Exchange City
Comments
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Laura, I am learning all the different feelings too and sometimes it is a scary thing to me. I was released to begin exercising last week (4 weeks post exchange). Rode my bike for 10 miles and when I got home the left arm where the nodes were taken became really numb and cold, I elevated it the rest of the evening and the next day it was improved but the circulation feels so very different. Needless to say, I will cut back on the bike riding for a while. Also have noticed the skin is indeed so very cold, zippo feeling on each breast and the other day I scraped against the door going out my car and it was just weird no feeling just pressure.
Still notice the implants being there, they contract a lot, does anyone else notice this and how long does it take before you don't have discomfort with them??? At the end of the day they just feel heavy.
Ok thanks for listening~ Anna
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Kate and Dublin I hope you are both home and recovering comfortably
Lilah I do have some feeling around my breast where it is close to my chest wall. I am numb around the scar where my nipples used to be...about a 3" diameter circle of numbness =\ My ps says that feeling may return over time....but it may be a long time for nerves to regenerate.
Anna 10 miles on you bike must have felt wonderful.....except for the after effects =( Hopefully our bodies will adjust to these changes and complications will be less over time
I gardened for about 3 hours this morning.....it was heaven. I feel ok tonight, just needed a little tylenol.
Anna I am still aware of my implants as well. I think I'm in my 7th week and it is a lot better than it was at 4 weeks. At 4 weeks my implants still felt very snug and I still felt pressure on my chest...not as bad as TEs but similar. It is definitely easing up now
Strengt, healing and comfort to all,
Laura2
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Half my troubles are due to feeling coming back FAST! I am the one who had feeling back asap... thus is why I believe I have nerve issues.
GeeWhiz... I SOOOOOOOOOO love to hear what you are saying about the Rads after implant, and it being OK... so far... AMAZING!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So far, I was about the only one whose rads/implant was working out 100%. Most failed.. and some are still in.. but the sister is only about 70% happy.. Or less...:(
I will go check for your pictures... Important protocol to post after!! TY for sharing!
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Kate, In case you come back for one more little peek at BCO tonight or in the AM, sending you best wishes for an easy day and a wonderful result!
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I just heard from Dublin, and she is doing well....I'm sure she will post when she is feeling up to doing so...
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Kate & Dublin: Hope you are resting well and happy!!0
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Jerusha -- how are you doing???
Glad to hear that Dublin is well!
Kate??
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Ladies- soo super excited I have a date for exchange. I am always reading this thread and finally have something to post. I get my new squishees on July 22! I am so ready to trash these hard turtle shells and exchange for some softer more natural ones!
Postive energy going out to all of you having surgeries this week and constant prayers for all my BC sisters!
Hugs☺
T
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Wooohoo Tam!
Send a PM to Mykidsmom (who started this thread) and she will add you to the list at the top!
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MBJ took a look at your photos you look great!
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Kate - thinking of you and hoping you are doing well.
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Prairie mermaid (cool screen name, love to hear the story
Yes, after the exchange, you are going to be must more comfortable...some women do say that afterwards they look like squished and flattened hamburger buns, and I'd agree. Mine was bruised up too.
Remember, it's still surgery, altho a much, much easier one. so your new girls are going to have to do what's called "settling, dropping and fluffing"...this happens over the course of several weeks, days, or months, depending on your skin, rads damage, etc. I was so glad to come here to these boards and find out that no, I wasn't looking at the finished product right away
...all good things in time!Initially I thought that mine was way smaller than the expander...once it dropped and fluffed, it was larger! Ah, that scratchy feeling...hated it. But Palmers' cocoa butter helped the outside sooo much, and for some reason, massaging with it, helped the inside. Don't get too vigorous tho.
If you have any questions, re the size, ask your PS, as that is his province, or Deborah, she is our resident expert on this and the most wonderful person! Ask how many cc's are in there and that can give you the approximate cup size to anticipate. Ask also (you'll want to know this later, for bra shopping etc., what brand (Mentor, Allergan, etc., saline or silicone) .
Yippee Squishee is our silly word on here for congratulations on your new SOFT boobs! And you sure will love the feeling.
some of us wake up like Disney princesses loving them from the first second, but more of us take a little while to get used to it. I loved mine, buises and all, as after all, she was still me, the outside of her anyway. It was only the "stuffing" i had changed.
. I did lose my nipple so I have barbie boob, but that is fixed down the road.Take care, whew! You are now expanded! Now relax, let the girls stretch themselves to get ready to become the beautiful new ladies. Those itchy, scratchy, turtle shells are now working hard, doing a good job for you.
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hope4future: Thank you, Hope! Never thought I'd be posting pictures for all the world to see, but if it helps someone else on their journey, then it is so worth it!
anniealso: You are always so elegant and encouraging with your word of wisdom. I tend to just blurt whatever is rattling around in my chemo-brain. I am sure that many other women here also appreciate the thought and care that go into your posts-thank you!
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Kate: Hope your yippee squishees and you are healing up well and that they are settling happily into their new home! Can't wait to hear how you are doing :=)0
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Dublin4: I hope that you, too are healing up and we are all looking forward to hearing your progress!0
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I have a question ladies: For those of you who went bigger: would you go medium profile or high profile? My PS leans towards natural, medium profile, but I am afraid I won't have enough projection-- any thoughts? Keep in mind, I am a uni.
Thanks for your input!
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MBJ - I thought I was going for the same size but I ended up smaller, especially on one side. I'm researching before I have a revision and the docs I'm talking to wanted to know what size stuffin I currently have. We were surprised to learn that I have full profile implants that are supposedly over-filled (450s filled to 480cc). One PS said they feel under-filled and I have a shelf with no fullness in the upper pole. I wonder if maybe there is a mistake somewhere... I'm not a big person and I'd think 480cc would give me more projection than I have (currently one 34C, one 34B). Also wonder if maybe my pecs are flattening the saline implants (hence the wrinkles I can feel). I would have thought getting two reconstructed breasts to match would be easier than getting a uni to match but apparently not! Have you looked at the brochures with sizing info? I've been really studying the implant sizes cuz I think I need to go larger to get rid of my ripples, unless I can get gummies. Since I already know what I supposedly have, I can compare the size chart to see what is similar. I did this with the PS before the exchange, using the TE size and measurements he took but I guess there is more to it than selecting the size you want (i.e., bra size). Good results depend on the pocket size and the amount of skin you have, as well as how your tissue relaxes (or doesn't) with the implant.0
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astorm: Thanks for your reply and I am sorry that you have to have a revision. There are no guarantees are there? I know that Kate mentioned she had the same amount of fills on each side of her TE's yet one was much larger!
Everything you just said were the fears that I spoke about with my PS yesterday! It's reading about women who now need to have further revisions that make me want to go high profile and larger. I don't know what your ribcage measurement is, but mine is 32" so the 500-550 looks natural to my height and weight. My PS says that my new silicone implant will be about 25 cc's less without the expansion part and that it will also progect less. Of course, everything can change once he gets in there and actually does the exchange. Did you have any fat grafting done for the upper pole? I know that my PS plans to do some at the time of exchange and then again further down the road.
Thank you for sharing!
Mary
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Mary - I was looking into the fat grafting but decided I really needed a revision. Deborah has been very helpful in providing suggestions and resources. At first I just wanted to get on with my life but now I'm taking my time so that this time I make the right choices. Each PS I talk to offers a different approach -- PS who did the exchange thinks fat grafting will address all issues (have my doubts about the asymmety). others are saying new implants (guess they have to replace them if they go back in) and probably with a larger size or more ccs. I've heard that fat grafting helps with the shelf and I will most likely have that issue unless I get anatomical (e.g., gummies) which have their issues too. Too bad all the docs don't concur, would make it easier!0
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Just had a fill of 60ccs - now up to 360ccs. No pain at all. Asked about exercising again and he said anything, including waterskiing. EXCEPT NEVER do push ups, bench presses or flies EVER. I know other doctors say different - why can't they concur? I just don't want to risk the implants shifting to under my arms. .....
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I'd like to add my well wishes to Kate and Dublin.
I've got one more fill of 60cc and will get exchanged 8/16. I'm a uni and think the TE looks pretty good (I'm a small 36B). Does anyone like the TE better than the implant?
Karyn
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Kittycat and anyone dealing with nausea....I don't know if this is true...haven't tried it....but...someone I know just used those anti nausea wrist bands on a cruise and said the package says they can be used for any kind of nausea including nausea from chemo.
Just passing it on.
Might get some to keep at the house in case anyone gets the flu and try them out.
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What is Tim tams?
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MJB. Thank you! I love everyone's posts too!
I'm also a uniboober and the original lady is a DD. So imagine that; I should be walking in circles.
I had a natural projection as the idea was to match me in "slope and drape" as best as could be.
Now I honestly wish I'd done the high profile as saggy old 54 year old me now has one smaller droopy gal and the mothership of droopy for Barbie.
Grrrr...always something, right? Well, that's what Victoria's Secret is for, right?
Dublin, Kate....heal well girls!! Sending love and good vibes!
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LOL Annie -- well I feel your pain. I went ahead and did a reduction on my original droopy gal -- have to say I'm glad I did. It doesn't guarantee an absolute match but it is better!
And as I already said elswhere: I love your picture Annie! You are gorgeous!
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Thank you again, Lilah, geez, I'm getting a swelled head listening to you
. I would have the scar my PS said vertically from the nipple; how is that for you? I sort of hesitated over that one. Can they flash it with a laser or something?
I actually want a prophy on her as Im effing sick to the back teeth of bc already. I would rather go thru that again, than worry all the time. I wonder if they can reduce her and just lift her up and destuff her?.....
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Annie -- I have that scar but it's already fading quite a bit... I've got a post up on the pic forum but it'll scare ya lol -- I had a lot of bruising and swelling... and the last pic I put up was two weeks ago... but it was looking better... looks even better now! I have to say I don't mind the scar... it will fade. And I'm SURE perky! You can see my before (well it only begins after my second lumpectomy, which was ugly)... but you can see the difference if you go have a look.
So far I'm okay without the prophy but I totally hear you Annie.
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I met with my PS on Monday and decided to go for the silicone implants. He took the time with me to go over all thirteen of my typed questions. Thank you all for your opinions. So appreciate them!
anniealso - 'barbie boob' love it! haha!
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anniealso: I am so walking in circles right as we speak!! LOL! Yay, you finally posted a beautiful picture we can all see. Go for the lift and stuff, I say. I'm a perfectionist and if they don't get it right this time, I'll do it again. I was a B/C before BC (ha!) but I hope they get at least a C out of me. I guess I will know by the end of August.
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MBJ -- LOL a B/c before BC!
Dawne -- woo hoo!
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