Exchange City

Beacher,

I am 4 1/2 weeks out from exchange, but I had BMX. Yes, I feel just like you say. They still feel foreign to me. Heavy and weird! I still wear a sports bra, probably more for a security blanket! I am wearing the summer shirts without a bra, but just for a few hours at a time. They really look cute w/ the new foobs! Unfortunately, I developed a hemotoma last week, so my right side is a lot more swollen...I'm trying to disguise it, but some days, I just don't care! I dare anyone to ask me about it! Lol...hang in there, we are all in this together!

pinkbutterfly,

What is amazing is that my PS looked at my breasts before the DM and said the non lympectomy one was 300cc and the lumpectomy one was 220 cc in size and when I got a copy of the pathology report she was so right on!

Remember, you are entitled to copies of all your medical paperwork, and I always get copies of pathology and blood test reports.

I do truly think the reason so many of us can be uncomfortable after we get our implants is they are just too heavy for our pec muscles to support.  Our pec muscles were never designed to support silicone blobs....and we have to remember they are not part of the natural flow of our tissue from our chest wall and are only kept in place by the muscle and outer superficial tissue....and to me, thats not much.

I'm happy I went smaller as I think it made my recovery easier, less stress on my body and I don't  even have to wear a bra all the time.  I have even have cleavage without a bra and don't feel any less of a women.  Mind you, about 10 years ago I had a bilateral breast reduction from a D to a B.

I think if we feel good inside, we will radiate that to the outside and stand taller, feel more confident. 

I think you  might take one of your bras with you to the PS and ask to put your projected size implant in it and allow a bit for the pec muscle and see how much you fill it.

Pinkbutterfly - maybe ask you surgeon for a copy of the pathology report from your mastectomy and then you will know exactly what size you were.

All in all, I think we just want to comfortably feel like a woman again.............

PS:  after the first month, I stopped wearing a bra to bed and around the house after I cooked dinner.  It was a relief and nothing bad happened. Now, 4 months on, I wear a bra when I exercise, work in the garden or do stuff like vacuuming...otherwise I just wear a form fitting camisole, which feels better, as any bra I wear chaffs where the incisions were for the 6 drains I had in with the DM.  I also started physio at 6 weeks post DM to get my range of motion back and decrease the pain and improve my posture.  It was great!

Hi does anyone have any advice on running with TE's.? I will be at least 2 months between last fill and exchange... Summer with kids also kitchen construction! So I am soon cleared to exercise but can't even imagine running with these crazy things on my chest. Help?

Beacher I'm in a sports bra at night still although its funny because my PS said I could sleep without a bra but had to keep them snug in the day.  I dont like thme loose because they then ache.  My left one aches horribly when I bend over because the scar tissue hasnt completely formed.  My right side absolutrely has less projection than the left.  And my right (nodes removed) is tighter for sure around the node site.

As for the surgical bra - he had me take mine off in a week because my right side was encroaching.  But my swelling is gone now I feel and I am hoping the aching on the left is because I am getting back to things and its all that moving and bending....but I know its normal.  I have to do more stretching on the right.

Youre not alone!!!  I sent a PM on the photo site....were you able to try again?

Christine47,

Congratulations on getting to the other side!

Justagirl,

I will check my pathology reports to see if the volume is noted. I never noticed this, but it makes sense thatbit would be there.

In my TE's, since the time of MX and placement, I feel like I have to keep them supported in a bra or shelf tank or something, 24-7. They feel more uncomfortable if I don't. Is that normal?

Christine47--Glad you're on the other side!

Justagirl--I wore a bra during the day because my TEs were so uncomfortable.  I was able, after awhile, to go without one to bed at night.

Shortlady, I got that same bra ,2 of them black and biege and when i wore it to my ps appt,he  said no! He saide the elastic on the bottom had to be at least an inch and half... hmmm but guess what i have on right now! those surgical bra's r torture and i think  no i know he put me in a couple of sizes too small,i am 34 on ribcage but if you look on the package of this bra its says i would wear a 36-38 he gave me 34 c OOOUUUUCH!

MBJ which one?

Your endorphines are at their lowest at 3-4pm and 3-4am...that's the time fevers spike, breakthru pain, etc., so you're just going thru a normal cycle.  Make that your rest time each day?  Anything good on tv then?  Hang in there.  This isn't fun.

where is everybody it's between 3 & 4 and my foobs are going to explode off my chest!! 5 weeks from exchange i hate this i thought by now i would feel better somebody tell me they feel or have felt this way at 5 weeks, when will it get better? or does it? the oldies on bco seem so content ? does the foobs ever stop feeling like iron balls????? scared,tired, fustrated

Hi, My name is Jan and I have a surgery date of 8/25/2011 to do tissue expander exchange with reduction/lift. I have a few questions and I am trying to fiind answers but I am getting a headache trying to research. Do I need to join this forum to post?

THANKS CHRISTINE47,ya my t/e was pretty uncomfortable also,thats why i was hoping the exchange would make it better. No not really now both foobs hurt! Like i said like iron,i forget what it feels like to have a normal body? maybe i will never know i think i may be going crazy also, so want my life back....

Beacher;  So sorry you are in pain.  How long this lasts varies so much--I know that Dawne-Hope suffered a long time and now she is fine.  If you had radiation or if your PS did a lot of pocket work it could take longer to heal.  Myself, I was sore but only when I over did it or didn't wear a bra 24/7.  It took about 8 months before they felt like my own.

Karla:  It took me at least 8 months before I was able to not wear a bra or a bra top or something to compress them and it hurt when I didn't.  After 6 months I was allowed to wear wire bras and now, 10 months later I no longer have pain and go mostly without when I sleep, though I sometimes still prefer to wear a bra top.  Compression helps them heal, holds them in their proper place  and will not make them smaller!

DuckyJan,

My plastic surgeon talked to me at length about what to expect, etc.  If you still have questions go back and ask.  "augmentation" is not the same as exchange.  Exchange is taking out the TE and replacing with permanent implant.  There are several ladies here who have had this done in conjuction with lifts, implants, etc on the opposite breast.  The biggests challenge is obtaining symetry post surgery with one implant and lift/reduction.  By the way, lots of us ramble on this site.

trail2- Yeah for you, I had my exchange on thursday, so easy compared to everything else.  I had the patch (put in on the night before surgery), and NO nausea.  I stayed in the hospital one night because of previous allergic rxn to anesthesia (not nausea).  I hardly had/have any pain.  I am not sure about the appearance of my implants yet, there is still swelling.  My TEs actually looked great and this is a different look.