TE TROUBLE
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Ok Ladies we need a chorus of "it's a small world"...one of our newest members, hale (otherwise known as Michelle #3...man are you all named Michelle
) and I have the EXACT SAME DOCTORS! Not just one, not just two, but all 3! BS, MO, and PS. Also amusing to me is that we BOTH had leaky TE's. I think maybe our PS needs to go back to TE school! Just kidding, but I do find it a little odd.0 -
Thanks for all the feedback on the AND. I was beginning to think it was just me. So far no lymphedema in the arm, but possibly in the trunk area. I have been having more swelling under my arm and they are not sure if it is LE or swelling from radiation (only 9 more left, yay!). I'll be going to the LE therapist next week. And now I also have this pain just at the edge of my incision on the right (same side as the AND) that when I touch it sends shooting pains through the incision. Not sure what that's all about
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flintviolet - prayers are always welcomed. thank you.
tatina - thank you......I know that I will fine and I thank God for the great people I have found here that although recently have helped me through this TE problem.
Hugs right back at you.
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Lizzie,that is the funniest avatar ever! OMG! its hilarious,that poor cat. Shae,you know I got my drains out fairly quick,I was extremely careful with germs and I made sure that I caved them in for suction and that I pinned them to the bottom of my pants legs inside so they wouldnt get caught on anything and I also walked a couple of blocks everyday to make sure my body got the fluid moving. Ask your dr what he/she thinks on that. i am feeling much better,everyone, I am doing hot/cold therapy in my shower just a few minutes hot water and few minutes cold water,dont get all crazy like my boyfriend who sat in a hot bath and then took a cold shower and got a cold virus. He wanted to do hot/cold therapy for his sore muscles but some people just shouldnt try to take care of themselves...LOL..so most everything is better,I have a little bit feeling like crutches under my arms and some weird sensations of pulling occasionally but mostly feeling better til next fill. Probably take some Tyco#3 and flexeril and stay home after that!
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Alilou. When is your surgery? I am sorry that the TE has to come out. Time will go quick and soon you will b ready for a TE to go back again.
My prayers are also with you.
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Are there any swimsuits we can wear with TE? I been a baaadd patient again, I had a glass of wine at dinner Sat and then we tried to have sex. I didnt remember it being that much work! Kinda of like a party,lots of work ..business out front,party out back..lol
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Chick - same thing happened to me with another lady on the boards! We have the same BS, PS, MO and...OBGYN! Not to mention our daughters are the same age, both graduating, both cheerleaders at rival highschools here and their birthdays are close and almost were going to be going to the same colleges! lol She lives 3 miles from me. Small world, eh?
Layla...lol!
I don't remember where I read this maybe here? Can TEs be placed under the muscle or just under the skin?
Michelle0 -
mrochon - my TE were under the muscle. My skin was so thin they would have been hanging down to my knees!
beebop - sounds like something is pressing on a nerve - could be swelling from rads, or just swelling in general.
layla - I just wore a black one piece bathing suit with bigger cups than I normally wore. I actually bought it when I only had the right TE because it had removable pads in the cups so I could put a prosthetic in there on the left side.
alilou - sorry the TE has to come out, this is a process for us challenged ladies - take it one day at a time, all you can do. Just know we have all walked this road, so we are here when you need us.
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It would suck to have fake boobs after all this and have them still sag...lol! ;-) So it's ok if the TE is under the skin?
Michelle0 -
mrochon - I don't know of anyone doing that - are yours?
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So sorry that both olgah & alilou will be losing TEs.
Alilou, the in-office removal is pretty quick & simple.
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I don't 'feel' anything but the TE under my skin. Unless it's a thin sliver of muscle over it. I just feel skin and then the TE. I can pinpoint the port just by touch.
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mrochon - that was the same for me, I could feel little bubbles and wrinkles - my pec muscles are exceedingly thin (genetically according to PS) but the TE was underneath them. If your muscle relaxers work when you have a fill the TE must be under there. The heavier they get with fills I don't skin alone could hold them in place.
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Muscle relaxers don't really do anything but help put me to sleep sometimes. I usually take an ibuprofen after. The tenseness I'll feel is behind the TE against the chest wall. Hmmmm, I'll ask him but maybe they are just thin.
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I just noticed weird looking black spot on the insicion under this glue , he covered leakage with... Yesterday I called the office, nurce told me nothing doctor can do till operation, which is Wednesday...I am so afraid, that something happens... did not sleep well at all... Please, ladies, tell me I will be OK....
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Olgah-It will be OK. You may have to take a detour to get where you wanted,but it will be OK. Saying prayers for all those having surgery soon.
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thank you, Chikadee!
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Had a fun time in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day, and it was great meeting Lago and spending the afternoon together. Tried out a restaurant that neither of us had been too and it was crazy busy but delicious and lots of energy.
Now.....one and done! Last herceptin getting ready to go in. The safety net will be gone.0 -
fluff - I know what you mean about the safety net - it was weirdly hard to walk away from the last Herceptin too, but you will adjust. Are you taking tamox/AI for your ER+? That is your new safety net.
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Yes I am....I was on pristiq to help with hot flashes....wea ed myself off in January. Now that the weather is hot, it is all terrible again. i am going back, only this time trying effexor, since there is a generic and it is cheaper. Hope it helps!
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Olgah - EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!
Well, while on the topic of armpit hair over the last few days, I lifted my arms in front of a magnifying mirror to find the end of my MX scar on the right side had a black little dot (underneath my arm). As if someone got a ballpoint pen and dabbed at it. I never saw it before but it's probably always been there. Just called the doc's office (I know it's nothing but being on TE high alert you call) and told them there was no redness, pain, or anything unusual just except for a dot.
The nurse said it was nothing. But knowing me, I'll keep an eye on it three times a day........
T
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Thank you, Tatina...I've noticed, that your PS started expanding about 4 weeks after last operation, right? My PS did it a week after my last exchange operation, just 50 ml, but...I think, may be it is a reason it did go wrong?Why did not he let me heal? Now after removal I am going to wait , like 9 months-finish my Herceptin,finish my Christmas work and then decide what to do and with whom. I still have right TE ,expanded till full, he told me , tomorrow he cannot exchange it to implant, because, if I have an infection, it can get to the good one- the right one...
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Hi Olgah,
Yes, my fills started about 4 weeks after the surgery. There are so many "questions" surrounding your TE, Olgah. For one, was an infection there when you had the first TE? The most important thing is that the infected TE is coming out now, you are going to heal, finish your Herceptin, and do your Christmas work. While you do all this, you can visit different plastic surgeons and figure out what is the best reconstruction for you. You will get there, Olgah.....we all will!
Hugs,
T
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I guess, I like mysteries...
problems are my hobby...makes my life more exciting... I hope I find some answers tomorrow...hugs , Olga
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Hi ladies,
Olgah I'm so sorry you're having to go through all of this. Take baby steps and get yourself well and healthy. I wish we didn't need to put the tata's back on. It's such a ridiculous process.
I saw my PS yesterday. I actually saw her at the PGA golf tournament that was here in Palm Harbor this past Saturday. We had a couple of beers together and followed Sergio Garcia around for a while. She is so cute. Anyway, at my appt yesterday she said everything looks great. The left TE has been in for almost a YEAR! It's so hard, and smaller than the right one that was newly replaced in November. She said that we are on target for exchange surgery in May. She will put in a slightly larger implant in the right one to even them up. Said she has plenty of skin to work with and I should be a small "C" cup. I see her once more in April, then we set the date for May.
Hugs and prayers to those having problems - you are most definitely in the right place! These ladies ROCK.
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momof3 - don't worry, my right one was in for 16 months, but it looks fine and matches the left one that was in for a mere 9 months! They are differing sized implants by 50cc's, with the larger 650cc one on the right. I am a full C/small D - yikes! Do you find it interesting when your identity as a patient gets mixed with your regular life - that has happened to me too!
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Alilou and Olgah - so sorry to hear about what you are going through. It is true that you feel better once it is out. In fact, I had no idea I was feeling physically bad until it was out and my body felt so much better. Regardless - still hard and scary to go through all of this. I am so thankful we all found each other to help get through, as I can honestly say, I'd be lost without you all!
Ren - thank you for starting this thread
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I truly hate to hear about all the TE problems! Hope everyone can get them cleared up and back on the road to exchange! Mine only had a leak and since replacement 2/8 no problems. (pushed back my fills and exchange date..but moving forward again and hoping for end of April exchange!)
I slept in a recliner for several weeks after BMX..but I have been in bed ever since - I used a wedge pillow for months but it went from my head to my feet once the chemo SE of swelling took over my legs/ankles..UGH!!
SpecialK: Thanks for clearing up the shaving issue in regards to AND..obviously that would make instrx different. I was worried I was doing something I shouldn't be..well that I will be once hair starts growing again.
Praying all goes well for those with surgery soon!
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hale - Strangely, I had to keep shaving my legs, although not as often, during chemo. I thought this was quite unfair! What I have noticed though, is that the leg and underarm hair has remained fine and does not grow as quickly, so I do shave less frequently. I don't know if the combination of Herceptin and Femara is to blame, but it is interesting.
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Special K - it was weird! But my neighbor is engaged to the office manager of the PS's office and they hang out with my PS all the time. So we will probably run into one another from time to time. I like it, though. It strengthens our relationship, and I feel like I trust her even more. Good to know that it's OK if the TE's are a different size. They will be evened out once exchange time comes, I hope.
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