Exchange City

mammlou hope you getting to feeling better about your surgery.  If you still do not like it in a couple of months they can always do revisions.

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this thread. I'm having complete revision on 7/3. First PS messed up. My new PS says she thinks she can fit a permanent implant on my left side.  She needs to do pocket revisions on both sides.  There's too much wrong witht he right to do this.  I have capsular contracture. She will be cutting out all the scar tissue, fixing the pocket and putting in the right sized TE.  She said she will be filling it as much as it will allow.  My last dr didn't do that and scar tissue just took advantage of it. She will be filling every week starting one week after surgery.  I could be looking at a right exchange in mid to late August.

So, I'm wondering how bad/easy the recovery will be?  If I have exchange on the left, I hear it's a piece of cake.  Any thoughts?

Michelle

Thanks ladies. I've heard nothing on the biopsies, so I'm hoping that no news is good news. Do the boobs look better when you get out of the surgical bra? I do think my PS did an amazing job of matching my breasts. I can't honestly tell which one is real it is just so shocking to be missing my large breasts. It sounds weird considering I've only had one large breast for the last year. Strange how that one made all of me look bigger. I just have have to remember what my good friend said to me when I started crying yesterday..."holy cow, you miss the giant, floppy breast hanging down on your belly! Are you crazy,". I must say, it did make me laugh!

shechirple - Prior to BC in 2010, I had gotten in the best shape I had been in since my early 30's.  So depressing to have gained 10 pounds, lost muscle mass, gotten flabby, can't run because of the neuropathy in my feet from the chemo.  I've had 4 surgeries in 21 months.  Can't wait to get completely recovered from this one and hopefully it is my last one for a long, long time so I can get refocused on getting healthy again.  

 txmomof2 - I am taking off 4 weeks from work and then going back on light duty for a couple of weeks.  My job is kind of strenuous.  Do a lot of lifting and pulling on patients.  

BCavenger - Good luck with your up and coming surgery!

Erika8 -  so sorry you are unhappy with your surgery.  I would definitely talk to your PS about it and if you are not happy with what he has to offer, then find another PS.

For a YEAR Rachel? Ugh! whine whine whine. I don't wanna play with it for a year. This thing is never going to go away is it? LOL.

Bucking it up now.

New adventures all the time.

mamlou I was a 36DD now I am 36D in a bra but I look more like a C. I do miss the projection I had but overall things are looking pretty good. They sit a lot higher than my old boobs and I can go braless if I want to. Give it time they look very different as the months pass. I was very unhappy right out of the hospital for at least 30 days they were kind of contracted up into my chest wall. Another month later they relaxed like a tennis ball in a sock and they look rounder and project more. I have some fine tuning to do when I get my nipples, lipo and fat grafting maybe. But my opinion has changed a full 360

I didn't get an instruction sheet for the massage but detailed instructions with me following along to be sure I got it. My PS has me move the whole implant with the idea (as I understand it) to keep the implant a little "loose" in there. I have just three exercises that I do 2-3 times per day. Doesn't take long. I don't think I started the massage until about a month after the TE exchange. Had done different massage exercises with the TEs in place (mostly pusihing down as I had one that "popped up").

Hi everyone. I've been away for a few days. I finally got the card from my PS. So glad I had a really open conversation with him yesterday. I told him I was unhappy that they look different from underneath... He said he had to do that to make them look the same on the top. Makes sense and I'm okay with that. I also have pain in my left armpit next to the implant which of course concerned me. He felt around and i have a lot of scar tissue. He said the pain will go away. Anyone else have this, and what have you done?



Good news is that. I don't have to go back till sept when we'll talk about getting nips. 2 surgeries down, one to go!



I hope everyone is feeling well. Oh, one last question... What's the bra similar to the coobie bra? I think I should be wearing something but a) the PS says its not necessary and b) I don't want to spend a fortune only a few weeks out.

I'm home from my exchange! boy I din't think I would be this tight feeling. I originally had my expanders placed in April of 2011 and exchanged out to implants October of 2011. That was a breeze I really didn't have any tighness at all from that exchange. but because of bad ps work I had to have expanders put back in Jan 2012. and just had my exchange yesturday. What a difference. This time around the expanders didn't bother me one bit unlike my first time they were hard as rocks and a constant pain. But this time my implant exchange wow! I feel like my implants are expanders. I know they will calm down, I'm on my perc and Valume and just going to take it easy for all of July. (I woulk at Elementary school so that helps, we are out for summer). But I'm so surprised of how tight I am. I did have the crescent shaped expanders in this time that are more below your pecs than others. Filled to 500cc and I think he put 800cc gell implants in so I am so full on top. Thats probably what is being stretched right now.

bcs2011 - I felt the same way. My TEs had rarely been a problem (well, okay, I had to deal with what I called the "Terminator grope") but with the implants, I still sometimes feel like I have two tortoise shells suction-cupped to my chest. But it is getting better. That aside, congrats! You're on the home stretch here. Rest up, and you'll be feeling better in no time.

 Tina, Nurseronda and Golden01 - Thanks for the input. I guess I was doing it the right way, trying to move the whole implant. And as always, interesting to hear the different opinions. I have about 5 PT exercises with a big stretchy band, plus the massages, but I'm still supposed to avoid much over-head reaching. However, I'm cleared to lay on my stomach, and I did sleep like that a little last week. I have to position a pillow just right, but it's good to know it's doing some good as well.

Now if only I can get rid of this ITCH on my snb side, near the underarm. I was going nuts last night, and of course, there aren't many working nerves in that area. It's better now, but every once in a while.... 

You're welcome Rachel,just thought it was interesting that there were a million guinea pigs and we still dont know much more than when they started.

The Coobie Bra? Maybe I will ask the PS today about that,I know she is big on sports bras and is supposed to show me massages after the exchange to avoid the contracture issue.

Good luck to everyone..hope mine are the right size. Wondering what to tell the PS now that surg is imminent??

bcs2011-  I hope you feel better about your exchange and the way the implants feel.  PT might help you after awhile too. I am ine education as well! Wishing you the best too.

MondaysChild: I sure hope it is as matter of time when your implants feel more than normal. My PT said I needed to return once I do my exchange after the second week of July.  I hope anything feels better than these too tight explanders. Wishing you the best.

Just returned from PT two weeks before my exchange and I seem to have a bit more flexibility.  My PT said to givve my my body a break after the exchange per my PS instrutions then she wants me back for my sessions.  Lots of exercises.  This thread is helping me prepare for my exchange in more ways than I thought. Thanks ladies.

Hi all, had my exchange earlier today. I have all my arm motion just like before. The right side is sore and that was the healthy breast. Also my right arm is very sore (nothing oxy can't fix). I took only 1 pain killer and will switch to Tylenol if needed. Other than being tiered, i feel Pretty good. Just wanted to share my expirinces. Good luck and my best wishes to all who are having their surgery.

Thank you Rachel. This morning I woke up (after only 2 hours sleep) with so much soreness and the familliar tight feeling in both sides (my surgery was yesterday). The implants are so much more comfortable than the te. Its so nice to wake up without that tightness of the hard tes. I went for post op check up (My ps requires to see him a day after the surgery) and he said everything looks good. I also saw it for the 1st time and it looks bigger than I want, but i am hoping that some of it is swelling. Anything is better than the sagginess I had b4 BC. He said to massage them, no exercising (like I was), no pool or beach, no flying and just taking it easy. Again, just wanted to share. Best wishes to all.

Hi everyone, my exchange was 3/28, 3 months ago. The implants look great, but are sore. Has anyone felt sore so long after surgery? I also have some tingling zinger sort of feelings in them that my PS said were probably related to nerves regenerating. I hope so... . Any thoughts on the soreness? Thanks.