Exchange City
Comments
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Sweetie: I have a very obvious scar tissue "lump" on my MX side where they did internal stitches. Having felt my cancerous lump they feel nothing the same. Cancerous lumps feel very grainy to the touch just beneath the skin where a normal lump is smooth. Hope this helps!
To all of you having surgery this week: Best of luck to all of you!
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MBJ -- thanks for that description! I had no idea what a cancer lump feels like (having never had one).
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Sweetie, I asked my PS about a thick little area when I was in for my final post op two weeks ago and he said it was scar tissue. LIke Lilah advised, I would make an appt. and have it checked out.0
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Shout out to Deborah for her excellent analysis of our implant potentials. I saw my PS yesterday for my pre-op. Will have exchange surgery Dec. 7. He said he will do fat grafting when he does the nipple/areola surgery, and that after exchange surgery I may need drains, maybe not. When I asked him what type and size he wanted to use with me he said: Round, Smooth, High Profile Mentor, in the 375-450 cc range. Exactly what Deborah recommended to me a while ago after giving her my measurements. Thank you so very much for the time you take with all of us and your caring concern that we get the most appropriate fit possible. I feel so much more confident, although I love my PS, having your expert opinion match his.
On another note, not sure if anyone has had specific TE pain in the Teres Major/Tere Minor muscles. I have on my left side and deep tissue massage only alleviates it temporarily. Today I saw the facial pain doc and she (dry) injected the teres minor on both sides, and I'm happy to say I've got immediate relief! She said she could do it again if needed after exchange. She uses the technique of needle treatment on trigger points developed by the doctor who treated JFK.
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Lilah - the x-ray was probably overkill but I liked being asleep. Maybe just something to charge my ins for...LOL.
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LOL Kward
Orchigal -- are those muscles on your face? I failed biology
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Brokendreams- All the best to you tomorrow! Yey, for getting rid of the iron chest TEs! Deb
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Orchidgal: As I stated on BIS 101, I am shouting right back at you that I am so happy to have helped! It is always my pleasure to do so! I am looking forward to seeing the end result. I referred someone to your PS the other day....
Deborah
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Hi Ladies, just checking in. My surgery was on Tuesday and so far I am feeling pretty good. Still taking my meds and sleeping with my normal 8 pillow minimum :0) Thank you for all of your thoughts! My PS said everything went fantastic. They did send me home in a compression bra zip up front and velcro over shoulders. Wow that thing is tight. Nothing like the TE soooo I will refrain from any complaints. Now all these new questions; I know so many people say not to freak out cause this is not how my new boobs will look... is that true?? They are squished flat and more towards my armpits!!!! My TE's were nice and high and close together and now everything seems so low flat and far apart!!! I am a bit concerned about that is this normal or did yours come out all nice and round and perky??
Thanks again in advance for all your help. I hope you are all doing well.
Cheryl
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Thanks for the advise Rebecca...the surgery went really well. Lasted 1 hour, and then recovery room 1 hour. I am bandaged right now but seeing doc this afternoon to get the bandages removed. I feel like I can do almost anything. Only have minimal pain and range of motion with my arms. I will have to remind myself to take it easy. I definitely don't want a revision. Hope everyone out there continues to improve.
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Hi Everyone, I have my exchange tomorow. Your postings have really help me to know what to expect. I will be so glad to get rid of this TE. Like others have said it feels like a iron vest on.
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brokendreams- So glad everything went well with the exchange. Remember not to overdo it since it's so easy to do so with so little pain. (I learned the hard way!) (((hugs)))
sweetie- Another possibility for abnormalities under the skin is Alloderm if your PS used that. I was freaking out when I found a hard lump on the right side of my breast. Then I found out it was a little ledge of Alloderm she had built to keep my implants from migrating into my armpits. (Then I realized there was a matching one on the other side!)
bigdogmom2- Everyone warns us our post-exchange breasts will be squashed little hamburger buns and, yet, everyone freaks out about it when they see it. So it's all normal- don't worry! They all look like that at first- especially when they're squished into a compression bra. As far as looking far apart the best thing you can do is get some really good support bras after you're out of the surgical bra. There is a great Bra thread on here for suggestions. A good bra will keep your implants held in the right place as they are healing. (Even women who have augmentation are told the same thing.) Unfortunately, a lot of PS's seem to drop the ball when it comes to post exchange advice like bras.
HappyGirl45- Good luck tomorrow! Hope the Boob Fairy is kind, gentle and generous!
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I'll be having my exchange surgery on December 3. I have been hanging out in the June surgery forum and now have a lot of reading to catch up with!
I had a right mastectomy in June with lymph node removal, no chemo or radiation. I'm on Tamoxifen. I hate the expander!
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I still have some chemo and rads to get through before they will do my exchange. Just curious, for those of you who had rads with the TE's - how long did you have to wait after to get your exchange?
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Cheryl -- no doubt they are squished due to the compression bra. I'm sure that once you can wear something more normal (and supportive of forward movement and shape) it will change.
Congrats all on the recent surgeries!
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bigdogmom2 and brokendreams-- It was good to read that you both are doing so well after your exchange surgeries this week. Pretty amazing. Make sure that the "new girls" continue to take it easy. Congrats!
HappyGirl45- Best wishes for an easy surgery for you tomorrow.
It is great to see so much encouraging progress here. : )
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First...... THANK YOU JEAN FOR KEEPING THIS THREAD GOING...
DEBORAH... here is my SHOUT OUT for you. WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HEATHER.... I did the whole process you are doing. My PS waited only three months because my skin did wonderful through rads. 60% of ladies do not do this well... so they wait longer for exchange. Most all PS tell their patients they will be waiting 6-12 months for exchange. But really, it will be up to how your skin looks.. If you ever wanna chat about all this, PM me. I also have ALL my pictures on the picture web site... for ladies who did rads and want implants only.. no flap surgery. You should look at my journey there.
Peace everyone ! Laura
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Heather - I also had an implant after rads (unilateral). I even had the TE placed after rads (but most rec'd placing prior) - I thought I was going to do a flap and lost some weight during chemo and a divorce that I ended up not having enough fat. So far my skin looks good (I've had the exchange) so time will tell. I fully understand how rads can complicate things and am willing to have more surgery if needed in the future. Best of Luck.
One more thing - I used Jeans's Cream during rads and I swear that made a difference.
Karyn
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Sorry I haven't been around--crazy busy! Just want to wish those having their exchanges today Happy Squishees! For those of you healing, give it time for your new foobs to take their final shape. I will be posting new pictures in a few more days and I swear I have noticed some more drop and fluff in the last month which will bring it to 3 months post exchange.
Kate: Thanks for the info re the Alloderm: I have the same thing on my MX side and it now makes much more sense as to why it's kinda lumpy there.
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ladies-thanks for the tips on what the lumpiness could be. I think it could be any one of those things you all mentioned. I did call my BS and she almost didn't want me to come in. The nurse said I had no breast tissue and wanted me to see the PS. I explained the area was near the armpit not the breast so then she said to come in anyway just to confirm it was nothing. I really don't think it is anything to worry about, but I just don't want to think about it for months waiting for next apt. Once I know for sure what it is I'm sure it will explain everything. I'll keep you posted.
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Heathermcd - one year, I had silicone ones, then they cc'd, just had them removed/replaced this past Nov., infection had them taking my right one back out, left still in and a nice job done of it. Having expander put back in this Jan. and fat grafting to plump right one up to allow for inplant, too many surgeries after radiation, area needs building up and revision and I've finally found the "man" who will do it at NWU in Chicago....YIPEEEEE! PM me if you''d lke more infor. or help or anything...gentle hugs to you!
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Hi all. I don't know if this is the right board to ask the following question. I'm 6 weeks out from my exchange and will be having my nip surgery in the next few months. I have a question about nip surgery. Has anyone every had fat injected "under" the aerola to give it projection? If so, are you happy with the results?
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Thanks everyone for information regarding the exchange after rads. I'm really hopeful that my skin will do well through the process. ESTEPP- What website do you have photos on? I can't wait to see the difference between the TE's and the "real" foobs!
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Hi all - If any of you are currently taking Darvocet or Darvon for pain, please note that the FDA just banned them due to serious heart side effects: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20101119/darvon-darvocet-banned?ecd=wnl_nal_111910.0
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More post-op complications... I had my regular post-op appointment on Tuesday (I had my exchange surgery last Wednesday), and I was fine, except for an allergic reaction to the adhesive on the bandages. Then last night I noticed that my left breast was larger than my right (they were pretty even right after the exchange surgery) and that it was red and swollen on the bottom. Went to see my PS today and she said there was some fluid and an infection, but she thought we could "nip it in the bud." She gave me two different antibiotics. I was afraid I was going to have to go back to the hospital for IV antibiotics, so I was actually relieved. I go back to see my PS again on Tuesday.
Also wanted to make sure everyone saw my earlier post about Darvocet and Darvon (which some of you may be taking for pain) being banned by the FDA due to serious heart side effects: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20101119/darvon-darvocet-banned?ecd=wnl_nal_111910.
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Sorry about the infection LG -- hopefully the antibiotics will do the trick!
I have never taken either of those drugs; vicodin seems to be the pain killer of choice in the NY/NJ area. But thanks for the warning!
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LG -- Thanks so much for posting the link to the ban on Darvon/Darvocet. I've been taking Darvocet for pain (osteoarthritis) for several years, and guess it's time to make a change. I only take 1-2 a day, but still.... So sorry you got an infection, but it sounds like you are on the right track.
My doctor's appointments are over for the week and everything's looking good. Surgery site is healing well, thyroid dose was lowered, new diet and exercise regimen for high cholesterol and back to a 6 instead of 3 month schedule with oncologist!
Happy weekend, everyone...
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Sounds good Bonnie! Can I call you Bon-Bon because you are SO sweet
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Just saw the Darvon/Darvocette ban on the evening news. My first bc surgeon gave it to me after my two lumpectomies. Since then my docs at the Cancer Center I go to use Vicodin.
Time to go clean out the medicine cabinet! My dh is the worst on hanging on to old meds, "just in case". lol
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Lilah -- I answer to almost anything! I don't know about being sweet, though... LOL.
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