Exchange City

BBwithBC45

Mysunshine, my back hurts sometimes too and it could be from TE, although I'm not entirely positive. I was told that exchange surgery relieves a lot of back pains. I'll get to see in a couple of weeks, when I have my surgery.

LoriWNY

Ladies with back pain: I suffered from back pain during the BMX/TE's as well as immediately after exchange. This is what I discovered worked for me:

1. Pay attention to your posture. I am sure your chest is uncomfortable and you may be hunching forward/slouching because of tightness in your pectoral muscles. Try ti sit up straight and rotate your shoulders up, back, and down which will push out your chest.and take some of the strain off your back muscles.

2. Chiropractic adjustments. Yes, a chiropractor can adjust your back after your BMX even if you cannot lie on your stomach! Does your neck also hurt? Find a good chiro and tell him where you hurt!

3. Physical therapy. Do you have limited range of motion in your arms or when turning your head? Get your BS or PS to refer you for physical therapy. It worked wonders for me!

4. If you have no back or other health issues that would contraindicate it, get a foam roller and learn how to use it to roll your back (see this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkyL_IvYBcg.

5. Massage therapy. Find a therapist who is experienced with breast cancer patients and will work with your limited positioning abilities.

6. Yoga. I purchased a great video through Amazon called Yoga for Breast Cancer. See this link: http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Breast-Cancer-Patients-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442279160&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+for+breast+cancer.

trailrose

For the ladies with back pain from the TE- The exchange surgery will help relieve if not completely take away your back pain and massage is the way to go! My husband had to give me upper back and shoulder massages every day twice a day when I had those TE's in. He would use the foam roller most of the time. I would sit on the edge of the bed and rest my forehead on his chest area (we have a high bed) If you have no one to help you then it's so worth to learn how to use the foam roller yourself or go to an experienced massage therapist. Remember to ask your doctor if it's okay to do so.

As far as rippling goes I am over 4 months post exchange and still have the same rippling on my right side. And that is why I'm going in for a revision surgery! I was really upset over it at first because I followed directions to a T and didn't have the outcome that I expected. Hopefully this revision surgery will improve it. My new PS is confident he can improve my outcome but he can't say it will be 100% ripple free because it's reconstruction not augmentation. I would be fine with 2 ripples not ripples all over!

Nocalmom

trailrose: when is your revision surgery? Please let us know. Rippling is so common. Hope your new PS can resolve it.

Scottiemom11

Lori. . .thanks for the tip on the yoga video. Will order it. There is one yoga class for cancer patients in our area but not close and only on Saturdays so can't go until at least Nov when dd's college soccer season is over.

Also concur with you on chiro and PT. My back injury in 98 sent me to chiro and I've gone regularly since. I was able to lie down on table by 5 months post BMx for lower back adjustment and she works on shoulders etc with me sitting up. My PT does massage, muscle stim and works on ROM. Going 2x week for rest of year since I met OOP long ago and it's free.

Scottie

trailrose

Nocalmom- My revision surgery is October 23rd. It was mistakenly put up above as an exchange surgery. I am switching from 400 cc Mentor silicone round gels to the Inspiras round high profile. I will have to go slightly bigger. It seems like the recovery and downtime won't be as long with the revision but we'll see. My PS said the surgery should only take 30- 45 minutes. I certainly hope I wake up like I did with the exchange surgery. I went out to lunch afterwards!

stephaniegee

Hi everyone,

My exchange surgery was last April and I had smooth sailing. However I just noticed that one of my breasts feels a bit "mushy" and ripples a bit. My left is firm but my right is very soft and I can feel the implant. Is this normal? Or is this something that could need corrective surgery?

DeeRatz

I still have my TE's in. I am currently undergoing chemo and am unsure when my exchange will be. I have suffered lots of back pain between my shoulder blades. It is especially bad after I have had a fill, until everything stretches out. I have found using a foam roller to stretch out my back works wonders. If you lay on it, with it running along your spine it allows those muscles to stretch out. Also if I am sitting for long periods of time I either roll a yoga mat or beach towel and sit with it along my spine. It keeps my shoulders back and those peck muscles stretched out causing less shoulder pain.

Hope this helps....

loriekg

You know how when you go to a restaurant and give the waiter a complicated, detailed order of just what you want…and they don't write it down…and you're left wondering if they got it right? THAT's the feeling I am having with my PS! LOL He listened to everything …but since I didn't see him taking copious notes, I am worried. So that's where my head is at, the day before my exchange.

Did you guys go over things with the PS right before surgery? Like, "don't forget…if in doubt, go smaller…" or at this point did you just put yourself in their hands and trust them to do their best? --Lorie

mysunshine48

Lori, I am sure your PS will be fine, and so will you. However, that does not make the anxiety any easier. My exchange is September 25. I am already getting a little nervous. We need to remember that our PS do this everyday!

Elizabethaw

I totally remember that time! I had nightmares (literally--I dreamed about surgeons and mistakes and all sorts of bad stuff). I kept obsessing that my PS wasn't writing things down and wasn't asking enough questions. I emailed him photos and discussed in detail what I did and didn't like (poor guy!). On the day of the surgery, I was yelling instructions to him as he was walking away. : )

It's been a year since my exchange, and I can tell you that he was listening and he did get what I wanted. I've got rippling problems now, but that's not related to communication.

I know how you feel, and I think that unless your PS really brushes you off or ignores you, it will be completely fine!

And, yes, you will surely see your PS on the day of the exchange. They come and draw all over you. You can always remind him/her of your major concerns then.

Hang in there! It will be ok!!

loriekg

Thanks guys!! So glad I'm not the only one with these thoughts!

raleighgirl

good luck tomorrow Lorie! Will be thinking of you!

Scottiemom11

lori. . .best wishes tomorrow. At my preop I discussed several things with PS. I believe my PS just dictates notes after. I've seen her partner do the same. My EX was at hospital with fantastic full breast center so all implants were available without her having to order in advance. She took different sets into OR and chose the best ones.

Scottie

PMR53

Good luck today Loriekg!!! Hope exchange goes smoothly !! Will be thinking of you! 

PMR53

AudreyB

Hi everyone! Best wishes to all going through SX this week.

I have been doing well until this week. Almost 4 week out from exchange and the right one has gone all red and hot. I'm seeing my PS at 10am tomorrow, and picking up an antibiotic RX tonight. DAMN, DAMN, DAMN. I hope its nothing and clears up quickly.

mysunshine48

Lori, Hope all went well today. Audrey, oh, my, let's hope it is something minor!

loriekg

Hi ladies...I am happy to report I've "crossed over" to the squishy side! I had to be at the hospital at 7:00 and was out by 10:30!! Can you believe that? AND...remember my concerns about the Dr not taking notes...how was he going to remember what I wanted...etc?

Wellll--we had discussed Allergan Inspira textured rounds (because I wanted the firmness) but then (after consulting with Whippetmom) I called his office and spoke with him about my concerns with rippling, so we decided to go with Allergan Inspira smooth rounds. And about the size? I told him I liked how I looked when filled to 300cc's.

So imagine my surprise when the nurse hands me my implant card and I got Mentor MemoryGel smooth rounds...at 590cc's! I am nervous what's under these bandages to say the least! I wonder if he just forgot about the Allergan? I'll find out tomorrow when I see him for my post op. I tried to find where Whippetmom equated cc's to teaspoons and 50 cc's is hardly the jump it sounds like, but I can't find that post. Thanks for the well wishes!! --Lorie

loriekg

Audrey! Damn, damn, damn is right!! Hope the antibiotic does the trick!!!!

mysunshine48

Wow, Lori! How did you feel when you woke up? Were you as "out of it" as with the MX? How are you feeling now? On pain meds or just Tylenol? CONGRATULATIONS! I think you needed to go for more in implants yo get what you wanted. I hope all goes well! Wish mine was done! 9 more days!

mysunshine48

My PS said I will have no wraps or bandages! I had none with BMX either! Are you bandaged a lot

mysunshine48

I would think we need some support! ?? Now, I'm worried!

loriekg

Mysunshine...I'm taking the muscle relaxant and pain pills now, but I can tell you this is not even in the same ball park as MX. Much much less pain and more overall ability to move around. I'm sitting up on the couch and can easily get up on my own...whereas after my MX I needed help sitting up that first day. Yes, I have a large bandage wrapped around my chest twice. I can peer in and see a little gauze and tape over my incisions. But no drains! YAY!!! Oh yeah, on top of all that I have one of those little bras that I wore after MX (very flimsy and I can't imagine it's doing any supporting. ha)

Scottiemom11

Audrey. . .Prayers. Ask Moonflower about this from TEs board. Hopefully she can give you more info tonight.

Lori. . .r u sure they gave you the right cards. Lol. That's a big jump though. Take it easy you'll probably be really tight once surgery meds wear off. Take your pain meds etc tonight and best wishes for your new squishies.

Mysunshine. . .I c ame out of EX with surgical bra and a bit of padding underneath. Had to keep that on for two days, then was able to shower. I had surgical glue. Actually kept wearing surgical bra for a couple of weeks anyway because my former sports bras were too small. Had to buy bigger ones for my squishies.

Scottie

mysunshine48

Thanks Lori and Scottie! Like I said, I had no bandages after BMX and was told nothing for this either. I had glue for MX and this will be the same. Incisions under breasts. I hope the implants don't fall out! LOL Actually, I am not laughing. I am concerned, but PS is very good and has been doing this for a long time. Glad to hear you can get up by yourself, Lori. I could not do that for 2 weeks after BMX! Toilet was impossible by myself too. I am hoping for no drains. You will find me on this thread a lot as I am already nervous! Lori, were you able to walk into your house by yourself?

loriekg

Mysunshine--Oh yes! (to walking into the house), even going up and down the stains several times. I truly am in very little pain. Like I had much worse on a couple of my fill appointments. (I know this still may be left over from the surgery meds...so I'm not going to get overly pleased with myself! ha!)

mysunshine48

Lori, All aIl I can say is wow! Good for you! Hope I do as well!

Lkscolo

Lori, The fact that you're posting coherently online is a great sign that you feel pretty good. You give us all great hope! 8 more days for me. Pleasetake it easy and congrats! Keep us posted.

robinblessed54

mysunshine,

I had surgical bra, gauze and ace bandages both with BMX and EX left on a week. Unwrapped after EX and then sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. I can't imagine no wrapping at all! My, those PS are all so different. What kind of implants are you getting?

Robin

Rebecca54

Lorie congratulations on the squishy side! Hope you're feeling ok.

Audrey good luck!

sunshine. You're getting support right here! Sorry couldn't s.top myself