Exchange City
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Hi everyone, hope all of you are healing well and wishing the best to those with upcoming surgery.
Rebecca I looked to see how you are doing! That is fabulous news! I am so happy for you and your family!! Phew!
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MBJ - it happens when I wear my compression bra which is made of slippy shiny polyester fabric.
When I wore my Coobie the other night - it's made of a cotton spandex - I didn't notice it moving across but that top had a different neckline.
I don't remember this happening with my natural breasts either (before BC) but it did happen a lot with tops and tanks during the TE phase almost to the post of exposing myself.
I kind of expected it to stop after exchange though...
I think I must be favouring my natural side (right) and I am right handed so that could explain why it's moving over. I will make an effort to move my left arm more whenever I wear a vee-neck.
I'm just getting a bit paranoid about my lack of symmetry...
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marie: I had to go to a PT because I was holding my shoulder forward in a protective mode. It made a world of difference and so do stretches, though it may be early for you to do this yet.
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Eastcoastgirl -- you can go even if you can't commit to Las Vegas right now... the March 1 deadline is to get a head count to make a deal for a room rate... last year lots of people did not decide to go till much closer to the date; some even got the room rate that was worked out... others made their own plans (hotels can be relatively inexpensive in Vegas). So my advice, if you want to go, is to watch the thread and when/if you can work it out -- you can always come along. Same goes for all. My only request: please put any further inquiries about the Vegas trip in the Vegas thread (link is above). Thanks!
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Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to let you know I've finally posted my post-exchange photos to TImtam's site. Am due for a revision March 16. The details are there on that site as well as on my recent post at Breast Implant Sizing 101. Several of you have posted there saying I look pretty good and am wondering if you are so inclined, if you'd take a look and let me know what you think. Maybe I'm overreacting. I think we have all discovered, after hanging in there with great attitudes for so long through treatment & multiple surgeries that these implants do feel strange and not a part of our natural bodies. I just read an article re Christina Applegate's delivery of her daughter. She said that she immediately drew her new born daughter to her chest, and that it is not a part of her body that she has a good relationship with, but the joy of her daughter's birth overrode her feelings, and in front of doctors and nurses she revealed her chest anyway. So am feeling rather relived that I am not the only one having these feelings of being alienated from my chest/foobs, whatever you call them. I know some of us manage better than others. Am so grateful for this forum where we can share openly on these touchy subjects...thank you. xoxo Melissa
p.s. my dermatologists office gave me paper tape after seeing my bandages after my exchange surgery in Dec. They also made up a batch of aquaphor/polysporin in a little purse size container to dress my scars with. It was so much better!
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MarieK, ha! I have that same weird thing happen! I had bilateral MXS with gummy implants. I didn't think it had to do with asymmetry, but maybe it does, as my two implants do not project quite the same or even sit exactly evenly. I had been thinking that natural breasts move around in a way that allows your clothes to drape over them, but the implants kind of catch the clothing. I am constantly looking down and realizing (since I can not feel it) that my cami or shirt is all scrunched and pulled off center. It is indeed odd! And one more annoying aspect of this whole deal...It never occurred to me that anyone else had this problem
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MBJ thanks I am a uni too, i may mention your method to my PS for his thoughts. I feel like once it's done it can't be undone.
DIane
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Just got back from the PS's, in a snowstorm no less, but I wasn't willing to give up an appt for a bit of snow!
Nips are healing nicely, he's pleased, I've been given the go ahead to toss the bra & "madonna cones", I'm going to have revisions to the lat flaps on March 15th, they stick out a little bit more than they should. Also this week, I received my bone scan & tumor markers back & they are all clear. After 2 1/2 years of this, I feel like I can breathe again.Thanks to all on this thread! Dee
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Eve of two weeks post exchange for me. Back at work. Bruises almost gone, incisions look incredibly healed. Sleeping comfortably on my sides. I had a follow-up appointment with my PS yesterday and he said, he wanted to see me in 2 1/2 months! I got instructions on massage and go ahead to start walking (for exercise), supposed to take it easy for another week and then exercise and activity as tolerated. I still have some pec muscle soreness and cramping. PS said that was to be expected since he made them angry during surgery. Feel fortunate and happy to be healthy, have breasts and ready to move on to a new chapter in my life.
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Rebecca..... Things like this almost NEVER happen.... in some way... this is a HUGE miracle. How amazing. I am so happy for you and your family.
MBJ.... WARNING.... ( LOL) my LE, PT warns against this study... as using even small weights can be HARMFUL to LE. Seems the ONLY time I flair these days... is if a wear a bra..... or if I do my usual weight training. It really is more of a fatigue of the arm such... than the 3 pd weight..etc.
Anywho... I just wanted to post a little warning on this weight lifting and LE....
Whoever was asking about LE on here.. ( I am sorry I forgot)... PM a lady here named KIRA or BINNEY...... these are the LE Whisperers...... They even wrote an entire website ... and it is so right on ! My LE therapist thought so too!
Lilah..... My hair is growing slowwwwwwwwwwwwww...... I HOPE it will be a little below my shoulders at this years reunion..... I would LOVE to have my hair to the middle of my back ONE MORE TIME before I hit 50...:)
Happy FOOBS girls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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rebecca: just saw your news. can't even imagine the rollercoaster you've been on. so so happy for you!
warrior67: just posted to you on the picture forum. you are truly an amazing, inspiring woman. i'm honored to be your exchange sibling -- mine was a day after yours.
and as i said on the forum, i too feel really good and happy to be healthy, and ready like you to move on to the next chapter! orchidgal: you hit the nail on the head when you said the implants feel strange and not a part of our natural bodies. i'm just about two weeks post-exchange, and the weird pectoral feeling is so hard to describe...to anyone except you all! i tried to explain it to my boyfriend today and just felt helpless. but, surprisingly (to me at least) it does feel like somewhat of a letdown -- we jump thru all the surgery and expansion hoops waiting for exhange day to arrive when we somehow think it will all feel like it used to! well, i mean, i didn't reeeeeeeally think that, but i thought it would feel alot more normal than the TEs. maybe over time this "new normal" will feel more like me. a friend of mine who had a BMX 10 years ago says it still feels weird to her today. but then my mom, who had a MX with immediate reconstruction 33 years ago (hence the 42 squared, we both were diagnosed at 42 yrs old), says she doesn't think about it anymore. i hope i'll get there. but today, i do feel kinda blue for the first time yet over the loss of my old fluid, easy feeling and the new weird, pectorally feeling. and cold temperatures which lead to shivering make it much worse, right?? anyhow, just wanted to say i can relate. as it seems many of others here can too. it's trite to say, but it's good to know we're not alone.
mfrog: congratulations on a clean bill of health! that's fantastic news. and to feel that you can breathe again...that says it all. congratulations!!
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orchidgal-great post! Trust me you are not alone on how you feel. Many of us feel the same way. We all have such high expectations for our exchange. Every time I complain about my new foobs my husband is quick to remind me I don't have any breast tissue and it will never look like an augmentation. I hate when says that! Still I think deep inside we hoped it would look like that. I think we have to deal with so much along this journey than when we finally get to the exchange we think it's the part that will make everything alright. I think actually it's the final thing that reminds us of all we've been through. Still we learn to accept our new selfs and feel grateful for we have.
42squared-also a great post. Thanks for sharing your insights and your personal story. I agree with all you've said and hope the day will come when I don't think about this all so much. It must be difficult and comforting at that same time that both you and your mom have experienced this. I think of my daughter who is just 17 and I pray she never has to deal with this.
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Sweetie I know exactly what you mean about having such great expectations with an exchange surgery. I have had 2 exchange surgeries so far and the first was just a nightmare. I was so disappointed and hid myself from my husband for months. Though the 2nd one is 90% better than the first they still do not look exactly the way I would like them to. I know I still will have at lease one more revision surgery and then the nipple reconstruction but I am beginning to accept that they will never be "perfect" if there is such a thing. Your husband is exactly right though. How perfect can they be or look without any tissue. I have posted pictures on the forum not sure if you have seen them or not..
Just keep telling yourself that things can always be worse! I am just happy to be alive
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Estepp: I thought of you when I posted the link re: lymphedema and weight lifting and I know if you have it you shouldn't do it! I was told by my PT to do small weights under 3 lbs. It's a journey, isn't it? And with what you do for a living I imagine you have constant fatigue with your arms!! Your hair is as long as mine in your avatar, but this is how long it was before chemo. I am very inclined to grow it long just because I can, but it looks better this length, so tomorrow I cut it!
DiDel: I feel the same way. I have been doing lots of research and at first I was relieved to only get the tattoo, but when I think of how they will look side by side, and after looking at lots of pictures, I felt the skin graft was the only way to go. My PS just agreed to do fat grafting underneath the new areola, too, to get projection (at least he's going to try). Modernmade posted her pics 9 months out and they still look great.
orchidgal: You pretty much expressed how we all feel after we go through this process! We are forever changed, but I am so grateful that we at least have options. I can't imagine 50 years ago when they just took everything and that was it. I will go have a look at your new pictures!
42squared: I had no idea that your mother went through the same thing at the same age! Give it time to settle, though as it is still fresh. Hopefully one day we will accept them as ours. I am betting it's going to take awhile for me.
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mfrog: Glad to hear you are all clear!!!! We will both be having surgery the same day--I get my nipple/areola on the 15th!
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I had saline implants exchanged for silicone and skate flap nipple reconstruction 3 days ago. The recovery has been super easy compared to BMX. I could easily have gone to work today if I was able to shower. Can anyone tell me how long I can expect to wear all this padding around the nipples?
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JKZ-I found your thread on the pics forum. You didn't post any pics of your recent exchange did you? I'd like to see how your second surgery turned out. I'm glad you see a 90% improvement. That certainly makes it worth it. I think at some point we do accept all of this and realize this is as good and it gets and begin to feel fine about it. I just think though we should be able to get the best possible results we can in our scenario and sometimes it seems it does take 2 surgeries. I'm going to do a revision in April to try address my ripples and displacement. I have pics on there too, don't know if you've seen them.
I agree-am happy and blessed to be alive.
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She has posted updated photos Sweetie... not sure the name of the thread though.
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Hi Sweetie-I didn't know you had a date for a revision. When was your exchange surgery?
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MBJ, I'm crossing my fingers for you that you don't get a cold or flu again! I thought I was done, but he wants to do the revision & I'm happy to let him do it!
4Darla, I just had my nips done & wore the padding for about 4 1/2 weeks. I saw the PS on Wednesday & he said I could get rid of them!
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Sweetie I just moved my thread up so its now on the first page of the picture forum.
I couldn't find your pics on the forum.. Do you use the same username?
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ok, a total newbie question...i get the "drop" part of drop and fluff. but what exactly is the "fluff"? i ask b/c my new set is well, kinda not too soft. of course not coconut shells like the TEs, but not squishy and moving yet. so i'm hoping fluff means they soften up over time?
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I'm with you 42, pretty darn firm, minimal squish factor. Interested to see what gals who have been living with them for more than two weeks have to say about this.
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42squared & Warrior 67 - The 'fluff' from 'drop & fluff' refers to the pec muscle relaxing post-exchange and 'fluffing out' or looking less like a pancake and hamburger bun and more like a breast. They get a little bigger as the pec muscle relaxes. From my understanding, that's what the 'fluff' is about.
Regarding getting softer, I've heard other ladies on here say that a year or more out they feel softer and squisher (If you had the silicone rounds, not so with the gummies). I'm six months post-exchange and my right side has always felt soft, my left side has hurt and felt firm ... but it is softening some. So yes ... if you have the silicone rounds, they should feel softer with time! Hang in there, ladies! Patience!
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Actually the gummy I have is definitely softer now (9 months out) than it was a few weeks after exchange. While it's true that gummies are firmer than regular silicone, they still are silicone.
I think the same science works with gummies as with regular silicone: relaxation of the pec muscle leads to, long term, softer implants. I also think, for all exchangees, swelling is a factor as well during the first weeks following the surgery (and this varies depending on how much pocket work is done). The healing process is slower than our desires
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Good to know, Lilah! 0
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Hi 42squared, Warrior 67, and others who have been wondering about how their foobs will feel in the future! I thought I should offer my perspective from two years down the road. I had my exchange surgery in February 2009, and an augmentation/lift on my natural side in May 2009. Today both sides are soft and squishy, and they do feel like breasts should feel (and my hubby agrees LOL). Do they feel exactly like my breasts did three years ago? I can't say, but I'm happy with my new/improved ones. I do have pictures on the forum; I need to post more recent ones, if I can ever figure out how...
To answer another question I've seen, for me, I feel that the new/improved girls are part of me now, and I'm not really "aware" of them like I was in the beginning. When I look at them in the mirror, I'm very thankful for having such a wonderful PS who made me feel like myself again. This is such a long road we have to travel, but over time, you do have more softness to look forward to.
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NVDiane, thanks for the two year perspective. Glad you are doing so well.
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Thanks NV Diane, I am getting my exchange on March 9th and I was really happy and then I got a little down reading some perspectives from others. I appreciate everyone's honesty when a post is made and I realize every body is different but I like reading the positive posts
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Thanks everyone for the posts....NVDiane...that is so good to know they feel like they are a part of you now.
I have my exchange next friday, March 4th, and am getting a bit anxious at how they are going to turn out. My skin is on the thin side and I still have some spasms and tightness that comes and goes with the expanders....so i wonder..
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