TE TROUBLE
Comments
-
Yay Michelle, so glad everything went well! You give me hope:) Get that pain under control, and don't do too much. I am the same way - I will try to do a load of laundry or use the Swiffer lol. Everyone just tells me to stop it and I need to listen. My date is Nov 30th, and I think I'm READY.
The Hibiclens info is fabulous. I have 2 foaming dispensers and my whole family will be soaping up from head to toe the week of my surgery. Wish I would have had this info before the last infection! Also will be swabbing the noses with Mupirocin. Maybe a little over the top, but I don't care!
I still feel like the left TE just isn't as big as my PS said it would be, so we may have to replace it on surgery day for right TE replacement, and that's OK! I'm going to be in pain on the right side anyway, so do whatever is necessary to avoid yet another surgery.
0 -
p.s. Changed my picture to one from the 3 day walk with my 11 year old son
0 -
Hi Ladies, I'm new to the reconstruction board. I'm due to have surgery on the 29th of November and I can't wait. Being a uniboob for almost 3 years has really taken a toll on me mentally. I don't feel attractive and I'm hoping reconstructin will take care of that.
I'm having TE in place first followed by my exchange surgery sometime in the spring. I do have a question though, if this surgery was to fail, because of the implant or TE not agreeing with my body, would the DIEP be another option? I wanted the implants because I really didn't want an invasive surgery, but if the implants were to fail, would I be able to opt for the diep?
0 -
A shout out to all the re-recovering ladies!
I too will be having scar tissue removed when PS puts my TE back in. I was wondering how much more that would hurt (the TE removal was not bad at all). Michelle, sounds like you had quite a bit removed. Mine formed around the outside of the TE (on the underarm side) and feels like bone. What kind of scar tissue did you have?
Kim40: Yes, if for some reason your TE fails or you reject it, there are several other options. Most women have enough belly fat for one "foob" dso likely you would as well. Two foobs requires a lot more. I don't know much about DIEP other than that, maybe someone will come along to fill you in a little more. Hopefully your TE will work fine for you. We certainly understand your desire to be symmetrical! (Especially on this thread, where many of us go for quite a long time with only one foob or boob.) Keep us posted on your progress! My next surgery is Dec. 1, just 2 days after you! ;-)
0 -
Welcome Kim! My surgery is on Nov 30th to replace the right TE. Rennasus will be right there with us! It's so reassuring to know we are not alone, that's for sure. You will get your ?s answered here.
)0 -
I am so happy for all of you having your TE's replaced soon! See my doc in two weeks and HOPING he'll agree to a late December replacement. I've already ran out of the house twice this week without my foam falsie, had to drive back home, put it in, and leave again (of course, running late to my destination) Then when I'm not wearing it, I have to put it in a safe spot because my dog is convinced it's a squeaky toy of some sort. I want my TE back!
0 -
tatina - keep one of those foam foobs in the car woman!!! I think the dog/foob/toy phenomena is universal - our dog thought mine was quite interesting too!
0 -
I have yet to use a prosthetic... I wear a Danskin front-close non-wired foam sprts bra. It is padded and holds its own, whether in the drawer or on my body. It is bigger than my current foob but I slip it on, clasp it, put on a shirt and no one is the wiser. I can't really wear tight shirts with it (the right side will pucker if the shirt is tight), but in 90% of my clothes, I look absolutely "normal" — or at least two-breasted! PS I just tried to find it online (I boought mine at Walmart),it looks like it is discontinued. ;-(
0 -
Momof3-Not to burst any bubbles, but I hibiclensed before the first infection also, so....while I hope it helps it obviously isn't the be all, end all.
SpecialK-I am busy cleaning my bedroom right now. LOL. I think I am going to take an atavan that I have left over to relax me a little.
I'll check in over the weekend. All my fingers and toes are crossed that it goes well.
0 -
fluff - I always "nested" before any surgery, partly to calm myself and partly because I am a little OCD about having everything done and ready knowing I won't be able to do it all after surgery! I totally understand it! I also figured I didn't really need to sleep before because I was going to be doing a lot of sleeping later so I might as well get stuff organized.
0 -
fluffqIueen-Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I get the nerves. After my last month and shitty exchange outcome, I think I'll ask for some Ativan before my next surgery.
mrochon-so glad your surgery is over, but sorry about the pain. Make sure you take those pain meds. Listen we have been through enough, pain we can avoid-take the meds.
Tatina123-I'm with you, I want my TE back to. I've been debating weither or not I want to get the actual breast prothesis or continue using the foam pad. The only problem I have with it, is it rides up in my sports bra-got any ideas how to fix that?
SpecialK-according to all the docs I was still immunosuppresed from chemo when I somehow came in contact with the Mono. Because I was still slightly neutropenic the Mono went crazy and caused my liver to fail causing the hepatitis and anemia and because my body has taken such a hit this month, my thryoid gave out. Like I said, chemo is the gift that keeps on giving. How the LE issues going for you?
momof3infla-will be thinking of you and wishing you luck with your upcoming surgery. By the way, love the pic.
Kim40-you are my hero. A uniboob for 3 years? God I've thought I will goes nuts having one for just have it for 3 months. I'm sure your surgery will go well and I will be sending happy healing thoughts your way. Don't know anything about diep, not a candidate myself (who knew being thin would be a bad thing), but I'm sure some of the great ladies on here will be able to help you.
Update on me, feeling better everyday. My biggest problem is the better I feel, the more I want to do, which according to everyone is a no no. That's been the hardest part because I so want to force the issue to getting on with my life. The greatest thing is that my boys are finally home and sleeping in their own beds tonight. Have been with their Dad and my parents since my hospitilization. It does take alot of energy for them to be home, but I feel so much better with them home and my Mom will be by and my wonderful BF as well so we will be good.
Hope all you ladies have a great Friday.
0 -
Forgot I had a question. How does your chest wall feel after your TE's were removed? Mine feels almost concave and very hard. Guessing that's my ribs I'm feeling. The swelling is gone now and I've started massaging to try to preserve some elasticity in the skin. Just feels weird and wanted some info about how you guys felt. Thanks beforehand.
0 -
Dawn - mine also felt/feels concave and hard - there's not much tissue there, just the chest wall and ribs. Massaging is good, keep doing it. Happy Friday!!!
0 -
Hard to keep up with everything going on here!!!
Survivor - so sorry to hear all you have been going through. You deserve some good stuff in your life now - its your time! My rt side where TE removed sounds just like yours, concave and very very bony around the edges. Whenever I start getting down about my situation, I remember your post awhile back after you had read the thread of the stage 4 warriors. Thanks for that reminder.
Tatina - I laughed reading your post about forgetting your fake foob - I have been doing that alot lately. It's just so much more comfortable without anything. I was in the middle of the grocery store one day when I realized I had forgotten it, I just sort of held my purse on that side....it sure would be easier to be flat on both sides. I have the silicone prosthetic I use for "formal occasions" but my favorite is a stretchy trainer type bra, called Barely There, which I stuff with the TLC microbead form - that form is very very soft and light.
0 -
Also, Survivor, I have the opposite problem of "riding up" with the actual silicone prothesis - it actually drops/sags slightly like a natural breast, where the other side TE sits high, I find I'm always pulling on the strap on the prothesis side otherwise I look in the mirror and the rt side is about 2 inches lower than the left. I think I am going to put some stitches in the bra to hold it higher. Just saying - I'm not finding any perfect solution to the situation. Which is why I want to continue reconstruction!
0 -
I'm living with 4-week-old TEs and have a question. Is it normal (temporarily) for there be a pink area of skin near the bottom, right above the crease at the ribs? The PS put in some kind of calf skin (instead of alloderm) to support the TEs and I would never know by looking that it's there. It's just the left TE (which had been the cancer side) has this warm pink area and it is a little sore and I'm worried it could be getting infected. I am running a low-grade fever, but I have been doing that anyway while on Herceptin. The other TE does not have this pinkness. I have had a few fills, currently at 350 cc and 360 cc. I think my PS is in surgery today so not sure I could get in, and wouldn't want to run in there if this is just normal.
0 -
annalive - I would let them know. Redness and a fever (even if you had one before) are always cause for concern. Early is better than later if you are having a problem. We have all learned it is better to have a false alarm than to let something go untreated. Keep us posted.
To all asking about how the flat chest felt - I could feel every bone. I had to have an echocardiogram during the time I only had the right TE. The poor military technician (who was probably the same age as my son!) was trying to roll the transducer around to get the pictures and kept getting stuck in between the bones. Kind of a nightmare for both of us!
survivor - the LE is stabilized, still swollen and painful but not as bad as earlier in the week. This last fill has left both TE sore as well, so right now I am not having very much fun! If I am sore next week I am postponing my next fill. Are you resting?
jblcsw10 - I had the saggy problem as opposed to the riding up problem too. I ended up wearing a tighter bra, but that wasn't really comfortable either. I occasionally had a migration problem too! I would look down and the thing was in the center of my chest! Not good! Towards the end I ended up wearing the cotton form that came with the BMX camisole, it was stuffed with the lamb fluff and it was the most comfortable. I could pin it to things because it was cotton.
0 -
SpecialK: Thanks -- PS will take a look at it this afternoon. Standing by for false alarm.
0 -
Hi all....I'm back.
Hope Fluff is having luck today!!
Survivor-wow is about all I can say. I hope you are feeling better!
Ann Alive-sure hope it is a false alarm!
Pre-op and 3 month MO appointment monday. Surgery one week from that. Have a feeling my "nesting" will kick in next week once I get all this vacation laundry done.
0 -
I am going through TE saga! I had MX and LD pedicle flap recon in May this year and had tissue expander put in- got 2 infections a few months apart- the breast would get hot and red and a corner of the stitch line lift up and pus would weep out. The path lab result showed anaerobes
My surgeon said I would have to have it removed, a drain put in and weeks of Metronidazole medication then about 8 weeks later- silicone could be put in. But I have been lucky as had exploratory surgery of the TE and surgeon left it in place as no fistulas or abscesses. were seen. So hopefully I can have silicone put in soon
0 -
AnnAlive: Agree with all, call your PS's office and let them know your symptoms. these things always seem to happen on Fridays! 'sup with that?!
Chickadee, your surgery is soon! Yay! Mine is 4 weeks from yesterday and I am already "nesting"! Want to be prepared for Xmas before my surgery. Not sure that is possible, but I'm gonna try. Last year, my Xmas decoarations didn't get put away until the end of March because of BC. I'm afraid if I don't get my shopping done and my decorating up before my TE surgery, it won't happen. And that would not make me feel good! I love the holidays and am definitely cutting back on what I normally do, but I don't want BC to be the Grinch that steals Xmas from me. Can anyone relate?
0 -
Just got back from my PS's office. Looks like I have the beginning of cellulitis, all pink, warm, and swollen at the bottom of the TE. He has put me on Doxycycline and Bactrim DS. Yeah, on a Friday, go figure. He said if it had been earlier he would have me come back in 2 days to recheck before medicating. As it is, I'll start the meds now and see him first thing Monday morning. Does this mean I am in danger of losing the TE, or will the antibiotics typically clear it up? He is also not happy with the drainage I am still getting, about 45 cc/day at 4 weeks. Hey, when can I ever get rid of this drain?
0 -
AnnAlive, so sorry to hear you're having problems with the TE. I had a low grade fever, pain/redness, which turned out to be cellulitis and a staph infection. I was also put on Doxy and Bactrim, but when culture of fluid came back, they switched to Bactrim and Cipro. I ended up losing mine, but everybody has their own story and situation. Glad that you saw him today instead of having to wait through the weekend. That's a long time for a drain, I hate those darn things! Mine were in for about a week and a half.
Welcome back Chick! How was the vacay?
That's right Rennasus, we are one day apart on our surgeries. Will definitely be in touch! Also, I have been buying and wrapping Christmas gifts too! I feel like it won't get done if something should go wrong, and I refuse to let this holiday season be ruined because of stupid reconstruction. On the flip side, there's always online shopping.
0 -
Annalive-so sory for the cellulitis. Watch side effects on doxy. It is the one antibiotic that really bothers me.
Survivor-definately rest. My daighter has mono in hs and kept up with a dance and show choir schedule until she almost had a minor version of what you have faced. Get yourself better.
Ok...enought waiting...I GOT THE TWINS TODAY....WAHOO! He put in 425s because try as he might he couldnt wedge in the 450s. Lol. Gonna tak a pain pill in 30 minutes and take a nap but thought i would catch up first!0 -
Fluff: Yahoo! Congrats, girlfriend! Now you have to do what you've told the rest to do...REST! ;-)
Momof3: Glad it's not just me already Xmas wrapping presents! I can't bring myself to start decorating yet, however!
AnnAlive: Wow, I'm glad you went in to see the PS today! Another 2 days of waiting wouldn't have been good. I am concerned with your drain output too...4 weeks is a very long time to have a drain. The body sometimes makes fluid to fill in the space that your breast tissue used to occupy; it also makes fluid as a reaction to the TE, to an infection, for any number of reasons. This is common, but by 4 weeks that drain should be out. What does your PS say about the drain? Did he/she take some fluid to culture?
0 -
AnnAlive - ditto Rennasus' post to you. Hope everything clears up soon.
Chick - you must be so excited for surgery. Hope your vacation went well.
Fluff - great to hear from you. Congrats on getting implants.Can you remind me how much fill you had in your TEs? Take things slowly.
0 -
I was filled to 420. I have 425 high profile mentor.
Ann- im a drainer. Mine took my drains out with the restart after a week and they were stil draining too much. He said he wold rather drain fluid than let it drains trigger an infection. I had no problem.0 -
Fluff - how does the 425 implant feel in comparison to the 420 TE?
0 -
Yeah Fluff! Now you will feel fluffy instead of rocky! I was so frustrated wearing a swim suit this week. It just didn't look right.
Our vacation was real nice. The kids had a blast. The place we stayed was not 5 stars by any means, but it was nice enough for us. We heard people complaining but I guess we went in knowing what we were getting. As luck would have it the kids only missed 2 days of school. They already had friday off because of conferences and Tuesday for All Saints Day (Catholic school). Well evidentually they found structural issues with the school friday (we are doing an addition) and so they cancelled school for monday too! So now each one of them only has about 5 worksheets to do this weekend!
0 -
Momof3infla - So sorry you ended up losing your TEs. What was the reason -- kept getting infected? I didn't want to "join" this TE TROUBLE thread, but have been watching it for weeks to try to understand what can go wrong and try to avoid it -- TEs have such a bad success record. I'm scared to lose mine. I have rads starting in December and so if this TE is not settled in, I'm afraid they will take it and leave me lopsided for a long time. As for this final drain, it's on the bad TE left side (cancer side) where 19 nodes were removed. PS says that's why the drainage continues -- not enough lymph to handle it. So what's next? I'll find out Monday monrning.
Fluff - What was the side effect that bothered you with Doxy (if you don't mind saying). The list of side effects on ALL the drugs we have been taking can be scary. I've had 2 doses, supposed to be on it and Bactrim for 10 days. So you are saying in your second reply that you drain a lot too, and instead of leaving in the drain,your PS aspirated fluid that collected under the skin?
Rennasus & Mich_M - My PS didn't mention pulling out the drain yet, although looking over my drainage log, he said that is too much. Thanks for all your input. I will push the question on Monday morning. I have an 8am appointment with PS, followed by Herceptin infusion at the cancer center. DH will be with me. He's worried about what's going on too.
Chickadee -- Good for you having a nice vacation!
All -- have any of you successfully fought an infection of a TE and kept it? I guess this thread is full of the problems. I am praying for events to change and want to hear of a success story.
0
