TE TROUBLE
Comments
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Great news, MT & SpecialK! I'll be cheering for you both.
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mrochon - Oh man! I am skeered for you - pins and wires doesn't sound fun! Can you have a glass of wine while doing it? Just imagine me in your pocket with you. I like your idea about the shaman - I will see if I can get DD and DH to dress up and ring the bells - they will probably draw the line at incense though.
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Yeah for all the surgery dates being set! Pretty soon we will have to change our club name. Speaking of our fearless leader where is Renn?
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chick - maybe we should rename it "TE TROUBLE and then eventually, after a long time and a lot of worry, SUCCESS - yay!" Ren appears to be AWOL.
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SpecialK and MT: Big congratulations! So exciting!
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mia - thanks! I am alternating between being excited and nervous about things working out!
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Yeah, I hear ya! Can't blame you after everything you've been through..what's that saying? "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst". I wasn't that nervous for my NS BMX, because I truly believed everything was going to work out as planned...yeah things kinda changed after that, haha.
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What about survivor11? Did she have the TE replaced?
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mia - her last post was Dec. 6 - I didn't realize it had been that long. I sure hope she is OK. Now I am worried!
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I was wondering that too....
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You can see a link to Renn's blog at the end of her initial post at the top of this page. Also, if you click her name/avatar you can see that she has posted on a couple of threads, including this one, as of Jan 19.
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Sorry ladies - I meant survivor11 in answer to miasanta. I realize I stated above that I was wondering where ren was too!
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Just got a call from the Doc and looks like they will probably be taking the TEs out. I will see him tomorrow to discuss. Sorry to have to join this club....uggghhhh.....
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mkw1 - I've had my right TE since Nov 2010. I did ask my PS at some point if there was an issue with having TEs in so long, and she said no, so don't think there's much to the supposed 6 month rule. Also when I stopped fills in Jan 2011 due to infection on the left side, I also stopped fills on my right and that wasn't a problem. Didn't resume until July 2011 after a new TE was put in on the left side.
Beepop - sorry to hear that…let us know how your appt goes tomorrow.
SpecialK - congrats on getting an exchange date. I'm just a couple of weeks before you. And no, nothing will go wrong!! Positive thoughts.
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Mich_M - see mrochon's post above regarding the shaman, bells & incense - I say we go with those too alonf with our positive thoughts! After all this it doesn't seem possible that I am finally at this point!
bee - sorry that you're in the club! We are here to hold your hand through it.
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Hello ladiies,I am off to the plastic surgeon tomorrow.Here is the update,infection of right expander-surgery to remove it was June 3rd,2011.IT is time to talk about replacing it and the PS wants to also replace the left one which has given me no problems. Also they want to do the oomph surgery at the same time,anyone had this done before? When the expander is replaced how is the recovery time and pain level? Any leading question I should ask?
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BTW how do you update your signature line,I have tried...Cant figure it out
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psalms - click on your name, it will take you to your profile. Your sig line looks like it only fit a line but you can type a few lines in it. Click save! I'm also having an oopherectomy and tubes removed on the 3rd. Mines being done laproscopically. How is yours being done? I've had an uterine ablation done about a year and half ago. My dr says my recovery will be like that. Walk in the park! I was sore the first couple of days. But nit to sore where I couldn't get up and do stuff. I had some cramps. He assured me as long as there were no complications, it would be similar to that. My gyno has done thousands of these. He's a great dr! You'll want to know how many your dr has done. Are your tubes being removed too?
Bee - sorry for the removal but honestly you will get used to it and sleeping on that side will be so nice. Take advantage of it while it's out. You've found this group and we've all been there. Hang tough. :-)0 -
Hi psalms - Surgery recovery for having a new TE put in is pretty easy and not too much pain. Questions - Curious why it's been so long since the TE removal to put a new one it? Also, why would is your PS recommending removing the left side if it's healthy?
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I too am going through TE hell. I had a DMX on November 18th and had tissue expanders put in. I had both drains in for 5 weeks until my PS said enough was enough. He removed them both even though I was still putting out > 55 cc on each side daily.
My right side (the one with cancer) healed fine. My incision on the left side opened up and fluid started seeping out. My PS stitched me up but I still had leakage. He stitched me up some more and that seems to have held. I've got through weeks of stress, not to mention I haven't been able to lift my 16 month old since my original surgery back in November. I'm sick of it all. At my last appointment, my PS indicated that even if the incision healed, the skin would be too thin therefore I'd have to have the TE removed. I was about to scream. Why the heck did he bother to stitch me up if he is sure it won't heal properly.
I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has had an incision open up and then heal back without any problems. I keep hoping beyone hope that I will be able to save this without any more surgery. My kids need me!
Thanks ... Marcy
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Ladies, sorry I was off the boards, January has been a crazy busy month! Two road trips (one with DH, one with BFFs); two houseguests, at separate times (with two more coming next week), and still healing from TE surgery on Dec 1 and dealing with my continual incision healing issues. Oh and getting in my naps! I was feeling overwhlemed amd went off the grid computer-wise. But, I'm baaaack!
I have updated the surgey roll call at the top of this page... MTnester and Mich_M, you both have exchanges on the same day! YAY! SpecialK, I am SO happy to finally be adding your name to the exchange list! Anyone else with upcoming surgeries please let me know and I will add you. (I am not sure what happened to Debbiey, she has not posted since November and was slated for Jan 7 surgery...?)
Marcyk, I understand your frustration! I have had similar leaking issues. However, if your incision has healed I'm not sure why your PS is saying the TE will still need to be removed. 5 weeks is a really long time fr drains, your body is obviously producing a lot of fluid in responce to the "foreign object" that is the TE. How much did your PS fill you on the surgery table?
Psalms91: I agree, why would PS want to remove a TE that healed fine? Please let us know.
BeeBop: So sorry you are in "the club." We willhelp you through it!
AnnAlive, I hope you are feeling a bit better and focusing on rads!
Re: Survivor11: She has not posted here or on the pic forum in a long while, so I posted on her pic forum thread to see how she is doing. Will let you know if I hear from her!
Everyone else: hello!
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Thanks for the response Rennasus. On the surgery table I was filled to 500cc. I know that's a ton but I had been a 38DD. He took out 50cc at my first post-op visit. Since having the problems on my left side, he's removed another 180cc from the implant. Talk about lopsided.
I'm not really sure why all of a sudden he's concerned that the skin is going to be too thin. I guess he's not comfortable filling the implant if the skin is thin. I still have the stitches in so we have no idea what it really looks like yet. I'm not giving up yet but he did not sound optomistic. I'm back in his office on Friday. In the meantime, I'm spending $800/week on childcare because I can't lift my 16 month old. The anger has set in.
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jblcsw10: Some people are content to go flat, others just need to take a respite. I had a friend that developed septicemia and had to have her tissue expanders removed.She decided to go flat for a while. A couple of years later, she was psychologically and emotionally ready for surgery again. She had a successful reconstruction with implants and is quite pleased with the results.
I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery and a quick recovery
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I really have to tip my hate to all of you ladies with small children and babies. I don't know how you do it. My life is extremely crazy right now (dr appts, labs, family, kids, work, single mom) and I'm really feeling the pressure today.
Marcyk - My problems pale in comparison to you. I would seriously be loosing my mind if my children were still babies and I couldn't pick them up. I'm angry for you. I hope you get resolution to that soon! Did your doctor spare enough skin to be able to fill it to 500cc? That seems like an extraordinary amount. I was a 36D. My doc got in 200ccs on the table in my left, the right had zero.
Hi Renn - Welcome back! Do I understand about going off the grid. I usually do that but this time around you all are really keeping me sane this go around.
8 days til next surgery, 3 more doctor appointments, 3 more basketball games for my daughter, 1 more blood test (today hopefully!)...can't wait til next Friday. Friday afternoon...cause then I'll be in my own bed.
Michelle
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Ladies:
What has your PS recommended you to do regarding the use of supplements before surgery?
I was told to stop taking supplements two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.
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No words of advice or instruction from my PS on supplements and he knows that I take them. I have surgery scheduled in a month. I do not see him again until 3 days prior to the surgery. Were the instructions for specific supplements, or in general?
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The instructions were in general. The last surgery I had in October, I developed an infection. I wondered if stopping the supplements contributed to a weakened immune system. I have heard that there is a concern regarding vitamin e and fish oil thinning the blood and possibly causing a hematoma.
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The surgery scheduling sheet from my PS always says to discontinue diet meds, vitamins & herbal meds 2 weeks before & after surgery.
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After reading these recent posts, I realized why I am feeling so physically and mentally down again...besides the obvious. I havent' taken my Vitamin D. I took my last one two weeks ago and put the bottle in my bag so I would remember to call it in. Well I didn't remember... I just called it in and I'm do for my B12 shot. It has been seriously dificult to concentrate and I can't get out of bed. I'm back to feeling like I'm in a huge funk depression. Again I know I have a lot going on but I had a lot going on two weeks ago to.
So should I not take it until after surgery? Ugh, my pre-op is Monday.
Michelle
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Michelle: I added your surgery to our surgery roll call. Even tho it's not related to TE, we want to support you here! ;-)
Marcy: I'm so sorry about your childcare issues! Please, grill your PS on Friday. Go in armed with your questions so that when you leave you have answers that make sense to you. Bring someone with you to take notes if possible and to make sure all your questions are answered. Let us know if you need help coming up with specific grilling points!
I am curious what y'all are taking supplement-wise to assist in healing and/or general post-cancer. The only thing I take is D3...in addition to eating 100 gs of protein a day. OH my pin hole continues to heal! I need to post another photo on the pic forum. No leakage in almost a week! YAY!
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