Exchange City
Comments
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Had exchange last Tuesday and like mooleen I only took pain meds for 2 days. I do not have pain from surgical sites. The only thing is I can't seem to stay awake, I just want to sleep. Maybe having the colonoscopy the day before and having double whamo on the anesthesia is doing it not sure. But otherwise feel greet. Go for post op this afternoon.
Good luck to those coming up for exchange it is so much easier than MX/TE
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Sherryc, great to hear. Let us know how the post-op goes and what restrictions your PS still recommends. Do you have plastic over your incisions? I think they told me at discharge I could take them off after two days but I stil haven't. I figured I'd wait till my post-op, which is Friday. They put me in a surgi-vest in the OR and man is it uncomfortable. Today I switched to a sports bra for a break even though I'm supposed to keep the surgivest on till Friday. What are you wearing?
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My surgery to lift my native breast is in November. I will be so glad when it is all done and I know what size I am going to be. Right now I am a C and my native breast is a DD. the sports bra helped a lot.
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Okay, just came from the PS office. He wants to see me in three months. Still says that I can wear any kind of bra that I want and didn't mention massage. I've called and left a message to ask. That seems pretty standard and necessary?
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I'm going to ask my PS on Friday about massage too. Mine said a tight fitting sports bra for two months - no underwire. What did your PS say about other restrictions?
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Glad those of you with the recent exchanges are doing so well!
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My PS said to wear whatever sports bra I wanted (or Genie bra) for AT LEAST the next month, 24/7.
Because he did so much repair work inside, he wants to make sure all the internal sutures and tissues are healed before I even think about an underwire bra (which is definitely in my future, just not right now.)
I am totally swollen from my left collarbone down to my left IMF. The right side swelling has gone down considerably, but the left is still very puffy. He did more repair work on that side.
As for massage, he said EVENTUALLY (when all the internal sutures and tissues have healed) he would have me do it in the shower, when my skin was soapy. I would simply massage the implants together and upwards - in other words, just the opposite of what gravity would do to them every day.
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Hi, folks,
I am having BMX next Thursday, in a clinical trial where I will be controlling my own breast expansion. The PS says it will go much faster than typical saline filled TE's. Is it feasible for me to have exchange surgery before the end of the year? It would save me a lot of money to get it in this calendar year...
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Blessings...good info. I left my appt today feeling very uninformed.
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Snoozy... I had my exchange last fri...three months after bmx.
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Snoozy, my doc likes to wait 6-8 weeks after the last fill to do the exchange surgery. I think you'll have plenty of time.
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In the paperwork the dr gave me for the exchange surgery there is mention of the kind of bra that I will need to wear 24/7 for 3 weeks. It hooks or zips in the front and has cushioned sides with a "bridge" on the back. Any idea what I should look for?
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Did anyone have an info sheet that said anything about compression stockings? Was anyone told to shower & shampoo hair the night before and the morning of? Isnt that a bit excessive?
I figured out if I take the full 2 wks the PS signed off on,then I will be short on vacation time.ARRHHH!!!!! Anyone feel like going back to work after only 1 week? We already bought the plane tickets but that was when we thought the surgery would be in July until the little root canal adventure. Now I am having lower left burning sensation,so wondering if appendix or ovaries or kidneys or colon cancer,OMG...
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I was given a surgical scrub to use to shower with the day of my surgery. They want the hair washed so there is no hairspray or product on it. The compression stockings they will put on you in pre-op.
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I had to shower and wash my hair the night before. Then I had to open two packets of very thick, sticky antiseptic/antibiotic wipes, and using the four enclosed wipes, scrub down everything from my neck down to my toes. DH had to scrub my back.
Then I had to stand around nekkid and air-dry.
Then I had to put on a clean nightgown and get into bed with clean sheets.
The next morning, I couldn't shower, but once again, I had to use another packet (two wipes) of those antibiotic wipes, and go through the same routine.
Believe me, by the time I got to the hospital I was totally OCD about germs, and made sure everyone treated me like the sanitized exhibit I was.
And in Pre-OP, I got those snap-on compression leg thingies that fill up with air on alternating sides during surgery.
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I had those wipes too - the 1st time I used them I had shaved my legs maybe an hour or two before using them - BIG mistake! burned so badly. The next time, I shaved my legs in the morning before having to use the wipes the night before surgery. They are so sticky, but worth it to prevent infection.
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I had to shower and wash my hair the night before. Then I had to open two packets of very thick, sticky antiseptic/antibiotic wipes, and using the four enclosed wipes, scrub down everything from my neck down to my toes. DH had to scrub my back.
Then I had to stand around nekkid and air-dry.
Then I had to put on a clean nightgown and get into bed with clean sheets.
The next morning, I couldn't shower, but once again, I had to use another packet (two wipes) of those antibiotic wipes, and go through the same routine.
Believe me, by the time I got to the hospital I was totally OCD about germs, and made sure everyone treated me like the sanitized exhibit I was.
And in Pre-OP, I got those snap-on compression leg thingies that fill up with air on alternating sides during surgery.
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Wash hair? Mine is 1/2" long. I was planning on wearing the wig in surgery!
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As for surgery they had me shower the morning off with antibacterial soap and dry with a clean towel. The sticky stuff they put on me after I was in the OR. They put the compression stockings on during my pre-op stuff.
Saw the PS for my post op visit and he was very pleased with how everything looks. Said I only have to wear the surgical bra at night for another week and can move to a regular under-wire during the day. After that he said I can wear a bra when I want too. He did say no sports bra for a couple of weeks. He told me to massage the implants. Showed me to move them back and forth and up and down. Said to do this a couple of times a day. They took my sutures out. I still have lifting ristrictions for a few more weeks, but can now lift my arms over my head, which I was doing anyway. Also said I could go back to sleeping in my bed and sleep on my sides. Last night was so good not to be in the recliner. My implants already look very natural.
Layla yesterday was a week and I could go back to work. I am not in pain at all, just still tired and wanting to take a nap but could manage work if I really needed to go back. In my boss called yesterday while I was waiting for the PS so when he walked in I mouthed I was on the phone with my boss. Took care of business while the PS waited for me and then he told me I could go back to work if I needed too. I told him no I was taking the rest of the week off. I said I have a great boss who appreciates me but has a hard time functioning without me. And my PS laughed and said well he is a man. My PS is also a man. I laughed and said yes you guys cannot live without us.
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Sherry, thanks for the update. My PS had said ONLY sports bras for the first few weeks - funny how they're all different. I see him on Friday for my post-op, maybe it partially depends on how you do the first week.
Last night I found the Bras 101: the great exchange debate thread. VERY interesting - if you haven't read it, you should. It's really informative.0 -
Funny, for my exchange on Friday they didn't even give me the pads to wipe down once I got to the hospital. Once in I was wiped down with something that took alcohol and a washcloth to clean off after two showers wouldn't touch it.
Layla, surgery was Friday. I could've gone back today but the root canal interferred. I'm having a bit more dental work done this afternoon, get it all done! I plan to return tomorrow. A full week wasn't truly needed for my personal experience but DH errs for caution and safety.
Got a call back from the PS. Yes, massage, but against gravity, kind of in and up. Oh well. I'm not sure what I'm doing and don't want to end up with hard implants. Someone said knead them like dough?
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CMartin: My understanding is that massaging the implants is not massage as much as it is displacement of the implant within the pocket. This prevents capsular contracture (sp?) by ensuring the pocket stays open. It is also my understanding that textured implants are not massaged to the same extent (and perhaps not even in the same way) as smooth implants. There are several displacement exercises that involve pushing the implants up, down, medially (to the centre) and laterally (to the outside). Like you, my PS said I should only do the one that displaces the implants "in and up" - that may change when I see him next (I am now 4 weeks out), I don't know. I found the following video that shows the "in and up" technique. Hope it helps!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDB8ArOdjOk
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Oh, yeah, I remember waking up in Recovery and feeling my neck and face....it felt like I had a 5:00 shadow!!! Kind of rough to the touch...
Turns out it was some MORE antibacterial stuff they painted me with after I was in the OR. It was thick and kind of looked like dried calamine lotion, and took scrubbing with a warm washcloth to get it off. It went all down my shoulders and my arms, too.
Glad they took the precautions, though!!
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Whippetmom, thank you, thank you, thank you! I had previously given you my measurements and told you where I hoped to be in regards to size and you told me you that I should look at my TE around 600 cc. I am three weeks out from exchange surgery for HP 600cc memory gel implants and could not be happier. The size is exactly where I had hoped to be (full C, small D). You have a gift and I just wanted to tell you how thankful I was for helping all of us here get back to feeling confident again.
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Thanks, good to know!
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Thanks, this could work out well. I will be doing a new tissue expander in a clinical trial which will allow me to fill it myself, and I'm told it goes much faster that way. So, yey, maybe this will play out before the New Year and I will pop champagne!
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Hi to all! I never cease to be amazed by the different instructions we all get from our plastic surgeons regarding bras, massage, exercise, etc. Makes a girl all swimmy-headed!
Just wanted to post that I updated my thread on the picture forum. It's been a year since my exchange to silicone implants. I had nipple-sparing BMX with some complications along the way.
Have a lovely day...
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Snoozy, how do you do your own fills?
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Had my pre-op today! One more thing checked off the list. I agree with TinaT, it amazes me too how different everyone's doctor's are; this is my 6th surgery and I have never been told to scrub down with antibacterial stuff. I specifically asked PS last week about it, he said not necessary! He told me I would come home in my usual surgical bra, and I suspect he's going to keep me in it for a while (that's what he's done in the past). I know some of you move right into bras, I can't even imagine; seems it would hurt. (Compression is my friend!) I am def. getting nervous about this surgery, which is odd b/c I wasn't nervous for the others I had. I too am intrigued by the "do your own fills" clinical trial! Snoozy, you'll have to fill us in (as it were).0
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Rennasus - YAY!!!!!
ImSnoozy - Yes, very interesting! I once heard that there were studies proving that when a woman having a mammogram can control the compression she is willing to withstand a lot more than if someone else is doing it. Not exactly the same, but having control over the discomfort might make it a different experience. So, is the theory that smaller, more frequent fills might get the job done faster and with less pain?
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