Had my exchange surgery

JennieKeaton
JennieKeaton Member Posts: 80
edited March 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi All -

I've not been really active lately, but have been watching others' posts. I had my exchange surgery yesterday, with fat grafting from my belly I have a few questions/comments/thoughts:

  • Everything itches! But it's under layers of bandages and then ace bandages. Can't touch them for another 24 hours, and then only the ace bandage. I'm taking hydroxizine for the itch, but it's not really helping. Any ideas how long the itching might last? I think it might be a side effect of my pain meds.
  • I have to wear a waist binder for three weeks. My pants were already tight (gained weight on chemo) so I don't know what to wear for the next three weeks. Might be sweat pants!
  • I feel like I'm rubbing the area near my right armpit raw. I can't see anything, but it just feels like a rug burn under all of the dressings.
  • I am supposed to wear the ace bandage until my follow up next week - I'll get my first glimpse at that point. I'm so excited/nervous to see how they look!
  • My belly is almost flat from the fat grafting. YAY!
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Comments

  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited March 2019

    Yay, Jennie! Glad that's over with, I bet! I'm guessing the itching is from one of the post surgery meds, or even the anesthesia. Don't have any advice for😕it ,sorry. My surgeon didn't have me all wrapped up, just a layer of gauze wrapped around, and then steristrips on the incisions. I was allowed to shower after 48 hrs. Heavenly! So suspenseful waiting to see the results! I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. There will be soreness and bruises from the fat grafting. Almost to the finish line ,Jennie, then you can gradually start getting back in shape for your life again💖

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  • JennieKeaton
    JennieKeaton Member Posts: 80
    edited March 2019

    Today was a pretty good day. I'm off pain meds, and doing OK with that. The itchiness is reduced as well, as it is a side effect of pain meds for me. I took the ace bandage off and don't see any visible bruising. But I am pretty sore - more so in the belly than in the boobs, I think. I think I'll just take "pit baths" between now and Wednesday so I don't have to mess with the ace bandages again before I go to the follow up. Will I need to do the massaging of them to get them to fluff and drop, or is that more for augmentation? Trying to figure out what to expect on Wednesday. I know I need to wear the waist binder for three weeks, but it sure would be nice to get the restrictions on the top removed! Between the ace bandage and the tape holding everything down, I just have no movement. I know it's keeping the swelling down and it's a good thing, but it's not comfortable. But it sure is better than the expanders, and it's just short term! Can't wait to see how I feel/look in a few weeks.

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  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited March 2019

    😄😄😄I never had to massage mine to get it to fluff and drop, that's hilarious for some reason😊It looked pretty good right out of the box. Feels very nice and soft. Weds be here soon, the unveiling! Just wear loose button front. I can't wait to hear how you like it!Be sure to post💖

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  • JennieKeaton
    JennieKeaton Member Posts: 80
    edited March 2019

    Looks pretty good for now! I did have more bruising than I thought, and it's still there. The size/shape is a little smaller/higher than I want, but I suspect that the "drop and fluff" will fix that (hopefully). I am still sore in the abdomen, but hopefully that will subside soon. I am out of the ace bandage and into sports bras 24/7 except for showering. How long does the implant discomfort last? Don't get me wrong, it's WAY better than the expanders, but feels "heavy" when I'm not wearing the bra if that makes sense. When I'm in the bra, it does still feel a bit tight and uncomfortable. Looking forward to the day I feel completely comfortable with the new foobs!

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  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited March 2019

    Hi Jennie, so finally you got a look at them! It does take awhile to get used to them, but you're really just post-OP, so they're tight, swollen, sore. My man made boob is still a little uncomfortable, but really only if I try to lie on it. I'm not too aware of it most of the time. My LD flap surgery was over a year ago. It feels soft and natural. You'll notice a big difference in a couple of weeks. The bruising does linger a couple of weeks

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  • JennieKeaton
    JennieKeaton Member Posts: 80
    edited March 2019

    Hi Everyone - thought I'd give an update. I'm four weeks post op today, and still sore. My upper abdomen is sore from the fat grafting still. My breasts are sore on my sides and underneath (feeling tender and bruised). My upper breasts are painful from the nerves. My left breast (the lat flap side) has dropped into the pocket and looks great. The right side is still not dropped and is higher and rounder than I'd like. But I understand it should still drop. Even if it doesn't, it's bearable.

    Things are "heavy" as well - I think that may be that I used to be very small and now I'm bigger. I'd guess a full B, which isn't big, but it's bigger than I was!

    When I sleep, it's still uncomfortable when I wake up on my side. But I can sleep on my side.

    When I "overdo", which is much less than I want to be able to do, I very much feel it the next day. Hoping I'm not damaging anything so much as just being sore.

    My back is tight and uncomfortable again. But I hope to get cleared in two weeks for massage and working out. I trust that will get me back where I want to be.

    While I'm not yet where I want to be, I do believe I'm making progress. I'm optimistic the next four weeks will make as much of a difference as the last four did.

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