Exchange City
Comments
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Di2012 Yes i do, they just feel like things on my chest pulling me down. Im not going yeeeah i have foobs, could be because ive always had big pretty boobs im not too impressed with the fake versions.
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Hi ladies haven't been on for awhile. Been consumed with work and trying to get a somewhat "normal" life back. So happy to hear of all my friends that have crossed over to the squishy side!
Greencow my heart broke when I read your posts! You have waited too long to be disappointed. Please don't stop until you get answers and the results you deserve!!
Mamasix so happy to hear you are through exchange! Double the size right after surgery does not sound right. Mine were both larger and swollen right after but not by that much. Please keep us posted on what your PS says. Glad to hear you're feeling well and no drains
It's been 4 months since my exchange and I can say I'm pretty happy with the results. It took some time for a complete drop and fluff but they are starting to feel and look as close to my real boobs as they possibly could. My scars around my areola are starting to lighten, I can sleep comfortably on my stomach and I actually have some sensation in them! Woot woot! I got touch sensation back not long after exchange but I also have sexual sensation all around the mounds. None really on nips but I'm happy I have anything because I was told to expect nothing. I know TMI! Lol....but I wanted other ladies to know sometimes sensation does come back.
I've started a new relationship with someone I've known for the past few yeas. He's been a great friend and there for me throughout this whole ordeal. Timing has always prevented us from getting together in the past. Now the timing is right and I'm happier than I've been in a long time. Maybe he's my silver lining that I've been waiting for
Hugs,
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Jen-So good to hear from you and such a good story, what a happy ending to this journey! So glad all is looking, and feeling sooo good physically and emotionally. Hope more is to come!
Di and Greencowgirl- My new foobs are too new to make any judgements, all on this forum say it takes time. I miss the real boobs, but will be patient to let these new ones settle and become the "new me". For all we have been through I hope some day we can wake up not thinking about them in the morning and going to bed not thinking about them.
Swelling not really changed, took off sports bra as it was getting sooo tight. Letting the incisions air out some and see what happens. It is really hard to tell what to do as there are so many different opinions. It seems it is always a weekend when these things come up!
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Mamasixtaz,
Yesterday I attended a get together of NW women from BC.org, pictures under: (Topic: NorthWest Ladies) and I mentioned that my FOOBS were a reconstruction, but NOT my breast, to someone and they completely agreed and she had a different reconstructive procedure.
Di
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My perspective on the new girls is that yes, they are now part of me. Not the originals by any means and they'll never feel like the originals, but are they my breasts? Yes, absolutely. They are my new normal. When I look down at them or in a mirror I'm very happy to have them rather than the alternative. They felt a bit weighty again after the exchange but now nearly 2 months out I'm noticing that less and less. Just another example of how everyone is unique in their journey. I'll always be aware of them just like I was aware of my natural breasts but I'm ready to move on and live my life with this journey becoming just a medical event that happened to me, like a broken arm or appendectomy.
I'll only be checking these threads in the morning and evening the next few days. My daughter is finally coming home from Guantanamo Bay (haven't seen her since January) YAY!!!!!! And prior to that she had been gone since May 2012 with only a few weeks home at Christmaas. I flew to Jacksonville yesterday and we're heading back to Michigan today (after we get a new muffler on her car which has been sitting in a storage lot at NAX JAX for over a year). She's my best little friend and I've missed her so much! We have such fun together, it was hard not having her around for the last year - she had to hear the BC diagnosis by email
. Love to all.....
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I feel the way sweetandspecial does. I'm saddened that I've had to deal with this and that there has been loss of feeling. However, I have never referred to my breasts as foobs, they still feel like part of me so I call them breasts. I still look like "me" on the outside and I've gotten used to how they feel.
sweetandspecial - Have a wonderful time with your daughter!
Jen - YAY!
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violet..i may have missed your pain issues..but has your MD tried you on Lyrica? Lyrica is alternative med for Gabepentin for nerve pain..
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Sweet and Special - So glad to hear your Daughter is coming home. Enjoy all your time with her and have a safe trip to MI from FL. Is she home for good - I hope.
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TinaT...well said! That's exactly how I feel. There are moments when I make a conscious choice to feel that way, but those moments get fewer as time goes on. This was my body, my journey, my trial...and now these are my breasts. I loved something I read here a year ago. Don't remember who wrote it, but she said, "Same couch, different stuffing." Lol.
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Maybe I feel differently because I had no expanders in my body for a month AFTER my BMX, and I mourned the loss of my breast, they were gone (but extremely happy my cancer was gone too)....down to the muscle, covered with skin.....not even a little bump of a mound...just hanging flesh which was left from above and below the gaping holes where my breast were, the flesh was saved for my reconstruction.
Do I now have feeling all over my Foobs?....YES!....there isn't an inch on my chest where I have NO feeling...yes it is my skin. My BREAST went to the lab during my BMX, (I cannot deny that) and read they were slice up into sections to be analyzed under the microscope, that is why I feel for me the are gone (I have ALL my medical records and read the ugly details).....yes I have mounds, Foobs, fake ones, "hooters" covered by my muscle and then my skin, they are a part of me and I accept them for what they are: a substitute, not what they are NOT.
They have feeling with no numb spots, I accept them, but there clearly is a estrangement for me, they will never be my breast.
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Sweet Lisa Jayne.....I am so happy for you that your daughter is home and you are together, I remember you saying you missed her so much....have a safe drive home and have lots of fun!
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I haven't read many posts on here...but relieved to see I'm not the only person unhappy with their exchange. I went from a full C to a small B. I know that may not sound bad...but I'm a large framed person. I wear a size 38-40. It looks ridiculous. All I was hoping for was what I had pre-cancer...maybe a little perkier. You think that if you're going to go through all this hell, at least you can get a little something at the end... To top it off, you then feel like a crappy person because you aren't grateful enough. I feel like I could've saved myself a lot of pain and recovery in this reconstruction process. At this point...not sure I even want to finish it out. I'm sure I'll get over it & accept it...what choice do I have.
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Delilahbear: Daughter isn't home for good....she has a new job at a naval station in Maryland starting October 16. Sooooo - we'll spend the week and a half after we get home sorting and organizing her tons and tons of stuff still stored at home. She went straight from finishing classes at college to her internship 6 months with the navy, then graduation and another 10 months interning with the navy again, and now a short time home to sort it all out - egads! I'm so proud of her and very glad about the job and at least she'll be stateside now, much easier to communicate with
. We're at a LaQuinta just outside of Marietta GA tonight. Tomorrow we'll be driving through Tenessee and Kentucky with a small side trip in KY to visit my former boss who moved away unexpectedly a couple of months ago. I'm looking forward to getting some closure on his unexpected departure with a nice visit and a hug.love to all
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Di - Perhaps I feel differently because I was able to have nipple-sparing surgery, my BS does incisions below the breasts in the IM folds, and my PS put 350cc of saline in my expanders right from the start so it really wasn't visually that much of a shock for me. I wasn't large-breasted to begin with so just looked bruised up and a little smaller when I got my first peek. If I put myself in your place I can imagine how I might look at it all differently. Perhaps that initial adjustment period right after MX is what forms our opinion and steers us to see "breasts" or "foobs"???
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Another thing that was helpful to me (and oh-so-geeky!!) is that I read my surgical notes and saw the weight of the removed tissue. I converted and compared to my overall body weight and discovered that I am still 98% original me! That's way better than most juices you can buy, right?
I did not have NS. I have the horizontal scars on both sides. I have very fair skin so they'll probably always show to some degree. But 30 years ago I watched my mom go through a single mastectomy. Radical. Not by a breast surgeon. No reconstruction. So I am sad for my loss...emotionally and physically. But I am grateful for my health and the skills of my PS. I do think that women who had larger breasts seem to struggle more. I liked mine before, but they weren't a huge part of my identity.
Wishing you all good health and positive exchanges!! I'm scheduled for revision on Oct. 22.0 -
Mine feel normal to me. They are warm to the touch just like my real ones were and I can feel everything. I was surprised that I had sensation right after the BMX and TEs. I don't even notice them on a day to day basis. Only when I look in the mirror after a shower or changing clothes and see the scars, which are fading. It's only been 4 weeks and the scars are disappearing fast. They are really, really thin. I am so very thankful that the technology was there for me to be able to have a "normal" looking set of chichis. In fact, they look better than the original old sagging ones I had. Just looking forward to my titoos in a couple months. At least there was a silver lining in all the hell I've been through this past year. I just hate that we all had to be here.
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Di2012 and all, interesting to hear of the fat grafting and nip replacement. Wow, I would be super thrilled if I was gonna get tatoos from Vinnie. However, as a fed I now have no paychk until who knows when... so I think trips are off the radar for awhile.
Just hope my surgery and recoveries go ok. Never had tatoos before or lipo suction or anythg like this til big BC came along. My boobs dont feel a part of me yet but I like that they are bigger than before. Need some new blouses for these foobies to fit in. Thank God for the thrift stores!
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Hi everyone,
I've been following along here for a whie but this is my first post. I was diagnosed with DCIS in the left breast in June, took a few months to get childcare together and get some things wrapped up, and had a double skin/nipple sparing mastectomy August 29. They put in TEs, not the saline kind but an experimental kind called AirXpanders that use an embedded CO2 canister. So far so good. My PS is saying that I should be fully "inflated" and ready for exchange surgery in a month or two.
So I'm writing here with a question about recovery times. How long is it taking / did it take you to recover from the exchange surgery? I ask because I'm interviewing for a new job that I'd like to have, but I don't want to overcommit recovery-wise. My PS told me that I should be ready to go back to work 1-2 weeks after surgery. Does that sound reasonable to you or should I ask for longer? As a reference I was finally able to start weaning myself off the Percocet 4 weeks after my mastectomy. I don't know whether that's a long time to be on percocet or a short time, but it feels long to me.
GreenCowgirl I have been following along with what happened to you and I'm so sorry. I would be so sad if I were you. I hope you can find some resolution and end up with breasts that make you happy.
As as for whether these boobs feel like the real me, well, I guess I'm in the category of "same couch different stuffing." (Love that!) I was also lucky enough to wake up from surgery about halfway inflated already, and I was small-breasted so that's not much different from what I had before. I'm thankful I was able to breast-feed before I lost that ability. And now I'm thankful that the cancer is gone and, all things considered, I had it pretty easy. Just tired of being in pain and ready to move on from this whole thing as soon as I can.
Oh and what is UP with sleeping in a recliner. I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep in my bed again. Honestly.
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Rlo5: I went back to work half days after a week, then full time the next week. I took one pain pill the night I came home and that was it. I slept in bed from day one of coming home after exchange. Everyone is different.
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Where can I get compression bras or really tight sports bras?
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Thanks for your help Chinneymae.
The compression bra I have is a Sassybax "Celebrate Life" bra. I like it and it does help with the pain. The edges of it tend to dig into my skin so I'm happiest wearing it on top of a Bali Comfort Revolution bra, which is just a tad longer and keeps the edges of the other bra off my skin. I would strongly suggest having it fitted; you really don't want it to be too tight and if it's too loose it doesn't work. Maybe you could call Sassybax and ask them for contact info for local dealers?
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Chinneymae - Marena is a great source and they are very helpful via telephone to help select the right garment and size. Of course, always get the OK from your PS after surgeries as each seems to have a different take on post-surgical care.
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Rio5,
I went back to work about 1 1/2 weeks after exchange, but I'm part time. And you WILL sleep in bed again!!! I slept in the recliner for 4 months due to painful TE issues. I was back in bed about 2 weeks after exchange.
Best wishes with your job situation and exchange!0 -
Thanks, rlo5 and Tinat. I had 200cc of fluid aspirated from under my left side today and he wants me to wear a compression/sports bra for the next two weeks so that the skin will adhere to the tissues under the breast/implant so that the fluid can't build back up under there.
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So I saw the PS today, and voiced my concerns that my right, radiated side, just isn't very aesthetically pleasing. On the top right side, it's puffy, and right below that is a large, flat area. PS didn't seem that concerned. I told him I can't wear knit tops because you can see it looks weird there, and my tops bunch up over the puffy area, which brings attention to that side. He suggested doing liposuction to the puffy area and fat grafting below. Liposuction on a breast? I've never heard of such a thing. It wasn't puffy like that when I had my TEs, but he's saying it's fat. Has anyone else heard of lipoing a breast? I told him I didn't want to do anything right now, as we're trying to close on a house, and then the holidays are coming up. He was going to wait a year before seeing me again, but said why don't I come back in three months to discuss what I want to do. I also asked if any of his other radiated patients had done fat grafting and he said the other 4 had not, which makes me think he hasn't that much experience in breast reconstruction. I think I may go for a second opinion this spring.
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Andrea, I would be afraid he would puncture my implant doing lipo. I definitely have heard of fat grafting. I also have heard women having their underarms, etc lipo, but not the breast.
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I had exchange this past Friday, and went back to work today. I work in an office, at a desk. Tired and a bit sore, but it's fine.
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alcb, I am glad you are feeling so well after your exchange. I am assuming since you went back to work so quickly that you have no drains.
How do you like your results?
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Saw my PS for one week follow-up and I couldn't be happier with where I am at this point. The fat grafting looks amazing! The cleavage area is perfect. I know there's still a lot of swelling and some of the fat will be reabsorbed, but I'm liking where I am right now from where I was. So glad I did the revision. It was really revealing when his nurse looked around his shoulder and her face lit up and she said "Wow!" After that they both had big grins on their faces. I still look like I lost in a gang initiation, but I really think it was worth it! Hope everyone is healing well from their recent exchanges, and Greencowgirl, you are still on my mind and heart. I hope you heal well and find it within you to find a solution that you can be satisfied with.
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Good morning to all and Happy October! My prayers are with everyone who is struggling and praying that things go better for you.
I had my revision surgery on the 20th it went well but I was surprised at the amount of pain. I wasn't expecting so much and was on pain pills longer than I thought I would be. Mamasixtaz I think you were asking about the pain and swelling......I saw my PS yesterday and she said it would still be awhile before all the swelling was gone, my left side is also the side without nodes and the side I have the most trouble with and is much more swollen than the right one. As of yesterday the pain was much better and so was the fatigue so I know I am on the mend! Hang in there I no you are a few days behind me. I will be praying that it gets better for you soon.
All in all I am happy with my results, although fat grafting is pain full I like the results! I agree with Peanutgirl and her comment about being in a gang fight! The colors were so beautiful! I happy that you are doing well Pam!
My one concern is that my last implants (19 years old) always felt colder than the rest of my body but my new ones (mentor smooth round moderate profile plus 700cc) feels so warm all of the time. I forgot to ask the PS about this, does anyone know if this is normal! Also does anyone know if we should put anything on the scars to help with healing?
Kat
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I have had Mentors since April 15 and they have never felt cold at all.
I have used Scar Away strips....it was unbelievable how fast the scars have faded since my revision on July 15....I cut them in half to stretch them, they are washable to.
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