Exchange City
Comments
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So did any of you bruise really bad after the Exchange? And if so, how long after the surgery did the purplish color of a bruise appear and how big was it?
Thank you.
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Elizabeth27 -- I think you are right. Plus we postpone our grief at the MX because of the hope for the reconstruction. So there is a lot of subconscious expectation there.
If you need an opinion and are willing to share a photo of the current results, send a PM to Whippetmom and/or check out her Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread.
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Had my post-op appointment today and got the steri-strips removed. The PS could tell I was a little worried about how it was looking, and told me not to be so nitpicky. He said wait a couple of months for them to relax and if I still have concerns then, he'll keep working with me till I'm happy. He said they will relax and get softer over time. I got my card for the implants, and they're Mentor 550 Smooth Round High Profile Gel, which seems to be a pretty common implant nowadays, from what I'm reading. In all honesty, I'm sure they'll look better than my naturals (I don't even recognize them when he shows me the before photos). He didn't give me ANY instructions about exercise, or massaging them, or what to put on them. He's so very nonchalant, it's weird. He also said I don't need to wear a bra 24/7 and I don't need a mastectomy bra (doggone it, I was going to try to get some through insurance). He did say to wait about a month before I go bra shopping (buy one for now though). So, I'll jump over to the Bras 101 thread for some advice on what to do about that.
Oh, and you're right about the implants being more susceptible to dents. I was having a hard time positioning the shoulder harness of the seat belt during my TE expansion, and frequently tucked it under the boob, until I realized I was denting it deeper and deeper doing that. Still having discomfort with seat belt placement on the chest area....
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JoanDavies,
I believe most insurances will pay for 6 bras per year, even though they are not "masectomy bras" You need to go somewhere they fit you and file your insurance. They told me that when I got several bras post TE. They have beautiful regular bras where I got mine. Check with your insurance and most shops will precert this benifit for you too.
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Hello sweet ladies,
I had my exchange surgery yesterday and I am pretty sore this morning. Actually more sore than after my BMX but I think the difference is that I was given morphine the first time and this time none. I am wrapped up like a mummy, so hard to tell what they look like but I go in to see my PS this morning to remove all this gauze so I will soon get to see them. I am going to remind myself not to expect much yet...you gals that have been there, done that, are such a help to those of us just now going through it.
(((hugs))) Kelly
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Kelly - I hope they gave you pain pills at least?? Good luck and take it easy for a few days. Today is my one year Fooberversary!! Glad to have last year over with!
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Valerie - congratulations! I can only imagine how good it feels to be a year out - celebrate yourself today!!! :-)
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had post-op visit yesterday, got my implant card, 350 smooth round high profile gel, small right? i know he put in as big as he could but compared to most on here i am really small. my exchange was last wednesday and i still hurt. he is concerned with the left side only because of the radiation i had, so far it looks good, if i were to have a problem would it happen right away or could it be when i least expect it later on. he also said nips could be done in 4 weeks, isn't that quick ? he is not my favorite person , i know he does good work but he can be very condesending and i can't stand that in people. i go back monday to get stitches out maybe i can get one more question in, his visits are very quick maybe 5 min. yesterday if that.
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Pegs - I have 325. Four weeks does indeed seem quick for nips. Get them when you're ready. I got mine six months out from my exchange. Radiated skin ... you always have to be careful and capsular constriction can occur at any time ... massage is a helpful tool ... but don't do it for a few weeks yet. There are some ladies who've had radiation that will chime in. I'm sorry your PS is condescending ... I hate that too. xo.
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Pegs--I got 350cc high profile as well...2 weeks out from exchange-I fit in a solid B cup. They seemed small to me at first with swelling and coming off the Torpedo TEs, but they look very natural now.
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Well I am two weeks out now and so far so good (I think!). I do have a question though. I'm essentially pain free in everything I do. However whenever I lay on my back or even recliner for a short time when I return to an upright position (sitting or standing) there is a significant amount of throbbing that happens for a good 5-10 minutes after. Any one else experience this? Guessing it will go away with time but its super weird to me that it happens even after just a minute or two in the recliner!
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If I may... I wanna give my thoughts on why some are not happy after exchange.
I, myself, was never looking for what I "was"... I was not looking for a " real breast" look. I was not looking for anyone to " make me normal again".
What I WAS LOOKING for...... were PERFECT FAKE BOOBS!
I thought I would look like many of my friends... who had augmentation.
WELL..... that never happened.
So for some of us....like me....:)
..... we never thought...for a second... we would look like we used to...or even look..." normal" again... and we were ok with this...... we were ready for a "NEW NORMAL"...... and even excited about the new look to come. I wanted to post THIS side of the story. So maybe.... you were not looking for what you had....... but the perfection of augmentation... that will never be... as we are NOT woman with augmented breast. We are women with RECONSTRUCTED breasts. Now, not to scare anyone... I look really really good. My PS is... great... he has taken care of three others here on BCO after my referral... and I am happy with me look. BUT..... even I had to come to terms with the fact..... I will NEVER have perfect foobies... great looking ones..... pretty ones... and even ones I can put in a VS bra and be all....vavooooommmmm...
..... BUT NOT PERFECT... This was my experience. After I was 100% honest with myself. I wanted to share.
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You do look great Laura!
And LOL on "perfect fake boobs" -- !
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Estepp- Very well said and I totally agree. People just assume that reconstruction is like augmentation and it is not. % days out and I am happy so far, but people just don't understand why I am the size that I am until I really explain everything to them. I am very small, but proportionate to my body.
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Estepp,
I had a bilateral mastectomy and I am having my second revision in June. Obviously, I can't speak for the other women who are not happy with the outcomes of their reconstruction, but I can respond about my experience. I never expected to look like my old self again, or have perfect fake boobs, but I did not expect to be have to look in the mirror and have one side sit so much lower than the left, along with rippling and so much discomfort. I was told that implants were the way to go, much less invasive, great outcomes and a much shorter recovery time. You were very lucky to have such a good outcome, but I wonder if you had experienced some of the issues many of us have (and many worse than mine), if you wouldn't feel differently. It's like those who have never been diagnosed with breast cancer, they can't possibly understand until they have been there.
I may have taken your comments the wrong way, but to me, it sounded as if we should just be grateful for whatever the results of our reconstruction. I am grateful to be alive and to have the opportunity to have reconstruction, just because I would like to have a better result, not perfection does not in any way mean I am not grateful or wanting to achieve perfection. I was diagnosed with breast cancer the same age as my mom was (pre-menopausal). Unfortunately, for her, at the time of her mastectomy all they did were radical mastectomies, where they took the tissue and muscle and the scar was so high she could not wear anything even with a small v neck. Reconstruction was not even an option and what she had to look at every day while she was alive was horrific, which makes me even more grateful for how far we have come.
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Clfinch -- I'm sure that Laura did not mean it that way (she herself had a revision early on, for example, which means NOT just accepting but trying to achieve the best you can). I agree with you that we are lucky to be dealing with this disease now and not 40 years ago. Given what you said about how unhappy you are with your results, have you considered a revision? It sounds like there is room for improvement in the reconstruction job you've had and a second opinion from another PS is pretty inexpensive (the cost of the visit) but the information might be worth having. If you need a recommendation for a good PS in your area send a PM to Whippetmom... who has been keeping track of good results/good experiences among members here and compiled a private list.
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Lilah,
Yes, I have had one revision last December and I am scheduled for another revision in June. I have had two different plastic surgeons, the latter one who did the revision is supposed to be one of the best. Monday, I have a consult for a second opinion with yet another plastic surgeon who came highly recommended. The PS that did the revision and the one I have a consult with are both listed in Washingtonian's Top Docs issue for plastic surgeons in the DC-MD-VA area. My revision in June is currently scheduled with the PS who did my last revision and depending upon my consult, I may switch doctors.
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Clfinch -- great! I truly hope the result of all this extra work is a reconstruction that is more pleasing to you.
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Clfinch: I agree with Lilah, I would get Whippetmom's assistance. She has a great list of PS's from all over with proven great results from women here on BCO. Reconstruction is not equal in the land of plastic surgery. I think I just got lucky with mine, though I interviewed 3 before finding "the one". I also agree with Estepp in that I never expected to look like I did before but I also never expected to look like a cover of a Playboy magazine, either. I only had a left side MX, so matching was a challenge--my results are not perfect, but he really did a great job getting pretty darn close. It's important to push for the best results possible and I have to say, I relied alot on the help of Whippetmom and the other women on these boards, but mostly, I listened to my intuiton--I knew I had the right dr. when all of my anxiety regarding surgery went away. I fired my first BS. Good luck with your revisions!
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Hi all, Haven't written on this thread for quite some time, but I do still follow and feel connected to the old-timers. (Hi Lilah, hi Dawne-Hope). After a year of misery with my gummy implants, I decided that it was not worth swapping them out to see if I would like soft silicone better. I just do not want to risk the "2 steps forward, one step back" possibilities of still being unhappy. I have had 4 consults with 4 very different kinds of PS's. Two who do only autologous free flap microsurgery, one who does both implant and flap but does not specialize in breast reconstruction, and one who mainly does implants. And, of course, my original PS, who does mainly implants. (I was surprised to learn that MSK does > 70% implants and that is their institutional bias. I had not been aware of that!) Anyway, after fretting about this for the year, my stars kind of aligned in terms of timing, and about 2 weeks ago I just decided to go for it. One of my consults had been in New Orleans at the Center For Restorative Breast Care and I was most pleased with them. Soooo, Im in a frantic state of packing and organizing, and will be headed there on Tuesday. Surgery is Thursday the 12th and I will be in their hospital for a few days, at a hotel for a few more, then headed back on the 20th, with my new boobies made of re-purposed tummy fat!!!
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I am 9 days out from my exchange. I have a 700 implant in the left breast and a reduction in the right breast. When my PS told me she put in a 700 implant, I was shocked (My TE was filled to 650), I thought I would be huge but as of yesterday I am a C, not a D (not that being a D is a bad thing, just too big for me). I am still pretty swollen in the right breast and have to wear the bra for three weeks at all times. My PS wasn't happy that I took it off the first week even to take a little peek. I am pleased so far. My PS also wasn't very happy when I pulled the drain out at 5 days! I am not sure how that happened. So I also have some fluid around the implant (and it makes noises). PS says fluid should absorb and the sloshing noise will subside. As for exercise, my PS stated that she didn't want me significantly raising my heartrate or blood pressure (risk of bleeding) and no lifting. I am so glad to be over this hump.
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Thanks MBJ, rebetata, Susansgarden and Lilah for your words of encouragement, and your wisdom. I agree that there even though we are fortunate to have the treatment options that we do, there are many steps of mourning our healthy and "normal" bodies. Coming to terms with this illness is a long process. I still believe that there are conscious as well as subconscious expectations that may surprise us.
I appreciate the reminder that our unreconstructed friends don't have perfect bodies either. I especially appreciate Susansgardens reminder that almost everyone with recon looks good in their bras! I can already tell that, in clothes anyway, I will probably look better than pre BC. It is a bit disconcerting however that when I lie flat and the foobs still stand up!
Happy Mother's Day ladies!
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Jerusha - I'll be praying for you on the 12th! I hope things go well and you're happy. I'm interested in knowing if the LE gets better ... I've heard that can sometimes happen with the removal of implants. Blessings and love to you! Keep us posted on how you do! xo 0
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Thanks Dawne-Hope, I appreciate your sweet thoughts. I'm hoping that the LE improves. I'll keep you posted!
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BikerBabe1 - Congrats on your exchange. Definitely listen to your PS regarding exercise not over doing it too soon.
I am 12 days out and still swollen and have a really nasty bruise on my right (non-cancer) side. It covers the entire width and goes up 2/3 from the fold to the top and didn't appear until 10 days out, the day after I got on my recombent bike and did level 1 riding for 1.5 miles and did some laundry and loaded the dishwasher. Even though my PS said I could start on the bike, he didn't tell me I could start on housework. So I went to see my PS because I freaked out with the bruise and he told me everything was OK, the skin does not look to be in jeapardy, but I had to really take it easy until I see him next week, no more bike or housework for me, and then he would re-evaluate when I can start doing things.
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I did not bike but walked 3 miles yesterday and today my breast is hurting too. My PS though told me I could walk (no running) and did not give me any restrictions in the house. How long did you guys have to wait until you could take Ibuprofen? (I forgot to ask my PS) I have Narcotics but it is too strong for my pain level and Tylenol does not work too well.
Jerusha - Good luck -you will be in my thoughts on the 12th.
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Izzybelle - I don't know why you couldn't take ibuprofen now? I couldn't walk for exercise for six weeks ... I could ride a stationary bike at three or four weeks ... can't remember now. Any jiggling or movement of that new implant isn't good your first weeks out from the exchange ... everything needs to heal. Don't push it too hard ladies! I was itching to get back into the gym too ... but you don't want to return too quickly and have problems later on because that new implant has shifted! Take care!
And remember to wear a really good bra when you're out walking! xo 0 -
ladies, I follow this thread as I will have my exchange this summer. Be very caution about using Ibuprofen or any NSAID in post op perior without you PS approval as these meds can cause bleeding and thinning of the blood. Tylenol and pain meds do not cause this.
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christine47 - thanks for the info re ibuprofen! good to know!
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Thanks Dawne-Hope - I am going to be more careful with the walking...I am going to stop for a couple of weeks.
Christine47 - I just sent an email to my PS to know when I can start Ibuprophen. Thanks for the info.
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