Exchange City

Carrol- It's good your starting massage, some exercises & that band so soon after exchange.

My ps didn't recommend anything at my post ops until I made a special appointment after 5 weeks with a list of questions mostly about massage & exercises & that one side being slightly higher & firmer. That's when he gave me the band & only one exercise to do....I did ask if I should be doing a bunch of different exercises & massage & he said that one was the best so just do that. I've added more now...just makes me feel better to be doing all I can.

That exercise is putting your hands on your waist, elbows out, & then bringing your elbows forward as much as possible while keeping your hands on waist. He says it massages the implants from the inside with the muscle itself.

Carrol, What is the push down exercise your ps gave you to do?

Thanks Carrol! I'll be pushing that baby down all night!

fluffqueen01- I also had my exchange yesterday! I am having a bit harder of a time though. The band they have wrapped around my chest is so tight it's squishing my other normal boob and I feel like my ribs are bruised! I've been nauseous on and off since surgery so taking Zofran. I feel like I'm experiencing a lot of the issues I had with my mastectomy, though to a lesser degree. The biggest difference is that my arm on the surgical side has more mobility now and I have no drains and I'm not as physically weak as I was with the mastectomy. But, I'm a side sleeper and can't sleep on my side, so sleeping on my back was awful last night. I can't wait until Monday morning when I get to take the wrap off and shower! I'll be happy to step into the Z-bra!

Hope I can report a better day tomorrow!

Pat -- so sorry for all the trouble from the power outtage!  I guess mother nature didn't get the memo about your exchange surgery   Glad everything is healing nicely in spite of the aggravation.  Hope you get your power back soon!

I am from Texas and we had  80 days of over 100 degrees so when my husband got a job in CT I jumped at the chance to come up here with him.  I wasn't going to bitched because so many from this area were having exchanges the week/s of the power outage  BUT I am so cold.  How long does it take to thaw out?  I have never been up to this neck of the wood and even with all the power out it is just so beautiful and I have had lot's of fun.  My mission in coming, besides cooling down (watch what you wish for), was to get my head on to the next steps with a game plan and more positive attitude.  I'd say the storm might have helped with that.

I really hope all you CT girls are doing O.K., I would not have liked to have had to deal with this after exchange.  How would you shower?  Sleep?  Drink?  Not easy.  I have definitely been thinking of you CT exchange girls and I hope ya'll are all doing O.K.

Vickie  

Hope everyone that lost power has it back. We were lucky that we did not loose power but most of the areas around me did. Biggest casualty was a huge tree limb falling on my mom's car. lot of damage but she's a good sport about it AND most of all  - no one got hurt. 

I'm 2 weeks post exchange as of today & can definitely say that I feel great - some twinges of discomfort but tylenol takes care of it. I'm very happy w/my reconstruction. Now just deciding when to do nipple reconstruction. I plan on using the skin from my abdoman (from my uneven c-section) for nipple reconstruction. Would love to hear feedback from those you have had this type of procedure done as what to expect and your level of satisfaction.

Thanks in advance.

Julie,

Yeah for you!  I had my exchange at the end of July and it was very easy.  Minimal discomfort, I took a week out of work, but could have gone back sooner (office work).  This is so much easier than all you have been thru.  I took just a few pain pills, then tylenol.  I did stay out of exercise and heat for a few week.  I went home on antibiotics and fortunately no infections.  Hope this helps.

Back again and sitting in bed just loafing around!

Sanbar....minimal pain except where he lipo suctioned under my armpits. That is really sore. I haven't take a pain pill since Saturday night.

I did get dressed and go to Outback for dinner last night, but other than that I slept half the day and then came home and fell asleep again. I have been awake since 8 this morning now and am comtemplating a nap.

Worst thing for me is the antibiotics....since I had the infection previously, he is taking no chances, so he loaded me up via iv right before surgery and sent me home on bactrim and cipro. I think the Bactrim is making me nauseous big time, or something is. I just emailed him to see if I have to keep taking it. Also, the surgical bra is giving me hot flashes due to the snugness, but it really helps with the bruising.

Did you all shower 24 hours after surgery? He says I could, but it made me nervous.

Hi ladies....the pain is a bit better today. I have carpal tunnel issues from about 5 years ago that seem to have flared up again so my right arm is having trouble with the typing. I am supposed to work again in 2 days and am really hoping it improves by then so I don't have to have my doctor excuse me.

I waited until this morning to take a shower (exchange was on Friday afternoon). I was told 2 days, so I waited a little bit longer. My PS said I could get out of that uncomfortable wrap after my shower and switch to the Z-bra as long as I had some compression. Much better might I say!

I have had some back issues since the exchange, but I think the wrap was so tight that I wasn't sitting or sleeping properly, so this should get better, hopefully.

Now I just need to work on my energy. I was getting up for short walks inside my home the last two days (and then I'd take naps), but today I'm planning on going for a walk outside. PS said it's REQUIRED!

I am going to shower tonight. Isnt it amazing how wiped out you get after the littlest things? I had planned to take a walk today but it rained all day so I loafed. Ive been up and around, just not extensively. I am pretty fit and I just cant believe that I can get up go make lunch do a couple things and then think it is time to take a nap again.



Kk what is a z bra? i am supposed to wear this until I see him next Tuesday. Might be due to the lipo tho.



Margie-if i had a desk job, I could totally work, at least part of the day, but I do get wiped out easy. I am three days out.

fluffqueen - I think they call it a Z-bra because it's a zip up sports bra. They actually gave it to me after my mastectomy (when I got my drains out) and they told me I can use it again now. It's so much more comfortable, and non abrasive. The wrap they had me in before caused so many skin irritations (I actually have cuts from the irritation). I still have padding inside the bra for my surgical side, but at least my other (real) breast is left alone!

And yes, it's amazing how the little things make you tired after surgery. I finally made it all day without a nap, though I did take it rather easy. Never made it out for a walk either, even though it was sunny. I hope to get out tomorrow to run some errands and try to get a walk in. 

Hi all, I had my exchange surgery this afternoon and it went really well. My surgeon was pleased and there were no complications so far. (Knock on wood.)



I've heard varying reports of pain, and was hoping for it to be minimal. So far, it's a little more than I expected but I'm sure I'll heal up in no time. It's absolutely nothing like the mastectomy/recon, and I was able to go home immediately afterwards today. I had a 1.5 drive home, with hubby driving. I held on to a big pillow and that helped.



Phase 2 down, now at least one, if not more, to go in the new year (fat grafting/touch-ups) - if needed!



My torso is wrapped up in a ton of bandages so I can't see much, but from what I can see it is looking good.



I wish all the other ladies with recent or upcoming exchanges all the best!

HopefulFuture- Congrats on being on the other side. Hope the pain minimizes soon,

MargieC- I do think returning to work is different for each of us. Probably depending on how depleted we were prior to exchange. i have a very active job teaching young children with special needs and I am not going to work for several weeks. I had a rough time with the expanders and did not sleep for months due to muscle spasms and need to recover/recharge before getting back to work. Listen to your own body when making your decision and take the time you need to avoid any setbacks.

SFNora- I am sorry to hear about your leak. I don't know the answer but there is a thread called TE Trouble where a lot of women might be able to help you more. Good luck!

I returned to work yesterday-took one week off after the exchange.  I was so caught up in the power outage etc. that I didn't have enough time to think about how I was feeling.  I think I overdid a bit (I.e. my Mother, who have, I swear, never raised her voice to me, started screaming at me to "stop shoveling that snow right now" last week when I was shoveling off the steps so she could get to the car safely LOL.

  But, I will say, my return to work was okay, but maybe should have taken a few more days.  Part of the problem is that my work  entails alot of "evening events" and I had one last night so didn't get home until 10pm.  Told my secretary today to cancel anything after 5 for the rest of this week as well and went in late this morning.  I've been very lucky in my recovery-no complications so far-and sure as heck don't want to mess it up now.

 The thing that's driving me the craziest is wearing a sports bra 24/7.  My old routine (for as long as I can remember) was to come into the house, tell the kids to let me get into my "mommy" clothes-there 20 and 22 now, so it's been going on for a long time-and take off my bra and get into sweats.  While I had my TE's the PS said I didn't have to wear a bra, so I did for work, but didn't at home.  So this is making me a little cranky.  And, I never realized how high up in the back sports bras come-so not exactly conducive to my work clothes.  But, at this point, if that's all I have to complain about, I'm good.

  My PS said after 6 weeks I can switch to regular bras-but I swear I couldn't get a straight answer about underwire or not?  Then, he said, in 3 months, I should really go get fitted for bras that will be right for me, because I will have "dropped and fluffed" enough.  I know each PS is different.  Any ideas about underwire vs. not after the next 6 weeks.  I know post BMX and before exchange he said no underwire....just wondering.

  Hang in there all of you who are just having or getting ready to have the exchange.  I don't think I really believed it would be so much easier than the BMX-but oh it was!     Pat

Oh and by the way I met Vinnie Myers today! I was actually so nervous but it was very great to have met him and I feel pretty confident I will go straight to 3D tattoo, no surgery.... Great day I am 4 weeks post exchange, allowed to go back to exercise, and got the next step sorted out!!!! Now I just gotta get this right foobie to mellow DOWN!!!!!