TE TROUBLE
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I've had 9 surgeries in 18 months, I think I may be tied with the leader here. Although 'only' 5 of those included going into my chest.
I had alloderm originally placed over my TEs. When the TE that was removed and replaced, alloderm was not put back in that side. PS thinks that may have been a cause of the infection. My PS uses alloderm for that to give extra reinforcement under the skin. I still have it in the left side.
Been very busy ladies. Things are just upside down at home. It was just the usually busy, work home, school stuff. But my daughter's boyfriend broke up with her and gave no reason, 3 weeks before senior ball. I'm torn, I like this kid, but really??? They had planned on going together and she officially asked him last week when she gave him a couple of gifts she bought at Disneyland for him. That was a week ago today. Tuesday he says, he wants to break up. She's devastated. She's been crying. But she hasn't let it affect her healthy eating habits and working out. That's good. I've never allowed boyfriends until they are 18 and this is why. Have fun and hangout with your friends, there is plenty of time to get 'serious' after highschool. But I figured it's senior year, I can budge a little bit. Ugh..
Hope everyone is doing well. We are getting pounded with rain here. Will be making a trip to Sonoma on Friday for an open house at my daughter's university. Hopefully that will distract her.
Michelle
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Hey All - Finally went to my long awaited OBGYN appt... and was told I should consider an hysterectomy. Really liked this doctor and am so bummed re: our move to Kaiser May 1st.
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I am a newbie so please bear with me. I had my double mastectomies on 2/27 and was doing great until my left breast had a scab that started leaking and when I went in to my PS the next day he told me it was infected and they would try to go in and flush it out without removing the TE. This surgery was 3/30 and now 2 weeks later I still have a drain draining 50 CC's a day. He is concerned as the worst case scenario the drains haven't slowed and if they don't he may have to remove the TE...anyone know how long you had to have you drains in...I am so hoping and praying I do not have to have the TE removed and start all over again...any advice would be so very helpful!! Thanks so much
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DM!#: Oh my that was an eventful appointment. What is reason for suggesting hyster? Glad you liked the doc. Find out your gyn options at Kaiser and ask this new guy who of those people he recommends. You for sure can't keep this new person? Drats!!! Hang in there!
Caro4: Sorry you are here, you've come to the right thread! Output of 50ccs is still too much to remove the drain (needs to be under 30). Some ladies here have had drains for many weeks (please feel free to chime in); tho the longer a drain is in, the more risk there is for infection getting in there (provided you don't have an infection already). I have a lot of questions: Are you on antibiotics? Can you describe the area that is leaking? Is there a "hole"? Is the area dark, or light? Is it red, yellow or green tint? How much fluid is leaking from the the scab area? (How often do you need to change the gauze?) Has your doc taken a culture to see if you have an infection?
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I had a bilateral mastectomy on Sept. 13, 2011. Reconstruction was started during this surgery.
My cancer was in my left breast. I had lymph node surgery on that side too.
Both of my tissue expanders migrated over the weeks they were in my body. The one on my right was almost under my armpit and has a rash on the right side.
The one on my left moved up on my chest. It was very tight and painful.
I showed my PS how the tissue expanders had moved during my last fill appointment with her. She didn't seem concerned and said it happens sometimes. She said it would all be corrected during my implant surgery and that my implants would be in the right place.
I gut kept telling me to get a second and third opinion, which I did. According to other plastic surgeons, it's NOT normal and shouldn't happen. Most PS use expanders that have tabs on them so that they can be sutured in and not move.
I ended up letting a second PS remove these TE and do the surgery again. She sutured the new TE into place. I had no problems at all during my 8 week expansion.
My new PS had a lot of repair work to do from the shotty work of the first PS.
Has anyone else experienced their tissue expanders moving?
Thank you, Cindy
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Hi Cindy,
I asked my PS last week when I saw him for a fill. He said mine are not sutured in. He said he did something to the pocket that would prevent that from happening. I have a second opinion next month to see if his treatment is in line and/or if I want to switch doctors. Mine aren't moving but I can move them when I push on them. The right side is completely different from my left. I'm not concerned about that. Everything I've read and gotten from the ladies here that how your TEs look now doesn't necessarily impact how your implants will be.
Caro4 - Sorry you are going through this. My longest drains were in for almost 3 weeks. After my TE was replaced, I had ALOT of drainage and it didn't seem like there was any sign of it stopping. Until one day, the output was barely registerable. My output was consistently in the 70mccs a day. There were days where it was in the low 100s. I hope your doctors procedure works out for you.
Michelle
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Michelle - did you have drains when they replaced your TE? Because I was stressing over that and my PS said he didn't think I would need a drain...
Caro4 so sorry to have to welcome you to this thread. Lot's of experience here, and I'm sure you'll get a load of help and support from us all.
Cindy - sounds like a total nightmare and thank goodness you switched doctors! I hope you get the drain situation under control soon.
Ren - I did LOVE him! I have all his info for you. He said that because I had pre-cancer in the good side, and obviously cancer in the bad, and my age... that I am high risk for ovarian cancer in my 50's. I am going to take his advice and fight to get it done when we switch to Kaiser, as I really don't want ovarian cancer.
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I trhink I have alloderm over my implants. I know I have it in the cleavage area. He added some there to try and hold the fat grafting in place. I have never had an infection though so I am not afraid of the alloderm.
My TE's never migrated. That said my implants look NOTHING like my te's.
I have an interview next week. I am so excited and yet so scared at the same time. The teaching situation in the state of IL stinks. This is a small private school though and I have the certiicate they are looking for (math).
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chick - FG question. Do I remember correctly that you had a cleavage ripple? Did FG help that and where did your PS put the fat? My PS is talking about FG over the upper pole and said that can usually pull up enough to eliminate the ripple in the cleavage. I was curous about your result. Yay for the job interview!
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Thank you Ren for responding. I have already had the second surgery where my PS cut out the infection and restiched my incision that was leaking. They inserted another drain with tubing all around my infected breast above the TE 2 weeks ago and I am still waiting to remove it due to the 50Cc's in 24 hours. He told me there was a possiblity that might not work but he had to try to keep the TE's in if possible. He is still watching me because of the drainage and is preparing me for the worst. I just wondered if others had their drainage tubes in for several (more than 2 weeks) and if they had ever had this problem. I hate to think of going through a 3rd surgery and starting over on my Left, cancer side breast with a TE...but it sounds like a common occurence. The only antibiotics was during my surgery, a very strong one they told me in OR and another he prescribed for 5 days after the 2nd surgery. How many weeks do you have drains in? Thanks so much!! caro
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Thanks Cindy for that info, my TE wasn't replaced and he tried to save it by surgically removing the infection, restitching, and flushing it out in surgery under a strong antibiotic...you have given me hope that it may clear up. we are continually watching it and I am not showing signs anywhere on my breast but my drain is looking a little cloudy but still liquid, not thick like puss. Thanks so much!! Praying it works, he is supposed to be a good PS. I sure hope it works. I will let you know!!
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DM - yes, the drains I talked about in my last post were the ones placed as a result of replacement of the TE. My PS had to do some added work in the pocket. And I think my PS is much more conservative than other drs. He puts drains in regardless. And mine stay in until output is less than 20ccs in a 24 hour period.
Michelle0 -
My TE's never moved. They were like bricks of concrete.
Caro, good luck to you with healing! I hope you are able to keep the TE.
I made an appointment to get a second opinion from a new ps. She is in contact with Sientra and is willing to explore using their implants for the first time on me. I don't see her until May 22, five days after my follow up with first ps. it feels a little disloyal to be seeking another opinion, even though he did not do the right thing. Isn't this just an interesting journey to reconstruct our boobs?
Hope you are all doing well. I'm seriously considering Vegas.0 -
MT - I think a lot of us are going to Vegas... we all interact so much, would be nice to all meet
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DM- I did not need a drain when my TE went back in.
Chick - good luck with the interview!
Caro- sorry you are going through this infection and hope you can save the TE.
MT - Go to Vegas!
SpecialK - my friend's biopsies came back and it is primary lung cancer. She starts chemo in a couple of weeks. She is getting a series of vitamin shots right now.
Mrochon - So sad for your daughter....what was he thinking?
Cindy - no migration with TEs and glad you got it fixed!
Night,
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mrochon - sorry about the break-up for your DD, right beore the end of the senior year - sad for her!
MT - don't feel disloyal, he made a jackass mistake - he was disloyal to YOU!
DM - In my 6 surgeries with my PS - I sometimes had drains and sometimes did not, including exchange, only a drain on the left where he removed scar tissue. He is cautious, but will only install a drain when needed.
caro - welcome - sorry you have to be here! Hope you can save the TE, but know that if you can't we are here for you and we all understand what you are going through.
tatina - glad you friend has specific info and can move forward. Will she/did she have surgery, or was this from a biopsy? Do you know what chemo drugs she will receive? My Dad got a taxane just like I did and it worked well at shrinking his masses.
Cindy - hello! My TE's were sewn in with the tabs and stabilized with Alloderm. Once I started fills I don't think they could have moved, they were like concrete boulders.
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Tatina and SpecialK - Thanks. Tatina...what was he thinking? He's an 18 year old boy? Doesn't that answer it right there? lol
MT - I'm with you on the feeling of disloyalty. I felt extremely guilty after my last appointment knowing I was going for a second opinion (next month). But SpecialK is right, he made a jackass mistake! In my case, I just think he's being OVERLY cautious. I got maybe 30ccs last week, first fill in 6 weeks. Next one is almost another 6 weeks out. I asked him again if he would rethink maybe doing fills sooner, he said no. I don't want to drag this out longer than it has to. I'm coming up on a year since BMX, granted I had an infection, but still. I'm still basically flat and lumpy. I know things won't necessarily be done when after exchange but it will be HUGE step to being there. Anyway, put those guilty thoughts aside, you deserve to have this fixed and fixed right!
Michelle
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caro4: I too have a body that produces a ton of fluid. I had my drains after my BMX for 5 weeks and my levels never reduced below 50. I had some issues with one of my incisions healing (and leaking) and went in and had that TE replaced surgically. That time I had a drain for 3 weeks and again my level never dropped below 50. My PS just risked taking the drain out and my body absorbed the fluid. No seroma, no nothing. This time, everything seems to have healed fine and I'm on my way. I'd fight to keep the TE if I were you unless you have some reason to think that your body can't handle it without the drain.
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I had my next to last expansion yesterday. Exchange surgery is all set for April 26th. I'm a little nervous about going under again since this will be the 5th time in 18 months:( My PS is going to do some fat grafting at the same time before he "pops" the expander. Does that sound right? He has quite a bit of pocket work to do so I'm know I'm going to be sore, but I shouldn't have a drain. Thank goodness for that!
This particular thread has been an absolute life saver. I was so depressed when I had to start over, but you all were so supportive and encouraging . . . really a special group we have here.0 -
sundermom - yay for the upcoming exchange! I too had a drain on the left side as PS had to do quite a bit of excavation of scar tissue on that side. I actually read the surgical report today - very interesting. I think fat grafting is done at exchange by about half the time, some PS like to wait to see what things look like after the drop and fluff. Mine is one of the latter - I will do FG in June, had exchange last week of Feb.
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My PS did not have access to a fg machine at exchange surgery. He likes to do it once at exchange and once 3 months later. I think I am going to stop with just the one fg. He said if I wanted another I can do it at nipple surgery.
SK-yes I had a ripple/divot. Right at the edge of the scar line in the cleavage area. If I understand what he did right he placed alloderm in the cleavage area and fg under/areound it. It is not gone, but it is better....good enough for me....unless I end up losing a lot of the fg.
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chick - thanks for the info! I am hoping that putting enough fat under the skin at the upper pole will be enough to pull everything up and eliminate the ripple. If I squish together and push up it goes away so as long as the FG works the way he thinks I think it may go away. I wore an underwire bra today for the first time (it was ouchie!) and it made the ripple disappear.
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Oh My SK - Underwire today
That is exciting, I am so sick of wearing what I have been wearing!0 -
DM - I got home and yanked that thing off faster than you can say Jack Robinson! It hurt! It was pretty but it hurt!
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Renn...my implant had to be smaller than intended to to thin skin on one side from the infection. I ended up with 425 hp, when the plan was 475-500. I thought they looked great, but what I noticed is that it seemed the upper pole area was missing fullness. So, after 3 months, I went in for nipple recon two weeks ago and he fat grafted around the area where the infection was to improve the shape and then fat grafted all around the upper pole. They look most excellent! Unless it all reabsorbs, I think I am done. Kind of tired of surgeries.
He lipo'd a lot of extra on me so I had a lot of bruising, but it wasn't all that painful. Really, really sore for about five days. I still have bruising in spots, but it is going away day by day. I have to wear a compression garment 24/7 for about a month-six weeks. It drove me crazy at first as I thought it was brusing my ribs. Now that the swelling is gone and a lot of the bruising, I think I might be addicted to it. Clothes look great! I have to keep circular make up sponges with a hole cut out of the middle over my nips to protect them for a month. LOL
Mrochon...I think you win with 9 surgeries!
On the breakup...my daughter went to three proms and one at another school. She and her friends moaned about every one of them until the last. There were eight or ten of them, all gorgeous and all highly active in activities like cheerleading, musicals, show choir and sports. Around spring break time, none of them were dating anyone serious and they all talked about how they dreaded going to prom with just a date. So....much to all of the horror of the mom network, they decided they were not going with dates, they were going as a group. We all stressed that they would be ridiculed. Should have known better with this group.
I had a couple of teachers that were chaperones tell me afterwards that those girls had more fun than anyone else there. They stormed the stage with the DJ and him rocking out. They danced with everyone's date (only on fast dances though, lol), and they all came home saying it was the best prom they had been too.They still talk about it, and some do at the school also, as apparently they were the first group to do it in recent years.
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OMG SpecialK---I feel your pain! To go from just wearing a stretchy bra for over a year to an UNDERWIRE 24/7 was kind of harsh. If it does what it is supposed to, I will tough it out though!
I am also one that ended up going smaller than originally planned. We originally thought 600 ccs, but after my skin failure with the TE on my good side, I had an LD flap with 500 cc implants because I was almost expanded enough rather than trying over with TEs. We tried to reduce the number of surgeries, but that didn't quite work out as planned...
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dll - my PS does not like an underwire - ever. I was forbidden to wear it until this week and even then it is frowned upon. Where I have pain, and I still have it about 7 hours later, is at the bottom of the cleavage where the inner wire attaches to the bra band - I am about to get in a hot bathtub to see if I can make it go away - otherwise I am taking something so I can sleep! Speaking of sleep - why are we both still awake?
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LOL. I worked 'til midnight. And I am always up this late anyway.
I have 3 underwire bras that I rotate. 1 is for out in public & the other 2 are for home/sleeping. I don't want to buy a bunch until I know how this saline implant is going to settle.
Hope the hot bath helps!
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I am usually up this late too - but not because I worked, I am a night owl. Headed for the bath now!
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Good night, fellow night owl.
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