Exchange City

Hi Ladies, thanks for all the advice on NO heavy lifting after surgery with my big move.  I was originally supposed to have surgery in August when I arranged the move, but got pushed back to tomorrow.  I know I will have to be extremely careful with lifting, moving etc.  I am moving to a motel first off and putting my stuff into storage.  I have the motel for up to 4 weeks, depends how fast I can find a property to rent.  I have a very good friend where I am moving, and my 13yo daughter to unpack for me.  So after surgery tomorrow I will be doing nothing for the next 3 weeks to try and recover a bit faster before the more.  The whole house is packed up at the moment except for a few essential items for the next 3 weeks.  I am flying interstate instead of driving 12 hours, and then relaxing in a motel after that, except for looking for a few rental properties.

Wish me luck tomorrow, I am extremely excited to get my new boobs (one impant, one reduction) and very nervous about surgery (only 2nd one in my life, first one was the mast.).  Speak to you all in a few days.

Good luck to everyone having surgery in the next week.

Hugs, Jane

Thanks ASTORM.   How long are the bandages on for, and drains etc.  Hopefully the PS will let me fly after 3 weeks or I'm stuffed with this move as everything is organised and booked.

 Hugs, Jane

I've had 2 exchange procedures and had drains for 10 days both times. I think that is longer than the average (I'm a juicy one). With my first exchange i just had tape over the incisions. With the 2nd exchange I had bandages for a couple of weeks and then wore camisoles. I was back to work as soon as they pulled the drains. You have to be careful with lifting and swinging your arms (they'll tell you this I'm sure but basically you should only move your arms at the elbows). You will feel sore if you overdue it (I did) and it can cause additional drainage which you definately don't want, especially after the drains are out. I think flying should be fine after 3 weeks. 

JenC~

Wish we could tell you otherwise but yes the TE's are rock hard even to the end.  The exchange will give you much relief when you once again have squishy boobs! 

NAE

Went to see the new ps this morning and she agrees revisions need to be made. She will start with exchanging the implant to a mentor high profile 600cc. I currently have Allergan high profile 750cc. She thinks this implant is too heavy and this is what is causing them to droop and fall to the sides. She will start with doing a lot of pocket work and exchanging the implant.. She will put stiches inside and underneath the implant to help support and keep it lifted and in position. She thinks this will help fill in the divot and  soften the step-off. My surgery is not scheduled and may take a month or so before I have a date. I will keep you all posted. Please keep me in your prayers.

Eastcoast Girl -- go to Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread and talk to Whippetmom. 

Gummies are firm but have some squish (definitely SOFT by comparison with TEs) -- they are not cold and hard.  Anatomical in shape.  Less rippling (or anyway I have none).

Regular silicone -- much softer, round, more prone to rippling.

All silicone (gummy or regular) is cooler to the touch than a regular breast.

Like all the choices in BC neither is perfect.  For what it's worth, I think I would have gone for the smooth rounds if I had had a bilateral MX... but since I had a unilateral I chose the gummy for a better match to my native breast (the shape).

Sweetie - I DO have ripples. I will look for that thread. Thanks!

Hi MBJ - No pics, I deleted my account for the TImTam site after like 5 minutes. First of all I am technologically backwards and computer unsavvy so I posting pics is not easy for me to do. Secondly, it didn't seem like it was for me.

Thank you ladies...

Jennifer... sounds like a good plan.... let us know! I am happy for you !

Hey girls.  If all goes well, I will complete my LAST CHEMO treatment next week.  I just did weekly Taxol #11 today.  YAY!!! 

So, now I'm nervous about radiation.  When I got my 2nd diagnosis, they had to go in 2 times and remove tissue.  Once to remove the 3 lumps/ excisional biopsy, the 2nd time to remove more tissue (I had positive margins) and 10 nodes.  When I was going into the 2nd surgery, my BS told me that if they had to remove more tissue after the 2nd surgery, I may lose the implant.  What a wonderful thing to tell me right before surgery (NOT).  He had a conversation with my PS after my surgeries and said he was surprised he got clear margins the 2nd time.  He thought for sure I was going to need more surgery and lose the implant (gotta love the girls in the office that share info).  Anyway, I got clear margins and did not lose my implant.  I am bit smaller on 1 side, but it is not noticeable when I have my bra and clothes on. 

My fear about the radiation is that it will destroy any tissue that is left, holding the implant.  I asked the rad onco about this and she was not concerned about it.  I also asked her if it could destroy the implant and she said no.  She told me that rads could cause capsular contracture around my implant. 

I'm thinking of seeing my PS before I start rads, just to make sure I get all my questions answered.  I haven't seen him since I got my 2nd diagnosis.  Plus, he had told me that when he did my recon, he might have to add some supportive tissue (I'm thinking this was Alloderm or something like that).  So, I want to ask him what are my options?  Can I be closely monitored during rads?  If they had to go in and do more surgery to add support, would that hurt detecting cancer that might come back (is it even possible to get more cancer in that breast).  The good thing is that my rad onco loves my plastic surgeon and thinks he does great work.  So, I'm thinking she will work well with him.  Of course, my main objective is to get rid of any chance of this damn cancer from coming back.  However, I will admit that I am vain and would not want to lose my implant. 

Has anyone had rads after reconstruction?  Did it destroy the tissue around the tumor site?  Do I sound crazy?  LOL!!!!

OK, just figured it out and posted a picture on the picture forum.  Thank you all who have pics there for sharing.

((((Bonnie))))):  So sorry you have to go through this.  I would be feeling exactly the same way.  No matter what you decide to do, we will be here to support you.  ((((HUGS)))).

jkz:  Sounds like you have a great new PS.  Congratulations and lest us know when you have a date.

whitedove:  Hardest thing I ever did was post my pictures.  Everyone has to do what feels comfortable for themselves.  I just hope that you were able to get help from going there and know that if there are any problems with your surgery, you can always PM Whippetmom for support.  Hugs.

Jane:  Good luck with your exchange.  I was supposed to fly right after my exchange but it got postponed for other reasons and I was given the ok by my PS, so it shouldn't be an issue.  However, try to get yourself some help with that move--you don't  want to risk LE!

Kittycat:  Yay for you for being almost done with chemo!!!  I am sure Estepp would have some great advice evven though she had radiation prior to implants.  I'm vainer then most and I so get it!  Sounds like you are in really good hands with your dr's though.

MBJ - Thanks for understanding.  I am happy with how the surgery turned out. Just wondering if anyone else here worries about "bottoming out", a term I have only recently become familiar with. 

Thanks for all the well wishes ladies.  4 hours to go till exchange surgery.  Can wait, but then really nervous about going under again, only 2nd time in my life, 1st was mast.  Will talk to you all in a couple of days when I get out.

Hugs, Jane

Lilah yes my re-do exchange is coming up next Wednesday I am trying to think positive thoughts about another surgery.

 Thank you MBJ for the well wishes.

I am reading regularly and enjoy your stories.

Kitty you are so strong I am glad to hear you are almost done with chemo. I will keep you in my prayers during radiation.

Hugs to everyone,

Rebecca

TifJ - Did they give you any muscle relaxers like Flexeril or some had Valium?  I found Flexeril helped me better with the pain of the bmx and with the fills than the narcotics.  Take it!  It relaxes those muscles.  The TE's are uncomfortable.  Some have more pain than others.  I had a lot of pain with mine, especially on the left side which was my cancer side.  When you get a fill, especially near the end, you will feel some heaviness.  The muscle relaxers do help.