Exchange City

bethq

Phew ok! Glad it is normal. Doesn't make me uncomfortable except to say I thought with all the pocketwork those suckers wouldn't move!

Juliecc

Beth, I'm 4 weeks out from exchange and I'm still wearing genie bras mostly 24/7 although I think I can go braless now if I want. When I'm standing, I can only put one finger flat between them. Laying on my back I can put 3. I had read before that the rounds behave more like breasts where they fall to the sides when laying down. 

Elizabethaw

Thanks for checking on me, AZ!   Like Pilates, I'm feeling good. It's so very much more comfortable to be soft. My chest feels more like part of me than some foreign lumps.  (Also, Pilates, I love PIlates too!  Can't wait to get back to it.)  Overall I feel very relieved and happy.

My only worry now is that I'm obsessing that the new implants are too small!  My PS went for the size that whippetmom suggested, so everything should work out fine. Still, I'm driving my husband crazy by asking him if they're big enough all the time!  (My PS clearly did his best to do what I wanted--he tried 550s but said they looked too tight and weird--which is exactly what whippetmom suspected. So I've got 450cc on one side and 500 on the other.)  I hope I wake up tomorrow and find that they look bigger!

And if you've got an exchange coming up, don't worry too much about being set back. It's absolutely *nothing* like the MX!  I'm a little sore, but not bad, and I could do anything I wanted to--I'm trying to be careful not to lift anything heavy, but I don't feel paralyzed by pain as I did after the MX.  I was scared too (of course), but try not to be.  It'll be ok!!!

twoam

Elizabethaw - Congrats on your successful exchange! Do you think 3 weeks after your sx you would be pretty much normal? I have been off work since June 18th for all of this, and I have to go back 9/28. My job job description (Vet Assistant in an Animal Shelter) requires that I can lift 60 + lbs. I NEED to go back to work. I miss my job beyond belief.

Elizabethaw

Well, twoam, it's hard for me to say yet. My exchange was on Thursday, so it's only been a few days. I also had lots of pocket work done, which I'm sure has quite an effect. I did see that my instructions say not to lift more than 10 pounds for the first two weeks. What does your PS say?  Mine said that one week (or even a day less) off work would be fine, but I have an easy, no-lifting kind of job.  My sister's a veterinarian, and it would kill her to be off for long at all!  Bless you for working in an animal shelter!!!

sweetandspecial

My PS would have had a heart attack if I told him I'd be lifting up to 60 pounds 3 weeks post exchange!  He's a very firm believer in giving that internal work the necessary 6-8 weeks for proper scar maturation to avoid complications.  Definitely check with your PS lifting that much so soon, k?  Hope it all works out well and you can get back to work as quickly as reasonably possible.

MinusTwo

I'm on the same page w/Sweet&Special.  I wasn't allowed to lift my arms above my shoulders for 6 weeks - not to mention lifting more than a gallon of milk.  Even if you feel OK there is lots of internal healing going on.

Pilates4me

My PS instructions are to not lift anything heavier than 5 pound for 3 to 4 weeks. She said to wear a sports bra until my first post op visit on Monday. So I'll get more info then. Didn't say a thing about reaching over head. Which I have done with no pain or even funny twinges. That being said, I'm trying not to. 

Also, got some genie bras from Amazon and found a comfortable zip front sports bra there too 

http://www.amazon.com/Valmont-Zip-Front-Sports-Sty...

I wish I'd have ordered two of these bras, but between these the genies and ordinary sports bras I think I'm good.

Don't know if this rambling is useful. But there you have it!  Hope everyone is still feeling good and healing well and looking forward to their exchanges!

Elizabethaw

Weird. My directions say no more than 10 pounds for 2 weeks. I can drive as soon as I'm off narcotics. I'm wearing a surgical top thing (which isn't as tight as I'd think it should be), and the directions say no underwire bras for two weeks. It's amazing how different the directions are.

twoam

Guess I will just have to wait and see what my PS recommends. I have 3 weeks after exhange before I have to return to work, but defiantely will not do anything to hamper the healing process! Hopefully they will let me return even if PS gives me weight lifting restrictions for a bit. I am a bit nervous for tomorrow, but very excited!!!!

twoam

Pilates - I really like that bra. It looks very comfy. I wish I knew what size to order lol.

Goldie8469

You have to be careful about lifting. The internal stitches take a while to heal.  You don't want a set back. I had problem with one TE in Jan and had to remove it and wait 3 months and start over with fills and everything. I never want another set back. Wait and don't push it. I had my BMX in Nov.  Set backs suck so be careful. We will be squishy tomorrow!!!! Yay!  My surgery is at noon. Funny about your MIL's name. My real name is Alexa but I get Alexis and Alexia all the time and my inlaws couldn't get it right so my BIL calls me Goldie. It stuck. My friend had her exchange Friday and she is feeling great!  I was so relieved to see that she isn't in too much pain.  

twoam

I cant believe its tomorrow! When you said that, I got goosebumps LOL. My BMX was in June, so I have not had to wait very long.

Goldie8469

They should give you a bra. What size fits now may not fit in a month so don't buy many. I don't think I have to wear a bra. I am going to message my nurse and see! One thing good about living in a small town is having everyone's cell numbers. 

AZ85048

twoam - I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck tomorrow!  We'll all be in your pocket, so be sure to wear a big shirt!   Please let us know how it goes when you're able...  (Just one more sleep and you'll be on the squishie side!)

twoam

Thank you AZ! I found your thread in the pic forum the very first day. You are so strong and inspirational. With all you have been through, you really have a gift for comforting others. I have pics of my TE's and such, I just still havent figured out how to post them. I am extremely challenged when it comes to technology. I am going to go take a nap (something I NEVER do) because I know I will not sleep tonight!

Elizabethaw

Hey, twoam.  I know it's absolutely impossible not to worry, but honestly the waiting part is the hardest!  You'll feel so much better tomorrow night!!  Hang in there.

Pilates4me

two am--I ordered a 34 c. Because it is a sports bra, the lower. Band is tighter.  I expect to measure at 32 band size when I buy new bras.  I just got a look at my squishes and the look pretty good. I see my PS tomorrow so I will have a better idea about what's like to happen as they "ripen"

Pilates4me

and, good luck tomorrow!

Andrea623

Good luck tomorrow, twoam and Goldie! Check in when you can. I'm sending lots of good vibes your way.

Goldie8469

Thank you Andrea623!   Twoam, I asked and my PS' NP messaged to wear surgical bra for a few weeks then sports bra - no underwire for 3 months. WAIT, I was hopping for no bra after 3 months. 

AZ85048

Goldie8469 - Good luck to you tomorrow!  Just think, tomorrow at this time, you'll be home and resting!  Exchange is the easy part - trying not to do too much is the hard part.  

Andrea623

Goldie, for my first two exchanges, I had to wear the bra the hospital gave me 24/7 for a month. It was a Fruit of the Loom front hooking bra, which I also found at Walmart. Which reminds me, I'd better go find them in preparation for Tuesday!

Pilates4me

swelling after exchange anyone?  I had my exchange on Friday.  I'm noticing some swelling in my upper chest up to my collarbone. Not red painful hot or anything just a little poofy. I see my PS tomorrow, so the medical team will be on it.  I'm just surprised and wondering.

BigT16

My exchange is scheduled for 9/19. Is there any questions I should ask for post-op care?  My PS only told me not to play tennis (I don't play tennis). Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Mischief46

oh my, all this talk is making me nervous...I didn't think about not raising my arms up over my head.  Is it like the BMX where I couldn't or is it more like I shouldn't?  6 weeks is a long time...I guess I will invest in a genie bra too.

bethq

Mischief it made me nervous too when I read this but I again asked my PS and she said the only restrictions I had were lifting. As a matter of fact I purposefully avoided raising my arms and now I think I have the beginnings of frozen shoulder. Every PS is different so just go by whatever yours tells you.

sweetandspecial

Mischief - definitely NOT like the BMX where you couldn't lift your arms.  This is because you shouldn't.  I didn't avoid it completely, I just didn't really stretch to reach anything high.  Getting a glass from the 2nd shelf in the cupboard would not be a problem.  Getting a heavy serving piece or appliance from the 2nd shelf might be.  Make sense?

Mischief46

Thanks Sweetandspecial and Bethq!  Yes, it does make sense and I will be sure to take my PS advise.

KLJ

Twoam and Goldie, will be thinking about you tomorrow. My exchange was last Tuesday and I am already calling tomorrow to have my drains taken out! Very little output so that is a good thing. The exchange is by FAR so much easier than the BMX. Just have to make sure you don't over do it because you do feel so good! Check in as soon as you can!