Speak up--you have earned the right to have someone listen to you!

Kate:  I liken the exchange process to a girl on her wedding night with high expectations--We all want to have amazing outcomes but our hopes and fears are in the hands of our PS and out of our control.  I find myself going over and over the same thing with my husband, the nurse the PS--anyone who will listen to me, damnit-- to make sure we are all on the same page.  You have great before pictures and I can only think that you will also have great after pictures.  You are so lucky to have kept your nipples!!. 

DawnHope and Astorm, I've had silicone implants since 2000, no leakage, did get cc which basically squished the implant, still no leak when it was removed!  Switched it out for another silicone, I'm personally not too worried. BTW, have mentioned this before, in past have never had mri's every 3 years, last ps talked about having one after 10 years, so this is all new with the extra mri's, which I think adds to concerns. I do believe once they're in and you're comfortable with the implants, you'll stop worrying about any leakage issue!  I hope!!

Kate33, Dublin and Jenjo! Best to you this week!!!  

Jenjo:  How are you doing after your lat flap surgery?  Hope everything is going well...

Kate33:  I have a feeling you will be just fine.  I looked at your pics, and you are looking really good with just the T.E.'s!   I can just imagine they will look even better after the exchange.  Hope you will feel better as well.

Deekay:  You and I are getting our exchange on the same day!  Yippee squishies for you and me!!!

Brenda 

Kate33- You will be fine, but I know it is normal to get nervous before surgery - I would take the valium, it will make you nice and relaxed.

Anybody know what is the average wait time between last fill and exchange?  Is longer better?  My PS says at least 4 weeks.

So my dear, dear husband threw me a suprise nearly 50th birthday party last Friday on June 25th.  I will turn 50 on Dec 25th, so it was a total suprise. There were like 80 people there and all of them know that I had surgery.  I still felt so funny giving them hugs and having them feel these hard "coconuts" (TEs).  Anyway we had a great time - but can't wait for the exchange!!!

Hi Ladies, I have to ask again: How much bruising and swelling did you get with your exchange surgery? I look so beat up. PLus, the areas where I had lipo as well as my incision sites, have got this red, raised, swollen, scaly, itchy inch-thick line. I hurt so much. Moving even slightly hurts more, and makes me nauseaus. Surgery was on Monday. I see my PS for a post op tomorrow. What are your thoughts?

Mslrg -- I had a LARGE amount of bruising on my reduction side (not on implant side).  I did not have lipo.  On my reduction side the entire lower half of my breast was as purple as an eggplant (DARK purple in other words) for at least 10 days - 2 weeks following surgery.  The bruising also went as far down as my hip (dark there as well though not quite as solid).  My PS said it was blood from the breast following the line of gravity down to my hip.  The bruising on my body healed faster than on my breast.  Bruises follow a color pattern... from purple to green to yellow-brown as the blood is reabsorbed into the body.  When I saw my PS a week after surgery she was not at all alarmed (though her nurse wondered if I was on blood thinners -- I was not).  Anyway it seemed to me it got worse before it got better (for example.. the bruising on my body below my breast to my hip seemed to get bigger before it disappeared).  I think as swelling goes down the bruising can come to the surface more.  In my case my PS thinks a blood vessel burst and caused all of my bleeding (she said I hadn't bled much at all in surgery and was not bleeding when I left it!)  I also was very swollen and still am now, though not as much (7 weeks after surgery).  In fact my reduction breast is hard in places from the hematoma that formed under the skin (it continues to soften and will take months to get back to normal).  I was pretty alarmed and worried that first week but seeing my PS put me at ease.  That said, the red raised itchy part is not familiar to me -- could be infection, I suppose, though could also just be scabbing (and you're itchy from nerves or from healing -- actually I was itchy from healing).  I had a thick looking, dark red scar too (I thought) but it turned out to be a scab that came off about 5 weeks after surgery (and the incision underneath was a fine line and pink.. now healing to normal color).  You could be suffering from a low red blood count -- which can make you dizzy (which in turn can make you nauseous).  I had that as well due to blood loss even though it was all internal.  You might want to ask your doctor to test your RBC.  It's common after surgery to have a low red blood count.  I only found out about mine because I'm still on Herceptin and my ONC checks my RBC every three weeks; I went in for Herceptin the week after surgery and my RBC had gone from 11 to 8... a big drop in three weeks time. Anyway, I'm glad you're seeing your PS tomorrow!  Hopefully everything you are feeling is normal post-surgical stuff... and if not you will have a doctor's opinion and examination.