Exchange City
Comments
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Just wondering, did anyone have issues with their breasts aching after exchange? Not where the incision is but the whole breast. My exchange was the end of June and they still ache. (And, yes, I've been wearing a bra 24/7.) I had read somewhere that Alloderm can cause this for some reason. Anyone have a similar experience and does it go away?
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Kate..
My rads breast aches all the time... not to a point I actually notice it.. but when I am still...... I am like....." geez.... this stupid boob"...lol
It has been a year since my exchange. It might just be that I have a rads boob/implant... or it might be the discomfort others feel....longterm... after mast/implant. there is a thread here.... that speaks of this. Long term pain after mast/recon. Look up..... under members name.. " Deeds" she is the one who started a thread about this type of pain. At least you can read through it and see if it fits what you speak of. Luck and Hugs to you sweety!
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Kate33 - Mine hurt. But your surgery was before mine. My left has always hurt and it's primarily that side that hurts now. My right side doesn't hurt very often. What does the pain feel like? For me, when I do too much (like Tuesday I drove to the city 2.5 hrs one way, so five total and I really hurt that night) there is a constant ache. I went to a yoga class tonight for the first time since my exchange and my left side is hurting, a dull ache deep inside is what mine feels like. I'm sorry you're experiencing the pain. I'm hoping it gets better!
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Laura- I found the thread. Thanks for the tip. I'll read through the threads and, hopefully, find some words of wisdom.
Dawne-Hope- Thanks! Mine is a dull ache too but also some pressure like something's sitting on my chest. (Just a little something, not like an elephant or anything! LOL! My DH would be driving me to the ER if that were the case!)
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CATEGORIZE THE RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON TYPE <--- this is the thread name.
Ladies... PLEASE go to the picture forum and tell FUMI what you think is a good CATEGORY for different Reconstruction types.
EXAMPLE
I told her.. we SO NEED a place for RADIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION...
She would like all our thoughts on WHAT NAMES FOR CATEGORIES.
This is REALLY important... so... go give your .02 on this THREAD listed above... PLEASE!
Thank you ladies.... can you tell I am passionate about a category for RADS and Reconstruction girls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAURA
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CATEGORIZE THE RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON TYPE <--- this is the thread name.
Ladies... PLEASE go to the picture forum and tell FUMI what you think is a good CATEGORY for different Reconstruction types.
EXAMPLE
I told her.. we SO NEED a place for RADIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION...
She would like all our thoughts on WHAT NAMES FOR CATEGORIES.
This is REALLY important... so... go give your .02 on this THREAD listed above... PLEASE!
Thank you ladies.... can you tell I am passionate about a category for RADS and Reconstruction girls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAURA
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Firni - not sure exactly what we are gonna shoot for. They removed 500 at mx so I may go a little bigger and have the other side "adjusted" at exchange. There was 100 put in at the time the expander was placed so there is right now a total of 320. Next fill in 2 weeks but ps said we probably wont put as much next time. Just want to get it filled prior to rads.
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Kate -- So sorry you are uncomfortable. I had my second exchange with revisions last Wednesday and I am feeling some pain (which I didn't have with the first). I feel like something is standing on my chest sometimes, but only on one side. I didn't fell any pressure with fills as others have described. What I am experiencing is not a sharp pain, just pressure, varying from slight to fairly intense. The intensity has a direct correlation to how much housework I have done. The PS said whenever I feel bad, I should reflect on what I have been doing. Are you behaving yourself?
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Hi everyone! I haven't posted in awhile because I'm trying to wrap my mind around this whole thing. I had my exchange done 3 weeks ago, and was wondering if there are any pics out there that I can view b/c I don't have an idea what is normal and what isn't. I, too, am having some slight pain, but again, i don't know if this is normal.
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Twylight - TimTam is the picture administrator. They usually only let people in that they know, who've been around for awhile. Keep posting on these boards. Private message timtam. I waited for months before I could get in. Three weeks out after exchange, I'd say some slight pain is pretty normal. With the exchange, I haven't had pressure, but some have that too. Hang in there.
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Thanks for the info. I'll definitely pm Tim Tam and plead with her!
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Hi Ladies,
I decided on a date for my exchange today. It is scheduled for Nov 19, 2010. It will be almost 9 months from my BMX date. I'm still having trouble with the choice of saline or allergen silicone.... I would have never guessed that anyone would have to make soooooooo many decisions about foobies.
I have a little trouble finding info ,there are so many places, but could someone help me find the link to the photos of 3d tatooing for later. I wanted to show my husband and have been looking for it a while.
I'm very limited to the time I have to show him things, my small boys have to be in bed before I can show pics.
My surgeon thinks that I would be more satisfied with the results of exchange if I were to choose silicone. I have been dealing with capular contractions with my TE, from an infection since march 23, I would love to feel a little normal again, I welcome any advice.........
Blessings to all
Tammy
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Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
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Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
BTW, I0 -
Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
BTW, I have silicone implants and they are0 -
Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
BTW, I have silicone implants and they a0 -
Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
BTW, I have silicone implants and they are ultra soft!0 -
Tammy, thanks so much for asking about pics for the 3D tatooing. I'm interested as well in this b/c I have just finished my exchange surgery and was undecided about whether I wanted to get nips or 3D tatoos.
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Hi Twylight,
If you have not looked at the photos of 3d's you will be very surprised. They look wonderful, but now I just can't find them.... I was a 34 DD and always wore a bra, now my TE have 300 and I DON"T ever wear a bra except for when my shirt is too thin and a cami wont work. I love the freedom and will never go back.
With 3D tattoing it looks as though there is a protrusion, but there is not. Soooooo, If I will be able to do this, I will still be able to BURN all my $40 bras. YIPPEE
I will keep looking, I', sure I saw it on one of these reconstrucion threads, If I find it I will sure let you know. I'm really excited today because of the setting of my date. I would also love to see pics of some of you girls exchange. I have NO idea what to expect.
Prayers to you all,
Tammy
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TaminMo - I struggled with the decision re saline or silicone, probably way too much. From my understanding, if you want to go big, you need to go saline, but for most of us, the silicone is the way to go. It feels more normal, if you have thin skin you definitely want the silicone because it shows less ripples. I was concerned about leakage and my body being exposed to silicone, but learned that the shell of both silicone and saline implants are made of silicone. So, either way your body is going to be exposed to silicone. If your surgeon is recommending silicone, I would listen. After a lot of reading and talking to my PS three different times I decided upon the silicone and I am happy.
Regarding links for the 3-d tattoos, here are two. I am sure there are more, but these are two I've found in various places on bco.
http://www.ashevillepermanentmakeupclinic.com/Areola-Tattoos.html
http://vinniemyers.com/section/105672_Nipple_Areola_Tattooing.html
Also, here are some discussion threads I read when I was trying to decide on saline vs. silicone.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/752370?page=1#idx_28
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/753923?page=1#idx_10
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Astorm - how much larger did you go? You'll have to let us know if this helped the rippling... I'm sure you won't be able to tell for a few weeks. I'm encouraged because this is what I'm trying to decide on right now. Pam
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Tammy - I agree with Dawne-Hope on the silicone vs saline issue. I had my first exchange in January with saline implants. At the time I really wasn't thinking about cosmetics and the surgeon said saline so I just went along with it. I have thin skin and could actually see the saline in my implants moving. The rippling was really bad but the shelf created by the sagging (and not filling the pocket) was worse. Last week I had a revision with silicone and I LOVE them. I think the size was important too -- we went from 480cc to 600cc (which makes me a 34C, roughly my former size) -- the implant needs to fill the pocket to look right and prevent the implant from shifting. In my case one pocket was larger than the other and saline doesn't have a shape so the smaller side was oddly shaped, just like the pocket. On the larger side, the saline just settled and sagged (unless I moved and then it swished). With silicone you have to have MRI's... I like that actually since I won't be doing mammograms anymore. I'm sure there are lots of women out there with saline who are perfectly happy. Maybe if you have perfect pockets, don't have thin skin and you stay small, then saline is good.
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Pam - just saw your post... I went for a follow up visit today and got another peek. I was initially very pleased but was afraid maybe the fullness was just swelling. Nope, they are positively bodacious! I went from 450cc saline (filled to 480cc) to 600cc silicone. The surgeon tried 560cc first but decided that the 600 fit the pocket better. The results exceed my highest expectations. I can't wait to get these bandages off so I can post some pictures!
Edited to add: Oh, and guess what whippetmom suggested? yep, 600.
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Twylight -- you should check out a thread called Breast Implant Sizing 101 -- Whippetmom is our "breast whisperer" and might be able to help you if you want to send her photos (while you wait to hear from timtam). Picture forum is a long wait.
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Thanks, Tammy. I love going braless, too! Yea, I think the 3D tatooing is the way for me to go as well b/c I don't want to be bothered with any nips showing through my tanks.
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Lilah, thanks for the tip. I'll contact the "breast whisperer" now.
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Astorm-thanks for the infor on the MRI. I was going to ask that. Do you know how often we need them with silicone implants and does insurance pay for that? Did you post pics?
Also can I ask you, your ht and wt. I have options of 450-500. I was thinking 500 but worried they will seem too big. I am driving myself crazy over little details.
Ladies-if you have implants 475 or over in silicone do they feel heavy at all? Do they feel different than the TE in terms of weight, like you notice the weight now?
Also for those who had the exchange do the final implants look about 25cc's smaller than TE? I heard that several times and it is important in choosing a size because if this is the case I would definitely err on the side of the bigger implant.
Did your Dr let you feel different sizes of implans or just a sample? I just felt a sample and not a specific size, In fact I forgot to ask what size the sample was.
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Hi Ladies,
It is such a grest feeling to talk to you ladies that have so much info.
Thany You, Dawn-Hope, I just love looking at the pics of 3D tatooing. I'm very ancious to get to that part of my journey. It been such a long battle, and when I look at the calendar, it's only been a couple weeks shy of 7 months.
It seems like a life time ago that i had real breasts. Its been a tough road and only you girls know the emotions involved in this jorney. I'm sitting here with tears flowing, trying to type. I'm usually tougher, but all of these decions are just overwelming me today.
I've got a million things that I need to be doing, but I can't seem to break away from this community.
Thank you all for your support and shoulder to cry on.
Dawn-Hope, I would like to ask what part of IL are you from? I'm about 85 miles south of St. Louis. I'm not very good with this computer, but if you want to PM me that would be nice. I think I know how to answer.
Looking at those pics about the 3D's I will be estactic if my breast look anything llike theirs.
Because of the infection 4 weeks after my BMX, my right TE is as hard as a rock. My PS gave me 399 cc at the time of my BMX. After the infection, and because my breast was radiated two years prior, my TE contracted so tight that I had to massage it vigorously for several months totry to soften the capsule, but I have recieved 2 more fills on it which make my L=300cc and my R=390cc and that all she can do, but thats ok. . If my new foobs are similar I will be happy, cause I don't ever car to wear another bra.
Prayers to everyone dealing with cancer,
Tammy
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Twylight: You have been on bc.org since March - I don't think that there will be a problem getting onto the pic forum rather quickly. I am hoping the timing of confirming eligibility and getting women onto the pic forum will move much faster now. Please read the Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread - the original opening post - and find out which style/volume of TEs you have and your height, weight, ribcage. You can post it there or PM me.
Deborah
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Tammy: I am more concerned about your current capsular contracture status with your TE than whether you should go with silicone or saline. I read back through some of your posts and see you had previous radiation to the breast also. You are at high risk for CC with your implants. It is not an issue now with the TE, because it is coming out. But you want to try to mitigate the chances of it occuring once you have implants. I have mentioned in the past, and posted a few pages back on this thread....(I think
) about fat graft transfer during the expansion process. I think you have to convince someone to do it...but it has to be someone who does fat graft transfer procedures for breast reconstruction patients on a regular basis. The premise is that stem cells are transfered along with fat, and this can improve the skin integrity of a previously irradiated breast and also it has been shown to downgrade a capsular contracture. While you still have your TEs, it is something worth investigating. Otto J. Placik, M.D. in Chicago is someone I would contact, and also - Karol Gutowski, M.D. in Evanston - he worked with my PS on the fat-graft transfer study two years ago. I think that link is also on my Implant Sizing 101 thread...I'll find it and PM it to you. Referable to the question of one versus the other: I would not hesitate to get silicone over saline implants, unless you need implants with a volume greater than 800 ccs. Anymore, I think that size has become the solitary motivation to go with saline.
Deborah
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