Post Exchange Pictures added and post op update.

I've posted new pictures on the pictures page, I added pictures from just before the surgery and from yesterday after I got the bandages removed.

I have to say I am pretty happy with the results so far.  They are closer together, though I worry about whether they'll drift apart If I don't keep them strapped.  He said I didn't need to wear anything special, just a comfy soft bra, but after just one night of that I felt like they were drifting to the sides.  So we'll see....

I also didn't know until the bandages came off that he didn't reopen the entire scar!  He only needed to open the area of the scar that goes under the nipple and out to the side, so the portion of the scars on each side that go in to the center of my chest remained closed and so are still fairly nicely healed.  You'll see in the picture they're hardly noticiable (atleast compared to all the other gore going on there).

He said the bruising and discoloration is normal (especially considering my haircolor - and he called me a red head, I'm not sure if thats some kind of joke or not, but I didn't take it as one), and the swelling is normal as well.  He seemed a little concerned about some of the redness, but then we discussed that I did get a little red with just the stretching, so he figures the redness is from the swelling and putting in a bigger implant, and he's not thinking anything looks infected, so I'm to watch them like a hawk to keep an eye out for infection and I'm on antibiotics this time, so we're being extra safe.  But so far it all looks good.

The other thing I didn't know, was that we didn't end up with any of the implants I thought we were talking about.  I thought we were going to go with smooth implants, but when I got my info cards on them it turns out they are textured.

From http://www.justbreastimplants.com/breast_implants/natrelle120.htm

Allergan Natrelle™ Biocell® Style 120
Textured Round High Profile Silicone Gel Breast Implant

The BIOCELL® Round Silicone Matrix enables you to select an implant that uniquely meets the requirements of your preoperative plan with our patented BIOCELL® surface texture designed to provide mild tissue adherence and reduce the risk of capsular contracture.

I got the 400cc implants, with a diameter of 12.1 and projection of 4.5.  So not what I expected, and not sure where they even came from, but I'm happy with them!  Ha I just had a thought - I hope they were actually for ME, that would be uncool if I stole the implants from the next patient.  LOL.  I'm sure thats not the case!

So now I'm able to to shower which is nice.  Yesterday before my appointment I got a haircut with a very nice hairwash.  It's a pretty drastic cut too for those of you who know me - its ALOT shorter (ATLEAST 6 inches fell on the floor).  It's shorter than I really wanted, but I like it.  I think it will be easier for me to pull off a highly professional look.  I think it looks more mature (my moms word - I said "older").

I'm staying on top of the pain meds, so i'm staying pretty comfortable though I'm having issues with feeling too hot and getting itchy (mostly on my back where I can't reach).  

I'm going in to the PS on friday so he can check that all is good before we go into the weekend, then I'll probably see him again the following Friday to remove the tape.  So now I'm just resting, watching daytime tv, trying to not eat too many oreos. 

Exchange surgery complete!

I had my exchange surgery on Friday morning.  The exchange surgery is removing the expander implants and exchanging them for the actual implants, in my case - silicone. 

My mom took me in because my husband was out of town (for a work related seminar).  We had to be there at 7, so she picked me up at about 6:15 so we'd have plenty of time to drop off my daughter, who got to be the first kid at daycare and got to be the teachers helper (she gets excited about that sort of thing).

We ended up getting there about 15 minutes early, so we sat in the car and chatted until exactly 7, when we went in.  The nurse who greeted us asked if I remembered her from my last surgery, which I didn't so I felt kind of bad, but then later realized she must have been the nurse I saw AFTER surgery when my memory was still messed up from the drugs.

I went in and changed and they had me pee in a cup to ensure I wasn't pregnant.  Now I was very sure I wasn't pregnant, but I have to admit I had a little trepidation waiting for that to come back negative.  That would have been horrible timing for a positive pregnancy test!!  Of course I wasn't pregnant.

The doctor came in and drew on me.  We discussed again what he planned to do, and he said he thought we'd probably end up with the 360 cc implant, and I said - but we'll try for the 400 right? and He said yes, but we might not be able to to do that, and I acknowledged that I was aware and agreeable to whatever ended up happening.  Then somewhere along the line (it's hazy now) I fell asleep and woke up done!  I think one of my first questions was "did we get the 400?" and the answer was yes.  I don't remember talking to him, but my mom said he said I would probably be pretty happy with the results.

One thing I was TOTALLY happy with was that I did not have on the dreaded breast binder.  WOOHOO.  As much as I would have liked to add another to my collection (or not).... I was put into a white front closure bra wrapped with what I'm pretty sure he called a bandoo (compression strap) and then covered by what appears to be basically a giant ace bandage.

Then the thing I was NOT happy with - being told I can't shower until after my follow up appointment on Monday.   I feel sooooo gross when I don't shower daily, waiting 3 days is like torture.

My mom then took me home.  We stopped somewhere for lunch, I don't remember now for sure but I think it was taco bell, then I sat in the car while my mom grabbed stuff at the grocery store for dinner and looked for a twin size sheet that I wanted for the recliner. 

Then we hung out at the house (reclined in the recliner) until it was time to pick up my daughter from daycare.  I went along and we got snowcones, then came back to the house where my dad joined us for dinner.  By the end of the day I was pretty worn out and committed to relaxing more.

But overall I felt really good!  The next day (yesterday) I was really sore, and I spent most of the day resting.  I'm about ready to return to the recliner, but I wanted to post an update.  I'll post more later or tomorrow.  Here are a couple pictures though.  One is of my arm where it apparently put up a fight with the blood pressure cuff, there are little pinch bruises about an inch long circling my arm. not sure what that is about.  and my bandaged bust. note the staple holes.  I will be happy if I never get stapled again!

Blood Pressure Cuff attacked me.

Right now I'm pretty tired and sore, and battling a fairly bad headache, so I'm probably going to spend the rest of the day napping/resting, while my husband takes my daughter out for fathers day. 

The pre-op for exchange surgery

At my pre-op appointment on wednesday I got to sign all the forms again and got somewhat different paperwork since it's regular implants not expanders.  I also got a little booklet from Allergan (which is the manufacturer of my future implants).  It has a spot in there for the ID cards for my implants when I get them.  I also got my prescriptions and hibiclense and all my check lists.

Then finally the conversation I've been waiting for... determining what size of implant I'm getting.  So right now my expander is 12 cm in diameter and is filled to 250ccs, they add about 50ccs for the expander material to better equate to the size of a real implant.  So essentially I'm at 12 cm in diameter and 300 ccs.

I really want more projection (how far they stick out).  So I was wanting a high profile implant.  His initial concern was that would give me a more "augmented" (fake?) look.  Then we came to what I think was the mutual conclusion that the way my pec muscles it wouldn't be too fake looking and I am not opposed to a somewhat "augmented" look.

The problem we have is that the 12 cm in diameter high profile implant is 400 ccs.  Even though we plan to open it up a little he's concerned he may not be able to close me up around an implant that big. So then we started looking at the moderate profile and my concern for the 12 cm is that its only 320 ccs, which is i'm guessing not noticablly bigger than I am now (which I want to be).  Going any bigger in the moderate profile means a larger diameter as well. 

So ultimately we've decided that he will have on hand 5 implants, ranging from the Allergan Natrelle™ Style 40 Smooth Round Moderate Profile Silicone Gel Breast Implant 320 ccs at 12 cm to the 400 ccs at 12.7 cm, PLUS the Allergan Natrelle™ Style 20 High Profile Silicone Gel Breast Implant 400 ccs at 11.9 cm. 

The goal is to get in the style 20, he'll use a sizer and have the others on hand and he knows what I want so he'll try to get there. So i'm going to go into surgery hoping for what I want but prepared for the smallest of those options, which technically would still be 20 ccs larger than I am now.  He thinks I could reasonably expect the 360 ccs at 12.5 cm

So we'll just have to wait and see!  I'm okay with that.  I'd rather go in with the possibilty of getting what I want, than settling before hand and not getting what I want and then wondering if it would have been possible.

Here is a picture that shows the difference in profiles with the diameter remaining constant

http://www.drconnall.com/breast/implants/breast-implant-dimensions.aspx

Just when I was starting to feel normal...

Good news!  My autoimmune issue seems to be under control... or not bothering me.  I have alot more energy and I don't feel sore all over all the time.   It's nice.  The last couple of days my right boob has started feeling a little odd.  It kept me up night before last.  It kind of felt like the implant was rotating or something.  Maybe like the magnetic port was trying to get out through the top of my breast... It was fairly uncomfortable.  I will ask the PS about it today, at my pre-op appointment.

Yes that is right - Pre-op appointment!!!  June 15th is the date for my exchange surgery.  Two weeks and two days away.  The week before hand my husband will be out of town, so I'm a little concerned about how I'm going to get everything ready (at work and at home) without having his help.  He also won't be back until really really late the night of my surgery.  My mom has very kindly offered to spend the day/night with me and shuttle the 5 year old around until he gets back.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the surgery.  I mean I'm excited about being that much closer to being done with this part of my BRCA journey, it will be nice to have the surgeries behind me, but now that i'm feeling so much better, I kind of hate to go into surgery again!  Feels like it will be a set back, back to lifting restrictions, and resting alot and fear of infection, and concern about wound healing, and what if it like sets off my autoimmune thing again, BLEH. 

So I'll just try to look at the positives.  I really do like napping and resting.  I read other blogs with people who are so eager to get back to exercising and being active.  And I can admit lately now that I've been feeling well, it's been nice to go on bike rides (got a bike for mother's day!!) and it felt good to walk the 5k Komen Race for the Cure with my daughter and co-workers.  But seriously, I could be very content if I was allowed a nap every afternoon..

Ok, so speaking of feeling normal.  I had to take my older daughter to the aiport this morning because she is spending the summer overseas with her father.  It didn't even cross my mind until last night around 7:15 on my way home from work (long day) that I might have an issue going through security with magnetic ports on my breast implants!!!  I researched online and asked on the FORCE message boards (while trying to ensure my daughter was set to go)  All I could really find was that I should carry an info card.  well... too late for that!  I don't have one and there wasn't a way to get one from the PS between last night and 7 am this morning when I needed to be at the airport.

So I told the lady TSA agent checking IDs and passes (I get an escort pass since she's a minor so I can see her off at the gate), that I had tissue expanding implants for breast reconstruction with magnetic ports and asked what her recommendation was when I got up to the checkpoint, she said she knew what I was talking about and that the body screener would be more likely to detect them, but it would limit the secondary screening to that general area of my body, where if I went through the metal detector and set it off I would potentially have a more thorough secondary screening (full body pat down?)

I decided to go through the body screener, and sure enough it caught them, so they pulled me aside, and another female TSA agent came over, I explained to her about the implants and she agreed that was likely what it was, asked if I was sore any where and said she'd be gentle and quick.  Then she just very lightly patted around the top sides and did a quick swipe under the breasts, and that was it.  I can see how someone could feel embarrassed by it being out in the open like that, but I didn't have a problem with it.  It was quick and painless and assured the airport I was I wasn't smuggling a bomb in my bra.    HA.  just realized the irony in that.. BRCA + people sometimes refer to their breasts as time bombs before mastectomy.  I got rid of my time bombs and now I'm suspicious at the airport. 

I took the day off work today.  I'm glad I did, I'm super emotional.  No way I could have gone to work.  I remember last time I took her to the airport I got a little teary but it wasn't like it was a new experience... seeing her off like that.  It just hit me really hard this time.   So now I'm going to fix myself up and try to look like I haven't been crying all morning to go to my preop appointment.  HOPEFULLY I'll hear what I want to hear about the implants!