Exchange City

Thanks Lilah,Annette and TinaT for your response ,i see my ps on Mon. and im not leaving till he puts my mind at ease, i quess im just gonna start taking pain meds again. 

Congrads to all the exchanges this week take care of yourselves

I know this is gonna sound like a bummer but i just wish there was not always new women  going through this, seems like the world has just given up on us and think oh they survive, no need for a cure. But our lives are changed forever and we do go through alot of sadness,fear, loss, loss of time ,pain,anxiety, i feel like nobody knows but us... thank God we have each other,but i wish none of had to .....

congrats Rowan! I agree Beacher...sad everytime someone new shows up...but so damn glad this  board is here.

I went to see Dr Shenaq (I am putting his name here as he deserves it) today for my "day after" checkup...this dude is awesome. I was going all giddy over the nipples and how smoothed out everything is everywhere even without the fat grafting. I said man, I know these nips are gonna get smaller but they look cool...he said "although they will of course go down a bit, I did something else to help bolster them"-he sat there grinning like a kid...then tells me he after he did the small revision on bottom of my right breast where there was just a bit too much extra skin- he then literally folded and stuffed that skin inside of each nipple...he has had great luck with this so far helping retain the shape...Interestingly the nipples are not completely closed up as he thinks it makes it heal better...so I change dressings everyday (hydrogen peroxide and some antibiotic cream they gave me with six layers of gauze withholes cut out and two more top layers on each breast. Added bonus he even managed to get rid of the worst part of the scar on the left side. I go back again on Tuesday- I don't know who was more tickled me or him:) His office was packed and I can see why.  

When we get to the fat grafting (micro grafting - i guess better results with this method) I can't wait. But honestly I am happy right now. which is no small thing. The fat grafting will literally be guilding the lily. I will post on pic forum later.

annettek - Very exciting indeed!  So happy for you!!

I remember the gauze quite well ... should have bought some stock in some as a matter of fact!    Went through boxes of it during the weeks I had to wear it.  I developed an allergy to the adhesive on tape ... I found paper tape was the best for sensitive skin.  Later on I just stuck the gauze on top of vitamin e or antibiotic cream to make it stick in place. 

Do you have stitches?  It's so great you have such a wonderful, thoughtful and creative PS.  Congratulations, again! 

Congrats to all of you who had your exchanges. Wishing you continued healing. Rest up



Annettek. How very cool! Your PS sounds great. Your are on the home stretch. Congrats



Liz

Hi- thanks for the words of compassion, advice & support.

My dressing covers everything- including the drain sites. I don't stay in the shower long & it doesn't get wet.

Nervous too- I started Arimidex today. (I am 5 wks PFC). 

I know the drains are part of my PS process- he's quite a perfectionist. His staff is great too- nurses and other MDs speak highly of him. He did a great job on the BMX TE too. 

It's great to have softer implants. Still foobs, but ones that seem manageable. I am not as big as I was in the TE, but I really think i would not be comfortable carrying foobs larger than I was before BMX. One less pain to worry about!

The drain sites itch. I do have a pouch someone sent me in the mail that's good to carry the pouches easily. They were so kind to send them to me (a BC survivor from one of the webboards I was on when newly dx). I used them for BMX, then now for this.

For those waiting for the exchange- for me- it was painful the first 8 hours post op. Markedly better after that. I haven't taken even tylenol today- haven't needed it. 

I am tired of being housebound, but must w/ the drains. Counts still are low, so I don't want to chance it..

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Lisa

beacher:  extreme heat or cold is bad due to lack of feeling!  It will go down with time.

Spellgirl:  Wow, I don't blame you for not being excited about another fill a week after getting 120cc.  Funny how they all run on different schedules.  Take 'er slow!!!

LisaGH -- yay on exchange and happy you are done with chemo!  Here's hoping it all gets easier from here.

Dawne -- it's not you, it's ME!!!  But I did go and look and you look LOVELY.

Annette -- how freaking cool is THAT?!  Can't wait to see the unveiling... your PS ROCKS!

This thread moves fast!

Beacher - sorry about the pain!  I have twinges in the augmented side.  Yesterday driving I took off the bra and let them be...that seemed to help. 

Annette - cant wait to see the headlights!  YEAH!!!

and everyone who is recently exchanged - Im so happy for you that you have made this next step!!!  What a difference eh?

when you are given coconuts make pina coladas!  Its great news that the TEs and skin have held up thru your rads.  Sounds like your PS has your best interest in mind.

I got em!

myrrl - Yikes, lady!  That sounds horrible!  Pocket work can hurt and take a while to heal ... it's just not swamping implants ... they do a lot of internal work.  Take it easy!  It can take up to six months to a year for all the internal work to heal.  Please take it easy.

Thanks, Dawne-Hope & TinaT. I'm hoping the pocket work wasn't so serious that I'll feel it for too long, though my partner said I was in surgery an hour longer than they'd expected (so 2.5 hours total - just for an exchange . . .) so maybe. But nothing the BMX or exchange can do will rival the pain from those broken ribs -- it took me six and a half months to get off Percocet (!). And ouchy is all right with me -- I don't have cancer anymore, so I never feel I can really complain -- coming here always sets me right in perspective, know what I mean? I'll keep y'all posted on how this works out -- I chose very small implants, mostly because I've had so much sternal pain from the rib fractures, and I'm hoping I'll still look . . .female ;-). 

Hi girls, I had my excnahge 2 days ago, had to sepnd one night in the hospital due to an anesthesia reaction, could not stop vomiting. Home now and took my first shower today, DH washed my hair. So...really? I can take a shower but cannot lift my arms above shoulder level. PS only opened the vertical incisions, but did lift, so many internal stiches inside, hurts pretty bad on the sides, hate having the bra on all of the time...but...OMG, this is sooo much better than TE'S...I have silicone cohesive gels in, so much softer, and no more foobs under my arms

Just have to say thank you to all the wonderful sisters posting here- it is an encouragement every day- we laugh, we cry, we trade secrets for coping... very cool!