Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

TE TROUBLE

1…6263656768…293

Comments

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    Precisely why I said no to Tamoxiphen! My uterus will be next. Possibly next year after my exchange. My body needs a break from all the procedures. I was so glad that my gyno was in agreement. My gyno said he'll watch me closely. But for now, that part can wait. He said my uterus was nice a small. It was perfect. If only I could say that about everything else! lol



    Michelle

  • Tatina123
    Tatina123 Member Posts: 312
    edited January 2012

    Beebop,

    I felt great after the infected TE removal.  What kept me down for a few days were the antibiotics.  I was on bactrim. And the draining tubes were a pain, as you know.

    But my energy levels were darn good after the TE and antibiotics were done.......

    Thanks for the rain, mrochon.......I think.......I like watching it from home but hate driving in it.

    SpecialK, tamoxifen did not agree with my sister.  Within a year, she needed a hysterectomy due to nonstop, heavy bleeding.  And her other side effect were cataracts and she had surgery at 46 for cataract removal in both eyes. And then there are some women who have no issues with the drug...... 

    T 

  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 273
    edited January 2012

    Hi Beebop - as others have said, recovery after TE removal was pretty good. I did have a drain though.

    I'm on tamoxifen.My mom had uterine cancer so I was a bit worried about going on it but I've had 2 ultrasounds so far to keep an eye on things, and everything looks good. Apparently the odds of uterine cancer increase only very slightly with tamox. My sister recently started taking tamox also as a BC preventive measure. She had a lump removed a couple of years ago that was atypical ductal hyperplasia. 

  • momof3infla
    momof3infla Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2012

    Beebop, when my right TE was removed due to infection, I felt immediate relief, even on the way home from the hospital after surgery. Someone on here once said that their PS said that the body is very wise. We need to listen to it. Even if you have to put reconstruction on the back burner for now, take care of and conquer the cancer first and foremost. Good luck!!

  • momof3infla
    momof3infla Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2012

    Heading to PS later this morning.  I will be at 360cc's after today's visit. Then 3 more fills and I sit for 3 months. So far so good. What a difference this time around.  Something was horribly wrong with that TE the first time. 

  • theBCavenger
    theBCavenger Member Posts: 172
    edited January 2012

    Today I see the PS to see how well I am healing after loosing my TE last Tuesday. I am a Little nervous. It took 5 weeks for my TE to show any sign of potential issues... Although I have been numb since Dec 8th, the odd thing is, the bad side has always felt different. The only way I can describe it is by saying it has felt like it was congested... does that make sense? Has anyone else had that feeling?

    Now that it is gone... up until the last couple days it has felt great! But now it feels congested again! My PS told me not to "bend over" and that has proven harder than I thought it would... boy, I pray I am healing well! I just want to be able to feel normal again.

    FYI- my PS was able to keep the Alloderm inside 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    DM - let us know what your PS says after your appt.

  • mkw1
    mkw1 Member Posts: 102
    edited January 2012

    Hi,

    I had my left TE removed because of an infection just 10 days after TE surgery on November 6, 2011. The plastic surgeon said it would be 3-6 months before he will try to place another TE again. It will be 3 months that it was removed on February 6. He has continue to fill the right side, but he says that Tissue Expanders are meant to stay only for six months. Has anyone had a TE longer than six months? 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    mkw - mine were originally placed 11/1/10 and I have not yet exchanged.  My PS has certainly not said that TE's are for 6 months only.  The majority of us on this thread have gone well beyond 6 months.  Some PS let you sit with fully filled TE for 3 months before exchange so I am not sure how you could accomplish that time frame if you have a BMX and chemo and possibly rads.

  • miasanta2007
    miasanta2007 Member Posts: 87
    edited January 2012

    Thanks for the info!

    Michelle, when they found cancerous cells in your nodes, was your diagnosis still DCIS?

  • jblcsw10
    jblcsw10 Member Posts: 60
    edited January 2012

    MK1 - I might be the record, I still have a TE that was place June 2010...finally having it removed this Friday! Two different PS said it was okay to have it that long.

  • mkw1
    mkw1 Member Posts: 102
    edited January 2012

    jblcsw10: Would you mind sharing why have they left it that long?

  • mkw1
    mkw1 Member Posts: 102
    edited January 2012

    SpecialK: I guess the PS felt there were some folds in the TE and he was concerned about the TE developing a crack. They have filled it to the minimum recommended amount which is 500 cc. Now I am waiting for a new TE to be inserted again in the left side. 

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    mia - Yes diagnosis is still DCIS. Thursday is my appointment with another oncologist for a second opinion. Can't wait...and can't wait for this weekend. Surgery is next Friday and I'll be off work for two weeks to rest!

    Michelle

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Member Posts: 465
    edited January 2012

    Thx Special K and Fluff.  Wow, SpecialK no pain pump! Are you ok?  I guess since I am HER neg they think its all moving slow so they arent in a big hurry but now that I have my cami and all laid out and my fiance got the antique chest, I am all ready as much as can be and want the surg so I can get the TE and get on with it. I wanna look nice this summer, I wanna have the final implants in but who knows you cant hurry love and you certainly cant hurry this "process" along. They got a dr in Sarasota that does cryotherapy but he only takes a few select patients. I wonder what happens if the cancer comes back after the freeze? I just wanna be sure my body doesnt get an infect or reject the TE. I came across a really good journal online: lianne-brca2.livejournal.com which was a journal plus photoes of the lady who got her TE then on to her implants. It was long but informative. The final result looked terrific and she went along smoothly so hope I can do same. Good luck to all you and hope you get your "finals" soon and look great this summer. Thx again for all the support. You really all are special angels. 

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    layla - I never found that I needed a pain pump.  As a matter of fact, I really didn't even take much pain meds beyond the first couple of days after the BMX.  I came home on a Wednesday and DH was back to work on Monday and I was on my own.  I had 4 more surgeries in the next 10 weeks and didn't take anything more than Tylenol.  The only time I did was when my TE was put back in July (surgery #6) because it was pinching a nerve (on a Friday, of course) so I took meds over the weekend but on Monday it was OK.  I will caution you not to get too far ahead of yourself and to take it one day at a time.  Every one of us on this thread wanted everything to go smoothly, believe me!  I hope that you have a successful surgery (with no pain!) and a wonderful outcome when you do exchange, I know we all want that for you.

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    SpecialK - At first I was like..how many surgeries in that amount of time?! And then I thought back on how many I've had, lol! Time flies when you're having fun..

    Michelle

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    mrochon - that would be the pot calling the kettle black, ha!  I see five surgeries at the end of your post!  Mine were just really scrunched together at the end and your were scrunched together at the beginning.  Kind of like that movie "Groundhog Day", right?  They started to recognize me at the surgery center - always a bad sign!

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    I'm working my way up to a monogrammed fluffy robe and matching slippers! Just three more and it's mine! lol

    Michelle

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    Why didn't anyone tell me about that!  Damn - I keep having surgery in different hospitals, I had no idea I was accumulating points, now I am going to miss out on the robe/slippers!

  • mkw1
    mkw1 Member Posts: 102
    edited January 2012

    Is anyone on this forum from Oklahoma? I understand there is a time frame in which the insurance is required to pay for reconstruction. I understand the whole process has to be completed in two years. Does anyone know if both the mastectomy and reconstruction have to be completed in two years or just the reconstruction?

  • fluffqueen01
    fluffqueen01 Member Posts: 1,801
    edited January 2012

    I changed up my signature last night, and it is hard to put any kind of quote in if you are also trying to include your treatment! Bmx, te in, infection, iv antibiotics, te out, chemo, kidney stone attack, herceptin, implants, tatoos in two weeks, nips, lipo and fat grafting a month after that.



    Oh...and do I need a hysterectomy!? It never ends!

  • jblcsw10
    jblcsw10 Member Posts: 60
    edited January 2012

    MKW1 - its a long sad story, but to sum it up, I had BC in the rt breast 10 years ago w/lumpectomy & rads, this 2nd diagnosis MX was mandatory and I chose to do the lt side prophylacticaly. Because of the rads, the skin on the rt. side had substantial necrosis and took 8 months to heal. We then did fills very slowly, 25cc at a time, but at the very end this past August the skin failed and that TE was removed. PS then wanted to wait until now (to let rt. side heal) to decide next step so the lt. TE has just been waiting all this time. My PS was wanted to try doing another TE on the rt side, a 2nd opinion wanted to do TRAM flap, but I opted to remove the other TE and go flat. 

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    lol, fluff! Aint that the truth! I need to add my latest on there too. It's going to get to the point where our sig lines will take a full page of the post!

    That is quite a ride, jblsw10. I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. Are you going to stay flat or are you going to try again?

    Michelle

  • MTnester
    MTnester Member Posts: 147
    edited January 2012

    Sorry to post and run - I've been out of town and had dr. appointments yesterday. Just dropping by to say my exchange date is FEBRUARY 7....two weeks from today. YIKES I have a lot to do at home between now & then!! My ooph. will be done first, then my PS will come in and take these bricks out of me.

    Hugs to all of you - I will stop back in tonight when I have more time to catch up with each of you. Hope you're having a good day!

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    MT - yay for the "yippee squishies" to come! 

    All - my exchange is scheduled for Feb. 24.  Now I just have to quiet those voices in my head that keep whispering that something will go wrong!!!

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    Nothing will go wrong! But I know how it feels. Everytime I see my PS or I feel something in my chest..I think crap, he's gonna say it has to come out.

    Good thoughts....good thoughts....good thoughts!!!

    Michelle

  • specialk
    specialk Member Posts: 9,261
    edited January 2012

    I will probably go into the OR chanting that phrase and they will all think I am completely nuts!

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    Don't stop at the chanting, have a tribe with you with incents and bells and stuff. Maybe a shaman, don't take any chances, lol!

    Michelle

  • Lifeafter
    Lifeafter Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2012

    I'm skeered. I'm off to go get pins and wires stuck in me to test the nerves in my arms. Embarassed They want to see if the problems I'm having are because of my neck or if it's the surgeries. I've had one before so I know what to expect, which makes it worse! It hurt the last time!

    Michelle

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.