Exchange City
Comments
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vicky the impalnts that doctors use are the same one used for augmentation but they dont look the same on us because we have no breast tissue. There is naturally less projection. Most docotors will use a high profile implant to get that. I wanted what I call playboy boobs, they look pretty good, perky, but not playboy. Overall I am still pleased though.0
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Lauren and Mom- Congratulations! I'm one week post op and you'll start feeling really well in the next few days.
As for showering, I had a handheld nozzle that I used and I was really careful not to get my chest or lipo area (stomach) wet.
Take it easy and enjoy your squishies!
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Yeah, Momof2 and Lauren! You both sound so happy! Momof2 - I'm jealous of your pink sports bra! I think all I come home with is an oversized, extra-compressing ace bandage like last time. Double check on the shower instructions. I think I was okay to shower within a few days of my bmx, I just couldn't soak in a bath.
I've jotted down notes from the Exchange 101 site for possible size and profile. I don't need major projection, but I really would like some cleavage if at all possible. That's one thing I've actually liked about my TEs - for all the discomfort, and the oozing into the underarm, I've got a great shape.
Someone posted that shirt photo on Facebook and I shared it - got lots of great comments from my friends.
Oh - I have to be there at 11:30 tomorrow morning. That means almost 12 hours of fasting!!! I'm munching on popcorn and intend to eat as close to midnight as I can and hydrate. Thanks for all the support and advice - I have to say, this was a lot more enjoyable than the run-up to my bmx!
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Momof2inME - I always had similar instructions "no shower" until the follow up PS visit, usually 3-4 days. Maybe you can get an earlier appointment. For each surgery, I scheduled to have my hair washed and blown dry a day or two after I got out of the hospital. The folks at the salon where I go have been terrific each time.0
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I'm 9 months out but still lurk.
As for showering, I wrapped all the way around my body - chest, boobs, back - with Glad Press & Seal and hung the drains from an ID neck band. Got the idea from folks who had knee or arm surgeries. It looks a little weird but I could wash my arm pits, and clean throughly below the waist.
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So I'm wide awake from the pain meds. Husband and son are snoring so loud. Ugh
It's sonicetonot have the feeling of carrying around and extra 20 lbson my chest. It's worth it not sleeping tonight!0 -
Pain meds keep me awake too Lauren. Enjoy those squishies, but I hope you are able to sleep.
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Lauren.. The heaviness becomes less and less noticeable every day.. I am three weeks out and only feel heavyness when I take my bra off.... Was fitted for a sportsbra at two weeks.. Felt strange and heavy without a bra.. Much more comfortable with .. Getting used to my girls sitting high up (where they belong) instead of haning low..
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I got my date!! YAY. July 23rd for my exchange. Mentor 800 cc silicone hig profile smooth. We will drop the left, lift the right and push them closer together (My right feels like it is in my armpit). I can't WAIT!
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SheChirple - Congratulations! It's always great when you get a date to look forward to.
Why do I feel like I'm the only one who didn't discuss details (other than silicone vs saline) before my exchange? Hope he lets me do a lot of talking tomorrow!
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I ended up taking a shallow bath tonight and used Saran wrap. Worked well. I don't have any drains (Yay!!) this time and well, I just finished chemo 2 weeks ago so only about 1/2" of hair covering. Not much too wash. I just felt yucky from the betadine "tan" and wearing the lovely johnny. So I took a chance and I feel better and nothing got wet.
Lauren: Now I know why I am wide awake. I took my pain med at 10:30 thinking I would go to sleep. Nope pretty much awake. I thought it was the 3 hour nap the nurse let me take before bing discharged that was keeping me up tonight. The nurse kept telling my husband "want another magazine or book 'cause we're just gonna let her sleep after all she's been through". I thought that was very nice.
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Momof2 - I was up most of the night, falling asleep at small intervals. I'm up again now but just hanging out in bed. How are you feeling today? I just took more vicodin BC my right side is Ina lot of pain. It feels like my pec???
Can I ask you all an odd question? Does anesthesia make pee smell bad?or,aye it's the variety of things I'm drinking... Kinda strange...
Rachel - I didn't talk with my ps much about the implants either. It was no choice between silicone or saline - he only uses silicone. He said saline could be almost as hard as the TEs. He did tell mei have to go high profile. Only yesterday when he came to see me did we talk about size. Same size(unknown) as my expanders.
I can't wait to see them though. That will have to wait till Tuesday when I getmy drains out. But I have my squishies and couldn't be happier!!!0 -
Yay for you SheChirple!!! Mine will be in August some time, god willing and the creek don't rise.
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Hi Lauren,
I feel great today. A little sleepy since I was wide awake until 2am. I've only taken 2 pain pills today. Hubby and I took our daughter to prechool then met my dad and son for breakfast. Luckily he (23 months old) stayed with my dad last night to keep the noise level (i.e. fighting siblings) in the house down. Went shopping at Walmart as well. I'm hoping the pain does not increase as the days go on as sometimes healing does. Very happy with the way the squishies look and feel so far.
I am so sorry you have drains. They are a big pain in the toukis. I hated them when I had BMX. When will you get them out?
As far as pee smelling bad, not this surgery. But my BMX surgery was 5 1/2 hours and I had a urinary catheter placed. I ended up with a uti and it smelled bad then. I hope that resolves for you. Can't hurt to drink lots of water to flush your body. I have felt very thirsty since surgery though.
Rest well my fellow squishy convert!!
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I'm home. Feeling a bit off - I tried to take a nap, but couldn't fall asleep. I can't say I feel 'better' physically with the squishies; the bandage is pretty tight, but it keeps slipping down so I need to keep pulling it back over the dressing. I can take the dressing off tomorrow, and I can shower; the bandage can come off Monday. But it's nice to know I've reached this point. Hard to tell size, even peeking under the bandage. It looks a little smaller, but it does take time to 'fluff out' from what I hear. The PS was good when I came in with my 'list' of discussion points. Took my first percocet; not a lot of pain but a little discomfort on the right side. Waiting for my mom to come back from the store with soup; taking it easy tonight, but I ate lots of graham crackers!
Lauren - I thought I smelled something a little odd, but just faintly. I'm just glad there was no catheter. Momof2 - I also wound up with a uti when my tube twisted and the night nurse took over an hour to respond to my call after my bmx. But glad you're both also doing well.
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Rachel, so glad all went well and you are home resting. I'm jealous, I can't shower until Monday after my recheck with PS.
Enjoy your soup and get lots of rest.
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I can't shower until Tuesday night when I get my drains out. I am so looking forward to that PS appt. and I can't wait to see how big they are. I tried to peek earlier but im so padded up right now.
Hoping for a better night sleep than last...0 -
Keep resting! You'll be able to shower before you know it.
LOL - I remember when I asked my BS if I'd have a catheter or not, he responded by saying only if I wanted one! The nurses began mentioning it when I was slow to "go" after both the BMX and Exchange. I encouraged them to be patient, I'd eventually be able to go again and I did!
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SheChirple- I got the 800cc high profile Mentors. My left side was moved down and the right was raised. My rib is sore on the right side because the PS had to sew the pocket to my rib. But definitely not as sore as when that nasty TE was sitting on it. I had lipo on the left side to fill in the cleavage area where they had to remove what was looking like a square corner. I have to do exercises several times a day to lift and push towards the center on the right side and push down and towards the center on the left. The PS pushed them both towards the center on my second visit. It took my breath away. Not that it hurt, but I think I was surprised they were so movable after 6 days instead of the stone monuments they replaced. They are starting to even out. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since my exchange.
Rachel-Congrats! It only gets better.
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Hello,Mr Sandman... I could use a little help in the sleep department
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Glad all went well, Rachel....get some rest.....
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All I have to say is that it sucks to wake up with a headache! I took a Xanax before I went to sleep last night and I'm wondering if it made me sleep funny. My head is pounding! Not a good way to start the day.
I think I'm going to have my dad take me for a ride today to get some fresh air. Sitting here is making me yucky and smelly. I hate this no showering thing. Only a few more days...
I hope everyone is feeling good today!0 -
I have a long way to go before I with be able to exchange these rocks for implants because I just had 1/8 chemo infusions which will be followed by radiation, but I was curious about what was being disussed on this thread.
I noticed that someone mentioned coobies bras. I have some that I wore long before my dx just because I wanted a comfortable bra. They are VERY comfortable and perfect for breast surgery patients. The same bra fits 32A to 36D. When I bought them, they were on sale buy 2, get 3. I keep hoping they will go on sale soon!
I wish you all the best in your upcoming surgeries and recoveries and I hope I will join you before too long.
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I'm not sure if thid is the right thread but I figured some of you might be able to anseer my question [ my ps answers questions like politicians do]
I have paper thin skin on my mounds and already had one emergency surgery from them breaking open. I am due for my first fill since then[ i was already fully filled before they split open.
Has anyone had a problem like this wound up with a good result? I am scared of getting filled again because my te's have a mind of their own and travel all over the place. the hard poky parts invariably wind up pushing against my incision. when i told the ps that, he said that my te's were in a place where they couldn't have had anything to do with the split. when i told him that they were in a correct place then that they were pressing hard against my incisions for several days beforfe the split.
any wordds of enc ouragement?
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Glad those of you that had exchanges this seem all seem to be doing good. Can't wait to hear what you all think after your bandages are off.
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After my UMX with TEs, I developed a seroma (fluid on top of the TEs). My PS was concerned about my incision so he left the stitches in for 5 weeks and didn't start filling until 6 weeks. I did fine after that.
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Vicky- its my understanding that the TEs are behind the pec muscle, so they shouldn't be right up against your skin. Unfortunately that's all the help I can provide
Marci's - where did you find the cookie bra? I haven't hard of those before. I can't imagine wearing any bra at all right now. That was the only p,us of the TEs - no bra needed. I was hoping for the same with these implants.
I know there's a whole thread about bras, but are they really necessary? My PSsaid I'd never have to wear one...0 -
Lauren,
The bra question is answered differently by each PS. Mine told me that I probably wouldn't have to wear a bra with my silicone implants. But he does want me to wear a "supportive bra" 24/7 for 6 weeks post-op. I'm about half way there and do notice that there is a little pain associated with going bra-less (showering, swim suit with less support). However, it is getting better with time. So I'm holding onto the hope that he was correct in telling me "no bra with implants". I love the perkiness! They fill out my clothes better than my original girls, even if they do look kinda funky with no "center piece" (lol).
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Vicky, I had a rather large hole that appeared after my mx, even shot out fluid like a geyser. My ps drained out the te fluid in surgery and sewed me back up. I went several weeks of healing before starting fills again and then she never added more than 50ccs at a time...hope this helps!
So glad to hear all of the positive stories of exchange. I don't have to tell you gals how anxious I'm getting for my date (6/20) to get here! Getting pre-registered today and getting my pre-surgery appts wrapped up on Wed. Hope mine goes as smoothly as yours.
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I'm supposed to wear my Ace-like bandage until Monday, but the PS didn't say what to wear between that and my follow-up 2 weeks after surgery. Hmmmm. I think I'll keep wearing the sports bra I wore with the TEs until then. I haven't decided if I want to always go bra-less. I think I may want the bra just to feel 'normal' (I've never been much to go bra-less). I guess it also depends on whether you get nipples done as well - then it's hard to go without because you're always 'on.' I figure I have a while to figure that out.
I'm doing well. I'm due to take the dressing off soon. The stupid bandage and gauze has been falling down the whole time anyway - I went out for coffee today and it was so hard to stop peeking down, reaching in and pulling it back up. But no pain, just a little discomfort occasionally. And the PS' nurse said not to worry about reaching above my head - whatever I feel comfortable doing, except heavy lifting and pulling.
Lauren - I hope you're feeling better! Sorry about the headache.
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