Exchange City

OG56, there is a thread about nipple recon/options just in case you want to post there and let ladies know about this option also. Here's the link.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/856328?page=1

minute at a time, I would have someone come in to.help you every day. Worst case you send them away. I felt really worn out after exchange, and I was much sore er than after MX. At least someone to come in until you have a better idea of how u r doing. It might help your husband to feel more comfortable.

Good Luck Dizzy. We will keep you in our pocket on Thursday! I am 10 days post exchange, still lots of bruising but better every day. Had surgery on Friday and went to church on Sunday, so have not been on the disabled list too long. Do not have full range of motion due to swelling, but not due to pain, so have good thoughts that you will be back to PT and maintaining strength and ROM soon. TT

DizzyGirl, best wishes to you on your exchange. My exchange is Wednesday, and like you I'm both excited and nervous. Definitely ready though.

Trmtab, as I stated above, my exchange is Wednesday, and I'm wondering since you are so recently had your exchange if you can answer a question for me. I did well with my BMX, was on pain meds just a couple days then only ibuprofen. My husband travels and has to leave next Monday, now I'm wondering if that's enough time to be able to stay alone? My only concern has been drains (if I have to have them - small % I'll have them) but just thought I'd get others experience/thoughts on this.

Also, how are you doing with your implants? Are you feeling better about them? I know that had to upsetting, hoping that all works out well.

Thanks!

VegGal, Thank you! I forgot that my PS may do fat grafting, also add extra Alloderm and possibly one other procedure so it good to know that you had extensive work done and still were able to be independent. I feel pretty confident that it should be fine. The stripping the drains, should I end up with them, now that will be a challenge but I'll figure it out.

Wishing you continued healing!

Sitti

I actually had thought I would be in a similar situation, had planned for surgery on Friday and husband was to leave for a week of business travel on Monday...I was okay with that plan given how I did after MX. Because of Irma, husband's travel was pushed out two weeks, so in fact had his help, but was okay with the idea of it.

For the exchange surgery, had surgery Friday, went to my office Monday...total desk job with private office so I can moderate how active I actually am...or am not...but with 82 y.o. mother at home, better to be out of the house and slow moving than in the house and having to take care of someone else...but I only took Tylenol once I left the hospital, so didn't have restrictions based on taking meds.

I didn't have drains, but did go into my office with drains after MX, just covered them up with loose tops.

All that said, I am a L-MX and have insisted at every step just to do one thing at a time so that I have a "good" side. My PS has wanted to do lifts and other adjustments to R...and I have said not now. I have been happy with that decision as in a bra I look fine...also don't want a reduction on native breast when I am loosing weight as then I will need an implant to even out and to me that seems insane...just get a smaller implant on L.

I am 11 days post exchange...what else? TT

(Also posted in TE thread)

Finally after a year of TE's heading into my exchange surgery in a few weeks. I am making my packing list (I am traveling for my surgery.) I used the list from the mastectomy page for my surgery last time and have it all sitting in a bag for this one. Anything unique to the exchange that I should be thinking about that is different that I should bring along? I am totally confused on bras and what to take, my surgeon has just said "sports bras" but will take a lot of options and then still probably be grateful for Amazon Prime.

Thank you Sitti, and RobinBlesse no not like that whatsoever I tried those too LOL these are actually microdermal So It Goes Under the Skin just barely and then a little post comes out and then the nipple is stuck onto the post it can come off by a doctor if necessary but it's not for us to you know pop on and off ourselves they're really quite beautiful I'm going to try to copy and paste that over to the nipple reconstruction part.

TrmTab & EastcoastTS, thank you both so much for your responses, it's very encouraging to hear from several that it's doable and the recovery is much easier. Glad you are both doing well and healing.

Good Luck today Sitti!

Thanks for all the good wishes for my ex tomorrow! I am so nervous. I am also glad the wait is almost over.

I have family staying with me through Sunday night and someone on call to drive me to my post op appt on Tuesday. I am also prepared for drains just in case. I would have loved to have gotten my port out tomorrow but I still have 5 months of Herceptin, Sigh.

DizzyGirl

My drains are coming out tomorrow and I'll be partying like it's 1999! It's been a long week this week and my skin is tired of the dressings!

Hi ladies! Checking in after my exchange and fat grafting 2 days ago. As we had discussed, PS placed a 800 cc Mentor HP silicone implant in the mastectomy side along with some fat grafting. He wasn't sure if I would need 500, 550 or 600 cc implant inthe native breast. He told DH he ended up going with the 500 cc. Unfortunately, I can see a difference in size and projection in the non-MX side. I know I'm not supposed to look in mirrors right now but I couldn't help it. Im telling myself that *maybe* the size difference is due to having breast tissue in the left side (more natural tissue to swell???). My rib cage, stomach and sides are SO sore due to the fat grafting from those areas and I loathe this compression binder they put on me. I'm looking forward to showering today!

I hope all the other recent exchangers are healing well and lots of luck to those who are approaching their dates!

In looking for another PS to do my next exchange, found a PS who had her discharge instructions online. They included this:

"For two years after you have had an implant placed, you will need to take
antibiotics just prior to dental work to prevent infection. We can call these into
your pharmacy for you."

Does anyone take antibiotics to go to the Dentist???

TT

Sitti, I was put in a crotchless "medical spanx" garment. I only had to wear it 48 hours and the surgeon only harvested fat from my inner and outer thighs. It made using the toilet SO easy.

I wore it an extra day and then switched to some bike shorts. My surgeon also recommended that I massage the donor areas twice a day for 5 minutes using Bio Oil or coconut oil. At one week I also began the massage of the implants/graft areas. My bruising is rapidly resolving.

Getting the drains removed was wonderful. My poor skin didn't like the Tegaderm and I have itching and some blisters. They will heal soon enough.

Hope this helps.

Sitti I haven't had fg yet but my original ps was going to do it prior to my implant flipping and he gave me instructions to wear compression on donor site for 6 weeks. My new ps said Spanx are fine. I have read from other's experience on these boards to be sure NOT to have compression on your reconstruction as it can kill the newly grafted fat. I hope you are feeling better

VegGal, I also read something recently about implant surgery and dental work. I can't recall exactly what it was. In doing a Google search for recent (2017) data supporting antibiotic prophylaxis and implants, I came across this article. Apparently on this subject, just like recommendations for wearing bras, compression garments, etc the ps advice is all over the place.