Topic: continued pain after implant swap

I had my first exchange, but the PS used silicon instead of saline (pacemaker - can't use silicone) My new PS asked me to wait about 2-3 months before removing and replacing them. Within days the silicon implants became encapsulated and very painful. (The implants were like rocks!)

Soon as they were exchanged, with 50% larger saline, the pain sort of left and the implants felt very soft and comfortable. However, a year later, I am still having pain in my chest and can feel my implants. Many have told me they don"t even noticed them after a few months. - I do.

FInally, don't recall who PCP, Onc, or PS, told me I have Truncal LE. That's what's causing the pain, not the implants. I am having one more surgery this coming Wednesday, to remove a lot of scar tissue and plump up my nips. I hope that eases some of the pain, but as long as I have that TLE, I guess I'll have pain. Have you asked your PS about this? 

Hi Anne

I hate the thought of more surgery. I hope what ever my PS does, this time, for me works. The main issue, outside of the pain, is "Dog Ears", I think that's what they are called, it's small flaps on each side of my breasts.

He had so much "repair" work to do on me after I was butchered by my previous PS. I think he did a fantastic job considering what he had to work with. I had 2 infections during my expandsion days and my previous PS performed tow different surgeries (guess they coudl have been done at the same time but why, if he could bill it out twice.).

The non-BC side has a terrible jagged scar on one side, thanks to the infection and bad surgery, and so much scar tissue on the inside, my implant/breast does not have a nice smooth look to it. I am hoping that can be repaired. He's planning on removing extra skin, and he mentioned tattoos, but as the surgery will not be done in his private hospital but at Cedar's SInai, I imagine the tats will be out. If I have to have them done at another time, I will skip them. Enough, is enough. 

I have some muscles under my arms that really hurt. They are still very tight. I have been trying to get them to stretch hoping that would ease some of the pain, but hasn't worked.

I have been cleaning like crazy, cooking & freezing, and today gave my four poodles baths. Tomorrow it will be wash the floors, vacuum, change the sheets, and do the laundry. Then I can come home after surgery and relax. - Jean

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I am somewhat ignorant of all these terms-what is Truncal LE? And what is SGAP?

Also, I never had a surgical bra... PS didn't recommend one. I have actually been feeling a lot more comfortable not wearing a bra at all, but to my disappointment, I am very asymmetrical and have to wear a bra to look "normal" under my clothes.

RubyCA,

SGAP, or Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator Flap...reconstruction using tissue from the gluts

and TRUCAL LE is lymphedema in the truncal area.

I would have thought most women would be given a surgical bra/vest to wear after implants, but I don't know that for sure...just know that I and my sisters did...

God Bless!

Ooh, ouch, Jean!

Yeah, truncal LE can be really tricky to manage, and it can be painful too. Some garments claiming to help with it sure don't work for some women. But there are such a wide variety of options out there now for dealing with it that hopefully you'll be able to find one that works for you. I use a WearEase bra that really helps control the swelling -- I'd be up a creek without it, for sure! At night I use a JoviPak vest that's comfortable to sleep in and really helps reduce any daytime swelling that might have built up.

Information about truncal LE and some of the garment options here:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

Hope it helps. Be well!
Binney

My surgeon told me not to wear a bra due to my TLE. He explained that bras and binding garmets tend to cut off the flow and the best treatment was the message and no pressure garments.

However all those PT treatments is very expensive when done 3-5 times a week and takes up far too much time. I just need to keep the fluid from my heart. 

flowerpetal,

I have some swelling on the sides of my foobs, but I am only 3 weeks out...still wearing compression bras. Hopefully this will modify and some others that are further along can tell you/me what to expect.

God Bless!

Ruby 

How are you doing? My breasts continue to feel more and more uncomfortable and no one can figure out why - until - I saw my cardio last week. She said my Pacemaker has become encapsulated. OMG - not again. It happened to the first set of implants, within days of the exchange. My PM is right on top of the right implant. The connecting box, the PM had to be moved from the left to the right during my mast to be out of the way for rads, is located on the left side, under that implant. Great. I told my cardio I can not go thru another surgery. I wish there was something I could do for this, as the "electrical stimulation" cannot be use with a PM.

lady4law,

 I am so sorry to hear about your encapsulation!

I am almost ready to give up and get the implant out-I can't imagine that wearing a prosthesis could be more uncomfortable than this, and I'm still quite asymmetrical anyway...I will try a few more weeks of PT and then if it doesn't help in any significant way, I will talk to my PS about taking the implant out. I really want to be finished with surgery!

I hope that you can find someone to help you with your discomfort...I do find that gentle stretching helps a little. Maybe a good, gentle massage/PT person who is trained to work with post-mastectomy problems.

I had my exchange to silicone implants 4 months ago and still have quite a lot of pain.  My pain is better when I am careful not to do too much.  Using my pecs a lot for example lifting several loads of laundry over the course of a day really makes it worse.  Putting a fitted sheet around a mattress is soooo painful.

I have had two intracostal nerve blocks trying to decrease my pain and they worked but only briefly.  The last one caused a lot of swelling and bruising along the sides of my chest which was almost worse than the breast pain. 

My PS and DH are eager for me to complete the process (fat transfer and nipples) but I refuse.  I had my BPM in April and have been in pain since.  I need to be pain free or mostly pain free before I even consider more surgery.

I have considered having the implants removed because of pain and DH says it's way too soon to consider and I am over reacting.  He's sympathetic but he's not the one in pain!

Julie

lady4law,

I just wanted to say that, should you decide to have your implants removed, there are really a lot of comfortable options these days for prostheses, also called breast forms (I prefer that term, less clinical). There are now lightweight and even ultra lightweight breast forms, some with silicone in front for a lifelike look, but with fabric in back for comfort against the skin. Those with fabric in back can be worn comfortably in a regular bra right against the skin. I have a pair (called Silique Comfort Lights) that weigh only three ounces each!

I know you would prefer to have internal breast forms (implants), but I just wanted to let you know that the breast forms available today have made great strides over those our mothers and grandmothers may have used. I think those ladies who opt for reconstruction (even if delayed) often don't really explore what's out there and just assume the first breast form they try is what they're all like. As with reconstruction, non-reconstruction is a process. With some trial and error, it's possible to find comfortable breast forms and bras that look totally natural in clothes. For me, what I particularly like about wearing breast forms is that I can get a perfect match--no assymetry--and I can choose what size I want to be (I had a bilateral mastectomy).

You might want to take a look at my non-profit website, BreastFree.org. Many women from breastcancer.org contributed personal stories, photos, and input about breast forms. Check out the Breast Forms section and the one on Bras and Camisoles. There are links to pictures of the various products mentioned.

I know that many women absolutely want reconstruction and are happy with their decision. But I did want to let you know that there are good options should you decide to deconstruct.  

Barbara

Barbara

My mother and MIL both used  prostheses. My mom passed away years ago but my MIL is still living. Prior to her mast, she was very small, maybe an "A" cup.  She gave me one of them to feel after removing it claiming it was so heavy it hurt her chest. When I held it, it felt heavy than my implants. (silcone verses saline).

My mother had the same issues, only she, like me, had large breasts. She could not stand the pressure of the large prosthesis on her surgical incision. Where my MIL can go without hers, bilateral mast, my mother could not as she lost only one breast. 

I am sure, the pressure of a prostheses on top of 12 scars, will be more painful than laying only on my ribs.

Keep in mind, I also have a pacemaker, which was relocated from one side of my chest to the other, so I have 6 wires chris-crossing my chest. If I am opened up again, my pacemaker will have to be replaced, around $70,000. Not sure my insurance will like that, and might cancel me. 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I also have Truncal Lymphadema, and the more surgeries I have on my chest the worst that gets. It's not as easy to treat as the type that is in the arms. 

Jean