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  • LADYnKY
    LADYnKY Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2016

    thank you dee and mrsB.... for the reassurance!! I guess I will give it a go next week just nervous about it lol. It's been such a journey and don't want anything to go wrong. Also sleeping on my back for 6 months has been a journey as well

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  • Lunderwood
    Lunderwood Member Posts: 125
    edited December 2016

    I had my exchange 10 weeks ago. In June I had a unilateral mastectomy. After 3mos with the tissue expander, I had a 290cc natrelle silicon implant on the cancer side and a breast lift and small implant on the native side. I wore a surgical bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks I switched to genie bra 24/7 for another 2weeks. Not doctors orders - but it did seem to help provide support. I have slept braless the past 2 weeks and wear genie bra during the day. I was able to sleep on my side at about 4-5 weeks on the mastectomy side - surprisingly the native side with the lift and small augmentation has healed more slowly and still seem to need support. It may have made a difference with my healing and sleeping that my implant was so small. I occasionally use a body pillow or another small pillow for extra support. At the end of December I am going to have the orgami nipple procedure. Right now my implant looks fairly similar to the tissue expander just softer - in fact two nurses have asked if I still have a tissue expander. Hopefully with the new nipple it will look more natural. But when I am clothed, my reconstructed breast and the lifted breast look great! Prior to surgery I was a droopy 34A-B and now if the online bra measuring sites are accurate I am a 34DDD. I am excited about bra shopping in the next few weeks. I have only wore padded undwire bras previously so this will be a new adventure.

    One other quick note regarding return to physical activities. I did struggle for the first 6 weeks after the exchange due to the activities restrictions and gained a few pounds due to inactivity. At 6 weeks all restrictions were lifted and I gradually resumed running and lifting weights. I am still fighting with the extra pounds but I have full range of motion and am back to about 80% of regular running and weight lifting. (including pushups) I am trying to do some extra stretching and yoga to increase my flexibility (which has never been great) but I don't get any feeling that the implant seems likely to move or rupture.

    Hang in there ladies!!!!

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  • LADYnKY
    LADYnKY Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2016

    thanks lunderwood!!!! Great to hear!! I too was droopy small boobed lady so these 440 anatomicals are new to me but I'm liking them more everyday !! Going from no boobs wearing padded bra to huge (for me) and won't need padding is nice!

    I want to try my side so I think I'll try the pillow hugging!!

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  • MrsB88
    MrsB88 Member Posts: 83
    edited December 2016

    LADY - Give the side sleeping a try with a supportive but comfortable bra of your choice first. Then, once you are more confident about it, try w/o a bra. You can always have one nearby in case you don't like the sensation of less support. The pillow idea sounds like a good way to ease back into side sleeping. Like you, I didn't like sleeping on my back at all & am grateful to be a side sleeper again! Best wishes for a much more comfortable nights sleep!!

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  • meg2016
    meg2016 Member Posts: 287
    edited December 2016

    On the side sleeping, I have Tissue Expanders, so side sleeping is uncomfortable if I am pushing on them, but mine will be in for awhile so I needed to find a way to get comfortable and I am normally am a side sleeper. So I found a position that I can sleep in that feels like side sleeping but with no pressure on my expanders. I put on pillow along my body behind my back be nestled right up against me and another pillow in front of my chest along my front. So I am in a "U" shape made of pillows. Then I lean a bit on the back pillow, just enough so no pressure is on my chest, but my side is still in contact with the mattress. The front pillow helps to balance. Not sure if you can envision it, but it has helped me to be able to sleep immensely!

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited December 2016
    So I was visiting relatives over the weekend and had trouble sleeping in a strange bed. Last night I said the heck with it and decided to sleep on my side. It felt wonderful!! But... then I had a dream that I woke up and my implant had broken into several pieces with a huge dent in the middle :) I guess I'm not psychologically ready to do this yet. Three more days until I hit the 6 weeks mark. I'll try again then.
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  • Novmoon
    Novmoon Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2016

    Had BMX in July with TE then implants end of September, no radiation or chemotherapy. Wondering how supposed to feel like after 9 week. Back to normal activities but still feel some tightness and uncomfortable at times. I worry about capsular contraction. Not wearing any bras, just tank tops and camisoles. Chest muscles feel right. TIA

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2016

    EX day tomorrow! Send me your good thoughts, please. 9:30 start.

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  • Keiki
    Keiki Member Posts: 51
    edited December 2016

    Wildtulip, Good luck tomorrow. I will be watching for your results. I'll take my Xanax in a few minutes, and include you in my prayers.

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  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 333
    edited December 2016

    Wildtulip, best wishes for your surgery. You will not be missing those tissue expanders when you wake up!

    Novmoon, you might still feel tight because you only had TE for 2 months. I had mine in for total of 8 months. 2 months to fill, and 6 month dwelling time. If the foobs are pretty soft, it's probably not cc.

    Grandma, all my docs say that the implants are pretty tough. Not supposed to damage just by sleeping. Actually, I exercise with a lady from my ps practice...and she said it was actually good to lay on them at times. I guess it helps stretch the space and makes them less tight feeling.

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  • marketingmama
    marketingmama Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2016

    HI Ladies! Just posting to share that I'm heading back to surgery this Thursday to repair my right side where I have capsular contracture. PS is going to remove the capsule, clean the pocket and start all over with a new implant. Then we pray that the CC doesn't recur. Since I'm going in anyway, he's also going to do some fat grafting on the opposite side where I have rippling, a dent and a pretty significant drop off in cleavage area. He's also going to remove and tighten up loose skin under my armpit on the CC side. I got pretty stretched out there, I think because I had TEs twice. In any event, happy to get rid of the extra blobby skin.

    I think this might be my sixth surgery since my BMX. Starting to loose count...

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  • Seedsally
    Seedsally Member Posts: 260
    edited December 2016

    Wildtulip guess you are either going in to surgery or already there. Best wishes!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited December 2016

    marketing - good luck! I just had what I hope is my last surgery on 11/9 and had some lipo in that underarm area (bi-lat) and it smarts a bit! I think it is because there is not a larger bed of fat, like from the abdomen or thigh. I did get some firmness there, and it comes and goes, and my PS advised pretty firm massage to help break up the edema.

    nov - ask your PS about massage of the implants, that is supposed to help with prevention of CC.

    wild - good luck!

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  • marketingmama
    marketingmama Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2016

    Thanks SpecialK!! Yay that you're (hopefully) done. Are you happy with outcome? Yea, I'm a bit nervous about the discomfort from lipo and from the skin tightening (extending incision). But very much willing to deal with pain now if it means I'll be done!!

    Best of luck to those ladies getting ready for surgery or in recovery.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited December 2016

    marketing - happy is a relative word when it pertains to my recon. I started off with NSM and now have no nipples, I can never wear a V-neck top or regular bathing suit, I do have to wear a bra every day with some amount of padding to conceal both the shape and position of the left side, which has been incised 16 times. While all of that is fact, I am thrilled to have two like objects in my chest, at the same time, and when I am strategically dressed nobody would guess what is going on underneath. I look as good as I possibly can considering the circumstances, and I look better than I expected to before I changed surgeons. Happy? Yes!!

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  • marketingmama
    marketingmama Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2016

    SpecialK, you keep me grounded! Amazing attitude.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2016

    Recovering at my mom's now. Sleepy & nausea. Thanks for well wishes

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  • LADYnKY
    LADYnKY Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2016

    MrsB and grandma..... I slept on my side! lol consciencely of course. Not all night but gave it a go. I kept looking at my chest to see if I was causing pressure

    I guess I'm worried it will push them

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  • MrsB88
    MrsB88 Member Posts: 83
    edited December 2016

    Grandma - That was some nightmare! Hope your next side sleeping excursion gives sweet dreams!

    Novmoon - Try wearing a bra & see if you feel more comfortable. I'm 11 1/2 wks. out & I'm more comfortable wearing one. I still have a bit of tightness but it doesn't concern me at this point. I think it just takes more time to adjust to the new implants.

    Wildtulip - Glad you're resting & EX is over! Hope the nausea was brief & I wish you happy healing & great results!

    marketingmama - Good luck on Thurs. & may all the surgical corrections leave you with the results you hope to achieve!

    SpecialK - You truly are an inspiration to all of us & we are so lucky to have you share your wisdom & exceptional attitude in going thru this process!

    LADYnKY - Congrats on giving side sleeping a go! I have anatomicals too & while I do wear a sports bra to bed for support, my implants look really good after 3+ wks. of side sleeping! I don't think you have to worry about them being "pushed".


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  • Novmoon
    Novmoon Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2016

    Kingster, that makes sense since I did not have the expanders in for that long of a time.

    SpecialK, the PS is having me push them in 3 different directions holding for 60 seconds each direction. Maybe I wasn't doing it enough?

    I have been trying to sleep on my side for brief periods but seems too uncomfortable. I did sleep on one side last night for a couple hours and was sore when I got up.

    MrsB88, I don't have any bras anymore, just sports bras. I have a couple that fasten in the front but seem too uncomfortable even though I got them a few sizes too big.

    Any comments on nipple replacements?. My PS said 99% of his patients get them but I am not so sure.

    Bless you all for your comments. I wish you all the best in your treatment and recovery. This group has been a godsend.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2016

    Thanks for the well wishes & support. Holding food down now..yay! I have post op with nurses tomorrow. They will remove bandages. Can't wait for the big reveal.

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  • Imkopy2
    Imkopy2 Member Posts: 265
    edited December 2016

    Wild tulip congrats on your exchange 💕👍🏼🙏🏼

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited December 2016

    Bikefam and LADYinKY: it took me a long while before I felt comfortable sleeping on my side. Give yourself some time while you're recovering. You'll be back on your side soon.

    Kingster: I had a lot of pocket work done at exchange. I still wear a bra to bed. I gives me extra support. I may give up the bra at night soon.

    Grandma3X: Sorry about that nightmare! I hope the next time is uneventful.

    Novmoon: I still feel better wearing my bra. I've been weaning myself slowly off bras at night, and I'm nearly 11 months out from EX. I only feel tightness when I'm cold. I prefer wearing bras during the day for modesty.

    Wildtulip: Yeah! I'm so glad your EX is done. I hope you're feeling better every day.

    marketingmama: wishing you smooth sailing on Thursday. I hope this will give you the results you desire.

    SpecialK: I'm always happy to see your posts. You have so much wisdom that you freely share with us and an amazing attitude as well!

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  • LADYnKY
    LADYnKY Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2016

    wildtulip hope you're pleased with exchange!

    MrsB thanks for encouragement I am sleeping for brief periods on my side I keep looking at my chest to make sure they don't go all Uniboob from side sleeping hopefully it will feel more natural in time not use to having boobs so not sure where to put my arms when I'm trying to side sleep lol never had boobs to get in the way lol

    Novmoon how's your side sleeping? Are you getting the origami nipple? I think I am in the early spring I'd like to hear how it goes from someone before I do it

    Thanks bikefam and mominator hopefully sidesleeping gets more natiral

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  • marketingmama
    marketingmama Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2016

    Thanks for all the well wishes. So sweet!!

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  • Novmoon
    Novmoon Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2016

    LADYnKY - haven't decided on the nipple yet. See PS in a month and will discuss.

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited December 2016

    I'm on tap for Friday. With the BMX I was in 2 nights at the hospital with 4 drains, 2 for 2 weeks and 2 for 3 additional weeks. Then I got infected which led to hospital for a week followed by home IV abx then oral abx all through chemo. So it's hard for me to hear, again, no worries as that was supposed to be not so bad either. Looking forward to having these rocks removed but worry about if the SEs I have from the BMX of lots of numbness, sometimes burning and pain- will get worse by going in again.

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited December 2016

    Artista, have you've had your TE's for 16 months? I am amazed at your fortitude!

    My BS believes that the numbness from breast surgery lasts about 2 years. She has been polling her patients.
    My PS says that the EX is less invasive than the MX, so healing should be quicker.

    I understand you are worried. Would it be worth discussing with your doctor a plan for avoiding/handling infection? My PS gives everyone prophylactic antibiotics, and starts them about 30-60 minutes before the surgery. My PS also does drains for all anatomical implants. He says it lowers the risk of rotation.

    I had drains with the EX and it was easier than the drains from the MX. I really wasn't as sore with the EX as I was with the MX.

    Good luck to you this week.

    Mominator/Madelyn

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited December 2016

    Yep. I've had TEs since 8/6/15! With all the complications and hospitalisations I've had, I'm at least 4-5 months behind my fellow sx mo peeps. Thanks for the well wishes. Glad my bro is able to drive up from LA for a few days just in case. I have my girl in my profile pic to worry about too in case something goes awry.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited December 2016

    Good luck on Friday Artista ! I have had one TE since August 2015. I think Artista and I were in the same surgery group . My second TE is from July of this year . I am waiting for my PS office to schedule my exchange , hopefully in January. I side sleep pretty easily with the TE's in . I am very anxious and nervous about exchange surgery because I had radiation on my left side and that TE is really tight . My other one is almost real feeling .

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