Exchange City
Comments
-
I DID IT!!! Crossed over to the Squishy Side yesterday!!!
I think I was in the OR for about two and a half hours, but the PS had a LOT of work to do. There was more pectoral muscle to release, and I believe he did a lateral capsulorraphy (Dh wasn't exactly a fountain of information ...
)Got good drugs while I was under (Fentanyl and Zofran) and came home with Norco, Valium, and Cipro. God bless DH, who got up every four hours to give me my Norco dose. I'm not really in any pain, just very sore.
I also think the PS might have done a little nipping and tucking while he was in there (due to the 50 lb weight loss); my scars seem to be a bit longer. Of course, the only view I have is down the front of my big honkin' Ace bandage, which stays on til Saturday.
I got the Allergan High Profile Smooth Saline implants - 68-HP700s, filled to exactly that. Not underfilled, not overfilled. I think I'm going to be happy.
Oooookay......making typos....think the 9 a.m. dose of Norco, Valium, and Cipro has just kicked in!
More later.....
xoxoxoxo
0 -
Wow - a really busy week here! Congrats to everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0 -
Glad to hear your doing well Blessings!!!
0 -
I am starting to talk exchange with my PS. So tell me the differnece in everything for the TE versus implants. Still stiff solid rocks on your chest? cold feeling? iron bra? what can I expect after?
0 -
Also, how many have implants larger than the TEs? Does this make them stiff and hard? My PS is being very conservative and does not want to overfill my TEs.
Most of my underarm discomfort is because the TEs don't move! will the implants have more movement and be softer?
just having a bad day and need some reassurance!
0 -
Hi pnkldy, I am out of exchange for 2 months. I had mentor silicone high profile 450 cc implants. They feel very soft from the outside. I think my ps played down the surgery, it was much easier than bmx but still a surgery. I would say 2 weeks is a very good ammount of time to expect to be back to your self. Hope that answer some of your questions.
Speedy recovery to all of you brave girls.0 -
I agree. The exchange was easier than the BMX but still surgery. I planned on two weeks away from work and ended up taking three because I didn't get my "pep" back and I was very-very grumpy.
0 -
Hi pinkldy, my TEs were filled to 540ccs and were rock solid at the top. Had my exchange two days ago and now have 600ccs high profile silicone implants and they're squishy! I had heard to go 50ccs bigger on your implants if you want them to be about the same size as the TEs. Right now, I think they look very similar to the TEs - which is good because I loved the way my TEs looked.
0 -
Thank you for the info. Very nice to hear they are squishy. My TEs are filled to 550ccs and rock solid all over. My PS is talking like 50ccs less with implants. I am going in tomorrow to talk, armed with much info from whippetmom and others here. I bet those docs hate forums like this. LOL.
What about the iron bra feeling? tightness? all gone?
0 -
Yes, iron bra feeling gone! Still some tightness and pectoral pain but nothing like before.
0 -
And yes, thank goodness for Whippetmom and everyone here. I never would have known what to ask for and my PS ended up doing just what I wanted. He doesn't usually use high profile but he did with me because I asked!
0 -
Okay...now I'm getting nervous.
0 -
high profile? I better start doing some homework on this. Took a break after completing chemo and spending 6 months reading nothing but treatment articles and research -- haven't been able to dive back in.
Congrats Blessings and Mooleen. It looks like I'm having the same surgery as you -- unilateral. 1 week off would be awesome --though it looks like the average amount is 2 weeks.
I'm looking forward to getting rid of the fullness in the arm pit area... rock hard side-boob is not very comfy.
0 -
Well I have to say that the day of my surgery I felt terrific. The next day I had a terrible headache and serious brain fog. Not a lot of pain from the surgical site. Day 3 I still had remnants of the headache, but not as bad. Brain fog was better too, however, I don't have any pep. I guess it takes time to get back. We will see what tomorrow will bring. I also have a dilemma in that my exchange side is quite a bit smaller than my native side. That is by design because my native breast has an implant that I am going to have replaced and I told the PS i wanted to be smaller (was a DD). Now I am going to be lopsided until November when that surgery is scheduled. Not sure what to do for a bra. I guess wearing my DD bra and stuffing my exchange side. I am nervous that maybe my exchange side is too small. My TE was filled to 720cc and the implant is 500cc. I guess I just have to take a breath and see how it plays out. Anyway will keep you posted. I wish everyone well in their recovery.
0 -
Thanks, TinaT and JamieB86!
Pnkldy - you wrote I am going in tomorrow to talk, armed with much info from whippetmom and others here. I bet those docs hate forums like this. LOL. Actually, it was my MO that referred me here. This is the only website she trusts for good information. And my PS was really pleased that I had taken so much time to research the types of implants and how my body size would affect the implant size. He actually laughed when I pulled out my Allergan Natrelle catalog page and started discussing sizing with him!
CMartin - when is your Exchange?
Hi, Shera! Mooleen had the UMX, I had a BMX. (So I have two new girls.....
) I'm with you on the rock-hard side boob thing, though.....awful!!! I'll be in a recliner for a while....still really sore where the PS did a bunch of pocket work. I am SO looking forward to that first side-sleep!!!Mooleen - I have GREAT stamina!!! For maybe 30 minutes or so....then I just need a wee nap.....for a few minutes or a few hours.....LOL! Hope you get better and better every day!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get to take this huge Ace bandage off on Saturday, and even take a shower if I want to (the PS used skin glue over the sutures). At first, I was thinking that I could just leave it on until my Post-Op appointment on Monday, but then I realized it will probably be all stretched out by then.
I keep pulling it out on top to get a sneak preview of the new girls!!! It looks to me like there may be some wrinkles at the bottom where the bandage is very tight. But I also can see that I am swollen nearly to my collarbones, so I guess I have to be patient for the ol' Drop and Fluff, right, ladies?
0 -
I was just told to sleep on my back. It's amazing how many different protocols the PSs have.
Mine were 400ccs and I am liking the size a lot.
Shera, I am 2 weeks post surgery,back at work last week. My husband drove for me the first 10 or so days and then i did, very cautiously. The discomfort andvrecovery was much easier tan the BMX /TEs surgery, much easier for me. Thank goodness!!!0 -
Still waiting patiently for my exchange,,has anyone had fat grafting done as well..was also woundering how people felt after their exchange was complete,,does the the vice grip feeling go away because these expanders are the worse if I could take them out myself I would ..so what I'm asking do you feel relief or is it the same constant tightness
0 -
My PS doesn't do fat grafting. He said he's done a lot of research on it and he doesn't think the results are long-lasting enough. Although I would have loved some fat grafting!
The tight feeling goes away but there's still some muscle pain. BTW, I'm in Cumberland, RI!0 -
Had my exchange on Tuesday and am feeling pretty good today. Pain is minimal today., I was expanded to 400cc and the PS was planning on putting in 450cc. On my radiated side the 450 was too tight so he had to use a 425. In order for the right to match symmetrically he used a 400cc. They look great except they are defiantly smaller than my 400cc TE's. I am disappointed about that but will see my PS on Tuesday and see what he has to say. I know part of my issue is the radiated skin and muscle. Anyway DH says they look great but does agree they look smaller, but also said they are so much larger than my real boobs. I had a 32C that I was spilling out of and now it just fits and I had to tighten up the straps. So defiantly smaller. Not totally unhappy just was not prepared to look smaller.
0 -
Cindy - thinking of you and hoping you come out feeling great relief.
0 -
Carroll2,is that why they stay away? They just cant handle it? Men! At least they can cut the grass, change the oil and AC filter and take out the garbage..there, I knew we could find a use for them. lol..
How is Blessings doing since her exchange?
CMartin,dont even think about!! I had to reschedule my surg for 30 days later to get a root canal. The worse part is getting numbed up,after that its a piece of cake if you go to an endodontist,they do that all day long and have the giant eraser to bite on so your jaw wont get tired holding your mouth open. You gotta take care of it cause the PS is not gonna want an infection in your mouth while they are trying to get the implants in with no problems down the road.
0 -
Had exchange surgery today...have to say not very haapy! Hopefully to morrow it'll be a different story.
0 -
Layla...thanks! Not so worried about the root canal but the second procedure of removing some tissue and bone to expose more tooth to crown later. I can't believe it.
Rose...Thank you!!
Blessings....today!! And you were cracking me up about the tattoo. Too much pain killer while you were reading???
The Protocol is truly different for all. I have only gauze over the incisions and no bra or ace bandage or anything like that. He didn't even mention sleeping and I forgot to ask so I'm propped up. As all surprised a bit by the size but glad since I was feeling a bit self conscious. A little sore from a bit of pocket work but nothing major. Eyes are heavy. I'll check in later.0 -
So sorry Lilbluxoxo - tomorrow will be better. Hang in there!
0 -
Hope so too! Give it time.
0 -
Cindy - I am so happy for you. Hope you recover quickly and easily. Now for the questions when you've had time to recuperate a bit.....about how long were you in from the check-in time? Are the incisions tender? Any specific aftercare? I'll be there in 2 1/2 weeks, I hope. Then will check into a Visit with Vinnie or check out the one my PS has come into the office here.
0 -
Well it took me a loooong time to be able to say it, but I finally belong on this thread! Exchange scheduled for Sept. 5, pre-op next week. yippee!
I've been hanging out on the TE Trouble thread (I see some familiar faces from there here!) but am ready to cross over to the squishie side! ;-)
0 -
Rose....good morning. I had to be there at 5:45 for a 7:25 scheduled surgery. I was home at 10:45!! I'm still very numb from the mastectomy so I don't feel the incisions. I am a bit sensitive in the armpit area to the side and sternum. I believe he worked on a dent I had near the center so probably the reason for the soreness there. Very little aftercare. I'm not bandaged, can shower tomorrow and don't lift over 5 pounds. It almost seems minimalistic after reading all of the various posts here. No worries. You'll do great. I did take some pain meds yesterday since I still can't have ibuprofin but think I'll try to skip them today.
Did I tell you my Vinnie appt is set? Nov 15.
0 -
Renn- congratulations; you have had a long wait to get here!
Sherry67- my PS did some fat grafting with my exchange. The areas where they harvest the fat were pretty sore and I had bruising but it was tolerable. I am 10 months out from exchange and mine look pretty good, all dropped and fluffed. The iron bra feeling is gone but I do have some try cal LE swelling at times. I am not sure my pec muscles will ever feel the same as they did before surgery though.0 -
Well I made it thru the night...just not comfortably. The iron boobs are gone, and definitely a softer feel. I have incision pain on both sides and pain under my arms, my chest bone feels bruised. Luckily no drains. It also seems that instead of using the same incision on my rt breast my surgeon made a new incision right under the old one. At first peek yesterday my rt breast sits lower than the left. Sleep was not easy last night due to the stinging and burning at the incisions.
Sorry to be such a downer but this is my experience so far.0
