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  • annettek
    annettek Posts: 1,160
    edited March 2011

    good luck Dawn- we all feel that way one way or another....

    Arlene- i would cool it just a bit:))))

  • ArleneMarie
    ArleneMarie Posts: 89
    edited March 2011

    I bought the Bali sports bra, Style 3453 and it is awesome.  I put on the surgical bra and relaxed a bit and they are definitely less red but look a little bruised.  Ironicaly, my PS is on a conference right here near Hilton Head and we were supposed to have drinks tomorrow night.  If it doesn't improve, I will show them to him.  Hmmm...wonder how that is going to happen..in a bar??? :)  I just wanted to know if anyone else had the bruising since I really think it is from sleeping on my side but I am not sure.

  • christine47
    christine47 Posts: 846
    edited March 2011

    ArleneMarie,

    Sad that I am spending my friday night on the BC boards.  Just saw your post about having drinks with your PS, made me LOL, I would love the be in the bar tomorrow when you show him.  Since it is a PS conference, maybe there will be a crowd of interested veiwers.  Just so funny.

  • jan508
    jan508 Posts: 724
    edited March 2011

    Arlene:

    Are you at Hilton Head?  Look for my PS tomorrow night.  I'm in NC so SC is not far for him to travel.

    Jan

    Let us know how the 'bar reveal' goes Surprised

    Jan

  • MarieK
    MarieK Posts: 467
    edited March 2011

    Love this - magical nipples and bar flashing!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    Nice new pic Marie -- what a lovely smile :)

  • deekaay
    deekaay Posts: 254
    edited March 2011

    Arlene, 12 miles is too much post exchange, IMHO.  Really.  You are still healing and will be for a while.  I slept on my side one week after surgery no problem.  Just relax and heal--you can walk the distance later.  hugs, dk

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited March 2011

    (Regarding struggling nipple and adjacent skin post NSBXM):  I saw the PS and his PA today.  Very happy there's no evidence of infection (whew!), but my heart sank when I heard "necrosis".  PS debrided the nipple and a large patch of adjacent skin.  Fortunately, it didn't go through all the skin layers Smile, but I did lose part of the nipple Undecided.  So, won't have my first outpatient fill until this thing finally heals up.  The debridement today should definitely speed things along.

  • annettek
    annettek Posts: 1,160
    edited March 2011

    Here is hoping the healing hurries for you Tina:) So glad no infection. That is the only reason I skipped the NS- i know myself and words like necorisis make me freak. I was really nervous about not getting sensation back in my boobs but slowly I am feeling a lot more. Another strange thing this week is that the back of my arms are beginning to feel normal. The prickliness is slowly going away- Ihad resigned myself that it might be that way forever follwoing the  snb, so that is cool. I still have two small "numb" spots on the lovely flab but much smaller than they were (the numb-not the flab).

  • hopefulhealing
    hopefulhealing Posts: 581
    edited March 2011

    The bar thing so funny. I know I told my husband if anyone walks into a room with a white coat I just naturally pull up my top now!  I saw my PS at a charity event and told him I was afraid if I saw him there I would pull my dress up and show him my boobs! He said have a couple more glasses of wine and then you can ha!

    Tina so glad no infection. It is a scary time as you watch and wait for the perfusion of the nipples to really take off. I will continue to hope they will do fine.

    MBJ thanks for thinking of me. I decdied to postpone my surgery and get a second opinion. He is so hesitant to do it. He doesn't think changing out to smooth from textured will make a difference. I do like the size and shape so afraid myself. It is just the darn ripples!! He doesn't do fat injections and said wait a couple of years until they work out the kinks, know the best place to harvest it etc. I don't want to wait that long. He really is a wonderful doc he is just nervous it will go badly based on the past complications. So holding pattern. I am sad, frustrated, confused but think it is best to wait and talk to a couple of other PS. My horrible breast surgeon so flippantly said to me "If you want bigger boobs have a mastectomy" How I wish I could sit her down and tell her what I think of that comment and her insensitivity to what women who have mastectomies have to go through!

    Gosh here I go ranting again. Sorry.

    Friday nights on this thread. I know what you mean but think of it this way. Friday nights with caring genuine women!

    Kate33 hope your event is fun and glad the hair thing worked out!

    Have a good Saturday everyone!

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Posts: 438
    edited March 2011

    I've been sleeping on my sides and my exchange was 2/28.  I've not had any problems. I haven't walked 12 miles, but I do walk 2 miles every day I can.. no issues.  I would give the PS a call and ask him about it.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    Determined:  I would get a couple more opinions as textured implants are notorious for causing more ripples.  Granted, all implants have some which are more obvious at certain angles, like bending over, but if it's wrinkled in general, the smooth will work so much better for you.  Has Whippetmom advised you on this?  BTW: That was a really insensitive remark from your PS-Horrible!!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    Tina:  Sorry about the nipple, but I am happy there isn't an infection.  Hoping you heal up quickly without any more delay.  Gentle hugs.

  • ArleneMarie
    ArleneMarie Posts: 89
    edited March 2011

    Whew..ok I am fine!  I think the rubbing of the sports bar created the discoloration.  No bar flashing needed.  I am back to just 5-6 miles today.  I need to get ready for the 3-Day in October in Atlanta and I was just so sure I was ready to JUMP into the walking.  Lesson learned. :)  Thanks all for the advise.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011
    Arlene:  So glad you are okay!  Take it easy and build up slowly and go check out the Bras 101 thread for help!  Sorry you didn't get to flash in the bar though Surprised
  • Estel
    Estel Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I have to vent ... but it's a good one.  No one to share it with ... and you all get it!  I had my BMX a little over a year ago, my exchange surgery last July.  Looking back ... I really do think I was suffering from post-mx-pain syndrome.  I had quite a bit of pain on my left side.  When I woke in recovery from my bmx ... the pain in my left side was there and it never went away ... all through my fills ... after my exchange surgery ... it really, really hurt. 

    I just to have to say that right now I'm relatively pain free!  It is so exciting & exhilarating to work, to move, to sit, to stand, to exercise and not hurt.  I wore a bra this morning & the last time I wore it ... I almost cried taking it off because I hurt so bad.  Well, today and I wore it and guess what .... no pain!  Laughing  Made me think about how far I've come.

    If you're suffering right now and hurting and it seems like there is no end in sight ... I want you to know that it can get better.  It may take some time ... but I'm shouting "Hallelujahs" in the midwest ... and just wanted to encourage you all.  It CAN and it WILL get better!

    Kiss

  • jan508
    jan508 Posts: 724
    edited March 2011

    Thanks Dawne!

    Congrats on being pain free!

    whoo Hoo

    Jan

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited March 2011

    AMEN DAWN!!!!!! GREAT SUPPORT FOR THE NEW LADIES!

  • joan888
    joan888 Posts: 711
    edited March 2011

    Trying to catch up on this thread today.  Like Dawn82... now that the time is near, I am getting anxious, nervous, etc.  Of course, I got so curious, that I went on YouTube and found a video of an actual exchange surgery Surprised.  Probably should not have done that!  I emailed the link to my DH and he couldn't watch it.  Too gross, he said.

    Wondering just what to expect as far as recovery time and have lots of questions all of a sudden. I really do not want to take any pain meds after surgery so hoping to be able to avoid them. I am a very active person playing tennis, working out at the gym 4 times a week, and golf season starting soon.  I have a feeling that I will be restricted from doing pretty much all of that for at least a month???  I can probably live with that, but it will be hard as I still have about 10 pounds to lose that I put on during this past year.

    Thanks so much to everyone sharing your experiences with this journey.  I am sure that I will be back for more advice from you wonderful ladies. 

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    Dawnhope that is just awesome news!  So glad to know you are finally pain free :)

  • deekaay
    deekaay Posts: 254
    edited March 2011

    Dawnhope, what great news!!  You must feel like a new woman.  Being healthy and pain free have got to be our top two priorities.  I mean getting our breasts back is important, but being able to enjoy them is the best! 

  • matty123
    matty123 Posts: 264
    edited March 2011

         Amen!!!

  • citykitty
    citykitty Posts: 44
    edited March 2011

    Hi all -- Time for me to join this thread...my exchange surgery is scheduled for April 22!  For the past few months it's been all about the chemo, and the surgery kind of went on my brain's back burner.  I had my expansions about every two weeks in Jan and Feb, but it's been quite a few weeks since my last one and I'm almost used to this state of having a baseball stuck to my chest.   Although I trust my PS, I'm nervous about the final outcome, but I'm sure that's normal!

    As a runner, I'm anxious to get it done and over with.  I have to wait 4-6 weeks after surgery before I can resume running.  I'm planning two marathons for this fall, and training can start none too soon!

  • matty123
    matty123 Posts: 264
    edited March 2011

                           GOOD MORNING !!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED SOME COMPANIONS :) NEW TO SIGHT

     HI LADIES I LIKE TO TYPE IN CAPS,NOT AN ANGER THING I JUST CAN SEE THEM BETTER:) I HAVE BEEN READING ALL YOUR NOTES ,SEEMS IM NOT ALONE. I WAS ON THE JAN,FEB,MARCH RAD THREAD FINISHED RADS MARCH 9TH.  I HAVE SO MANY ?'S FOR U ALL I FINALY FOUND THE T/E CREW!            HAD ANY OF YOU HAD YOUR T/E'S PUT IN DURING YOUR MX? IDID LEFT BREAST ,T/E PUT IN AND INFLATED TO ABOUT 300 CC'S OR LG.A THEN 2 MOORE FILLS TO 450 THEN I STARTED RADS.                                          SO I WILL NOT ASK THE QUESTIONS TILL I GET SOME RESPONSES FROM LADIES IN MY BOAT,ONLY CAUSE ITS A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND ISSUES NOT WORSE OR BETTER JUST DIFFERENT . SO WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU ...PLEASE 

                           

       

  • joan888
    joan888 Posts: 711
    edited March 2011
    beacher4209..... I am probably there with you.  I had TE's put in at time of BMX last April.  Decided to do radiation after chemo so I finished my expansions prior to radiation.  Radiation ended mid November.  My PS wanted me to wait 4 months after radiation to do my exchange.  My skin held up remarkably well, so my exchange is this Wednesday.  Yeah! 
  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited March 2011

    citykitty and beacher4209:  Hello and welcome!  Yes, things are "the same, but different" for everyone here.  Slightly different stories, but we're all heading to the same place eventually.  I had nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomies in mid-February.  Had TEs with 350cc each at time of surgery.  Because one side is still struggling with some necrosis I haven't been able to have any additional fills yet.  So, it's been nearly 6 weeks without any expansions and most of the tightness has gone away.  The "breasts" are actually much softer to the touch; I guess that means the muscles have done their thing by stretching and relaxing a bit.  No radiation for me so I'm ready to get on with this!

  • MarieK
    MarieK Posts: 467
    edited March 2011

    I'm going to see the PS today for a follow up.  I still have that area of concern - front bottom half of implant side just under my incision - that is looking more and more like a bruise or trapped fluid with nowhere to go.

    When I press on it with my fingers it goes kind of a bluish shade of white - not like the rest of my skin!

    When I raise my arm I see terrible ripples in that same area.  Not sure what he can do for that but I will be asking him what's up with it!

    Also I wanted to ask him about mammograms.  Anyone know?  I'm assuming no mammograms of implant side but what about reduced and lifted side?  Do I need to wait awhile?  How long? My next mammogram is not scheduled until July so I think I'll be ok.

  • matty123
    matty123 Posts: 264
    edited March 2011

      YES JOAN 888, WE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE AND HERE U ARE AGAIN YAY!! IM SO HAPPY FOR U WEDNESDAY IS THE BIG DAY!!!  CAN I ASK U SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE T/E FELT ALL THIS TIME? BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN REALLY STRUGGLING  ....

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    Welcome Citykitty and Beachcomber.  We have all had different things done here so I will let my rad sisters speak up here.  I do recommend going to the Breast Implant Sizing 101 and get Whippetmom's help so that you get the best possible outcome before you have your exchanges!

    To be added to the list above, please PM mykidsmom for this.

    Good luck ladies!

  • matty123
    matty123 Posts: 264
    edited March 2011

     TINA T, SOUNDS GOOD FOR YOU IF THE MUSCLES HAVE STOPPED THAT SQUEEZING AND/CONTRACTING ALREADY !!! MINE STILL DO IT,HURTS ALOT I HAVE HAS HAD MY T/E IN SINCE NOV. RECENTLY HAD SOME SALINE TAKEN OUT THINKING IT WOULD REDUCE THE CONTRACTING, NOPE :( IM GLAD YOU ARE DOING WELL .  WHEN WILL U HAVE YOUR EXCHANGE 

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