Exchange City

KasasmomI have noticed that my right side is much firmer and fuller than my left. I don't know if it has something to do with that back in 2002 I had my first lumpectomy on that side and the dumb a@* did not do a nice job. I am kinda just watching it for now so far all is well so I am just in  limbo for the nips. I cant wait.

Rebecca

Kansasmom--My last fill before exchange was extremely painful.  But I'm glad you have your date set.  It's the nature of the TE's to be a pain; in more ways than one.  haha  Are they overfilled?  Mine were originally 450cc's but were overfilled to 500.  My implants are 500cc.  I struggled with the size issue for months.  But I did go with what Deborah recommended as well as my PS.  And I have absolutely no regrets.  Very pleased with my results.  The TE's cannot be compared to the implants.  Completely apples and oranges.  Hang in there.

Bonnie--how wonderful your son's truck was recovered!!  What a Thanksgiving bonus.  Am also so glad you're feeling good.

mom3band1g--Will be thinking of you tomorrow!!  All the best for a successful exchange.

LG300--no need to worry about nip/tats right now.  Let your body heal.  Glad your infection is clearing up. I think I would be happy without nips.  But I do have one.  And I think I would look strange without having the other one done.  So, I'm going for the whole shootin' match.   Unfortunately, I can't go braless, like I thought I would be able too.  Maybe this summer after a year of exchange, but these girls are much heavier than the originals.

And to all the ladies on here:  I give thanks for you daily as you have been an encouragement, inspiration and total troopers to me.  You are my heros.  Thank you for your openness in your walk through this disease. 

CoolBreeze wrote: I had the (#$*((#$ expander in 6 months after my last fill and yes, it was very uncomfortable.  I had many fantasies about taking a knife and slicing along my scare - it was so close to the skin I figured it would just pop out!  You could see the valve right through my skin  - even the color!  So, I understand your discomfort. 

LOL!  I had similar fantasies!

This is my 5th day after my exchange and I'm feeling better every day.  The drain on the right isn't having much output and I'm hoping it will be removed before the end of this week.  The left, radiated side, is still having about 50 mls a day.

Mom3 - My radiated side still feels much firmer than the other side but it is much softer with the implants than it was with the TEs.

 Laura I am sorry your friend went through that. I can not give you an answer as to why though.

I hope everyone is doing well getting ready for the cold weather.

Rebecca

My goodness, 6 hours. I've personally not heard of the methods used but perhaps someone else has. Has she met with the BS and PS to question this. Is this how they described the procedure to her prior to having it?

Estepp, My bilat mx and TEs took 5 hours.  They didn't report any complications on the surgery notes.  However, I was not cut all the way across my chest nor did I have a lift with my bimx.  I feel for your friend.  She is in my prayers.  I do remember a woman on the picture forum who had an incision all the way across her chest.  Don't remember who it was and it was quite a long time ago when she posted her pics.  Or maybe it was on a blog somewhere.  Damn chemo brain.  Anyway, I have seen it before.  Don't know why any surgeon would do that tho.

Estepp- My MX took 6 hours but it was a nipple sparing with incisions under the fold of the breast which I was told takes twice as long as a regular MX.  The only other time I heard of someone having an incision completely across the chest was when someone used a general surgeon for their MX rather than a BS.  Any idea what kind of surgeon she used?

Hi all, I just posted some pictures on the picture forum.  My thread is called "Two weeks post exchange" in the "Under Construction" forum.  I re-posted the picture from last week that I posted incorrectly and added a couple new pictures.  I'm now 19 days post exchange and my infection has cleared up.

Estepp, I can't believe your friend's surgery was 6 hours.  Hope she's healing well. 

That is just horrible horrible horrible.  My heart aches for your friend Laura. 

Laura:  Wow, I am so sorry to hear this about your friend, but please don't blame yourself.  I didn't know they allowed general surgeons to do this type of reconstruction, however, my surger took almost 6 hours and I had the bruising to prove it.  I have been posting this on the scar thread and you should tell your friend:  after everything has healed and the drains are out, get some Lugol's 2% Iodine solution (no alcohol) and use a Q-Tip on the scars and they will flatten and smooth out quite a bit and quite rapidly!  A rapid recovery to your friend.

I had a thoracic/vascular surgeon do my mx.  He had done thousands he said and he did a very nice job actually.  He's the one who decided to do nipple sparing on my prophy side.  Too bad it didn't work out.  But I do have full sensation over my entire breast area.  Maybe coz of the vascular part of his expertise?

Estepp- I think your friend's surgeon should be charged with assault.  There is absolutely no reason to disfigure someone like that.  And no one should be forced to choose between letting an invasive cancer linger because no BS is available or an inexperienced surgeon.  Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Hi Lilah!  I finished chemo on Oct 27th.  I had a nice break from cancer treatments for almost 4 weeks!  However, I visited many doctors and had 2 CT scans for my rads simulation.  Never a dull moment in the BC world! 

 I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! 

Dx 6/17/09 at 39 yrs old, DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 2, ER-/PR-, BRCA1+, BMX & TE reconstruction, DX 4/30/10 again: IDC 0.6cm, Stage 1, Grade 3, 0/10 nodes, ER-/PR- HER2-, ACT Chemo + Rads This disease sucks!

Laura

My RMX was 5 1/2 hrs. The main reason it was so long was they did the SNB at the same time and had to wait for the pathology on some of my nodes. That could be what took your friend so long. My mx incision was high and healed perfectly really very modest scar. I did get cut on the side from the axillary node they biopsied but it was also a very small incision.

Well I met with my PS today 6 weeks after 2nd revision and I am headed for a third exchange UGH! I am hoping to have it this month as I can't  stop crying at how F&%^ed up my good boob looks. The implant is to large. It looked good after`surgery then dropped so now the PS and I decided both sides are too large. So he is downsizing both implants and he said widening the pocket on the mx side and tightening poor Ol' lefty which has been through the ringer and was PERFECT before he thought I needed an OOMPH to boost it to match mx side. Please let this be the last surgery I have ...EVER! Sorry had to vent. It's been a tear filled day and now I am missing yet another holiday season. I also don't know what to do with my new babies Charlie (Aussie puppy) and Sadie (kitty) no way I will be able to take care of my puppy for the week. Im so frustrated.

Di

It's my turn. I have my exchange tomorrow. I have mainly "lurked" here, but have read your posts and feel like I really know some of you. Thank you for all of the information. It has made going through this a little easier

Jen