Exchange City

Welcome back Rebecca!  So glad you had a good time.  I hope the insurance change is a benefit for you.  Poor little girl starting her period so young... I feel for her!

Marie -- I found my implant was softer than TE immediately, but then my TE was a rock; after a few months I noticed it was much softer, could be "squished" more easily.  I'd leave it alone for now as you are still, no doubt, experiencing some swelling on that side (in addition to the swelling on your reduction side).  Gummies are not as squishy as regular silicone and I'm pretty sure you said you were getting a gummy.  Long term though a gummy will be firmer than the liquid silicone type of implant... and of course there are variables that have to do with the condition of your pectoral (which means some women are softer than others).  But surely with your TE you were not able to poke with a finger and with a gummy when you do that there is some give, isn't there?  I find it hard to believe it feels the same as the TE unless your TE was under inflated.

Thanks for the gatekeeper names, ladies!

I have a question.. I go to back to see my plastic surgeon tomorrow. I just had an exchange with a 2nd set of implants. I wonder do these still have to drop and fluff or no since I already dropped and fluffed with the first set. The PS did do a lot of pocket work but I thought I would ask you ladies before seeing her tomorrow, Let me know your thoughts. Thanks

Rebecca:  I have not heard of any cases which "failed" because nips were done before tattoos.  In fact, I have not heard of anyone getting tattoos prior to having the nipple flaps created.  I don't think this is a problem at all, and my feeling is that you need to get the nips done under Kaiser, because you don't want a deductible or huge out of pocket for this in March with Blue Cross.  The tattoos will not be an issue.  Also, I picture the tattoos being somewhat distorted when the skin is pulled up to create the flaps.

I had no idea when you PM'd me that you are changing insurance plans.  This makes your question to me so much more important - as I thought you were just looking for a second opinion.  So I am ON IT!  But get your nips done.  Tell your current PS what the issue is and let her know that the nipples are more important than the tattoos at this point.

Deborah

I had my exchange yesterday and the dr said all went well. I was out of it when he came to see me and I didn't ask which implant I ended up with. I did drill into a nurse before surgery small, small, small.  I can tell I'm smaller than I was with the TEs and that is with the swelling so I think all will be ok. My left side looks slightly larger (he had filled it more) but I'm looking at myself all wrapped up and I know I need to give it time. I just spent 6 months visably lopsided so I'm just looking forward to not feeling like I look so freak-ish!

I have an appt with my PS tomorrow so I'll check back in with the implant details.

Thank you all for all of your support!

What is happening with BCBS inurance in  March? I have that insurance and knock on wood so far EVERYTHInG has been covered. I actually only had to put out 40.00 out of pocket because my old crumby PS was out of network. My new PS is in network.

Speaking of...I went to see her today and she said she had to do a huge amount of pocket work with so many stitches because I have very thin skin and the pocket was HUGE.. She thought the surgery would be 1.5 hours but it ended up bing 2.5hours.  She took her time and did a great job. I will need more revisions on my left side but first she wants me to totally heal and then decide what's next...

It was so good to hear this news. My old PS just said remember this is reconstruction not augmentation!  So frustrating. Thanks Deborah for encouraging me to get a 2nd opionion. I really am so glad that I did.

Yea, Anne.  You are on the other side now!  Enjoy the softness...

Warrior67:  So great that things went so well today.  That's terrific news.  And I'm so glad to see you're on line so soon!!  I'm getting ready to go to bed before my big day tomorrow.   I'm nervous, but excited too!  You're an inspiration!   

Deborah and Rebecca:

  I won't be in Vegas this year..:(     Boo Hoo But tell anyone who wants to, that they can contact me and I'll work it out, I or someone equally qualified can do them.   JUDY 

Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. JUDY
Diagnosis: 8/18/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 5/21 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2-

Just posted my pictures ladies.. Please let me know your thoughts.
As I mentioned as the healing process is happening I feel that they are looking better everyday. I went to see my PS yesteday and she said she had to do a lot more work than expected. She thought that the surgery would be completed in 1.5 hours and ended  being 2.5. She said my skin is very very thin and I have a large amount of stitches inside underneath both sides. The pockets were huge. She also said that I will most likely need more revisions on the right side but she wants to wait to I am totally healed and take it from there.  So glad I didn't settle for less. If it wasn't for all of you I would have not known any better and stuck with plastic surgeon #1.

Thank you all again.

Had my exchange surgery yesterday - 3 hours. Dr. said couldn't remove scar tissue on left side because skin was so thin (prob from rads), butthey said sat me up and I was symetrical. I'm very sore and when I change positions or get up from sitting there is searing pain. Ugh!

Does anything know anything about lymphedema risk and exchange surgery? I wore my compression sleeve for the surgery and when I got home my hand was swollen, so Itook it off and not swollen today. Should I be wearing the compression sleeve post surgery or not? I'm afraid I'll cause more problelms if I wear it....

Sorry fo rpoor typing......percocet has me groggy. Gonna go take a nap! 

Hi TaTa Sisters! I haven't been over here for awhile, and hope you all are doing well.... 

TATA SISTERS I HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US!!!!! I'M SO DANG EXCITED I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!!

Most of you know, but my words of encouragement were printed in the Breast Cancer Wellness magazine.  WELL....A gal emailed me, she is the founder of Wings for Injured Athletes Inc. They are putting together a 365 daily calendar for 2012 called "Caring For Cancer one day At a time" with  inspiring quotes from cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

I told her about our TaTa Sisterhood and she is so dang excited!!  Obviously since they are looking for 365 people with quotes. She emailed me saying;

Janet
Wow I am so glad you emailed me
I would love to have your sisterhood submit quotes that would be great
We are trying to reach our goal of 365 quotes

Ya know what might be fun is if when they submit a quote they also say Ta Ta Sisterhood and if you alll want
we can reference that as well after their name, city and state and diagnosis

Thats amazing that you have all banded together. You all are so strong
We really appreciate you wanting to participate and for reaching out to the others
We are so excited about the calendar we just know it will be successful and honestly its because of  emails like yours thank you so much
Just in case I attached the form
Thank you so much for all your help
Maureen

SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PM ME WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I CAN FORWARD YOU THE FORM TO SEND IN.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO LIST THE TATA SISTERHOOD WITH YOUR QUOTE!! I SWEAR WE WILL DOMINATE THIS CALENDAR!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!!

HUGS! JAZZY

ok, i'm sure some of you can appreciate this...i've gone from being happy this morning when i took a peek one day post exchange, to tonight...i'm kinda freaking out.    i have allergan natrelle style 45, 400ccs, and now i'm thinking maybe he should have used style 20? 

 whippetmom, is there a big difference btw style 20 and 45 at 400ccs (or 375ccs in style 20)?  my PS used mentor CPX3 350cc tissue expanders, i think the medium height (but maybe the tall height, not 100% sure).  i've read in the threads how you mention that the implant should always be wider than the TE, but in my case, i think it's now a bit narrower.  that being said, my arms were bumping into the TEs in the end (expanded to about 390cc), so i think he wanted to go a bit narrower.

 but now i'm wondering, are they too projected and not wide enough?  i mean, i guess there's not much i can do now.  but in looking at the style 20 400ccs, they are only .7cm wider -- but perhaps that would make a difference?  my BF and mom think they look "great"...but they are biased!  i'm just worried the're going to be too "pointy".   girls with 45s, how does the shape change as they drop and fluff?  (fyi, my specs are 5'10" tall, 29" rib cage, 120lbs -- so i have a bony chest).  am i unnecessarily freaking out?  

Ladies -- be patient!  At one day post exchange you are way too early to freak out   Even at six weeks there is more drop and fluff to come.... it takes at least three months for gravity to work its magic on the silicone shape.  Try to take a deep breath and relax and heal

I have a question... I'm about 3 weeks post-BMX, with TEs. Since no rads or chemo needed, I just have to wait until 3 months for my exchange. Before my dx, I was a 34B, but hardly ever wore a bra if I could help it. Although I was starting to get some age-related droop, for the most part I was still pretty perky. Now with the TEs holding firmly in place on their own, I'm wondering whether I need to be wearing a bra now? Or can I just wear some camis under my street clothing? I'm not sure what purpose a bra would serve right now, because the TEs aren't letting my boob area go anywhere. The PS didn't specify whether I had to wear one, and the surgical bra I had on when I left the hospital is too small now due to the fill. What do I do?