TE TROUBLE
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red - my incisions are IMF so the band underneath hurt me after all the different surgeries. I mostly wore a soft cotton camisole without the shelf thing on the inside.
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Well, guess I'm going to need to get on the surgery schedule here. The TE is coming out but a new one is going in. My PS thinks he can clean everything out and then put a smaller TE in so that he has more skin to work with. This way, he can be sure that my incision closes up this time. I'm not scheduled yet but it looks like about 3 weeks from now. Really bummed at the prospect of another drain after having mine for 5 weeks the first time. The only good news is that I've got the ok to lift my precious baby until after the surgery. Guess it's good to find the silver lining.
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Chick and special k...I read somewhere that the pecs are usually laying against the chest wall doing their thing and providing support for uprightness. When they move them around through surgies or lift them up for the implants, it changes how well they do that job.
Special k-A hospial here has a spirit of women program and they have excellent massage therapists. I went to one who did a full body massage as if I were pregnant, so no pressure on the expanders. She focused on shoulders and neck. It was fabulous.0 -
Marcy...so glad you get to snuggle your little one!
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fluff - I feel like I want an underwire, so I may just get one. It is hard to figure out what size to get though. What would fit me now will probably be too big afterward. I was thinking of going over to Moffitt Cancer Center (I got my LE PT there, all my docs came from there but are now in private practice) because they have an alternative center for acupuncture, massage, yoga and nutrition. I figure they must have a way to accomodate the TE's and do a massage. I think it is going to hurt until I exchange and anything that would ease that is GOOD!
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I had to wear the surgical bra for a month as he lipo'd under my arms. Then he let me introdruce a wide sided sports bra. I wore that for another month. When I saw him a couple of weeks ago, he was happy and he said he doesnt care what I wear now....nothing, wire or no wire. Some underwires are just not comfortable yet. I really like nothing, but mine are not that big. I like throwing on a cami and being ready to go!
That massage was the best ever!0 -
Sunder mom, yea for your fill! I can relate to it taking forever. But...you'll get there!
I also have been working on my posture, especially while in sitting at my desk at work. I've had upper back pain throughout the expansions. It's a combination of strange sleeping positions, muscle strain, and slouching to hide my formerly lopsided chest. Even lopsided I never wore a bra. I have no clue what my PS will put me in after exchange.
I went out tonight and bought granny panties two sizes too big, and some oversized lounge pants. I read on hystersisters that they will be more comfy after surgery. I'm honestly freaking a little about that half of my operation. Why? Because I'm good at rreaking out evidently....0 -
Marcy, I'm sorry about you losing thevTE, I hope you are able to get itvswappedvoutblike your dr hopes. A big woohoo to snuggling your baby!
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Such good news hearing that so many of you are getting fills after having so much trouble, and exchanges too! Yippee!
Marcy, let me know when you know your surgery date. I put in a placeholder for you on the schedule above.
That is so interesting that repositioning the pec muscle affects our posture. Makes complete sense!
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Marcy - glad to hear you can lift your little one!!
Re bras - Since getting TEs I only wore a bra/prosthesis for a few months during the time after my infected TE was removed until I got a replacement. I forgot to ask the PS what she'd suggest for a bra post implants….I'll have to ask her come surgery time. I've read that some PS' are very strict about 24/7 bra support after exchange for may weeks, while others say it doesn't matter if you wear one or not. I'd be happy if I never had to wear a bra again.
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Hi, just lost my L TE from an infection. I was on IV abx, just starting orals. I won't even plan on replacing it til I finish chemo. They treated it very agressively, I was in the hospital the day I went in to de my ps. Had a fever and slight swelling. Dissappointed, but will get through it. Swapped abx when culture came back negative for MRSA. They really did not mess around. Feel confident when I do go back, that it will work. Btw. My right one is just fine
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Hi Moonflwr912 - sorry you're joining the TE trouble group. Hope you're feeling better now that the TE has been removed. Good luck with your chemo. Eventually you'll have the TE replaced and I'm sure all will go well….this is but a bump on road.
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Hey gals, so I went back to the PS again this past week for another fill and they still could not find port for my left side. Apparently there are two types of ports. One magnetic and the other one is much like the port that you would have underneath your skin for chemo and that is the one that I have. The referred me then to mammography to have an ultrasound. But in order for them to do the ultrasound, they had to do a mammogram first and let me tell ya, it didn't tickle one bit! Talk about sore! Ouch!! They wanted to get a picture from the top looking down and a side view to see if they could see the port before sending me to ultrasound. Well, they didn't see a damn thing. Went to ultrasound and nothing. Where would it migrate? They did the ultrasound all over my left side and didn't see anything suspicious at all! The doc told me that this may be it for me. I'm at 320cc's but I was hoping for 400! It will be interesting to see what the PS has to say at my next appt. I'm disappointed.
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Kim....that is so bizarre. Regarding exchange, I was filled to 425. Ps took in three sizes. He planned to put in 450 but my skin was too thin on infection side so had to settle for 425. He is going to fat graft around it some in a month or so. They can go bigger if the pocket works. Tell him to take in a couple bigger sizes.
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Mich_M: There is a great thread about bras and sizing if you haven't seen it yet called "Bras 101: The Great Post-Exchange Debate"
Moonflwr912: Sorry to hear you lost the TE. Good you got it out and can start to heal. There will be time post-chemo to get back on the TE Train! ;-) Stay well.
Kim40: That IS crazy that they can't find the fill port! But like Fluff says, it doesn't mean your PS can't still go a little bigger at exchange. Discuss this in detail with your doc, let him know your preference is to be a bit bigger if he can possibly manage it! And I cannot imagine having a mammo with my TEs!
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Kim - holy cow, I can't believe they couldn't find the port. How weird is that?? Must be tucked under the TE somewhere. That mammo must have killed!! I hope you're able to still get the implant size you want.
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Just checking in post TE removal. I immediately felt relief. The surgery was late Friday afternoon and I am still in the hospital! I have been sick, even with the anti-nausea meds they gave with the anesthesia and the patch behind my ear. Not sure why because I had no trouble after the BMX. Go figure, that's just the way things have been going for me lately. I am feeling much better now and will go home in the morning.
Best of luck to all the other ladies with upcoming surgeries!0 -
bee - glad you have the TE out and are feeling better, but sorry that you are still in the hospital!
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SpecialK- I did massage when I was waiting for my exchange and she had a wedge with holes cut out for the breasts which worked for my expanders. I got a lot of relief from the massages.
Mrochon- I waited till after my ooph so I could take an AI instead of Tamoxifen.
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ginger - thanks - that is what I need to find. I received a gift card from my co-workers after I was diagnosed for a local spa. I should call them and ask about this. I was not happy with them before chemo when I called to have my acrylic nails removed and they refused because they did not want the liability of working on a cancer patient! Nice, huh? But I have the gift card, so...
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Hi ladies, I went to push the dishwasher soap with my hand on this side of the impact, and realized I have no power, cuz I can feel my pecs....ouch,...how long will this last?
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I'm back from wine country...I'm pooped! Showed my daughter Sonoma and bought a sticker for the back window of the car and a university coffee mug. So it's official now...that's where she's going. A car sticker is nothing to play with. The stickiness lasts forever!
Day trips still tire me out.
Ginger - I though AIs were course of action too after an oopherectomy.
Red - did you have your TE removed or put back? I was very week for about three after my Tae being placed back in. I drive a stick. My daughter shifted for me for awhile. I had to work on stretching and doing strength exercises all over again. But that surgery was pretty involved. I had alot of scar tissue that was cut out. It was pretty tender.
Michelle0 -
More hon,
It will be two weeks on Wednesday since having the te. My 1st fill will have then, although, I'm pretty sure he must have filled bout 50/100 at time of surgery.
I was shocked lat night how much less power I have on that side.
When should I start stretching, I still have some staples near the armpit which will be removed next week.
What oils or lotions are u putting on your te to facilitate stretching of the skin?0 -
More hone=mrochon iPad spelling mistake
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Rednirah...i have the wost time typing on my IPad. Skip letters, words jumbled together, etc.
Mrochon... My son played a basketball tournament at Sonoma state a few yeas ago. We had a ball traveling all over the region by day and then catching up to watch the games at night. Did a couples mud soak and massage and giggled all the way through it. Had mud in places I didnt think mud could get0 -
mrochon - so now for sure we are taking a wine country trip - awesome!
red - I still have diminished strength, especially hand strength. Did your surgeon give you any restrictions on exercise, or want you to wait a specific length of time? Otherwise, just go slow. I used cocoa butter but keep it away from your incision site until it is fully healed. I used it years ago when I was pregnant to keep from having stretch marks accross the belly - worked beautifully. It keeps that skin nice and moist. Some have also used coconut oil or Vit E oil.
fluff - that is exactly why I am not getting in the mud, lol!
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Hi ladies,
These last few days have been a struggle. I'm in Acton, Ca, cheering on my dog and husband in a tournament. The windy, cold weather has given me TE MUSCLE spasms and restful nights have been nonexistent. Leaving for home late this afternoon and I am counting the hours.
In between the discomfort I'm wiping away tears of frustration..... "There's no place like home!"
Hugs,
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tatina - ahhh, sorry you are uncomfortable! Do you have any muscle relaxers? Or possible some heat? Can you run to the grocery store and get one of those Thermacare hot pads, the one time use ones? At least for the ride home it might help.
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Hi SpecialK,
Just took a muscle relaxer....thanks for the hotpad tip!
Hugs,
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tatina - those disposable hot things are the bomb! I use them all over, if my neck or back hurts.
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