July Surgeries - exchanging "Expanders" ??? I seem to recall ..... there are several of us schedule

youngnana said:

Exchange done July 7th
Day surgery, my right expander was up too high, so when he placed the implant, that side still wanted to ride up, so he had to cut the muscle and stitch the implant down. I do have to wear a bra 24 hours a day for the next 2 weeks, and I also wear a binder, a strechy band around the back and over the breast to hold the right side down where it belongs until its healed. I will say, trying on bras was not a good experience. The nurse advised me to get the cups to fit like I want them, get the bra smaller around and use an expander. When you get the bras larger around, the cups are spaced farther apart....Also, keep in mind, bras are made to lift and separate, and if you want cleavage, that wont work...you need underwires to help that, and cant have underwires. So, I am going for comfort. I find I cant wear regular bras for very long, they are painful across my ribcage. The implants are wonderful, and I am so happy with how they look, and feel. I have taken pain meds at bedtime, the muscles are painful on my right side, so meds help me to sleep. Dont need any meds when I'm up, no pain. One more step... done.

Christine Louise said:

To Dot
Yes, I had a fair amount of discomfort with the expanders. Unlike some others, I found almost any exercise at all hurt more than helped me. Housework, too, could set off pain for a couple days. So, just had to be patient and take it easy. (And have a dirty house sometimes.

Sleeping wrong is certainly possible, I found. If I slept too much/too heavily on my sides, squashing the expanders, they would hurt the next day.

Did you have nodes removed, and could those areas be causing discomfort? My expanders seemed to cut into the deep node-removal scars. Valium helped with muscle spasms while the expanders were stretching the pectorals. I felt that the spasms pulled the expanders into the tight, scarred underarms. Are you taking Tylenol or something when you start hurting?

Thanks for your kind thoughts. Soon we'll be celebrating your implants, too!

Christine Louise said:

Hot?
No, I didn't have that with expanders. Are they red? Can you call the plastic surgeon's office and ask a nurse? I do that a lot -- I just like to touch base with them and get reassurance.

(My new implants were hot and red the day after surgery, but the ps nurse told me it was normal. Any fluid would be drawn down by gravity, since it wasn't coming out the incisions. Indeed, it did go away soon.)

I had 4 nodes removed each side, but one side is particularly deep.

Hope you are more comfortable today!

AngelBaby said:

Me too
Count me in...I'm going for pre-op on Wednesday with surgery 7/21. I'm a little nervous but you guys have helped me a lot. Thanks girls