Exchange City

Kate:  Ugh!  I hope they won't make me wear this thing another week!  I don't think it can be washed and I wore it home dirty with antiseptic all stained down the front and I am not allowed to shower until I get the bandages off!  Let's hope I can wear my spanx or my Warner's which I will bring with to my appointment tomorrow.

iHeartu -- a protector can be made from bandages.  Many doctors make a layer of bandages (with a hole cut in the middle) to fit around the nipple.  I'm sure your doctor will give you good protection for the new nips

thanks Lilah!

MBJ:  After each of my last 2 surgeries, after I was out of the surgical bra, I wore a bra during the day, but not at night. It was just a soft, comfortable, non-underwire bra; I took one to my PS to make sure he thought it was the right type and he said OK.

After I was fully healed, he said I never had to wear a bra again, unless I wanted to! I was very happy, because I hate bras.  However, after some loving scolding from the Breast Whisperer, I do wear a bra sometimes now.

I asked what sizes they were going into surgery with, how long the surgery would take, were they doing fat grafting or Alloderm and how close a match were they going to get.  When I found out they were going to do lipo, I also requested where I wanted them to take the fat from.  They were going to do my sides, which in retrospect I guess could have resulted in a smaller waist, however I had been stuck with a tummy pooch from a surgery I had years ago and I begged at pre-op and right before going under the knife to please flatten my belly.  It is still swollen, but they did oblige me and they also took off a couple of large moles off of my back. However, I found that I always had to repeat myself at least 3-4 times because most of the time they didn't right things down and just promised to do things but always forgot on the next appointment.  I say there isn't any question too big or too small.  Right before going under my PS asked my if I still liked the size of my TE and I said, yes, go as big as you can go and he did.  I love my dr's and I love the women on these threads!  Good luck at your appointment! 

Thanks, MBJ for your suggestions for questions. I had a bajillion questions for him before he put in the TE, but was drawing blanks as to what I should be asking him now. 

Hi Ladies,

I haven't been on here for a while....daughter and granddaughter visiting from VA...my son-in-law is overseas ---aboard carrier in middle east.....anyway  hope everyone's doing good.

MBJ- sounds like you are happy and also anxious to see your results..that's great...  I will now go to the forum and vote.....I hope its not too late.

Coolbreeze - glad to hear you finally have a date for exchange.

Joansf - in answer to your "uni" question - I am also a uni and had my natural breast augmented since I was an A before ....I just want to be a B.  PS put an adjustable implant in the natural side and after swelling went down I had some removed and I am very happy with the results.

Thanks everybody.  All I dream about these days is being able to sleep on my stomach or side without that rock hard expander digging into my chest wall.  It's hard enough to sleep on tamoxifen as it is, without each time I move or turn over having that thing dig into me.  (The valve is poking through the skin and it hurts)

They are planning on putting in a small implant in my real side to get a match.  I've always been a C now but once they drained some cysts, there is a divot and although there is no droop, there is some flattening - he thinks he can fix it and make them match.  I'm 98 pounds and currently wearing a DD bra because of the expander.  I augment my real side to match the expander, and I look ridiculous.  I don't even care what I look like naked anymore but it sure would like to have this big hard shelf expander off me so I can dress properly!

MBJ, good luck tomorrow!  How exciting for you! 

coolbreeze:  I was doing the same thing with my natural side until my exchange.  I can't wait to be able to sleep on my left side and on my stomach!  99 pounds and double d's!  Yowza!  I had all kinds of padding to try and match but there is only so much you can do.  I got pretty clever with disguising it with clothes but I have to say, I have no idea how to disguise this surgical compression bra with a drain to go to my 3 dr appointments back to back!  And it's going to be in the high 90's tomorrow!  It's going to feel as if I am wearing two shirts all day.

MBJ, I guess that's the one good thing about having to wait until November - I won't be so hot with the compression bandages on.  it's going to be 103 today here, and with the hot flashes I'm having, it'd be miserable to have to be wrapped like a mummy!  I feel for you!

I bought some of those "as seen on TV" fake boobs for $25.00.  I use one in my 32DD bra on my real side to try and match the top of my expanded side.  If I don't wear anything tight or low cut, I don't think anybody notices.  I wear lots of ruffles now, which I never did before, lol. 

Ann:  I am the ruffle queen!  I had a couple of different options: a self stick foam insert that didn't require a bra with most cotton clothes and a silicone insert that fit into my bra.  I did notice the one without the bra was starting to lose it's stick and I was starting to find it migrating and I am sure I got some looks from that LOL!  I am so happy you finally have a date!

Almagetty - Like MJB I also got my PS to remove a mole for me.  I have another which I may ask him to do if I need any revisions.  The surgery was easier for me than the TE placement (which was easier than the MX) - Recovery - just some bruising - I'm small (only 360cc) and was able to be out of the surgical bra and take a shower on day 2.  Best of luck - I can't stop touching it - so soft and squishy. No drains for me.

Karyn

Hi. Tomorrow at this time my surgery should be close to over and hopefully I'll be well enough to go home tomorrow evening. My plastic surgeon is absolutely wonderful.  He will bring in Allergan style 20 550, 600 and 650's and style 45's also. I'm hoping to be the size I am now with my allergan expanders filled to 620 and 640. I had my bilateral mastectomy January 5th and really felt great afterwards. The following week, however, I had a hematoma that put me into shock and my college-aged kids rushed me back to the hospital for emergency surgery. I lost a lot of blood so my recovery from that was long and slow. Sure hoping and praying that tomorrow is uneventful.

I thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. Surgery is at 2PM and I'll be back to report when able. MBJ, can't wait to hear news of the unveiling! 

                                                                     Cleo

Cleo:  So sorry to hear about your hematoma!  I hope everthing goes well for you with your exchange and hopefully no more problems.  I love, love, love my PS!!!

Almagetty:  You are so lucky to not need a drain.  Mine came out with alot of resistance today, but it is out.  I am allowed to shower in 48 hours and I cannot wait!!!