Exchange City
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beacher4209: I don't know when the exchange will be. As I mentioned, the only fill I've had so far was the 350cc put in at surgery. I'm anticipating 4-5 fills, but can't get started until skin and nipple healed up on one side. Had necrotic tissue debrided a few days ago so things are pretty ugly and raw right now. I've given up having an end date in mind, just trying to go with the flow!0
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TINA T SORRY ABOUT THE NECROTIC TISSUE, I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT PART. YOU HAVE TO JUST WAIT TILL IT HEALS ? I HOPE IT HURRIES UP FOR YOU. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT IN TOO MUCH PAIN ? KEEP US POSTED.
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My exchange is this afternoon. I leave for the hospitol in an hour. My stomach is doing flippity flops! I have had these suckers since August. Sooooooooo nervous...
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beacher... my TE's were pretty uncomfortable at the beginning. In fact, I was back at my PS asking to have them removed a couple weeks after my BMX. He convinced me that I was being a bit hasty and asked me to give myself a little more adjustment time. So glad that I stayed the course now. I don't remember having any contractions with them though.... I may have blocked that out of mind. The tightness on my chest was my biggest complaint. I did eventually get more comfortable to a point where I didn't have to keep thinking about it all the time. My fills went so easily with no discomfort at all. It is going to be a relief to get these coconut shells off my chest this week.0
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lovesnature... good luck. Check in later and let us know how everything went. I am soon there and the butterflies are already flying.0
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Best wishes and happy healing to everyone having procedures this week!
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I read about 15 pages and my eyes hurt! My exchange surgery is April 4. And I'm planning on going on April break with the kids on 4/16 (with my mother driving, my DH has to work). Is that too soon? I already told my oldest daughter that she was going to be carrying the luggage, and I figure I won't be swimming anyway, but my DH will be on night shift, and it's easier to keep all the kids quiet if we're not at home. But now I'm worrying about doctor's appointments. Why did I think that once I had the exchange, that I wouldn't need to go back to the doctor? Duh. And I am terrified of the bra conversation. I can NOT wear a bra. They give me incredible painful back spasms. When I had to wear the compression bra after the mastectomy, even with painkillers, I was crying and trying to tear the thing off myself while I was sleeping. I'm staying small (B-ish) so maybe I won't have to wear one? Please tell me I won't have to wear one. My PS said he was going to do scar revisions during this surgery. I can't remember my other questions. I should have written them down while I was reading...
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Hi haven't posted in a while...tried to make myself believe it is all over BUT ( I had my BMX last June '10 ->LCIS in left DCIS on right NO CHEMO or RADS). All went well. CIGNA, my insurance, paid for BMX and initial reconstruction.....now they don't want to pay for the exchange even though they had gotten pre approval.... I have stopped any more surgeries/appointments...I don't have nipples...my boobs are not even.... How do you get multiple surgeries when/if necessary? What about switching docs.?
My PS felt a harden spot on one breast -> sent me back to surgeon -> MRI -> to repeat
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I didn't even think about that!! Do I have to get approval again from the insurance? I thought it was all covered... I guess I'd better call them.
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Welcome citykitty and Beacher!
lovesnature: Exchange for me was a breeze! I hope you find this to be true as well. Remember, the waiting prior to the surgery is much worse than the event. You're getting your new girls today! Whoopee!
Kit: I was under the impression that the insurance had a responsibility to cover these surgeries you need. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I've been told. It doesn't sound right what they're trying to tell you. I would contact the Am Cancer Society and ask them about it... ask them who you should contact for this problem... they should know.
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Marie -- YES you need to do regular annual mammograms on the lifted/reduced side (there is still breast tissue there afterall)! I believe for silicone implants (even gummies) they recommend periodic MRIs (like every 3 years) to look for any leaks; though the silicone is a gel and won't "leak" it should be monitored as any break in the outer surface means you should replace it. As I understand it, it's rare with gummies but still a good precaution to take.
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I'm back now from my PS follow up.
He now thinks that the area of concern is not fluid at all but pectoral fascia that is showing through my thin stretched radiated skin.
The alternatives mentioned were - fat grafting, reducing the size/height of the implant from FX to MX (which would mean another reduction/lift on my native side) or reconstructing with tissue from my back (would that be a lat flap?).
Regarding symmetry (or lack of) I asked about further reducing my native side and putting in a similiar implant on that side.
He is totally against having an implant on that side. He wants to leave it without any obstructions for future screening.
So I'm in a holding pattern with a wait and see outlook for the next little bit. I go back to see him in 6 weeks which would put me over 3 months post-exchange. I seem to remember that being a magic number for some reason.
We briefly discussed a nipple surgery but I hadn't decided on a nipple and I don't want to mess around with my implant side for now so that can wait until this thin skin issue settles down.
Thanks for the info on the mammogram Lilah. My PS did tell me that I can have one at any time now that my native side is all healed up.
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Marie:
Great new pic! You are a cutie!!!
I was curious what your PS would say since I have what look like fluid or puffy skin around my incision near the cleavage. I go to the BS tomorrow but I'm waiting for my next appt with my PS in April. The last time I asked him about it, fat grafting was mentioned. Hmmm...maybe I can get some of my belly liboed? Anyway, I'm new to the exchange, it will only be 3 week this coming Friday so I'm going to wait. Also, the nipple thing is going to wait until the end of the summer. I live at the beach and don't want any 'sand or water' restrictions..
jan
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Lulu and onetoughwoman I hope your surgeries went well today!!!
Welcome city and beacher!
I'll catch up on my reading this evening.
Jan
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loves nature ,hope all went well which im sure it did
joan888.good luck to u on wed! u will be fine too. I quess they are not contractions or maybe they are its like squeezing. there is a definate difference in the feeling instead of a dull constant pain it more severe. I am so over this! everyday i wake up it ok then it starts to hurt about miday by bedtime im ready to just scream.its been forver since ive been comfortable im afraid i will never be again when it seems everyone else is not in as much pain as i with the t/e like something is wrong with mine,i think i am losing my mind ....
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Marie -- so sorry he thinks the skin is compromised due to radiation. I do think the reconstruction with tissue from your back must surely be a lat flap. I am NOT an expert on this at all but maybe some who have had that can chime in; I think this is often recommended for women who have had radiation because it brings good skin forward (in addition to healthy other tissue from your back). Adnerb -- is this what you ended up having to do when your radiated skin failed with the implant?
I am curious to know how fat grafting can save the implant... but wonder, if that is truly a valid option, if that isn't the best thing to try next. I hope and pray the problem resolves on its own somehow. And yeah, three months seemed (for me) to be a magical number because at 3 months I noticed the implant was much softer.
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Marie, another good reference on this site is Estepp. She welcomes PMs from ladies who have have had rads without flap surgery. Rad tissue is fussy and that may be part of what is troublesome for you right now. The flap surgery that moves tissue from your back is the latissimus dorsi. I had it because I had rads. It's worked out pretty well, but it's been a long road. Some women like Estepp are able to exchange to implants even after rads without the flap surgery. Hope you issue resolves with time.
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Kitwe: Your insurance has to cover the surgeries, the exchange, everything in regards to reconstruction that is necessary--leaving in an expander is 1/2 done! Talk to someone else or go over their head as they are not understanding what it is that's being done. I hate insurance companies. Just hold your ground, take a deep breath, stay calm and get someone who knows what they are doing. Hugs!
lovesnature: Exchange was easy in comparison to the MX. I hope you love your new squishees!!!
Marie: I was wondering if your PS used Alloderm? I requested it because I thought I was going to need rads and I heard that it really helps with thin skin. I would get a couple more opinions before resorting to a different type of recon--you have already been through so much!
kjbrown: Some of us end up with drains or complications after our exchange, so it really depends on how you feel and what your dr. says after your exchange. If they aren't doing any pocket work, there aren't any drains to remove, and you don't have any skin issues, then as long as you don't drive, I guess you will be fine. As to the bra, you have to usually either wear a post surgical bra or a zip up the front sports bra for quite a long time after surgery. I had to wear mine for 6 weeks and sleep sitting up! And yes, it hurt, it was uncomfortable, but it hurts your new breasts no matter what size they are. Check out the bras 101 thread. You no longer have any tissue to support them. Even if they did Alloderm (mine did) you still need to have support 24/7 before even thinking of going without a bra. There are some comfortable ones that don't dig, that are soft, that don't have wires and the bra thread will have that, too. Good luck with your exchange!
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Lovesnature: I hope your exchange went well today. Mine is Wed. I'm also planning on flying to Chicago on 4/14. Hope I've recovered enough by then. Not sure yet when followup appts will be after exchange. Good Luck to everyone this week.
Terri
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Just ordered the coobie bra. I hope it works. I have my post surgical bra from after the mastectomy but that was extremely painful. I haven't been sleeping because I've been so anxious about this surgery.
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Good morning ladies,
I am happy to report I will be getting my nips on 4/28 exactly 1year to the day I had one of my revisions and once again will have some fat grafting along with it.
I am a little nervous but I know I can handle this after all I have overcome.
Been very busy with my family and this is the year for my license renewal so I am in school all week because of course I waited till the last minute to take care of it.0 -
Had exchange yesterday. I'm just sore, no real pain. Tylenol seems to be doing the truck. What was really rough, was my first time reaction to anesthesia. Hardly got any sleep last night, felt so nauseous! Happy, happy, it's behind me.
I also had my nipples done at the time of exchange. Dr felt I was a good candidate for it. I was a bit leary of doing it but in the end I went for it.
Dang I'm beat, thanks for all the well wishes. Ladies it's true, much easier than BMX.
Thanks again for the well wishes, hope I made sense.
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Beacher- you are not insane...I had such horrible pain with the TE's, that I stopped chemo and had them taken out! I had the exchange and I got 650's which are too big for me. They were so big, the incision wouldn't heal, but that's another story. My TE's were on a band of nerves that the nurses described as 'a bed of razor blades'. Exactly. I suffered for 7 weeks, and then couldn't take it anymore. I had fills 2x a week to catch up, and they actually felt somewhat better as they inflated, but I was OVER them by that time, and I went thru with it. Do what you need to do. I empathize with your discomfort and sorry that you too are one of the ones that has problems with the 'iron bra'.
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Hello (this is my first post on this thread) and thanks for the well wishes.
8/16/10 prophy mast, TE's and bilat salpingo-ooph....Let not your heart be troubled
My exchange was yesterday and I am having more pain than anticipated. I'm taking Tylenol 3 every 4 hours and still in pain. I have heard so many girls sailed through this, and I know everyone is different, but I am struggling. I have to remind myself it is only day 1 and logically, the worst is behind me but this morning I told DH I can't imagine going thru another surgery... so I hope my PS hit it out of the park yesterday and this pain is due to meticulous extensive work done to attain perfection....OK, that's the meds talking - delusional?
So that's where I'm at - lovesnature, onetoughwoman and terri, hope your exchanges went smoothly, good luck to Joan888 and Bckicker, and all the best to everyone here. You are inspirational.
Diagnosis: 11/18/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/11 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-0 -
Lulu- you aren't on strong enough meds for post-exchange. You'll only need them 3-4 days, but I say why suffer when you can be comfortable. Call your dr.
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tnbcruth, thanks soooooo much for your info. So let me get this straight you had them completely taken out? or deflated? if you had them taken out is that when you had them put back in and had fills 2x a week? its sounds like the same thing for me a with the t/e sitting on razor blades!!! thats is probably why they sqeeze so much the muscle are squeezing from the pain of razor blades
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tnbcruth.... I guess that I am confused also. Why does this stuff have to be so complicated anyway.
I just got my call from the hospital to let me know that I am scheduled at 730am tomorrow morning... have to be there at 6am. I can catch up on my sleep later in the day, I guess.
Lulu and lovesnature... how are you doing this evening? Please tell me you are doing well, all things considered. I'm there with you tomorrow.
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joan:
good luck tomorrow..you'll do great!!
Jan
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Hey Girls,
Exchange is done and I'm so relieved. I feel really good, sad about the restrictions for lifting and excercising, but this should be the end of the line for restrictions. I had conflicting info on the surgical bra, my discharge instructions said 3 days post op, and at the Dr. office they said 2 weeks. Not sure what the benefits are, but I'm sooo bruised everywhere, and I feel relief when I take it off to shower. Any input? Otherwise doing great!
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Do what the Doctor's office said, Dawn! My PS had me wearing a post-surgical bra 24/7 for 8 weeks. It helps to keep your girls where they need to be while you heal... and 8 weeks is a good minimum healing time. Sorry it's not comfortable though. It may be that you will feel better in a few days (with or without a bra) once the healing has really gotten underway (re: those bruises).
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