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Exchange City

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Comments

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Posts: 916
    edited October 2011

    Hi all, just checking in and sending encouragement to everyone getting surgery1  It's going to go well for everyone, and you will be soooo happy :).  It looks a bit "squished hamburger bun" afterwards, but no worries, in a week or so, they perk up and then every day will bring better and better surprises in shape, contour, etc., after that.  A new and better look daily....enjoy :).

    An update: my MRI got cancelled (by myself) today, as they did not get a pre cert number and Anthem had given us a cut off date of before I even got a letter.  Soooo back to Anthem, it was fixed and now MRI is for halloween.  Yeeesh.  Hope I get a treat and not a trick.

    Still hate those things so stressful...any spare prayers for monday for a 'no change, no evidence of disease" I could use them! 

    thanks ladies, and good night and  happy new boobies to all :):):).

    xoxo

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2011

    LMichelle- So glad to hear it has been an easy recovery.

    Carrol2- Can't wait to hear from you soon- you will do great!

    rehm046-we will be there soon!

    Thanks everyone for all the well wishes!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Posts: 1,477
    edited October 2011

    OK showered, did the anti bacterial wipes, took my meds, and took a valium. got my bag packed with meds, warm socks and my proactive and toothbrush. No more eating now. Here we go this is it.

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited October 2011

    You go, girls!!!!!!

  • rennasus
    rennasus Posts: 642
    edited October 2011

    Good luck, Carol2!! You have waited a long time. ;-)

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited October 2011

    Good luck Carrol!

  • NoMoreHL
    NoMoreHL Posts: 92
    edited October 2011

    Good Luck, Carrol

  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Posts: 905
    edited October 2011

    I am scheduled for exchange Nov 11th, but am still undecided about fat grafting to correct some very slight asymetry.   Also, PS will not be on my new insurance as of Dec 1st, so am debating if I should have nipple recon done at same time as exchange, but I hear this probably isn't a good idea.

  • TerifromOhio
    TerifromOhio Posts: 8
    edited October 2011

    Good luck Carrol!!!

  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Posts: 496
    edited October 2011

    Good luck Carrol!!! You rock!

  • MegM
    MegM Posts: 16
    edited October 2011

    did everyone else have this weird sticky stuff on your chest after exchange?   They gave me these packets of lotion that is supposed to remove the stuff at the hospital (doesn't really work... but I am not scrubbing), but I wasn't paying much attention.. no biggie, just weird... still stained yellow in some places.   Still doing well 4 days after surgery, a bit more tired than I expected, but pain is not bad at all.  Good news is my arm pits are about back to normal, the tissue expanders drove me crazy, I felt like had chicken wings or something where they attached, that weird flap made it so hard to shave... was worried I would spend the rest of my life having to have my husband shave my pits for me.... made the poor guy so nervous everytime he tried...funy the things that make me happy now:)  Best wishes to all this weeks ladies!

  • jyg
    jyg Posts: 60
    edited October 2011

    MegM - the yellow-brown stain is the antiseptic used. Best to leave on for 48 hours to continue germ fighting. Never noticed it being sticky though.



    So many women talked about getting back to normal almost immediately that I was beginning to believe something was wrong with my exchange recovery. Sure it was much less taxing than the BMX, but I had pain from repair work. Now 4 weeks out I still get swelling and can easily overdo things because I am feeling so much better compared to the mastectomy. I have changed my expectations to what my PS said - back to normal in 3 months but progressing every day.

  • jbennett38
    jbennett38 Posts: 72
    edited October 2011

    I'm so excited!  I went for a fill appointment today and my PS agreed that we can schedule the exchange surgery.  It will probably be in mid-December and I will continue to get fills until then.  But still it's exciting to me.

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2011

    Carroll- hope things went well...thinking of you today!

    FearlessOne- my exchange is on this Thursday and my PS is doing fat grafting at the time of exchange. I can't offer any info on the nipple part. Sorry.

    MegM-Oh good; wierd sticky stuff to look forward to...that's a new one :)

    jyg-I have heard from many women that they thought they should feel great sooner and that when they finally felt good they overdid it. You are not alone. I hope it is sooner than 3 months but we will get there.

    jbennett38- congratulations on getting an exchange date.

    Pat- we are next. Ready?

    Tomorrow I am having lunch with a friend, getting a relaxation massage and having my hair done.(can't go into surgery wilth grey roots) Then I am ready to get rid of these coconut boobs!

  • Unknown
    edited October 2011

    Ginger, I'm so ready  I can hardly stand it.  I  thought, for some reason, your exchange was today-my own anxiety...so, I will be thinking of your (agaiin ) Thursday you are one day ahead of me,  I'm anxious to hear how it goes You, again, will be in my thoughts.(as you were today because I mixed up the dates!) .Good luck to everyone this week!  Pat

  • minustwo
    minustwo Posts: 13,801
    edited October 2011

    jyg:  Just wanted to chime in that I agree.  I'm at 6 weeks today and also still have swelling.  Also have fairly constant discomfort if not downright pain sometimes.  Yes - exchange recovery is great compared to BMX.   I have been worrying that I didn't bounce right back to the gym after exchange like so many sisters, but it helped me to see your recovery comments pointing to lots of grades of "normal".  Thanks.

  • dgee
    dgee Posts: 10
    edited October 2011

    Good luck, Ginger and Pat!  Hope Carrol is happily recovering at home!  You ladies are going to do great!

    I am 3 weeks post exchange tomorrow - and moved from VA to London a week ago!  A little bit crazy?  Maybe!  But that is what happened!  I think the international move was a good distraction while I was dealing with BC this summer - and now a nice prize to have moved to a new wonderful city! 

     My recovery has been easy - so much easier than BMX, but still not sleeping great.  I am a side sleeper and still at 3 weeks out it still isn't comfortable to sleep on my side.  Is that normal?  I told my DH last night that I am a 41 year old with 3 week old twins and hope that they are sleeping through the night in the next few weeks.  :)    I just can't seem to get comfortable in the bed - so many nights on the couch, still propped up and keeps me on my back.  Every day does get better, they are changing daily - which I just can't describe.  I guess this is the dropping and fluffing I have read about - really bizarre.  Every day I can't wait to look and see what they have done in the last 24 hours!    Also eager to get back to exercising (running, ideally) but am afraid to!  PS said I could start back tomorrow, but I still feel like they are so fragile and am afraid to hurt them!  I guess I will start easy and see how it goes! 

    Good luck, ladies - it is so much better than the TEs! 

     Cheerio!

  • jyg
    jyg Posts: 60
    edited October 2011
    dgee - I'm 4 weeks out today and sleeping on my side for a few minutes at a time, although they are more tender on my side, and it feels weird. Weird in that my noobs (as my sweetie calls them) feel like they are moving even in a bra. So, mostly still on my back but sleeping well flat on my back. Yes, they do change almost every day! When you start running, don't be surprised if yours swell - mine did when I started gentle exercising last week.
  • ginger48
    ginger48 Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2011

    dgee- London...wow! I am not even planning on driving across the little state of CT at 2 weeks out. I am disappointed to hear about the side sleeping; I am really looking forward to getting off my back. Can't wait to see the dropping and fluffing though.

    jyg- did they say to stop exercising if they swell?

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2011

    Carroll- hope you are doing ok!

    Pat- yes Thursday at 12:30. send positive thoughts towards Boston! Will try to post as soon as I can to let you know how it went.

  • jyg
    jyg Posts: 60
    edited October 2011

    Ginger48 - I was told that swelling would be normal as I increased my activity. However, I did have a lot of repair work done on the pockets and for symmastia (3 rows of permanent sutures placed in sternum on both sides). Not worried about the swelling, and because I had no problems for the 4 months between BMX and exchange I am not worried this is truncal LE, just "foobal" edema. Laughing

    Good luck with your surgery!

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Posts: 916
    edited October 2011

    HI all, sounds like everyone is doing pretty well and things are popping along for all..

    Good luck to all surgeries coming up and everyone in recovery!

    I am off to the MRI tube (finally approved again) on Monday...happy halloween to me.

    Please pray for NED, dear sisters.  I keep all of you in mine every day.

    xoxoxo

    p.s Ginger, I would swll everytime I vacuumed...it went away after awhile.  Just back off whatever it is you are doing to cause it for a few days.  You don't need that!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Posts: 1,477
    edited October 2011

    OK home from my exchange surgery. Thanks for all the well wishes.  Went right from hospital to sonic for a banana split.

    I ended up with 600cc. I have not looked at it yet. I did get drains but only need them for a few days, so they come out  Friday. He ended up needing to do a little lipo on the prophy side to make them even.

    Still have some pain but not too bad. Pain meds are helping. 

  • jyg
    jyg Posts: 60
    edited October 2011

    Carrol2 - Yay! So glad to hear from you that all went well. Take it easy!!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited October 2011

    Carol..... who was your surgeon in Mo/Ks?

    Ladies..... I hope your surgeries are uneventful and your foobies look great !  Blessings!

    Laura

  • christine47
    christine47 Posts: 846
    edited October 2011

    Congrats Carrol, love the idea of a banana split on the way home!!  I have the 600cc HP implants, and I love the size, I can play them up or down depending on my bra.  Hope your pain is minimal, glad the drains are very temporary.  When can you look?

    Good luck Rem and Ginger, you will do great.  I can still remember my excitement and anxiety in the days leading up to my exchange.  Sleep well ladies.

  • Unknown
    edited October 2011

    Carroll, You've been my "touch stone" .. So happy to hear that it went well for you and you are doing okay-Really a Sonic shake-okay, that sounds great to me... please keep us posted on how you are doing...I'm going in on Friday-I haven't slept in two days...my anxiety has gotten the best of me-but hearing how you are doing helps!  Pat

  • Unknown
    edited October 2011

    Carroll, You've been my "touch stone" .. So happy to hear that it went well for you and you are doing okay-Really a Sonic shake-okay, that sounds great to me... please keep us posted on how you are doing...I'm going in on Friday-I haven't slept in two days...my anxiety has gotten the best of me-but hearing how you are doing helps!  Pat

  • Unknown
    edited October 2011

    Carol



    Congrats on your exchange. Sorry about the drains but looks like you won't have them long



    For all those exchanging this week. Best wishes you will be in my thought and prayers



    I am a week and a half out from exchange. Pain all but gone however there is strange sensations and an ache when I do too much. Still can't sleep on my side without stange pangs so staying on back with pillows all around. They are changing every day. I had a tight top on today and if I do say so myself they looked pretty darn good.



    Liz

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2011

    Carroll- Yay! Welcome home and I am so glad to hear it went well.

    Liz- glad they are looking good and hope you get some comfortable sleep soon.

    Pat- we are going to do great! My surgery got moved up an hour to 11:30 tomorrow so less waiting sounds good to me. I am not anxious about surgery; just ready to get on with things. Had a massage today and got my hair done(grey roots all gone). toes are painted and I am ready to rock this surgery! I will post as soon as I can to let you know how it went.

    Ice cream on the way home sounds good to me. Let's start a tradition, ladies!