TEs. A Beginner's Primer
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cherish- congratulations on getting those awful drains out! I borrowed a recliner from my mom. As soon as I got my drains out, 12 days post op, I slept back in bed with a wedge pillow so I was at a 45 degree angle. I also used a pillow on top of the wedge and two smaller rectangular travel pillows under each arm. Today is 5 weeks post op and I'm only sleeping with two pillows under my head, a smaller one under my lower back and the two small pillows under my arms. When I get a fill I need to prop myself up a little higher (more pillows) the first couple of days as it helps with the pressure feeling and is more comfortable.
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I hope it is ok to share this link. My husband got me one of these for after my BMX, and it has been a Godsend. I do put a pillow under my back for added softness, but the arms are perfect. They aslo protect me incase hubby tosses and turns. It seems expensive, but we do not have a spare bedroom, or room for a reclinter (very small house), and it has been well worth it. I use it for reading and watching tv also.
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This is what I used after lumpectomy, BMX, and exchange surgeries. It was very helpful.
myrecoverypal.net
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Thanks. Why couldn't I get it to appear that way?!
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I could not get the link I shared to look right either lol
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Janett - that looks like a Boppy with pockets! At $79.99 each for a RecoveryPal, you could probably ask a young mother if you could borrow her old Boppy that she no longer needs... they are huge baby shower gifts. (Just without the straps and the pockets.)
twoam - You have to highlight the URL address, then click on the "linked chain" icon at the top. Then you copy the address into the link box. Here is what it looks like when it is hyper-linked:
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Thank you Blessings!
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thanks all you lovelies that took the time to respond to my concerns. I kind of figured it was normal with the sternum pain. It was AWFUL. I know I'm still early in my recovery, I think I need to stay on the narcotics until I'm feeling better and not try to wean just yet like the nurse asked. I'm calling her tomorrow to let her know it's too soon for me. I doubled up on the norco, so I'm at 10 and not 5 and feel much better. I can at least drink out of a cup without wincing. I expect the TEs to be a nuisance and feel foreign, but I'm still in loads of pain in certain areas. The wearing the camisole under the bra is a great idea. There is so much rubbing going on that I think I will try that! I did pick up some spanx camisoles on haute look website last week hoping they'd give a seamless compression and be worn under the surgery chastity bra. The leachco pillow works just like that boppy looking one. I know there will be no side sleeping for a long time. So another question, sometimes they feel like they get really rock hard and other times they calm down. They literally feel like rocks. I'm assuming you all feel this too? Is that part of the muscle tightening or is that the actual expander that is so hard? I don't think I have any fill at all yet. Maybe a little on my non tumor side I do. One is slightly more mounded than the other inverted one.
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twoam- that looks comfortable! I wish I'd seen that before surgery. We probably spent just as much on all the different size pillows. I think we went a tad overboard with all the different pillows.....my DF wanted to make sure we had them if I needed them. I guess it's better to be over prepared, lol.
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another nagging question.....has anyone been told they had to do possible rads/chemo, one or both, after your expanders were put in? If so, how does that happen? My PS looked visually upset by that news and said he'd need to start claiming space before I start treatment. I won't know until next week. Won't radiated skin be hard to reconstruct, especially if there are ex panders in already? They found smaller rumors connected to the main one they removed. Still waiting for onco ##
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Holly - chemo makes no difference with expanders - some docs will fill during chemo, some don't and it will depend on how your white count does, and whether Neulasta is given. The thought is that introducing the needle for fills can cause an infection due to a compromised WBC. It does lengthen the time you have the expander if they have to slow down for chemo. As far as rads, that is another kettle of fish. Having multi-focal disease is not necessarily the problem - it is usually nodal status and whether masses were too close to the skin or chest wall. Some PS/RO will ask that the expanders be completely filled prior to rads, even overfilled, since rads skin tends to shrink up a bit, so fills actually go faster. Since rads comes after chemo, if you require it, there will be time to fill completely if you require both. Other docs will not do rads with an expanders in, some will only do lat flap recon after rads. A lot of it is doc prederence.
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HollyD, in response to the hardness, mine feel hard all the time and there is no "give" with my TE.. It actually feels hard and painful like when I was nursing and I knew it was time to nurse; that's really the best way I can describe it how they feel to me. It's worse after a fill and does seem to feel some better in a few days after the fill but they are always hard.
I also use a lot of pillows for sleeping. I have a big wedge pillow and then all sorts of other pillows around me. I am able to sleep on my side sometimes if my TEs cooperate but sometimes they seem to "pull" and being on my side is not comfortable. Play around with different pillow arrangements until you find something that works for you.
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Target has a great cami by Gilligan & O'Malley in their sleepwear section. It isn't just a shelf bra, it actually has support built in. I've found it to be the most comfortable for me and I've tried all sorts of styles. It says "built in shelf bra" but it is more than a shelf bra. Here's the link but the stores have them as well Target Cami
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Hopeellen I like it! Do you wear it out or just for sleep?
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HopeEllen - Thanks for sharing, love it!
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I wear the camis almost all the time under shirts and for sleeping because they give support but are still comfy.
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This is probably silly to post - prepare to roll your eyes! Today marks six weeks post BMX! Tomorrow I am un-grounded! Anyway, I can sleep on my side some nights, but I too have pain when my TEs meet! I'm still wearing the bras provided to me by the PS, and at night before I commandeer the sofa I roll up a dry washcloth and nestle it between the two. It's like giving them their own pillow - how considerate am I? I am so proud of all the brave ladies here who are venturing into their own uncharted territories and grateful for the gentle voices of reason who are willing to calm fears and encourage hearts!
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LOL, love your post BrighterDays, and well said. The last few days I feel as though I am finally coming out of a fog, taking control of the situation, and not letting it take control of me. I know I could not do this, if not for the guidance of the woman here.
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brighter, no rolling of eyes here! That's a very convenient and easy solution to a really common problem. Good job!
Holly, what Specialk said.
2 am hardness is probably your muscle having a bit of a spasm. See how it feels later on.
I missed who was still on Narcotics? But I know I did not wean myself off until more than 3 weeks. That was kinda the tipping point for me. I rapidly got better and by 4 and a half weeks was off the hard stuff.
Much love to all.
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you all are awesome. I am so happy I found this forum or I'd go INSANE. Thanks for the answers and reassurance. At least I know I'm not having heart attacks or that my body is rejecting my expanders and turning them to stone. The muscle spasms make them feel like these TEs are tiny babies doing somersaults in my chest, lol. They feel SO foreign.
HopeEllen buying one tomorrow, or three! Thank you!
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I did the same thing - tucked a really small pillow between the te so when side sleeping the 'top'one didnt move down onto the 'bottom' one causing discomfort. Really helped!
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Holly I missed your post but mine are like rocks most of the time but occasionally soften, like after a warm shower. Also, don't freak out if they seem to move. Mine made a strange click when I took a deep breath until I got another fill. I really thought something was wrong but apparently those little suckers can move around so don't fret. Pretty much everything I called my PS about in a panic they responded "that is perfectly normal"....
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Never thought about putting a rolled up washcloth between the two, but that's a great idea, BrighterDays, I will be trying that tonight.
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interesting....I could land a plane between my TE's. No washcloth needed when sleeping on my side, it would just fall on to the bed. My PS said he would move my implants closer together. I hope he can, I am always hitting them with my arms. I thought my PS said he stitched my TE's in so they wouldn't move much...is that possible?
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Mischief, My TEs are about 2 inches apart and my PS also plans to put them closer together. I hope it works!
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Juliecc & Mischief- Post-exchange, We can compare spaces between our girls!! My TEs seem to be farther apart than they were a month ago...yikes!! I keep trying to see how many fingers I can get between them and it is looking more like three will fit. Sure hope the PS can get the girls a bit closer!!
Ally
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Ally2345...I agree! Mine seem to be farther apart now than a month ago. But I could be wrong, I wish I had taken pictures. You and Juliecc have your exchanges soon, how exciting.. mine is scheduled for Sept., still have a month with these foreigners. Best of Luck!
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I couldn't even get a finger in between my TEs!!! Of course, I whined about that at every visit, and the PS patiently explained that all those defects would be fixed at Exchange.
One thing I did find was that several months after my last fill (I had the TEs in for almost 9 months), even though I could sleep on my side, my arms were crushing the fully-filled TEs and it was painful.
So I remembered how I slept after shoulder reconstruction, and always wrapped my arms around a big fluffy pillow clutched to my chest. That way there was no pressure from my arms resting on the TEs.
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Phew!!! Glad I am not the only one. Mine also seem to be getting farther apart, and I can definately fit 3 fingers inbetween them. I am afraid they are going to end up under my arms, but PS keeps saying that they are not going to go anywhere. Oddly, I am getting kind of attached to them. Comfort thing I suppose, amidst so much change. My exchange has been scheduled for Sept 9th. Excited, but definately apprehensive, and maybe a touch scared, though I would never admit that to anyone except you guys.
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