Exchange City

mysunshine48

Lori, Yes, I would not have liked it if my PS made the decision to change the type of implant I was going to have with at least a phone call! Are you happy with the size? Did they leave the bandages off after your post op appointment? Glad it is over for you! 6 more days for me! Yikes!

loriekg

Rebecca & mysunshine—I just don't get why a PS would make anyone bigger than they wanted? Now I wish I would've said something to PS when he came to mark me pre-op! A nice, "remember…I said smaller. When in doubt go smaller…" was warranted after all. But then, who knows, maybe he was right and a smaller implant would not have looked right on me. I'm 5'2" and 120lbs. Most of the ladies I've seen on the picture forum with my size implants are taller, larger.

I honestly can't say if I like them right now or not…I'm hoping when the swelling goes down, I won't feel so wide up top. But of course since there is such a big difference than with the TE's, maybe a lot of this is getting used to something different.

Yes, they left the bandages off after my post op apt. They just have me wearing the surgical bra all the time for the next two weeks.

Rebecca54

Lorie, at least the rocks are gone!

Rebecca54

Marketingmama, hope everything went ok with surgery.

Audrey, hope those antibiotics are doing the job.

I mean sheesh! Isn't BC enough! I had 2 hematomas, one immediately after BMX and one 3 weeks later. Both required another surgery. One day we will all cross that finish line, where ever it is! xoxoxo

Msmath

Just checking in. Surgery went well. My husband was sure glad they kept me overnight for observation. I was throwing up every time I stood up to go to the bathroom. We finally figured out my blood pressure was low and that was causing my sickness. I am so sore from getting sick and these binders aren't helping at all. Taking oxytocin every 4 hours. I have my post op appointment Friday. I'm going to call monday to see if I can change out the lower binder with Spanx.

On the bright side I was the only patient in overnight observation so I had 2 nurses all to myself and they were awesome!

marketingmama

Quick update from the hospital. Implant removed yesterday and pocket cleaned etc. DH saw doc but I won't until about noon. All I heard was lots of fluid and blood when he went in and many cultures taken. Not sure how long until any come back. Post-surgery I've had a ton of IV antibiotics (different ones).

Just looked at my deflated foob. Ugh. Red, sunken. Depressing. Resident was in and said I'll probably need TEs again, or maybe a flap or fat grafting to rebuild----perhaps with implant. Big question right now is do I stay here waiting on cultures or go home? It's so nice to bypass the GI tract and avoid stomach issues by doing IV. Hospital is great. All private rooms, good food and tons of help from nurses and aids. What would you ladies do if given the choice?

Pain not bad but had dilaudid and Valium all night. Still not much sleep. Not sure why.

ThinkingPositive

I know I have asked this before, but its been 4 months since my exchange. PS says everything looks great. My MX side has implant...is it supposed to feel weird? Feels full?? Can't explain it. My right side had a slight reduction and lift.. implant is on the side. MY MO felt it and my OB/GYN felt it. PS says its the implant and possible scar tissue. My breast is not sagging like it was before surgery so I guess implant is doing the job.. but why on the side? Has anyone else experienced this..?? Almost feels like it is on the side of my body when I cross my right arm over to the left. I know the PS has to answer this answer, but just wondering if there is anyone out there that may have experienced this and was told its normal.. Thanks !!! Hope you are all doing well after your exchanges!

kingster

Marketingmama, if I had the choice...I would choose to stay in the hospital. IV antibiotics are more potent, and should help your infection quicker. You don't want to get septic. I'm sure that is why your doc didn't want to wait until Monday. Also, IV pain meds act much faster, and you would have more help available to you. That sounds very painful. Hope things clear up soon.

Thinking positive, even though my implants are exactly the same size, they look different. My left still sits lower and slightly toward the left, my right sits a bit higher and more toward my armpit. I am scheduled for fat grafting in about a month to help improve things. I wear a bra most always to try to keep my implants where they belong. Mine feel heavy and pulley, annoying, but not painful anymore. I am 6 months out. I am having difficulty accepting my new body, but trying very hard. Looks great in a bra and clothes. Looks better with reconstruction than without. If it really bothers you, I guess a second opinion might be in order. If it's a mild displacement, then I would just hide it with a bra. I think there is more risk of complications with multiple surgeries. At least that is what my PS told me.

ThinkingPositive

thanks kingster

marketingmama

Thanks Kingster. Yep, decided to stay. DH agreed. Certainly it's also easier on my family. DH doesn't need to take care of me!

They're still running IV antibiotics--- Vancomycin and Cefazolin. Pain meds all oral but don't need a ton since the incision was small. Also Valium. Best news is that I'll have cultures back tomorrow.

Think I'll need to go back to expanders, which sucks!! Just hope they can fully remove all traces of infection since there do seem to be cases where women keep experiencing them. The flap option feels pretty intense. PS said he's only needed to do these on women with irradiated skin. so thinks it won't be needed for me. With TRs and implants I at least know what to expect. Thinking I'll start over in mid-November/December when work is at its slowest.

Warm wishes to all.

AudreyB

Marketingmama, so so so sorry you had to go through this. I'll say a prayer for you.

I am doing well. 5 days on antibiotics and breast is nice and cool and no redness. I'm praying infection was caught early. Still taking antionotics for 1.5 weeks.

I did go for my bra fitting today at Nordstrom. Lovely woman named Ratna was my fitter. She asked a bunch of questions, then brought me into the fitting room, large room with a desk, leather high backed chairs, flowers on the desk, just lovely. She measured me around, took a look at my chest, then went out to the floor and brought back about 9 bras, the first 5 fit me like a glove. I bought all 5 plus one more in a different color. I told her I wanted push up underwire to create cleavage and to hide my scars, and boy did she deliver. I wore one of them out of the store. Lol. Spent $479 and didn't have to pay tax. She gave me paperwork to submit to insurance company just in case, but I already checked and I'm not covered. Overall a lovely experience.

Forgot to add I'm in 36 DD.

mysunshine48

Happy to hear the antibiotic is working, Audrey! Holy cow! That is a lot of bras and 36DD! Wow! My exchange is this coming Friday. Ready but scared!

AudreyB

you will do great mysunshine. I can guarantee you you've been through worse. Much worse.

mysunshine48

Thanks, Audrey! Funny, I feel like I know you all like you were neighbors and not just cyber friends. It is comforting to have others who have been/still are going through this.

AudreyB

I know. All the women here have carried me during the past 9 months. As a matter of fact JustAmy was the first person to respond to my first post here in January. Our paths have crossed over several threads. So comforting to know this is a safe place to share our deepest fears, and our happiest moments too. An amazing group. In 9 months I have never seen an argument.

Scottiemom11

marketingmama. . .so glad to hear that you're getting good care in the hospital. Praying the antibiotics work quickly.

Audrey. . .glad to hear you're getting better. Wow, sounds like you had a great time at Nordstom. I mm ay go eventually, but I'm really more comfortable in just loose sports bras. Also like the the option of going without.

Mysunshine. . .hang in there.

Scottie.

kingster

Audrey, yay! Sounds like the antibiotics are working😀. 36 DD, awesome! What size and type of implant do you have again? Actually, I feel beautiful in a pretty bra...and that is why I have 2 drawers full of bras now, ha ha. A great bra can hide all of our battle scars.

AudreyB

Kingster I have 655cc Sientra smooth round HP implants. My PS could not release my skin from muscle in the cleavage leaving me with a wonky type crooked cleavage. So I got pretty push-up underwire bras that both lift and separate and provide a fuller upper pole which is what I was hoping for, the illusion of cleavage. Also I did not get deep plunging bras as my scars are in my cleavage and all my new bras cover the scars completely. I wore a Juicy Coutoure low v-neck tshirt tonight, first time I've felt really good about wearing something like that. No more hiding. Yay.

kingster

Yay indeed! The perfect bra makes a huge difference;) I have 700 ml mentor memory gels, smooth rounds HP. I am either a 38 C or a 36 D depending on the bra. I prefer the 3 hooks in the back lately because of the weight. Our implants are pretty close in size. So glad you are feeling better. I also have crooked cleavage from scar tissue I think. My ps said that is part of having mastectomies.

Moonflwr912

Audrey, I'm glad the abx are working for you Yay for a good bra fitter!

Marketing Mama- Hugs. It's so hard when things go wrong. I had the IV abx for 3 weeks after my infection. I had an at home nurse administer it. Every day around noon. I went to my cancer care center center every week to have my Port accessed. So for 3 weeks I had a needle in me. Whheeeee. are we having fun yet? LOL But it cured the infection without tissue loss. If Sandy checks in, she'll tell you that's one thing you really shouldn't do. After that I had oral abx. I also had the infectious disease Doctor added to my team, especially because I am allergic to so many abx. They had to spend a lot of time figuring it out. So I'm glad you waited in the hospital. Because they'll be able to culture for the right one for this infection.

Much ove to all

marketingmama

Congrats on new bras Audrey! I can't wait! And even better that your antibiotics have cleared infection. I'm still at the hospital (and running IV antibiotics). We expect cultures back in a few hours and then to head home later today. I'll talk to PS after he finishes his surgery. Still no idea how he'll rebuild me but will ask later.

For now hoping to talk to a nurse navigator about a prosthesis for the side I just lost. I assume they can advise on that--- where to go for a fitting etc. Expecting no reconstruction until December.

Best to all

AudreyB

hoping you feel better today Marketingmama.

robinblessed54

Marketingmama,

Any word on cultures? Hope you are getting better every day.

Robin

Moonflwr912

Marketing mama hope you are tucked in at home by now. Get some rest abx and infection takes a lot out of you.

I had a lot of luck with an Amoena camisol. Mine came with adjustable forms filled with fluff. As i recovered I used them full. Then I pulled out fluff when I got fills. Since then I got an infection I had to out more back in. But they worked when changes were fairly constant. The reason I liked the Amoena ones is the shape is very natural.

Much love.

ThinkingPositive

Audreyb. How do your underwires feel with implants?

AudreyB

Thinkngpositive, I'm feeling fantastic! No discomfort at all, except for the end of the day "ahhhhh" when you finally take a bra off. I do not feel the underwire at all as the bras are sized correctly (36 DD). I wore one yesterday, and a different one today. And my girls look really good too. Nice and lifted the way I was hoping they would be. My goal was to life and separate to camoflouge my wonky cleavage, and its working!!!

Lkscolo

I am 48 hours from exchange. My left TE is really sore and annoying all of a sudden. Like the edge is pushing into my side. Is that just me being ready to ditch these? I hope it doesn't mean complications in surgery.....

mysunshine48

Lkscolo, I am the day after you! I have had pain a lot! I also hsve worried sbout complications, but am sure ready to get these things out! Had them over 5 months! Surgery center just called me to go over everything!

Rebecca54

First MArketingmama, I am so sorry you're having to go through this! Infection bad enough but starting all over with TEs SUCKS! Hopig it's smooth sailing this time.

Audrey, so happy the infection seems to be under control. WHEW!

Sunshine...sending positive vibes of great luck in you exchange surgery.

OK ladies....BRAS???? I thought we were done with those! I understand Audrey you're using them to for a look. Bu tother than that, do we really have to wear bras? I've been wearing camis with my TEs and happily so. I was a D cup in my former life and my bras were industrial! So freeing to not wear one!

hummingbirdlover

Rebecca,

I'm SO with you on the no bra idea. Although I hated my TEs, I LOVED those months without a bra and wearing all of those cute tops! I can't wear anything with this post-surgery bra/torture device and am hoping after 6 weeks I can ditch it all together. We shall see, I suppose. I'm not very big post exchange so maybe there's hope? If I have to, I suppose I'll get used to a bra again but I loved being bra-less!

(Hugs sisters