Exchange City
Comments
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MBJ-thanks, and yes they are rounds. I don't understand how much they can fluff. Sometimes they feel really full and fluffy and then it seems like as gravity occurs they start rippling.
Dawn-Hope-did your ripples actually get better after three months or was it because you felt more accepting of things? I think I also have very thin skin. I see ripples at every angle, top, bottom and side. I am going to try to patient. It's hard because we have waited so long for the exchange and had so many high hopes and afterwards it's a whole other adjustment period.
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Sweetie -- I think the ripples are appearing as the swelling is going down -- not due to gravity.
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Lilah-awww shoot, then that means they are going to keep showing up!
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Or they will stop as there IS an end to the swelling
I think you are in a state of intense scrutiny, though, because as you said earlier you had a lot of hopes and expectations associated with this phase of the surgery. You really have to stop examining yourself so closely right now or you're going to drive yourself crazy. I too discovered I had had a lot of hopes for this phase and it took me a few weeks to stop being pretty depressed about it... now I am very happy and I do think it's just about perspective. The truth is these are replacements but not the same as breasts. In time, when the implants have settled, you can assess options if you are still unhappy but it's too soon for that.
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Lilah-awww Lilah your so right. You've helped me so much through this process, you know. From deciding about gummies to the emotional roller coaster, you've given me great support and advice. I do have a problem of over analyzing things, (could you see that about me,lol). Your so right I need to step back and chill and give it time. All I can say is thanks for being there, it means so much to me!!
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hi all, just sending good recovery wishes and happy yippee squishees to all.
MBJ how very pretty your new photo is! Love the dark hair on you.
Rebecca, feel better soon, sweetie.
I'm a uni too, and I noticed continual subtle changes to the new girl over the course of the entire first year...they match quite well now in "slope" and "drape". Size difference of course, but hope to get that rectified. First things first, need my kid to graduate college in spring, then on to a prophy for me, I am sick and tired of being monitored and the attendant worries.
Be well, all.
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Annie: Thank you! I decided to go back to wearing a brown/black--something I haven't done in years. It's closest to my natural color and a bit more dramatic, which suits my personality LOL! Spring will be here before you know it!
Sweetie: I am only two months out and notice many changes, too. Didn't expect the ripples (my PS said they wouldn't happen-ha!) but Lilah is right: they aren't real breasts but replacements and it does take some getting used to. Me, I love best how I now look in clothes and in bras. I'm still getting used to me without clothes, though.
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Yesterday I found the cami I wore after mx and took one of the "form", put it in my current cami and presto-chango -- I have what looks like a boob. It looks pretty good, except for the bump where the JP and tubing are on my side -- LOL.
The doc told me that the pathology from my surgery came back totally normal -- except that the tissue was very dense. That's good news and I already know about the denseness. He also told me that my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is way too low at 0.073 so I need to see my primary doc and get some more thyroid tests. My thyroid was removed ages ago, so this should just mean a medication change. It might explain why I've been feeling so awful, though.
Annie -- I love your hair -- wish I could go dark, but I'm too old and my face is too fair.
Rebecca -- hope you are feeling better.
Good luck and healing thoughts to everyone with new squishees.
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Bonnie: Good old thyroid--My dr just ordered up some new tests for the same reason. Glad you are doing well!
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Thank you ladies. I am feeling much better today.
I actually smiled this morning when I was about to shower. My DH said wow looks like your boobs are back. I kinda wanted to laugh because I did not change what I had I just had it revised. I guess it also could be some of the swelling but so far it looks good to me. I will see if we get time for pics tonight when my DH slows down.
We usually get about 300 kids on Halloween so he and the kids are decorating for tomorrow. I think I will take some extra time off work this time I tend to rush back to work but I will not go back till maybe Thursday or next week we will see.
I am feeling pretty good with my self right now thank you to all you wonderful ladies
Rebecca
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Lilah - I like your reasoning. That they are just replacements not a real breast. That sure puts this whole exchange thing into perspective.
sweetie - do give it some more time and like Lilah said if you're still not happy in a few months and see what options you have.
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Rebetata: Only our DH knows for sure. LOL! So happy that it is all looking good and yay for you for taking some time off! Happy Halloween!
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happy halloween girls!
I get maybe 6 kids, but my DH is being Indiana Jones at the library Haunted house tonight, so that will be fun....
(maybe it might be if I did not have this stupid UTI going on............grrrrrrr...I need some estrogen but it's a big old no no for me).
Rebecca., so happy for you and good girl to take some YOU time. God knows you deserve to!
Things improve so much with time ladies. I stood in front of my mirror today and thought, "well, without the nipple, it's a barbie boob, but da*** it's a nice one!". I think I may go see my BS and use the stick on ones and freak him out. Ha ha.
Let's try to put some perspective on it too....it helps me to remember that so many women with perfectly healthy boobs get enhancements. So let's call ourselves "enhanced", eh?
love to all
a
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Sweetie -- ((((hugs)))) and you are so cute about the over analyzing
Bonnie -- how great about the old form! And hang in there you'll be done with the drain soon. Good to know about the thyroid, isn't it? Hope all it means IS a change of the prescription.
Rebecca -- Glad you are feeling good. Love that your DH said that!
Annie -- ((((hugs))) to you too you sweet thang.
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Such good news from Bonnie and Rebecca!!! Bonnie, I am thrilled that the end result looks perfectly fine to you! What more could we ask for?? And Rebecca....I cannot wait to see photos! So glad this last procedure was such a success!
Speaking of Halloween...I have to go out and replenish the Halloween candy I have been secretly absconding with for days. My husband hid it in the garage, but I am Deborah Dick Tracy and I found it!! We have hundreds of visitors on Halloween...
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annie- Enhanced! I like it! Maybe my tag line should be- "Yes, they're enhanced....the real ones tried to kill me!" 0
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Yes, my PS surgically repaired that hollow that resulted from SNB on both sides by pulling muscle and surturing it in place. Looks good, not perfect. He may do some more repair during exchange. It has gotten better with PT massage. I believe it is called axillary webbing. It's a channel that develops after they take your lymph nodes. Do ask your PS to fix it during exchange since it hasn't repaired itself.
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Hi Ladies,
Have taken a break from the forum for a while, as the waiting for exchange sometimes gets to be too much tension for me. I'm on the last leg of a vacation. Ten day road trip from Santa Monica to AZ & New Mexico, just drove back from Arroyo Seco today - 9k feet elevation. All alone at a B & B in the boonies tonight, I want to go out to look at the stars, but a little afraid of the bears and pumas that roam these parts! Was deep in the heart of a Pueblo/Reservation today with some traditional people, deeply moving. So good to get out in the wilderness, quiet, nature, and places where people look you in the eye and say "hello" - been in Los Angeles for too long, maybe ;~)
Wanted to address the nipple question someone asked. Learned recently that my PS can make an areola without grafting skin from elsewhere. He does a scar origami thing for the nipple, then cuts a circle in the breast skin flap for the areola and stitches it to create a margin. I think he might inject some fat underneath it too to make a bumpy surface similar a real nipple. I'm deeply blessed to have an email pal who had her recon with my PS five years ago. His office referred her to me, along with two other women. She's determined to stick through it with me, and I'm so grateful. She continues to be a wonderful and encouraging cheerleader throughout this process. She sent me photos in the beginning of her before and after. She recently told me her experience after exchange, and fat grafting. Her belly was sore for only a few days, and she drove the day after exchange. It helps so much to get info from those who have been there before, and be prepared as much as possible. This sounds redundant, but I cannot wait to get these things off my chest! Everyone says how great they look, and many say they wish they had breasts that look like this, but if they felt how hard they are, and how it feels to have them stapled to their chest, they would definitley change their tune! 38 sleeps until exchange! Hang in there, all you ladies who still have TEs. And thanks loads, all ladies who have had exchange and are rooting for us yet to go, or just done. Big thanks to Deborah for all of her amazing love & support & detailed info & hand holding!
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Did I tell you that the blood pressure cuff was on the wrong/LE arm when I woke up after surgery? My arm is fine, but isn't that just the strangest thing? There was a bracelet on my arm to show that I had mx, but somebody wasn't paying attention. The recovery room nurse noticed it and said something when I was waking up or I never would have known.....
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orchidgal - the wilderness so beautiful, so healing. Soak it up! "38 sleeps until exchange" love it ... can so relate. They will be a thing of the past very soon. You will not believe the difference, how soft they are! Hang in there! 38 more sleeps to go! 0
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BonnieK - grrrrrrr! how stupid could they be? so sorry!
Praying you won't get a flare because of their stupid mistake! 0 -
bonnie: I even had a sign and they don't notice at all--I find I always have to speak up!
orchidgal: What as amazing experience--I have definitely been in LA for too long. You are so close!!! World of difference getting the squishees. I went out as a Pirate's Wench for Halloween and it's the first time I have ever had real cleavage, lol!
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orchidgal: It's wonderful to "see" you here! I'm glad you are on a nice and well deserved break from everything. And, exchange in 38 days!!! Woo Hoo!
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Almagetty: How are you? Aren't you scheduled to have your nips soon? Can't wait to see!! Does you PS do the origami method?
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Hi MBJ! I'm doing great! I am nervously excited for my NAC surgery on November 10. That's 10 days away ... yikes! My PS hasn't given me the exact name of the method he uses. From his explanation (which I'll probably get wrong), he cuts two semicircles, top and bottom, at the site of the NAC. He then rolls those two semi circles around each other to form a nipple. The areola is a skin graft from my lower abdomen.
I'm also getting some fat grafting for the step off I've developed. He nixed the lipo'ing of the dog ear, because he says the swelling there has gone way down and lipo'ing would bring him too close to the implant, risking damage. I'm still hoping to talk him into it in pre-op.
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Almagetty: I would trust your PS--don't want to mess up what is right! My PS only does the tattoo--no skin grafting. I am really interested in seeing your results. I would be excited, too, but I want to wait until next year. Too much surgery for this year for me. 10 days--You should have the day posted above!
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Hi Ladies. The support on this forum is great. It's nice that most of us are finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For me, in addition to all the pain and scariness of this BC journey, I also have the stress of needing to find a new job. I resigned from my last job (for reasons unrelated to my health) the month before I was diagnosed. The one good thing is that I took advantage of having the time off to catch up on doctor's appointments, overdue mammogram, etc. Otherwise, I would have never caught my BC at such an early stage. As it was, even though I had DCIS, it was widespread, and I ended up having three lumpectomies before finally getting a BMX (couldn't get clean margins).
Because of all the pain and complications from my four surgeries (I got two staph infections) and all the pain from the TEs, I haven't been able to start looking for a new job until recently (I was diagnosed 6 months ago). Even now, I don't even have enough energy to make it through a whole day of work. I have been consulting part-time (mostly pro bono) to feel somewhat productive and keep my mind working. Before I was in too much pain to even think about working (I don't know how so many of you returned to work so quickly), but now that I'm feeling better physically, I have to deal with the stress of finding a job. I feel that after all I've been through this year, I deserve some good luck, so hopefully I'll find something soon.
I hope everyone who had surgeries this past week is healing well. Good luck to all of you having exchanges this week! My exchange is Nov. 10, and I'm looking forward to really being able to move forward with my life after recovering from that surgery.
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MBJ: How do I get my November 10 NAC surgery added to the top of the page? I know my exchange was listed, but I can't remember how that happened. I agree with going with the PS's recommendation about the lipo. When he says he's worried about damaging the implant ... well, there's not too much one can say to that, right? I'll post pictures on the other site after the surgery.
LG300: Welcome to the thread! We're having surgery on the same date, but for different reasons. I've had a similar surgical journey. I had two lumpectomies for DCIS and ended up having a RMX because of one stubborn close margin. Good thing, too, because the pathology from my MX showed extensive residual DCIS in the remaining lower half of my breast. Good luck to you in your job search!
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I'm just a week and 1/2 out of my exchange surgery and still really uncomfortable. I had expander put in the mastectomy side and then during exchange he evened the left side out and fixed the flap of skin where my nodes were removed. He had to do a lot of evening as it was pretty limited with how much he could stretch the skin on the right side due to radiation. My options were limited because of back issues and not wanting to have to go through another long surgery.
How long did it take for all the swelling to go down? I just feel like I should be feeling a lot better than I am. I will say getting use to my new shape will take some time. I'm really not liking it much at this point and hoping that will change with time.
When you went for your surgery were any of you asked to stop taking tamoxifen for a period of time. I'm asking as I saw another surgeons web site advising her patients of that and no one said anything to me.
Thanks
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Best of luck to you and gentle hugs.....stay positive and have a lot of humor to go along with it all...it HELPS! :-)
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