Exchange City
Comments
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thank ladies....if u can believe it, this was my good non cancer boob! it was meant to be a simple match up job. thats all.
and now..............oh boy, i feel like raggedy anne. my ps does promise that in the end all will look beautiful. how this can happen when my breast is in two halves i cant imagine....
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delilahbear....thanks for the info. Thats what I read on the website....not sure what he was thinking. I'm a bigger girl...even bigger now thanks to chemo, so I think he was just trying to make the proportional to my body but may have taken it WAY overboard. I would like to be able to actually have some range of motion or see my toes one day...LOL. I see my PS Thursday so will see what he has to say? Did yours drop much? They are literally under my chin. Also, still having some pinkish drainage 5 days post op....is this normal?
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anniealso, so sorry to hear about the complications you are dealing with. But please take heart, I have seen many, many pics of really horrible looking wounds due to breast recon complications heal absolutely beautifully. I'm sure you will look great in the end!
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Good Afternoon all,
I've been gone awhile (summer and fun and all that) and am now back on tract to finish what was started over 2 years ago. I've posted to the picture forum for those of you that have access. The pictures take you right up to my last fills in september. I have my last fill booked for the left side on October 11th. I'm currently 480 cc on the right and almost the same on the left (I lost count!). I was going to aim for a 550 fill and 500cc moderate profile mentors. But I'm pretty comfortable and feel good about how I fill out my clothes at this size. As well I don't want to push the skin on my left, it is beginning to look a bit shiny (then again it always has). Would love your imput Whippetmom f your out there reading this.
At my last appointment I set the exchange date for 12/12/12. this will only be 2 months after this last fill and the PS says he likes 3 months. But we'll see and I'll keep you all posted.
Emotionally i've been staying pretty true to being balanced. Last spring I decided to change work sites for my job and now I'm so happy that I can't believe I've been so blessed. I work part time but can pick up shifts at my descretion.
Now the only thing that is on my mind is doing the final divorce from this whole matter. I was able to finally do it from the chemo room (I work on the same unit as our infusion clinic is). I no longer feel the need to go in and be part of it. Not too sure how I'll do that from my PS. he is an amazing guy and makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. I literly float out of his office. It is going to be interesting to see how I feel when I no longer have any more pending appointments with him. Maybe I'll go get my eyes done
.Hope everyone out there had a great summer and is working on being balanced (literally and figuratively).
Patti
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This may not be the forum for this but can I ask, what do you tell people when they ask, "Are you cured now?"
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I say "well there is no cure for breast cancer, just treatment, so I have no idea? I got my fingers crossed". And I smile.
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Incognito....so very sorry.
I am about six weeks post exchange. Although you cant tell from just looking when you compare pics there is a huge difference. They are really dropping. I can tell somewhat by the pulling in the lower portion of my pect muscle. Not very comfortable without a bra and thinking it's time for underwire. I would post pics but haven't been able to get a response for access.0 -
Rosie- what I tell people that ad if right now I do not have cancer but I won't know for 5 yrs. They all get that look on their face of well how is that?!
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Rosie24355 - It's tough.....I've had a number of friends say, "Oh good, you're all done now" after my exchange surgery. Well, not exactly. Still have one or two revision surgeries, being followed for a reconstruction clinical trial, looking at 4 more years of rather awful side effects from hormone therapy, followup MRIs and ultrasounds for lumps that have cropped up since MX. It certainly doesn't feel "all done", but when someone obviously wants me to be finished I just leave it at, "Nope, I've still got a ways to go...."0
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Anniealso - so sorry you are having to go through the complications and hope your PS is correct in that they will be beautiful in the end.
Lawana - I get that the PS was trying to make you proportional. That is why I chose to have the 960s and they were my second set - first was 750 high profile. You could place your whole hand inbetween the foobs. I have had to undergo revision surgery with Alloderm to strengthen the pec muscles as the implants bottomed out (broke through the muscle and sat on my ribs). Also fell right after the first alloderm surgery and a surgical knot wore hole in implant so had to have it removed and new one placed. Good thing about saline is that they show when they are leaking. Recently fell twice without any injury to foobs and 2nd fall was full out frontal face plant on cement floor. Was lucky and didn't hurt myself as the previous one 3 weeks earlier resulted in broken elbow and torn rotator cuff. I try to be protective of my chest but it seems to be hard for me as can't walk, evidentally, very well. Now use cane to maintain balance.
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Tinat... I believe it was nowheregirl I pmd before and didn't receive a reply so I just gave up.
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Dililahbear....sorry you've had so much trouble with your implants. Maybe one day I can shed some of these pounds and downgrade.
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Dililahbear...are your implants really hard? Did they soften up any with time? Mine are similar to the expanders. I know they will be like this since he overfilled them so much, but I'm hoping for a little softening over time.
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Lawana...I had 500cc both TEs a.d implants. After six weeks mine have softened.
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I'm almost 4 weeks out from my exchange and the steri-tape is still hanging on tightly. I cant even grab the edges. Some women mentioned they only had it for 2 weeks. I wondering if my incision is just not healing ??
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tlew - You might call or email your PS, but I don't think the tape falls off based on healing. Everyone has different skin, uses different soap, spends different amount of time in the shower, etc. Adhesives just grab better on some skin than others. Again, though, when in doubt always check with your PS.0
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Hi Ladies - First time posting on Exchange City but have been referring to your posts for awhile. You've all provided a lot of comfort! Just had my exchange last Thursday. I want to smother my PS with kisses! Lol! Instant relief. Expanders sucked. It has been a very challenging 4 1/2 months. In constant pain and didn't know if I would be capable of continuing. Sooooo glad I did! My foobs are like bags of honey. My left one is still angry...she was radiated prior to my bmx & reconstruction and has not been a team player but I think she is starting to relent!
Wishing you all the best and thanks for putting my everyday thoughts into words that only you can understand.0 -
I'm getting nervous having my exchange on the 23rd..4mycdbmjb hope I get that instant relief like you have..I have had my expanders since 7/28/11...I as well had lots of pain with them..hoping for a good out come
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Hi, Ladies. I'm scheduled for my exchange next week on Thursday, October 18th. So nervous. Had my BMX in April and I am SOO not looking forward to another surgery (which is why I put this off)!
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Tlew,
My steri strips stay on forever! The ones from my biopsy were on for a month. At my first pre-op meeting with my PS he took them off. (And told me if my BS asked, somehow they just happened to miraculously FALL off in his office. Lol!!) I'm sure you don't need to be worried, but just call and ask. :-)0 -
Quick question....I've seen several posts that mention before/after pictures somewhere on the site. How can I get to that section? I need some reality/inspiration.
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Dulcigirl The pics are on another forum altogether but like someone mentioned a page or two prior you have to send a pm to either Lilah or nowheregirl to see if you can have access to the picture forum. I had my exchange a couple weeks ago and although I'm not thrilled with the size they are so much more comfy than the TEs. No more having to sleep propped up on pillows on my back etc etc. What a difference!
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Thank you to all who gave me some advice about answering those "are you cured?" questions.
I am a uni. Right after the exchange they were PERFECT and matched beautifully. I'm 4 weeks out and cancer side is starting to drop while uni is staying in it's perky place. I was worried about this as most of you are disappointed right after surgery and a few months later you all say they get better. I thought "uh oh, everyone on the board is NOT happy right after surgery, what happens when cancer side drops and fluffs?" I see the PS in one week so I'll let you know what he says. This is not a big problem yet but they looked so good right after!
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Sherry67 and LongIslandMom - I pray that you get the much deserved relief from your exchange surgery. I got really nervous a few weeks prior...not wanting another surgery. My PS really put my mind at ease. Telling me that it has been a long road and that this should be a happy time. Happy to get the jagged-edged bocce balls out of my chest ( my reference, not his
) and embrace the new me. Soft foobies and all. I cried when I saw him prior to surgery. Tears of joy because it was going to be a good day. It had to be. And it was! I am putting out good energy for you and hope/pray that it will all go well. 0 -
Hey Ladies.....
Do you have to take antibiotics for a length of time after the exchange for the implants?
Thanks
Lisa0 -
lelela,
Yes i took it for 10 days
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Lela; I was injected with an antibiotic prior to surgery. that's it. It has been 5 and a half weeks since my exchange. I can sleep much easier, but they sure do seem small. I ad a loooong incision and the scabs have fallen off super slow. mostly, I think because after the stitching they spread super glue over all. Is that the norm or do you thonk the super glue was put on because of the literal mound explosion early in the summer? I bought my first pretty [non-surgical'] bras this past week-end. I still need to wear tem 24/7 but at least don't have to always find someone to help me get dressed and undressed. i'm going to start working on losing some of the enormous ammount of weight i have gained since diagnosis.
4mycd, i liked the looks of mine better right after surgery as well. fluffing would be great but i think they've dropped more than enough. i was perkier before my mastectomy, and that wasn't all that perky.
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