Exchange City

robinblessed54

Mrs, I had to wear the surgical bra and ace wrap for 1 week after surgery and no shower. Post op appointment got that off and had to wear a sports bra 24/7 for at least 6 weeks. I have gummies and they have to stay put so no rotation occurs.

Robin

SpecialK

MrsB88 - I have used Biocorneum, it is the recommendation of my PS as well. I have not worn any compression across the chest because I have had fat grafting, which should not be compressed, but for those who have not had FG along with exchange I have seen use of compression to help hold the implants where they have been placed to encourage stability and pocket healing without movement.

MrsB88

Thanks grandma3X, DeeRatz & Robin for your input re: compression. Robin - I have gummies too so maybe that's why the 24/7 for 6 wks allowing enough time for the pockets to heal so the implants won't rotate. Thanks for your insight! Grandma3X - the Bio-Corneum is a silicone cream so it's good to hear that your PS mentioned silicone cream for scars. Dee - I agree with you that I want to do all I can to make this my last revision surgery!

smilethrupain

hi ladies, I'm new to this thread. I'm an August UMX, currently doing chemo. Last infusion schedule mid-nov. hoping for some advice from you!

My main concern now is my reconstruction surgery. While the MO says she is confident my blood work will be normal 4 weeks after last chemo, PS is concerned with body being too tired for proper healing. So, I had a single mastectomy and was planning to do a lift on my "native" breast during the implant switch surgery. Turns out, the surgery is more invasive for the healthy breast as there is a lot of pressure on the tissue and the wounds may not close properly. For the implant breast not so much - relatively simple. Now I'm a little scared, I hadn't realized it was such a major procedure. Has any one of you done the same surgery? What has been your experience? I have to confess, I want it done mid December because of kids' and my school breaks and because my mom will be staying through the end of December and can help me with the house And the kids. It just that the nurse painted such a vivid picture of things that could go wrong... Thanks

TrmTab

Hi Smile

I am a June UMX with exchange scheduled for 12/28.  I will have the lift/reduce on my R later. While many have done the surgeries at the same time, for me the separation is due to a couple of reasons.  One is the recovery on the R is expected to be much longer than the L exchange -- 4- 5 weeks???  I have the exchange scheduled for the intersession of semesters as I am a teacher but due to the PS's schedule I will be back in a classroom 10 days after exchange! I have a 4 week break, but he isn't available until 2.5 weeks into the break! So...I don't have time in Decemember/January for another long recovery.I have the lift/reduce scheduled for next summer (June 2017) when I will have time to recover -- got to remember that the non-MX side hasn't been through surgery and will have fresh nerves and all else to "get over" the invasiveness of the surgery.  Also for me, they removed 1250cc at MX, having an 800 implant at exchange, but that leaves me with a large lift/reduce -- so again, more recovery. And the final piece for me is I would like to lose 20-30 pounds before they do the lift/reduce...don't want them to take too much!  

Janett2014

Wow, every PS is so different and of course every patient and surgery are also so different! I too have gummies; 24 hours post-surgery my PS said to take off the surgical bra. He said I could resume showers and could wear any kind of bra or camisole, or I could wear no bra at all. It has been two and a half years, and I've had no problems.

FUBC

MrsB88, I am wearing supporting bra for 6 weeks. No scar treatment, PS told me to use scar treatment if I wish once the incision is healed.

Congrats Grandma, I bet it feels good for TE's to be gone :-)

Blueorange

hi all,

I had my exchange on Oct 11th and I'm not sure if my healing is normal. Over the past few days I've noticed new bruises all over my left breast. in fact the entire breast looks bruised. it is a different color than my right side. I had a bmx, te's, and now silicone. is this something urgent that I should be worried about? I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with my plastic surgeon..

MrsB88

Blueorange - Just saw your post. It's just past 4 pm in CA. Can you call PS's ofc. before close today? Let them know what's happening. Glad you're going to your visit tomorrow but it's still worth a call today. Let us know how things go.

MrsB88

SpecialK, Janett & FUBC thanks so much for your input. Like you said Janett, each PS seems to have their own ideas of post-op protocols depending on the patient & the surgery performed. I was on other sites today reading a variety of PS opinions on the post exchange compression garments, if to wear, how long to wear, what type to wear, etc. I think I psyched myself out. Today is the day my PS said I could stop wearing my surgical bra (6 wks post-op). I was really looking forward to being free of it. Then I read several docs say you should wear it for 3 mos! One PS said since he began this protocol 4 yrs ago, he hasn't had one patient with pocket related problems. Also, several PS's say you should continue to wear a support bra at night for even longer. Now I'm afraid to even consider taking this darn thing off (except to shower, of course)! I guess I'll wear it 24/7 until I see my PS next visit. She'll probably think I'm nuts! Everyone with an opinion, feel free to chime in, or not!

robinblessed54

I wore a bra for almost a year even at night. It was a security blanket. I now wear one during day, mostly a bralette. I go braless at night now. It is a personal decisio

Blueorange

mrsB88

I called and left a message, got a call back and was asked to send pics. I didn't have good enough lighting to really capture the colors. My PS said he would have someone call me today. it's only been a few minutes, waiting for a call...

Mominator

MrsB88: PS told me to continue wearing the surgery bras they gave me post BMX for about 6 weeks. They are not compression bras, just nice, comfortable, stretchy bras. I had a lot of pocket work during exchange and my breasts felt unstable, so I continued to wear the bras 24/7 for 6 months.

No one mentioned anything about scar cream.

Best wishes, Mominator

FUBC

I have a question:

I am 25 days post exchange and I still have pain, mostly upper inner side of breast. At times it feels as if implants are coming out of the pockets, but I had the same feeling with the TE's, I guess the muscle was being stretched but why do I still feel the pain. It hurts mostly during the night. Of course the pain is way way less than with the TE's but it's still there. Also worth mentioning is the fact that I had the exchange 2.5 weeks after final fill and all previous fills were done every week so I didn't give the skin too much time to stretch. I am also a C cup now vs A cup pre bmx. I mentioned these details bc I wonder if the muscle is still stretching which means that the pain will eventually stop at some point.

Anyone else had the same experience? Will it get any better?

SpecialK

fubc - did your PS prescribe muscle relaxant meds after this surgery? That might be something that helps you.

MrsB88

Robinb & Mominator - Thanks for your input re: length of time you wore supportive bras. I'm with you both on this one. There's definately no harm in wearing support for as long as one is willing & comfortable to do so. Thanks!

MrsB88

FUBC -I'm not an expert here but since you went from an A cup to a C cup and your exchange was only 2 1/2 weeks after your last fill, it seems that you could very well be experiencing additional stretching especially if the implants are larger than the size you were expanded to. SpecialK's question about muscle relaxants and their ability to possibly help your discomfort is a good one. I got relief from them after my resection to expander surgery. I had exchange surgery 6 wks. ago & my implants are 135cc larger than my expansion. I still have a sensation in the area you described which is like a slight pulling but no pain and my PS waited 3 mos. from final fill to implants. Your PS should be made aware of your pain and the symptoms you describe. Each of us is unique in how much discomfort/pain we experience after surgery. I don't know of any reason why it wouldn't get better but that's why it's important to inform your PS so he/she can assess you and help you.

FUBC

Thank you for your responses girls !!

SpecialK, I have diclofenac at home which is an anti inflammatory but advil usually helps so I haven't used anything else.

MrsB88, my implants are 590cc and I was filled to 630cc. I am hoping that the pain will subdue at some point. I know I rushed through the process but I really needed to get back to work which is the only thing that keeps me sane right now. PS suggested that I wait a bit longer. Anyhow, my next follow up is next week so I'll see what he says. I can tolerate physical pain, I just wanted to make sure this is (hopefully) temporary and not what I should be feeling for the rest of my life.Thank you for sharing your experience though. :-)

Mominator

FUBC: yes, I think your muscles are still stretching and probably recovering from surgery. Mine continued to stretch and recover for several weeks after exchange.

I had a lot of pocket work done during my exchange, so my experience may be very different from yours. However, my breasts felt very unstable and my muscles were very sore for several weeks post exchange.

Over those weeks the pain diminished to just being uncomfortable and eventually went away. Only once in a while I get a shiver and my muscles will feel just a little uncomfortable, but no pain anymore.

I am almost 10 months post-exchange. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Mominator

grandma3X

I'm 3 days out from my exchange and my left side is noticeable larger than the right. I think it may be more swollen - this is the side where the PS had to recreate the IMF. I also feel a tender spot on my sternum and some stinging pain along the sides of my foobs. All in all, the pain is not too bad and I'm controlling it with Tylenol. I hope to get back to work maybe by Tues. or Wed. next week. This morning I was able to get out of bed without too much pain

The discussion about wearing bras has me thinking I should be wearing one too. Right now I just have an Ace bandage wrapped around the top of the foobs to prevent them from migrating upward. But I notice when I lay down that they shift to the side. Maybe I'll try a soft stretchy bra today and see if that keeps them in place.

FUBC - I waited almost 3 months between my last fill and the exchange. I had a lot of travelling on my schedule, including to South America, and did not want to risk having problems while out of town. At the time of exchange, my left side had a lot of give to it, while my right side was still rock hard. Now that I have had the exchange, they both feel nice and squishy

SpecialK

fubc - Valium, Skelaxin, Soma, Flexiril - all commonly prescribed to help with muscle tightness after this type of surgery. Maybe ask your PS for a short term prescription for one of those.

FUBC

Hey girls,

thanks again for your input.

Mominator thank you for sharing your experience, it really put my mind at ease. I was hoping that will be the case, but I wasn't completely sure.

Grandma, congrats on your exchange. My PS' nurse told me a supporting bra is a must for 4-6 weeks or until the implant settle while the pocket work and revisions heal.

SpecialK thanks for the advise. I'll ask my PS next time I see him.

Enjoy the weekend ladies :-)

bikefam

Regarding the discussion on pain after exchange, I am 6 months post exchange. I still have pain occasionally. My PS wanted me to take it easy and not do any lifting or exercise involving my pecs for 4 months, so I have only been back to normal activity for 2 months. I thought the pain was probably from my pecs being out of shape. I don't experience it while I'm working out (swimming, raking leaves, etc), but I do at random times when I am just sitting still. Also, pressure on my foob tends to cause mild pain (laying on it, a tight sports bra, seat belt on a long drive). I don't know if this is a comment or a question, but that is what I have experienced. Has anyone else experienced this?

DeeRatz

FUBC-Hang in there. I had my expanders filled over many months so things stretched out more slowly. You had a rather quick fill process. I'm sure your pec muscles aren't sure what they are supposed to be doing.

I am very happy with these new implants. I have had very little pain. My incisions look really good. She did a great job and addressed all the issues I had with the last exchange. One difference that is weird is that these implants are smooth on the outside. I can feel my pec muscles slipping over top of them when I move certain ways. They kind of make a noise. I am wearing a tight sports bra as well I have been wrapping a tensor bandage over top to hold them in place. I am quite bruised and I don't remember this much bruising last time. I think she did more work on them than I think she did. My incisions are itchy too. I guess that's means healing is happening!

LADYnKY

hi everyone I'm new here but not really. I've lurked here since my diagnosis 5/4/16. One month before my 50th bday. IDC. I opted for double mastectomy choosing to save my right breasts nipple and skin since it was non cancer side. I felt like I was trying to save some of me by doing that. I found this website and would lurk daily trying to prepare myself and it has helped immensely. I got expanders during mastectomy and began fills which so horrible for me. I hated it so bad. My PS said my skin was thin and he had to stretch me slowly. Ughhhh

I just had my exchange 10/26/16. Mentor memory shape high profile. 440cc. I am still very swollen especially on my breast bone and cancer side. Feel very itchy around back and breasts also. Incisions look wonderful.

When should the swelling subside? I know everyone is different but I look forward to seeing these puppies how they're suppose to look.

I go to PS Monday.

I've followed so many of your stories to try and prepare myself. Thank you all. I decided to post today because I saw some newly diagnosed and wanted to share.

robinblessed54

Lady, you will he swollen for awhile. I took a picture of myself at 2 months and still looked swollen.

I would say 6 months at least to get an idea on the look. You need to be patient. Follow PS instructions carefully. It will pay off in the end.

Robin

LADYnKY

thank you so much robin. I've read many of your threads as my journey began.

LADYnKY

grandma we had our exchange the same day! How's your swelling and bruising

mvspaulding

I just had fat grafting done on Thursday. I wasn't expecting to have as much pain with this surgery as I have had. I came home in a surgical bra and a binder with all kinds of padding and gauze inside. I took all the padding and gauze out yesterday because I couldn't stand it anymore. She took fat from my stomach and sides of my chest. Said I need to wear the binder on stomach area and a tight sports bra until I see her on Friday. I am just hating this binder. Does anyone know how long the pain lasts with this? I know they are going to look better after this but I am kind of regretting doing this.

Anonymous

Thinking ahead to my Dec exchange, I'm wondering how quickly most felt comfortable driving. (Like even quick errands to pick up kids, for example.) I know I will have to take into consideration if I'm on prescription pain meds, but looking for a ballpark idea. Thank you!