TE TROUBLE
Comments
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Olgah, I had 2 separate latissimus flaps done. The surgeries were about 2.5 hours each & only 2 nights in the hospital. I was back to work in 2 weeks each time.
Psalms, good luck at your appt. Hope the TE is okay.
So sorry about your grandpa, chickadee.
Good luck getting a second opinion, mrochon.
I feel like I have my own cheering squad at my PS' office now. The last 2 visits, his RN had another patient, but made a point to come in & check & see how things were going.
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Olgah- I had no idea the FLAP operation was so long.... Yes, it is a big surgery. Have you seen another doctor for a different opinion?
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DL66- So glad to hear those procedures were shorter than what Olgah has been reading....
Your PS office sounds great....0 -
Oh, I am reading here, DIEP 2011-2012, and PS told me yesterday... he did not mentioned latissimus flat...what is it? Trying to getappointment for another opinion...I am in NC
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DLL, did they put TE during latissimus flap?
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Olgah, latissimus flap involves moving the big muscle with a flap of skin from your back though your armpit & then stitching it onto the chest.
I had a lat flap with TEs placed & then a second lat flap with implants, as I had a skin failure on my non-radiated side.
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I did not have radiation, but my skin on the left TE fails...Right is OK, big and round.PS thought to do silicon implant on the right and FLAP on the left...He told me FLAP can be only one, but here I see it is done bilaterally. He told me , that FLAP on the stomach is better, because they don't remove the muscle. What I read on DIEP2011 is different. Now it seems to me, that latissimus is better, even removing muscle. He does not do it. I found only 3 specialists in NC doing flaps. Go for the second opinion .
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I think a second opinion would be a good idea, just to know what other options are available, olgah. There's a big thread on Latissimus Dorsi in the Reconstruction forum that will give you more info.
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Thank you, DLL!
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Paranoia: I never considered myself a paranoid person before but with all the TE trouble I've had, I've turned into one. I had my TE replacement almost 6 weeks ago. So far, so good but I feel like I'm just waiting for it to start leaking again. Do you ever stop worrying? I haven't had a fill yet and I'm sure my paranoia level will go way up when I do.
Since I'm one of the lucky few who have a very high output of fluid, I'm wondering if I should expect the same when I get rid of these TEs and finally get permanent implants. Does your body react the same way to the implants? I'm hoping I'll get to that point one day and with small kids at home, I need to do a lot of planning ahead.
Thanks ... Marcyk
P.S. Is anyone out there in the Boston area? I'd love to find some support locally.
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Special K, so sorry about your friend. I lost a dear friend/sweet angel to BC and I feel like she's the reason I went for that mammo and this whole thing started, but she SAVED me!
Olgah, I'm so sorry for your troubles with this whole reconstruction process. It's amazing what we have all gone through.
Chick - Sorry about your grandpa:((
Marcy - good to hear from you. I feel like I'm starting to come out of the worrying stage. I was driving myself nuts, worrying about every little thing. Every itch, every muscle spasm, red areas, rashes. Somehow I just pulled out of it and moved on (thank goodness). I think it's completely normal, what you're feeling. From what I understand, our bodies accept the implants much more than these TE's. My friend told me that even on the hospital ride home after the exchange you can tell how much your body is relieved with the implants. Drains? Probably, but who cares? Once we get over that fabulous exchange hurdle, it will be such a relief! I feel ya, sister!
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marcy - after you have reached maximum fill on the TE's your plastic surgeon should advise you on a waiting period until your exchange surgery, this allows the pocket to "set" if you will. I filled very slowly so I only waited about 6 weeks, but some PS like 3 months. When you have your exchange surgery, unless you have extensive scar tissue removal, the PS is just placing the implant in that set pocket, with some adjustments. It does not seem to promote a great deal of fluid production. Some PS do not place drains, but some do. I had one on the left (my problem side) but only because he excavated a lot in there. My surgery was on a Fri and the drain came out by the following Tues because it was not producing. He had placed it as a precaution. The reason for scar tissue removal was that when my left TE was finally replaced after 7 months being out, he did not want to disturb the thinned out skin. It was another 8 months before I exchanged to implants so the skin healed by then.
momof3 - thanks for your thoughts for my friend. She had BC 13 years ago, had 10 years, then was dx with uterine CA. I was DX about a year later and she supported me all along. We traded the "thinking of you" cards. Less than a year ago she was dx with mets. She was so concerned that it would scare me, she kept reassuring me that this would not happen to me. The whole deal is just so sad.
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Olgah....you might read through the micro fat grafting thread and see if there is a doc near you that could create foobs from the at grafting. It uses your own fat. Ibeleive you have to stay reasonably small, but it is far less invasive. There are not tons of doctors that do it and you would have to make sure your insurance would cover it. Many dont.
Chick....now I am really nervous for my nipple creation and fat grafting surgery on the 30th. My implans had to be 25-50 cc's smaller than we planned due to the fact that the one area was so thin skinned he was worried he could cause amage trying to put in the bigger ones. He is planning to fat graft around that area. I dont want things to go wrong again! He will also fill in the upper pole area, although he said that may take a couple of shots to get to where we want it.0 -
Fluff I didn't mean to scare you! If I understood my PS right there wasn't a concern, he just couldn't get the fat to stay in place without the alloderm grafting. I definetly have fat grafting in the pole area. My dimple is returning, it is along the scar line so I have a feeling I am going to have to learn to love it.
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Tatina: this guy and I were brokers together on Wall St and we lost touch around 5 years ago. When I went to hunt him down online that is the pic I found!!!!! I loved it! It was so cute! In my current state of breastless affairs I was not compelled to reach out to him just yet but as you know, I took the pic!
Psalms: Best of luck tomorrow. Hysterectomy as well? Wow, that is a lot to go through. I know a few women who have been there. I wish you the best. When my TE was removed from being badly infected, I had to pack an open wound for several months. I offer this information just so you won't be surprised at what ends up happening once it is removed. God help us!!!!
Olgah: I just wanted to say that I understand how you feel about the 12 hour surgery and 5 days in the hospital. Nothing is guaranteed and that is a long, long surgery. I am with you on that one! All I can think is what if there are complications? Then what? More surgery...ugh. ...I suffer from perceived inertia just thinking about it!
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Second opinion is scheduled! Its not until May 21st but that's ok. I'll have at least two more fills before then. I'm hoping I'll see some changes. My scar tissue is getting really bad on the right. It's really getting me worried. I'll have more time to gather questions for my dr and be able to compare with what this other dr says. I massaged my chest with Shea butter. I have a whole jar I forgot about.
Workout today was a *bleeeeep*! 100 lunges, 75 low squats with weights, 75 double leg raises and other stuff. I'm hoping I'm past the excruciating muscle soreness phase. I'll find out tomorrow...
Olgah, I hope you get some answers.
Psalms, hang in there. Are you having a complete hysterectomy?
Goodnight ladies, took 1/2 a Xanax. Looking forward to solid sleep tonight.
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Olgah - The ladies on the post like DL666 and Fluff gave some great ideas. With breast reconstruction, I think it's all about "hope" and a great PS that can take you to that finish line.
Renn - sent you a PM
Michelle - so happy you got the second opinion scheduled!
Marcy - you ask if the paranoia will ever go away? For me, it's now a combination of post traumatic tissue expander disorder and "high alert."
Waiting to hear back from my PS office about my May exchange surgery date.....pacing the floor so much in between computer work I'm wearing out my shoes!
Take care everyone,
T
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Hi guys: I am new to this and welcome any responses that anyone can give me. My TE has been in place since January 31, 2012. Unfortunately a month later while at work an explosion occurred. Yep you guessed it. There was fluid everywhere. The funny thing is that the day before I had gone to my PS and told him "I feel somthing gushy right here and a lot of pressure" but he claimed it was normal. Here is the Chief PS of two major hospitals here in New York. Although, you really couldn't see anything and the redness was minimal and there was no fever after a three day course of antibiodics because I had had fever for two days....I feel he should have taken a closer look to what I was claiming was gushy. Needless to say where it was gushy it exploded. It has now been a month, they still have been unable to put anymore fluid in my TE, it is still draining through the hole, although minimal, second course of antis and two yeast infections later and the hole is still open. What do you think is going to happen? Will it ever close? Is it better to just have it removed and start all over again? I am so nervous about this and frankly this entire ordeal began in July, 2011 and I have spoke to no one that knows what I am going through or even has someone that knows what I am going through, help me please.
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Alilou, how big is the hole? If there is no infection, it is quite possible you may be able to keep the TE & wait for the hole to close. You are in the right thread.
Tatina, excited for you to get your exchange date!
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It is not a pin hole
it is basically slightly larger than this smiley face - lol. It is not draining a lot but it is still draining. There is no fever, no redness, no pain just the stupid draining. PS basically did say he preferred to try and see is close. There is no tunnel anymore it is just a pocket but Lord....help me if I feel like my life will never be doctorless or normal again. Thank you so much for your response. I see the PS again on the 19th hope he can at least tell me its better or looking good or whatever - lol
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Good luck, alilou! Hope it closes up soon.
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Thanks - Me too.
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Ladies: For those of you who had to have a te replacement because of a previous infection, how long did the PS waited before he started to fill the te?
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mkw - I had my left TE replaced for skin healing issues, not infection. My PS did not start fills until about 5-6 weeks after the replacement, and we went very slowly - 25cc's per fill.
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mkw- I am going through a situation with my TE right now but it hasn't been removed. I expect might be said to me on Monday when I return to the PS and he sees that the hole is still there and draining. But I do love your Biblical Quote.
Amen sister.
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Okay, got my call....my exchange to implants is on May 29. The nerves are kicking in!
Alilou-my opening was caused by an infection and greenish liquid was oozing out (sorry to be gross). Because I had an infection, my TE had to come out. There are some ladies, though, who have an opening but no infection. More info will come your way.....sorry you are dealing with this!
MK1 - my TE was replaced a little under 3 months after it was removed. The fills started 4 weeks later.
SpecialK- how are you feeling with your skin? Has the reaction gone away?
Bye for now,
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tatina - all is well with the skin, rash is completely gone. You are a sweetie to ask. Yay for the surgery date - now ren has to add your date to the top list! You are going to be so happy!
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Alilou: I pray that you do not have an infection and that your Plastic Surgeon has wisdom to treat the problem you are experiencing, but whatever we have to go through, The LORD is an ever present help in time of trouble. Please keep me updated.
Special K: 25 cc each filling? Your patience is an inspiration to me.
Tatina: I rejoice that you are going to get your implants.
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mkw - I was patient because it was prudent. I had the left TE rupture through the skin which resulted in an emergency surgery, 2 more surgeries within the next month to try to keep that TE inside my compromised skin and then finally the TE removed. It made sense to go very slowly so as not to test that poor skin! Where the skin failed was not on a suture line, or incision where most ladies have trouble, it split open on the face of the breast where I had necrosis. I am happy to say all is now well and the exchange appears successful! From the time of BMX to exchange was 16 months.
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Tatino - thanks for your response. Not gross...reality. My fluid is clear sometimes a bit yellow but check it last night when I got home from work I did the regular change the dressings. Not much fluid on the dressing so I was excited right? Noticed something black in the hole. Got closer I think the expander has moved and is now blocking the hole. New dilema....So I have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday.
Do you think this should be a reason for me to call the doctor and see him sooner?
Congrats on your surgery.,....nerves understandable but I am happy you are moving along.
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