Exchange City

I haven't ever posted but have done much research on the boards through my experience with BC and wanted to share my exchange experience.  I finished my last round of AC chemo on October 3 and had my exchange surgery on Oct 18.  I didn't have any problems with my BMX  (7/7/11) but hated the tissue expanders and could not sleep..they were always poking me and felt like granite on my chest.  My oncologist agreed that I could take a break in my chemo because of another health issue and go ahead and have the exchange surgery on 10/18.   I arrived at 7am, surgery at 8:30 that lasted about an hour and was allowed to go home by 11:30am feeling great.  I am shocked at how easy it was for the exchange and how wonderful my new breasts look and feel.  I have only small incisions on the sides where my PS went in through the initial scar, no bruising and no swelling that I can see.  Maybe they are swollen and will go down a little but they feel and look really natural.  I have minimal pain and no restriction of my arm movement.  I am feeling great and could do more but am forcing myself to rest and take it easy so I heal properly.  I asked my PS to turn my ugly ducklings into beautiful swans and that's exactly what he did!  So happy and relieved for the first time since my diagnosis!  Hang in there girls....it's not that bad.  

Hello, I got two bras today! I have been wearing the post-mastectomy bra more or less every day for 10 days now and it will be so great to feel normal.

I had the nicest fitter, tried on so so many types, they are so kind and patient, an hour and a half to sell two bras! And one of them was a $75 bra on sale for $33!!! yeehaa.

My fitter was very complimentary of the results. (I want to believe they don't just say that to everyone. Ha!)

Anyway, good day! 12 years ago today I had a baby! Also a good day!!!

Makeitwork- that is music to my ears. Thanks for sharing your success!

LMichelle- I can't wait to find some comfortable bras.

Carrol2- I would definitely buy a bra from you if I lived closer. You will do great next week. Let yourself relax and enjoy the weekend.

Deliilahbear yes I only caved in twice buying stuff since I can't wear a bra yet. Once during the associate sale and once to get some pjs from the sale rack this week. I can't wait to be able to get bras, I will have to try everything in the store on. I still have not gotten my 4 free bras yet. I started working there this past July. So far I am doing very well and really enjoying it. It's great to be able to help other women going through this.

For anyone in KC that would like to come see me at Soma I am able to give you a coupon for $20 off $100.

 also we are accepting donations at Soma for Breast Cancer Awareness, you can make a donation at the register. 

Congrats MegM, it just keeps getting better and better post exchange!

MegM and Makeit work, SO good to hear positive stories as I /we face this.  I'm going for my exchange next Friday.  Carrol2, Like you I can feel my anxiety increasing daily, but I'm managing it by trying to keep myself as distracted as possible.  As for the drink vs. valium the night before-I think it's totally up to you.  I take xanax occassionally for sleep (same class of drug as valium) and it works like a charm.  I know, without a doubt, I'll be taking it next Thursday.  Won't know until Thursday night what time the surgery is scheduled for-I'm hoping for early, but the scheduler told me she had no way of knowing yet.  When I had my BMX, I was first-and it was sort of  easy to roll out of bed, get to the hospital and be put back to sleep.  If it's late in the day,  I think I'll be a little crazy-but I'm so happy to hear from others that there are no similarites between the two!

I am roasting a turkey so that I can make sturkey pot pies tomorrow to freeze, working tomorrow 1-5 then monday 10-6 then surgery on tuesday. ive been running around so much recovery amy seem like a vacation.

Carrol -- you are going to have food for a month! 

Ginger- assuming you are not having extensive pocket work done, you should be fine on your own the next day. Do have meds and food within easy reach because reaching and pulling will need to be limited. Don't expect to be doing housework! Have someone you can call on those days.



Carrol2 - consider taking a Valium the night before to help calm your thoughts. Heck, you can even take one very early the morning of surgery with a small sip of water if you are really over the edge (My anesthesiologist spouse prefers a shorter acting benzodiazepine with more sedative effects). This is from my own experience and not to be taken as medical advice! I took clonazepam the night before and the morning of both BMX and exchange, prescribed by my anesthesiologist - not my spouse, not my surgeon.



Best wishes to all having exchange surgeries this week!

I aggree with jyg, you should be fine if you just take it easy the next day.  I am also an advocate of good drugs the night before. 

Carrol2, I want to come to your house for dinner.  I rarely cook, sounds like you are a great cook.

Good luck to all this week.

I've read the last few pages and it is so nice to hear all the positives!  My exchange will be November 4th. I see the PS for the last time before surgery on Tuesday and have all my little nit picky questions ready to go. I too am ready to get rid of the rocks!

HeftyLefty:  What you posted about the "arm rolls".  While it will be a while for exchange surgery for me (January 25th), my PS told me the same thing about my rolls of fat!  He has told me he will take care of it during the exchange surgery - he will lipo out the fat and pinch off the extra skin.  I will be having some pocket revision too.  I have had a lot of problems with excess drainage -- I still had drains in for 9 1/2 weeks post BMX with TE's.  Had to have addtional work to drain a seroma and now am wearing compression bras to keep my body absorbing the excess fluid. 

I am new here, was just reading the recent posts.  I will post my other info later.

Phyllis

OK the day before my surgery. I started to get a little nervous last night but not bad. Good thing I am working it will keep my mind off it. Still don't know what time the surgery will be they have to call me today. 

christine47 I am not a great cook. I just don't want my husband to feed me fast food during my recovery. It's not good for me and I don't want to spend the money. Turkey is super easy to make it just is a pain defrosting the thing and carving it. But it's really cheap so I make them often. Didn't feel like making pot pies last night but I am awake super early and don't need to to be at work until noon so maybe i will make them today.

Carrol!!!! Tomorrow is the big day you are going to be so happy to get this over with! Hope it goes GREAT.



I will be two weeks out as of tomorrow. Have my follow up on Thursday. It is really hard to remember to take it easy because I feel so fine. My whole family did housework yesterday including me... I tried to keep it light, sorting laundry, picking up, etc... My husband did the vacuuming, but I still felt like I might have overdone it a bit, the pec muscles were telling me they were not used to it. But everything else is easy, cooking, dressing, etc.



Good luck everyone going in this week!!!

Carrol,  I'm waiting to hear how it goes!  I've got my fingers crossed for you.  You know I'm following you on Friday-now I can hardly breath!   Get a good nights sleep and it will all go well-I'm convinced.  I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.   Pat