Exchange City

 Ok so my cat just walked right across the keyboard and sent the message before I was done. Here is the rest:

 glad you guys are doing well for the most part. Hang in there and HeftyLefty, I would definitely have the dr. take a look.

jyg: the bruise is in the IMF starting about centerpoint and up about another 2 inches towards sternum. Yes, I am guilty of probably doing more than I should have physically. Nothing stupid like moving furniture or mopping floors. However, this week-end, after it was too late, I realized I had wiped down my counters and the front of all my stainless steel appliances, I stopped and thought: "Ooops, I probably shouldn't be doing that!" I was feeling so good, I kind of fell into my normal routines without thinking. I have been driving for over a week now, but, I only do short errands in town, mostly 10 - 15 minutes away.

I am still wearing surgi-bra per PS instructions, 24/7. I have been doing everything else the same since surgery. Except the activity has probably increased unintentionally. 

jyg: Have I done irreparable damage to myself? Gosh, I hope not. I have been keeping still most of the day, hoping to give it rest and healing time. 

Ginger: you are the 2nd person today whose writing was interrupted by a cat! That's so funny! 

Thanks, Lilah! 

HeftyLefty - I doubt that you have done serious damage. It could be as Prariemermaid has suggested that blood as fallen to it's lowest point and is now showing up at the surface. You could have popped a suture with subsequent, and probably inconsequential, bleeding, but I'm just making the worst possible scenario guess now. (Called a WAG --> Wild Ass Guess) If it had some substance behind it, I would call it a SWAG --> Scientific Wild Ass Guess.

Call and ask for an appointment (for reassurance as well as an exam).  The usual post-surgical bra doesn't offer much support - unless he has had you in a compression garment.  Are you supposed to progress to a more supportive bra yet? See the Bra 101 thread for suggestions from the pros.

Keep us posted

Thanks,everyone, for your responses! I will check it out in the a.m. to see if any more changes have occurred. If there is the slightest change I will be in my PS office by the afternoon - onc appointment in the a.m.

My DH looked at it and says he sees no swelling, and thinks it just looks like a good, old-fashioned bruise. He's trying to be supportive and keep me from jumping off the ledge (anxiety).

Prairiemermaid: IMF = Inframammary Fold - The little crease under your boob/foob/breast.

LMichele - Congratulations!  I hope you continue to do well!!!  Definitely YAY to the no drains!

HeftyLefty, ditto on the doc visit if nothing else than to ease your mind. Probably just a little extra seepage.  Did you have a drain?  Let us know how it goes...

Okay, just found this site, up late after long day. My exchange surgery is set for 1/9/2012, first of the new year to add to the list. Funny thing is LMichele, another Philly girl had her exchange yesterday (congrats). The cycle continues....



so looking forward to getting through this. Hoping it is as uneventful as PS is framing it! Don't need much fill-wise. Am small C now and just want full size C after. Will do that in early December. Til then, lots of PT for LAT's! both Lump and BMx went smoothly, nice to have confidence that PS is good at their job!



Cheers!

HeftyLefty and Fighter_34 : THANK YOU! I had bought 3 sports bras, wide and with front hook-ups after the BMX and I have used them well. Yesterday I replaced the surgi-bra with one of these. Feels more comfortable. I am real happy with the softeness of my implants. A little disappointed, though, with my size...I am practically the same I was before and I had asked for a little more so I could have a bit of cleavage.

I know my left side (where the cancer was) took a lot of abuse during the BMX surgery and the PS had told me that it would be difficult to place the implant on that side in terms of depth....that side is deeper than the right one. I have read some posts here that say our shape and size will change as the weeks go by after exchange surgery.....please don't tell me I will be smaller still??

I couldn't sleep on my side with TE's & am a side sleeper....I think it was the second week after exchange I started sleeping on my side again. I am four weeks out now & feel ok, but still afraid to lift heavy things. I'm not very active but think I could do most things if I was used to them before.



I did not have drains. I had some extra pocket work done to left side that still seems swollen a bit & has some hard spots. The right side is great...soft & squishy all over.



I was in so much pain with TE's & now it's gone.....such a relief.

kk11 : I just had my xchange a week ago yesterday. The easiest surgery I have ever had. Did not need the oxy for pain, just Tylenol ES for 2 days.......at 3 days was feeling as good as new, movement of arms was comfortable. I had no drains. I did sleep in my recliner for 3-4 days, though, as I did not want to exert any more duress than necessary on my chest. I have been sleeping on my bed since and sleep very well. This was REALLY a walk in the park compared to BMX.

My first post-op visit with Dr is tomorrow.....praying all will be great.

Thanks for your input ladies!

tlc40 - I hope the swelling goes away.

Terri - I will be getting the silicone, so hopefully it will look and feel much more natural than the TEs! Foster City is definitely a cool place to wind surf since we get a lot of wind! I haven't tried that though!

AnaM - Glad the exchange felt like a walk in the park! That's what I wanted to hear.

Oyyy, 4 months since my mx and I am ready for exchange surgery! I am done with expansions and I feel pretty good. PS is now waiting for surgical pre-authorization which is taking a while....and I was hoping to have exchange complete by Thanksgiving when I see all of my extended family.

I did get pretty upset today during my visit when I found out authorization didn't come back yet...does anyone have any information on how long that takes for private insurance? I am sooo ready to move on to the next phase . Thanks from an impatient sister-in-waiting!

AnneEM - exchange authorization should be quick, as within days. It is part of the mandated coverage for breast cancer treatment (in almost every state). Your doc's office can give you some idea of timeline. Doesn't hurt to ask when they last checked with your insurance.



Mammogram with TE's in place? Why, especially since you had DCIS. Or perhaps you had a unilateral mastectomy and the mammogram is on your intact breast?

tlc -- it's hard to tell what you mean about "hard areas" -- if you mean under your arm / or on your side below your arm but next to your breast -- that area on my body (on mx side) is hard because the breast tissue was removed.  If you mean a hard are ON your breast... then I don't know.  Since your PS said it was OK after feeling the area, why do you think he is wrong?  Did you ask him (or her) if it was the same as the hematoma?  Anyway...it could be swelling still... it could also be your muscle itself.  Have you tried massaging?  I wouldn't do that without calling your PS first, but if your PS says it's OK, perhaps a little massage? 

Not all surgeons use a drain post exchange.  Mine did, but many don't.