Exchange City

you know-my PS has not wanted me to do ANYTHING-once he established I had easy range of motion (he had given me a very basic walking my hands up the wall exercise to do then had me stop that once if worked) he said no more. He checks after each fill to make sure the movement is there.I kept telling him everyone else seems to be excerising, etc, he said No, wait-once all is done you will have plenty of time to work out, let your body heal while we fix it to accept the TEs and then the implants-for of course, they are not realy supposed to be there-which makes sense when you think about it-they are foregin bodies inside of me. So I have (for the most part, when I push too hard- I really feel it in my chest). And for me, I think it has been a good thing (except for the flab)-I have not had any problems so far, the TEs have stayed in place and the alloderm seems to have taken well. So after my exchange on Wednesday it will just be more of the same...but look out in a month or two...I am actually looking forward to working out, I yearn to do it - which is a good thing. He hasn't steered me wrong yet with his anal retentiveness (don't even get me started on his freaking over infections-he is like a mother hen)...I think all docs are different...since my last fill he does not want me wearing any sort of bra - band or anything...so the muscle stretches -yet others I talk to wear one 24-7- so it is a toss up and iguess in the end if we alnd up with decent new normal it is all worth it:)

Jan-if you are stressing call the PS...it i most likely the swelling that your DH was told about but why worry-go ahead and call so you can have your mind at ease. I would and certainly will next week if anything is scaring me afte rmy exchange. How on earth can we know if it is *normal*...I had my husband call my PS Thanksgiving weekend while he was in San Antonio with his family because I was scared of some swelling and the pain (1 week out from BMX) ...this is all so emotional scary for us tied in with BC...it is part of the PS' job as I see it...no time for us to be worrying that we will look silly...big hugs to you- let me know how it is going ok? ...

thanks annettek. I plan on calling first thing Monday morning.

Joan: I had my exchange yesterday and really do feel good today, except for some soreness. But then again, everyone is different.  I didn't take any pain meds for either my BMX or my exchange, just Tylenol. I only have restrictions for about 3-4 weeks but things like skiing, jogging, tennis. But gee I wasn't planning on doing any of those things for a while. 

Anyway, I hope you have a great recovery and a smooth sailing surgery. 

As far as shopping, I'm not sure about that one.  I don't know what changes to expect within a month of exchange, but I'm sure one of the other post exchangers can answer that question for you.

Jan

Joan- it is exciting getting so close...I have been wondering the same thing about clothes...I bought a shirt yesterday...I don't know if it will fit  and I am supposed to go to NYC for a conference two weeks after...really not so sure how that will all go...I simply have no idea...the PS says no problemo..but...I dunno we shall see....

Jan...if it bugs you too bad before Monday - call him on Sunday:) I am just so tickled that all went well with your exchange. I feel like the Auntie of your twins! hahaha oh GEEZ!

Lots of people just having exchange!  Lots more coming up!  Wow, this is a busy thread right now.  It's so nice to be on the other side of this battle.  For me, I'm done for now.  I've had bilat NS MX, ooph, chemo, exchange, been in the hospital from chemo, and now I'm finally feeling pretty good!  My hair is coming back more (6 wks pfc).  I'm so happy for all of us who are finishing up the last of our surgeries.  I think exchange is so much easier because we know we are able to finally recover. 

Hope all you who are getting ready for exchange have a really easy event and are happy with results!  Those who just had surgery... YAY!  Keep hydrated and watch for infection.. take it easy.. and enjoy softness!

Holey & Moley--love that!

Joan888: I had a special event to go to a month or so after my exchange, but I am now glad I waited as nothing fit the same!  Clothes fit better but some were now too small.  The TE's are nothing like the implants, so I would wait.  I should add that about half of my clothes still fit, but there are quite a few that became too small and it was impossible to tell prior to the exchange because I couldn't get it over the TE.  Good luck with your exchange!

Thanks for your advice about dress shopping, ladies. My PS did say that he thought I would be a bit bigger after the exchange.   I did try to do a little looking around today, but have decided to try to wait until a couple weeks after my exchange. That will be cutting it a little close to the wedding date.  I guess maybe I could pruchase a couple things that I think may work, and take them back if not.  For now, i did purchase a couple scarves and a pretty little vest thingy that I could maybe throw on over a shirt just for fun.  Getting my pre-op testing done tomorrow... not long now.

Annettek:

I wore a button down shirt of my DH.  Like the one I wore when I have the MX. It was comfortable and worked out fine. I would think any loose fitting button down will work well.

I only had a 48 hr restriction of raising my hands above shoulder height.  No pain in the pec muscles.

Jan

I wore a button down ruffle front shirt to hide the bandages and comfortable jeans. 

Workout pants and a hoodie I found on clearance with pockets inside for the drains.

Hi all!

I just had my bmx two weeks ago. Having final two drains removed tomorrow and possible first fill.

Concerning what to wear for exchange....on another board, someone mentioned going to Walmart and finding a zip up jacket for $13ish. Came in pretty colors and had pockets on the inside for drains.

I immediately went right before my surgery and these are the greatest things. Very soft. I bought three colors, coral, turquoise and yellow.  Felt nice to be in uplifiting colors. Wore them with varying pairs of black work out pants.

When I came home from surgery with four drains, I could actually put two drains in each pocket.

Hope this helps! I will be having fills while I am having chemo, so am looking forward to July when I will have been done with chemo for a month, can hopefully have the exchange and then only have herceptin to finish out until March 2011.

Deb1012 -- I don't think bleeding is a sign of infection; more a sign of a stitch opening up somewhere.  Is the bleeding coming from a suture?  Be careful and don't lift anything!

I hope that's all it is Debbie!  Let us know what he says when you see him next week.

MTKS- hope it went wonderdul and MBJ- here is hoping for a magical result!

Keep us posted Deb- you know, you might be right, sometimes our bodies do what they are supposed to do...here's to your skating through your TCH regimen and then your exchange on June 7th-just in time for summer...:)