Exchange City
Comments
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Hi everyone!
I had my exchange and ooph yesterday and it went very well. SO happy to have my squishies! I slept like a baby last night - for the first time in a long time! And no hot flashes yet! LOL I am on the lookout for menopause, but so far nothing to report! My MO told me that the tamoxifen will actually help with the menopause symptoms. I hope so! Good luck to all of you with upcoming exchanges. I cannot believe how much easier it was than NSMBX. I had my surgery at 2pm yesterday and am already bored and wanting to get up and go - forcing myself to rest!
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I am having a revision on the 20th. Taking out textured Mentor high profile and replacing with smooth. Has anyone had that and do they find a difference in the movement and comfort? I always have tightness at some point in the day and often feels kind of like someone is taking cookie cutters in the shape of the implants and pushing down?
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Ooh, Determined, sorry to hear about the cookie cutter pain! I am sorry I can't answer your question to help you, but there are a lot of experienced ladies on this board who might be able to better answer your question. Hopefully, the revision will take the tightness and discomfort away. Best wishes to you.
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Thanks Hefty, it is not constant but reminds me of when I had the tissue expanders. I had many surgical complications but I don't think that would affect it. I am also hoping it will help with the ripples. Isn't it amazing that this process can take so long! It will be two years at the end of Dec. and I am still not done. Hope can get the nipple recon done before the end of the year.
This is the part people don't get. You dont have one surgery and you are all better as so many think.
Have a great weekend.
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I am counting down now 18 more days until my exchange. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences on here.
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Thanks, ShannonR, for the reply and good wishes! Sounds like your PS is looking out for you. The time will come when your body is ready for the exchange, and when it does, I wish the very best for you!
Congratulations, dgee! I'm so happy to hear that all went well with you. Just relax now and enjoy the guilt-free lazing about that your body needs to heal and recover... :-)
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Jyg-- Thanks for your kind words and wishes! I'm doing well on my second day out of surgery. No real pain anymore and no drains after yesterday's doctor visit. Just some itching around the sutures and drain sites, indicating healing. I do hope that all is going well with you! Will you get the drains out soon? My thoughts are with you as you recover and I wish you and everyone else going through this the very best results... Sharon
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Angelique-- Thanks for your kind words too! Hope everything is still going well with your recovery... Sharon
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Prariemom, So good to hear how well the exchange went for you-gives me great hope!
Dgee, I hadn't actually thought about having the ooph and the exchange at the same time. I've not even done the genetic testing because I've been so caught up with the BMX etc., but I do have to have it done, and now I'm wondering if I should try to push the genetic testing, in case I have to have it, and get it done at the same time? When I suggested that for the BMX, they said no-it would be too much, but if I could get it all done-in and out-I'd be thrilled. So it sounds like your surgeons were okay with this?
I'm just, as you all have said, trying to keep looking forward. I will be so relieved to have these TE's out, the "boulders" over with and maybe have nice soft breasts again!
pat
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Prairiemermaid- You give me hope; I can't wait for "soft"!
Dgee- You are so brave to take on ooph and exchange at the same time. I am too worried about being uncomfortable on the top and bottom simultaneously that I am doing exchange first and then ooph a couple of weeks later. Will you still be on tamoxifen even though you are now considered in menopause? My onc had said he would put me on something different post ooph.I think an aromatase inhibitor.
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Ladies!
After the first appeal (but tons of documentation, letters, etc.) and a cc to the State Insurance commissioner I have the OK for the MRI.
I was offered a "hard luck Case" deal from the radiology dept for about 700.00. My onc advised me not to do it, but appeal; he said that is what the insurance company hopes you will do.
So, wanted to put that out there for those of us going thru this.
Now, on to the MRI (gulp, always terrifying), and if OK, on to the trying to appeal for the prophy.
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Four plus days till my exchange... Yikes...in denial sometimes...knots in stomach other times. I Hate to go backwards in terms of strength and restrictions.
My high school friend had BMX today it's so hard to think about those hard times.
She did not have me on her journey so that was hard too.
Some good things:
Knowing I have pharmaceuticals if needed
Knowing from this site it won't be too bad
I am going to a different surgery site than lumpectomy and BMX this time I'm going to PS site which is a brand spanking new facility at U of Penn.
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LMichelle: Who is your surgeon at UP? I just had my exchange there last week!
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Anniealso -- that is great news! Good for you for fighting for what is right.
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HL hi my doc is Kanchwala... At Perelman center how about you? I should have read up more but how are you?
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anniealso - Yay! Glad that everything worked out for you. Thank you for letting us know and for the tip concerning 'hardship.' Way to keep fighting! Prayers for a clean MRI. xoxo
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Congrats to all the recent E-girls!
My PS is hoping that the lump is an inflamed area around some stitches and that it will go away on its own. So, we're giving it about a month to see if that happens. If not will get the BS in the loop and possibly do an MRI or ultrasound. He doesn't seem to feel that it's scarring, an edge of the implant, lymph node, etc. If he was overly concerned he didn't show it to me so I'm going with that while I wait.
Thanks for all the good thoughts!
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LMichele: Kanchwala is my PS also! I really do like his personality, and I think he is a great doc, too. I am very happy with the work he has done. My whole filling process and exchange was pretty uneventful, no difficulties really.
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Yea for all you Ladies who have come over to the soft side!!!!!!!!!!
Annie, good for you for making headway and achieving a victory. So aggravating we have to do that after all the rest we go through. Now get that MRI done and expect good results! ((hugs))
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Ginger48: My MO said that I will do tamoxifen after ooph for 5 years and then have option for AI for 5 more years after that. He cited a study that showed tamoxifen after ooph wasn't any less benefit than taking AI (which has a little higher benefit rate compared to the tamoxifen). And he is worried about the bone loss - I am 41 and said that I was too young to have irreversible bone loss. So I guess in 5 years we evaluate/decide if I want to take an AI then. But for now I am in surgical menopause and starting tamoxifen for 5. We shall see!0
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Anniealso: Congratulation on pushing forward for what you need. I really, really hate insurance companies. Hoping you have a clean MRI so that you can move forward. Hugs!!!
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popping in to say YEAHHHHHHHHHHH for all the exchanges:)))) and for thos eof you coming on up to em....it;ll be there before you know it. You will have everyone rooting ya on
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dgee, that is good to know. I will ask my onc about it. I am 48 so that might be the difference. Always good to have more info when making these decisions.I do worry about the bone loss. Keep on healing!
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Wow! For so many ladies having exchanges this month, I am surprised to hear the crickets on this thread!!
Almost 2 weeks out from surgery, and things are, for the most part, good. I have some new, but light, bruising under one of the foobs. Not sure what that is from as it just developed over the week-end. Additionally, I have developed cording under my left armpit that is causing some discomfort. That, too, is a new development. Hmmm? Follow-up is this Thursday so hopefully, get some answers then.
Otherwise, all pain from surgery has long been gone, incision scarring is minimal, and I am very happy with the overall look and shape of my new foobs.
Good luck to all ladies with exchanges this week. I think there were quite a few of you out there this week - let us know how everything goes!!
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HeftyLefty - Sorry you've hit more snags
. As long as it's two steps forward and one step back rather than the other way around! I hope you can get the cording issue turned around...0 -
HeftyLefty- glad to hear the pain is long gone and the scarring is minimal. Good luck on Thursday and let us know what you find out.
Ginger
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Hello everyone!! I am home after my exchange surgery. I am very sore but doing great! I have always had bad side effects with anesthesia but this time they game me a patch that goes behind my ear and for the first time, I did not get sick. I am anxious to see the results!!
Good luck to all those whose surgeries are coming up and hope everyone who is completed are feeling ok!!!
Teri
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holy blank, I got a call this a.m. and my surgery is moved up a day! suddenly I only have a few hours left. I guess all the cooking and cleaning just ain't gonna get done! I have gotten so used to the expanders it is hard to really feel excited about this. I took a nice look run in the woods today, (I really don't want to go back to laying on the sofa... )Looking forward to meeting the anesthesiologist and waking up with it over.
Hefty, wonder if I'll ever bump into you at penn???
who was your BS??
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congrats teri!! I'm right behind you!
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LMichele, you never know. I will be there this Thursday for follow-up, but it sounds like you will be there on surgery day for Dr. K. My BS was Dr. Sataloff. I think you will be excited once you wake up from surgery and you are able to feel the difference. I felt the same as you, and was kind of sad to see the TE's go. I had adjusted to having them and was enjoying not having to wear a bra, but the outcome LOOKS so much better! And it feels MUCH better, too. Good Luck to you! I'll be thinking of you.
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