Exchange City

surgery behind me May 23 implant and reduction still in pain

Nahnda no one can tell you what choice to make you need to be sure to research all the posibilites, ask your doctor as many questions as you can think of, and weigh the pros and cons, see what the beenfits are to each cosmetically, surgery and treatments, time off from work, as well as health risks. I was 45 when I was diagnosed. I talked to women on the phone in a program the American Cancer Society offers called "Reach for Recovery". You can talk to women who have had both situations and ask questions and see what you think. They will also come right to your home if you want to meet them in person. I actually just liked the look of the implants so that really motivated me to go that way. I had very large 36DD breasts before this and now I have 36D but they look more like C. I am thinking they will look bigger when I lose this darn 25 pounds I am struggeling with.

i am on Taylonol 3 but it does not help much i am in a lot off pain right now 

Kim48, I see you're a GA gal also! Good luck with yor upcoming surgery. Once I had the tissue expanders swapped for implants I had instant relief! No more turtle shells! I'm a month out from my exchange now. Every day that goes by the feel better and better!

I'm doing great! I had my exchange at 7:30 this morning.I was in the recovery room and awake at 10:30. I had to wait for my ride until 1:30. Went to lunch at McDonald's and got home before 3. I have some pain and soreness, but I already feel better with no TE's. I'll find out on Tuesday exactly what he did. I just took a Valium and Percoset so I'm signing off now.

Lauren, my valium is 5 mg and my xanax is .5. I break the xanax in half. BTW, I took a xanax before I went in this morning to ease the stress. It worked great and the nurses agreed. No conflict with general anesthesia.

Everyone was right, this is minor compared to BMX. Of course I'm flying hgh now and may feel differently later.  TTYL.

MLP....welcome to the other side, my friend.  I thought about you several times today and was hoping it went well.  So happy for you....if you're like me, tomorrow will be your "sleep" day :-)

Oh, man, I can't WAIT to cross over to the Squishie Side!!!

Can't believe how ROCK HARD these TEs are!

Only four more months to go.....

Dixie and Neato, It's going very well today. I got up at 5:30 and took another valium and Percoset. Slept until 9ish. I'm a bit sore, but have little pain. It's so much better than the TE's. And my chest is soft!

Thank you everybody for the well wishes. If you have to have cancer, breast cancer is the one to have due to the incredible  support of all the brave women who have been in the same boat. I can't thank everybody enough.

I'd say the worst part about the exchange was the worrying before hand. I need a revision and I'm sure I'll sure I'll do it again. I have a sore throat from the tube and I'm a bit congested. The IV wasn't pleasant because they always have to find out the hard way that I'm a hard stick. But isn't it great that those little things were the worst of it?

Some advise ladies for all of you with upcoming surgery. Take it easy. I felt so good yesterday that I was outside pulling weeds before common sense took over. Now I'm bored to tears because it's a holiday weekend and I can't go out and play. I hope everybody feels as good as I do now that the evil TE's have gone to hell.

I have had to wait a year from radiation before my PS would consider restarting expansion.  I wound up waiting 14 months because my son was getting married and I was the one "planning" the wedding.  I didn't have time to be laid up with TE pain.  They hurt off and on all the time.  Good days when they behave themselves and some bad when they don't.  Really bad days when I moved furniture around the house and strained those muscles.  ugh

I am SOOOO enocouraged to read the TE pain is usually relieved with the exhange surgery.  I can not wait til I can take off this concrete and rebar bra!  I told my RO that it felt like a hamster ball with all the movement inside.  He offered to give me an MRI to check for hamsters.  I cracked up because my DOCTOR was making jokes .

I'm glad to have stumbled upon these communities as I prepare for the exchange surgery in the fall. 

LaurenM730--I did wear a bathing suit with my TEs. I didn't look too bad. It was a tankini (?) and I felt comfortable in it. I was at the Y and not too many people were there yet. You could always put a t shirt on if you don't like how you look.

Did everyone else have stitches? I know this may be a small thing but I really thought I would have steristrips again. I get the stitches out on June 5. I am still so sore and bruised. My exchange was 5/17.

Also, is anyone doing any special exercises? I forgot to ask my PS at my postop.

I hope everyone has a safe weekend. I was going to go to the Indy 500 but decided I didn't need to be in the heat so soon after surgery. It gets a little crazy up there in the general admission area! 

ok this is a question for those who have had their excahnges done a long time ago if anyone is out there. I had mine 8 months ago. It feels fine softer than TEs, looks pretty good too. But if I lay on my stomache, it doesn't hurt but it feels like I am laying on a rolled up towel or something. I do the massages to help but that is not a pleasant expereince, not like a "massage" more like annoying squeezing.

I suppse my natural breasts sometimes were nt the most comofortable things to have but, should this be feeling nicer by now? Also do I need to worry if my husband, um . . . . well you know? << blushing

I had my exchange Dec. 16th and I'm able to sleep on my stomach now. I'm having more reconstruction as I hate the way they look. I'm having it done June 12th. This new plastic surgeon I'm going to is going to use Alloderm to help lift them or support them or something. The way they look now is sort of like a hamburger bun. My previous PS did lipo under the armpits but didn't remove the excess skin so it's just flabby. This PS is going to correct that, the dog ears, give me larger implants and hopefully fix the divots. I will most likely have drains again which I didn't need with my first exchange.

Not looking forward to this but the first exchange was really a breeze compared to the DMX. Then of course, I will most likely do nipples and then tattooing.

I feel like it never ends.

Denise2730 - I actually love the way mine look, just wish they felt the way they used to!  I have some discomfort sometimes, but no real pain.  I was able to have nipple-sparing surgery so I think that has made a huge difference in accepting things. 

There are lots of women who have revisions and are thrilled the second time around.  I wish you all the best with yours!

Blessings2011 - I had to get rid of all my pre-BC bras after exchange, but I was pleased to discover that my bathing suits still fit and look just fine.  But, I'm right there with you with the blinding-white thighs

Erika8: My PS told me to wear a supportive bra for at least 6 weeks. I came home with an ugly velcro surgical bra, but found a couple nice sport-type bras at Target that I'm liking.

 Lauren: I wore my tankinis a number of times at the local pool. Noticed that, if I untied the halter straps for tanning, it was important to keep track of the top as I couldn't "feel" if they slipped too far (lol). 

My PS also indicated that whether you can have nipple sparing surgery or not depends a lot on the type and location of the cancer. Mine was ductal and not far from the nipple. He asked me to think about where the ducts go (duh to the nipple) and described leaving them as a possible means for the cancer to spread.