Exchange City
Comments
-
good to hear re: sports bra and pain. wow, TEs 300ish and implants almost 500cc! what is your ht/wt if you don't mind me asking..?? it is amazing how different these Ps are! i really can't wait to talk to mine in a couple weeks..
I think I will feel much better after these TEs are out... it can put me in a daydream really just thinking about it.. :P has your ps kept you out of work until your f/u appt? I thought my post op mast zip up bra/corset was irritating my sternum and my sides because it was moving which irritated my drain sites, thus irritating me! ps said since swelling had gone down so much..it didn't fit, so that was the end of that!..thank goodness... anywho.. thanks for update..and congrats on exchange!! 0 -
When I was just out of surgery (BMX) I was so sensitive that I wore a seamless camisole under my sports bras to eliminate any chafing. That worked pretty well.
For all who have gone through exchange and are wanting to get going on those fancy-schmancy bras, I would HIGHLY recommend waiting until 1) the swelling has gone down, and 2) the Drop and Fluff is visible.
Those two changes alone could make a considerable difference in how your bra fits.
Also, don't just head out to the store and start grabbing bras off the rack. Take the time to go to a Certified Mastectomy Bra fitter... someone who has been trained to measure a reconstructed breast, and can teach you exactly how a bra should fit: where the underwires need to be, how close to the sternum it should be, and so on.
You needn't buy the bra that costs as much as your mortgage payment, but you WILL have the knowledge to look for an appropriate bra on your own.
0 -
No problem asking my specifics.
I am 5'5" and pre BMX I was 127 lbs (usually held steady at 135 but the stress of my diagnosis got me down to 127). I was also as flat as a board (no joke). I was around 135/140 before the exchange. My PS told me I had a small frame whatever that means. I was so hung up on the "numbers" aka cc volume from reading all the various posts on the forum that I was making myself crazy. My DH and PS told me to "please step away from the internet" during my last 5 weeks before my exhange because there are so many variables and factors that come into play with this sort of thing and I was literaly stressing myself out. She kept telling me you can't go by CC volume alone and it turns out she was right. I was suprised when I was coherant enought after my surgery and my husband showed me my "serial number" card and it said 495 cc implants were used. It was like Christmas! LOL I thought for sure I'd end up with something much smaller. Just goes to show how much you have to trust your doctor. I had my exhange Friday morning and had my f/u appt yesterday. She cleared me for work (meaning I could have worked today) but I ended up taking today off because I am still pretty bloated and didn't know if I could fit into any of my work clothes. I will definately go back tomorrow though. Other than some discomfort in my ribs when I move a certain way, I have full range of motion and nothing really hurts. It really is amazing how much better it is "on the other side." You will feel so much better once those sucker are gone 0 -
thanks jaeger..i am 5'3" well, 5'2.5", but I like 5'3" better!
I weighed around 116ish for bmx, but my fighting weight is around 110-112 (i.e. when i work out for summer). I am at about 118 now, but in all the wrong places and even a pound weight gain shows very quick on me. My ps said I had a small frame as well and said towards the end of my fills..now remember u don't want to be "all boobs"! I was also hung up on cc's, exchanges etc and he told me the same re: internet..stop!! :P wow, you are doing great with just having surgery Friday!! )) I soooo want to look in the rearview mirror at this whole process... counting down the days...0 -
Hi everyone hope everyone is doing well. I am 6 weeks post exchange and right side lift and the healing is going well. I only wish I didn't need revision surgery already, but it is what it is so in time I will get it over with. For now I am working on my frozen shoulder and my PT says that I'm making good progress and hopefully should be released by the end of April.
Hope all of the January girls are healing well! Take care everyone!0 -
Blessings2011, thank you for that advice. That is exactly why I am waiting to go to the "bra lady" to get fitted (she said didn't want to see me for 3 weeks post op) and why I don't want to spend a lot of money on temporary bras to get me through this stage. What is interesting the bra lady she said women with implants should never, ever wear an underwire ever. When I told my PS surgeon this, she said while she loves "Mary" (the bra lady), she tends to forget that today's implants are not the same as the ones from years ago. Mary is very good at what she does, has a stellar reputation, has been in business forever, and people come from various states to get fitted by her because there is no one else like her around, but she is also very old school. Pre BC, I could go to any store and pick up a padded 34 A bra and be on my way, but now I've entered a whole new world when it comes to bras. =O) Who knew?!
0 -
Yeah, mamatwinz, try not to get hung up in the numbers. Voice of experience here. I wish I hadn't made myself so crazy over it. In the end my PS knew what she was doing. I didn't want to be all boobs either and I think this size works. So far so good.
And I'm happy that I will never have to buy a padded bra or bikini top (and then fill them with boob pads on top of it) every again. A shame it's because of BC but .... mrenee68, what will the revision surgery entail? Just curious if you don't mind me asking.
0 -
2nd time...Beautiful story.
Cheryl and Melissa...everyone is different but I had exchange surgery on Fri and was driving in few days...tight is all. Best wishes!0 -
thanks jaeger..
0 -
Hi Melissa- I am also getting my exchange on March 19 and I am nervous/excited. I am looking forward to the relief from the weirdness of the tissue expanders and also reflecting on the reality that my body has been permanently changed in a significant way. I hope that the softness from the silicone will be a really noticeable change. I feel lucky at how my recovery from BMX has gone, but its also strange to realize that my pecs will be on top of my "boobs" forever.
So onward and upward!
0 -
Hi Melissa- I am also getting my exchange on March 19 and I am nervous/excited. I am looking forward to the relief from the weirdness of the tissue expanders and also reflecting on the reality that my body has been permanently changed in a significant way. I hope that the softness from the silicone will be a really noticeable change. I feel lucky at how my recovery from BMX has gone, but its also strange to realize that my pecs will be on top of my "boobs" forever.
So onward and upward!
0 -
Wow! Thank you all for all the great info. I love reading all your posts! Jaegergirl, you and I have a similar build, and I am only filled to 300 cc's, but my PS has ordered several different sizes for my exchange surgery, including a 500 and a 535, so you are proof that I can look forward to the size of my TEs or a little bigger.
Hugs and prayers to Cat24 and your exchange surgery today. Let us know how you're doing! And also to HLoveDay for your exchange tomorrow. Thoughts and prayers for you, sweetie.0 -
Surgery went well- not a lot of pain today. Not sure what size implant I got. I will be anxious to see how it feels. It's hard to tell through the surgical bra and dressing.
0 -
Good to hear from you, Cat24! Great that you have not had a lot of pain. Did they give you a card with your implant registration info on it? Hope you get good rest tonight.
0 -
Jaegergirl - my revision surgery is to fix my inframammary fold. During my exchange surgery my PS had to lower it so it would be level with my natural breast, but unfortunately it didn't completely hold. So now my implant is slipping down a little causing a bulge in that area. With my implant sliding down my upper pole has a huge dent instead of a nice slope. So my PS said if need be he can do some fat grafting at the same time.
I am hoping to have surgery in May or June, but for now I wait because I developed frozen shoulder and have been going to PT for a few weeks trying to take care of it before I have surgery again.0 -
I am also having exchange surgery March 19 post BMX for DCIS Jan 7, and I'm also nervous/excited. I appreciate all the insight from folks posting here- its always helpful to remember that there is a lot of wisdom and experience here on BC.org.
0 -
Just to update y'all... My exchange was Feb. 15th. On March 2nd, two weeks post-op, I updated my fb status to say "I really need to go for a run. I won't...but still...:/" My PS saw my status and responded right away, "You can. Just wear a good bra." I swear I heard angels singing! Ha!
I put on TWO sports bras-I promise NOTHING moved-and hit the treadmill for an easy 5 miles. It was glorious! Everything felt great! The next day, Lefty-which had a good amount of pocket work done, was a little sore, so I laid off for a couple of days until it got better. Since then, I've been running without any soreness or tenderness at all.
I am so happily surprised because she orginally told me that she didn't want me to run for a month. But when she said "Go," I was lacing my shoes up before I even shut down the computer! I am 3w5 days post-exchange now (Mar.13th) and feeling great!
I have seen the NP at my PS office, and see my PS on the 25th for a check up. The NP has already said that she thinks that I will be having another revision surgery to fix the outside edge of the pocket work that was done...it looks almost "scallopped" (and that's probably not even a good word to use, but I'm at a loss at how to explain it). My PS did say that I had a good amount of extra skin on that side so maybe that has something to do with it? Anyway, I knew that revisions were a possibility at the beginning, so I'm trying not to be too bummed about it.
Other than that, they look pretty good-if I do say so myself! The majority of the swelling has gone down, the fat grafted area around the tops of each implant is nice and soft, and size-wise they are pretty spot-on what I wanted. I will say that they do look "weird" when looking down at them, but in a mirror they look great. Looking down I can see more imperfections...but in saying that, I have to remember, that they will never be "perfect."
So that's what's going on around here! I'm keeping up with my kids (and hubby!) and anticipating what kind of new swimming suit top I'm going to get for this summer.
0 -
RunnerMom,
Lucky you on the running ..I had surgery the Same day as you but was told only walking for now no bouncing of any kind..Cant wait to go back to the gym i definetly will be asking when i go for my checkup on monday with the PS..I'm doing good. Still a little sore on the right where the cancer was but overall good..they look good ..like you I know they will never be perfect but my husband likes them he says they look natural so that's a plus..have fun running0 -
Runner I did a couple short jogging intervals on the treadmill today. Felt good.
I got the ok to wear an underwire if i want. Well I never wanted to before, but have been struggling with finding comfortable bras. Well no more....Warner's miracle underwire. The wire is flexible and wrapped in something, it was so comfortable I slept like a puppy!0 -
Runnermom: congrats on the permission to run! I know you runner freaks get pretty stir crazy when you're put on hold for too long for any reason
. And when I read your reference to 'an easy 5 miles' I laughed out loud! I'm not anywhere near as hard core as you so I can't believe that after being away from the road for so long it could possibly still be called 'an easy 5 miles'! You're awesome 
. I'm tickled pink to get in 2 miles on the treadmill without stopping but then I only run because it's faster than walking...lol. The longest I've ever run competitively was 5 miles in a marathon relay (and it was only like the 4th race of my life).0 -
I did a half marathon 25 years ago, can't wait to have it all behind me and be able to walk, run, swim and do cartwheels!
0 -
oooh....cartwheels! I haven't done a cartwheel in years but I'm gonna do one as soon as I get the chance (I'm at work right now)! I'm still in the TE stage but I have walked and run and will swim next week (St Maarten - YAY!!). I may decide yet to put a half-marathon on my bucket list, we'll see.
I'll have these four activities as a goal after exchange (oh happy day) when that comes.
Just so happens I managed to do 2.25 miles this morning at about an 11 minute mile pace - yee haw!!
Don't think poorly of me but my favorite running song right now is 'Porn Star Dancing' (lol) - it's an absolutely perfect beat for my abilities. My kids (23 and 25) would be totally shocked to hear me singing along all the way through it (well, actually, lip-syncing - I couldn't sing that one out loud at the gym!!). And my favorite running song is 'Casual Sex'. My daughter actually put them on my IPOD because she knows I gotta have music but I doubt she expected I'd be able to remember the lyrics. Keep on truckin' everyone!
0 -
Whoa. Finally got my Callanetics DVD in the mail and started this morning. Can't wait to see if I have results, but even if I don't end up with modeling career offers (HA!!) it was a fantastic stretch. I feel relaxed! (Miracle for me. I'm very tense.) That is not at all to say it wasn't intense. When I finished my legs were shaky. I'm actually looking forward to doing it again.
Just thought I'd mention it here as I know others were looking for ways to strengthen and tone without the "upper body/pec fear" we have now. :-)
There were only two times when I slightly modified my arm position so that I didn't feel a pull in my IMF. I'm still (4 weeks post exchange today!) feeling some soreness there in the same place on both sides. The focus is more on core/legs/behind.0 -
Correction.....my favorite WALKING song is Casual Sex.
0 -
I know this is probably not the correct forum but I wanted to know when you start counting you survival year. Is it from the day you were diagnosed, the day you finished all treatment, the day of your mastectomy or the day the reconstruction was finished? Just curious what everyone's thinking was.
0 -
Hadn't really thought about it. Good question!!!
I think I will count from BMX because for me, that is when the cancer was gone.0 -
I was thinking the same thing. BMX was my only treatment. Lymph nodes not involved so there was no chemo or radiation. I guess my 1st survival year started when my BMX was done around 7:00pm on 11-5-12.
0 -
cat24, How is your recovery going? Hopefully you are doing well.
mrenee68, thanks for sharing. When I hear about revision surgeries, I always wonder why they need to be done. My PS had to move my left down some and I've noticed it doesn't have the fold like the right. For now I am going to chalk it up to being more swollen on that side in that area. I hope that's the case. My right side is weird though. You can feel the creases in the implant on the sides and on the side closer to my cleavage, you can definitely see it's not as "filled in" as the the left. Again, I am not going to panic as I am only 1 week (tomorrow) post op. I see my PS next week so I'll be sure to ask her. If it's going to be this way permanently, I don't know what my chances are that she will/can fix it. I don't know how that works.
RunnerMom, I am sooo jealous that you got to go running. =-) I am not an avid runner, but I picked it up the "bug" last summer. Haven't been running since my initial biopsy in October because I was sore from that, then had the wire biopsy (not fun) a couple weeks later and by the time I "recovered" from that the weather got crappy (I don't have room for a treadmill or eliptical and I'm too much of a baby to go out in the cold LOL). My PS said I can't do anything (which includes working out) for 6 weeks and it's frustrating. I haven't worked out in forever (and I was big into going to the gym and then when I got laid off a couple years back and had to cancel my membership, I was big into P90X) and and I can definitely tell. Here I have foobs to sport in a bikini but the rest of me makes me feel like wearing a wet suit! After reading about your potential revision surgery, as I mentioned above, I will be curious to hear my PSs thoughts on whether or not she can/will fix things. I know I won't have "perfect" foobs, but after going through all of this, I hope to have something better looking than they are now.
As for me and my recovery, I went back to work yesterday and I've been w/o any type of pain reliever for 3 days now. I can't believe how me, the biggest baby of all time with the lowest pain tolerance around, is not in any pain. My husband is even amazed. I have a couple of sore spots that get me when I move a certain way (or when I "run" up my stairs" but other than that, I'm back to "normal." And last night I was able to sleep on my side for the first time since my BMX in December. Gotta love those victories!
Happy Thursday, ladies!
0 -
SweetCaroline- first I started singing the song! Second, I actually asked my Onc when can I say that I'm cancer free. She smiled and said as of today 6/13/12. That's was the day I got my results from all of my scans. So 6/13/13 will be 1 yr clean if everything goes well. I will be begging for another CT scan just for peace of mind.
0 -
Sweet Caroline, what's the meaningful date for you? Had my mx on Halloween, that's when I feel like the cancer gone from my body (no chemo or rads needed) & so easy to remember. That's the cancerversary date for me.
0
