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Exchange City

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  • THERESA33
    THERESA33 Posts: 8
    edited September 2013

    Thanks sweetandspecial. Im not allowed to wear a real bra yet. Once  I get the new girls some good lift and support I might feel the way you do

  • gottabefree
    gottabefree Posts: 6
    edited September 2013

    AnnaCanada - had my bmx on 2/5/13 and having exchange surgery on 9/5/13 (tomorrow - yippee!!)  Somehow I feel a little more anxious for the exchange surgery than I did with the bmx...??  But definitely looking forward to getting these dang TE's out!!!Laughing

  • TLR
    TLR Posts: 35
    edited September 2013

    Gottabefree, good luck tomorrow. This surgery is so much easier and recovery is much faster. Your in my prayers.

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Posts: 572
    edited September 2013

    Good luck tomorrow, gottabefree! Update us when you can, but first get some rest!

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    Good luck, Gottabefree. You'll soon be on the squishy side!! YAY!!

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited September 2013

    Tissue on left side failed after 8/23 bilateral mastectomy & immediate reconstruction with implants. Other side fine. Some infection but fever gone after switching to high dose of IV Vancomycin 1.5 GM. In hospital 7 days. Home with PICC line and continued IV Vancomycin for 5 days now. Plastic surgeon going back in 9/6 to debried dead tissue, remove implant & replace with expander. Hoping enough good tissue to be able to put back implant after healing. If not, both implants changed to smaller ones. Anyone else have complication like this?

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited September 2013

    sandra4611 - Sorry you've had a difficult reconstruction thus far.  I went the tissue expander route and had necrosis and healing issues, but I never developed an infection.  I almost lost an expander, but everything finally healed and now all's well.  I didn't have direct-to-implant surgery, but there is a thread on BCO that might be helpful:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/736507?page=105#post_3658840

    I hope all goes well with the upcoming surgery and you get back on track.  Best wishes!

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited September 2013

    Sandra - so sorry you've had all these complications. This process/journey is tough enough to manage without those added headaches and worries.  Best of luck on the 6th for a successfull surgery.

    Gottabefree - Anxiety about the exchange is pretty common so you're not alone there.  You probably won't see this until after surgery but here's wishing you both a successful surgery and a recovery as pain free and uncomplicated as mine was.  Even if you have minor pain, you'll find this recovery much, much, much easier than the BMX/TE placement.

  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Posts: 85
    edited September 2013

    Ok my ladies been following you .... Just wanted to update you that I have finish radiation and PS said to wait a month to see how my skin heals... If its dark we need to see different options??? I don't want other options .... I'm gonna try to massage the area every day and place vitamin E ... Please my ladies tell me there's light at the end of the tunnel it's fun having one TE on!!!! Errrrrr

  • Rose63
    Rose63 Posts: 91
    edited September 2013

    Gottabefree - Welcome to the Squishy side! Hope you're feeling good after your exchange today.

    Sandra - so sorry you are having to go through all this! I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well for you in your surgery tomorrow.

  • Ginabobina
    Ginabobina Posts: 2
    edited September 2013

    I am finally getting my nipples at the end of the month, excited to get this part over.

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    Well ladies, I had my post-op appt. today and everything is going great. I had my drains removed!! YAY!! Can go back to work half days next week. I can get my "tittoos" after the drop and fluff and settling is done.



    Whippetmom was on the money. He put in the exact implants that she recommended for me and I am very pleased.



    Gottabefree: I hope all is well for you.



    Sandra, I am really sorry you are having to deal with all this. I hope it gets better really quick for you and you can get on the road to a normal life again. Hugs.

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Posts: 1,669
    edited September 2013

    Chinney - YAY on the drain tube removal Smile.  Absolutely a cause for celebration!!!!

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    Thanks Sweet: Another step to getting back to "normal" :)

  • ndroby
    ndroby Posts: 16
    edited September 2013

    Chinney,



    I'm doing a happy dance for you. Drains are a nuisance, glad they're out!!

    Saw the PS today. My girls look good. He said I won't get any smaller. Yikes!! My DH sure is happy. Says he's living in the Himalayas now!! His sense of humor has helped me through this tough time.



    Sandra...I had skin necrosis and so many other issues. I did treatment with Silvadene cream and couldn't expand for several weeks. My skin was so thin at the original mastectomy that they had to use my chest muscles (anterior Serratus) to hold expanders in place. A second surgery was needed to detach the muscles as they were causing my nipples to move to the sides...New teardrop expanders...more drains...another fill...now had final exchange last week. It's worth it now.



    Don't lose hope. Praying for you.



    Nancy

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited September 2013

    Thanks Tina. How long did it take for you to heal?

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited September 2013

    Ginabobina,There is a page for NIPPLE RECONSTRUCTION.....join us over there

    I am going to get my nips in Oct.

    Di

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited September 2013

    Nancy,

    Oh no, oh no. You REALLY had a tough time! Mine is a piece of cake compared to you. How long did it take to finally heal? I'll ask about silvadine cream tomorrow when I go for surgery #2.

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited September 2013

    patriciahurtado - YAY on finishing your radiation - one more hurdle behind you!  What other "options" did your PS mention?  A Lat flap or something like that?  Sorry you've had a difficult course :(

    sandra4611 - My complications were due to a combination of a bad reaction to the blue dye used for sentinel node localization and the general circulation risks of nipple-sparing MX.  I dealt with necrosis, tissue resections, wound packing, etc. for about 3-1/2 months.  At one point they weren't sure if the TE was exposed so I was scheduled to have it removed, but on close inspection the PS decided it was probably OK so we waited it out..whew!  I ended up losing part of that nipple and some of the areola and adjacent tissue.  Things ultimately healed up pretty nicely and nothing else had to be done in that area. 

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    Sweet: I am celebrating!!! :)



    ndroby: My DH loves mine too! I've been trying to lose some weight and I'm hoping they'll look even better once I can slim down the mid section some. Hehe!! :) I know it'll be hard with this AI I'm taking cause weight gain is a SE. I'll have to really stay on top of it.

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Posts: 1,750
    edited September 2013

    Tina, that sounds awful. You went through a lot and came through it with a positive attitude. I want to be you when I grow up! Kiss

  • tinat
    tinat Posts: 2,235
    edited September 2013

    sandra - I feel so fortunate that I was diagnosed at an early stage.  I also have lots of support, good medical insurance, and the greatest team of docs to guide me through this.  It hasn't been smooth sailing with reconstruction and the oncology side of things, but I know I've got it pretty easy compared to many others.  It's been a terrible and amazing experience :) 

  • Jesslynn805
    Jesslynn805 Posts: 2
    edited September 2013

    I have my last fill next week. I'll be a little over 500cc's. How long after my last fill can I expect my exchange surgery to be? Looking for what y'all had- Also wondering what to expect as far as time off of work, side effects, pain, mobility issues with my exchange surgery.

    Thanks :)

  • sparkey3200
    sparkey3200 Posts: 8
    edited September 2013

    Jesslyn,

    My PS is waiting approx 3 months before my exchange surgery.  My last fill was 08/02, 600cc's each side.  I have an appt 09/24 and I think we will be discussing the next step, so hopefully by the end of October I will have my new girls!!!!.   I cannot wait as this time with the TE's has been just awful!!  They are so uncomfortable!!!!

    Hope this helps somewhat.

    Sparkey3200 

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    Jesslyn: it was about six weeks for me. I had my last fill on July 16th and my exchange on Aug. 28th. My PS was waiting on approval from my Insurance company and as soon as they got that they scheduled my exchange. It probably depends on different things (how well you did with the fills, the thickness of the skin, what types of treatment you had, insurance, etc.).

  • Jesslynn805
    Jesslynn805 Posts: 2
    edited September 2013

    I hope soon! This last fill killed my back which in turn has made my neck hurt and is giving me headaches!!!!

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Posts: 173
    edited September 2013

    For your sake, I hope so too!! I know I hated my TEs too. They felt like turtle shells.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Posts: 88
    edited September 2013

    Sandra,

    Same thing. Went direct to implant, thin skin, holes in skin, infection, antibiotics, implant removed, expander placed in left then same thing in right 2 weeks later. Bad skin was cut away. Last surgery was Aug. 31. Going really slow with fills and just want a little shape. Had 300 cc last time. I'm open to smaller! Have some signs of thinning skin on left again. You are not alone with this.



    L

  • AnnaCanada
    AnnaCanada Posts: 4
    edited September 2013

    Gottabefree, hope you are well rested and healing nicely after your TE exchange. I look forward to hearing about your recovery.



    Thanks to everyone, as always, for being so encouraging and giving great advice.



    I think my dread for the upcoming surgery (maybe for others as well) is going into it already familiar with the challenges that come with a mastectomy. I was somewhat naive going into that first surgery. The drains, the nausea and vomiting, the horrible sedated feeling from the pain medication, the drains, the complete breast numbness, being physically weak, the iron bra sensation, the drains. Oh, did I mention the drains? Ha Ha. Others can tell you about those things but I truly didn't understand until I experienced it firsthand.



    I feel so pathetic and whiny. I completely broke down on my last day of work and was so embarrassed as it was witnessed by multiple people. There are so many strong, beautiful women going through much worse. It is time for me to shut up already.

  • ndroby
    ndroby Posts: 16
    edited September 2013

    Sandra,



    I healed over 3 months. Then they started expanding. I looked like I got kicked by a mule after my initial mastectomy was done. Silvadene helped a lot. I will have tattooing to shade in the lost skin tone from necrosis, maybe sometime in 2014.



    Nancy

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