Exchange City
Comments
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Brenda, so sorry your recon failed. You sure tried to make it work. Best of luck with the LD. It is a big surgery, so plan to take 4-5 weeks to recover. I am one year out from it now and am reasonably pleased with my results. One thing I do like is that I got the half circle flap replacement, too. Let us know how you do. deekaay
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hi ladies, I am hoping someone might be able to give me their thoughts. I had my exchange and nipple surgery on 1/10. I saw my PS on 1/18 and he was very happy with how everything looked etc. In the last day or so the nipple areas ache a little and the left nipple is a little yellow looking, compared to the right side. Could the nipple be starting to fail? Some moments I feel paranoid- other I feel panicked! Any thought would be greatly appreciated. (I know my PS said if they had failed they would have been black after the first week, but could there be a problem developing now?) Thank you so much!!!
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Regarding massages, I was able to lay on my stomach on my foobs. I was very apprehensive about this, but once I relaxed, it was fine. I could never have done this with the TEs.
I did ask my PT this week about light massage on my left arm when I go for a regular masage and she said NO, don't get any type of massage on the left arm unless it's a trained LE person. So I won't do that again although it did feel so great. Best not to take the risk.
My heart goes out to all of you who are struggling with the healing from all this. I feel so grateful to be on the other side of surgeries this year. It will come to you as well. (((Hugs)))
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Thanks to Lilah, Mary and deekay.
I'm getting the half circle because the lower part is the area where the hole is, plus the skin around it. I've seen your photos, deekay, and you are looking really good!
Brenda
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Thanks, Brenda. I'll have to update my pix so you can see now since you are considering the LD surgery. I avoid picture updates since I am such a tech donut! But I hope the new pictures show the improvement and healing. I think my results look decent even after rads and all the surgeries. Not perfect by any means, but ok. I am beginning to get comfortable in my new skin--finally. I wish this for you and will keep you in my thoughts. deekaay
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Laurie08 - I had my nips done 6 weeks ago. My left one has hurt. But my left side has been my 'problem' side since waking up from my BMX. My left nip did turn black, but is alive now. It has hurt off and on these six weeks. It was hurting last night. Stupid thing! Not sure about the yellowing, would call your PS and ask. It would be strange for a week out for it to die. Are you still coating it with anti-bacterial cream and covering it? There were certain bras I wore that hurt more than others ... have you worn a different bra? Hope things go OK for you. Keep us posted!
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Dawn-Hope, thank you so much for your reply! I am going to call my PS on Monday and ask if I should come in and have him look at it. He didn't want me putting any cream on it, just to keep it covered with these plastic cover things he gave me that I have to wear for 6-8 weeks. I wish I had looked at the nips more the day I was at his office so I would know if they looked different from then. I had been wearing the mastectomy bra 24/7 and now have worn nothing at night, maybe thats why it aches? Both my husband and I were really checking it out this morning...we can't figure out if I am being paranoid or not. Your post did make me feel a little better though. Did your nip turn black right after surgery and then come back?
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Laurie08 - I've PM'd you.
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Brenda -- so sorry your reconstruction didn't work, but hope the next go-around is the charm for you! My first 2 implants failed and I'm in a holding pattern for now, but feeling SO much better without the implant. Best of luck to you!!!
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Bonnie - Thank you! Just hoping that the flap takes. I know that it probably will, but since I have been diagnosed I seem to be falling in the "not likely to happen" category, so I'm more than just a little bit worried. I had to sign something at my pre-op acknowledging that "flap death" could be one of the complications. That seems even more scary than myself dying! How crazy is that? I will keep you posted!
Brenda
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Brenda I will continue to pray for you. I will also pray for you to be at peace in this time leading up tp your surgery I know how stressful this all can be.
If you need anything please dont hesitate to ask I am just on the other side of the mountain. I wil be in Julian Ca. on the 11th-14th of February I think that is close to you.
Hugs and prayers to you Brenda,
Hello to eveyone else I read alot on the boards I am just so busy with work and doctors to post but I think about you all,
Rebecca
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Wondering if anyone out there has any info or thoughts on Naturelle style 45 implants? Do they look natural? Is it a nice shape?
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Rebetata: What are you going to be doing in Julian? My DH and I went there to a B&B for our 1 year anniversary!
Brenda: Sending you many good thoughts your way!
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Hi everyone. Hope you are all doing well. I am not having my left exchange and fat grafting until April and a lift and tuck on the right side at the same time. I was wondering if you normally have drains with this or not and if it is as painful as the mastectomy itself. Just trying to prepare myself. Getting anxious for the surgery and hoping that it will be the last. Hope those of you in the cold regions are staying warm. It was -6 at my house this am without the windchil. BBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRR....
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JenC: You should ask Lilah, as she had the same procedure done and knows exactly what you are going to be going through.
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JenC -- yes as MBJ said I had a lift/reduction on left and exchange on right when I had my last surgery. I did not have a drain for the lift side but DID have one for exchange side. I think it's individual to the PS. My PS told me she always uses a drain with exchange. I guess she did not use one for the lift side because, since there is still tissue there, fluid can be absorbed more easily? I don't know. Honestly a drain on my lift side would have been good because some time between being discharged and waking up the day after something did bleed on my lift side (internally) and I had a HUGE bruise that went from entire bottom half of my breast down to my hip... it took weeks to go away (and months for the swelling to disappear). She said a vessel must have burst post-operatively because I had no bleeding in the OR. As for pain -- I would say I was very sore for a week and, due to the blood loss (I think), I had low red blood count and so was very very tired for three weeks... so my case is probably somewhat unusual. Hope this helps.
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I am new to this site and will have exchance surgery on Friday. I would like to know how to access the photo site. Any help would be appreciated.
I had a dmx last March with new diagnosis of papillary DCIS - 21 years after Stage 1 with lumpectomy radiation.
Hoping for a successful exchange--we'll see.
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Hi, Soccermomofthree! I received the Allergan Style 45's on August 25. I couldn't be happier with them. I loved my tissue expanders and my plastic surgeon was well aware I didn't want to lose width or projection. They look natural and have great upper pole fullness. Hope this helps!
Linda (cleo100)
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Thank you cleo100 I was wondering if anyone out there had them
Thank you for sharing! Do they come in saline and silicone? or are they the gummie bear?0 -
Thomasj: I would send a private message to Whippetmom!
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Ladies:
I am not far from my exchange surgery planning around May (it's warmer by then). So pls. give me your honest opinion on how they truly feel. Will I be able to sleep on my stomach and side again? Can I go topless after eveything is over w/? What about working out do the move like our normal breast would??? Will my hubby like them??
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Soccermom -- the 45s are regular silicone. The Allergan gummies are always listed as Style 410 (when not simply called "gummies").
Fighter -- do you know what type of implants you are getting? By and large people ARE able to resume sleeping on their sides and bellies and are happy with how they look naked. Are you a bilateral or unilateral MX patient? Also re: working out -- you will need to get a very good sports bra but yes, eventually, you should be able to get back to normal workouts (you just have to wait some months to make sure you heal well and build back gradually). Most ladies here have found their hubbies are very happy
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soccermom I also have the style 45's they are great.
MBJ I belong to a time share called CRA we saty at KQ ranch it is just beautiful up there. I use there little cottages when we go up there since I hate pulling the trailer up the curvy roads.
I am kinda nervous I have to go to the doctors on Weednesday. I mean you know when the office calls and asks for you to bring your spouse with you it just cant be good maybe I am just over thinking things. Well I could use the extra prayers.
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Gosh Rebecca -- definitely saying prayers for you. Were you waiting on some test results?
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Heebie-Jeebie -- does your husband understand that these are faceless pictures and that no one could possibly know it was you unless they had already seen you naked?
Also: re the swelling on your augmented side... that is similar to how I was post-exchange on my lifted/reduced side (done at the same time)... the natural breast was very swollen and bruised... and actually was harder (at first) than the gummy! It's the presence of breast tissue at all that causes this... be patient!
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Lilah I had a spot seen on the PET in my abdominal wall. I guess it was something more than just fat LOL. No I am just kidding well I have found humor in all this because it is better than stressing I guess.
Thank you for your reply,
Rebecca
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OK - thanks I did do that.
I am only planning to take the weekend off after exchange with fat grafting on Friday. Is it reasonable to be back at work (administrator) on Monday? Looking forward to softer foobs - I've had the expanders since last March. Took a long time due to prior radiation.
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Rebecca, I am also saying prayers for you, and sending you hugs.
thomasj: That sounds too soon to me. Good luck!!!
Brenda
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I took 4 weeks off from work after my exchange and port removal.
Part of it was my PS restriction on not moving the arms above my shoulders.
By the end of the 30 days I was ready to go back to work. Now if I could just get rid of this frozen shoulder, things would be good.
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Rebecca, thinking of you and wishing you the best. Let us know. ((((((((((hugs))))))))), deekaay
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