Exchange City

Thank you ladies for your words of encouragement.  It is all so frustrating as you all know.  Things change so quickly.  Not sure if anyone on this board can give me some information on the trampflat.  My PS said that if we go that route next year that he takes it from the abdimon so its like a tummy tuck (just not as professional) and boob job in one.  Was kinda wondering on how much it hurts, healing time, etc.  So much to think about.  Hoping to get the drain out tomorrow.  I really think that has to be the worst thing... I was joking with my DH last night and turned one way and said "woman chest" and turned the other way and said "man chest" at least we both got a little chuckle out of it.:)  Gata find the humor in everything I guess.

Thank you again ladies you have always been such encouragement throught out it all.

Jen

Hey Rowan - I have the same question!  I have to wash my hair too.  I do not wash it much due to using the cold caps during chemo.  I am really nervous about this whole thing.

 I am not sure what size, etc.  I want to be smaller and more athletic looking than boobalicious looking.  I am 5'10 - though all in the legs - and 155.  I was a 34 or 36 A B or C depending on the bra. I can not decide what size and am afraid I will come out too big.  Friends are all saying I should go smaller than my TEs.  They are like party platters NOW.  I feel the need, when walking into a party, to explain what is going on with the boobies....I am filled to 450 I think.  I know I am getting the Mentor Round HP Silicon - somewhere in the 400-500 range.  I am thinking 450.  

Thoughts anyone?

Good luck LisaG.  We are with you in thought and spirit in the OR!!!!! 

Hi Anniemomofthree--I am only 5'4 so much shorter than you, and my TEs are only filled to 250.  But my PS says I have lots of skin so there was no need to overfill.  I'm having a little tr uble with the math now that I think about it becasue she said she is bringing in silicone mentor round hp gels 400-650...

My natural breasts were 470 and 600 (I had had a lumpectomy) so I think she is going to try to get me about like I was only "perky"--that's what I keep telling her.  I don't want boobalicious either.  Right now I have some form to my chest, and I guess I would say it is athletic looking.  A little more would be ok with me. 

JenC -- it's called a Tram Flap (I believe).  I think you can search the word "Tram" to find women here on BCO who have had it.  I agree with MBJ that its worth, also, checking out Dr. Khouri.

Rowan -- my PS told me specifically to shower twice -- once the night before and once in the AM for extra bacterial defense   I suggest you do so as well.  Bacteria = bad.  And while it seems unlikely you would have more in the morning, it is a good extra precaution to take IMHO.

Haven't had my exchange yet, but getting closer.  I'm struggling a bit with how much more to go, already feeling a little too big.  Got some helpful advice from Whippetmom a while back so trying to keep it all in mind.  This is hard!  I posted some new pix on the picture forum...

Dawne-Hope:  Thanks, it's kind of hard to tell, but the medial 1/3-1/2 of the nipple and a bit of the underside were lost to necrosis so it's quite a bit smaller than the right one.  Also, the areola is gone in that area, replaced with light-colored scar tissue.  PS plans to remove the pothole and says all I'll have there is a fine semi-circular scar.  All in all, looks better than I thought it would.

Thanks again.  I don't actually feel huge, I just feel big compared to pre-MX size.  My next appointment isn't until three weeks from now so I've got time to ponder...  My PS usually fills 50cc at each expansion and the patient can decide how to long to wait in between (minimum 1 week).

welcome biologybrain-sorry you had to join us but glad you found us....always room for another....impant sizes are tricky things- they vary so widely- the most knowledgable person on here for advice as to size is whippetmom- it just sucks your ps would not listen about the size you wanted-it is not right and if you are having severe pain your insurance will most likely pay for a revision- you need to interview PS= a lot if need be until you find one who will listen.

Annie- that is what is have on my body- and I am only 5 foot nothing and 126 lbs- it resulted in a 36 full C- our bodies accept things so differently-again, i defer to whippetmom- i think a lot has to do with the chest size (right under your breast) and your build. TEs tend to be HUGE on everyone- mine were ridiculous at the end....and those TEs (450) were smaller than my implants (550)...it is such a strange process...I was not overfilled prior to exchange.

man there are gonna be a lot of us in surgery tomorrow....how come nobody every told ME to wash? hmph. I hate being left out.

Biologybrain:  Welcome!  I haven't had my exchange yet, but it's so helpful to get in on these discussions so at least I feel like I can ask some good questions!  There's no guarantee that I'll be happy with my eventual outcome, but I have to say that both my PS and his PA are very good listeners.  I think that's the minimal requirement.  If your PS can't do that must be time to move on...at 30, you're especially too young to stick it out with your implants if you're in pain and unhappy.  There are options out there. 

What I do keep reading here is that talking to your PS specifically in terms of desired bra size isn't necessarily speaking in his/her language.  Did you have the opportunity to meet your PS prior to your mastectomy?  If so, I assume they took measurements and pictures and should have at least been able to understand that you wanted to be smaller, the same, etc.

Sorry you are feeling unhappy and frustrated.  You can grumble all you want here and we'll understand! 

I am hoping my PS is thinking bigger and better, ok, maybe not bigger, but better.  My PS is young and recently joined the group at  the larger medical center where I go, he seems confident and everything has gone well so far.  I am a little nervous that he will let a less experienced resident assist, I wonder if I can request that only he do the major part of the surgery ( I am going to large teaching hospital). 

hey Carroll- how the heck are you? You are getting closer....:) Playboy bunny indeed- you always make me smile.

Christine,

Yes, you can make sure that your PS does not let a resident operate on you.  Read the consent form before you go into surgery carefully, there should be something stating that Dr. XYZ or his resident will perform the surgery.  Simply, write a statement on the consent form indicating that you don't want anyone but Dr. XYZ to perform the surgery, sign, date it and also tell the nurse and doctor of the change when handing it back to him/her.

I was at a teaching hospital too and I checked with my PS' nurse and this is what she told me is the procedure.  Because I was on my 2nd revision, my PS was the only one who would operate.

Best of luck to you and I hope you are happy with the results.

Cindy 

Cindy, thanks for the advise reguarding a resident.  I know everyone needs to learn, but I only want to do this once.  My PS does not let his students in the room for my appts, so I don't think he will have a problem with my request.

Carrol2, maybe I can be a 47 year old playboy bunny too!  I was on vacation at the beach last week and it was great not to have boobs that where jiggleling and saggy.  Hopefully never need a bathing suit with underwire bra again.

Hey girls,

Exchange surgery is tomorrow at 8:15am! My PS says that there is only a 10 percent chance of drains, I will pray that I am in the 90 percent I am getting pretty nervous, of course I cannot wait to get rid of the TE's, just afraid about pain issues. PS is opening the incisions under the breast and says he will tighten up the pocket, he is taking two different sizes of Allergan Cohesive Gel Impants in, one is 750cc, the other is 800cc, this is Out Patient. PS said No wire bra, for some he does reccomend it, but not for me, which is great with me He is giving me two and one half weeks off due to my being a Hospice Nurse.

Anniemomofthree, my stats are close to yours, 5'10", 145 lbs.  I have 650cc high profile.  I am 36 C (Nordstrom's measured me 36 D).  I feel and look like a C.  They still feel a little big to me, but look ok.  I'm on the picture forum if you want to compare.  My PS said 550-650 from the beginning due to my height. 

Justagirl- you are right about the not lifting part- every time i try to do something it comes back to bite me- rested most of today because my arms and chest felt so swollen after helping carry in groceries yesterday (just one light bag) Hoping that the reason I am healing more slowly on right side is not because I rushed into doing things too soon- like brushing the dog, and even wiping counters- those repetitive motions that seem to really make me sore. time to sit down with my 19 yr old son and talk to him like you did yours!