Exchange City

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  • ProudMom_Wife
    ProudMom_Wife Member Posts: 634
    edited April 2011
    MBJ - Yeah I have read that silcone has a better look and feel, and they have vastly improved from years past, but I am going with saline for personal reasons and will just have to live with the result, but hoping and praying they will still look OK, if not I will probably just take out the implants and be flat.  I will check out the other thread too.  Thank you.
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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited April 2011

    ProudMom I have saline and I do feel like I look 'normal' :)  My only complaint is that mine feel a bit hard compared to my breast tissue.

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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited April 2011

    Thank you MBJ and Lilah!

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  • ProudMom_Wife
    ProudMom_Wife Member Posts: 634
    edited April 2011
    Thanks soccermomofthree.  I read saline implants might get hard.  Well if my abs aren't hard, at least my 'breasts' might beWink
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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited April 2011

    Very cute ProudMom!  Yes maybe our abs will follow are impants example :) 

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  • annettek
    annettek Member Posts: 1,640
    edited April 2011

    you know....none of our breasts feel exactly *real* after reconstruction- as long as the cancer is gone and you feel good about yourself SA LA VIE!!!! (or however the heck you say it!)

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited April 2011

    I have saline in now, but my ps will exchange for gel in 2 months.  They look great, but they are as hard as the tissue expanders.  I think he fills out the pockets better for shaping with saline, then replaces them with gel implants.

    Terri

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Proudmom:  Yes, hardening is one of the side effects but as long as you know this and you are okay with this then you need to do what feels best for you!   My MX side feels a bit stranger and harder compared to my other side so I don't think any of the recons except those done with extensive fat grafting to replace the breast tissue feel real or normal.

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  • JuJuBe
    JuJuBe Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2011

    Does anyone have a "phantom itch" that feels like it's inside the breast? I have been feeling a tickle way deep inside that obviously can't be relieved if I scratch or rub my breast. It's very annoying and I don't know what it is. I just had exchange surgery 2 weeks ago.

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  • dawn31337
    dawn31337 Member Posts: 307
    edited April 2011

    New t!tt!es for me on Tuesday.  Can't wait to kill the cereal bowls!!  

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  • JoanDavies
    JoanDavies Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2011

    I just saw my PS on Thursday and should be scheduling my exchange for the end of April/beginning of May timeframe. I asked him if the implants will be a little closer together than my TEs, which are set far apart (into my armpit). He said he'll try to shift them a bit, but because of where my breast muscle is, he can't do much about the positioning of the new boobs. I have 550cc in each TE, and will be getting high profile silicones. I was a B, but I think I'm going to be more of a C now. But does this mean I'll never have "cleavage" again? Am I destined to have boobs under my armpits forever? Please say it ain't so...

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Joan:  My PS told me he wouldn't be able to give me cleavage but a good push up bra sure can!  Your breasts should be the same distance as before and if your getting silicone, you should be able to achieve the same amount (if not more) cleavage as before with a good bra.

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Jujube:  I have had that itch before!  It's just your insides healing from all of the surgery.  I fuond myself constantly rubbing mine after exchange because it made them feel better and I think you will find most of us do that alot, so go ahead, just don't scratch your incisions.

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  • Warrior67
    Warrior67 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2011

    Joan: It ain't so!   I second what MBJ said.  My TE's rubbed on my arms and drove me crazy and when I asked for closer together implants I got the same answer you did.  My implants don't rub on my arms and are very pliable and I have no problem getting cleavage in the right bra.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Jujube - yeah I have had the phantom itches too -- so annoying!  But I think they go away as I haven't had any in awhile (and my exchange was last May).

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Crap!  So last night I felt a lump just below and to the right of my fat grafting.  I emailed all of my dr's and my Onc said to put heat on it for a week and that it's probably some fat that didn't take!  I just checked my email and my BS wants to get me in right away to have it checked, so hopefully tomorrow I can have maybe an US or something to completely eliminate any possibility of it being anything.   I keep telling myself it's just fat but I really hate this fear and this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of going through this again.  So close to being "done". 

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited April 2011

    mbj:

    Have it checked out! I will be praying for it to be nothing!!

    Jan

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited April 2011

    4 weeks out of exchange...still sore...normal?

    My DH gets mad at me and says it's only been 1 month...

    Jan

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Jan:  Thank you!  I had my exchange 8/20/11 and I still have aches and pains.  They did alot of pocketwork on me and for the most part I am good, but it is going to take a few months to feel "normal".  Mine especially hurt when moving alot.  It does get better!  Mostly I have pain under the arm and only after wearing a bra all day and night.

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited April 2011

    Thanks

    Yes, I have pain under one arm but I can also still feel one stitch on that end...UGH... The girls seem to be settling in somewhat though so I'm hoping this will all settle down soon.

    Please let me know how you make out with BS !!!

    Jan

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited April 2011

    MBJ:  Rats!  You sounded so happy with how things were going.  I hope it's nothing serious and that it can be remedied.  Always on the weekend, right?  I'll be thinking of you tomorrow...

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  • JoanDavies
    JoanDavies Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2011

    Thanks for the information, ladies! I'm SO ready for the exchange, just need to set the date...

    MBJ - Prayers that it's just some wayward fat. Let us know what you find out. 

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Tina:  Yeah, I'm hoping it's just from the fat grafting.  Still, I found it because it hurt and that's how I found the first lump. 

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  • joan888
    joan888 Member Posts: 810
    edited April 2011

    MBJ... do let us know what your BS says.  I would tend to believe its the fat grafting.  Good you are getting it checked out.  You have come so far.

    I am only 10 days past exchange surgery and feel really pretty good.  I also have the pain under each arm but only when I push around on it.  My first follow-up with my PS is tomorrow, and I am looking forward to seeing what he has to say about my recovery, etc.  I am hoping that he lets me switch so more comfy bras.

    Dawn... good luck to you on Tuesday.

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011

    Joan:  I brought in what I wanted to wear to get it approved so you if you have something in mind that may help your cause.  I have come so far and I am so close to being done.  Today my DH and I went on a special 7 mile bike ride through downtown and back and no cars were allowed on the route from 10-3 and it was so much fun.  I kept crying on and off for the first 1/2 hour because it's the first time that I really felt almost back to normal again.  I haven't been able to ride for at least a year and a half or 2 years.  It's good to be alive.

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited April 2011

    MBJ: How wonderful...you have come so far and helped so many.  I'm praying for you!

    Jan

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited April 2011
    Jan:  Thank you so much!  I just have to give back when so many have helped me Laughing
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  • joan888
    joan888 Member Posts: 810
    edited April 2011

    MBJ... oh, so happy that you had that "back to normal" experience with your DH today.  This can seem like such a long journey that I think we all start to feel that we will never feel normal again.  I am a cycler and this past year going through this BC mess has limited my riding.  Now my PS is saying NO, not yet. We are finally seeing some nice spring weather.  Good thing that my DH put my bike up in the garage attic over the winter and won't get it down til the PS says so.

    I have a couple sports bras that I switch to once in awhile so I will probably take those in with me.  Oooooh, I just sneezed!  Had to hang on to my new foobs!  Guess they are a bit sore yet.

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  • joan888
    joan888 Member Posts: 810
    edited April 2011

    MBJ... oh, so happy that you had that "back to normal" experience with your DH today.  This can seem like such a long journey that I think we all start to feel that we will never feel normal again.  I am a cycler and this past year going through this BC mess has limited my riding.  Now my PS is saying NO, not yet. We are finally seeing some nice spring weather.  Good thing that my DH put my bike up in the garage attic over the winter and won't get it down til the PS says so.

    I have a couple sports bras that I switch to once in awhile so I will probably take those in with me.  Oooooh, I just sneezed!  Had to hang on to my new foobs!  Guess they are a bit sore yet.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2011

    Mary, 

    What you experienced on your bike ride happened to me in a dream.  It was such an exhilarating experience.  I felt good, even after I woke up.  And I'm not even a bike rider!!! 

    I'm happy for you.  You deserve to feel normal. 

    I am hoping that your little lump is just fat.  It hurts because your nerves are regenerating.

    My lat flap is doing well.  The flap is still alive!  Yeah!  Now I need to match it because the other one has ripples.  PS says it does not have to be another flap.  He can match it with a fat graft.  I am so not wanting another surgery so soon, though. 

    Take care.

    Brenda 

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