Exchange City
Comments
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tamgam- So glad your exchange went so well! Isn't it amazing how little pain meds are needed after exchange? That was the biggest surprise to me. Don't worry about liking them at first. I was the same way. (Mine was intense dislike.) They really do get better every day. I thought they would feel more like "me" at first, too, but that comes slowly. At first they felt like two blobs of Play-Doh on my chest. That is getting better, too. I am surprised they didn't send you home in a bra or something. My PS told me you want something with a fairly tight band to keep the implants in the proper place in the pocket.
I'm with M-star....what noises?
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Tamgam, Ahhh, the noises...Foob barts!!!!!!!!!!! Learned that on this very site, LOL. I had only one right after my exchange surgery. Felt like the foob was shuffling some air around. Weird, huh? Everyone says they are short lived, thank goodness.
Kate, since you are out ahead of me by about 10 days, I'm wondering if you still feel a lot of tightness on your chest and around the IMF? Do you have any weird muscle feelings like the muscle moving over the implant when you move? I have both these sensations pretty constantly now about 2 weeks out. I am more concerned about the comfort of the implants than the looks at this point. Also, my steri-strips are still hanging on--they told me they'd fall off on their own after two weeks but there's only a little pulling away at either end so far. deekaay
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Kate: I won't be able to get the report until Monday and my onc wants to see it. I was having a routine check up and my dr called to tell me it was low. Anyone here now how to boost it on their own? Do I need more protein? Very blue about it. BTW: My dr plans to use more Alloderm to fix the look of the top of the breast. Much better then fat grafting I hope. Except that I really want the lipo. For the Belly Fat. Bleh!0
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I too have loved seeing the dog pictures. I had a lab I had to put down about a year ago and it was extremely difficult. She was an old girl, 12, but she really was a great companion. I have two cats now but when I'm all healed up, I want to get another one! Thanks for making me smile with those pics!
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My exchange was yesterday and me anesthesia do not get along well. I wasn't as sick as the last time, but queezy, achy and itchy. Ugh. No rash though, and I had all of that the last time and then some. When I woke up in recovery I cried because there was the all familiar pain in my left side that has never gone away since the initial surgery in February. To think I would have to deal with the pain forever was incredibly depressing. But I feel better this morning so that is hopeful. Didn't have drains and that was a welcome relief.
My TE's were expanded to 310ccs and that is all my skin could stand. I thought I'd be lucky to get 300ccs implants. But guess what? He was able to put in a 325. And that is exactly what whippetmom recommended. So ... my PS overfills and still got a bigger implant than my TE's. That surprised me. I have yet to look at them, but they feel so soft! And my shelf is gone too! Yippeeee!!! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Yippee Squishy!!!!
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deekaay- I do still feel a little tightness beneath the breasts themselves after almost one month out. I know my PS had to do some pocket work to get my implants closer together. I haven't felt too much tightness in the IMF but have felt a lot more pain than previous 2 surgeries. It didn't help that the band of the surgical bra pressing on it made it worse. My PS recommended this special tape called Mepitac to put on the incisions. It's supposed to help it heal faster with less scarring. You put the tape over the incision and then replace it with a new strip every 7-10 days. It really did seem to help. As far as the steri-strips falling off, I may have helped them along a bit. It was either that or go slowly insane from the itching!
MBJ- I put a link on the other thread about boosting your immunity.
Dawne-Hope- So glad your exchange went well and that you were able to get the size implant you wanted. I had my exchange a month ago and we were very close. My PS expanded me to 365 and went with 375 implant.
Sorry you have problems with the anesthesia. My PS said whenever you're going into surgery to really slam the liquids 2-3 days ahead of time and then, again, afterwards. If your body is really hydrated it will shake off the effects of it much faster. And no alcohol a few days beforehand, either. My last surgery aside, this really did seem to help for anyone who's exchanges are coming up.
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Dawn-hope~ het glad to hear you're ok! And well done on getting a size you wanted! huh! No cahnce id get that lucky! Did you get gummys?
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m-star - No, I didn't get gummies. My PS doesn't have access to them. I just got the regular, silicone round.
I got bigger implants than I thought was possible maybe you will too!
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Tamgam -- I think the foob barts are from the smooth round silicone implants moving in the capsule and pushing air around but from what I've read here in the past it does go away.
MBJ -- so sorry to hear about the low white blood count! Did you get Neulasta shots while undergoing chemo? (I had them and they supposedly helped boost my counts). I did have a low count after the first few weeks of chemo and was hospitalized for an antibiotic drip (I guess because due the low count I developed a reaction to the bacteria in raw fruits and veggies). Are you feeling badly or suffering symptoms? Your pre-chemo count was pretty low to begin with...
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Dawn - Congrats on your exchange! I'm happy to hear you and so many have had little pain - a real blessing (me and a few others.....not so lucky.....but everybody's different)! I seem to remember telling you that your PS could probably fit a bigger implant in w/ the short-height TE's, so I'm glad that he did. Yippee for you!
Laura 2 - That Smudge is just too darn cute.......makes me smile just thinking how happy he is!
Estepp - We post at the same time so often because great minds think alike......
Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!
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My tattoos finished their "molting" a couple of days ago, so I had my DH take some final pics. I just posted them on the forum. So......it's really official........I AM COMPLETELY DONE!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!
Hugs to y'all!!
Val
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Waaaahooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Val! Going to check them out now
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I knew I had read about the foob noises but I sure hope they do go away. Not flattering at all! I was exchanged on Thurs. and am disappointed with the new girls. They are nice and soft and feel almost real but the nice high firmness I had with the TE was more attractive and youthful I think. I know its only been 2 days so I will wait so more. I really liked the look of my TEs just not the hard shell feeling. Bummed!
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Tamgam: Be patient, the foobs you see now are not the ones they will be in the end! JUDY
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I just posted updated photos of my lat flap surgery I had 4 weeks ago. under JenJo. The lat flap was necessary after my previously radiated breast failed 2 months after exchange to inplants. I have had 5 breast surgeries and I think I am finally done! Things are going well but there is definitely some rehab to do after a lat flap.
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Val- COMPLETELY DONE?!? WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO FOR YOOOOOOU! Congratulations Miss Val, you have now officially gotten your life back!
Tamgam- Mine seriously looked like two squished hamburger buns with nipples the first few weeks. Not pretty, sexy or remotely human like at first. (O.K., maybe human like, but barely.) Even though everyone told me this would happen my first reaction was, "Boy, did my PS f**k up my boobs or what?" It does get better. It does get better. It does get better. (That's what I mutter under my breath whenever I get a glimpse of them.) But it does!
JenJo- 5 Surgeries? Yowza! Congrats on being done, too. Good luck with the recuperation!
I just read "NaughtybyNature's" tag line and I think we should all adopt this as our new mantra-
"Be the kind of woman that, when your feet hit the floor each morning, the Devil says, "Oh crap, she's up!" LOVE IT!!!!!!
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Hi Ladies, I am now about 5 weeks out post-exchange, The foobs are not that great loking, even thuogh swellig and most bruising is gone. Where can I check out pics to compare mine?
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Dawn & Tamgam: Congratulations on your exchange!!! Dawn, this is too late now, but I no longer do morphine and I don't have any nausea with Tramadol. If you ever have to go under again (god forbid) ask them about alternatives. Heal up quickly and easily ladies!
Kate: Thank you!!! Great Quote! I think that will be my new Mantra!!
Val: I hope you are celebrating--Congratulations and in the spirit of Kate, WHAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!
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JenJo: Wow, five surgeries! I hope for you that you are done! Congratulations on hopefully being done!
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Lilah: My blood count didn't go down until after my 6th chemo--it was right before surgery that it got so low and then after surgery I am sure they probably gave me a boost of Neulasta. I did have it throughout my chemo. I asked my dr to fax me a copy so I can get it to my Onc. Hopefully it's temporary.
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Kate: I can't find the link! What thread are you referring to?
Never mind--I found it! It was the thread I posted on by accident LOL! Only side effects are lack of brain power!
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MBJ- No problem!
mslrg- To get to the Picture Forum you have to PM a member called Timtam and ask for access. You've posted a lot so you should have no problem. Timtam is very busy, and dealing with her own treatment, so she may not get back to you right away.
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MBJ - oh chemo brain for me
You DID write before surgery and I just saw it as before chemo. How long ago did you finish your chemo? It does seem strange that it's so low (especially as I think it's been awhile for you, judging by the length of your hair in that photo I hope the ONC and other docs can get to the bottom of this; I would have them retest it as well -- it could be a mistake! MsLrg -- I'm sorry you're not happy yet -- are you getting close to happy? You had so much sculpting done! Have you discussed your displeasure with your PS and, if so, what does he/she say? And re: Pictures... yeah what Kate said. Be patient.
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Lilah: That is my biggest side effect--chemo brain! My last chemo was 3/1/10. I thought it was unusual that it would be low, too. My onc says it can go on for awile but I can't imagine why it is still so low. I take tons of supplements and antioxidants. Hopefully I will find something out on Monday.
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On the picture forum: I PMd timtam and she said she's not adding any new access to the forum because it's moving to a new web hosting service and is transition right now. She told me to check back with her in about a month. I was hoping to see some pics of TEs as I thought mine looked strange. But I guess they are normal; like Kate said, sort of like two squashed hamburger buns; good description.
Regina
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Kate - So I will have to have pocket work also, to move the TEs a little closer together. Do you know what they do excatly? Do they cut the muscle? If so I would think that would be painful? Are you happy with yours and the way they moved them closer together? Did you post pictures?
Thanks, Valerie
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Valerie- I'm not sure what they do. I meant to ask my PS when I saw her afterwards because I was amazed how close she got them. She wasn't being too encouraging before exchange so that was a nice surprise. I had about a 2" gap before and now it's about 3/4". (Yes, cleavage!) I don't think they cut any muscle on me because I was pretty pain free within a few days after exchange. I've been having some mild pain across the breast but from what I've read it could be a result of the additional Alloderm she used.
I'm getting happier with mine every day but they are definitely in transition. Nips seem a little low right now but seems to be getting better as I "drop and fluff". My pics are on the picture forum under "Boob Fairy Came For Me after Nipple Sparing MX". The last photos I posted I still have my stitches in from Alloderm. Stitches are out but area is still red so will post new ones in a week or so.
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Regina~
What stage are you at with your TE's? How much saline do you have in them right now? If you PM me with your email address,i don't mind sending you a couple of my pics so you can compare. Though i must say,everyone is different. I realised this when i saw all the pics on the pic forum.
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I'd like to send a message to Timtam so I could post some pics, but when I go to the homepage where i can send on the 'to' there is an arrow and I click on the arrow and nothing happens ... there is a teeny tiny space, not nearly enough for one letter. What is going on and how can I reach timtam? Thanks for your help.
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Dawne-Hope- Normally you can click the search button on the upper right of the screen and then type in the member's name. Their page will come up and you can either click "Add as Favorite Member" or "Send Member a Private Message". For some reason no one's pages are coming up. I did want to let you know that Timtam is in the process of moving the picture forum to a new hosting service so it'll be awhile before you can start posting pics.
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