TE TROUBLE
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I joust bought the genie bra yesterday which I think is similar to the ahh bra. I step into it and pull it up. It is really comfy.
When I had my te's removed, I ordered my silicone ones from a cross dressing website for $20. They were great, but would get hot in the summer. So I took one of those fluffy things the surgical camisole came with, opened it up, removed the fluff and put the silicone one in. It was perfect.0 -
Cross posting this a few places to see if anyone has a similar experience.
I was supposed to have my first TE fill today, but the PS postponed because he didn't like that some of the skin/tissue on the lower part of my reconstructed breast seemed to have thickened. I knew thin skin was a risk, but hadn't heard of this. He didn't have any ideas about why it might be like this. He said he had one other patient with the same issue, and he was eventually able to do the fills and exchange sucessfully.
I did have difficulty with the TE when it was first put in--either a drainage issue, an infection, or a reaction to the matrix material. It did clear up with antibiotics and is not painful any longer.
Anyone else ever have something similar happen? The PS said he will see how the skin looks in 3 weeks and will try to do a fill then.0 -
I developed capsular contracture with my expanders, Making it tough to sleep and move around they are so tight. Has anyone experienced this or gone through a Capsulectomy? If so, how was it and did it happen again with permanent implants?
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specialk...glad we figured it out!
Sorry newbies can't help you out. Although my TE always felt tight and miserable, my ps never called it cc.0 -
I had contracture of scar tissue with my first right implant. He didn't call it a capsulectomy, but my PS said he removed scar tissue on that side when he replaced the implant. He has me on Singulair (off-label use) for 6 months to prevent it from recurring.
Kadia, hope you find someone with a similar issue that can help.
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Kadia: have not experienced thickening of the tissue. Maybe someone else will come along who can shed more light on this for you. Keep us posted!
Fluss: I love that you found fake foobs on a cross-dressing website! Very creative!
Bogie: I developed scar tissue around my troubled right TE but it was never referred to as contracture. Maybe it was? Are you wearing any kind of compression bra or vest? That definitely helps with the "feeling" of tightness.
DLL66: Singulair? really? That is interesting! How did your PS say that helps prevent scarring? Do you/did you have scar tissue build-up again?
It's been 2 1/2 months since my right TE was put back in and I can feel scar tissue developing again on the outer right side under the TE. I attribute this to my not having full range of motion on the right side. I really think not moving your arm normally for so long affects the way it heals. But who knows? I'm still trying to get this pinhole to close.
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Renn...I am determined that I am going to find something fun to do with them! And I keep getting meails from them. It is hysterical. There is quite the market out there.
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I had a TE removed and needed a breast form to wear until it is replaced. I purchased The ABC First Form, Style 916, is a lightly weighted leisure form made of memory foam that molds and contours to your body, and it costs approx $78. I really like it and would recommend it. See the link for the information
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Renn, sorry to hear your pinhole is still giving you issues.
Singulair is an anti-inflammatory, I believe. You can google singulair and contracture. He did not mention having to remove scar tissue again, but he made the pocket a little bigger.
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MTnester - how'd your appt go today?
Ren - can't believe that pinhole is still hanging around!! Persistent little bugger.
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rennasus, no compression bra was mentioned by my PS. I saw him today and he wants to give it another week before he determines if surgical removal of scar tissue over the expander is necessary. Hoping it softens on its own in time first.
DLL, I heard of Singulair with some promising outcomes. I may be joining you on that one in time.0 -
Renn that just sucks. I'm so sorry!
I tried on bras today. Uffda that was annoying and unproductive. I posted an update on my dr appointment today under the thread i started about the wrong implants bein used. I wish like hell someone would have sat me down from the get Go and made sure I fully understood that reconstruction is a long LONG process with much tweaking.0 -
Yay, specialk--you are getting close!
I am feeling pretty good. Ribs are a little sore. At post-op my PS asked if he beat me up too much & mentioned doing something with tape at the next visit & then getting me in a bra. I dunno.
I was able to ditch half the padding in my bra, so yay!
MT, sorry that you are still on the recon rollercoaster.
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Yes, I am getting even more nervous! I told the DH that I will have a list of questions for him to ask the PS since he will be long gone before I am conscious. Of course, one of the questions is what implant did you put in and WHY, thanks to MT!!!
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Hi everyone,
Been in lock-down with a large workload this past week and the same for next week. But I wanted to bounce in and say "Hello."
SpecialK - Your day is almost here! I am SO excited for you!
Ren - How are you doing? Is that irritating mini hole still there?
MT - I am so sorry you are going through this. And yes, I wish someone sat with me and told me how intensely long the reconstruction process can be. I thought it was going to be a breeze -- boy, was I wrong!
DLL - Sounds like you are doing well even though you are sore - yeah!
Fluff - How are you doing?
Here's to a good week ahead,
T
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Hello, ladies!
I had my operation on Feb9 , everything was good, they found a hole in TE and exchange it. I was dizzy and nausea for few days after, also overworked left arm and it hurted. Last Thursday PS extended left pocket a little,just 50 ml, but actually for the first time it was very painful. He wants to extend now every week. Redness still there...PS told me to massage it(both pockets) 3-4 times a day with good cream. I want everything organic, so I ordered Farmaceuticals, or whats its name.
SpecialK , tell me, is it normal still to feel nausea sometimes and IBS problems 6 weeks after chemo? I am losing weight and it scares me...Appetite is not good either. And I have to start TAMOXIFEN...today,,,
love and hugs to all of you, ladies....
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DLL - glad you're feeling well. When do you start expansions?
Olgah - I'm happy your surgery went well…..I hope your next fill doesn't hurt as much as the last one. Also hope your nausea improves.
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olgah - have you told your onc that you are still experiencing GI issues? I am already prone to this so for me it would be normal, but I am a little worried about you still having nausea and lower GI upset. Starting on Tamoxifen may actually compound this as it is messing with your hormones - so be careful. I would notify your doc and ask about this. Keep us posted, and just go slow on the fills.
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Glad you checked in, olgah.
Yep, I am doing well. Planning on going back to work Mon night. Originally my PS said he'd wait 3 weeks before doing expansions.
I woke right up after surgery & remember talking to my PS right after, but I was pretty hazy. Good idea to have your husband ask the questions after surgery, specialk.
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Can Herceptin make me feel this way? I also started eating healthy... could not before, because I don't have gall bladder...but onc told me about Saturated fat and I try to avoid it....
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olgah...herceptin messes with my intestinal system. I get it every three weeks now and for about a week, it is one way or the other. Also, I have queasiness for about a week off and on. I had them change my infusion from 30 minutes to 90 and that helped with the queasiness It did not really affecg my appetite though.
Special K-your PS should give you a card that has the exact kind of implants that you get that you can keep with you. In my case, it was supposed to be int he folder of stuff that I was sent home with. It was not, so he doesn't know if the hospital tossed it by mistake or what, but he had a copy. That is what I have now also. I think you are supposed to keep it around in case there is a recall or problem.0 -
Thank you, ladies! have a good Sunday!
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fluff - My PS will have a copy of the information in my file in his office, that is how I got my expander card information. Because he won't decide what he is doing until the surgery, and will then be gone by the time I wake up, I can't control the cards. I will ask about this in pre-op though and reiterate that I want the cards. This is the same hospital as my BMX and expander replacement and they have never given me cards for either of those.
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i never got the TE cards as he told me they weren't permanent. But from my understanding, you absolutely should have the implant card. He keeps a copy also.
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I have a whole collection of implant cards.
I'm sure I'll get another one from my PS in one of my next visits. Probably safer that way so I don't lose it in the anesthesia haze at the hospital.0 -
fluff - I got a copy of my TE cards from him because I wanted the size, style info for whippetmom when I was asking about final size for implants. I put the copy in my binder. They also gave me cards for showing the TSA with TE info for when I flew. I was given the port card (like a credit card with serial # and info) in the hospital, it was placed during my BMX, and it would not be considered permanent either - weird, huh?
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SpecialK, I got my chemo port card in the hospital, but never received my TE cards either. Hmmm...
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dll - your PS should have the it in your file. Mine had the actual pre-printed info, they just made me a quick copy for my own files.
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I received cards with each TE (3 total) when I left the hospital after surgery, so was surprised when I didn't get them after implant surgery….but they arrived in the mail the week after surgery. It also came a copy of the registration info that is sent to the manufacturer…so if there's a recall, etc, they can contact the patients.
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I dont have a port card! Never even thought about that. Hmmmmi am going to check. On the te's he just highlighted the ones i had on the description page so i had something, but nothing official.
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