Exchange City

Hi all, I had my exchange yesterday afternoon and am waking up "on the squishy side". It is fabulous to be one of Team Squishy, after having that one massive expander removed.



I agree with the others who have posted, this is a MUCH easier surgery (and recovery) than the mastectomy. I have no drains, was sent home in the yucky surgical bra, and just took it off. My ps said I can wear a soft sports bra for support. I look pretty even and just have the one scar with steri-strips. Very happy.



Violet, yes my throat is sore too, but tea and honey are helping. This is typical from the inubation/anesthesia. Hang in there!



Thursday, you need a new PS. They dont always have the best bedside manner but this one takes the cake. AND it SHOULD be all about you. Men are such babies sometimes.



Ashell, congratulations on being on team squishy as well!



Cindyloo, I hope your fat grafting "takes" as much as possible and that the pain is super temporary.



Hugs to all!

Thursday - So sorry you've been through so much   I agree with the response above, I wouldn't let this PS do any more.  If there's a possibility that you would consider getting another opinion you would want to be sure that the reconstruction is as good as possible before getting the nipples done, right?

You should have been given medical device ID cards with both your TEs and your implants.  That usually happens when you are discharged from the hospital.  If you did not receive those and your PS's office won't give you information you are entitled to (red flag) you can always request your surgical records from the hospital.  There are stickers that are removed from the packaging of any medical device (pacemaker, tissue expander, breast implant, etc) and should be included in the surgical notes.  Bypass the PS office and deal directly with the medical records department.  If you don't want all the records you might ask them just for copies of the pages with the TE and implant ID information.

Many women have moved on to new surgeons.  You deserve to be happy with your outcome.

All the best! 

Thanks for the tip sciencegal, yeah I think it is just contact dermatitis. I think it was from the tape cuz I also have a nice rash on my hand from the iv tape. Just put some hydrocortisone on, helped a little,!-'s changed the tape. Also took a peak at the girls, they look pretty good here's to the drop and fluff making them look even better lol

Thanks Mamatwinz, i have a sore under my lip too- figured the anesthesia tube got stuck to it somehow. My mouth was so dry when I woke up, not surprising.

I have the eye rash as well, that is a mystery. maybe they put something in or over the eyes to keep them moist? I am a scientist but work on the research side, so have never seen what goes on in the OR.



However, these minor things will pass, huh? we have all been through worse (like chemo!)



Hang in there everyone!

I'm thinking the eye rash is from the the mask. The upper edge would hit just under the eye.



Yesterday they had paper surgical gowns with layers. They attach a hose to it that blows warm air into it. There is a controller and the patient controls the heat. Kinda like the old fashioned hair dryers, but for your whole body.



It was awesome.

Just had my exchange 2 days ago. Got nutrelle 410's. how long did you all where a sports bra? When did your implants relax? Thx for the info in advance

Bishops

CindyLou...> thanks for the revision warning about pain.....I thought it would be more painful, but now I know.....

My exchange surgery was super super easy and not painful at all, or was my BMX for that matter a #3 at most on the pain scale......HOWEVER my TE surgery was so so painfully bad for about 3 weeks I lived in bed, and cried a lot, it was only after expansions I felt relief.

I'm  set for revision for July 8, as I saw my PS today and will see him one more time before revision surgery. He said I have dropped very well at 5 weeks out, and I will need some skin removal for "Shar Pei" for RT foob. Fat graft and maybe even freeing and "redraping" my skin,"screaming muppet mouth" has left my left foob,and "left the mark of ZORRO"....a "Z" on LEFT FOOB

I am not fixing my defective tummy tuck this time around it would be a 6 hr surgery, and my eye fix  (lids and bags) was not discussed as my former eye doctor (whose has my documentation that it is medically necessary for upper eye lids) hasn't been his office in 3 1/2 weeks (I heard he is/was ill, and he needs to "sign off" on my request for MY medical records he won't be in until next Wed....never heard of that! (he won't be in until next Wed) Certainly doesn't stop him from selling GROUPONS every few months for lasix surgery at his other office.

So eyes may have to wait until the "nips" surgery.

Ladies with the eye rash-------->

I am very allergic to tagaderm (what they use for IV, sometime eyes, surgical sites or ports, and to hold sensors on during sleep studies) as they want your eyes CLOSED as they can dry out if not taped shut...I had cataract surgery on both eyes and on the first eye they put tagaderm all over the left side of my face and I was a mess c I had a black eye from an incompetent anetheiologist injection to numb my eye, and blisters/then scabs from tagaderm ( in between I had an abnormal mamo) so my Radiologist delayed my sterotactic biopsy until I was done with both my eye surgeries and that is when I breast cancer was DX.

After my BMX they ask what was wrong with my eyes and I said OH NO!....they must have used tagaderm, even though I had a RED ALLERGY ARMBAND ON, that had tagaderm, tape and demarol written on it.

Ashel, Sciencegal, Bishops--------> W-E-L-C-O-M-E  TO THE SQUISHY SIDE

Thursday-------> dump your doc!

We are all special women and we deserve the BEST

hugs,

Di

tina, speaking of that, dud u guys have a tin foil-ish type lined hat fir surgery? apparently to try to maintain body heat during surgery due to long surgery..oh it was hilarious..as soon as tbey brought it to me, my hubby, sister n dad all took out their phonrs for a pic..oh and i also had to have this huge sacral ulcer barrier pad on due to long OR time..boy its all coming back to me..did u guys have this too?  i thought maybe eye rash was ftom tape, but the rash n fat lip was only after exchange..i thpught dang did somrone drop me in OR?  :0

i wish u exchsnge a.d revision ladirs a speedy, uneventful recovery!  

Hi ladies just curious if anyone else has Mentor smooth round high profile memory gels? I'm at 400 & 450 cc and was wondering if anyone has similiar implants on the picture forum that I can look at? I'm 5'4, 150 lbs, 30" rib cage.



Just curious to see if mine may "fluff" out more over the coming weeks! Happy with the natural look and feel of them but thinking they are a tad smaller on me than my Sientra TE.



Jen

Hi ladies. I hope everyone is feeling better. Cindyloohoo, Im sorry that the lipo for your fat graphing is hurting you. My surgery is Thursdy and Im starting to worry a little. Ive had so much pain across my chest anddown my side.The doctors dont think it has to do with the expanders but im worried. He deflated my radiated side and I feel some relief in my breast area but still have sharp pains in armpit and side. Im worried that my new implants will hurt too. I also wanted to ask why some get revisions after they get there exchanges. I have heard some women even say first or second revision. I dont want anymore surgeries after thos exchange. Is there something else that I might have to do? And if the doctors are right and i just have pulled muscles than will the surgery damage them worse? Can you tell that I am starting to freak out? lol. healing hugs to all

Melmcbee... Please, take a deep breath...about the pains with TE's, I can SO relate. Had all kinds of pains no one could explain. I had a constant pain in my back under my shoulder, a sharp stabbing pain in my arm pit especially when I got cold (more so when I walked down freezer/refrigerated aisles at the grocery store) plus lots of the typical TE pain. Was concerned I would have these the rest of my life. However, all of these magically disappeared after the exchange, so I'm hoping the same for you.



As far as revision for me, i know I posted somewhere so if I'm repeating please ignore. Prior to mx, my breasts were always very wide at the base, not much projection. After mx, there was a big flap of skin under arm pit. This would fill with fluid, was told because my lymph system was compromised. Manual lymph drainage did wonders, but with the TE's in I couldn't quite reach across my chest with my opposite hand to massage (couple inches short), and couldn't reach with same side hand. My PT would massage a bit each session and this helped tremendously. Asked my DH multiple times to help, even took him to see how PT did it, but he never (not once) helped. DD did once when she was home on weekend, I think it was difficult emotionally for her. Anyway, after mx PS said she probably couldn't correct this during exchange (can't remember the reason now). Sure enough, most times it's just uncomfortable with my arm rubbing against it but I can tolerate it. However, I noticed that during the hot weather we've had, it fills up (almost like I need to perspire but it's not works correctly) and becomes quite painful. Thats's the primary reason for exchange. There's also a bit of skin under the other arm pit but hasn't caused any pain so while I'm under PS suggested to do that too. I'm not expecting perfection, my foobs look good enough.

Sorry, seem to be wordy tonight and can't edit on this thing correctly. Sciencegal and Ashell, DD is very much into science. Silver lining of my bc, that's all she's known as I was dx'ed before she was 3. She's been researching bc for years: all thru high school, went to state science fair, wrote a book... She's a freshman at college, majoring in chemistry and biology (starting at community college to help with costs as she plans to become MD in bc field) and she's in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program at school. They created a position in the program where she's researching scholarships, mentorships, and internships for those in the program (including herself). So if anyone knows of anything to help in this area, please PM me. I've told her that she's taken the lemons in her life and is making lemon meringue pie from them (lots more work than lemonade but so much sweeter and better).

Melmcbee...after my BMX they had to take a small piece of skin under righty for a better margin. Because of that she didn't settle as much as lefty.



It was very noticeable to me...so ps removed some skin from under lefty to push her up to match. She is a perfectionist so the fat grafting was to fill in the upper pole a bit. They look really GOOD...insert big foolish grin here.



My TEs were awful, never stopped hurting. I don't have a lot of upper body fat so they sat on my ribs and were excruciating. I'm sure that is what is happening with you. The implants will be sooooo much better.

Thursday we pray for you too. Lots going on in your life. I wish I was closer, to go to your new PS with you!

YES we deserve to be happy with our results, and to keep going until we are. I am sure hoping that your skin will be ok and you will find a new and understanding PS. You go girl!!!

Also, I dont think this site is negative at all. I am glad you can come here for support.



Cindyloo- oh gosh yes the implants are better than the TEs. I am two days into having my implant now (unilateral) and it is really great. I Only have a teeny bit of pain were my PS had to do a touch of pocket work. The implant does not hurt like the TE did, at all. Keep looking forward to this point- your exchange will come!



2nd time around, great for your DD! She certanly grew up with the inspiration. Good for both of you, that she has turned your journey into her motivation. I lecture for the STEM programs up here in NorCal and the bay area.

The state colleges have a wonderful program for their best science students who want to do regnerative medicine. Researching breast cancer stem cells definitely counts. These are the "Bridges" programs and are funded by our california Proposition 71. Most of the larger CSUs have them. I have interacted with students from CSU humboldt, CSu sacramento, and CSU San Francisco. There are plenty in southern CA as well.

These programs pay the student a small stipend for cost of living while they are studying. Look up "California Institute for Regenerative Medicine" - our prop 71 agency. They have a great website and you should be able to find these programs in your area. Good luck to your DD, and to other kids who are similarly inspired by their moms', aunts, or grandma's journey. Good kids!



Also, for any of you who have high school students with similar interests, there are CIRM "creativity programs" for those young people. These are all only in california high schools sadly, because we voted in the prop 71 that funded the agency. I wish every state had training programs like this. it is really wonderful to be involved.



Teaching is important to me, so thanks for the stories of young motivated people- They are our future!!

Hello friends!! Got my nipples and fat grafting yesterday. I have those silly little nipple shields...i feel like i'm bionic. The fat grafting...OUCH. Why anyone would willingly get liposuction is beyond me.

Steph