TE TROUBLE
Comments
-
To all you ladies, Thanks for the prayers, support, and advice! After 3 weeks on the drain, today, it slowed to 30CC's. I am praying it continues to slow down until my appt. on Monday and he can get these tubes and drain out. I have no signs of infection at all, color is good, no redness, swelling of breast, or fever. I am so praying we can move forward without having to remove the TE. I am already about a month behind schedule and have had to put off Summer vacation. Of course, my main concern is that I am cancer free and I am not complaining at all. I am very thankful as I read all the problems others are facing. Please know prayers are with you all and I so appreciate your support and advice. I have learned a lot just by reading all the other posts.
God Bless<30 -
caro - yay!
0 -
Excellent news, Caro!
How are you doing SpecialK?
0 -
tatina - doing well - busy getting ready for my trip - I always feel unprepared and scattered - like I should leave my house in perfect order and nothing left undone, my own personal impossible standard! How are you doing? I am going to visit my friend in California who has had a spectacular run of bad luck culminating in a bad mammo callback last week - fortunately, it was a false alarm! We will be attending her father's memorial service and then trying to do some fun things and relaxing.
This week it looks like psalms, greenmonkey and sundermom! Good luck ladies - keep us posted! I am taking a netbook with me so I will be checking!
0 -
Hello, everyone!
I am here and I am getting better . Much better without left TE. I even started working part- time.They were very nice to me at work, bought me fruit tart...I still have chemo head ( forgot names some of my coworkers, shame! ) I have problems concentrating and read English texts ( I am from Lithuania originally). But I am very happy I am getting better and for having you here helping me.
0 -
Olgah - I am glad to here you are doing so well. I remember when I had my TE removed, it was instant "feel better".
Psalms - Greenmonkey - Sundermom - all getting stuff put back! I will be thinking of yu all this week. Good luck and please keep us posted:)
0 -
olgah - yay that you are feeling better and back to work part-time, and came back to tell us! We were worried about you! Don't worry about forgetting stuff - people understand!
DM - are you feeling better, less pain? Hope so!
0 -
Hi ladies! I haven't posted in a while but have been keeping up with everyone. I am going tomorrow for my tatoos! I'm a little nervous about getting them done, but so excited to think that I will be finished with all this reconstruction. I am thankful I didn't have as much trouble as some of you ladies but I am ready for this chapter to be over. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
0 -
jbennett - Hi! Long time - no see! Glad you have been doing well and are almost done - good luck tomorrow and report back for the ladies who will follow and get tatoos - I still have my originals!
0 -
hey everybody. glad so see some good news on here for a change!
Everyone having surgery this week good luck!
0 -
To everyone having surgery this week: THE BEST OF LUCK!
JBennet - you lucky gal, you're at the tattoo stage!
Olgah, so happy to hear from you. Glad you are doing well.
Ladies, I leave on Friday for Italy -- if you don't hear much from me this week that's because I'm running around getting work and personal stuff wrapped up.
SpecialK , I hope you have a good trip to CA (despite the reason being a memorial service) and am happy your friend's mammo turned out OK.
Take care everyone,
C
0 -
JBennett, keep us posted. Good to hear from you. I want details!
Meeting with PS tomorrow, should be the last time until exchange surgery on May 16th. I still can't believe it's almost here. I'm ready to turn the page, and am nervous and excited.
0 -
mom of 3 - yay!
tatina - I am officially jealous of the Italy trip! My computer screen saver is a happy snap from the piazza in Capri, we are drinking pinot grigio and looking relaxed on vacation!
0 -
Picked up the mail today and got my pre-op information for my TE replacement. The surgery they scheduled is for my squishes. I know someone just read my chart wrong but, what the heck.....do you not know what I've been through? Anyway, got over it and had a wonderful spring day. Even wore a swim suit and got a little sun. Nice to feel normal!
Michelle, did not realize you live just up the 50 from me! Thanks for the workout insight! Wishing you the best!
To everyone moving forward, my thoughts and support are with you!0 -
Thank You everyone tomorrow is my surgery day! Keep me in your thoughts.
0 -
Who knew tissue expanders could bruise your ribs or make your collar bone feel like it is on fire? It's hard to believe, and easy to think you are the only one going through this journey in this sort of unreal physical and often detached emotional pain.
There are so many plastic surgeon web sites that tell you 'it's easy, recovery is quick and relatively pain free'. It is easy to think some thing is 'wrong' because it's been more than the two weeks 'they' say it will take to recover from a bi-lateral mastectomy.
My hat is off to all of the survivors brave enough to collect their thoughts and post them online in a forum. The isolation seems to disipate on reading of one other person who is experiencing similar circumstances. Then to discover an entire topic line (thread) dedicated to tissue expanders, and exchange city. Wow. My relief is instantaneous.
And then I wonder why it's taken 14 weeks to find the information? What do people who dont have access to in person support or online communities do to find the information to get to the next step in recovery? Did I miss something at the outset?
Here, you have cancer, here's a book to read, now have your surgery, be a good girl, go home and heal, get ready for plastic surgery reconstruction, BYE!!!!!!!
I am stunned that with all the money spent on BC research/funding that one can go through this and experience such isolation for so many weeks.
I don't want a pink survivor t-shirt. I am grateful for a wonderful plastics surgeon doc and his staff who make it easier to go through reconstruction process. And friends who check in. And family who love me no matter what. And if I am lucky, maybe I'll even have a crack at working my old job again when this is all done.
The bruising in my ribs is painful. It is not discomfort. The fill ups have me sitting absolutely still for two days in a slightly reclined position, shoulders back to relieve as much pressure as possible. Leaning over to feed the dog is excrutiating. In a white blinding stomach turning sort of painful way.
Only two more to go, says the plastics doc. I took a four week break from the fill ups and the redness/bruising is reduced, but it remains visible and painful to the touch.
I am relieved to read that others have wanted the TE's OUT. I am relieved to read that others have had concerns with infection, and I am thankful the infection I experienced seems to have resolved. I am relieved that the discomfort (tightness across the breast plate, sore muscles from the surgery) is described in a different way than the pain (hurts so much can't talk, or hurts so much nausea strikes). I am thankful my Plastic Surgeon will prescribe pain meds, sign my convalescent/disability paperwork, and allow me to move along this journey at my own pace.
Next stop - find out how to have enough tissue for the creation of two breast mounds.. I don't want to face another surgery to exchange implants in 15 or 20 or 30 years. (My first set of Mentor HP Silicone 550 CCimplants had failed in less than two years).0 -
Glad to see everyone checking & doing well. Good luck tomorrow, psalms! Pingpong, glad you found us. Hope the tatts go well, jbennett!
I am jealous, Tatina! Have a great trip
If anyone needs a recommendation for a comfortable underwire bra, I just got a Body by Victoria Multiway at Victoria's Secret that is so nice & soft. I am still in underwire 24/7 & finally broke down to see what I could find at VS with high center wires. There are extra thick elastic side bands that are doing wonders for my lat muscles too, compressing them nice & flat.
0 -
Thank you, everyone! After I feel mentally better, I will communicate better. Ladies, could you help me with peple reaction. I don't want to be rude, but what is appropriate to say to such statements:
but you look so good!
or: are you in remission now?
or: do you have a bucket list?
or tu this : How are you feeeeeeeling?
My co-workers. And I am doing fine, I am in retail, running on the floor, helping customers. They don't see any difference in me . Coworkers do. Somebody even wanted to cook for me...
0 -
Tatina did I read that right...are you going to Italy??? Lucky you! I can only dream of going there one day.
Olga, good to hear from you. You definitely sound so much better, I'm glad! As for the questions, I don't know how to answer the remission question. I always say, I am now cancer free. If someone is asking you if you have a bucket list ask them right back if they do. What does having cancer have anything to do with all of a sudden having a bucket list? That's irritating. I have perfectly healthy friends that have bucket lists. Stupid, we could all die tomorrow from anything. If they ask you how you are feeling with that pathetic tone. Answer them in the same tone and ask them how they are feeling, the same way. Shoot, if someone wants to cook for you, great! hahaha I would however say, you know I haven't been out in awhile how about you take me to dinner. People just need to be reminded that although the concern is appreciated you are just fine.
psalms - I would wish you luck tomorrow but you won't need it. You'll be fine. :-) I will be thinking of you! Post as soon as you are able!
Well ladies, I worked my ass off in my backyard this weekend. Getting it ready for a grad party in a month. We planted so many flowers, pulled weeds, trimmed tree branches and hung up white lights. It's coming together. I also go get my B12 shot to day at my MOs office along with weighing in. I took measurements and I'm down 6 inches in a little over a month so I shouldn't be afraid of the scale, right? Bleh.
Michelle
0 -
Hi Twinmom77,
Thanks for your comments on infections. I lost 2 implants to infections, and I am trying to save an expander that was put in after a lat flap. I also thought of everything I could have done wrong. Did I sweat too much, did I not wash my hands, etc. I'm wondering about switching to another PS. The one I'm seeing has a very good technique. My right implant had no trouble, and it has matured nicely since June 25th, 2011. It's my left one that can't stay healthy. I should have seen an infectious disease doctor the first time I had MRSA. But the PS treated it with oral antibiiotics, and I had 3 clear readings. I wonder if those just calmed everything down. Right now I'm on IV Zivox twice a day, and I have 5 days left of treatment. The incision is still draining, but it has decreased. I told the PS I would see an infectious disease doctor this time. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the ladies fighting infections. I just want things to get back to normal, and I hope this doesn't become my new normal!
0 -
PIngpong - I am not happy, just spent some time writing you a long winded PM and it seems to have disappeared! Too tired to go over it all again, but I could really relate to almost everything you said. It was hard to move for several months after BMX w/ TE's. I wish you would have found us sooner and look forward to reading more of your posts.
I think Psalms may be out now, she was going in early.
0 -
mrochon, thank you so much! I have been living in the US for 15 years, but still... sometimes I don't know how to react.I still don't understand sarcazm sometimes. People are very nice, and I love them, but cancer put me in completely different position now, it is why I asked for advice. Thank you again.
0 -
Just got back from PS visit, and we are definitely set for May 16th. She said there may be some capsular contracture, and she'll take care of everything at exchange surgery, so I'm expecting a drain. She's also wanting me to go with silicone gel implants, not saline. I'm good with that. I got my prescription for Mupirocin and we will all start swabbing our noses soon, as well as lathering daily with Hibiclens. No other pre op stuff for me to do (xray, bloodwork, etc..)- yippeee! I really can't believe this is going to happen.
0 -
Woot! Just had my last fill today. Now I wait for 3 weeks & then get the overfill removed & probably wait some more.
0 -
Congrats DLL & Momo
0 -
Olgah, momof3, DLL66: Yea! you guys are moving right along!
DM13: How are you feeling? When do you see PS and when do you get the drain out?
PSALMS: Please post once you are able, we're all thinking of you!
jlmg: Ditto on wanting things to be back to normal!
mrochon: Congrats on losing all those inches! ;-)
1Curlyfry: Oh, I have had similar things happen at my PCP's office. It is maddening. makes my tendency to be on top of every detail worthwhile!
Ping pong: welcome.
Everyone else, hello, be well!
0 -
Got my last fill in the remaining TE last Thursday. So glad that I am done with that! I have 500cc and that is plenty for me! I don't want to be that big....getting a gummi bear on the left...and the TRAM on the right. should be interesting........trying to stay calm. Praying for all the ladies have surgeries this week. Thinking of you Psalms91, JBennett38 and Greenmonkey tomorrow. Hope you are all doing well along this leg of the journey.
0 -
Hi Momof3,
Did your PS tell you about swabbing your nose with Mupricon to fight staph? I've never heard of that, but I will try it whenever I get over this MRSA, save the TE, and finally have an exchange. Nice piece of advice!
0 -
Hi all. Quick question to the group about skin. I'm almost 5 months post DMX and over 2 months post a left TE replacement. All seems to be going well except that I've got some skin peeling happening on my left side. It's very superficial and my PS is not at all concerned but it's been a week now and it's still rough and peeling. Anyone had similar issues? I've been using Aquaphor twice a day but it doesn't seem to be helping. Thanks in advance.
0 -
Welcome, pingpong. And thank you for such a poignant first post. Your words spoke for me so many things I have felt and endured for the last year and a half. I wish for you a smooth and more pain free journey from here.
0
