TE TROUBLE
Comments
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DLL66-Good Lord girl, thought you were going to be one of the lucky ones and get away from us and this thread. Bless your heart, how scared you must have been. So glad our PS was able to get a handle on the situation and preserve the implant.
fluffqueen-glad to hear your doing better. If it's not one thing it's another.
Renn-I know what you mean about thinking, "if I just get to exchange all will be well." I so found out the hard way that that's just not the case. Was at exchange when I lost TE and now I'm already freaking about reinsertion in Jan and exchange that won't happen til May sometime.
Cindy-welcome to you, sorry you have to be here.
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My sister, one of my biggest "put the TE back" supporters gives me dates when I will be done with the TE replacement, exchanges, and so on..... I don't want to be a pessimist, but at the same time, I have to be a realist that "things happen" with this TE stuff. It's such an emotional struggle.
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The only way I can deal with any of this is to not get ahead of myself. I focus on today and whatever my next step is. Right now, that's my Dec. 1 re-insertion date. But I'm not even focused on that yet! It's still too far out for me to think about. Once I start thinking about it, my mind covers all the details. So I try and keep that at bay s much as I can. It is most certainly an emotional struggle.
Have a great weekend ladies!!
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Renn-so agree with you gir. My reinsertion is 5 day after yours and I try like hell to keep myself in the here and now cause if not, I think I'd freak. Am already really scared of that surgery because the last time I had surgery, I woke up so devastated, bad memories.
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Renn, that is the way I have gotten through all of my treatment & recon to date. One step at a time & eventually we'll all get there.
Saw my PS this am & he was very happy. Everything is healing up & my rads side is nice & soft now. He thinks that contracture of scar tissue is what caused the issue, so he cut out a lot of scar tissue while he was in there. He said there were no signs of infection & he looked because he would have left the implant out if there was any, but didn't tell me that in advance. I told him that was smart on his part. (He'd have had to catch me first if I knew that was a possibility.)
It's okay, Dawn--in spite of it all I do feel lucky. Hopefuly that was my last hitch in the process.
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I'm 5 weeks post-BMX, TEs. Because my BS had to take a lot of skin, my PS put in TEs with no fill. Here's my fill schedule so far, accelerated because I have rads coming soon:
Week 1: 180cc 180cc
Week 2: 120cc 120cc (had 50cc removed from Left that evening due to pain).
Week 3: 50cc 0cc
Week 4: 50cc 60cc
Total Now: 350cc 360cc
Trouble began with infection in the left side. I have been on two antibiotics for over a week. I'm still on pain meds too. At my 5 week appointment, my PS decided not to do a fill because the infection doesn't look like it is clearing. I'll see him again on Monday. I don't know if I'm close to losing the left TE or if I might have to get IV antibiotics. Meanwhile, I have many friends praying that the infection will heal over the weekend. Have any insights from your own experience?
DLL66: So glad your troubles are resolving!
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Trying VERY hard to not start panicing about the surgery monday. Every little itch or twitch I get worried. DLL I hope this is it for you! Ugg. Ann Alive - praying so hard that everything will work out. Fluff - Hope the hives are gone! Survivor - How have you been feeling lately? MTnester - I hope your leaky swap went ok today. I know I am leaving someone out.
Happy Veterans Day. My kids school had a very nice assembly this morning.
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Chickadee, You've almost made it! I'll be thinking about you on Monday!
I got my exchange date today -- December 12! I'm really excited but I know how you feel about being nervous something will go wrong. Now I'm worried if I'm expanded enough. Just want this all to be done!
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thanks J! It's good to hear from my fellow leaker!! We are almost done (hopefully)!
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I'm home again, finally. The swap went well, the pain is manageable-way better than the mastectomy pain. No shower for 48 hours, but NO DRAIN thank goodness. I'm sad the PS was only able to put 360 in again instead of the 500-600 he estimated prior to surgery. I have 720 on the right side, it will take six weeks to catch the left side up. I'm slowly learning that my timelines don't mean a thing, everything is subject to change, and not to be overly negative but lately if it can go wrong, it will. So I'm off to take my pills and work on being thankful I'm not leaking anymore versus sad I'm so "behind". I will catch up with you all tomorrow-prayers for peaceful slumber for all of us.
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Happy slumber to you MT. Did the PS say where the leak was? Mine had expected it to be at the port but found I actually had a hole. I can't believe how much you had put in at surgery! How much do you get at each fill? I could never stand more then 60cc. So fills will be done by Christmas and then how long do you have to wait for the exchange? I see a light at the end of the tunnel for you!
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Ann-when my tissue expanders were put back in, my ps did a double fill at the first fill for a total of 120cc. Two days later, I am getting a terrible rash. It took topical steroids to get rid of it, and the infectious disease doc put me on iv antibiotics as a pre-emptive because I told them all they were not coming out again and to figure it out. Honestly, I thing it was the fill that triggered it. It was too much for the skin to handle. Ps doesn't think so.....but I thin he is wrong.
Chick-excited for you. Now that hives are pretty much gone, these are great. Looking forward to getting out of the surgical bra next tuesday.
Concerning day to day-i wasn't that way until I lost the expanders. From that moment on, I became that. I was afraid to let myself hope all would be well the second time, and I am a total optimist.
The week before exchange surgery, I was totally stressed. Finally went a got a massage the day before.0 -
jbennet38, am adding you to our surgery counter at top of page!
Chickadee, try and stay busy this weekend, Monday will be here before you know it. Keep breathing! And sending you lots of good energy!
MTnester, congrats on getting a new TE! Take it easy, take those pain pills. Are you in a lot of pain?
DLL66: Were you in a lot of pain from your PS removing so much scar tissue? That is also what I'm having done.
AnnAlive: Personally I would not get any more fills until you know what is happening with your infection. Make sure they do a culture when you see them on Monday. Keep us posted.
Survivor, DLL66: Day by day is the only way! ;-)
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I wanted fat Grafting, but no one does complete grafting in my area...too new....so, it seems as recommended by the plastic surgeon that I do TE's and an implant. I will be getting a blmx....although I prefer doing them one at a time. Have any of you gotten one done and do the other one at a later time? It seems as if you did the recovery would be easier. The plastic surgeon does botox on the pec muscles to elivate pain problems. I hope it works because that's the main reason I've chosen him to be my plastic surgeon. I can just see myself pulling them out. I am so afraid of the iron bra feeling.
What did they do for you when you were in the hospital? The plastic surgeon I saw today said the nurse shows you how to shower. I thought you couldn't shower for 10 days? What were your main complaints the first 10 days. I hope to be back to work the second week.
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Rennasus, I was hardly in any pain at all. Took one oxy when I got home from the hospital Wed & 1 Wed night & that was it. I went back to work today.
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evebarry- I am not sure what to say about doing them separately; maybe someone who did it that way will come along to answer that question.Personally, I would not have wanted to go through that surgery and recovery twice and then do the whole TE thing twice. I did get to shower in the the hospital and the nurse helped and showed my husband how to assist me.
I was no where near ready to go to work in 2 weeks. I still had drains in, limited mobility of arms, on pain meds and not even allowed to drive. The first few weeks are like a blur to me now but all I did the first two weeks was go from the recliner to the bathroom and back. Do not know if Botox would have changed this...Good luck and take care of yourself!
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evebarry - I had a uni mx without reconstruction and 1 year later, a prohy mx on the other side and TEs put it at the same time. Don't know if it's better or worse to go the delayed route…there's pros and cons. Guess it all depends on where your head's at, and how much you feel you can handle at the time.
MT - hope you had a good sleep and aren't in much pain. Congrats on getting a new TE.
Chick - Good luck tomorrow…I'm very excited for you!!
Jbennett - Dec 12th is just around the corner
My last and final fill was Sept 22nd and my exchange surgery isn't until Jan 17th….talk about patience. It'll be almost 14 months from start to finish.
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Ann: Wishing you the best of luck on Monday. I know you are concerned but know you are not alone and we are all sending good thoughts your way.
Fluff: I hope you are feeling better today. Are the hives gone?
DL666: Sounds as if you are doing great.....love hearing that!
MtNester: Get as much rest as you can over the weekend......try not to do too much (one of my biggest faults).
Chick: Thinking of you.......keep busy. Amazing how some days can fly by and others just drag when something is on your mind.
Mich M: Yes, Jan 17 may seem like a while, but the with the holidays things will fly by. I'm not a patient one either and this whole TE episode has quite honestly tried my patience and I'm not passing with flying colors if I was given a report card!
Jbennett: Dec 12 is like a stone's throw away. Yahoo!
My goal this weekend: don't leave home without my right spongy falsie. Special K, like you suggested, I do need to put an extra in the car......this is getting ridiculous!
Try to have a good weekend everyone,
T
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Rennasus,
Thanks for adding my exhange date at the top. Unfortunately, I scheduled it with my PS without checking my husband's schedule (I was just excited!!). Anyway, I think I am going to have to move it out. He has a project and Dec. 12 falls right in the middle of it. So think my new date will be Dec. 23. I really wanted to do it before then but my husband has been SO good to me that I can't be selfish and insist on the 12th.
Please don't post the 23rd yet because I need to talk to the PS office and make sure that date is still available. I will be so upset if it's not.
I really do appreciate you posting it though. It is so nice to finally be able to see my name listed there!!!Also, thanks to all that were so encouraging about the 12th! The 23rd is only a few more days in the big picture...right!
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Thinking about you, Chick! Clean out some cabinets, wrap some Christmas presents, and do some laundry. Keep that mind busy. Please keep us posted. So happy for you.
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Thanks guys. One more day. Today we did scouting for food with my son, then delivered popcorn and girlscout cookies, then cleaned the garage, and now I am cleaning the house. Tomorrow I plan shopping and cleaning.
I wish I was as on the ball as some of you that have Christmas shopping done!
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Ok; let me say that I am on the other side, and feel whole and healed!!
Right mastectomy, July 09. Becasue of time constraints I could not do a tram or tissue reconstruction, so we tried a temporary solution..a tissue expander. In 8 weeks I was having a second surgery to remove the TE because I developed capsular contracture; grade 4. We replaced with the first of 3 implants; all 3 times I developed capsular contracture, grade 4. The third time, however, I was on antibiotics for some time and went through a long period of time with a Physical Therapist who was trained in breast massage. SHe kept the contracture from progressing and got me through until last winter when I was able to retire. After I retired, I had a free tram; it did take me all of the 3 months that they said it would, to heal; but heal I did.
The massage was a life saver; she also used ultra sound to keep the scar tissue from getting worse too.
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JBennett, no worries, just let me know when you know! It does feel good to be on "the list!"
JaniceRH, thanks for stopping by and sharing your story. I developed a lot of scar tissue on one side andbottom of my right TE. Didn't know it was even there until my TE was removed (delayed healing). Feels like bone, but it is in the shape of my TE. My PS said my body will eventually break it down, and he will be removing some when I get my TE put back in. Can you explain what capsular contracture is exactly? As in, how did you realize you had it? I am always (still) looking for reasons why I developed delayed healing...
DLL66: Good to hear! Thank you.
Evebarry: It is def. a personal choice but I agree with Ginger48, I wouldn't want to go through the MX process twice if I didn't have to. I was *not* shown how to shower in the hospital, and couldn't shower for a week (until my drains were out). I think it would be very difficult to go back to work in 2 weeks after a MX or a BMX. I didn't even drive for a month afterwards. Maybe others will chime in about their experience.
Chickadee: You will have time to shop after surgery! Something else to look forward to! (I love to Xmas shop)
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Pre Op appt tomorrow morning at 9am. Why am I so nervous?! We'll find out if she will only be replacing the right TE, or possibly also going in on the left side to make sure there is no leak. I don't think it's deflating, but I also have some doubt that it's not as big as she said it would be when filled to capacity. I still have one, possibly 2 fills left, but it's not "huge" like she described. Constantly second guessing myself. Will update after the appt:) Off to Plant City and baseball.
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Will be thinking positive thoughts for you, momof3! Good luck!
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For those of you who have trouble with TE's perhaps you should check out botox.
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Botox-for-Breast-Cancer-Patients-106294708.html
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momof3-your preop is the same time as my surgery!
Put up outside Christmas lights today. It was 70 and we couldn't pass it up! Now I have to finish cleaning.
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Chick-I will be thinking of you tomorrow! I've spent most of my weekend sleeping. I'd describe the pain as it feels like someone kicked me in the ribs. The tightness feels similar to when I get a fill, and so far today I've managed without taking pain pills or muscle relaxers. I was told to get back to C cup I need 800-900 cc's. My exchange date will be set for 2 1/2 to 3 months after my last fill. I am done with any expectations for this process, I won't say a month that I think the exchange will happen...it will happen sooner or later, but stating a month sets me up for disappointment if it doesn't happen then.
Mom- I will be thinking of you tomorrow also.
Eve, I don't know that I could make myself do one side at a time. I may not have ever gone back for the second surgery. I was back at work after two weeks. I wasn't shown how to shower with the drains, but mine were only in for 6 days.
Best wishes to all of us in this crazy club. I think it's time for a nap!0 -
Ooohhh Chick, that's a good sign, I think (lol). I will be thinking of you when I'm there, sending positive positive positive thoughts and vibes your way. Good luck! So jealous:) We will want all the details, of course...
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Chick- I will be thinking of you tomorrow. By this time tomorrow, you will be on the other side with your soft squishies and rid of the horrible TE's.
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