Exchange City

Funsizejen:  I hope that you can sleep.  Getting the expander out will be such a relief.  May the breast fairy bestow on you your every desire.

Astorm:  good luck with your exchange tomorrow and may you wake up with yippie squishees and no complications.

Astorm:  I hope that your fifth time is a charm!  My MX surgery was 5 1/2 hours and I woke up feeling great and my exchange surgery was only 3 hours and I woke up feeling like hell, so don't base the time on how you are going to feel when they are done.  Certainly don't feel bad about being greedy!  Cancer take so much from us that we should demand good results and I hope that your fifth time gives you the beautiful results that you deserve.'

I will be thinking about you on Wednesday. 

Hugs!!!

Hi everyone-

I had my surgery on Friday, Aug. 27. All went well, but the pain is something else. Today is Monday and I'm feeling much better. I have been sleeping in my recliner, I am sick of that though.

I get to shower today and change my bandages. I am cut all over, especially the good side. He did a lift on that side, so it is very sore. He couldn't do it all, says I have to do the nipple later. Oh well, that's OK. I am just so glad to have the expander out of me. Can't wait to see how  I look, can't tell right now.

Horsegal:  I am so happy youu made it through and are home resting.  I am sure the lift is much more intense then the exchange side.  We all have to wait a few months to get our nipples, but it's nice to be almost there, isn't it?

Almagetty:  Yesterday, it decided to cool down a bit so I actually had on a t-shirt, scarf and lightweight jacket!  I bought a few inexpensive button down, short sleeve shirts prior to having surgery, but I have to say, my one cute button down, western style shirt is now too tight LOL!  I will have to go through my closet to see what is going to be wearable for the next 2 1/2 weeks of wearing this day and night.  I so wanted to be able to wear my cute summer clothes at least once this season!  Having one expander all summer made it difficult, to say the least.  We are almost there, though, aren't we?

Almagetty - I'm not an expert and only 2 weeks from my exchange but mine looks better as time goes on.  I was very flat when the bandages first came off and in time this has improved - not perfect but when I wear a bra and the natural breast is lifted a little I look pretty good.  I think what we've had is the hardest for symmetry bc one breast will have movement and the other although "squishy" doesn't have the same droop.  Sorry for being so wordy, but I know what you mean and I'm the same way.  What size are you? I've got a 360cc implant on the right (MX side) and i'm a medium B on the left.  I hope I do drop and fluff bc I had radiation I know it may take longer.  I've looked at a lot of the pictures and many are bilateral - they look great - or women who have lifts done with their exchanges.  There are some uni's on there but not many. 

Karyn

Thanks, MBJ & Karyn. Your posts have made me feel better. It's very encouraging, Karyn, that, even at 2 weeks you're seeing an improvement. I do agree, MBJ, that having a nipple will help things look more symmetrical.

My PS filled to 500cc and went with a 475cc implant at exchange, so he overfilled only slightly. I'm a large B or small C on the left. He had to insert an Alloderm sling when he placed the TE because my muscle cuts across my chest at a really high angle. I don't know for sure, but I have to think that, because of that, the implant is only partially under the muscle. I went with this PS because he is reputed to be the very best at implant reconstruction in my area. He is confident that my result will be good. I guess I'll have to trust him on this one.

horsegal:  Yep, back to sleeping sitting up over here, too.  Between that and the surgical bra, I am amazed I get any sleep at all.  Thank goodness for Melatonin, which is really good for us BC gals.

Thank you, whippetmom. It really helps to know that I'm not alone in my worry. Your reassurance means a lot. When my husband gets home and helps me to upload the photos, I will e-mail you.

Hi, Deborah. You have helped me so much along the way to exchange and I wanted  to send a sincere thank you! My exchange was Wednesday and although I thought I would be getting the 600 cc style 20's I came home with the 650 style 45's. I'll find out tomorrow at my follow-up appointment how my doctor came to this decision but I'm guessing it has something to do with the width. I have a 28.5" band width and my TE's were 13cm. I have been dealing with an allergic reaction to something and have a crazy, itchy rash from headline to waistline. I have been taking benedryl and did change into a different compression bra. I was told by my doctor to stop my antibiotic,too. Within the past few days I've noticed a nasty,silver dollar sized dark red blotch around my left incision. Once again I called to alert my doctor. I don't have a fever and there is no swelling so I can wait until tomorrow to see him. I'll give you an update tomorrow. In the meantime I am ever so excited to have the 45's although they look pretty flat right now. They certainly are soft though! What a wonderful relief to feel softness where I have been feeling rocks for the past 7 months. Thanks again for walking the journey with me and always being there to answer my questions!

cleo:  Wow...how cool to get the 45's.  The 650 cc Style 45's are what I will get if I ever exchange...unless the Sientra round gummy bears are approved by that time.  But I wish he had not taken you off ABX...switched to a different one yes....

Let us know what you find out tomorrow...so sorry for this complication!

I am so happy to have helped you!!!

Deborah--Thanks, I am on Keflex.   I did get the other bandage off.  I have since learned that the incisions are glued.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the drain.  I emptied it at 10 AM and it's not putting much out...maybe tomorrow....

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk  Deekay and Astorm

Getty -- I think my PS has a different approach from most of yours on here.  I don't have the hamburger bun look at all. My doctor overfilled, released the muscles and I have a sloping droop, which actually I don't care for.... I prefer the round look.  My natural/augmented side is also slope and droop right from the beginning.... really don't like that side.  He also released that muscle and he used a very small implant, 213 style 15.  However, I have noticed a slight change on that side in the past week.... perhaps the fluff you all describe.  Unfortunately with the drop they are even lower than before which I thought was too low to begin with. I don't like having the bulk of the breast all at the bottom and then flat above the nipple (no upper pole).  The PS on consults said to go bigger..... so I may do that.  My PS also sends you home from surgery in whatever you want to wear...for me it was a t-shirt and says you don't have to wear a bra.  In retrospection, I disagree. 

Vanderlady:  It's so funny that you don't want your droop at all and my dr has me wearing a compression garment to try and give me a natural droop.  I say, go bigger and get what you wanted in the first place.  When I first started going to my PS, it took several fills and several conversations before he really got that I didn't want to match what I had, but I wanted to make them better then what I had.  For months he went on and on about a natural look and I kept explaining how that was fine for someone else but not me LOL!

cleo:  so glad that you are close to getting that drain out.  Has the rash calmed down a bit?

Estepp:  Yes, we do love Deborah!!!  Hope your son's appointment with the dr. went well.

Funsizejen:  Congratulations!!!

MBJ, actually, I didn't get drains this time around. I had 4 for almost a month in January. The rash is still there but my husband noticed my back is much calmer. I still itch but trying not to scratch. My appointment is this afternoon with the plastic surgeon and I don't dare take the antihistamines because I'm driving. I can't wait to finally get his professional opinion and perhaps let me go back on an antibiotic. Infection is always in the back of my mind and a huge fear! I'll report back later. Thanks everyone for the good wishes!