thetrumumshow

Hi Cathy,

Just to say I'm an RN too.  I work in a Doctor's surgery so not as physically demanding as working in a Nursing home but there's no way I'd have been ready to go back to work after 8 weeks.  Even after 18 weeks I wouldn't have been ready.  With the expanders out I'm thinking I'll go back to work in the New Year.  Everyone's different and we all need to heal at the rate our bodies are happy with.  Incidentally I have a VERY high pain threshold normally so for me to admit to being in pain had my husband seriously worried!!!

Hi Sandy,  My Consultant at the Royal Marsden is Fiona MacNeill.  She's lovely and I can't speak highly enough of her.  I really think that she wants only the best for her patients and isn't taking my decision personally at all.  Try and see her if you can.

My Surgeon started me on Lorazepam which has really helped with the chest tightness.  Hasn't stopped the implant moving around any though which is causing me a lot of discomfort.

Thanks Erin, nice to know I'm not alone in this.  I'm doing all my exercises and stretches but find that when I stretch the expander moves!!  It moves when I get in and out of the bath, and it was moving just now every time I bent down to put clothes in the washing machine!!!  I've had no fills yet and they don't have any plans to start with the filling until this movement has stopped.  Have you got your permanent implants now?  If so, can you still feel them against your ribs?

Trudie.

I've been feeling unwell recently.  I spiked a temperature and the pain in my left ribs seemed to get worse after that.  They wanted to admit me for IV antibiotics but i was so upset my Consultant compromised with oral meds and an ultrasounf which didn't show any infection.  My pain medication has been increased to Tramadol and Lorazepam but they make me nauseous so I'm now on anti-emetics to deal with that.  Here I am almost 7 weeks post-op and I'm still uncomfortable.  I spoke to my breast care Nurse on Thursday and she said it's unusual to still be this uncomfortable at this stage.  She also said that some women are left feeling able to feel their implants permanently.  I didn't want to hear that at this stage as I'm not doing that well to be honest!!!   Has anybody else heard this? 

Hi everyone,

I had bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction using tissue expanders on July 23rd so am nearly 5 weeks post-op. Since the surgery I've had a REALLY tight feeling just under my bust, around my ribs, like I'm wearing a bra that's about 3 sizes too small. I can also feel the implants against my ribs and if I move in certain ways they dig in and cause my ribs to feel bruised. When I try to lie flatter than propped up on 5 pillows, including a V pillow that tight feeling gets even TIGHTER. 

Right now I feel as though my body will never feel normal again.  My ribs are getting more painful and I'm now on antibiotics as last Tuesday and Wednesday I was running a temperature and the pain in my left ribs has definitely got worse since then.

I HATE the way I feel now and can't help feleing that I should have just had the blateral mastectomies and been done with it. 

Trudie.

Hi there everyone and thanks for all the positive support.  I'm now able to sleep on my side for short periods and am able to lie on only 2 pillows - after only 3 weeks and 4 days!!!  I'm so glad that the sensations get better as I've had a few nights where I'd gladly have had them removed again!!!!

Just wanted to add -  Histology results showed extensive LCIS throughout both breasts, DCIS in the right and the ALH (Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia) in the Left breast had already progressed into ADH (Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia) so I'm certain I made the right decision.

Hi there Sunkist and Keryl, My situation got more complicated.  My MRI showed "something" in my left breast too which has been biopsied and shows as Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia, so it's not cancerous but isn't normal and COULD turn cancerous.  My Surgeon recommends a bilateral Mastectomy with Immediate Implant Reconstruction -  I don't have enough tummy to do both with a DIEP flap!!  She says the decision is entirely mine, if I want to just remove the right breast and go for DIEP flap she'll do that but in her opinion I'd get a better result cosmetically doing both now with implants.  I'm swaying towards that now.  My husband says let's just go for it and then all the element of risk is removed.  But I still feel sad at losing both my breasts.