Exchange City

Jackiegray - Hi and welcome!  The length of time it takes for the new girls to drop and fluff varies from woman to woman.  Mine really started changing between two and three months post exchange, but some ladies see the changes much sooner.  Mine looked like lopsided pancakes at first and then they eventually pushed themselves out to an acceptable projection and dropped in line with one another.  Like everything else around here, it just takes some time.  You'll feel better tomorrow and a little bit better every day.  Welcome to Exchange City and the squishie side of your new life!

budrfligal13 - Hi and welcome to you as well!  The answer to your question sort of depends on who you ask.    That particular questions can get you a dozen different answers around here.    Personally, for me, exchange was a breeze, so I was one of the 'lucky ones' if you consider all of this lucky in any way.  I literally had to remind myself to take it easy.  And yes, the implants are MUCH softer than the TEs (we all seem to agree on that).  Some people have more trouble with tightness post exchange than others and it seems to depend on the condition of your skin, how much you have, the size of your implants, and the shape of your ribcage (believe it or not).  We're all different, but everyone is happy to get to the point of exchange.  Do you have a date yet?   

budrfligal.....I agree with AZ.  It is so different for everyone.  I am 9 days out.  My PS is a funny, wonderful guy....always joking around.  He said my biggest problem after exchange would be that when I was shopping at Target, I would be constantly feeling myself up saying "I can't believe how SOFT I feel!!!"  LOL!  Well, at 9 days, I can't say I feel any of that.  I didn't wake up miraculously saying "WOW", like I thought I would.  I was completely miserable every second with TE's, so I thought I would really appreciate the change.  BUT....I also had a lot of liposuction on both sides(with this surgery).  I was bruised and it felt like I had open wounds on both sides (I didn't).  And, I wear a snug-fitting, underwire bra on top of it all.  My husband hugged me today and said, "Wow....that really IS softer."  I still feel tight across my chest, and it isn't my skin.  It is my muscle, as it always has been.  My skin has never been the problem.  It's inside.  I now know that many people feel this way.  So, I'm hoping with time, it will get better.  It's not the same as the TE's, but somehow, I was used to the miserable way the TE's felt.  I am not used to this new "post-surgical" discomfort.  So, hopefully, as things heal and loosen up, I will feel better.  It is NOT the same as the TE.  But,it's not the 'wow' I was expecting, either.  The good news is that this discomfort that I feel is limited to the surgical area.  With the TE's, I couldn't move any part of my body (it seemed) with out discomfort, jabbing, etc.  Sometimes, I couldn't laugh, sneeze, or even breathe without discomfort.  But now, it's JUST the surgical site....between my armpits and above my belly....just where he did surgery.  NOT inside, NOT breathing, NOT anything else.  That is a relief.  Even the tightness is just tightness across my chest.  No "missiles" inside.  Nothing in my armpits.  That is a relief, too!    It's so hard to know what to expect.  And again...everyone is different.  Many (maybe most?) people DO feel that immediate relief.  Some are back comfortably sleeping in their beds a couple of nights later.  Others have drains, are in the hospital longer, or (like me), back on the recliner for awhile.  I guess I maintain the attitude ..."Keep your eye on the prize".  It's another step closer to the end.  My fear was always that I would be miserable forever.  I just can't think like that anymore.  I have to keep hoping that all will be well, as it is for MOST people.  Staying focused on the future, that doesn't include miserable TE's or any of the discomfort that goes along with it.....is the trick!  Hang in there. 

I am almost 4 weeks post exchange surgery.  At 2 weeks with follow up appointment and stitches/ steri-strip removal, I had lots bruising and swelling.  This has gotten much better.  In fact, the bruising is all gone and I can't tell that I have much swelling since the skin isn't shiny like it was.  My question relates to something I've noticed.  My left breast looks perfectly proportioned and the scar is pretty soft in the incision (infra-mammary under the breast).  I had nipple sparing surgery.  Since my surgery, my right breast is a little off.  First of all the nipples are lined up and both are equal distance from the center.  The issue is that on the outer side of the right breast, it looks a bit flat.  The left breast outer side is nice and rounded.  Now that I was given the clear this week to massage vitamin e on the scars, I notice the right scar is harder than the left.  I hope this isn't capsular contracture and it's just swelling.  The hardened area is a couple of inches out from the outer edge of my incision and runs an inch or so up the outside edge of the breast.  Wonder if that hardening is causing the implant to flatten.  If I get on my hands and knees and look at my chest, the right nipple is angled out to the right and not straight down like the left side does.  I can also feel rippling on the right outer side implant where the flat spot is when I'm in this position and run my hand along the outside edge.  Has anyone had this issue and then it resolved and the flatness went away and rounded?  Thanks for any feedback.

I'm jealous of you all at the squishy side already. I am sick of being uncomfortable all the time. Exchange booked for 9th May but still haven't finished having my fills. Does that seem too quick? It seems like a lot shorter than others. What would be the problems if it was too quick?

Thanks

ummm so really weird thing just happened I moved my right arm and it sounded like my right side burped. Is this normal? 

Jackie - I didn't have anything like this but I remember others talking about once in a while having sort of a 'sloshing' sound after exchange, which if I recall is not a problem.  Not sure if a 'slosh' could sound like a 'burp' though???

Rosebuds - so glad you're feeling content so far!  Continue to rest and heal and keep us posted.

Hi Ladies,

I am new here..but I have problem and I thought i would ask it on this forum. I had the exchange into gel implants on 2/25/14. About a week after the exchange I started having pain behind my right shoulder blade. The kind of pain caused by knots that have formed in the latissimus dorsi. I have tried massage on the knots, used moist heat, pain pills, and sleeping in a recliner. I just cannot get any relief. My daughter is a physical therapist and she has given me some exercises to strengthen my upper back. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what did you find that relieved the pain?

Hi everyone!

I had exchange surgery in December 2013, but will have a revision in late April to correct capsular contracture and to add more separation between my implants. I will also probably go down in size.  (From 275ccs to something closer to 210ccs -- I know this sounds strange, but I really want to be smaller.  With the 275ccs, I am currently 30D and I'd rather be a closer to A/B cup.)

Does anyone have experience with capsular contraction?  If so, how did it go? And have you experienced recurrence?

Many thanks,

Emma

Thanks very much for your warm welcome AZ85048! This is such a helpful community.

shorfi,

How exciting that you are having your exchange this week.  I am about two months out and implants are much, much better than TE's.  I had an easy recovery but took two weeks off from work.  In May, I will have fat grafting (I was not planning on that).

I was nervous and excited for the exchange, as I am sure you are too.  You have not had an easy journey.  The morning of my exchange, I arrived at the surgery center at 6 AM and was home by noon.  At first I thought the implants were too small but I don't anymore because they have changed. 

Keep me posted on how you are doing. 

Julie

Shorfi - you could never sound weird to this bunch.....lol!  I'm sorry if you feel you haven't been getting the reponses you hoped for.  I try to chime in when I can but I do admit that sometimes I only have time to rapidly skim through everyone's posts, especially during the day.  Just keep asking if you don't get a quick response - when the thread is active it's very easy for posts to drop back a page or two and fall off the radar.  We're definitely here to help each other and would never want you to feel ignored.

shorfi . HUGS! I am sorry you are not getting the support you expected. I can tell you that a couple of people who are usually on this thread a lot are trying to recover from some scenic detours of their own. I am on disability now and so have a bit more free time than most. Also weekends ate slower around here as people try to get things done and put BCO on a back burner while they deal with family issues. 

I am glad you asked and spoke up. It's hard for us to know when our sisters are hurting if they don't tell us. You will have to forgive us all as chemo brain is no joke. Even 2 years after I get it still probably, exasperated by Arimidex!  Those darn hormonals! LOL.  

Just know that everyone on here does care - a lot. Hugs again and Much Love. 

mine were installed in Jan, and are now showing much more where they are going to end up.  Allergan 410s