Exchange City
Comments
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Gail..I am thrilled for you! Hope you post photos on the new pictures forum!
MBJ: Give it time...give it time...give it time....
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Kay: The waiting is like Prom LOL!!! Good thing you at least have both sides done so you aren't lopsided like I was. I can't wait until you can have your exchange and live in the land of the squishees!
Unis: How long did it take for your MX side to drop??? I'm sorry Deborah, I want it to drop now!!! Which brings me to: should I wait a few months for the fipple or can I do it in the 6 week time period my PS gave me?? Thank you!!!
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MBJ: I would wait at least two months. Just wait an additional two weeks for any latent changes to manifest.
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Thank you Deborah!!! Have a great rest of the weekend!!!
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Kay, I'm soooo sorry to hear that you will have drains again. More so than for any of us in the States as your drain containers must be carried around in large gift bags. Not exactly happy shopping!! 0
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Jen, neither of my PSs used drains for the exchange or revisions. Even tho my second revision involved a lot of pocket work. I was VERY happy not to have drains again.
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Janleigh - Oh, I'm so sorry....yes, I know exactly what you are going through. On my postop visit, I cried to my doc saying "why didn't we talk about this?" I've been crying since. I have a pocket that is 14 cm and an implant that is 12.6 cm so it has a tendency to move around and causes pain to my muscle. First I met you all, then I started looking for second, third, and fourth opinioins. 3 out of the 4 docs say I need a larger implant. So, I'm trying to decide which doc I want to do the surgery and when. I'm nervous about this too because I don't want to screw up what I have or risk infection. Although I get pain with what I have and can't live with this. Sooooo, that's were I'm at right now. It sucks huh?
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Gail - I contemplated the same thing re sending a letter to your old PS. I totally get that about having closure. Personally, if I went to see him a final time, I don't think it would have been a pleasant meeting.... I would have had a lot of questions that perhaps I wouldnt' be happy with the answers. and Of couse, he would reiterate he wouldn't have done anything differently. Bottom line, we don't have to follow them.... we are free to do what we want and go where we want. However, if you feel you need that closure, then by all means do it.
.
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I also posted this under Breast Reconstruction, sorry to double up.
I just had my exchange surgery last Wednesday. I guess it all went well, I have been wrapped in an ace bandage and have not been brave enough to look at it all at once. I had one mx in May of 09 and after brca testing this spring, opted for a prophylactic mx on the other side followed by the reconstruction. I had relocated in the past year so my surgeries were done by different doctors. So, sadly, the surgery styles differ from side to side, one scar is horizontal and the other a "T" shape. My original mx site ended up having a weird scar with a knobby little end. My other incision ends up poofing out a bit, coming out almost to a little point under my armpit. These are both still here after the exchange surgery. I know they do the exchange with tiny incisions on your original incisions, but this feels like something that should have been taken care of during the surgery. Is this normal? Is it something they go back in and fix?? I am a bit disappointed, but have not yet been for my follow-up and don't want to get all worked up. This past year has been my first experience with surgeries, ever, so I am not sure what to expect.
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The "dogears" at the ends of incisions are pretty normal as those are the end spots of the closure. Often, as the implants settle, the dogears will stretch out and disappear. If not, the PS can go back and fix them. I don't know just how big the poofiness and knobby ends are so I can't really say for sure with you. But ask your PS when you see him if those things will smooth out over the next few months. If he says no, then ask about getting them fixed. I'm thinking if you didn't ask to have those fixed before your exchange, your PS would not have done it as it was not something discussed before surgery. I don't think they just automatically clean things up. So don't get worked up. Anything can be fixed. You are just a week out of surgery and you will see many changes in the appearance of your breasts over the next few months. Patience is the mantra here.
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Hi everyone,
I am healing well after my exchange on 8/27/10. The pain was the worst on the third day, I was so swollen I could not put my arms down. I looked so funny walking. The pain pills made me goofy, I don't even remember posting on here about my surgery! haha I just saw that I did post here.
My implant side is totally bruised and looks awful, the lifted side isn't very bruised but it hurts alot. He totally cut around my nipple. I did not have to have drain tubes (hallelujah!!) I am doing my squish the implant exercises, not fun. I don't look too bad, starting to somewhat even out now that the swelling is going down. My implant side is flatter, but he said with time and squishing and a good bra it will start to come up and look more like a breast should. I can't believe my incisions, I am cut from armpit to armpit. I only have a few inches not cut on top of my breastbone. Hubby has been wonderful helping me change bandages and all.
All I can say is I am so happy this is over and I feel more normal, can start wearing my nice clothes again and stop hiding behind vests and big shirts. I do notice alot of my friends and others looking right at my chest all the time. I just want to slap them, but I know they are just curious as to how things look and all. Today I go back to work, but only for a few hours to start.
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So I had my appointment with my PS this am and we do the first fill tomorrow afternoon. YEA. So happy that we can do this now and not have to wait. I was really worried about the effects of the radiation on the skin if the fills were not done first. I will be waiting until next year for the exchange surgery since radiation will go into mid December. Thank you everyone for your input on this. It was much appreciated.
Jen
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Thanks Fimi, good to know. I really had no idea what to expect. What a process! Nice to hear from someone who has been there! I check in today at the PS so I will check with them. Thanks for the insight.
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Jen - good luck with the fills!
Cydz - I had a revision last Wednesday, which involved new implants and a lot of work to fix what I considered unacceptable results. When I had the bmx, I assumed that since a PS would be in the OR to place the TEs, I would get nice, clean, symmetrical pockets and minimal scarring. Nope. The original PS made a mess -- one TE was under my arm, they were not on the same plane, and the scars and dogears were awful. PS #2 did the expansion and exchange. He did his best, but once the pockets are formed by the TEs it is more difficult to get the implants into proper position. I ended up with terrible rippling, and the dogears and asymmetry where even worse. I also had a visible shelf because I don't have much tissue and the implants didn't fill in enough in the upper poles. He did not want to do a revision. PS #3 replaced the implants with silicone and went larger, lifted one side slightly and lowered the other. I think the dogears are gone (got a quick peek at the PS office on Friday) and I have nice fullness in the upper poles which I hope isn't just post-op swelling. Hang in there -- it does take some time for things to settle and heal! I started looking for a new PS after about 4 months but waited until I was 7 months out to make sure I needed the additional surgery.
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4 days out from nips, skin grafts for areolas and fat grafts for divots. Doing well, still sore here and there...Not back to work yet.
Question: How long did you who have had skin grafts have to leave the initial dressing on? I have the yellow sponge-looking stuff that is stitched on covering the whole nip/areola area. Hoping maybe it will come off tomorrow at 5 day post op???
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deekay - I had the sponges on for 2 weeks and they started to pull out. Had to keep them damp -- major hassle. Docs differ, I'm finding. Hoping yours is kinder than mine!0
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Cydz, how did the appt. go today?
Yea, Jen. I'm glad to hear that you will have your fills before rads. It does make things easier with the exchange later.
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It finally feels like things are going to go right for a change. Fills starting tomorrow and port out before rads. Maybe there will be some normalcy in the near future Still a little nervous about the rads and hoping htat there wont be many side effects or "burns" but i guess time will tell. hope you all are doing well. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and encouragement.
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JenC - on the rads boards there is a lot of good advice about caring for your skin - I used "jeans cream" (WWW.jeanscream.com) and it worked great. Lots of good stuff though. My advice - start using something at the beginning before its too late. I also was careful with what type of bras I wore - something loose and soft.
Best of luck - I remember when I got my port out - seemed like "graduation" day.
Karyn
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Does anyone know who the new gate keepers are for TimTam's site for new members? thanks!
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I need the information too, I want to post pictures of my recon. I need opinions of if its normal. I have rippling, puckers, and one looks like it is sitting lower than the other, and it looks bigger/rounder.
I'm not online much, but try to check in at least once a week.
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Yes, add me to the list, any help in getting access to the photo site would be great. Seeing other results and being able to compare would be really helpful. Thanks
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Had my first fill today. a little tight but overall not bad. I was kinda worried that it would really hurt. got 220ccs in today so in two weeks another fill. Yea, things seem to finally be moving forward.:)
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That's a big fill Jen. I'm glad you're feeling fairly comfortable. What's the total going to be?
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Don't know yet who the gatekeepers are going to be. I'll check the picture site to see if there's any news.
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It seems that TimTam is still doing the accepting of newbies to the pic forum - re a post there. PM her
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You beat me to the answer, Claire. Thank you.
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Astorm, I lucked out, got my sponges off the areola/nips today only 5 days post op. I am soooo glad to be free of them since dressing for the outside world was impossible with them. I only got a quick look today and then they put gauze bandages back on. I'll get to check out my new body parts in the morning when I take the dressing off for my shower. I'll update the results. deekaay0
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Jen... I am happy to hear you are handling the larger fills well. This gets you closer to FULL prior to rads! Good going sister!
Deekaay... wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!! You're hanging in there good lady! I look forward to hearing all about 'them' as you heal!
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Yay, deekaay! I am counting the minutes to my morning appt when I'll get my drains out.
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