Exchange City
Comments
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I was just looking at the April dates and suffering from a little exchange envy
. I ditto Cheryl_e's hugs for Cathyann and Tonyan this week. May the force be with you! For the rest of the April crew......hold on just a bit longer and I hope your patience is rewarded with much happiness and very little discomfort!Winterapril: I didn't know there were two types of TE placement. I believe mine would be the total submuscular placement, though. When my PS drew a sketch of it for me he indicated the TE's would be beneath the pecs and it appeared that they would be next to the ribs, he never mentioned anything about partially beneath the pecs. As far as restrictions go, as with soooo many other things reconstruction related, each PS probably has his/her own opinion. My TEs were placed 11-5-12 and my PS gave me the green light for everything in early January. No upper body restrictions at all, running, biceps, triceps, pushups, whatever. Other ladies, though, have PSs who don't want them to ever do much upper body work ever, ever again. It's probably best to talk to your PS to see how he/she feels about it for your particular case and whether it would be dependent on the type of TE placement. Best wishes to you as you make your decision!
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a little off topic....but does anyone else do mild hyperbaric therapy?.....I absolutely love it, I always feel refreshed and renewed afterwards.....
massage is out for me as I had one really bad experience with a massage therapist was a lympthadema (sp?) speciality way before I ever ever even thought I would ever have breast cancer.... I had back problems (probably because of my big big boobs) and was refered to her.....it hurt so bad I was beggging her to stop, finally I just rolled my self off the table and said I AM DONE!
(My previous Massage therapist was wonderful but moved away.)
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Sweetandspecial, thanks for your information. The more often used technique (probably yours as well) is to use the Acellular Dermal Matrix jointly with the Pec to receive complete coverage. My PS mentioned that there is a slightly increased risk of infection there and since I'm small breasted, she thinks I'm a candidate for the full muscle coverage with the Pec and the Serratus Anterior muscle. It sounds appealing though the concern is the muscle damage to the Serratus Anterior. Hopefully I'm not the only one still considering this maybe "outdated?" procedure.... Thanks again for your kind response!!!
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ccjj~ Thank you so much for the information that you shared with me about the pocket work and resulting fat pad. I had an idea that they were connected and I thank you for validating my fear! I truly do desire to lose some weight and if they do not go away as a result of weight loss I will pursue having it fixed. Please DO let me know how it goes after your new PS corrects it. I may not wait to shed 20lbs. if you have immediate success. Ugh! These doctors can make me nuts!!! I just want to be it to be OVER already. I always say.., we are never DONE, it's just OVER FOR NOW!!!
Thanks again for sharing that insightful information!
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Cathyann & Tonyan, best wishes for a successful surgery with minimal pain! Please keep us updated on how you're doing! ((Hugs))
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Best wishes to Cathyann and Tonyan..! yipeee!!
Cheryl thanks for info on pain re: expander fill..that helps a lot in my mind..can definitely relate to that! So how do you feel now..sounds pretty good except for restrictions??
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Good luck to this weeks exchanges cathyann and tonyan! You will do great! It's much easier than mx. Let us know how you are feeling when you are up to it.
I am two weeks out today from exchange and only restriction is really no heavy lifting.
Hope all goes well with your surgeries too!
Melissa0 -
Melissa-
When were you allowed to drive after your exchange?
Di
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Di2012, it will be two weeks for me tomorrow, and I feel great! I still get some zingers now and then, but I have more range of motion now than I did with TEs, I can sleep flat and on my sides, no underarm cavern anymore..., I am sure I could go on! I absolutely LOVE my breasts and the job my PS did. They have great fullness, are the perfect width apart, and are so soft compared to the TEs. I went to Nordstrom and got my bras. They are Wacoal 34 DD, and they seem to really keep the breasts in place.
My PS said I could drive last Tuesday when I saw him, which was 6 days after exchange. I didn't actually drive myself anywhere until Friday, though. My hubby was off work and drove us when we went out. Also, he told me no vigorous exercise until 4 weeks out. I have been walking at least three miles every day and feel like I could do more aerobic activity, but as we all know, that doesn't mean I should just yet. Trying to be patient, as I have a few pounds I'd like to work off that I acquired during the 4 months after BMX.
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Oh, Cheryl_e....Wow, your description of such happiness with the exchange results made me burst into tears
! But it's a good cry. My heart is so, so, so full of joy and happiness for you!!! I'm sitting here with a blinding headache because I'm on a liquid diet today (colonoscopy prep) and I just don't do well without solid food 
. But, despite the headache, I'm getting TONS of housework done. I think I'm working in high gear because I don't have a clue when the digestive explosion will hit and I don't want to just sit around and wait for it....lol.Winterapril: I'm gonna have to google all those interesting terms you're using so I can get a visual of the options you've mentioned!
It's a sunny, windy, cold day in West Michigan. We had a dusting of snow again last night but I know warmer weather will be here soon. Thinking of all you ladies whether pre- or post-exchange and wishing you all the best life has to offer!
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Thanks Cheryl......Oh I can't wait!!! You sound very please! I am a bit nervous about my results because I know I will still have extra skin on the bottom sides of my breast (too much SKIN sparring by my BS) and fat pads that stuck out of my bra on the sides and that surgery is 3 months from April 15.
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cheryl, i too am a 34 DD in wacol and chantelle. My ps thought the 34 was a bit loose and the greatest girl at nordstrom started me with a 32DDDD, but the 32 DDD fit better but I bought the 34DD and promised her I'd use the tightest hook except to sleep. The 32DDD fit ok, but it gave boobies on my back! Sadly, I look like a C at best in clothes. In fact, when I went into victoria secret and she asked what size I was wearing and I said 34DD she looked at my chest and snickered then measured me a 36C. I didn't get anything there. Their bras never fit me right. I still need a comfy cotton one for sleeping. If they move closer together, I will be really happy. I am mostlly really happy at this point. I showed them to my freind with a high bc risk and she was thrilled that reconstruction could look so good. There are appearing bigger as I lose weight which is fun, since I always lost it in the breasts first.
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cheryl remind me again what implants you had... and also how did you feel your TEs sat on your chest, high, low, wide, etc??
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Di2012... I had exchange on Tuesday. My husband took off the rest of the week to drive my kids back and forth to school. My ps said if I felt good the first Monday I could drive my kids to school and see. And I drove myself to my followup on Tuesday and was fine after that so just listen to your ps.
I had no pain either. Never took my pain meds but if you need them def take them!0 -
Thanks Melissa,
So I guess hubby will be my driver for at least a few days post exchange, or until I am off of drugs for 24hrs.
So did you also feel a tightness for a few days like a BIG fill?
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My mom is coming the following day and staying a few days to help with the twins, school, lunches, activities, etc. (Wed-Sat), so that should be a big help..hoping I will be doing fairly well by then...
..and I LOOOOVE her cooking! Not great for weight loss, but YUUUMMMY!0 -
Sweetandspecial, not much longer for you to also feel the relief and joy of exchange, I hope! So sorry you are doing the colon prep today, and I hope it all goes well. I have to do that in a couple of years. Is this your first colonoscopy?
Brownlee, I wonder if VS measured you a 36 C as more a convenience to them, as that's such a generic size and easier to find and sell just any bra in? I have heard they are not as good with fitting and placing women in the right bra there, so I didn't even try going there.
Di, I received Mentor ULTRA high profile 480 cc implants. I would highly recommend them for ladies with narrower chests but who still want great projection. My TEs were a pretty good placement, didn't have too much of the side boob effect some have. They were about 2 fingers apart in the middle, but he brought them closer together at exchange. I had a lot of upper pole fullness, which I think is just the nature of TEs. I still have that, but it looks so much more natural and gradual, if that makes sense. I have pictures on the picture forum if you get access to it. I haven't uploaded any of the exchange yet. I still have some bruising in between my breasts, so I'll wait on that to subside before I post "after" pics.0 -
OH, how i have missed you all!! Sorry i've been MIA--we've been CRAZY busy! Out little one (9-year old daughter) was in a huge production of "Annie"--she had shows F-Sun every weekend in March (and the rehearsals to match!). THEN volleyball started for our oldest daughter (11), and after Annie, the little one switched gyms (she's also a competitive gymnast). We've been ridiculously busy!!
So, on the boob-front: I LOVE THESE THINGS. Holy cow...is it EVER FABULOUS to have squishy boobies!! Mine have rounded out nicely--still a little sharpei boob on the left cleavage-line, but I don't care. I go back to the PS next week for my SIX WEEK CHECKUP!! We'll talk about sharpei and fat grafting and nipple creation. I still have not purchased new bras. I'm wearing Victorias Secret underwire sportsbras in a 34D. They have great support, comfy to sleep in, keep the "girls" in place, and i can wear them when I workout. I need to take a trip to Nordstroms! I randomly tried on a few bras at Target, and quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to do this myself. They're just SHAPED differently, you know? I think i'll give it a few more weeks, then off to bra shop i'll go... I've been wearing a bikini in my backyard--yes, you can see my scar and the sharpei part, but i don't care.
You know what's awesome?? I've always worn bikinis and i could never wear a cute, string bikini top without a KILLER headache from holding up my saggy 'ol boobs. Now that the boobies hold themselves up, I can wear one! It's the little things ladies, the little things.Exercise: Back to full-on workouts, started personal training people again, and am feeling great. Tried pushups for the first time today--did 28, then decided maybe it wasn't a good idea. I'll ask my PS next week. I started getting a burning feeling in my sternum--maybe because when I do pushups, the boobs try to migrate to my armpits?? Not sure. I'm really slacking on getting additional pics up on the forum; i'll try to make a better effort.
Fun news: THe dh and I are headed to Mexico in May to celebrate me being cancer free and a belated 6th wedding anniversary. And, to go back a few pages, I don't tan. I had melanoma 3x before I was 30, then again last March. I'm Irish, a redhead, and burn like metal in a microwave. SPF 100+ is my friend.
In my case, the melanoma is genetic, but i'm sure the fact that I lied in a tanning bed every-other-day for the better part of a year while in undergrad school didn't help my situation. Probably exacerbated it, for sure. Oh well. I should buy stock in Juergan's Natural Glow. I go through that stuff like crazy.So excited for you ladies that are up for exchange this month!
Steph
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Dear Stewbie,
My PS told me to NEVER do anymore exercises that isolate the pectoralis muscles... It will push the implants down and out under the armpits. Push ups were mentioned as a specific no no. I'd hold off on the push ups.0 -
Sweet and special,
Recovery from bc and colonoscopy too? Wow! You're a super woman! Let me know how it goes, am overdue. Maybe will schedule weeks after recovered from exchange. Too much discomfort now to have done it before. Your turn for exchange will be here soon, thought I was the only one envious of those who had surgery after me but exchange before. Be sure to let us know so we can be your cheerleader! Hoping your procedure goes well!0 -
Di. I actually didn't feel that full feeling like after a fill. I think I was stretched out pretty good with my te's. my ps said the implants fit perfectly. She used mentor high profile 800ccs in each side. Sounds big but really not for me. Maybe once I lose some weight they will look bigger. But she moved them closer together which was not like my te's were. I asked her to do that. I really have no bruising or anything just a steri strip over each 2in incision on each side.
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Di2012, don't know what you consider a BIG fill, but I got a couple 160 cc ones. The fuller I got (and I have 700 cc TE's which surprisingly aren't very big on me, a friend has smaller ones but has nicer boobies with much bigger projection) the more I hurt. If I was to do it again, would NEVER do that much again, smaller fills closer together would have been smarter. After those big ones, I had a bit of pain (but then I'm a sissy) and had to delay fills after the later ones. Slow and steadier is my advice. Are you getting excited for exchange?
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My PS had a bad experience with a patient after she developed an abcessed tooth. The TEs became infected after her dental work and they had to be removed. Now he recommends antibiotics prior to dental work (including cleanings) for patients with both TEs and implants. My dentist prescribes Amoxicillin and I take the caps 1 hours before my appointment.
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So happy to read the success stories here. It's encouraging!
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Hi ladies! I've been reading and following your stories, and its time to jump in. I have Sientra dual chamber 470 TEs, currently filled to 520 ccs. My PS will do the exchange six months after BMX, so I'm hoping for early-mid May.
We are snowbirds who spend winters in FL. I've had a PS here (he was my main PS's chief resident a couple of years back) doing the fills. I've got one more 60cc fill to go, probably next week. Then we pack up and head up north to Minnesota, open the house there and get ready for exchange. I can't wait!!0 -
2nd_time: Colonoscopy prep actually hasn't been as bad as I was expecting. This is my first so I really wasn't sure at all what to expect except a thorough cleansing. Aside from needing to stay close to the bathroom it's been relatively painless. I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am and am planning on a monster cheeseburger and fries for lunch! I've had about all the juice, jello and broth I can take!
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S&S: nice reward! Hoping it goes quickly & painless! Btw, see you're on Arimidex (I'm on generic Anastrozole. Do you have any SE's?)
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@CrystalAnn - My PS told me the same thing...No pushups ever. Not a problem. I wasn't a big fan of them anyway!
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2nd_time: I'm drawing a blank....what are SE's?
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Side Effects.
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