Exchange City

AudreyB

thank you all. I started my antibiotics tonight. Fingers crossed.

My sunshine, I came home from exchange with a bra and gauze pads tucked into the cups. Was told to shower the next day and wear my own bra. No underwire. I did have surgical tape over incisions for 3 weeks.

Also, exchange was soooooooooo much easier than BMX. I was so helpless after BMX. Standing up out of the recliner was so hard. I had to literally concentrate on standing up. And the only time I really got up the first week was to use the bathroom and that was a whole other sitting and standing issue. Maybe TMI but I could hardly wipe myself after peeing. But I didn't care either. I just did what I could. Exchange does not debilitate you. Of my 4 surgeries exchange was the easiest

AudreyB

oh, I forgot to share. I had an apt with my oncologist on Tuesday. I'm on arimidex and have noticed hair loss (hair all over the floor in the bathroom) hair loss on my legs, very sore knees, and fatigue. I thought this was all from the arimidex, but she did a blood draw to test my thyroid levels. A little freaked out waiting for the results. I hate what cancer has done to me. So scared of every test result.

mysunshine48

Robin, I am getting smooth, round Inspira. He is taking 650 and 700 into surgery and said he will see what is best. Yes, I would think some support would be necessary, but then I had nothing after BMX either and did fine. I started wearing a soft Cobbie bra about 3 weeks after BMX just because I felt better.

Audrey, Thanks for the information about mobility. I have glue over incisions! So, no bandages.

Anyone out there ever have NO bandages or wraps?

Msmath

Getting things ready at home. My surgery is tomorrow! The surgical center called and said I was scheduled to stay the night. Did any of you stay the night in the hospital or surgical center? It seems to me most of the posts say that they had outpatient.

loriekg

Msmath--no overnight stay for me. My surgery was scheduled for 8am and I was out by 10:30 (which does seem rediculously fast). Is your surgery late in the afternoon?

robinblessed54

i was outpatient both surgeries!

Robin

Scottiemom11

MSMath. . .my PS gave me the option of being admitted before had but I elected to wait and see and I went home in the afternoon.

Best wishes tomorrow.

Scottie

mysunshine48

I was out patient for BMX and will be for exchange next week! Holy smokes! Msmath, you hsve had those things in since January???? Mine have been in for little over 5 months. I cannot imagine 8!

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW! Let us know how it goes. I hope you wake up feeling good!

Scottiemom11

I had my TEs for almost 8 months. Squishes are sooo much better.

Mysunshine. . . Can't believe your BMx was out patient. My surgery was 6+ hours and I did not get up to my room until about 9 pm.

Scottie

mysunshine48

Scottie, yep! 5 1/2 hour BMX and went home that afternoon. I don't remember much, but it too 2 people to get me up the 17 steps to my condo and to the bed. Thst was a Friday. My first post op to PS was Monday. That was really hard too. But, I did it! Just praying exchange is a whole lot easier!

How in the world did you endure these hard expanders for 8 months? Mine are do painful and push VERY hard on my ribs. Enough to show inflamation on a CT!

Moonflwr912

audrey. Good luck. My PS wouldn't leave the TES in when that happened to me. I was on intravenous abx for 3 weeks and oral for 3 more. But as usual, all PS are different. A lot of them try to save the TE with the abx. So there's hope. As for the thyroid, if it s a problem getting it treated is important.

Much love

robinblessed54

Audry, Arimidex is horrid! I felt 100 years old when getting up after sitting. Got arthritis and trigger fingers/thumbs. I got off it and tried Aromisin- worse! Finally tried Femara and it is fine. I still have soreness in fingers, but tolerable. Don't walk like 100 years old!!

I am on thyroid medication already.

Robin

Scottiemom11

mysunshine. . .I hated the TEs. It got somewhat better when I was able to lift weights to work on my ROM. I had two options to EX surgery that fit with my work schedule. April or late July. Just couldn't psych myself up to going back into Sx in April so chose July and then regretted that decision by mid-May. Uggh.

Glad to be on be squishie side and am now cleared for arm weights. Had to start at ground zero again but can work up. Also getting PT 2x weekly.

Scottie

Msmath

Yes, these TE's have been very uncomfortable. I had to make it through chemo and build up my strength again before the PS would consider the surgery. I was in the hospital for 3 days after my BMX. I had some problems with my blood pressure and I was anemic from the surgery. My surgery is at 7:30 am tomorrow. I think my PS is just playing it safe because her office is about an hour from my house. I am also having the fat grafting done and my port is coming out. The surgical center told me to that they blocked off 4 hours for my surgery. I'm really looking forward to my squishes but not the drains.

mysunshine48

Scottie, Did you need an RX for PT? I would assume so insurance would cover it. Duh, guess Injust answered my own question.

Good luck again, Msmath! Will be thinking about you tomorrow Mornimg and sending prayers your way!

Rebecca54

good luck tomorrow msmath

Hold up. I thought no drains for exchange! That rhymes btw.

Moonflwr912

rebecca, you've heard this before I'm sure; every PS and patient is different! LOL and if you have drains, it's for a good reason.

AudreyB

OK, its official. I have an infection, right breast. Its all internal, no skin involvement, and of unknown origin. PS put me on oral antiobiotics for 2 weeks. I started Wednesday night and already feel better. Breast was not hot this morning when I woke up. I have my implants 4 weeks today. I have been so lucky with 4 surgeries this year and no complications. So, I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the drugs work and I keep my implant. I do not want to lose it.

Luckily, I saw my oncologist on Monday and she did a full blood workup. White blood count is normal. Also, I do not have a thyroid issue. Yay!

Regarding the Arimidex, I am doing pretty well on it. My knees hurt but they always did. My thumb hurts but it always did. I work full-time with a 1+ hour commute each way, and take care of my home. I am following Weight Watchers and so far down 24 pounds. So far, I'm doing it all. I am making a conscious effort to get more sleep, go to bed at 10 each night. I have been through so much this year, my body and mind just needs to bounce back.

Rebecca54

Dear Audrey, so sorry you have an infection but glad you caught it.

But Moon, I don't want drains! lol

Question for the group, and of course everyone is different but...is it reasonable for me to hope to make a 3 hour trip to NYC to go to a concert (with seating) 13 days after surgery? This BC keeps interfering with my plans!

mysunshine48

Rebecca, I am planning on going to DisneyWorld 2 weeks after exchange. Three hour car trip. Will not do Sony rides, but hope to walk and enjoy family. I can return to the hotel and rest anytime. I just hope for no complications. I think your New York Trip is very doable. When is your surgery? Mine is one week from today.

loriekg

Rebecca...I'd definitely not cancel those concert plans! I might feel up to a concert tonight...surgery was Wednesday, surely by next weekend I would! (Unless it was anything like the crazy, crowd packed, One Direction concert that I took daughter to a few years ago! LOL)

loriekg

I had my post op appointment yesterday and was going to ask PS why he used Mentor MemoryGel instead of the Allergen Inspira like we'd discussed. But I didn't see him, just his assistant who removed the bandages. She told me that the Inspiras didn't get in in time. I don't know what to think, really. I didn't do the research and decide I wanted Inspiras just for the fun of it. Maybe the difference is so insignificant that he wouldn't have thought I would've moved my surgery date, but I think I should've been called at least. (I just wanted the inspira's because of the firmness and right now, my mentor's feel just fine…so I'm not unhappy, it's just the principle I guess.)

And about the sizing…I told her I was very surprised that he put in 590's considering I was worried that 500-550 would be too big. She told me that he said he was glad he took in the 590's because "I would not have been happy with the smaller size." Hmmm….I really don't know what to think. I can't tell much what they're going to look like since I know I'm still swollen. They don't look huge, but I'm worried about this drop and fluff I hear about. I don't want them to drop!

Scottiemom11

msmath best wishes tomorrow and hope you have a good night nurse. Mine was horrible.

Mysunshine I got pt scripts from both PS and my Ortho who was treating my lower back before BC. Pt is now working on both.

Audrey praying Antibiotics work.

Scottie

marketingmama

Add me to the infection club. Audrey, so glad that whatever you have seems treatable. I'm about 3 weeks out and what started as slight redness and tenderness has progressed to far more redness on the lower portion of the breast, tenderness, hardness and heavy feeling (why would that be?). Particularly bad around the incision that runs under my breast and toward my armpit (redness has spread downward a bit from that spot). Hurts to elevate arm on that side. Also some moderate redness in spots in my cleavage area. No fever. When I had my exchange there was "gunk" in this same breast around the expander. Doc had it cultured but the results were unusual (gram positive and gram negative and more microbiology stuff that i didn't understand). I had one round of IV vancomycin after surgery and then sent home with Keflex. He said during my first postop that we'd just need to keep an eye on it.

Well seems something started growing but I assumed my symptoms were surgical related--not infection. Saw the doc on Wednesday and he was concerned. Mentioned an infectious disease doc but to me that's just delaying what might need doing. So our first step was to try and aspirate some fluid to get a culture and understand what was growing. Big production to get to the hospital for ultrasound-guided process (so they don't hit the implant). That was all for nothing. She couldn't get any fluid without puncturing the implant. Skin was just too tight over and around the implant. The only good news there was that she didn't see an abscess (though she cautioned me that she had no idea what was UNDER the implant!). She said it's just cellulitis at this stage, like that's a good thing. Ugh. So doc starts me on Levoquin and today after 2 doses I send him latest photos. Still not looking great and pain/tenderness have not subsided. He is concerned and today orders a second antibiotic (Clindamycin) and says that if no improvement in 24 hours, they'll need to bring me back to surgery for lavage and implant exchange. Now this was his nurse emailing so I'm really wondering if they'd put another implant right back in (assumed it would need to be out to ensure infection was completely gone). Though if I was left without an implant would all the work the expander did be for naught?

So part of me believes something is definitely wrong with this implant or breast or whatever and wants it out for fear this could lead to something worse. Andy why would it be so much harder than the other side? Other part of me is so dejected and sad to be facing another surgical procedure.

I want to be proactive and do what's in my best interest healthwise. I'd gratefully appreciate any thoughts or experiences you ladies might be able to share. I know all docs are different but sometimes we need to fight for what we believe to be the best thing for us.

Thanks to all and happy healing to post-exchange ladies!

Scottiemom11

msmath hope all went well today and you have a good night nurse. Mine was horrible.

Mysunshine I got pt scripts from both PS and my Ortho who was treating my lower back before BC. Pt is now working on both.

Audrey praying Antibiotics work.

Rebecca . . .just take breaks during car trip and maybe add cushion around seat belt.

Scottie

marketingmama

Back to surgery I go. The doc doesn't want to take any chances so I'm being admitted first thing tomorrow morning and he'll be removing my implant along with doing a full irrigation of the pocket. Although my gut tells me it's the right thing to do, I'm pretty stunned at this point. Just had to cancel a business trip, tell colleagues who have to cover for me, inform my boss who has already managed with me taking 8 weeks off between the BMX and Exchange. I'm going to use vacation time this time around because now my STD will only cover 60%. Hoping I"ll only need a week out but I'm not sure.

I'm about ready for a Xanax!

Wish me luck ladies.

Moonflwr912

marketing mama, I'm so sorry. I have heard they will sometimes put in a new implant. They can't just clean it out. If it looks too infected, they nay gave to leave it out. I'm sorry. They will do what is best when they get in there. But infection is nothing to play with. I know of people who have lost a lot of tissue from that.

Audrey I hope you will do well on the sbx.

For both ladies who are having issues go to the TE Trouble Board. Sorry I can't link on my phone. There is a lot of empathy and knowledge there.

Much love to all.

Scottiemom11

marketingmama. . .I'm so sorry and prayers for your surgery. I've taken 10 weeks of accumulated vacation and a bit of sick leave since right after Thanksgiving. All for BMx and Ex 8 months apart. STD also paid some.

Hugs

Scottie

mysunshine48

Marketingmama, Sending up prayers that all goes well in the morning. Let's hope a new implant and an antibiotic will fix everything!

Rebecca54

I hear you Lorie, I wonder how the PS decides what he/she think will be best in the OR. I guess it's just years of experience? My PS has the reputation of making women bigger than they have asked for. I always firmly tell him..I DO NOT WANT TO BE BIG!!! Hoping you're happy with what you got! Glad you're feeling good and thanks for the reassurance about post-op.