Exchange City

rainbird

LOL good one

btw I had the same issue but got it resolved by getting the Telesis 5 adhesive from Pink Perfect.

Based on my experience with it during last 6 months or so, this adhesive can hold those nipples for several weeks without a problem!

AudreyB

Scottiemom1, I'm glad to hear that someone else is feeling strange adding weights, even light ones. All the feelings in my chest are so different, I wasn't sure if I was hurting myself or not. Glad to see this is just normal muscle reaction. Plus, my foobs are getting in the way, my saggy real boobs would never get in the way, although I wish I didn't have to go the route I did to get better ones. ROFLMAO

bikefam

Tina,

I've been on vacation for a few days so haven't had a chance to respond. I have Mentor 350cc smooth round high profile on the mx side and 100cc smooth round moderate + on the good side. The mx side has not fallen or dropped yet. It's been 2 months so I guess I need to be patient.

Tina1969

bikefam,

I hope you had a nice relaxing vacation. I know it is hard to be patient....I struggle with too. Hang in there. I have to also remind myself to trust that everything is going to be ok.

Good luck.♡

PMR53

Mominator- so happy for you those antibiotics are clearing up your infection!! Good News!!

Can any of you comment on Fat Grafting? Pain, Bruising, Healing? I just found out today this will be done with my Exchange on February 17. My PS said it was free Lipo. I think it's more serious than that. 

Thank you!

PMR53

kingster

PMR53, I had fat grafting in October, and will have a second fat graft in a couple weeks. I have seen a big improvement, so that's why I agreed to do it again. It really smooths out the ripples, dents, flat areas. I have smooth round silicone, very soft. He filled in the upper areas (called the tail of spence), and basically all over last time for a total of 165 ml fat per side. I took 2 weeks off work last time, but will be only taking 1 week this time. I had 5 Lipo holes over upper and lower abdomen, and 5 Lipo holes total for the chest (10 holes total). I leaked luminescent fluid for one day. Very bruised, but I bruise easy. Worse bruising was on days 2-4. Mostly better after 2-3 weeks. I wore body shapers, although surgeon said it wasn't necessary (but they helped with pain). I massaged my abdomen starting pod #1 as instructed to help smooth out lumps etc. He said use ice to the abdomen which I did. Surgery was 1 hour and 40 minutes, and was done as an outpatient. Was very sore, but I lived through it. I have feeling in my upper chest, so that was also sore. I kept about half of my 1st fat graft. My surgeon doesn't fat graft at the same time as exchange, so that was 2 separate surgeries for me. Each ps is so different, so it's nice that maybe you could have 1 less surgery done. Also, no ice or massage to the breast areas, as the fat needs to find a blood supply to live. My abdomen is flatter, yay! So, I guess it is free Lipo (although I must pay 10% on my insurance plan). It seems that fat grafting is becoming a standard treatment in breast reconstruction. Also, the foobs feel softer and warmer to me, which is great;)

new__me

Kingstèr, thank you thank you thank you for your detailed description of fat grafting! I am scheduled for exchange and fat grafting next month and don't know what to expect. My sister is having her exchange and grafts next week (same PS as me) so soon i will have someone to talk to about it. I am more anxious about this procedure than my PBM! It was so helpful to read your post.

NJsurfer

Tina - I had my exchange on Jan 25th, so I am only about 7 days out. The new implants are significantly different. Rather than look like two (albeit small) grapefruits high on my chest, they look like real (albeit moderately small) breasts. The look terrific. At this stage they still feel firm to me (I have the Allergan Natrelle Teardrops) but each day they seem to soften a bit. They still feel like a foreign body in my body, but I suspect these feelings fade as you adapt. The sleeping is better, but for now I am still sleeping on my back or 45 angle side. I think this is because I am worried to move them! But I do feel them those positions at this stage! Good luck and try not to have anxiety before your exchange - I am sure you will do very well!

PMR53

Thank you Kingster!

I didn't know about additional abdomen holes. Sore boob and sore stomach. He said I will wear a compression garment for 2 weeks and will have  2 drains until they are bone dry ( I have had fluid problems) Ugg. It sounds painful. This I pray will be last surgery. 

PMR53

SummerAngel

I've had fat grafting twice, once with the exchange and once with the nipple reconstruction. So glad I did, the fat helps the foobs look good! I only had two holes on my thighs the first time (fat had to come from the inner thighs), two very small incisions on the foobs for the fat injections. I had four on my thighs the second time because the fat came from both inner and outer thighs. Recovery was easy, just a bit tired. I was very bruised both times but that didn't bother me, and I didn't have to have drains or wear compression garments.

PNY

PMR53: I had my exchange last week. Also had fat grafting from my abdomen. My PS went in through my belly button. Two tiny little stitches in my belly button. I was wearing a binder but it stopped a day ago as I could not get it tight around my belly so I figured it was not really compressing anything.

I don't have drains or any additional holes anywhere. My implants feel pretty soft although I have to wait till they "fall" to see how the end product will be,

My PS told me I would be out of work for two weeks, although I am really feeling so much better after just one week just sore. (the most soreness is just under each implant by my rib cage. Not sure why it hurts there. (if anyone knows please tell me).

Good luck PMR53, hope it all goes well for you.

Phyllis

PMR53

Thank you Summerangel and PNY-

Good information! I didn't know going through the belly button was an option.  You both sound like you did so well! Thank you for your encouragement!! Does the new implant feel better than the TE? My TE feels so uncomfortable !

Patty

SummerAngel

The implant feels so much better than the TE I can't even describe it! So comfortable in comparison.

Anniekay80

Just an FYI for you ladies still having trouble sleeping on your side...

I absolutely could not sleep on my back without panic attacks even right after BMX with TEs. I found a way to sleep on my side by sleeping on the couch with my back to the back of the couch....I have a body pillow I use in front of me stuffing parts of it under my arm I'm sleeping on...2 pillows so my head is at mid shoulder height...and the final piece is a small travel pillow I got at Wal-Mart that I stuff under my other arm. I then sleep sort of hugging the body pillow.

Hope some of that made sense and helps someone else with trouble side sleeping. I was able to do this even with the drains in place. Then again after a week of no sleep, I had to get creative. Hoping I'll soon be back in my bed!

Cyber hugs to you all......

Suzanne50

I just can't wait to get this TE out of me. I find it so uncomfortable at times. I thought I was getting used to it and then I had radiation. I think that made it sore. Done with radiation now but still can't sleep on that side. Whatever- pretty soon it will be gone. March 8th can't come soon enough!

Tina1969

Thank you NJsurfer. I appreciate the reassurance. That makes me feel better. I'm looking forward to being more comfortable.

Anniekay80, I do something similiar to that with the pillows but I'm in my bed. I

PNY

Good morning. I had my exchange 9 days ago. While I am feeling great and just feel slightly sore around the liposuction site and implant site, there are two spots, one below each implant that literally kills. Not all the time, more when i stretch or raise my arm causing a "stretch", or go from a lying to sitting position, or sometimes It feels like its my rib. It does hurt to touch but mostly it is when i move.

Anyone else have that pain?

Thanks Phyllis

PMR53

SummerAngel-

I am so glad to here that. This TE is so uncomfortable and weird feeling. What kind did you get?

Patty

SummerAngel

I got Allergan Natrelle 45s (500cc). They're smooth, ultra-high profile implants. Love them! When I had TEs (Allergan 133FX-12-T), I was very uncomfortable, never could sleep very well on my side when I had them.

robinblessed54

PNY

Sounds like you had pocket work done! Don't raise your arms above elbow height!! Be careful because you don't want to pull anything loose. OTC extra strength Tylenol should help. I had pocket work on one side to even them out. The pain didn't last long. Just take it easy and do what they tell you.

Robin

Scottiemom11

For those having trouble side sleeping, I highly recommend the total body pillow. Dh bought me one from Sam's Club about a week after my BMx because I was sleeping propped up on about 6 pillows. The total body pillow is U shaped and wraps completely around and under head/neck. I still can't side sleep but can do a modified side position with this pillow. I even travel with it.

Scottie

DeeRatz

1 week until I get rid of these awful expanders. Since my last fill they have been really bothering me. They are 400cc and are overfilled to 500. My right one isn't in there straight and the seam is causing me pain in my cleavage area. The right expander kind of squeaks in the pocket when I wipe the counter or do any chest exercises. It is a weird feeling. A squeaky boob. My left side was my cancer side and I have had no problems with that one at all. Maybe the right is protesting being taken away against its will.

I sooooo can't wait to have my newer, softer and hopefully very improved gummies!

fipjoemom

Thanks for the pillow recommendation, Scottie. I have a couple of weeks to go for my exchange and have gotten all my fills but the last week or so I am having a lot of trouble sleeping on my side now. I will head out to Sams Club tomorrow and get that pillow!

kingster

Deeratz, I had gurgle noises in my chest after my exchange, lol. So, I can see how you could squeak😂. Implants are so much better, but there is not too many things more uncomfortable than the dreaded tissue expander!

Phyllis, I had rib pain after my left side tissue expander replacement, because he lowered the inframammary fold so the expander would not roll up again. Sneezing was so painful. I would brace myself with a pillow if I knew a sneeze was coming. Just ask your ps if he did work in your painful areas.

bikefam

PHY, Agree with what Robinblessed said to not raise your arm above your shoulders. I was not to raise my arms on either side until 5 weeks after exchange, or on the TE side the whole time I had the TE in (5 months). After so long, I wasn't even sure my arm would go above my shoulder. It was quite stiff, but I have to say that 3 weeks after restrictions were lifted, things are about back to normal and it feels wonderful to do everything again!

Mominator

fibjoemom: have you tried a reading pillow for sleeping? After my BMx I could not sleep on either side or stomach, and even sleeping on my back was uncomfortable. I sleep while propped upright in a reading pillow similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Brentwood-Originals-Brushed-Twill-Bedrest/dp/B002S0NJNK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452955954&sr=8-1&keywords=reading+pillows+for+bed which was fine. My husband later bought be a bed-lounge: http://www.amazon.com/BedLounge-Classic-Regular-Natural-Cotton/dp/B006VQQOV6/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452948252&sr=1-3&keywords=pillow+recliner which works just the same as the reading pillow. I can roll a little to one side or the other. This is how I have slept for the last 12 weeks, from BMX to Exchange to recovery. I did not want to rent a medical bed.

I tried sleeping last night on my side, without the bed-lounge. I didn't last 10 minutes on my side. I still have some fluid pressing in from the infection. So back to the bed-lounge. It's really quite comfortable.

PS Don't tell my hubby, but the reading pillow was almost as good as the bed-lounge.

fipjoemom

Thanks, Mominator, for the pillow suggestions. My daughter-in-law has that reading pillow so I will give that a try. Guess I will be sleeping on my back until my exchange recovery is over too!

PNY

Thanks Robinbelssed54, I figured I must have had pocket work but did not think NOT to raise my arm.I am one of those that this you need to get back to doing everything immediately or you won't be able to do things later on. Now i have a good reason to just sit back and relax a bit:)

THANK YOU

katykids

Deeratz, I had gurgle noises after my exchange too. I didn't have drains and someone told me it could be fluid. I am not sure where I heard that. As you hear so much from so many places! But I did feel reassured by that! Feel well!

robinblessed54

I too had gurgling but was told not to be alarmed! Can't remember how lomg it lasted I am 11 months post EX.

Robin