Exchange City
Comments
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movetomaui - I have a friend who has been so supportive throughout my treatment, but she keeps talking about how jealous she is of my perky boobs. Good thing she lives a few hours away, or I might have smacked her.
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I have alloderm too.
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Wow! Blessings I appreciate that link. Almost wish I would have read all that before my mastectomy and start of reconstruction.
Information is good at any time during this journey ... can't know all the questions to ask when you first get diagnosed and I find that with further education I have even more questions!
Have a great weekend!
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I can appreciate that Jamie. Just hope no one actually thinks I'm gonna give them a peep show
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Yeah! In home. Exchange went really well. I'm just a little sore but nothing compared to BMX. I am snuggled in bed w my dog and so grateful to be finished:0)
Jess0 -
movetomaui - I understand about deductibles and new benefit year so the cost of the surgery next year might be less than your deductible. I believe though that if your insurance company covers breast cancer treatment (some don't) they are required to pay for reconstruction including surgery on the other breast for symmetry even down the road (ie benefit year shouldn't matter). My Mom, who is 87, reminds me that because of this law passed in 1998 and signed by President Bill Clinton, her insurance pays for her mastectomy bras (she had a BMX when she was 83) and my reconstruction surgeries. BCO offers more info: http://community.breastcancer.org/blog/reconstruction-coverage-under-the-womens-health-and-cancer-rights-act/
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Thank you Golden01 ... I really am lucky to have really good insurance, my husband is an IBEW Electrician. They will be covering my "lift" that will be done to the unaffected side to give me symmetry. Just hope my PS gets it right the first time and that I won't have to undergo any revision surgery. Heard you have to wait about 6 months for that.
I appreciate the link too ... there is so much info here! Wish I would have found the site back when I originally found my lump. I didn't find it until after my mastectomy.
Better late than never!
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Benefit year does matter. While they have to pay for it, it is still subject to your annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. So if you cross plan years, the limits do start over again each year.
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MondaysChild ... I know. Doesn't it suck though that the completion of a surgery that begins in one calendar year can't somehow have "exempt status" or something like that when finished in a new calendar year?! If only we could make the rules!
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JamieB86 - I hear you. I've had a few very well-meaning friends say something similar - "At least you get perky boobs out of all this". I know they just didn't know what to say at the time, but that one just doesn't set well with me. I was perfectly happy with my breasts before all of this and never in my life even pondered breast lift or augmentation. Didn't want them to feel bad for saying the "wrong" thing so just mumbled an "uh-huh" and let it go.
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Carrol2,after hearing your story,was glad my sister decided not to speak to me after our parents passed so I wouldnt have to have her in the room arguing with my fiance. No more family drama is nice even tho holidays are a little quiet without it,lol!
Yep my surgeons went the way of Blessings docs. They wrapped me like an Egyptian mummy and then suprise! Here are the implanted McDonalds hamburger buns,want Target signs with those? They did develop a nice dome. My reg dr gave me a whole bottle of Tylenol with Codeine but I only took it the first 3 days,after that exchange,I just wanted to go back to work. Not like the bmx at all. I stayed in the recliner 3 wks after the bmx and the TE hurt like crazy. Yep had the tight zip front sports bra. However, my advice would be as soon as the PS says massage,massage like crazy cause I slacked off during my vacay and now I got cap cont on one side and the other one still hasnt dropped. Now I gotta massage like super crazy and its depressing wondering if it will ever help.
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Aloha Ladies,
Home from the hospital today,feeling pretty good considering. Stayed just 1 night. Nothing at all like the pain from the BMX. I did not have expanders instead had direct to implant saline Mentor smooth round adjustable's, same time as BMX.
Yesterday Almost 1 year later I Exchanged to silicone , had some scar tissue released, and some fat grafting. My foobs look even better now than they did with the saline . I have those pesky drains again , but PS says they should be out by Wednesday YAY!
My PS took the fat from my abdomen lower and upper, and from my hip flanks.
I didn't throw up this time either YAY! So I'm pretty sore from below my neck down to my hips but its doable with a few pain pills here and there .
You ladies are great!
Hawaiik0 -
Exchange went great yesterday. Just need you all to know that even one day out, I feel great. Only a bit sore and have taken pain killers since dinner time last night. i love the feel of them (still swollen though) and they seem to be mostly in the right place. I will let you know if its a short lived high but HAVE HOPE!! I have a work meeting on Monday I am hoping to drive to. Have a great weekend and if you have any questions... let me know.
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So glad to hear about everyone's exchanges going well. I'm counting down the days until these bricks are out of my chest! Just found out they're leaving on Jan 14th. 44 days! I keep telling myself I can do anything for a couple of months, but some nights at 3am when they hurt so bad I can't sleep I think about cutting my TEs out with a kitchen knife. Good thing I can't stand the sight of my own blood...
As always it so wonderful to check in with you gals and find I'm not alone.
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Omg miserablex100 I have thought the same thing. I have days that are so bad I seriously think about calling the PS and begging her to take them out.
I thought I was the only one.0 -
Miserablex100,
You definetly not the only one to feel that way I have told my PS that very same thought on many occasions , still waiting for my exchange it's been 1.5 years since my MX..had it all planned on oct 23rd than received a call telling me the implants were on back order..let me tell you how devastated I was so long story short still waiting...0 -
Hi Ladies,
Have my exchange on Tuesday and I just got hit with the nerves today. What can I expect? Thanks in advance!
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Shabby- I'm on for Wednesday and my nerves hit me when I was posting on another forum too. I can't believe that it is coming up so quick. But at the same time I can't wait! Good luck on Tuesday!
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Same to you, Christrenee! I am ambivalent as well. Happy to get it done but nervous. Guess it's normal.
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Sherry67,
I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel after waiting 1.5 years and having a date and then being told -nope, later. Nothing you've done. Just a supply issue. Oi. A couple of very good friends offered to knock over a bank to help me meet my deductible by the second week of January. They even sent me a picture of all of them dressed in black with panty hose over their faces and loaded nerf weapons in their hands. I think I should ask them to break into a medical supply warehouse and steal some implants for you instead.
Cindy,
Are you at least close to the end of your fills? The TEs still kill me but nothing was as bad as the last 2 weeks during the final fills. After that the constant pain mostly saves itself for middle of the night visits and I'm just really uncomfortable the rest of the time.
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Had my exchange on Wednesday. Was surprisingly easy. Went to PS on Thursday and was wrapped in a "fancy" bra. After PS appointment, my hubby and I went shopping and I indulged in two new pair of boots!!! Took pain pills Wed and Thurs. Didn't take any yesterday or today. Went out shopping today (with no wig!). I'm in pain when I reach too far to the side, but, that's no where near the trouble as the last few weeks of TE's.
For those with exchanges coming up, it's really not so bad!0 -
I have had 3 fills of 120 ccs. On my way to 600 ish. I don't think I can stand another 120 fill though. I think we are going to have to go to 60. Then minimum 4 weeks from final fill to exchange.
Question for you...are you fairly thin or did you work out a lot? Most of my body fat is in butt/thighs, and I just lost 20 lbs. so my pecs are pretty tight. Right now they are just burning...delightful.0 -
Miserablex100,
Thanks for the laugh..0 -
CindyLooWho,
I'm not heavy but I'm not super model either. Average for my height is how the PS describes me. I was in the process of training for a marathon when all of this happened and was doing a lot of yoga to stretch out. My PS says that between that and the build that nature gave me, I'm more uncomfortable that many women going through all this. He's sworn up and down that I will not feel this way at all after the exchange and that I will be able to run without feeling like someone is running a cheese grater across my rib cage. I told him last week that if he was lying to me, I was going to run a cheese grater across his rib cage. (Thankfully my PS has a great sense of humor.)
I swear I'm sane and nice when I get to run at least 3 times a week!
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Ladies... I am far from caught up here and I'm all drugged up and in need of a nap... But I either got over zealous in my make lemons out of lemonaide attitude, or these boobs of my are swollen and are go to settle down and in (I hope). Holy BOOBS!! I was always a small b/big a. Look at me now! A D cup! (Which was what my dr and I agreed in when we were expanding me- it fits my stature better). But holy adjusting to it!! ;-). I had a nipple sparing so my incision are from my areolal to under my arm on the right. The natural breast was cut directly under in the crease for implant insertion.
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Well, juneaubugg - hubba hubba!!!!
Don't forget....you've got your "Drop and Fluff" process to go through...
The post-surgical swelling will go down, and the New Girls will soften up, drop down fully into the pockets your PS created, and begin to conform to your ribcage. This could take a few months.
I don't think you were over-zealous at all - you look gorgeous, and well-proportioned. Just give it some time...I think you'll be very pleased.
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juneaubugg--you look great! I was always a AA and went for the large C and ended up a small D. I know what you mean about getting used to them but everyone says they look really natural on me and DH loves them. We have been married 25 years so it took him a little getting use to them as well.
Yes the deductible and out of pocket can get crazy. The last three calendar years DH and I both have met all of it. Needless to say the medical bills have been horrendous. When the PS said I would have to have a revision and he was booked through the end of the year I had a panic attack. Told him I really needed him to work with me and get this done before the end of this year. He was sweet and rearranged his schedule to fit me in. Of course everyone else is wanting their surgeries done as well.
Had the revision this past Tuesday and am off of pain meds. With all this pocket work it I am much more sore than exchange but just taking Tylenol now. Go back Tuesday for my post op check up. I was really swollen between my breast but that has gone done the last two days. I had thought I looked smaller but now that the swelling is going down I look about the same. Still having the swishy sound but not near as bad.
Glad that those of you who have had exchange are doing well and good luck to those that are coming up
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Ok Juneau I may be a little lost, but where are your incisions at? Mine will be straight across the breast. I would have given anything to not have the incision there.
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You look great, Juneaubugg!
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Juneau you look GREAT! Holy cow....
Miserableex100...I'm 5'8 and 163 lbs...I need to be 158... But I digress. So no super model here either, but I'm in decent shape, was fairly active before this.
I'm hoping it gets a little better as I get bigger.0
