Exchange City

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  • cleo100
    cleo100 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2010

    Hi, Almagetty! I want to ditto everything you said. I, too, have learned so much from reading this site and await my exchange scheduled for Wednesday, August 25th at 1PM. Good luck and looking forward to good news for us both!

                                                           Cleo100

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited August 2010

    Kward:  Congratulations on your exchange!  So happy they are soft and squishy.  I can't wait until Thursday.  Yippee Squishees!!!!

    Katey:  Thank you!!!  So want it to just be done!

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  • almagetty
    almagetty Member Posts: 316
    edited August 2010

    Hi Cleo100!

    My surgery is scheduled for 1:30 PM, so we should get our squishies practically simultaneously. Good luck to you! 

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2010

    ((((((((((((((((((((JUDY))))))))))))))))))))) I sent you e-mail to check.. and I see you here.. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. HEAL FAST lady!

    Texas.. are you freaking kidding me???? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.. there is NO WAY you went through that big surgery to have CC again. Honey... this makes me really sad and mad for you... I am praying that you DO NOT have to deal with this CC after exchange. That it is OVER for you. ((( hug))).... I so wish I could go "poof" and fix everyone.

    Brenda... I love that you are getting to get the fat grafting. I have a feeling... that if I did it... I would look amazing. Since I doubt it is in the cards for me... :(...... I am going to live through you.

    Deborah... thank you for posting that. I know it helps others. I hope, one day, ALL ladies doing reconstruction can finish their journey... and NOT have to deal with the money part of it. It probably will not be me... but... some I care about down the road!

    Welcome newest sister to EC!  The BEST squishy thread on BCO!

    xxxooo

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  • vanderlady
    vanderlady Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2010

    Texas -- I was reading recently on a PS webpage (or maybe it was here) that he has his patients take Vitamin E the first year after implants.... patients who took Vitamin E were less likely to develop capsular contraction.  Might want to look into that. 

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  • vanderlady
    vanderlady Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2010

    Welcome Almagetty.  What part of Florida are you in? 

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2010

    Pam... Vit. E huh? Thanks for posting that... I will look into it. SO SO many of us need help to prevent CC. You know,, I am a rare sister... having implants only and doing well AFTER rads. I also take mucho supplements. Vit. E is one I take in a high dose... and I do not have CC or if I do.. it is slight.. grade 1.

    TY!

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited August 2010

    MBJ Good  LUCK with your exchange surgery Thursday!! Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

    Those recoverying from surgery ... HAPPY HEALING!!

    Diane

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  • ilovehorses2
    ilovehorses2 Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2010

    Thanks, I didn't have any lymph nodes removed.  What is Trunkal LE? I'm right handed and he thinks that has something to do with the pain because it's worse on the right side.  Whippetmom can you send me the PS's name in Denver please. Thanks Ladies

    Di 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2010

    brunette, Judy and kward- Congratulations on getting through another hurdle.  Hope you're all recovering well and enjoying being a squishy little thing again!  :-D

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited August 2010

    DiDel:  Thank you so very much!  I don't know how I am going to get to sleep!  I have already been up the last two nights in a row! 

    Estepp:  I am always wishing I had that special wand that could make everyone's pain, and heartache go away.  F*** cancer and insurance  companies that rake you over the coals when they should just be willing to do what it takes to make things right.  It's such a one way street.

    New Faces:Almagetty, ilovehorses, Vanderlady, Funsizejen & Cleo100:  Welcome to the group and may you find as much love and support here as we all have!

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  • Giselle7
    Giselle7 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2010

    (((MBJ))) - I will be thinking of you tomorrow and wishing you only the very best. Here's to "balancing" your life out!

    It's been three weeks today since exchange ladies! So far so good. Following massage orders. Was able to move to the side just a little last night. Good news!

    Hope everyone is recovering nicely and feeling nice and squishy! 

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited August 2010

    Pam, thanks for the tip on the vitamin E. At this point, I'll try anything!

    Di, trunkal LE is lymphatic fluids that build up in your main body not your extremities like arms and legs. Usually it's associated with having lymph nodes removed.

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  • jkz
    jkz Member Posts: 355
    edited August 2010

    Good morning ladies,

    I was just reading all the post to catch up! Hope everyone who had their surgeries this week are doing well. 

    Gisselle are you having a hard time sleeping? After reading your post I thought that we had our exchange on the same day but realized I just had my surgery 2 weeks ago today! I am sleeping pretty good on my side back and stomach (though I have never been much of a stomach sleeper)..

    Kate & Lilah the pictures that I posted on the forum were only 1 week since the exchange not 2 like I posted them as. I really think that I am losing my mind these days..

    I am so glad I found you ladies.. There is always someone to talk to just when  I need it. You can NEVER have to many sisters.. Thanks for always being there :).

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  • almagetty
    almagetty Member Posts: 316
    edited August 2010

    Thanks for the welcomes, everyone!

    Pam, I'm in Orlando. I see you are over in Melbourne. Howdy, neighbor! 

    Getty 

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited August 2010

    Giselle:  Thank you!  I am so excited I can't stand it!  Tomorrow cannot come soon enough!  Please, breast fairy, be kind, be gentle, and give me bodacious TaTa's!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    Di -- well if you haven't had nodes removed it's HIGHLY unlikely you have LE, impossible even :)  So just forget all about that!  Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome is certainly a possibility.  I suspect, though, that what you need is some physical therapy.  I wrote you a long post on the Implants 101 thread!

    Texas -- that is just unbelievable!  Did your PS say it was a possibility?  I agree you should check into massage and whether that can help reduce or prevent further issues.  What does your PS say?

    Yay for all those who just had or about to have their exchanges!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    Oh one more thing: ladies using Vitamin E on scars... for what it's worth, Val's PS told her NOT to use Vitamin E on scars because it can act like a steroid and thicken the scar.

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  • jkz
    jkz Member Posts: 355
    edited August 2010

    I have been using bio-oil on my scars..Not faithfully.. but it seems to be working..

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited August 2010

    Lilah, my PS kind of shrugged off the CC. She made the comment that prior to the LD Flap surgery, I'd had CC around the entire implant.Now I "just" have it in the upper portion of my breast where it's still the old radiated tissue. The lower portion is softer. Guess she's happy for improvement not a complete fix of the problem.

    I did massage the implant before I lost it, and it seemed to help. I plan to do it again after the exchange.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    Well, sending you hugs Texas.  I hope the CC doesn't hurt and that you will still feel better overall when all is said and done.

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  • julesgg
    julesgg Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2010

    hi ladies...i just had my exchange surgery 2 weeks ago yesterday...bilat mastectomy in december, chemo from mid-mar to mid-jun...no rads...recovery going pretty well...this was sooooo much easier than the mastectomy surgery!!...i know its early, but i still have that heavy feeling in my chest, and the feeling like i have a metal band tightened around my chest, just under my foobs...is that EVER going to go away?...it really doesn't feel any different than the expanders...i'm only a b-cup (was a full c before), so its not that there's a lot of weight there...i'm really hoping that soon down the road my chest will feel normal again...i probably won't wear a bra for quite some time, but it feels like i've got on a much too tight bra that's digging into my chest...BLEH!...

    my hair is coming in oh so slowly...well, pretty slow for me...still just peach fuzz basically...been 2 months since last chemo treatment...i really want to ditch the ball caps its just too hot...

    wish i would have asked my ps about lipo with this weird side-of-the-foob fat that appeared...overall, i'm happy with my results...love the new smaller size...later this fall will get my fipples and tattoos...

    anyone farther out than this who can give some insight into how long this binding feeling stays?? 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2010

    Jules:  Do you have a lat flap?  I hope your tightness improves with time.  I had my exchange on 8/5/10 and I only feel tightness when I am wearing the bra that the PS wants me to wear 24/7.  As soon as I take off the bra I have instant relief.

    Texas:  I asked my PS for advice on what lotions, etc. to use.  He specifically said Aloe Vera, but not till a few more weeks.   Have you ever tried that?  The last time I used Aloe Vera was when I was going through radiation. 

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited August 2010

    QUESTION - I just got back from PS and my TE's are very hard and he said that I seem to have some of scar tissue (don't think I had it 3 weeks ago).  He said that everyone develops scar tissue around the TEs and that it shouldn't be a problem with the silicone implants.  Does that sound right!!  Now I'm worried about that.

    texas352 - The PS told me to start 400 IUs of Vitamen E for scar tissue - why didn't he have me take it for the past 3 months!!  He says it does help some with scar tissue issues. 

    Horray for everybody getting exchanges - GOOD LUCK!!

    I have my exchange date as of now it is October 8th!!  I can't wait to be SQUEEZEABLY SOFT!! 

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  • Giselle7
    Giselle7 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2010

    vmudrow - Yes, that does sound right! When your PS performs the surgery for the exchange, he will slice the scar tissue around the expander and place the implants inside. It has been 3 weeks since my exchange and I am now in massage mode so the scar tissue does not become hard around the implant. I would call your PS if you begin having any pain.

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  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 1,637
    edited August 2010

    Vmudrow - I agree w/ Giselle. I had my exchange more than a year ago, and I still sleep on my stomach to massage the implants nightly. I think it helps keep them soft. The TE's were hard and uncomfortable. Take care!! - Jean

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  • deekaay
    deekaay Member Posts: 328
    edited August 2010

    My PS told me that everyone who gets an implant has a capsule that grows around the implant.  It is the body's reaction to having a foreign substance in it.  It only becomes capsular contracture when the capsule becomes excessiviely tight and compresses.  Ultimately the implant gets squeezed and gets displaced, causes pain, etc. and sometimes has to be removed.  As we know, radiated tissue ups the ante on the capsule compressing.  For me, my radiated side is much firmer, but not hard, at least so far.  Plus I have the Lat D tissue providing support.  Actually, my prophy side is looser than I'd like--I wish I had more firmness like my bc side.  Is that the definition of irony or what?

    MBJ, wishing you the best with you surgery tomorrow!!!  deekaay

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    Good wishes for tomorrow MBJ!!!!

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  • rebetata
    rebetata Member Posts: 539
    edited August 2010

    MBJ goodluck tomorrow.

    Well Deborah I asked about getting the nips and was told no I guess it is company wide thing.

    Hugs to all of you,

    Rebecca

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  • vanderlady
    vanderlady Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2010

    jkz - what is bio-oil?

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