TE TROUBLE
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momof3 - Why are you in a compression vest? You had your TE replacement the same time I did, I think. Are you having problems? I never had a compression vest, not even after the mastectomy. That really would have helped me with pain.
SpecialK - SO nice meeting you! I moved my appt with the oncologist to jan 3rd, two weeks earlier. I went to my primary care the Monday after I saw you and told her I needed a referral to an LE therapist. I told her the one I was originally sent to was crap. She said it appeared I had mild swelling. I should have an appointment next week!
I woke up this morning with tingling in all of my fingertips. It was really weird. I think my hands were a bit swollen because they felt a little tight when I clenched them. The tingling didn't go away until after a few hours. I had a very stressful week prior to Christmas. I won't get into it but I did alot of driving around (I drive a stick shift) and did not get much sleep at all. Not enough to call sleep. But I felt this weird sensation in my right arm (the cancer side). My chest was sore and my arms and armpits (mostly the right). When I rubbed on my chest I got this sensation in my right arm like I could feel the nerve twisting down to my elbow. Does that make sense?
I did nothing but rest on Monday and I got a good twelve hours of sleep/rest last night. The kids are gone so I have NO obligations at home after work. It's nice!
AnnAlive and Renn - Glad to hear you are doing well!
Things are starting to slow down for me and my stress level is dropping fast. Checking in here hasn't been easy but I've been trying to peruse through posts daily. It's difficult to post from my phone.
Michelle
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Edit - momof3, your surgery was one month after mine. Still...it would have been nice to have used a compression vest!
Michelle
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Hi all
Tatina - Happy Birthday and getting a new TE is the perfect present.
Ren - I pray everything is ok with your TE….I agree that you should call another PS…there must be someone on call?
Re sleep - I'm sure I've said this a million times, but have to agree with you again that sleeping on my belly would be so wonderful. Just having a good night's sleep would be great. I have terrible night sweats (due to tamoxifen I'm sure) and even sleeping on my side isn't comfortable with the TEs, and I'm sore/stiff when I wake up.
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Ren...Praying that all will be OK. Can't your PS at least call you in an antibiotic just to be on the safe side?
I just wrapped back up in ACE bandage. It's kind of like when you're in a brace for an injury. When you take it off it just feels so weird. And I STILL have that red area underneath the good (left TE) side that's been there since August and I've seen 2 different dermatologist specialists in addition to my PS. None of them were concerned, just said it was my redheaded pale skin pissed off that it's taking this long for expansion lol.
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Mrochon...no compression vest, but my PS uses an ACE wrap (pretty much same thing) for a long time. It just makes me feel secure for some reason. I was given the all clear to unwrap on Dec 23rd. I've been going most of the days now without the wrap but I really need it at night when I toss and turn. No pain, it just makes me feel better. Weird.
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Ren - I agree with the others. There should be someone on call. I think you should have it looked at.
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I have become one with my surgical bra. My ps is making me keep them all harnessed in until I see him again on the 17th....ten weeks after exchange. He said it is to help with the areas he lipo'd on the sides under my armpits. So, for once I am following orders. I have a two day dispensation for a family wedding that my daughter and I are part of....so on the 30th and NYE, I am taking the twins for a spin! Pushup and all. They look excellent!
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mrochon- i had the tingling fingers and the pain down my arm into my elbow and it was from lymphedema.Working with the manual therapy is definitely making a difference. I would make sure you see a good LE therapist.
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Hey gang, glad to see updates from you all. Katarina/JBennett-CONGRATS on your exchange surgeries! I hope the healing continues for both of you.
Mom - good luck with your expansions. I got 60 cc's a week also. Usually the first day or two were sore but then I felt better.
Seacret - muscle relaxers have saved my life, without them sleep would be impossible especially after getting a fill. I hope you are able to find something to make you more comfortable.
Ann-thinking of you, sending you all my healing thoughts and vibes and hugs.
Renn-I agree, please call the dr's office. Surely they have someone on call handling any emergencies that may come up?
Tatina - happy belated birthday!
Ladies - this is a strange and wonderous journey for all of us. The holidays were really hard on me, I realized that I've been detaching myself from day to day living -- time to confrnot the emotional issues I've pushed away while dealing with surgeries etc. I'm fully expanded on the right to 960, and the left is up to 780. Three more fills of 60 cc's each, then I get to sit down with the PS and schedule exchange surgery - which won't happen until April since he wants me to "sit" for three months after completing fills. I'm learning that I can't think that after this step or that procedure that I'll be "done" because my timelines always bite me in the rear. Trying to learn patience, but it is dang hard for me. Hugs to all of you and here's hoping 2012 is a year of happiness for all of us.
Oh and one other issue..DH is now looking at surgery on his neck, to take place in January. Guess we'll hit that out of pocket max earlier in the year than we did this year. OY. Here's hoping the insurance company doesn't boot us.
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I got the pre surgery nurse call today. With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays I kind of put my upcoming procedure out of my mind. I did find out that I will not have to have any drains this go round. Yippee!!! I know I still have a long way to go but the thought of not having to wear a prothesis or foam insert makes me so happy
The left implant continues to look fabulous so I know that having great looking breasts post-reconstruction is possible. Fingers crossed things go better the second time for me.0 -
Ren - checking in to see how things are going.
Sundermom - got my fingers crossed for you!
Happy New Year everyone,
T
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Does anyone know if you need general anasthesia for nipple and areola creation after impants?'
My TEs were fulled to 750cc and I was still a D+ cup with the TEs. My implants are 800cc silicone gel implants and now I'm a C cup. Isn't that strange
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My PS will do nipple and areola with just local in his office. He wants to do fat grafting on me though, and I wasn't keen on the idea until I started getting dimples here and there in the cleavage area. So to do the fat grafting he says I can get like a twilight anes instead of general.
I couldn't get a bra to work with TEs so I have no idea what size I was then. At 450 I am a C. I think it just all depends on how they hang on you.
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Hi ladies, I wish every one of you health and happiness this coming New Year!
Weird story, we were over in last night Daytona for my nephew's wedding, and at the end of the night this crazy manager at the reception was in my face and POKED me in the chest! Yes she did! We ended up leaving right away after that, and I'm not sure what to do about it. They also would not let my dad park in the handicapped spot (remember he had heart surgery the week before my TE replacement surgery) because it was for "members" of the club only. My family is all over it, and I think I'm going to write them a letter regarding her behavior. Do NOT touch the chest, she has no idea.
Renn....how are you???
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Hi all! My son sent this to me and I thought it was funny and would pass it along.
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I had my tissue expander put in on Tuesday after my right breast mastectomy. I've been ok until this afternoon. I've slept well. I've stayed on pain meds until this morning. Suddenly, I feel like the TE's are polking my nerves. The pain when I move is about an 8. In the last few hours I've taken 2 strong pain meds and still it hurts to move. Is it because the swelling is going down and the TE's are polking my nerves. Will it continue to hurt like this until I get my implants? I don't know if I can live with this kind of pain. It's not my pec muscles. It's the inside of the TE's. Or is the pain and infected.
BTW...I'm still on antibiotics
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Eve, my TE is also sitting on a nerve. I think because it's sitting there between our skin and bone. Once the filling starts I'm hoping there will be some relief. If you don't have a fever and it's not red or swollen, then it's probably not an infection. I would call your doc and let them know about what you're going through though. I find that mine is very uncomfortable when I'm sleeping on my back, but when I get up and moving there is some relief. Good luck!
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Eve,
I had a lot of discomfort yesterday with my new right TE. I listened to my body, crawled into bed, took a muscle relaxer and read a book all afternoon. This morning, the pain has subsided quite a bit. The left side is doing fine for now.
Ren, how are you? And Ann, how about you?
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Hi ladies, sorry I have been away for awhile. My pinhole is getting better! When I do NOTHING (in other words, do not exert myself at all, do not lift, get plenty of rest and naps and sleep), the hole did not leak. It did not leak at all yesterday or the day before. I am still taking pictures. I did speak with PS last week, I started Levaquin (just in case) and will see him tomorrow. I'm not sure if the pinhole healing is related to the levaquin or the fact that I am really and truly resting. I am also eating lots of protein again. Too soon to know. I def. overdid it around the holidays and that's when the pinhole opened. So all you ladies healing, take it easy (seriously!), get your rest and eat plenty of protein!
Momof3: how is your incision? How long did it take you to heal all the way?
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Yay, Rennasus! And thanks for the protein reminder. I still have a tiny stubborn spot along my incision where my implant was removed that won't seal up all the way & I really need it to. I have surgery tentatively scheduled for 2/14 to have an adjustable saline implant put in on my right (rads) side.
Glad to see so much forward progress with the women in this thread!
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Eve...I had a BMX nov 30 th and had the same kind of pain until I had my first fill. After the first fill I felt immediate relief. I did have some soreness and tightness after the fill that started about 12 hours after the fill. I think the edges were positioned on nerves or something that was causing so much pain..I hope this is the case for you as well. I go back tomorrow for my 3 rd fill. Best of luck and I hope your pain subsides soon!
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Renn, it looks like my incision is completely closed up and healed, I see my PS on Friday for the fills to start. I can see the outline of the fill port, and when I lay down I get really uncomfortable so I'm not sleeping so well. Once I get up and moving I'm OK. I think once the filling starts it will feel more comfortable. I still wrap in the ACE at night, it just feels better and keeps any fluid buildup under control. I'm so glad you're doing better, I've been thinking about you!!
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Thanks momofsinfla! How much is your TE filled to? Can't believe you are starting fills Friday! Whew who!
I am at 200ccs from the TE replacement surgery and never felt any pain or spasms, perhaps that is why? I hope those of you feeling pain get some relief with fills.
DLL66: Yes, 100 grams of protein a day!
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My TE is hardly filled at all. I'm sure she filled it a little in the OR, and then I had one fill of 60cc's but that's it. I'm looking forward to getting this show on the road!
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Eve - I had this horrible for awhile after my rt TE was put back in. It hurt more after my last drain was removed. It hurt to breathe and move certain ways, even slightly, it was a sharp pain! It gradually got better til it disappeared after about two to three weeks after my drain was removed. I hope you are feeling better.
Momof3 - Wowwwww is all I can say about your wedding post! I would be ALL over that place!!! I had a very bad experience with SW airlines back in Sept. They gave me a flight voucher. Some people have no common sense!
Renn - glad to hear that little hole is better!
Went to my oncologist today for my 6 month follow up. That was an experience. I'm seeking another doctor. My TEs are doing fine. I go for my third fill on Friday. Hopefully it will finally match the left and I can get fills in both at the same time from now on. Still 200ccs in the left and about 120 in the right.
I have a question for anyone in here. It's off-topic, you can pm me if you like to not get this thread in a different direction. Has anyone had a hysterectomy following mastectomy? Were your ovaries removed also? I have a consult with my gyno on Monday. My oncologist said he recommends it. I want one, have no problem with that. I have questions about what to expect, what I should ask my gyno, recovery (I've had 6 surgeries in 6 months). Can anyone here speak to this?
Michelle0 -
Michelle - check out the thread "oopherectomy/instant menopause survival tips" - I think there are some ladies on that thread who have done BMX then hyst/ooph. I did it the other way around, with a 10 year gap in between.
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I posted on there too, thanks SpecialK!
...btw, I just realized why your nick is SpecialK. I'm prettyquick on the draw there aren't I?!
Michelle
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Michelle - You are funny! There is actually a cute story behind the Specialk name. My DH had a good friend when we were newlyweds and they were all new in the Air Force. All the guys had callsigns, like in TopGun. DH's friend Dave, who was single and tagged along with us sometimes, decided my callsign should be Specialk. It stuck - sometimes DH uses it too. He was gone for a year in 200-2001 and my Dad was stage IV with lung CA 3000 miles away from me, both my kids were in middle school (ugh!), it was a really horrible year, and at the end of that year he gave me a sterling silver heart tag bracelet with "SpecialK - MVP 2000-2001" on the tag.
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Awwwwwwwwww... *sniff* What a sweet story.
Michelle :-)
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He's a keeper (most of the time) and I love that bracelet. I should wear it all the time and add another tag that says MVP 2010-2011, right? It was a pretty craptastic year but we made it through and 2012 will rock! Hopefully!
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