Exchange City

Got my exchange date scheduled for June 2nd - yes, I fast tracked through the fills and suffered through the last three.  Knowing there is an end to this portion of the cancer journey makes me feel a little relieved.  I still have to do a complete hysterectomy, but I am trying to find a doc I have confidence in.

Minus2:  That is so funny--I used the gladwrap, too.  Never would have thought we would be doing this.

SueBeeBC:  Just went to look at your pics and you look very natural!  You should have excellent results.

MBJ - thanks!  Its kinda scarry to share the pix but part of the healing at the same time!  And I love the cherry comment...LOL!!!

I don't think fat grafting or Alloderm have anything to do with the drop and fluff.  The Alloderm provides great support where there is no longer any breast tissue and the fat creates a more natural look also because of the loss of breast tissue.  Drop and fluff will happen no matter what unless, of course you have a gummy.

MBJ is correct.  Drop and fluff has nothing to do with alloderm or fat grafting.  It is due to the silicone implant settling in (either from changes in the muscle or changes in the capsule as you heal).

From what I understand, gummies soften over time and do a bit of settling but they really don't do the drop and fluff like a silicone round.  This is because they are already in the proper place and you don't have to wait for gravity to do it's thing.  The rounds have to settle in, so to speak and the relaxing of the muscle allows the round to drop into place.

Me, too. There must be a better way to navigate the picture website than what I'm doing. Would love tips, too.

MBJ is right about gummies.  They drop and fluff only slightly -- but DO soften up a lot over time. 

For access to the picture forum PM me, MBJ, Whippetmom, Estepp, Firni or Timtam.

Lilah, Can you help me regarding the softening period for gummies. My plastic surgeon said that my implant (Silimed) wouldn't get softer. I am four months post exchange and mine still feels very hard. I had a tissue expander in for ten months so I figure my muscle had plenty of time to relax. Are we talking about a few months or more like a year for the softening to happen?

Beacher4209: I know what you mean! I had a lot of shoulder, neck and arm pain throughout chemo and it worsened after my mastectomies and TEs. I found that if I do gentle stretches and yoga moves, I get some relief. I also find that sleeping on a recliner instead of in bed has helped. My exchange surgery was 2 days ago on Monday, May 16th and the surgeon told me that sometimes the expanders sit on a band of nerves and that can cause the pain. I'm only 2 days post-op but I do notice less pain now. I have no shoulder pain at all. I suggest that you talk to your doctor about it, make sure you don't have a fever and that there are no palpable lumps anywhere and try gentle stretches throughout the day every day. Hang in there. You're getting closer to your exchange and you'll probably find real relief at that point.

Carrol you are looking great!

Beacher4209,

I got frozen shoulder 2 months after chemo and b/4 my BMX.  It was very painful 24 hours a day for 4 months.  I had to do physical therapy for almost a year.  After BMX, I seem to be fine.

Terri

Beacher- I have frozen shoulder too, but in my left arm. Opposite my mx. The orthopedic dr. can't really say what caused it, but the PT said she went to a seminar and learned that many women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are more prone to it due to hormonal changes. Well, I can't get more hormonal than cheompause! I have only been doing PT for a week now, but the pain in 24 hours a day. My dr. says if PT doesn't work, he will put me under and do a manual manipulation that tears the fiberous tissue that is causing the problem. Yes, you can do PT with an expander. I had PT once to get my range of motion back in my mx arm and I still have it while doing new PT. Hope yours get better soon!

Edie ~ I have the same issue ~ I had my rt mx Sept 2005 and prophylactic mx w/expanders Feb 2011.  Exchg to silicone on May 5, 2011. The left (prophylactic side) is softer than the right (ca side). Maybe that's because the skin is so tight from an older mx?  My rt ca side, is tighter and they are both still a bit painful as it's only been 2 weeks.  Not sure if or when they will soften up....