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  • rennasus
    rennasus Posts: 642
    edited June 2011

    MeJoy, Beacher, are you allowed to put sterile gauze pads over your incisions to absorb the leakage? I still have seepage and that's how I have to deal with it. (Am having my TE removed next week.)

  • LMichele
    LMichele Posts: 88
    edited June 2011

    shortlady, hi, I was VERY itchy after my BMX.  i think they told me that was from the anesthesia.  since you had it at your other surgery too I bet that's what it is.  if you're lucky you have someone there to scratch your back for you! :)

  • nolo1098
    nolo1098 Posts: 20
    edited June 2011

    Hi Lilah,

    I had my exchange on 6/17 so I've had my gummies in for two weeks now. I'm struggling with how hard they are.  They are in no way "squishy" and I would say they are only one step above the feeling of the expanders.  Do they soften at all over time??? Not loving the hardness but I do like the shape.  Thanks! 

  • meJoy
    meJoy Posts: 37
    edited June 2011

     Beacher...the leakage now is pink and yellow, running together. They told me leakage could be any color--even green. So, I'm not alarmed about the seepage.  Its just annoying.  and havent washed the camisoles yet. Its been since tuesday at my first post op visit.  And I ve been changing everyday. 

    REN.... The PS gave me some gauze pads, and for some reason..I still got it on my camisole. Who knows how??? 

    I see my PS next tuesday (july 5), and hopefully i wont be seeping by then. 

    Shortlady..one of the first things I bought myself when getting ready for my Mx was a back scratcher. I ordered it from Amazon...and then got a note from some company that its coming in non descript plastic bag. I didnt realize I was buying  from a toy sex shop!!! hahahaha

  • TifJ
    TifJ Posts: 804
    edited June 2011

    mejoy- when I had a lift done on my good side, I leaked very slowly and finally found out I had a small clot behind a stitch. The dr. snipped the stitch and sqeezed out all the "stuff". It drain very heavy for 2 days. He suggested I tape a maxi pad over the area and it really worked!! Just a thought!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited July 2011

    Mejoy -- I guess no drain for you?  I had a drain so no leakage. 

    Nolo -- I found my gummy to be significantly softer post exchange.  My TE was hard as a rock at 850 ccs... the gummy at 685 cc's was soft enough that a finger pressed on it would go in.  After 3 months it seemed softer and now at a year out it is softer still.  I am a uni and have a real breast to compare it with.  Real breast is softer... but not a LOT softer.  That said, the real breast jiggles but the gummy does not (well if I shake it with my hand it does a little but who goes around doing that?).  I'm sorry you are feeling uncomfortable.  You are still only about 2 weeks out and there may be some swelling going on, which also would affect the softness factor.  How much were you expanded and how big is your implant (cc-wise)?

    Beacher -- aw I missed your reply last night.  I am on the east coast but tend to stay up late :)

  • meJoy
    meJoy Posts: 37
    edited July 2011

    tif and Lilah..I had a drain while in the hospital...one night stay. PS took, it out while signing my release. I like the idea of the maxi pad.  Wow..tif.. that must have been really painful (the clot). As if this isnt Painful enough!

    DH stole a mirror from somewhere and I finally saw them. From a  face viewpoint,  it doesnt look too bad. Definitely would be surprised if I didnt have you all to see how many different possibilities can appear. From the bottom looking up..(mirror placed flat on a chair), wow! the black and blue, and the raw stitching..and now understand why its so painful (the reduction side). The implant side is beautiful. I love saying those words!!!

    I cant stop touching!!! 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited July 2011

    I am an " old timer" on BCO.... and I wanted to give a shout out to LILAH AND MBJ............. Thank you girls for all your help here on Exchange City. You are truly a blessing and I feel you do a ministry here. THANK YOU!

    L.

  • shannonr
    shannonr Posts: 89
    edited July 2011

    Tif, I hope your area where the clot was is healing.  

    Mejoy - congrats I loving hearing you saying the implant side is beautiful.  Enjoy 

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited July 2011

    ((((Laura))))) glad to see you here!

    MeJoy -- oh that reminds me, I meant to ask earlier: you really have NO mirrors in your house?  Not even in the bathroom?  I am marvelling at this thought.  Also: don't worry about how the reduction side looks right now... it really WILL heal up beautifully!  I think you are on the picture forum... if you want to see me at 3 weeks post-exchange (all bruised and yellow-green) and then again as of this month... it will reassure you :)  I was never able to take photos before 3 weeks post-exchange because it was just SO purple and bruised... just couldn't bring myself to do it.  And yeah my implant side looked great within a few days!

  • shortlady
    shortlady Posts: 36
    edited July 2011

    I wondered if I was itchy from the anesthesia.  It will be two weeks tomorrow.  So, hopefully it will all get out of my system soon.  I like the back scratcher idea.  I will have to see where I can find one.  

  • suefly
    suefly Posts: 3
    edited July 2011

    Bilateral Masectomy 2/8.....exchange surgery August 25.....CANT WAIT!!!

  • rennasus
    rennasus Posts: 642
    edited July 2011

    Esteep, Lilah and MBJ are awesome!

    Congrats on getting your E-Day, Suefly!

    Mejoy: I agree with Shannon, it's great to hear that you find your implant beautiful! 

  • PitPat
    PitPat Posts: 32
    edited July 2011

    Still waiting. So looking forward to getting my left TE and beginning fills. Its going to be a year since my BMX in Sept and the TE placement wont be till then. Looks like my exchange will be my Christmas present.

  • TifJ
    TifJ Posts: 804
    edited July 2011

    mejoy- There was actually no pain with the clot, it was just alot of old blood backed up. I was black underneath my breast and after he squeezed it all out my color returned to almost normal within 24 hours. So glad to hear you are happy with your results. Right now, mine doesn't look much different from the TE, but sure feels better.

    Shannon- thank you. That happened back in Sept./Oct. Once the clot was released it healed very quickly!

    Suefly- congrats on getting a date set!

  • meJoy
    meJoy Posts: 37
    edited July 2011

    hehehe...I really have no mirrors in the house-- except for bathroom. And of course, I only see from shoulders up, cause I'm short (5'3). Too see myself, I look in the full length glass door (to the deck), but only in the afternoons..when there is sun!!!! Its funny cause I'm always saying "so how does this look!".

    wishing you all a great 4th!!!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited July 2011

    Is this some sort of religious choice Mejoy?  Or do you just not like mirrors?

    Sorry to obsess... but in my bedroom the closet doors are mirrors (was like that when I bought the house).

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2011

    Mejoy:  So glad your MX side is beautiful!  I guess the reduction/lift side will need some time to catch up.  Me, I am vain, I have lots and lots of mirrors in my houseX!

    Estepp:  How are you?  Good to hear from you!  It's hard to keep up with all of the newbies but I try.  Lilah is on here way more then I can ever be--she's a rock!!!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited July 2011

    It's called: professional procrastinator :)  So much more fun to check posts here than to do the work in front of me!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited July 2011

    Lilah:  lol!

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited July 2011
    Lilah:  Professional procrastinator, I like that!  I call it "active avoidance" and my husband likes to call me "Easily Sidetracked Girl"  Laughing
  • nolo1098
    nolo1098 Posts: 20
    edited July 2011

    Hi Lilah,

    I was expanded to 450 and he put in 475 - I was a bit surprised that he was able to fit in larger implants but glad he did.  My swelling has gone down a lot - I will be patient and see if they soften up over time.  Thanks!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited July 2011

    Nolo -- ah that is the reason yours feel so firm then!  They are bigger than the TEs!  Considering that mine was so much smaller than the TE I had (850 vs 685) that would account for the feeling softer right away.  Hopefully yours will soften up with time.  I did notice that mine got softer still at around 3 months... which could have been the gummy version of "drop and fluff" (which some say has to do with the pectoral muscle relaxing -- I'm not really sure what it is to be honest except the body seems to adjust to the new job it has been given).  I hope yours will feel better soon.  I hope you are not uncomfortable.

  • matty123
    matty123 Posts: 264
    edited July 2011

    Again you are all asleep! Hey giving a shout out to any west coast girls its early ! 

  • nolo1098
    nolo1098 Posts: 20
    edited July 2011

    Thanks Lilah!  Now I totally understand!  I will give it some time....not too uncomfortable....just not what I expected with everyone talking about being "squishy" after the exchange.

  • shortlady
    shortlady Posts: 36
    edited July 2011

    I had my exchange two weeks ago.  I had radiation on the left side only.  My right side feels soft to the touch, but when I move around or just get up from a sitting position my right side feels tight.  It feels like  a tight muscle.  I do not feel the same way on the radiated side.  

  • Rnjules
    Rnjules Posts: 19
    edited July 2011

    Ladies, I need your expertise....I am in Bilateral TE's that are 750cc, I am overfilled to 800cc, I have been miserable for three months, I am not happy that they are low, not as I pictured them to be. My Exchange is Thursday. Will the Silicone Implants sit higher than the TE's? what do I need to relay to my PS, Pre-OP is Wednesday.

  • christine47
    christine47 Posts: 846
    edited July 2011

    Rnjules,

    I am sure someone will be along who has more expertise than me.  I have not had exchange yet.  My TEs are nice and high, my original breast were not as high and actually one was naturally lower than the other.  My PS "reset my inframammary folds" and supplimented the pockets with alloderm.  I do not believe that the implants will be any higher unless your PS corrects the pockets that were created at the time of your TE placement.  Be sure you let your PS know what you want!!

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited July 2011

    Rnjules:  Sorry you're unhappy and unsure of what will happen on Thursday.  Have you been expressing your concerns with your plastic surgeon along the way?  My TEs are lower than most, but I had nipple-sparing surgery and wanted to look pretty much like my pre-mastectomy self with a bit more fullness.  The nipple position sort of dictates where the TE should go.

    Are you a member of the picture forum? 

    There's also a thread here called Implant Sizing 101 which you might find helpful.

    Keep us posted...

  • Rnjules
    Rnjules Posts: 19
    edited July 2011

    Tina,

    I did not have Nipple Sparring. I had previous 38dd breasts that were really affected by gravity! PS did do a lift...but maybe it appears lower due to the size of the fills? I really didn't notice this until recently.