TE TROUBLE
Comments
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Chickadee - my infection did come back in the same TE. I had finished the course of antibiotics from the previous infection on Sunday, got a fill on Monday, and by Tuesday evening I was starting to turn pink again, so saw my PS on Wed. Back to the antibiotics again. Could it be possible that it's not really infected, but had an allergic response? I don't get it. The other TE (prophylactic side) does just fine, with no redness. I hope this doesn't make me closer to losing the TE. He did say my fills may be ending sooner, though. I hope you're doing well.
Robyn - welcome, and I hope things get better. I haven't lost a TE, but can imagine how much I'd miss one and would dread trying to look right in clothes.
Ihasamom - wow, I hate that when we suffer insurance denials too. It's bad enough having the medical problems!
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Ann- we nursed mine along with antibiotics for a month. My mastectomy was the end of febuary. Bymid march, the reness showed up. Started oral antibiotics for two weeks. Got better. Ten days after i finished the first round, it was back. Cultured pseudomas a nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bith the onc and ps said i should have been running a high fever and feeling bad. I didnt.
It finally did start o feel weird and uncomfortable and i went into surgery either to get my implants, or if the infection was bad enough, all would come out. That is hat happened. In hindsight,it was the best thing. I believe my immune system was suppressed even though all my counts were always good.
The second time was a breeze and much more positive, with the exception of the rash that i got at the beginning which scared meto death.0 -
Thanks ladies! I'm off to Daytona - spending time with my dad before he leaves for Boston tomorrow for heart surgery:(( Worried beyond belief but praying that everything will be OK with no complications. He has to get a valve replaced. Also, staying the week (that's where I'm from) spending time with brother, sisters and dear friends. I haven't been back home since the whole BC thing started, so I'm probably going to be a mess, but a good mess. Happy Friday everyone, I'll check in while we're over there.
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momof3-Have a great time.
Ann-sorry to hear your dealing with this again, hang in there and heres hoping the 2nd round does the trick.
Fluffqueen-I didn't realize that you to lost your TE when you were at the stage of getting implants-sucks doesn't it. Your story gives me hope though that there is an end to all this at some point.
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Fluff - oh my, I've read your pieces of this before and I'm filled with dread at the drama so many suffer getting through TEs. Some day there must be a better way. My skin is still red, but it took over a week on the first 10-day round of antibiotics for it to clear. Then the fill started it over again, but only on one side. (Why?)
Family arriving Sunday for Thanksgiving week and we want to go to Disney World on Tuesday. Yikes. My energy isn't up yet 6 weeks post-BMX, let alone dealing with the TE infections! Not sure I'll make it, but I could go and sit around a lot. I'd like to see less redness before a long day out.
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Have any of you that have had rads had hyperbaric treatments leading up to TE placement and following TE placement along with fat grafting at time of TE placement and then again later to smooth things out. I have had a lump and rads and am now going back to have a BMX with immediate reconstruction. First PS said I am not a good candidate for implants and I am too thin for diep and that I need to gain weight so that I can have diep. Well I have gained 9 lbs and it seems to be going to hips and thighs not belly. Went to get a 2nd opinion and this PS says that I have a higher failure rate because of rads but that she has found hyperbaric treatments to be very helpful with softening up the rads tissue and with having hyperbaric after TE placement that it helps with healing. She also said that having fat grafting at time of TE placement will help the stem cells rejuvenate and soften the skin. I went online to the journal of plastic and reconstruction and there was an article supporting the fat grafting. There was also an article about rads skin and hyperbaric treatments but not exactly the way she is using it. I really feel that she is thinking outside the box and they I might just want to take my chances on the implants. If they fail I will still have other options. Any comments are welcomed.
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Sherryc,
I have never heard of using hyperbaric treatments for TE placement but it does seem logical that it would help. They use that type treatment for burns and other wounds that do not heal properly, so it makes sense to me to use it on radiated skin. Why not try, right?
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jbennet, she said not all Dr's will agree with her approach but she said that the hyperbaric seems to soften up the damaged skin so that it will stretch better and doing it after TE plalcement promotes healing for an already compromised situation. I like the way she thinks outside the box.
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Sherry-I can't be of much help. My PS said that if I had rads he wouldn't do implants. Luckily I didn't need rads.
Just came back from my 5 day checkup. He took the bandage off the incisions, but left on the "sling" he created out of tape to encourage them to go inward instead of under my pits. He confirmed my suspicisions that he did a lot of pocket work. He liked how they looked (as do I). Wants to see me in 2 weeks.
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Chick - It sounds like things are going well........how's your energy level?
Ann - PLEASE take it easy this even with your family arriving -- PLEASE take care of yourself........
Momof3- best of luck with your father's procedure -- keep us posted and have a special time with your family!
Left a message with my PS office to see how things were moving along with my TE replacement date. Yes, I said I'd call this afternoon but I was a few hours ahead of schedule -- so impatient!
T
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Ihasamom: Fight that insurance company -- them denying you is just awful. Find out what agency you can report to for that appeal. I've noticed the more you appeal the more willing they are to accept the bill.
Take care,
C
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T-It is the afternoon on the east coast....
My energy level sucks quite honestly. I think I have just been on such a rush of stress that now that it is all almost over I am crashing.
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Chick- I definitely found that I crashed post exchange. I think with all the stress of TE's we are revved up with adrenaline and then after exchange we let down our guard and we finally realize we are exausted. Try to rest and give yourself a break this weekend.
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chick - listen to your body and mind and take some time to relax.
Ann - hope the 'pinkness/redness' is looking better in your TE.
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chick-I agree for some reason, this surgery, which had very little pain for me, has wiped my out. I have taken a lot of naps. I went to the Twilight movie at midnight with my friend last night (no, I am not a twihard, but we do goofy stuff like this all the time). Knocked around all day today, doing some shopping, etc. I am now sitting in my jammies, in bed and thinking that I will be sound asleep in 30 minutes. That is so not my usual mode of operation.
Survivor-yes, we kept filling all through the infection. I was filled to 480 and he was going to put in 525's if he could. He said while in surgery, he stood there and took five minutes to decide if he thought it would be safe for the implants and finally decided to err on the side of health and safety. Although not happy at the time, we knew it was a long shot to start with, so I wasn't stunned to learn the implants didn't happen. Totally bummed though. This second set ended up a fair amount smaller, partly due to that fact I have one area where the infection was that the skin is really thin and he did not want to jeopardize it.
Sherry-I will have fat grafting in three months or so to help stabilize the area of skin mentioned above that is really thin.
Ann-I have no idea how this all happens. I only had (and still have somewhat) a red spot on the right side (not the cancer side). However, I had pseudomonas on both sides, with the right side being worse. I wonder if I had the advantage of hindsight, if I would do immediate reconstruction again. I think after I finished chemo, I felt a lot better and it went much more smoothly. Who knows? Some of what I thought were chemo side effects, might also have been effects of the pseudomonas also.
All I know is it is nice to not be planning my life around surgeries, iv antibiotics, and doctor appointments! I spent the afternoon trying on four inch sparkly heels for my niece's upcoming wedding. Her mom, one of my closest friends, died from a brain tumor three years ago. I am trying to make sure she has a great wedding experience. It has really been a lot of fun!
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I am glad I am not the only one feeling like this. Wow, I feel like such a wimp. I have been taking avitan or whatever it is to make sure I get a full 8 hrs sleep. It has been helping. I want to make sure I am good to go to Ohio (Fluff I will wave as I drive past).
Fluff...how in the heck do you wear 4" heels. I would kill myself!
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Chick-i will get thru the wedding looking all cute and then probably change. Lol. Not sure I can get thru dancing at a reception.
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Fluff... how sweet to stay close to your close friend's daughter and make sure she has an awesome wedding. Her mom is dancing in heaven at the thought of that! ;-)
Good to know to expect an energy wipeout post-exchange. Y'all will remind me next year about that right?
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My PS and I have decided to give implants one more try, so I will get a new TE in January 2012. There's no rhyme or reason for why I just popped open the last time, so we're both hoping it was just a fluke. I still can't believe I have to go through expansions AGAIN. I'm praying that they are easier the 2nd time around, because I was in total misery for about 4 days after every expansion the last time. I've had my implant out for about 5 weeks now, but that side still just doesn't feel right. I'm starting to think it's never going to feel right! As much as I dread the idea of 2 more surgeries (TE placement and then exchange) and the idea of weekly expansions I am very much looking forward to being balanced again. This whole size C on the left and size AAA on the right is for the birds. I hate my prothesis and can only wear the pillow insert with a sports bra - which doesn't fly with professional dress.
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sundermom - I have a friend who has had the exact same experience as you and she is now doing well with the replaced TE and fills. It can work!
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Sundermom-I'm right were your at. Now I didn't have my implants in, but it was at the time of my exchange surgery that my crazyass old PS thought there was a problem and took out TE. Going thru the expansion again is so not something I'm looking forward to, plus the two additional surgeries-thought i was done. I was feeling really shitty myself with the soft foam insert, but bit the bullet and got professional prosthesis last week and it really has made me feel better. Just a thought, maybe you can check into it.
I do believe we will all get through this, just not as soon as we we'd like. Hang in there sista.
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I used fake foobs i got from a cross dressing website. You should see some of the emails that has triggered! Lol. They were silicone. Squishy but heavy, I thought. I pulled the fluff out of one of the inserts that came with a mastectomy camisole and put them in that so they werent directly agai st my skin. With the temps over 100 this summer, they were hot!
Glad you are finding something that works.0 -
So here is the difference between implants and TE's that cause me to freak out a little yesterday. I have been a good girl wearing my surgical bra (even though my PS says I can wear whatever I want). Yesterday I go to look and there are indentations in my implants that match the pretty design on the surgical bra. Switched to a sports bra and they went away about a half hour later. Just a little freaky.
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chick - Could it be that you have some swelling as a result of the exchange? That could be why your undergarments are leaving marks, kind of like when you get a visible ring on your finger when your hand swells. Just a thought. I've had my implant for about 7 months now and the bra marks disappeared after about 8 weeks.
SpecialK - It's good to hear that it all worked out in the end for someone else. It gives me hope
Dawn - I do have a professional prothesis. That's the one that I can't stand to wear. I have to cinch the bras up so tight so the foob will sit at the right height to match my beautiful left implant that it's kind of ridiculous. The band feels SO tight. I told the fitter that I was a 36 and she insisted that I was a 34 and had been wearing the wrong band size . . . for like my entire adult life. LOL0 -
sundermom-are you wearing mastectomy bras?
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Survivor-do you have to wear mastectomy bras after implants are in? i have to wear either the surgical bra or a snug sports bra with wide compression sides (for the lipo he did under armpits) for 6 weeks 24/7. I was hoping after that I could move into normal stuff.
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sundermom-I am sure some of it is swelling.
Hey look....it's a picture of Survivor!
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Hi all - I've been away from here awhile but still reading and keeping up with everyone...so glad to see so much progress. I'm in a holding pattern and had a few ups and downs but doing okay. I'll see PS #1 in mid december for his opinion on my options, PS #2 scheduled for surgery in May to do TRAM. I have not made any decisions and am even considering removing the lt TE and going "topless" for now. I had rt TE removed 8/29 due to skin failure because of radiated skin.
Sundermom- had to comment on the prosthetic - I have the exact same problem, my prosthetic side is always "hanging" lower than the TE side, actually the issue is the prosthetic has a natural sag like a real breast, and the TE sits high and tight...I will go in the bathroom at work and look in the mirror and be "oh my gosh", I guess no one else notices but I am very self conscious about it. I seem to be constantly in search of better options...just bought the inexpensive "genie" bras to try with my microbead foob. We'll see how that goes. Accidentally went to the grocery store with uniboob again last night, I guess I'm getting comfortable because I was in the door before I realized I had forgotten the foob...just hold the purse on that side and no one notices.
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chick-I know, only took me a few months.
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Chick: I agree it sounds like swelling.
jblcsw10: I'm still laughing at your going out without your foob!
Sundermom: You know what really works for me: a nonwire bra with a very padded cup. that is all I wear. Of course if you hug me the one side compressed down to zero, but in clothes, no one is the wiser! ;-)
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