Exchange City
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Lookin' good, NOMORE!
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Well, It looks like I am next up for the exchange! And to get this port out - finally!
My bag is packed and I am more than ready!
Of course, there is a possibility of snow this evening into tomorrow. Great! My report time is 5:30am so that should be a fun drive in.
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XRayGirl: You just have to do whatever it takes to get through this. Sometimes I know that in order to keep your job, you might have to temporarily go back to work in order to get the extra time off. I guess you jsut have to work it through with your employer. Good luck and I am sure it will all work out for the best!
MSNOMORELUMPS: I waited a long time to post my pictures, but I did send them to Whippetmom all through my process and her help was invaluable.
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Good luck St Cards Fan!!!!
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Good evening ladies,
I use to have the link for the picture forum and see to have lost it. Can anyone supply that. I seem to remember Tam was making a change but have not been on in awhile. I recently had my 8th and FINAL surgrery although I am less than thrilled with the results so would like to have some base of comparison.
Thanks!
Wbuggie
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I have checked my pm and this thread a few times hoping to have my password to the picture site. I am sure others have a life, it just seems longer when you are waiting for something. I can't wait to see some pics of real people that you we discuss issues with on this forum. I surfed around net last night looking at others reconstruc pics from lots of PS's website. All it did was frustrate me and the sizes of cc's don't look anything like my size that I think I have now (which I am not really sure of now) . I am calling the PS office tomorrow to verify what implant size I have now. I forgot to ask him on my one week visit after surgery and now I won't see him for a month. Right after my exchange surgery my husband said PS told him he put in 800's after trying 600 and smaller sizes. I asked if he was confused and maybe a total for both implants is 800, he said no he said implant size is 800. But my hubby knows nothing of this sizing if implants. The PS said he would start with 550's and 600's and had me look at that size in his office. He knows I wanted to keep it simple and fit in my clothes. I took my measurements and shopped for a few new bra's and it seems almost the same as with my TE's. I can wear (seems to vary) some 36-38 DD. If no underwire I can wear some D or C's because my foobs are short and wide. Common problems with reconstruction foobs I know but I was already very similar before my mx surgeries. I am so tired of dealing with this BC & surgery stuff I just want to get some foobs and start living and I do not want to have several more surgeries to fix this little thing and that little thing. Sorry for the rant, maybe I am not being picky enough because I want to get it done. This is so weird I feel like I am talking about shoes not boobs. Thank you ladies for all your help.
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xraygirl...I also had a leaking implant. The darn thing just deflated one morning. It was my non rads side...My PS offered a few suggestions to fix it. But, I just decided to live with it unitl my exchange (approx 2 months) Filling didn't work because it just leaked out.
My PS would not do exchange surgery on my rads side before 6 mos post rads. She quoted the 30 to 50% complications rate too. However, she hasn't had any problems with nips on the rads side.
I just had my exchange 2 weeks ago and so far so good.
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wbuggie: PM me all of your info and I will update you on the new process to getting on to the picture forum as it has moved. If you have all of your old info, you can send me that, too.
Looneymom: It's the weekend so hopefully tomorrow you will get confirmation from Fumi as I have not heard back from her, either.
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Thanks ladies! I still haven't bonded with these things. I'm hoping that will come in time. But then again, I have been kind of ignoring them.
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msnomorelumps- your last comment made me snort my coffee. That's how I feel. I just try and pretend they aren't there. I hate them.
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Msnomo' and Looney - I am also so over the whole process and need time to accept these odd things attached to me where my breasts used to be. Until they start feeling like my breasts, I'm not going to decorate them with nipples. I just had my last ps visit and he said any tweaking I wanted would be covered by insurance, and I could wait as long as I liked. Good to know ! He forced in 600's when I should have had 550 at most, so he said he could change sizes, will do lipo under my arms, fat injection to fill in the 'shelf' and of course the final touch, fipples! I try not to hate them because it could be worse, and all in all, its not 'their' fault
Just giving it time...0 -
Ladies -- especially those who are new -- just a reminder that the Picture Forum is a private forum that is NOT associated with BCO and membership is closely guarded to protect the privacy of those who post there. If you are interested in applying for access contact me, MBJ, Firni, Estepp, Whippetmom (and of course Timtam, the founder)... and we can help you. Please do understand though that there are a few steps involved and it takes at least a few days to get approved and not everyone is approved immediately.
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Lilah, I understand because this is very personal stuff. I am over my little rant - had to vent a little to others that would understand. I live in a house of men & boys! I will do what ever is requested or needed for approval and thanks for the help & reply.
TnbcRuth - thanks. I had TE for 2 years, maybe its grief and then getting used to new girls. It is weird that we speak of "them" as we do and not really addressed as part of our body. I don't think the ladiies that have had Tram or transplant surgeries address their new parts the same way. I never thought of it until this post. Well I do treat them better than most of my shoes and I really love shoes..... I will try to think more welcoming and loving thoughts and maybe the new additions will feel welcomed and not doing any rejects from my body. Sounds strange but I guess a little positive thinking ttwords the new parts won't hurt my situation. Good nite.
bi mastectomy w/expanders 6/3/08 DCIS with micro invasion of IDC * Rads 10/08. Exchange TE to Gummy Implants Dec 10, 2010
Diagnosis: 5/6/2008, IDC, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-0 -
Just a quick post to say that I am finally healing and feeling better with no more incision problems. Onc's nurse called today to say the Dexa scan I had on Friday shows some mild bone loss in both hips. She said to continue vitamin D, calcium and weight bearing exercise and have another scan in a year. My poor old body is falling apart...
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Question: I'm almost two weeks out from my nip surgery and wearing gauze over them, changing it every day, sometimes 2x a day. Seems I've developed an allergic reaction to the tape I'm using to keep them in place. Never had anything like this before, not allergic to anything that I know of ... but the rash is in the outline of the tape ... so it is a tape thing. Anyone know of or does anything like hypo-allergenic tape even exist? Thanks, ladies!
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Well ladies I had my exchange on the 8th with a lot of revison work on the radiated side to keep the foobs from goin under my are pit. The left one sits high and the PS has me putting preesure on it. I went back One week later and she asperated some fluid but not much from the right side. I had no drains put in. Anyway Ftiday night I had a hgh fever thinking that I was fighting a bug but after looking at the right side and the excrutiating pain I am in I realized that I am fighting a Breast Infection. I waited so long for this surgery and now this. So I'm crying a lot. I'm on stronge antibiotics and had a culture taken this afternoon. So In a couple of days we should know what type of infection and what is the best way to treat it.
Dr. Says sometimes this happens on the radiatiated side?? So I am going to be selfish and ask for anyone who belives to please pray for me that I will heal and figh off this infection without surgery.
Sorry to dump on alll of you. I'm very happy for everyone of you that has good or even the best looking breast with total satisfaction outcomes. Merry Christmas and Love to all, Tina
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Dawne-Hope - Make sure the tape you're using is latex-free. You could have an allergy/sensitivity to latex (it can develop over time even if you haven't had it in the past).
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Prayers for you, Tina! I'm so sorry. Healing. xo.
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Tina, warmest wishes for a speedy and healthy recovery! I got infections after three of my five surgeries and all of them cleared up with antibiotics (different antibiotics for each infection). It's good your doctor did a culture to make sure you're on the right antibiotic.
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dawne=hope - I am allergic to the tape too. I was not aware of any allergies in myself until radiation. They used these little stickers over my marks and I had a heck of an allergic reaction to the glue in the stickers. That was back in June....I still have 3 circles on my foob from the reaction. My ps wants me to wear tape to hold my radiated side in place and I find I am allergic to the tape as well! I just can't wear it. I am relying on my sports bra.
Question_ I have been complaining of rib pain on my rads side but I am now thinking it's muscle spasms. I only have it when I am in bed! Makes going to sleep a joy. I cannot lie flat on my back or I am almost paralyzed with pain. I know my ps had to do a lot of extra work on that side but what the heck did he do? I am 3 weeks out from my exchange as of today and quite frankly it's getting worse and not better. I see him tomorrow. Anyone else have this issue?
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Sorry for the pain, Momof3, I don't have it but I am sending you hugs. Hopefully the doctor can resolve this. It sounds like it may be a nerve and when you lie down you aggravate it. Not sure what can be done (nor if that is right)! But my two cents...
Dawne -- yeah as the others said, you have to stop using that tape. Can you use a bra to hold the gauze in place?
Tina -- hugs to you too! Sorry for what you are going through. I hope the infection clears up soon.
Looney -- no worries! Based on what MBJ wrote it sounds like you are just awaiting Timtam's approval... be patient and I'm sure it will come soon. If not, be in touch with us.
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Looney - "Well I do treat them better than most of my shoes and I really love shoes..... I will try to think more welcoming and loving thoughts and maybe the new additions will feel welcomed..." YOU ARE TOO FUNNY!0
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Dawne-Hope, I have the same thing. It's not a latex allergy for me, it's an adhesive allergy. Using paper tape works the best for me, really makes a big difference. If they use anything else, I get the round circles or break outs as you described that would last for months! They put adhesive allergy in my charts and I always ask for paper tape. Sometimes I still get a little irritation, but nothing big.
Mom3-my onc told me several times that rib pain is very common after rads. Mine has improved over time. Good to get it checked out.
Tina-sorry you have this to deal with, but hoping your antibiotics will kick in soon and get your feeling better.
Bonnie-yea! Finally!
I'm looking forward to Christmas, trying to get things wrapped up. I've had a wicked sinus infection for over a week, finally got antibiotics, so hoping it scrams soon. deekaay
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Thank you everyone, you are all so awesome. 1st of all venting on here gives a little relief.
LG300 - And knowing that I am not the oly one who has gone through this and all of everyones commnts really help me. Did you ever have to use an internal iv pump for the antibiotic treatment? hopefully it won"t get to that point. But, it is better than surgery to remove implant and wait 6 months.(actually I'm not even going to go there).
Dawne-Hope I also had allergy that the dr believed was from the glue. Even though I am far fromthe stage you are in the sports bra with some comfortable type of bandage, padding or dressing sounds like a good solution.
Hugs and Love to all, Tina
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Ok, I've been following along and am back to post.....I am confused at to what I should do. I am now at 500cc's but have had a rough go at it! I've had 3 fills a week apart to get to the 500, with a now 2 week break! (I was 200 at BMX). My skin is very thin and I reallyyyyy want the HP smooth silicone rounds. PS says we can try tthose since he knows I really want them and see how the rippling is. Can exchange out for gummies after if unhappy. (I *think* even with some rippling I'll be happier with them then the gummies for me personally) He also said originally he would overfill by one or two fills. BUT he is rethinking that because of my pain level and skin thin-ness I think. I am fairly happy with my size at 500cc's, maybe would like just a tad larger but not by much! I am fairly petite but somewhat broad across the shoulders I suppose with a 31 inch ribcage so need the size to an extent, 5'8" and 126 approx. I am sorta curvy and really need them to be a good C to look balanced in my opinion (I looked VERY out of proportion when they were smaller). I don't however, want to be as large as I was before naturally. (large C-small D? ) So, I have just read, that to get the same projection as the TE you need to go up by 100 - 150cc's. Im not sure what to do because I'm not sure how much more my skin can be stretched and I can be filled.
So, PS told me at last visit that he would probably bring 550's, 600's and 650's into operating room when the time came. I think 550's I will not be happy with is that correct? And possibly even 600's. Will I need 650 to get the projection that I have with 500cc TE? 0 -
Dawne-hope paper tape will not do this. Also, what I learned was just barely have the tape hang over your gauze so that not so much skin is used with the tape. I had less irritation when I did this. Hugs!
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Exchange and Port removal complete!
I spent the night in the hospital (my choice) and I am home now.
So happy to have the port out, and very happy to have the turtle shells replaced with something soft!!
I was filled to 425 cc in the te's and PS placed style 20, 400cc Natrelle implants. So far so good. I am wrapped up, and have foam bandages on the top and bottom to keep the implants in place, plus the lovely surgical bra. Minimal pocket work - so no drains - yippee! PS fixed my mini dog ear too.
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Dawne-Hope, although I mentioned the possibility of a latex allergy, I'm also allergic to all kinds of adhesives (in addition to my latex allergy). Paper tape is a good suggestion, but you might need some cream to clear up the current infection.
Mom3b, I also have had rib pain since my exchange surgery (and I didn't have rads).
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Dawne-Hope: I developed tape sensitivity also. I think it is related to the thinness of my skin because I usually don't have that type of sensitivity. My suggestion is to use paper tape if you HAVE to use tape (if bra alone won't hold the guaze in place) and alternate where the tape overlaps your skin. I had to change my dressings 2 times a day and I would do the tape vertically and then alternate and do horizontally and even diagonally sometimes. You may want to use something like polysporin on the irritated areas. Also make sure you are not taping too tightly because that will also cause irritation. Hope it clears up fast.
TCK
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