Exchange City
Comments
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Hi ladies, I'm new to this thread. Had a BMX on Aug 4 and my exchange is scheduled for 10/27. Feeling rather nervous at this point. I handed the steering wheel to my PS from day one. I was too overwhelmed with my diagnosis and the whole cancer shock to be able to function and make decisions. Now this exchange surgery has snuck on me very quickly. I'm getting the Allergen 410s. Last expansion was two weeks ago and the last two expansions have been tough (back pain, tightness that won't go away). The consensus seems to be that the exchange is fairly easy for many women. I am just hoping that the exchange will relieve some of the discomfort from the last two fills. Just looking for some words of wisdom or experience from anyone who has been through the exchange - what to expect, any tips you may have, etc . My pre-surgery instructions say that I should expect to wear my post surgical bra for 8 weeks and that I have to sleep on my back. Reallyl?? Looking forward to the days when I can sleep on my side without the hardness of the TEs!!
Smurfie
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HI Everyone!
It's been so long since I've posted. It is impossible to keep up here.
Deborah, I sent you a PM with the name of my PS
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I was searching the net looking for articles that mentioned my PS and came across this lovely written blog:
http://www.breastofcanada.com/media/0310-balance.html
If you want to see her photo as an amazon click here and scroll down about 3/4 of the page:
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That IS a lovely post... and I think that is a great description of her (the PS). I had no idea she ever worked in California! She definitely knows her stuff and you are in good hands Claire.
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Smirfiep: Hi there and welcome to the board. First thing I would do is go to Breast Implant Sizing 101 and get Whippetmom's expert advice--alot of women who left it up to the PS have come away dissappointed and she can catch you up on what to expect and also get you to a size that is appropriate for your body and also to a size you are comfortable with. I had a UniMx on 3/20 with immediate/delayed recon and my exchange was a breeze on 8/20 but I had lots of help and support from the women here and the site I refrenced. So much more comfortable then the TE's. I have slept half sitting up since my MX so I am used to it. I got a wedge type pillow and put my regular pillows on that and this helped alot. Best of luck to you!
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Hi all, back home from exchange surgery, went in Friday and came home yesterday (Sunday in Australia). Not really sore at all. Community nurse coming today to remove the pressure bandage and hopefully one drain (reduction side). Geez, they look really flat, hopefully they are bigger than they look, of course, I haven't seem them yet. Slept really well last night back in my own bed, couldn't sleep at all in hospital, nurses were too noisy, sounded like they were partying every night. Will check in tomorrow to chat. Bye for now from Australia, as you are all sleeping on the other side of the world.
M-star, Rebetata, Asr51 and Hummingb1rd - best wishes for your exchange surgeries that are coming up.
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brunettesrule - hoping you get the drop-and-fluff effect soon!
Best wishes to the sisters having surgery this week!
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Just had my exchange surgery on Thurs. 10/21. I had my uni Mx 08/09. I really didn't have any pain with the mx or with the expander.. My PS filled the expander w/ 200 cc's immediatley then another 100 when he operated to remove a hematoma. Still no pain. He then filled it 3 more times w/100cc''s each time for a total of 600cc's.
I had implants under the muscle before my dx so I figured thats why the fills didn't bother me.
But now with the exchange OUCH!!! I figure this part would be a breeze, but it has been by far more pain than I even had with the original Implants 5 years ago.
Has anyone had a similar situation? I felt so fortunate to have had the surgeries go so smoothly and I felt bad for all the women having so much pain and discomfort. I just can't figure out why this is so different. Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you.
My thoughts prayers go out to all of you!!!
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Dee, Thanks for the post. Sounds like a no brainer. Finally something easy... I have heard from the PS that this one is so much easier too. Glad you exchange went so well. Are/were you able to shower right away like before? Im sure I will be banned again from the hot tub....that's ok. Don't want an infection.
ASR51 ... good luck Wed.... I think it's wise to "take it easy" right afterwards no matter what the doc says.. it only makes sense that you want that area to have time to heal before you start stretching and imoposing weight..etc..... Let us know how it goes afterwards....
diane
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Cheri -so sorry you are having so much pain. I always feel guilty because I don't have pain and then I have a little set-back, like having to exchange the impants again, and I realize that we are all paying our dues. You might want to take your temp... my PS said that pain is sometimes caused by infection. Personally, my back hurt after my last exchange and it was hard to sleep upright so I think I was just tired which makes everything worse. Anyway, take your pain meds and try to get lots of rest and I hope you feel better really soon.
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Hi CherD, I think that an important factor in post-op pain has to do with how much internal suturing, "pocket-work" that is done. Also depends on how your body responds to the surgical invasion- with inflammation, swelling, etc. I had a lot of pain after my exchange, and had really not expected it after reading about how so many women breezed out of the hospital, went out for lunch, went shopping, etc! I went home and gonked out on the couch. I was out of commission for days and very unhappily went back to work a week later.
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Hi, I'm new to this post too. I had a BMX with TEs placed on June 8. I had my exchange on Sept. 9. I too trusted my PS a lot and told him to let me know when I looked normal for me. I wasn't used to seeing such perky girls. We planned on putting in 450 or 500 ccs based on how much he had expanded me. I didn't want to look bigger than I was. I did tell him on surgery day that I'd rather go big than go home.
I'd been reading the blogs and everyone said they ended up smaller than they thought after exchange. He ended up putting in 600cc implants. He said the others didn't look right. I have to say that the larger size looks great and more like the TEs looked when I was ready to stop fills!The difference between the hard unmoving TEs and the new smooth implants was wonderful! The real implants are so much lighter and more comfortable. I sleep on my sides. My PS said that I could as soon as I wanted to. I'm wearing an underwire 24/7 for the next 4 weeks to help limit the drifting on the left side. I can tell it's helping to heal the pocket a bit smaller. There is an itch I can't scratch.
All that to say, trust your PS and go big or go home.
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Mine were also very flat when I woke up after surgery. They call it something like the hamburger bun and they take a few months to drop and fluff! I hope this helps!
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AStorm..Thank you for your response. I really hate taking pain meds but this time I have had to. When the nurse called to check on me my DH told her they didn't seem to be working so she said to take another one and that did help. The pain is still there but not near as bad as it has been, I just didn't expect this kind of pain since I had hardly any at all with the other 3 surgeries.
As far as infection goes, I've been on antibiotics since a week before surgery so I think its just my body saying no more surgeries please LOL!!
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Jerusha...Thank you for sharing your story. Sorry you had pain as well. Hugs and prayers to everyone!!!
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Hey, nurse has just been, she took of the pressure bandage (2 days after surgery), geez that felt good, am now wearing a sports bra. Wow, lots and lots of bruising under the reconstruction one and no bruising under the implant one..weird. She didn't have any suiture (SP?) scissors, so will remove one drain tomorrow. They don't look too bad. I went from a DD to a C cup (if memory serves me right). At least I still have cleavage going on. Dying for a proper shower, still have to have sponge baths for the moment.
Hope everyone is healing well and taking it easy!!!!!!!!!
Hugs Jane
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M-star, Rebetata, asr51, Hummingbird - Good luck on your upcoming exchanges this week! 0
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YES.......... What DAWN SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can do this sisters
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Thanks! It's hard to believe that this is one surgery that I'm looking forward to.
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MStar, Hummingbird,Rebetatta and asr51: Yippee Squishee time for you!!!!!
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Thank you ladies for all the positive thoughts. I am also sending them to you all who will me having surgery this week with me.
Rebecca
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Diane509, yes I was able to shower right away. I had no drains, this seems to be the reason for the "no shower" order. My PS put me on 5 days of antibiotics as a precaution for infection. I'm having a few muscle spasms, but it's been very easy. I feel very lucky to have had my reconstruction go so easily. I feel this is in no small way due to my PS who is very young, but very, very skilled & cares about his patients.
Good thoughts for all who are having their exchanges this week!
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Mstar, Rebetta, Hummingbird, asr51 -- good luck this week with your surgeries! Let us know how it goes.
Jane -- my reduction side had a LOT of bruising too... and none on implant/exchange side. I think it's at least partly due to HAVING all that breast tissue. It will heal (though it takes a long time).
Mfrog -- exactly. The no shower rule is for people with drains... the concern being that you risk something getting into the open wound. I was always barred from taking a shower until 24 hours after drain removal for the same reason. Lucky you with no drains at exchange!
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Rebecca, your week has come, best to you! Mstar, ars51 and Hummingbird (love that name) wish you and all our October sisters the best of luck with speedy healing and wonderful results!
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post exchange implant question- What do your implants look like when your laying down flat? My left stays straight up and my right seems to move and mirgrate to the side near my armpit. What is normal and what is not normal? Also do your implants have much movement or give. Mine seem very firm but still soft.
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good luck to everyone having exchanges this week and any and all surgeries!!
some have an easy time, some have more pckt work and it does hurt more...but eye on the prize ladies, eyes on the prize.
In a little bit of time, after you heal up, you'll be loving your new yiippee squishees!!!
Love to all
annie
* my PS said no lifting anything more than a quart of milk for 6 weeks to allow for healing. I drove fine after three but I still wear a lighter sleep bra (bali) at night. Too heavy, this new girl for naked.
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Tomorrow is the day that my contracted implant will be removed and I'm more nervous than expected, but also know it is the right thing to do. If you've seen the pic on the forum, you'll understand why.
Happy and healing thoughts to each of you who is recovering from surgeries!!
-bonnie
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Bonnie -- sorry to have forgotten you! Good luck with your surgery!!!!
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Bonnie - this time tomorrow you will feel so relieved! Hang in there. We're all thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery and fabulous results.
Sweetie - my silicone implants don't move much. When I sleep on my side, they do tend to rolled with the gravitational pull but otherwise, sitting or laying flat they look alnost the same. The saline implants that I had removed had a visible wave in the upper pole but they didn't move either, it was just the saline inside the implant that moved.
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I've been out of town so am way behind on this thread. Normally, I would just read and catch up but just have to comment on a few of the posts-
jkz- One thing my PS did to keep my implants in their place was she created a "shelf" on either side of the breast with Alloderm. She said this would keep mine from gravitating towards my arm pits. Does your PS use Alloderm?
TifJ- I agree with Dawne-Hope- Flexeril is great for TE discomfort. I was ready to quit the fills all together until someone on here suggested it for me.
sweetie- My implants still feel pretty firm to me. They don't move much at all. My PS used a lot of Alloderm during exchange so I thought maybe that was what was causing it.
Bonnie- So sorry you are having to have your implant removed. I know how hard it is to mentally prepare ourselves for yet another surgery. Hope it all goes smoothly and by this time tomorrow you are so much more comfortable.
Good luck this week to all the exchanges- M-star, Rebatata, asr51 and Hummingb1rd! May the boob fairy be gentle and kind to all of you!
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