Exchange City
Comments
-
I have not seen this before Marie but there can be issues especially with radiated skin so you are 100% right to see your PS now and not to wait. If it's an infection you will need treatment now before it gets worse (for example). Here's hoping it's nothing or, if it's something, then something very treatable!
0 -
MarieK - I agree with Lilah, you don't want to mess around with radiated skin ... very wise to get it checked out. I pray it's nothing. xo
0 -
Thanks for the input ladies!
I hope it's nothing and will pass with time and healing...
It's so ironic because today I woke up feeling really good - up until now I felt like I had something foreign and uncomfortable under my skin!
0 -
MBJ - I didn't have the grafts, so you may have restriction that I didn't have. The biggest thing for me was no working out. He didn't want me to sweat until the stitches came out, approx. two weeks. Even after that I had to take a shower right after working out because he didn't want them to get infected. The 'scariest' thing for me was, they don't look pretty at first. My left one turned black and I sat in a chair and cried for over an hour. Silly, really ... I think it was just the emotional impact of everything we've been through and then to have the thing turn black was devastating to me. It DID get better and I'm not saying the same will happen to you ... I just want you to know that of all the surgeries, this one is the one that grossed me out more than the others. But hang in there because the results are worth it! I'm praying for you that things will go smoothly, you will heal beautifully & with no complications. I am SO happy I went for the nips ... I was so on the fence about it, but the nips have made me feel almost physically whole again. I pray the same for you! xo
0 -
Dawne-Hope: Thank you for your reply! How long did you have to wear the "hat"?
0 -
MBJ - I never had the 'hat' and must say I'm a little envious of the gals who had the 'hat' ... I only had the gauze.
My PS said to wear the gauze for 4-6 weeks. I wore it for at least 8 weeks. It hurt to have my bra rub against the nip. My left side has been my problem side since my BMX. It continued to be the problem side with the nips. It was my left nip who turned black, it was my left nip that just ached, hurt. Having the gauze on there made it feel better. I can't remember how long I wore the gauze on that side ... but it was a lot longer than 6 weeks. I took two gauze pads, cut the center out of them and placed them on top of the nip. I then a placed another gauze pad on top and taped it. Then, nothing rubbed on it. I hope your PS gives you the 'hat' ... it is a lot easier to just put it on then to have to cut out the center of gauze pads.
Bottom line as it is has been this whole process, do what works for you. They give us guidelines, but not all of us fall within those guidelines.
I'm so excited for you!
0 -
MBJ - Re clothes and bras: I wore bras during the day that were a little big. I loosened the straps to give more room in the cup to accomodate the gauze. I couldn't wear my bra as tightly as I had pre-nip because of all the gauze. I wore the same sleep bra at night that I'd worn pre-nip.
Clothes: When I had to dress up, I wore layers ... shirt with a bulky sweater over it, shirt with a jacket over it. No silk shirts, no tight fitting t-shirts for awhile, at least while you're wearing the 'hat' or the gauze.
0 -
Dawne: Thank you for this! I hope that it stays below 75 outside until I heal as that is alot of clothes to wear. I do have some ruffled front tops but being a Uni I may have to stuff my other side.
0 -
ah, 75! It's supposed to snow here tonight ... you lucky, girl!
You should be fine with loose fitting tops, I forgot you're in the warmth and bulky sweaters just won't work.
0 -
Aw Marie -- I think for most of us it gets better re: feeling like something foreign is there. I know that at first I was aware of it all the time and now I forget most of the time, so there is hope! Let us know what the doctor says about the area of concern.
MBJ - loose blouses probably can work as well (I did not have nips yet but I'm just saying...
0 -
hi all! Still healing fromt the exchange. Went through the crying and disappointment of how they look...but with the help and support from our resident ANGEL...Deborah, I am better now.
Thank you again Deborah!!So far I'm not feeling the relief I thought I would from the TE. Well they are softer but I still have such tightness feeling and spasms. Especially in the middle of the night if I wake and first thing in the morning. Does that ever completely go away??
My left side is my bad side as well since BMX...and continues to be. And it is the non cancer side.
Good to know about the nips! I will make sure I wait and do them in the fall or winter. (although will most likely not be until then anyway....more revision surgery for me I am sure)
MBJ- Good luck! You are almost finished.
Marie- So sorry you are having problems....but I agree with the rest, it is best to get it checked out. Hope it is nothing!!
0 -
Hi sweetie-one of my implants is off to the side more than the other. My PS said that he could fix it but he acted like it might not hold either...ugggh. What to do....would your stitches be on the outer bottom of your breast?
0 -
soccermomofthree - just talked to my PS today and he said that he would put stitches in the bottom and the side!
0 -
Eastcoastgrl - I didn't have relief right after my exchange surgery. Everybody said how they felt so much better. I didn't. It has taken MONTHS for my pain to subside. I saw an OT LE therapist and she thought my left side TE had sat on my ulnar nerve. I've had a lot of problems with that side, but now almost eight months post-exchange I now have very little pain ... it's almost gone. I pray the same for you!
0 -
EastCoastGirl I'm 5 weeks out and it's only today that I feel somewhat "normal" and not so conscious of the implant.
I wake up every morning very tight and run through a series of arm stretches before I even get out of bed.
My tightness starts in my shoulder blade, goes under my arm, down a bit of my arm and across my chest.
I saw a PT last Monday (over a week ago) who loosened me up considerably and she mostly worked on my back and shoulder blade. I saw an Osteopath on Thursday (last week) who worked on my arm, neck and back.
I can tell you that it does get better but it sure is NOT like flipping a switch going from TE to implant/exchange!
0 -
Annie-Did your PS act like it was no problem at all and it would hold? Why do you need those stitches? Do they fall to the side when you lay down?
0 -
Just wrote this on another thread....my PS explained all about the breast fold that he worked within, since I am afraid of the natural eroding of the muscle wall. He said not to worry. However, as a precaution, he does do a suture line at the bottom of the breast fold. Additionally, I asked about lateral movement and he said he sutures this as well to prevent the slide of the implant over and under the arm. I really hate the under the arm feel of the TEs and he said it will be totally different with the implant.
I had lots of questions...esp about size! I am at 425cc and he said that I should watch the projection to determine the ideal size, not the width of the TEs. Since, I feel like I have a mega-boof that extends almost to my arm-pit! Yikes!
0 -
soccermom-if I had him do the stitching I believe it would be the outer sides laterally. The bottom is fine and well defined and even. The only problem is he said that stitches don't always hold as the implant pushes against them and the breasts want to go back to the original position. Also you don't want to narrow the pocket to much either. I don't want to feel tight either. I may hold off on the stitches and just stick with a larger implant. I see him in a little over a week to discuss all this more. I'll keep you posted on what he says.
0 -
Marie,
That sounds like what I used to have. I hope yours is different, though, because mine turned out to be a big problem. I ended up with a hole for 3 months.
Take care.
Brenda
0 -
Trying to catch up on this thread... so many pages behind. My exchange surgery is scheduled for March 30th... just 3 more weeks and I can't wait to get there. So far, everything (BMX, chemo, rads, etc) have all gone quite easily without any complications. I am a bit worried about how my radiated side will do with the exchange and the recovery period. Your stories of recovery from this surgery is helpful though so I am going to stay positive. Thanks everyone for sharing.
0 -
MBJ, time for nips/areolas, huh? I did both and am glad I did. For nips, I had the little hat stitiched on for 5 days. Once that was removed, my PS told me to put gauze over the whole area which I taped on and then I could wear a bra. Also used antibio ointment each time I changed gauze. I used a bra extender to loosen things up a bit and that worked. While you have the hat, there's no hiding it. I wore loose fitting black tops to disguise it, but I wasn't back to work at that point.
Are you having grafted areolas? That was a much bigger deal than the nips. Let me know if that is what you are going for...
0 -
Brenda I don't really have a hole it just feels like it - you know almost like the top of a baby's head when it's soft. But mine is not indented - it is protruding a bit like a blister but not hard. It's actually the softtest part of my breast on the implant side.
My PS doesn't think there is anything for concern right now.
He thinks that I may have some fluid in that area but he won't attempt to drain it. He says that may cause damage and he doesn't want to risk it.
He feels that with time and more healing (it's only been 5 weeks since exchange) it may resolve itself but I see him again on March 28 and he'll look at it closer if it's still an issue.
So I'm just chalking it up to another weird skin/post surgical experience for me...
0 -
MBJ - I am learning a lot from your posts (and others) about your upcoming nipple reconstruction. I can't wait to hear more about it when your done. I hope it all goes well for you!
0 -
How exciting MBJ! You definitely need to share! Can't wait for your unveiling!
NAE
0 -
EastCoastGrl: I think you're completely normal. You've been through another surgery and your body is reacting to it. (And btw, your body isn't exactly happy with what it's been thru recently!) Give yourself time and tlc. It takes time to accept the imperfections from exchange and sometimes we become happier as things settle, but sometimes we may decide to have slight revisions. Deborah is wonderful, isn't she!?0
-
Marie -- so glad you saw your doctor! I'm sure it will ease your mind as you go off for your vacation. I hope he's right and that it will resolve itself on its own.
MBJ -- I agree with Nedeza -- very exciting!
0 -
Lilah, Nedeza & Deekaay: Thank you. I am scared and excited at the same time. I know that I am getting the hat for my nipple and my PS will use a skin graft for the areola. He is planning on doing fat grafting, too. Not sure if he can do it under the skin graft, too, for projection, but I am hopeful.
Thank you, Marie. My exchange was and still is a work in progress. It still feels a bit "strange" but I am getting used to it. A good lymphedema PT is key to feeling better, faster.
0 -
MBJ: Oh my! You have your nips/areola done the day before my revision! Will be holding good thoughts for you that the surgery goes smoothly and easily! This is so exciting. I can't wait to read about (and see) how it is for you having the finishing touch!
Dawne-Hope: I feel you on the TE pain. I had a horrible pain like something was bolted to my side, and went to see a Dr. I know who is a facial pain specialist here in L.A. She does trigger point therapy with dry needles that have a bit of lidocaine in them. She immediately went for my teres minor, injected it, and it "jumped," and after that a few days of soreness as the painful area dissipated and expanded, then it was gone. I wish I'd gone to see her for this months earlier!
Eastcoastgirl: Regret that you felt bad afterwards, but sometimes we have to have a melt down to relieve the tension of holding it together through this long, strange process of treatment and reconstruction. Sounds like you are on the other side, and are feeling much better. Those shooting pains do subside, sooner than later, and it's good to remember that means your nerve tissue is growing back, and that mean more sensation. Stretching helps so much! I take long power walks and then stretch on tree trunks, raising my elbow up and laying the backside of my upper arm against the tree, then gently pushing to stretch. Also had a number of "dance nights" although I live alone, I pushed the furniture out of the way and danced for a couple of hours, and that loosened me up nicely, and gave me a better feeling of body image. Whatever movements feel good to you, go for it and you will find relief and things will begin to change. Of course, only do this when you are past the initial healing stages where you must stay still, and not reach or push, pull, lift anything.
Marie: I hope that this thing you are going through is a part of the healing process, and when you see your PS in a couple of weeks he finds it is all fine.
Annie: You PS is right that it will be different with the implant.
One side effect of all these surgeries I'm experiencing lately is brain fog, or rather, freeze ~ after fourteen hours of general anesthesia in the past year, it seems that has caught up with me, or maybe it's something else. Not sure. Anyone have this or a similar experience?
0 -
orchidgal - I did! Definitely! I've always been able to focus and read and study for hours at a time. After everyone of my surgeries I felt like I had ADD. I couldn't sit still, re-read sentences 5-6 times. I work with other languages and yeah, that was fun trying to focus and think. You're not alone, sister! I've had it too. While it is mostly better, I'm not back to where I was pre-cancer.
Prayers for your revision! I hope everything turns out well for you!
Including minimal 'anesthesia brain.' 0 -
What is the hat????
0
