Exchange City
Comments
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Cindy ... I'm happy I went too!
My PS seems to be a perfectionist too. He doesn't consider grafting at exchange either (darn ... was really hoping to walk out of there with a little lipo - teehee.) He really doesn't think I will need pocket work either but I'm concerned that I really have a good deal of my TE that is giving me this stupid "side boob". He'll have to see if he'll add any stitches on that side once he's in there.
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Golden01, Thank you so much for responding! That makes total sense about stress and tightening up in the pec muscles and around the shoulders, that is exactly how I feel.. all the way around to the back area, but goes away.. I could probably do a revision on my effected side, due to rads, it is tighter skin and made it smaller.. plus the skin needs fixing but at the same time, I just cant do it again.. Im done. I still have pain on my breast bone upon the slightest touch and under my arm where they took LN out... glad your revision worked for you..
Carrol, your a lucky one.. no pain since the surgery??! That is so great! Very happy for you... I wish could say the same..
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LOL - I had a REALLY hard day at work. I got a promotion a few months ago and have a couple of employees that are just plain difficult (part of why I was selected is that I am ususally good with "difficult" employees" but these two are trying even my patience). My breasts are about as "uptight" as they could ever be! I'm going to have a glass of wine and some cheese. Hopefully everything will relax now that I am home! Tomorrow, I have the day off for doctor's appointments. Who ever thought that I'd look forward to a day of sick leave! At least my breasts should be more comfortable.
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Hi Everyone...Well..it's done,TE's out...Implants in... I felt good the first night, but I started to have pain in arms and neck the day after....is this normal?
Overall, tolerated the surgery well...now just waiting to get the bandages removed and see what I look like. I got my port out at the same time...that area hurt more....lol
Anyway...just trying to move forward..now if my Platelets and WBC's would only follow the rules,lol...
Thanks for the support...
Lisa
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Golden, funny.. sorry they are such a pain.. good luck with that! Glad you have your wine and cheese!! hee hee
Lelela, I am no expert but when I had mine done, I remember neck and arm pain (still have some), it is the way your positioned during surgery and plus the trauma your chest and surrounding has gone through in such a short time. It will take some time.. as to why I am here trying to find answers too 9 months out of exchange..
Just watch for any lymphadema in the arm, otherwise follow your PS rules and you will be ok! Glad you doing ok!!0 -
ARGHHH!!!
I've had a cold for over a week, which is bad enough...
But yesterday, when the low-pressure weather front moved in, preceding the storm, my sinuses almost exploded from the pain and swelling.
Well, I should have known. The New Girls were in pain, too. I had this problem with my TEs, but this is the first time I thought my implants were going to explode!!!
New job title: Human Barometer!!!
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Blessing you always make me laugh!!! I hope you're feeing better very soon.
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Thank you, tenaj!!! My pleasure!!!
(Felt good enough to whoop DH's butt at Mexican Train tonight.)
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Blessings... thank god for your sense of humor!! I feel your pain!!
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geewhiz
Reading that you have had revisons did you have any problem with insurance paying? Someone mentioned that revisions may be considered cosmetic, even though I am trying to create symmetry to the native side. I couldn't bear to find out after the fact that it wasn't going to be paid by insurance. I don't have that kind of money laying around. And even if you call insurance they always tell you"this is not a guarantee of payment".
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Blessings, I have the same dang sinus infection/cold or whatever is going around; got the flu 1 week ago too. I could barely sleep last night with the sinus thing and chest pain from my last TE fill which was on Monday. Last saline injection for me....my TE's could max out to 500cc and mine are at 515cc's. Done. Filling out my 36D bras, I've never been this big. Exchange surgery scheduled for Jan 16 at 11:30 a.m.; I cannot wait. PS may put more alloderms in (I already have 4); he'll remove hard scar tissue under my boobs and sides; cut out the vertical mx scars and but in some beautiful Mentor high profile/smooth/gel silicone implants. Surgery should be 3 hours, I'll have drains again but good news, no stitches, he's glueing my incisions. Off to work and battle the rain. Jill
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Revisions to achieve symmetry should be paid for by insurance.
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B123 -
jill47 - Ooooh noooo!!! Drink lots of hot herbal tea, use a sinus rinse, and rest!!! My cold and cough are still hanging on....
I could never wear any bras over my TEs except for my Genie bras. The shapes were just too weird, like putting a square peg in a round hole - literally! So excited for your January 16th surgery - sounds like a lot, but I think you'll be happy the PS did what he did. (Now get some REST!!!)
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I had my exchange on September 26th. All was well at first, but the left implant is quite rippled and feels quite odd, especially when I lie down - it spills over toward the armpit area like one of those flat round sofa cushions. Is this going to get worse or cause me problems in the future? Is there anything that can be done? I saw the surgeon who did the BLM and she said she thinks I need to have larger implants and said to go back to the plastic surgeon. I'm a nice C cup right now and don't know if I want to be much larger, though I would consider it.
The right side looks good.
I am scheduled for the nipple recon on January 2nd...
Anyone know what the insurance situation might be regarding something like this? :-(
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Hollycat exchange set for Feb. 7th but we may bump up because if I get one more fill I may topple over FORWARD...please add me to the list.
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Blessings I'm with you, no bras will fit these weird shaped flat fronted cement grapefruits!
I had a small fill of 60 cc today. One more next week. She said we can schedule my exchange for mid January. I'm hoping to get a date tomorrow. She said skin is nice and soft so there is no need to suffer too much longer. She said she will break up the scar tissue and release the pec. She is also going to use botox to numb the muscle while it heals. She feels terrible that I am so uncomfortable. She has never had a patient suffer as bad as am.
I told her today that I would rather end up a tad larger than my preferred C cup, than smaller. She wants nice projection so we are on the same page.0 -
cindy I have been so busy at work this week. Went back to work Monday. I have been trying really card to be careful. I have done good with the lifting but a couple of times have found myself over stretching. Have not hurt myself but two months of this is going to be hard.
Icefishinglady--I just had to have a revision because my pockets gave way both in the armpit and bottom. Go see your PS because if you need a revision they may want to do it before your nipple reconstruction. When I first notice I had a problem was that when I layed on my back my implants went way into my armpits and I could see the ridge from BMX where my breast tissue was removed. I had a good inch between the ridge and my implants when I laid on my back. For me it was both breast. Then they started dropping at the bottom and I developed a large divot at the upper pole of my breast. PS said the only way to fix it was with a revision. He tightened up the pockets and now my cleavage is even better than it was before. If you want to PM me please do.
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Sherry you need to stick reminder notes all over the place! It will be worth it.
As far as revisions, once you have BC dx, revisions are not cosmetic, they are part of recon.0 -
sherry/Maria, your strength is inspiring.
shabby, I'm starting scar away this weekend. mine are pretty dark.0 -
Cindy my PS has been doing breast reconstruction since 1993 and he very seldom does revisions because he is so good. But from what he has told me unless the revision is considered medically necessary it is questionable if the insurance will pay. I guess there are some people who will never be happy and always wanting something done. I don't know. With that being said, symmetry between native breast and reconstruction is going to be considered medically necessary. My insurance has been great and I have spoken to them there are no limits on anything as long as it is medically necessary. I guess with implants if the shape was not good and funky divots it would probably be considered medically necessary. I had rippling before but since the revision and placing my implants higher all that has gone away. I guess all insurance companies work a little differently. I met a lady in my PS office and she had BC in one breast and wanted a BMX and her insurance would not approve the MX on the non cancer side. She said her BS really had to jump through hoops and provide proof that she had other family members that had BC in order for her to have the BMX. Seems crazy to me.
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icefishinglady - my TE's were wider than my permanent implants, so when they started to fill out under my armpits, I got really worried. My PS ended up doing a lot of pocket work at exchange, including a "lateral capsulorraphy" on each side. Basically, he stitched all around each pocket, so there would be no migration. He said the implants would move, but that they would not fall into my armpits. He was right. You might use this term when speaking to your PS next time.
Yay, Hollycat!
CindyLooWho - Cement grapefruits!
Excited for you that your exchange is just around the corner!!!!0 -
hello
i wish i was joining this thread because my exchange is imminent but i am only on my third fill so my exchange will likely be sometime in feb
cindyloo another "bad case" here - My PS said he has also never seen someone so uncomfortable with TE's. Im miserable. Yes, iron bra feeling, bricks, tight rubber band etc etc you know the drill. I thought the fills may give me some relief but it was not to be. Just as miserable with or without them. I envy all the ladies who can breeze through this process. Can you explain "release pec muscle" and the other things she is suggesting for pain relief
question for all the ladies who have done their exchange - does the tightness feel better? do they feel less lead like? please tell me there is some relief after.
are you constantly aware of these things?
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Sherry my carrier, also my employer, would not have covered my prophylactic side. I told my BS that I wanted it anyway and asked him if he would except the insurance amount and let me pay him. He agreed. As it turned out he is considered an elite surgeon so he does not have to have his surgeries reviewed by a medical director so the issue never came up. Here's the kicker...THEY FOUND CANCER IN THE PROPHY SIDE!
So I would have won my appeal had they denied it. I was also prepared to write to the pres of my company. My DH and I discussed it and my life and peace of mind was more important than the money, even if it took years to pay.
You are right that revisions must be medically necessary, but at the same time you are supposed to end up with a pleasing outcome.
Rozem she said it means they release the muscle from the sternum a bit, to give it more "play" and isn't so tight. I have always worked out so my pecs are tight, and my body fat is in my lower half. The Botox during surgery, numbs the muscle, if it's numb it cannot spasm and tighten. Mayo clinic and a hospital in Canada are doing trials now to give women like us some relief. My ps said they use it a lot during recon surgery.
I have the same fear that you have...what if it doesn't get better with the implants??? I'm having spasms right now. I haven't slept thru the night in a week. And the only reason I slept then was because the TEs hurt so bad after my fill last week that I took two pain pills.
But I didn't have to have rads
or chemo, so as bad as this is, it's a small price to pay.0 -
cindyloo - thanks so much for that info! i am getting a fill tomorrow ( can you say valium) and will ask about the pec release and botox. Im in canada so i hope im at the right hospital. Im also have very little upper body fat (lower half i wish i could move up) and was also working out a lot before surgery. uggh
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rozem - The pocket for the TEs (and eventually the permanent implants) is made between the pectoral muscles that run across the chest. In most cases, when a PS "releases" the muscle, he is talking about separating it a bit further, to make the pocket larger so that the implant can more fully drop into it securely.
There is also a term used in physical therapy, called myofascial release - which eases pain and increases range of motion.
I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I still have the Iron Bra feeling, and my exchange was four months ago. Granted, I had everything scraped, separated, and stitched, so I knew I would have more issues than most women after exchange.
I don't really have pain, but I am aware of these implants 24/7. I have completely normal range of motion, but I am considering going to see the LE physical therapist at the hospital for some possible exercises to relieve the feeling of tightness. I'm also going to check out some massage from an LE therapist.
p.s. The implants themselves (high profile smooth saline, 700ccs) are VERY soft and squooshy.)
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Blessings~ I've been reading and learning so much about exchange surgery. My exchange is scheduled for Dec 26th, I'm more nervous about this than my BMX! I think it's the unknown pocket work that needs to be done that is making me feel this way. And also the size, I hope he gets it right the first time. I love my PS and trust him so I need to relax and let go of my anxiety!! In the mean time I will keep reading these post with great interest
your humor is greatly appreciated!!!0 -
Many insurance plans are required to cover the cost of reconstruction (including bilateral and surgeries to achieve symmetry, some are exempt. Here's more info from BCO:
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I'm totally healed up from my exchange on 11/29 (no pocket work). Last night I slept normally for the first time in SEVEN MONTHS!!! I flipped over and snuggled up!!! What a milestone! I'm now massaging my left breast regularly... (had a UMX on the right and she said I didn't need to massage that side). I found out I got a 600cc silicone on the right and 194cc on the left. I'm totally even. I'll try to get to the photo forum and post before, during and after pictures soon.
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Awesome juneaubugg! I can't wait to sleep normally! I know it will be milestone for me too. Congratulations!
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Oh to sleep normally...
Last night was pretty good but I took a pain pill. Always do on fill day.
I think sitting is the worst. I have to sit up über straight otherwise the concrete grapefruits sit on my rib cage and I get shooting pains. But sitting like that too long makes my back and shoulders burn.
I have been taking naproxen daily and I wasn't sure it was working until the day I forgot to to take it.0
