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TE TROUBLE

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Comments

  • miasanta2007
    miasanta2007 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2011

    Oh V, that's a great attitude! That's all I want too! I totally feel you on the oozing/gauze thing -always feeling dirty (and scared too!). I'm in shock that my chest is dry and clean, it's been soo long....Time to start enjoying life, even if it's just the little things, I have never been so grateful and so full of love for my family and friends. You really do get a new lease on life....(yes I'm still on pain meds, making me a little sappy...lol)

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2011

    justv - excellent plan - I like that!

    Just returned from having my wedding ring fingernail cut off.  A nailectomy.  It is pretty crazy looking! 

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2011

    Hi ladies,

    Yes it is nice to hear that we all can speak about all this BC stuff so freely.

    I am going on three years since my original diagnosis _September 12..2008. It has been quite a long trip for me. I have had ten surgeries( one lumpectomy, two mastectomies) , chemo, the MRSA virus , pneumonia etc in these three years.Yet I am now cancer free and that is all that matters..Yes we never know about the future that is why we have to enjoy each day..

    Ladies still going through all this fluff ..it will be over soon and finally become a distant memory..

    Stay strong...

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • miasanta2007
    miasanta2007 Member Posts: 87
    edited September 2011

    Francine: Loving your encouraging and positive words! You are a true hero!

    SpecialK: Why did you have to have your nail removed? Sounds painful, are you ok?

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    Yeah SpecialK, that doesn't sound good...

    Have my 1 week post op and possible first fill tomorrow morning.  I haven't removed any of the bandages he put on, he made them nice and water proof so I could shower.  Going to my Look Good Feel Better class tonight.  It was canceled on me back in July and they only offer it every other month at the closest hospital to me.  I heard they are fun so looking forward to it.

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2011

    miasanta and chickadee - I had to have the nail removed because it had lifted during chemo due to a high tear from removal of acrylics.  None of the other nine have any problems.  Because it was lifted for so long it developed either yeast, fungal or bacterial problems underneath it.  None of that could be solved with the nail still there so off it went.  It didn't really hurt - felt weird.  The doctor used surgical nippers so the pressure from cutting through the nail felt weird.  Now my finger looks like a hairless newborn mouse.  That problem was solved by putting band-aids over it!  Both DH and DD exclaimed "don't show me" after I came home!  They are such babies!

    Look Good Feel Better was fun - I met some nice ladies.  I liked the bag my stuff was packed in, more than I liked the stuff!  I saw someone on Tuesday at physical therapy that was using it as a purse!  Pretty funny - I totally called her out too!  We just laughed.

  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 273
    edited September 2011

    ooh SpecialK - that sounds yucky. 

    Chickadee - You're probably anxious to start the fills, but I'd be surprised if your Dr would do a fill so soon after surgery. You may need more healing time.

    I had a fill today, just on my left side to even up again with the right. Only did the right side last time because my left side (the replaced TE) was still sore from the previous fill. I hate to complain because I know that many of you are anxious to get your TE re-inserted and get on with the fills….but holy crap I'm sore. Deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, moving too fast, hurts like hell. My TEs are 300cc size. I'm now at 390, and this is the size I'm be happy with for implants. PS wants to overfill though another 20%, so 80ccs more. I doesn't sound like much but I'm so hard/tight, I'm dreading getting any more. Thanks for listening to my whine :)

    Mich 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2011

    Mich_M - I prefer not to think of it as whining, just stating the facts as you see them!  I too am not looking forward to how this is going to feel when I get close to the end of fills.  The two (pathetic) I have had so far have not been a problem, but I am not where you are in the process.  Don't worry about my fingernail fiasco - it will grow back.  It better grow back.  What if it doesn't grow back?  JK.

    Chickadee - I think too soon for a fill also.  Then again, I am a nervous nellie.

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    Went back to the PS today and he said all looked well and he gave me a fill of 60 cc's. Wow ..I now have a real good size mound. He said I should wait a month and then come back for hopefully my last fill.

    He feels that I should be finished by the new year. Three year anniversary of my DX on September 12th..Been a long time..

    He too said to me that despite all that I have been through I am never bitter and have a very good attitude. I told him all this reconstruction stuff is fluff.

    I too went to the Look Better Feel Good thing at the start of my chemo. They gave me a wig I never wore but did pass it on to needy folks in Costa Rica through this board.

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • DLL66
    DLL66 Member Posts: 448
    edited September 2011

    I have a question.

    Is a small amount of seepage along the incision line normal? My left TE is filled to 500 ccs now & I just noticed a small spot on my tank top from last night. The skin over the entire TE feels hard & tight except for 1 small spot that feels soft where the seepage occurred. The skin is not open at all. I have not had a fill since 8/26, so this was a bit unexpected. I did have swelling due to bumping into a wall about 10 days ago.

    The PS' RN said that if the fluid was yellowish (which it is) not to worry, it is probably a little bit of seroma coming out, but definitely call back if it starts to open up. This afternoon I could see the other end of the incision puff up a little & it also seeped a tiny bit of fluid. This is on my non-radiated side; surgery was 7/19.

    Has anyone else experienced this?

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited September 2011

    DLL66: Oh, I have a lot of experience with leaking incision lines and seroma! I recently had my right TE removed because my incision wouldn't heal. However, I know several women who had tiny openings like you and they were able to heal them just fine.

    Keep an eye on those spots. Use antibiotic ointment and sterile gauze padsover the incision to keep it clean. You don't want an infection. It's possible the incision line weakened when you bruised it. I'd call your PS tomorrow and give them an update before the weekend. He/She may want to take some ccs out to reduce pressure. See what they suggest.

    Good luck and keep us posted!

  • DLL66
    DLL66 Member Posts: 448
    edited September 2011

    Thanks so much for the reply, Rennasus. Great advice!

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    2 hours till my appointment and all you guys are making me a nervous nellie...all right I was one already :)  Trust me I am not going to push him to fill me if I think that it would compromise the incision.  I haven't removed the covering all week to peek at what it looks like.

    The class last night was OK.  I was a little disappointed.  I was the youngest by far, which I could deal with, but the beautician they brought in only talked and did very little demonstrating.  I left feeling like I didn't learn much.  Oh, other then I am still not safe from losing the eyebrows and eyelashes....

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2011

    chickadee - my experience was kind of the same with Look Good, Feel Better.  We were closer in age but the lady pretty much just talked also.  She spent a lot of time showing us how to make a turban out of an old t-shirt.

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    Learned that trick too....although I would have rather learned a trick to make my hair grow faster so I could get rid of the stupid turbans :)  And when is it safe to start coloring hair and what products are the safest to use....

  • jrh1953
    jrh1953 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2011
    I had my TE expander removed last Friday, 9-2.  I had initial surgery on 2-22 with immediate TE placed.  First and only fill of 150 was 3-18.  3-28 first of 6 infections or redness.  I had to have 4 rounds of Chem0 (Taxotre and Cytoxan).  Treatments were to be 3 weeks apart.  Between 2 and 3, I developed another infection and had to delay that one 4 weeks.  By the time that one came up, site was red again, Had to see PS to get OK for treatment.  Had that one with no complications but by the time the 4 came around was red again. I completed Chemo on
    8-4.  PS wanted to wait 4 weeks to start fills again.  Last week, site became red and purple and skin started peeling, and I was having pain, not just discomfort.  I saw PS Thursday and told him I was ready for TE to come out.  He agreed and scheduled for the next day.  No complictions, I see PS today, hopefully to have drain removed.  I do not plan to have reconstuction but may have one more surgery to make the site look better.  I really like my PS and do not blame him in any way.  My body just did not like this procedure.  Anyone else have this same problem?
  • jrh1953
    jrh1953 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2011

    My eyelashes and ad brows stayed until after the 4 treatment.  I had black eybrows and eyelashes. The brows are thinned, maybe 1-4 eyelashes left under eyes and only eyelashes in the middle.  My hair is past the stubble stage and now feels soft.  Not long enough to style and it is vey white.

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    jrh1953-I am about a week after you on last chemo, same chemo as you...so maybe my eyelashes are safe after all :)  My hair has come in with a lot of gray too, hence the dye question.

  • jblcsw10
    jblcsw10 Member Posts: 60
    edited September 2011

    DLL66 - I hope you'll call and try to get in to see your doctor today. The hardest part is going through weekends when these things are going on. This thread has lots of helpful veterans, hopefully your incisions will be fine and you'll soon be on your way to exchange. But I know how that worry is when things aren't going as expected.

    jrh1953 - welcome to this group. it sounds like its been quite a journey for you. I had my TE removed on 8/29, a few days before you. I am doing much better each day that passes. I have not decided about reconstruction. I still have a TE on the left side (that has been there since june 2010!!) so I have to do something still.

    chickadee - sorry the class wasn't more fun! I was thinking the "fun" part sounded good. I am all for fun these days! let us know how your doc visit goes today.

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    Well he filled me!  60cc and I can't even feel it.  He said that when he removed it he broke up scare tissue and then didn't fill so that it was tight so he still had some loose skin to play with.  I imagine my fill next week will be a little more uncomfortable.  He said there was a hole on the side of it, not near the port like he anticipated.  He has no clue how that got there, sure hoping it wasn't something I did.  I was at 520cc to get a 400ccish implant (Mich your lucky to get off with only a 80 cc overfill) so that means I need about 200cc more in the replaced one.  Going to be keeping a close eye on my incision all weekend (told you guys I was a nervous ninnie too).  

  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 273
    edited September 2011

    chick - I'm glad you got the fill and that you're not hurting….that's great!!! Re my previous post about only needing 80 additional ccs…..don't know what came over me, some kind of denial maybe. Don't know where I got 20% from….PS originally said 50% overfill, then most recently said she'd settle for 30%, which means just like you, I'll need 120ccs extra to get the 400cc implant. Now I"m depressed :( The pain from yesterday's fill still hasn't subsided. I'm medicating with a glass of wine:)

    jrh - you've had quite a lot to deal with this year. Sorry that the TEs didn't work out for you. Some folks never do reconstruction and seem quite happy with their decision. Good luck with whatever you decide!

    DLL - I haven't experienced incision leaking so can't offer any advice but sounds like Renn knows all too well about it. Hope your incision clears up soon without any other issues.

    Have a great weekend everyone…TGIF! 

  • jrh1953
    jrh1953 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2011

    I just got back from the DR.  He took the drain out but wanted to wait on the sutures. He said he may just take out every other one next week and the others the next week.  He did say that I had a staph infection in the site, not the bad one, but I have been on the right antibiotics.  I somehow feel validated to know that there was something going on.  Thanks for all the kind words.

    I hope everyone has a great weekend.

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011

    Mich-I feel for you now that you are in the same boat as me...we can start the 520cc club together :)  I am sure to come ladies 520cc is nothing, but for me it is a lot.  Sounds like it is for you too.  A glass of wine sounds great!

    jrh-Good luck healing over the weekend.

  • Denise2730
    Denise2730 Member Posts: 320
    edited September 2011

    I received my last culture report regarding the infected breast and it was an all clear. When I told my PS that the patient in the room next to mine at the hospital had MRSA he just shook his head in disbelief. Why would a hospital put a MRSA patient in a room next to a person who just had major surgery???

    Anyway I am also doing small fills at a time, 50 cc's a week. Still hate the way my foobs look, but it's going to take time.

    Hope everyone has a peaceful weekend.

    Denise

  • Just_V
    Just_V Member Posts: 436
    edited September 2011

    JRH - isnt getting rid of those damn drains great!  That has to be one of the very best things...!

    Denise - all clear is good - glad you did not pick up any other infections in the hospital!

    Gotta tell you all... sucks to run around with a boobette (from the removed TE) but sooo exciting to no longer have any seepage or oozing or gauze..... but that will start again in late Oct/early Nov....

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited September 2011

    chiluvr - glad to know that your culture came back neg.  WTH with the MRSA patient - lunacy.  I hope at least they were practicing isolation care.

    Mich_M - Enjoy the wine, have some for me!  Hope it stops hurting soon.

    Chick (love that Mich!) - glad your fill went well - I will be nervous with you.  I think my new TE is now ever so slightly bigger than my old righty.  Maybe he will fill both next time...

    Just_V - OK, while it is very true that removal of drains is something to be celebrated - how did we ever come around to that viewpoint?  We are no longer normal, are we?  Glad your boobette (sounds like this a small girl boob, cute!) is going well!  Or at least getting the job done in the meantime, right?

    jhr - hang in!  Sorry for all you have been through, this group knows all about it!  I am so glad we have each other!  Glad you have some meds to take care of any infection.

    Hope all have a great weekend!

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited September 2011
    jrh1953 So sorry you had to join our club. A staph infection? OY! At least they can treat that and now things make some sense! We still have no reason why my incision didn't heal except for one...too many ccs (350) and not enough blood flow. End of story. (Can I say OY again?)

    YAY on fills going well and the all-clear on infections otherwise. Hello to all! Gotta go make dinner.

  • jbennett38
    jbennett38 Member Posts: 72
    edited September 2011

    Chickadee521 - when you noticed that your expander had leaked, did it still have some saline in it.  I think my left TE is leaking.  It was filled to 400cc and the other had only 310cc.  The right now looks alot bigger than the left and the left is no longer rock hard.  I called my plastic surgeon's office last week but they said to wait until my appointment this Thursday and he would assess it.  How long after yours leaked before it was replaced? I'm really not mentally prepared for surgery! I guess none of us ever are. Thanks! 

  • chickadee521
    chickadee521 Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2011
    jbennett38 - I had my last fill of both expanders on a Wednesday to 520cc, it was supposed to be my last fill.  By that Friday I noticed that the left was bigger then the right.  I went into my PS office and he refilled the right and told me to call him on Monday.  By that Monday it was smaller again.  It never leaked all the way flat.  It seemed like it got to a certain pressure or size and stopped.  Thank goodness as I still had 1 more chemo treatment and counldn't have surgery during chemo.  I also never got infected like some of these ladies, another thank goodness.  It was at least 5 weeks after I noticed the leaking that I was able to get it replaced.  But that was because of the chemo.  He found an actual hole in mine when he replaced it.  He was surprised, he said most of the time it is a leak at the fill port.  Good Luck and let us know how it is going!
  • survivor11
    survivor11 Member Posts: 430
    edited September 2011

    Okay I need some serious input here. I've had my TE's since my BMX 5/11. Last fill was 8/26 to final of 375cc (I am very small framed). Have been uncomfortable ever since, have been since the fill before last. On and off I have noticed some redness under my left TE, right around the area where the internal grafting was done. Last night I noticed the area was much redder. Not any warmed to the touch than the right, no fever and it really doesn't have any red streaks. Is "raw" feeling, you know the way it feels if you've worn too tight a bra. I haven't been wearing traditional bras, just some sports bras from time to time. My exchange is scheduled for 10/3 and I'm freaking out thinking that after all this time there may be a problem that would delay my surgery. Will call the PS in the morning just wondering if any of you have had this.

    By the way the TE are overfilled 100cc.

    Any info would be appreciated to help maybe calm my nerves.

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