Exchange City

Thanks Madelyn! I am really hoping 3rd time is a charm!! First set put in by PS1 were too narrow and projected, causing them to flip over backwards in the pockets when I lay down. His "solution" was to put bigger implants in. He balked at me wanting to go smaller and wider. We parted ways and I moved on to PS2 for 2nd set. She put too much alloderm in one side which bunched up and didn't incorporate causing horrible spasms, and didn't put any alloderm in the other side, causing implant to sag 2" lower than the other side. Then she quit par with my insurance. So I had to move on to PS3. Praying this set has no complications!! I am truly amazed at how much softer and natural these implants feel. I got the Inspira Soft Touch SSM 345. They are the medium softness of the Inspira line, still cohesive just not overfilled. My originals were the SCX, much firmer than SSM.

Have a great weekend!!

I barely felt any pain after my exchanges. I had lifting restrictions for four weeks, but I felt fine. Once or twice I lifted more than I should have and I felt a twinge in my armpit afterward, but that was it.

Shoregirl

I don't have a pre-op appointment with the PS for the surgery coming up on Monday (!!!) ...finally got the nerve up to ask the surgical nurse what the implant order was so I wouldn't have a surprise.

Yeah, we had discussed SRX in the 700, 750 range and that is what is ordered -- plus the 650 to give her some options. All good.

What is ironic in this is that Whippetmom sized me as a SRX 700 nearly two years ago...I thought I was getting an SRX 700 - 800 when I woke up with the TCX800 version...which has always been too big and 15 months later is still hard and heavy. If only my first PS had followed Whippetmom's suggestion!

On the countdown, eating pineapple as I type this. TT

Had my exchange and reduction/lift yesterday. The exchange side is totally pain-free. Reduction is sore. No real pain tho. Today had my follow-up with plastic surgeon and the 'unveiling'. Boy, was I ever easantly surprised! Of course, swollen, but symmetric and lifted. The scars will fade, but I am very happy with result!

hi all - I had my initial mast direct to implant Jan 2017 and have had issues with the tear shape implant flipping around. Having an implant exchange/fat grafting in January and wondering what you all had as far as recovery. Could you drive/how did you feel/etc after the surgery? Any advice/experiences would be appreciated!! TI

As I prepare for my 2nd exchange on Monday, I have been gathering my important documents and reminders from last surgeries and other items...found this in the pile of items, written a year ago thanksgiving when I was still deep into the throes of the incorrect surgery that took place:

thanksgiving thankfulness:

I am thankful I can email Whippetmom (Breast Implant Sizing thread) and she always finds time to email me back.

I am thankful I am not diseased anymore.

I am thankful I only have to look at my potentially failed reconstruction once a day - when getting out of the shower.

I am thankful my rcn is man made and has nothing to do with the nice beautiful person I am.

I am thankful my physical activity, mind and ability has not been affected by any of this.

I am thankful I am a stronger person from this.

HikingLady, I am quite shocked your ps won't prescribe pain meds!! It's SURGERY after all!!! We can't forecast the outcome and what level of pain you will have, and you may be fine with Tylenol but its best to be prepared. For my recent 3rd set of implants, I did have to rely on percocet for a week. Just one side was painful, the side he added alloderm and a drain to which also required deep internal sutures. But I was off pain meds in 3 days the other 2 times. I would sure be pressing him on that when you see him next. Who wants to be in pain?

All that being said, I was never dependent on anyone in caring for myself after any of the exchanges. The msx...yes. I remember 3 days after my 1st exchange going to see Ringling Brothers final performance an hour and half from home. 3 days after 2nd exchange going Christmas shopping at the mall. 3 days after this last exchange I drove my self an hour to my post-op appt. I realize everyone is different but I believe if you read through some of this thread you will see for the most part we recover pretty quickly after exchange. The main thing is to follow your surgeons orders, and don't do too much too soon just because you feel good. There is still lots of healing going on and lifting restrictions. I do have to remind myself sometimes to take it easy. I am 10 days post op today and I had to get on my hands and knees outside and dig a 1' deep hole to rescue my chihuahua/jack russel mix that got himself trapped beneath our deck!! I just took it slow and took breaks.

Best wishes!!

Shoregirl Thanks for all this insight and for sharing your experience. I have a friend who's an MD, and she said the same thing: ASK FOR PAIN MEDS. I think drs are so restricted about opioids now that they fear prescribing them. I have zero worries that I'll get addicted, for a million reasons, so I'm going to really advocate for a few days of pain meds, just in case. I'll peruse the stories on this thread. Glad to know that the exchange is a simpler surgery; that's what my PS has also said.

I wish you good healing, and I hope that this one is your final Re-Do on the implants!

Hi Hiking Lady.... I am nearing my first anniversary of my exchange which I had on 20th December.... and was I terrified! But it was a piece of cake next to the bmx. I remember waking up after the surgery and going "Hey that uncomfortable feeling of my Turtles has gone!"

 I did take painkillers.... I chose Arcoxia (Eterocoxib 120mg) which is stronger than paracetamol It is in the COXIB class and I chose that rather thanand in a different class something like voltarol/diclofenac as the effect on the platelet function and hence on bruising and bleeding should be less  .... I say I chose... hey I am a medic and felt totally entitled to render my post op as painfree and comfortable as possible!

I was independent very quickly post-op. I was home by 5pm. By the next day I was independently self-caring. (Apart from carrying of course), but still managed the cooking, shopping (local shop does deliveries) etc. 

On the 23rd I walked to the village and took my DD aged 10 to the hairdresser, as well as did errands and walked home.... (Yes - walked as not driving) In the evening I went out to a Christmas concert by her school choir followed by drinks. And 24th... well the Christmas shopping wasn't ready. And Christmas Day was another long day.

So yes it's ok. I did have one localised spot of nagging pain in my chest wall that would come on after I had been sitting in the same position for a stretch of time. That persisted for a number of months, but eventually it went.

Good luck and take heart!

When I had my first exchange, I woke up in really bad pain on one side, as well as with an arm that wouldn't move below the elbow as they'd positioned me badly. My PS (now ex-PS) came around to write me my post op script, and I let him know that Norco works well for me. He was indignant, said all I needed was Tramadol, which makes me sick,  and finally said Tylenol 3 would be sufficient. A couple of hours later, and still in pain, the ANESTHESIOLOGIST had had enough and went over the PS's head and got me the script for Norco before I headed home (a 2 hour drive).  The PS wasn't happy as I left with not one, but two scripts for narcotics as they had been filled at the hospital pharmacy.  Ha!

On my second exchange, the new and improved PS gave me scripts for Norco, Valium and ibuprofen 3 weeks before the surgery, so I would be prepared.  Again at the fat grafting consult, she provided me with new scripts.  I really appreciated that and yes, the side-effects of the meds are such that I never have a problem getting off of them. Who enjoys struggling on the toilet?  No one!

Good luck!

Hi Hikinglady-

First of all, I don't think this surgery is going to be like anything remotely like your BMX. For my exchange surgery, my PS had me set up with the same meds that I took for BMX and even tried to slip me some percocet. Not sure why, because I didn't even take that for my original surgery, HA!!. But I had some different revisions than you are describing. I was prescribed Kephlex/valium, since I really can't take much else without being dizzy and really nauseous.

My surgeon puts in a nerve blocker that lasts 72 hours after surgery; this may be pretty standard.. I'm not sure. But I had very little discomfort post-op except a damn knot in my neck....probably due to positioning me during surgery and me stressing about it in the first place....OMG, We all know how you are feeling, no matter how many surgeries we have each had.... this is a scary feeling. But really this should be a cakewalk compared to BMX!!

I didn't need anything but Tylenol and I developed a hematoma. That is not going to happen to you BTW, that was a situation that was due to my lat-flap and different revisions on that side that you aren't going to have.... so don't even put that in your head!! I just mention the that because I had a hematoma with exchange surgery, which alone is said to be quite painful... and with exchange surgery it was far and away, so much easier than original BMX.

Keep us posted on your quest, with PS!!

Hi HikingLady

I just had my exchange surgery this Tues the 11th. I am still very sore and taking the hydrocodone, but I am taking ibuprofen 800 mg in between doses to stretch it out. He only gave me 18 tablets.

My implants are also under the muscle. I think the reason that I am so sore is that he went with implants that are 100 cc bigger than the expanders were filled with. Expanders were filled to 375 and the implants are 475 rounds. So on top of the normal surgery pain I have the same muscle pains that I would get after each fill, but worse (feels like someone beat me a couple times with a baseball bat to the chest). Every day it gets better though. Thank goodness.

I am not telling you this to scare you. Your chest muscles probably won't feel like mine do. Every fill killed me for a week afterwards. I am just relating my experience to encourage you to make a stink about the painkillers. It's cruel of him to tell you that you aren't entitled to appropriate pain management post surgery.

Congrats TrmTab...rest easy and keep us posted.

Doing well and while I was in bed from 9:30 until 7am, really only slept from 10-5...got up at 5 for bathroom and meds and then rested in bed until 7.

Taking another night at the hotel before returning home tomorrow...this was the plan.  Feeling good, but going slow.  Don't plan to leave hotel today, but do walk the hallway each hour for 5 minutes -- per Drs instruction to start walking day of surgery and that will be my main form of exercise, plus stationary bike, until released to arm exercises in 4 weeks. 

All good otherwise, still just Tylenol, so I am very happy with that.

Even after five surgeries is always is a shock at the weight of a coffee pot or quart bottle of water that you don't think about...until you do.

My previous 2 big surgeries (MX and first exchange) I was wrapped in an ACE bandage, so saw the Dr the next morning to be unwrapped...this time I am in a post-op surgical bra with padding on the one side.  Was told to leave it in place until tomorrow morning at which time I can remove and  shower.  Was surprised to wake up to find some blood spotting on the (thick) gauze pad, so took a picture of it so I could monitor.  I did measure myself before exchange and now after with padding...only 1/2 inch different so okay for swelling.

Cool but sunny here in central Va, Happy Tuesday, TT

Hello! New here and not sure if i know answer to your question but can tell you what my p.s has told me. Textured implants do not “shift”- tissue grows into them, and higher instance of the lymphoma (still low) . Gummy bears are highly cohesive- tend to be harder. Cohesive most natural feeling. Round implants, if they shift, do not show any misshaping. I’ve read that textured implants are not used as often but for certain circumstances. I am having my swap surgery in Feb.19 and am having issues with the size of my expander! 😩 I’m done but it feels way bigger than what i want! My p.s said that implant will be smaller but i hope it’s at least a cup and a half smaller! Just sent the office an email- i think i should show him pictures so we are on same page. There have been no visuals at all. Can you share with me your experience with sizing and whayour p.s. has told you regarding t.e. Size vs. implant size? Thx!