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  • LovesDogs
    LovesDogs Posts: 19
    edited January 2013

    Annemarieh,

    The sports bra that works best for me is a Champion brand - it looks a lot like a regular bra - no criss-cross in the back, full coverage. I wish I could give you the model #, but it's all faded.

    Lovesdogs

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited January 2013

    Cristinabelle - your pecs can also work some weird moves on your permanent implants.

    I told my PS that I wasn't going to get nipple and areola tattoos, I was going to get hula girl tattoos, since I could make the foobs move around so much.

    He thought that was pretty funny until he saw that I wasn't laughing....Wink

  • Cristinabelle
    Cristinabelle Posts: 13
    edited January 2013

    Ahh, thank you both for your reply. Boy, I'm so glad I asked. I will stick with walking and lower body exercise only.

    I am so thankful for finding this forum. I've been reading everything for the last two weeks and have been so relieved to get many, many answers here. You are all so wonderful and generous. I hope I can contribute too.

    Thanks again.

  • giggley
    giggley Posts: 6
    edited January 2013

    Merlcat, I completely understand!  My surgery is on Tuesday, and I am ranging from excited to nervous, happy to anxious, and then start over again!  I'm so happy to get this TE out but apprehensive to have the other reduced/lifted.  I keep thinking of sunny skies, palm trees, aqua blue water....

    I've had the original UX in April and 2 revision surgeries to repair places not healing right.  I'm just concerned I will have the same issues again.

    Good luck with surgery!

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited January 2013

    Omg blessings you are so darn funny!



    Hula girls....I can't breath...Lolololol

  • kikkib
    kikkib Posts: 3
    edited January 2013

    Grier thanks for the good wishes. Hope someone on this board can provide some info.



    KikkiB

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited January 2013

    Christinabelle/CindyLooWho: Funny how different doctors give different answers to the same question.  My BMX was on 11-5-12 with immediate TE placement.  I have my final fill on Jan 24 (YAY!!!) and expect to be a late April or maybe May exchange.

    At my last fill I specifically asked my PS about lifting weights as it pertains to the pecs and he told me I have no restrictions.  I only use light weights, no more than 5 or 8 pounds depending on what I'm doing.  I'm certainly not concentrating solely on my pecs but even doing biceps and triceps involve your pecs too.  Heck, as I learned immediately after the BMX even using a computer keyboard tired my pecs out and made me ache. 

    I'll double check with PS again at my next/last fill but I sure hope we're at least allowed to keep the pecs toned.  I think they'll always look a bit freaky when the muscles flex.....they've been stretched way more than God could possibly have intended.  I try to stay fairly active (walking, running, weights, groups classes), but trust me, I 'modify' the moves a lot to compensate for my own limitations. My PS just didn't seem to have any problem with that as long as healing is complete from any prior procedures.

    I'm interested to see what others have been told too.

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited January 2013

    I think my PT told me that because I have had a terrible time with the my pecs being really tight with the TEs. And she said same as you, that other weights and everyday activities will probably give me all the pec work I need.



    I think for me, that I will end up doing what's comfortable.

  • JamieB86
    JamieB86 Posts: 183
    edited January 2013

    I too was told no restrictions.  But I have to say, the 1st time I really worked after my exchange, I could feel the distortion, and I burst into tears.  My poor work out partner had no idea what was going on. Good times!

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited January 2013

    My PS told me after I healed up from exchange that I was free to do whatever felt comfortable....no restrictions.

  • Obxflygirl1
    Obxflygirl1 Posts: 106
    edited January 2013

    EXCHANGE REPORT.....my exchange was Thursday and I am 3 days out. The first 2 days I had quite a bit of pain..but a lot of pocket work was done also. I took pain pills the first 2 days and today, the third day, I only had to take one Aleve. I have Allergan, HP Style 20 with 400 cc's. I love them already! I'm really narrow in my shoulders and these look like a full C cup now. There is swelling, so what I actually will look like is still to be determined. I would be happy with a full B, but that's just me. I was expecting to have the dreaded hamburger buns out of surgery but I have projection now. Before my exchange, I read every exchange post and it helped tremendously. I hope in posting my experience and details I will have helped alleviate some fears of future exchange girls. Good luck everyone and let us know how you are doing. :)

  • unowhoandwhy
    unowhoandwhy Posts: 54
    edited January 2013

    Congrats!

  • jill47
    jill47 Posts: 85
    edited January 2013

    Hi Obxflygirl, good to hear from you!  Are you clear to take Aleve?  It contains aspirin and any pills with aspirin are on my do not take 10 days prior and post surgery because aspirin prevents blood clotting. I'm no doctor but please check with your's about taking aspirin products.  10 days pre/post surgery I take Tylenol (contains no aspirin).  

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited January 2013

    I was given rx strength naproxen when I left the hospital.



    Congrats Obxflygirl!,!

  • Obxflygirl1
    Obxflygirl1 Posts: 106
    edited January 2013

    Jill47.... Grabbed my discharge instructions and I'm all clear to take aspirin or any of the common pain relievers. :)



    Thanks CindyLooWho.... Hope you are doing good! Unowhoandwhy....thanks!

  • Jessfili
    Jessfili Posts: 22
    edited January 2013

    Congrats Obxflygirl! Each day will continue to get better!!

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited January 2013

    Obxflygirl1 - Congratulations on crossing over to the Squishy Side!!!

  • annemarieh
    annemarieh Posts: 124
    edited January 2013

    Congrats Obxflygirl!! Glad you are feeling well, and liking your squishies! Going for my final fill tomorrow, hope I can sched my exchange date!

    Jill, hope all is well with you too!! Smile

  • jill47
    jill47 Posts: 85
    edited January 2013

    Anne:  Good luck on your final fill, no more needle pokes in the foobies is a day to great day to remember in this reconstruction journey.  I hope you get to set your exchange date too!   Are you getting overfilled or staying within the size of your TE's? 

    I'm feeling really great, ready to return to work tomorrow and my drains come out tomorrow afternoon! Loving the new gel squishies, so soft, light weight and pretty. Wearing my wireless Warner bra's (wore w/ TE's) instead of the surgical bra. I get to talk bra's and nipple recon tomorrow with PS....this is the fun part, if there is a fun part Undecided yeah...that does sound stupid. Let us know how your appointment goes tomorrow.

    Jill

  • ssc19
    ssc19 Posts: 5
    edited January 2013

    1/23 exchange surgery

  • ssc19
    ssc19 Posts: 5
    edited January 2013

    Just joined. Have exchange surgery in two days. More nervous than for bilateral mastectomies, but excited too. Any advice?

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited January 2013

    still waiting for my exchange...

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited January 2013

    Sherry did he give you any idea?

  • Merlcat
    Merlcat Posts: 122
    edited January 2013

    Ssc19- I'm scheduled to go for mine the early morning of January 23- arrival of 6:15 (ps was merciful and told us to show at 6:45) with surgery at 8:15... I'm nervous too but what has been helping me is to a) stay busy, which isn't THAT difficult as my 15,13 and 11 year olds are off today and tomorrow from school and b) when I'm not super busy, I take a mini mind vacation to the Caribbean to attempt to keep my sanity :) hopefully, someone mor verbally talented than I will chime in....

    Either way, good luck!

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited January 2013

    Cindyloowhoo,

    Nothing yet..I truly don't get it...to make people suffer is not nice

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited January 2013

    Cindyloowho

    Nothing yet..I truly don't get it...to make people suffer is not nice

  • Merlcat
    Merlcat Posts: 122
    edited January 2013

    Giggley- huge good luck tomorrow!

  • Roan
    Roan Posts: 15
    edited January 2013

    My PS gave me no restrictions as far as any physical activity...however, my pecs look very, very strange when I contract them!  I have not started any upper body work, but I want to because my arm/chest strength is just gone.  I can hardly open a jar or even a bag of chips.  I remember that after my BMX it hurt to yawn for a while! I was so strong before my diagnosis and BMX--I had just completed 63 days of the Insanity workouts.  I wonder if I will ever be able to do a push up again.  I need to start the upper body work.  I will begin with light weights (2-5lbs.) and work my way up.  I have been running all along, but at first that hurt my chest too.  I still feel achy when I do a long run sometimes.

    OH, and I figured out what the clogged artery thingy underneath my boob was.  Mondor's Cording.  Who knew?  Just another weird (and somewhat rare) side effect of breast surgery.  I wonder if my underwire bras caused it?  My first one was right after my exchange when I was wearing only stretchy sports bras, so I am not sure.  It is tender, but I am taking 2 aspirin a day until it goes away.  The first one took about a month.

    I am so happy for you who are are having your exchange surgery soon.  You will feel so much better! Mine did look like hamburger buns afterwards, and I just cried and cried.  I never cried after the BMX (about how I looked), I guess because I knew it was temporary.  After my exhange, I fell apart.  I was like, "this is it?"  But they did "drop and fluff" and when I am standing up straight, with my arms at my side, they look pretty good.  In an underwire bra, they look great! But those 6 inch scars still sometimes catch me offguard when I am dressing and I see myself in the mirror. 

    I still haven't decided about nipples.  I go back to my PS in March.   I guess we will discuss it.

    Have a great night everyone!

  • annemarieh
    annemarieh Posts: 124
    edited January 2013

    Ssc-19~welcome! Have not had exchange yet, but good luck!

    Sherry~call PS, and see how they made out with the rep today!! Start demanding answers!

    Merlcat~I bet you are getting nervous now! 2 more days!!!! I hope to find out my date when I go in tomorrow. I asked him last week if there was any kind of waiting period inbetween surgeries, and he told me no! Seems everyone here has had to wait.

    Jill~yes, i'm being over filled, but only by 50 ccs', which will bring me to 600 total. Cant wait!! (they are REALLY annoying me today) Glad to see you are doing so well!

    Annemarie

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited January 2013

    Annemarie ,

    I will be calling tomorrow or Wednesday definetly..thanks

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