Exchange City

Kacob, I remember feeling the same way. I loved my expander look and woke up after exchange very disappointed. I took weekly photos because these ladies promised me things would get better and that way I could see the improvement each week. After about 6 weeks they did look so much better. I am still contemplating a small revision with fat transfer but I keep changing my mind so I will wait. Hang in there!

hey you guys whohave been through this.....how much am I going to feel like doing in the days just after the surgery? Can I get myself dressed in the morning? Can I make myself something to eat? Will I feel like cooking?

Hercules - just a different point of view. I stayed overnight in the hospital for the exchange and was in bed for the 24 hours after that. Not only did I not try to dress, I didn't try to cook. Nor was I really interested in eating. I was off 'heavy' drugs in 3 days, but I had drains again for the exchange so I didn't try to drive right away. It all depends on the length of the surgery and your reaction to the anethesia.

Thank you all for the reassurance! I keep reading that it will be weeks to months for the healing to take place, but I just (unrealistically) wanted to wipe my hands of this. Actually, they are already looking a little better already...far from where I'd like them, but ever-so-slightly better. I'm not even contemplating revision surgery. Unless it were really bad, I don't think I would consider revision. I want the put a period on this experience. Friday, when I was able to take off compression bra to shower, was just one of my "feel sorry for myself" days. I don't have them very often because I truly feel lucky, but the blah emotions pop up every now and again.

Hercules and OG,good luck! My experience was that I felt great immediately after surgery and even the day after. The last couple of days I've been achy and sore, but not terribly bad. I'm mostly just taking Ibuprofen for it. You will probably be surprised with how much better the surgery recovery is compared to a mastectomy- for me it wasn't even in the ballpark. What I find interesting is that I'm not sore near the incision sites...I'm assuming because I still don't have full sensation after the DX. I am most sore through my upper chest and out toward my shoulder. Both deltoid muscles are sore and my right side, where 16 lymph nodes were removed, is the worst. There is a lot of swelling in my upper chest too, maybe that has something to do with it.

I can do pretty much anything, but I just limit the weight and try to limit my arm movement. The fact that I feel I can do anything may be more the reason that I am sore... I may be doing a bit much and I am trying to pull back now a little. The doctor will let you know what your limitations are and that should be your ultimate guide. I try to abide by what t he doctor says, but also I feel I have a firm grasp of my own body and let that guide me as well.

Kacop: I'm not sure why they removed 16 lymph nodes with a diagnosis of DCIS, but you should be aware of the possibility of lymphadema and take appropriate preventative measures. Below is a great information site with contributions from several of our BCO women.

http://stepup-speakout.org/

I was wondering the same thing as MinusTwo and Leslienva about the lymph nodes.

It is helpful and encouraging to read everyone's exchange experience. Don't know when my exchange will be, still getting fills at a slow rate as my skin on cancer side is thin, but reading everyones experience does help me to adjust my expectations and prepared ahead that the immediate result won't necessarily be the end result. Thank you all for sharing!

Hello all!

Mominator, I had a lump a couple of months after surgery to remove my infected TE. Scary. Mine turned out to be a fat infiltrated lymph node. In other words a dead lymph node that filled up with fat. It was removed when I had my replacement squishy sx. It grew to the size of an egg in just a bit of time, felt like it was an egg, kind of loose cause it moved, but was hard in the egg shape. It hurt when the dr pressed on it. So there is another possibility of a more hopeful scenario. Hugs.

Hello, guys. Reading the posts with interest and wondering: when you say "things don't look good following exchange" -- what exactly does this mean? I know TEs have more projection than implants. And some people are flatter. I'm looking forward to that because I don't want to be as big as the TEs. Ha ha!

Do implants just NOT look good at first? I won't have exchange until Aug/Sept.

Thanks!

EastCoast - everyone is different so it's hard to say. But usually, yes, they don't look too exciting at first. There is serious trauma with any surgery. Adding implants means even longer for swelling to go down and your body to adjust.

Shapes are skewed, sizes may look off. You will look flatter. As a rule, implants don't have the projection of natural breasts or TEs. You may look wider or they may be further under your armpits. You may or may not have the same cleavage. One may be higher or lower. Some of it depends on the condition of your skin. A lot depends on the skill of your PS. Almost as much depends on your communication with your PS and his skill in listening & understanding what you want.

I too wanted to be smaller. I think that's hard for any male PS to understand so you need to stress that point if it's what you want.

EastCoast - most of my docs are female also!!

Go to the thread Breast Implant Sizing 101. Read the header carefully then leave a message with the requested particulars for WhippetMom. She is really a guru. Sometimes she might ask you to PM pictures, but her advice is the best thing most of us got.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

Yes, the male PS don't understand the size issue! I told mine that I wanted to stay about the same size as I was. He said, "don't you want to be bigger?" NO I don't! I want my clothes to fit me and if God wanted me to have big boobs He would have given them to me to begin with. So he gave me what I asked for. Thank you. I was filled to 420cc and have 475 gummies. They look great, but took a while to get there. I would say a good year until they looked good. Patience is a virtue in this game. Take care and take heart, things will get better.

Robin

That's funny, my PS asked repeatedly if I didn't want more fills for bigger boobs. I figure he spends a lot of time with people wanting bigger, bigger, bigger, until it just seems like the norm to him.

I was hoping to get to a C cup with the implants, but due to the problems I had on my radiated side, I'm barely a B cup.

agent, I have gummies. They put a bigger gummy than fill size so it will adhere to the muscle/skin. That is to prevent rotation. They are quite static with less movement than rounds. Kingster had a te fold and had to replace.

I am very happy with mine over 2 years out.

Robin

AgentMiller. You need to go to the same Breast Implant Sizing 101 that I suggested to East Coast seven posts back. The link is above. You need to read the header and provide your specifications. WhippetMom will be able to make a good suggestion. She will know all about your size questions also & every possible kind of implant.

There are several threads devoted just to the anatomical implants - originally called gummy bears and only made by Allergan. Now there are several other manufacturers. You need a very experienced surgeon to fit the anatomical implants correctly. If those weren't in his original plan, there may be quite a bit of pocket work needed.

I was told two weeks after exchange before going back to work. If your work is very physical, I think you would want to be totally healed to avoid further problems. By all means, ask your doc & get a release.

When you get a minute, go to My Profile and fill in your diagnosis and treatment so far. It sounds like you have had a BMX with TEs?? Have you also had chemo? Rads? Radiation will change the equation also.