Exchange City

Brenda I hoep you had a great trip I hope all goes well tomorrow. I will keep you in my prayers.

Rebecca

Funsizejen -- WELCOME!!!!  And boy do you get a gold star and my everlasting admiration for reading all 546 pages!!!  OMG I tried when I first started reading and posting to this thread -- I think it was around 300+ then and I gave up after 100 pages and just cut to the end and started posting lol... very impressive!

Jennifer(Jkz) -- wahooooo!!!!!!  Hope you are already out and feeling good and looking good!

Regina (ladyinbama) -- yeah I slept on my back for a few months after MX/TE surgery... in fact I did not feel truly comfortable sleeping  regularly on my side again until just before my exchange (5 months later)... now I'm starting to sleep on my side again (a little at a time) about 3 months post-exchange.  Others have gone back to side sleeping sooner.  I figure if it hurts, don't do it   Eventually it will stop hurting.  But by all means go back to sleeping with your hubby!  (Just sleep on your back).  I've gotten so used to sleeping on my back this year that it's really not a big deal to me anymore.  (And I, like MBJ, only had one side done... I did sleep on my good side sooner than my cancer side but, like her, even that was uncomfortable at first).

Brenda -- is your exchange tomorrow???? If so -- good luck!!!!!!

Well I am home and feeling pretty good! I am wrapped up so from what I can see I really don't think they look much better then the tissue expanders. He said he will make all the final revisions at the next surgery/nipple recon. Now I can't wait for that.

MBJ- I was never comfortable with my expanders they were just hard and uncomfortable from day 1. I was able to lay on my side but I still would wake up in pain until I moved around a bit. I had my 1st surgery in March 16. When is your exchange surgery scheduled for? Things will get better. Believe me. I just can't wait till I am complete!

For those of you who have had their exchange surgery what was the time span between the exchange and your nipples?

Jennifer

Jennifer -- but don't they FEEL better already???? God I felt instant relief the moment I woke in recovery.... anyway you can't tell what they look like yet don't even try!  Just rest up and feel good

I think nipple timing is variable but certainly you need to heal for at least 6 - 8 weeks (I should think).   In my case my PS, who I just saw for a follow up about 2 1/2 months after surgery, didn't even want to talk about nipples yet!  All she said to me was that because the skin is tight she is  more inclined to do a graft now (originally she said she would do an origami type method as I call it

Thanks ladies. I've still got one drain in and am hesitant to get back in bed with that in case hubby accidentally lands on it and pulls it at night. But I'll get back in bed as soon as it comes out and if I can't side sleep, I'll just try back sleeping, which works well in the recliner, I've just never done it in bed. My TEs are at 500 now and he's not planning on any fills. So, after exchange, are the implants easy to sleep on/with? I hope this is not going to be a forever problem, although I guess like Lilah said, you get used to it.

Kate, yes we tested "sickness and in health" after just 6 months. We tested "richer or poorer" after 6 days when he got laid off from work less than a week after we married! We were together 24/7 for 3 months. Talk about testing a marriage!

Regina

Giselle:   Whenever you're ready to start 'researching'  PM me.  I know the people who do 3D tatts all over the world...Judy

ESTEPP - You are a GENIUS!!!  Lady's you need to get the Paul Mitchell 3 shampoo estepp suggested to get the anthesia out of my hair!  I can't believe the difference in my hair after one use! 

Sidesleep - I did side sleep after 2 months with TE's.  I would be really sore in the morning for a while but worth the sleep!

jkz - so glad your procedure went well.  I have been doing much better since Kate33 told me to step away from the mirror......

kate33 I really needed you that day and I say that in my head and smile as soon as I am tempted to look again.  In a 5 days they already look better other then the ripple's.  The nurse told me it was because on that breast the skin is sooo thin.  So I told myself you are here on this earth, you have a terrific husband, 4 beautiful children....get over the ripple's!

Thank you ladies for all the support you give me....I am typing this through tears.....I am truly blessed to have you in my life! 

tashrox - guess I'm the first to respond.....yes, your insurance should cover a revision, as long as your PS can document the need with pics, etc.  Before my revision, I think my PS took pictures from every imaginable angle just to prove the need....

boromom - I got my nips in May, and must say they are absolutely worth it!  My PS, however, does them in the OR under general anesthesia, though a very light general, so I can't tell you anything about the procedure itself.  The healing part is fairly easy.  I did have a bit of discomfort at the sight for a couple of days - just tylenol, though.  The hard part was no sweating/exercise for 2-3 weeks; since we tend to sweat a lot on our chests - at least I do - the potential for bacteria to invade the incisions is there.  The only other hard part was dealing with the dressings - little gauze doughnuts that pretty much showed through any kind of clothing.  Depending on where you live, you might be able to wear some gauzy scarf or loose top and be just fine, though....  Good luck!

My exchange is tomorrow, but I'll believe it when I see it! (Or see them.)

Instant relief, Lilah?  I am so used to these TE's I don't really know what instant relief means.

Jennifer, I'm happy for you.  You are almost there!

Rebecca and Lilah, thanks for the well wishes.

I had so much fun in Nova Scotia, the memories will keep me smiling while awaiting my surgery to be over.  There's nothing like having good times with BC sisters.

Brenda 

Brenda, finally your day has come!  Wishing you sweet dreams and yipee squishies!!!

Regina, on the side sleeping and marital bed...I have been side sleeping after all my surgeries, even with the TEs.  The trick that worked for me was to get on my side, keep my arm along my side to keep my shoulder back.  That way I wasn't curling forward and causing discomfort.  I go between my right side and back throughout the night.  I was determined to stay in the marital bed throughout all this crap, so when I have drains, I wear a big t shirt so I can gather them all under my shirt and I feel less vulnerable to my dh's noctural movement.  Or a Softee with the internal drain pockets tucks  them away well, too.  This gave me enough peace of mind to stay in our bed and still get some sleep. Best of luck to you with the side sleeping.  deekaay

DeeCee and jkz - glad things went well!  It was a couple of days before I had the courage to look and I was pleasantly surprised.  But whatever the initial verdict, they will change!    Glad you made it thru OK! 

adnerb - praying for you tomorrow.  May the wait be worth it!   

What Dawn just said ....:)

xxxooo

As for side sleeping.  I slept on my side with TE and with implants.  But not until I had no pain left from the surgeries.  One thing I did when I had my TEs is to put a pillow behind my back so I could lean into it.  Keeps you from scrunching forward.  I also put one of my heart shaped pillows under the TE.  I even got to the point that if I turned over, the heart pillow just went with me to the other side.  I loved those pillows.

Lilah I agree about Judy's comment onn the nibbles. She sure sounds and looks like the life of the party. Can't wait till October to meet her .