hi, this is my first time post on this forum.
I had bilateral with immediate breast reconstruction 2 years ago. I have had problems since having my implants put in. I tried to tell my plastic surgeon and he just ignored me. I had extremly tight chest for at least 1and 1/2 years and now I am losing elasticity in the pec arm pit area. My arms are losing elasticily as well and I know it's not the age factor I am getting what looks like celulate all down my inner arms. I don't think it can be lymph problems as I did not have any removed. I have been terribly upset about the reconstruction from the get go. my dr says that no reconstruction is perfect. Mine is really not good at all I have problems with pain and my reconstructed breasts and they just feel wierd. I thought I would get used to the feel and the look but I have a hard time looking at them. They are not symetrical at all. I have a lot of neck and back pain as well.
I did not return to my PS for the nipple reconstruction b/c I felt it was just another surgery that would not improve the look at all as the upper poles are very uneven. I just found out that they took more tissue out on one side of my chest that the other. so I look odd. i am so dissappointed.
I have even considered having them removed but I am afraid that my chest muscles will not recover and I will have no strength left at all. I don't know if that will improve the pain either.
My dr finally had agreed to find me another PS. I still feel very uncomfortable about my situation.
Does anynone have any simular experience with complications like this?
Sorry my first post is so negative. I have been reading the posts here and there seems to be lots ladies happy with their implant reconstructions.
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pshelton Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 137 |
Jun 27, 2009 09:14 pm
pshelton wrote:
Devina, I hope you find another plastic surgeon because your's is not doing what he should. Mine is going to equal out my hips later on (I had a DIEP), and due to a complication on the left we are doing a lat flap on the left. Later on he's going to take the fat of my back on the right just to even me out. Its all a part of the reconstruction process and believe it or not insurance doesn't argue much (yet) when it comes to this. You can also go online and look for plastic surgeons near your area. Paula Paula S.
Dx 2/26/2009, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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AnneW Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,981 |
Jun 27, 2009 10:07 pm
AnneW wrote:
Hi, Devina, I've been through something similar. I had my implants for a year, and they always felt as tight as the expanders did. Like a too-small bra, except when I was lying down. The problem was, they looked really good. But I hated the feeling, and hated the implants. My ps didn't know why I was having the pain. He (and his colleague) felt that removing them may not solve the problem. I couldn't accept that. So, I had them removed and had a bilateral SGAP done about 6 weeks ago. There was a lot of scarring behind the implants, and my chest wall had gotten a deformity on one side. At this point, I really don't know if the original problem was completely solved because my poor pecs are healing from yet one more surgery (implants out) and I am aware of the scar tissue from that, as well as healing up from the SGAP. SO--I am really happy with how my breasts look now. Time will tell about all the scar tissue. But having those implants out did a world of good for my outlook. I didn't realize how much I hated them till I got rid of them. As for the pec weakness at cellulite look in your arm, that could still be a lymph issue. The implant could be compressing a drainage channel, perhaps. It would be good to get an eval from a lymphedema specialist. And consider getting a surgical opinion from someone who does DIEP/GAP surgeries, if you think you want the implants out. Hang in there. You're allowed to vent, okay? It's not negative to be honest about what you're going through. Anne 2002 IDC stage 1, grade 1, rads & AI
Dx 9/18/2007, ILC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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theycallmel… Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 22 |
Jun 28, 2009 04:38 am
theycallmelucky wrote:
Devina, i'm so sorry for your problems. I'm going through something similar too. Except that my implants do look really good. One is a little higher than the other but that's not really a problem at this point. The problem is that being seven months post exchance, I still have pain. My pecs don't feel that tight and my foobs are not painful either. It's the pain and tightness in my upper back, shoulder and neck on the radiated side. It started during the expansion process and has been there ever since. Muscle relaxers help better than painkillers so I figure it must be muscle related. I go to PT weekly, stretch, and do pilates but nothing seems to help. I was radiated years ago and had delayed reconstruction. Both my PSs told me that I had tolerated radiation extremely well, and that one could hardly tell I'd been radiated, and that there should be no problem using expanders and implants. Yet here I am coping with daily pain and getting really frustrated. I look good now but I'm starting to think I should have stuck with my prostheses. At least I did not have pain or any physical restrictions... I don't know if this is permanent or if my muscles are just slow in adjusting. Double mastectomy: high grade wide DCIS + prophylactic. Delayed reconstruction in 08
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devina Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 33 |
Jun 28, 2009 12:46 pm
devina wrote:
I have tried to tell my dr that the neck and back pain is related to my expansion but he sent me for xrays and tells me it is arthritis. I did not have these problems before the surgery I may have had arthritis but it was not chronic like it is now. Sometimes I just want to scream I get so frustrated and I often wish I had stuck to just having the mastectomies. It sure is hard when the surgeon says you can have breasts even if they are not the real thing or a line straight across your chest. At the time it seemed like a no brainer. Now I am regreating my decision and am even envyious of women who have the line and external prothesis. My sister has one an she also has her health and is able to go on with her life even if she is loopsided. Dx 8/2007, LCIS, Stage 0, 0/0 nodes, PR-, HER2- |
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Sandy-MomsD… Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,227 |
Jun 28, 2009 12:54 pm
Sandy-MomsDaughter wrote:
Devina, many women have developed health problems after having implant reconstruction, and have had them removed. I know of three women who live near me who've started with implants, then went to NOLA for removal and tissue flap reconstruction with Drs. DellaCroce and Sullivan. They've all done remarkably well after having their implants removed---the ongoing health problems were resolved, the tightness and pain are gone and they feel good now. Paula, I nearly lost one DIEP flap (it was actually an SIEA flap that lacked good circulation before it was even transplanted) and my surgeon would have replaced it with a GAP if it had failed, to avoid taking muscle out of my back. Is GAP a possibility for you now? Sandy "More and more as I am here and see what life really is, I understand that it is not when or how you die but how and if you truly were ever alive." Dr. Jerri Nielsen
Dx 5/22/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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pshelton Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 137 |
Jun 28, 2009 03:20 pm
pshelton wrote:
Sandy, not sure if a GAP is a possibility but we meet again before surgery Thursday...will see... Paula Paula S.
Dx 2/26/2009, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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Sandy-MomsD… Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,227 |
Jun 29, 2009 01:34 pm
Sandy-MomsDaughter wrote:
Hoping and praying for the best for you, Paula! Let us know. "More and more as I am here and see what life really is, I understand that it is not when or how you die but how and if you truly were ever alive." Dr. Jerri Nielsen
Dx 5/22/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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pshelton Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 137 |
Jul 3, 2009 05:35 pm
pshelton wrote:
Hi girls, Post of day 1 today, I had my lat flap done yesterday with an implant on the left breast. Now I am equal on both. Later on my PS is going to liposuction my right side of my back to get that even and trim down my hips to make them even too. Recovery is not bad at all, got up walked around today and pain is about 4 on a scale of 10.. Flap is looking good this time around, big relief : ) Paula Paula S.
Dx 2/26/2009, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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Suze Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 130 |
Jul 4, 2009 01:48 am
Suze wrote:
Hi Devina I think implant issues are not uncommon. I had a terrible time with mine, right from the expander stage. Bad pain issues with both expanders and implants. In the end the implants had to come out due to infection. Meantime I had a Seroma drained and every antibiotic known to mankind. Apparently I form scar tissue very fast, and that's one of the reasons I had so many problems. The remaining scar tissue is still very sore and an issue day to day, 7 months since the implants were removed. It can be very demoralising and quite traumatic to go through a failed reconstruction. Much harder than I thought it would be. But a lot of people here seem to do just fine next time around, especially, it seems, with a flap reconstruction. Hang in there! Dx 9/1/2008, LCIS, , Stage 0, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes |
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Meggy Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 180 |
Jul 4, 2009 03:13 am
Meggy wrote:
There could be a lymph issue because scar tissue can block lymphatic drainage. Do your arms have lumps in it that you can feel? This can be lymph that sort of gets blocked and full of proteins. One good thing is that it is really treatable if that is what it is. I got a pump for my arms and it really controls it. Mine is the Flexitouch. I'm in reconstruction h#ll myself...hope it goes smoothly for you sister. Triple Negative IDC Neoadjuvant chemo 2/08 of 4 dose dense A/C then 4 Taxol, Bilat 6/08, then 2 more AC then 4 Carbo/Taxotere
Dx 2/4/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 3, /24 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Sandy-MomsD… Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,227 |
Jul 4, 2009 01:23 pm
Sandy-MomsDaughter wrote:
Hi Paula, That's great news! Glad to hear that the surgery went well and your pain is not too bad. Sandy "More and more as I am here and see what life really is, I understand that it is not when or how you die but how and if you truly were ever alive." Dr. Jerri Nielsen
Dx 5/22/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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