Exchange City

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  • TLR
    TLR Member Posts: 55
    edited August 2013

    Theresa33, Gully, and Sheridanellis- good luck with your surgery this week. Will have all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

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  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 339
    edited August 2013

    Sweet: You can't see mine either with clothes on. I think I made it sound like the whole toilet paper roll. I mean the little cardboard roll after the paper is off. Sorry, boy that would have been a huge mudflap!! :) I think what I have is plenty big though and it is still annoying for me. I HATE those things!! I am getting excited and nervous at the same time. I'm so nervous about the outcome! I sure hope I at least look as good as my TEs. They look pretty good but just don't project out quite enough. My PS says he will take care of all of that. I just have to trust him. :}

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  • sherry67
    sherry67 Member Posts: 556
    edited August 2013

    Was woundering if anyone with allergen 410 implants have an issue with the radiated side being smaller than the no radiated side .. appreciate some feedback

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    sherry67 - I do not have allergen implants, but Mentor. My PS purposely put in an implant on my rads side that is 50cc bigger than the none rads side. When I woke up and heard this, I about cried, as I want to be as symmetrical as possible. However, he told me that the rads side will always be tighter, thus will not look as big, and the larger size implant will compensate for this. So far, three weeks out, in a bra, they are the same size. Naked they look very different as the rads boob is higher and tighter. Since I spend most of my hours clothed, I figure I can live with this. ;)

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  • Andrea623
    Andrea623 Member Posts: 959
    edited August 2013

    Sherry, I don't have the 410s either, and my PS put a larger implant in my radiated side. It looks smaller, tighter, and a little higher than the non-radiated side. The scar looks worse too.

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  • jnprsn
    jnprsn Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2013

    Can someone tell me if the iron bra feeling goes away post exchange surgery?

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  • foreverchanged
    foreverchanged Member Posts: 63
    edited August 2013

    It really seems to vary for me it felt immediately better after exchange surgery but than seemed to come back a bit, but no where near what felt like with expanders.  I think PT is definitely worth trying if you do have problems.

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  • Walkinginfaith
    Walkinginfaith Member Posts: 46
    edited August 2013

    How soon after exchange can you lift unrestricted? I am a nurse and wonder how long I will be out of work. I cant have any restrictions in order to return.

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited August 2013

    I have a little of the iron bra sensation but I honestly believe it's something I'll just become accustomed to.  I do now have two fairly large medical devices implanted in my body underneath my pectoralis muscles (soft, yes, but still foreign objects) so I don't imagine they'll ever feel totally natural.

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited August 2013

    sweetandspecial - I don't log on here as often as I used to, but I just have to say that your posts are greatly appreciated.  You have such a positive outlook and a great attitude.  It's so important, especially for women new to this whole ordeal, to know that it's tough, but much of it is what you make it.  Thanks!

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  • Andrea623
    Andrea623 Member Posts: 959
    edited August 2013

    I don't have the Iron Bra at all since my exchange. Yay!

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  • cjanet
    cjanet Member Posts: 328
    edited August 2013

    Getting my exchange likely on 10/2.   PS showed me 2 types of silicone implants- one symmetrical and one tear drop shaped.  He said he recommends the tear drop shape for me for aesthetics but the one problem is that it can turn around in the body and I would need another surgery to put it back whereas if the symmetrical one turns, it won't matter.  Any advice?  Where should I be posting this?  Thanks!

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited August 2013

    Hi cjanet - You could try this thread:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/801819?page=12#idx_342

    Also, there is a great thread called Breast Implant Sizing 101 that you should check out.

    Best wishes!

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    All right post exchange ladies, HELP! My PS had me keep med tape on my incisions all this time. I just removed them this weekend. Well, last night, I felt something that felt like a piece of adhesive still stuck to my skin. Scratched my finger nail over it lightly. I have a stitch, looks like a fishing line sticking out of my skin, about a 1/4 inch long. What do I do about this? It is driving me crazy knowing it is there.

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  • Di2012
    Di2012 Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2013

    BayouBabe

    I found those fine clear sutures sticking out of me 3 1/2 weeks out, some that my doctor and nurse missed, so I called and they had me come in and just clipped it off, nothing more, they said they will disolve on its own, about a week later, I found another and I just clipped it myself....no problems

    Di

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    I was thinking of just clipping it myself, as my PS is an hour drive away. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't being crazy for planning to do this myself! :) Thanks!

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  • Di2012
    Di2012 Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2013

    Just make sure what ever you use to "clipped" is cleaned first.....I used a small cuticle scissor that I washed with soap and HOT water and then cleaned with alcohol

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    That's exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for your help! Off to clip!

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited August 2013

    TinaT:  thanks so much for the note of appreciation, it's very sweet of you to post that Kiss.  I know I've had a much easier time of it on this reconstruction journey than many of the ladies here and sometimes I feel badly about that.  I pretty much just try to reason things through and if I can understand what's going on with my body, then it's easier to handle the troubles sometimes. 

    And maybe what I do still feel isn't so much the 'iron bra' because it's not uncomfortable at all.  Maybe it's just that I'm 'aware' of the unnaturalness (sp?) of it.  Doesn't bother me, and pecs will always feel a bit strange when they flex (which is often), but I imagine I'll get used to the pec flex too, as much as I work out.

    Theresa, Gully and Sheridanellis - best wishes to you three this week and prayers for successfull surgery, pain-free and speedy recovery and most of all, happiness with the results!

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  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 1,147
    edited August 2013

    BayouBabe---I am currently experiencing my 7th or 8th spitting suture since my exchange 5 months ago. I have yet to actually have a suture come out, I get a "spot" on my incision line that will then ooze pus (sorry). Not much but some. The one I have right now has been trying to spit for 10 days! I remove the bandaid at night before my shower, have a couple of drops of pus come out, then couple drops of clear fluid then nothing. No pain, no fever, no redness. So I medicate and cover. Lather, rinse, repeat for next night. My PS told me to just put Neosporin on it and cover with bandaid. It's worked for every one till this one that just won't quit. Now he's saying to quit using the Neosporin and just cover with bandaid and see if it dries out. He says not to worry over it, some people's bodies just like to reject sutures! (although he did say I've had more than most. Yippee......) He also said I could clip but I'm waaaay to squeamish for that and besides, like I said, I've yet to actually have a suture come out!

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    I have had spitting sutures with my BMX, but this one is different. No oozing or opening. It is almost like this is where the PS pulled the suture line out of my skin and cut it off. It is about a 1/2 inch from my incisions. Just like a little clear piece of fishing line! :) I was going to cut it earlier, but decided to wait a day or two. Hoping it dissolves. I am afraid now to cut it, I don't want to nick my skin and start an infection. A small thing in the grand scheme of things. I can handle this one! :)

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  • Andrea623
    Andrea623 Member Posts: 959
    edited August 2013

    I've noticed hard little bumps along the incision this week. Are those sutures?

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2013

    Probably/possibly. I guess those of us unlucky enough to get extremely thin skin through all of this are more likely to feel them. But then again, thin skin= fewer breast cells remaining= less chance of recurrence??? This is my story I am telling myself and I am sticking to it!!

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  • cateyz2
    cateyz2 Member Posts: 419
    edited August 2013

    Sweet and Special, what brand/siixe implant did you go with at your exchangre?

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  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 339
    edited August 2013

    Hi everyone, I've had a pretty hectic week. I will be leaving at 6:00 in the morning to head for Charleston. My exchange is set for 11:30. For all the other girls having exchanges this week. You will be in my prayers and hope you all have a quick recovery and voluptuous tatas. :)



    I can't wait to get rid of these turtle shells.

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  • Di2012
    Di2012 Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2013

    Chinneymae....will be thinking of you tomorrow.....soon you will be in the SQUISHY CLUB! Wink

    Di

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited August 2013

    I had a suture that surfaced along the incision line almost a year after my exchange.  Proves that healing is a long and sometimes slow process.  Just because things look healed on the outside doesn't necessarily mean it's done on the inside.  In other words, be good to yourselves and listen to your body!

    Good wishes for all recent and upcoming exchanges!!!

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  • Rose63
    Rose63 Member Posts: 93
    edited August 2013

    Chinneymae - you must be so excited that your E-Day is so near! Good luck tomorrow.

    I'll be thinking of you, and the other ladies coming up this week too.

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited August 2013

    BayouBabe: At the outside of each of my exchange incisions, about a half inch away like you said, I had a little loop of fishing line with a knot in it.  Similar for my BMX.  PS snipped them at my 2-week post-surgery visit.  I haven't experienced any of the internal sutures becoming visible or 'spitting' or anything like that.

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited August 2013

    Cateyz2: I went with Whippetmom's recommendation.  Allergan style 20 750cc high profile smooth rounds.  Three weeks out today and still quite pleased with size, shape, placement, symmetry and cleavage. PS will do a little nip-tuck in a few months to clean up the mud-flaps (flab) under the arms.  Can't wait to get back into underwires. Why they can't make a 36DD non-wire with a bit of plunge I don't know.  I feel like I'm wearing granny bras because there's SO much frontal coverage and un-sexiness.  They ARE doing their job, though, of keeping the girls supported properly until doc says UWs are OK.

    Good luck to the exchange sisters this week!!!

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