TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
-
I had nipple sparing surgery. I didn't think my recovery was bad but I was able to take Percocet. I took it faithfully for a week and then tapered off. Then I felt good on Tylenol. Although I started having some rib pains after I started getting fills. I was pretty useless until my drains come out and even then it took some time to get my range of motion back. It took me about 3 weeks before I could get anything from the top shelf of the fridge. Even opening a car door was hard for about 2 weeks. You have a lot of kids to get ready for school in the morning, so I hope you have some help. I hope you will not be miserable for a month. Maybe you can get some prescription strength Tylenol??
0 -
I was sooooooo mad when they put me in my room. I was very determined to go pee by myself. I cried when they had to help me off the chair. Like a total meltdown. I cried again when I couldnt turn the doorknob, and again when I couldnt push that damn lever to flush the toilet. I was so mad. When I got home, I could not lift a coffee cup. I cant imagine having to take care of children during that. Bless your heart. Makes me feel so sad.
0 -
Aviva...yeah my PS said fill til I like then he will do one more fill (to make it look more natural he says)....just want it all done already...patience has never been my strong suit...
0 -
hello ladies
I have been trying to read through all the posts as I am having my Tissue Expanders placed in Sept and as I have been thinking a lot about it and still have some questions. I do have a call into my PS but he is on holidays.
If anyone can answer the following questions, I would be very grateful.
A little background in me, I had a bmx Feb 2013, 6 rounds of chemo and 16 rounds of rads completed Sept 2013 Went to a ps when my skin was still recovering and he said I needed Tram Flap. As this is such a big surgery I decided to see if my skin would get any better. It did and my rad oncologist sent me to another ps in May and he said my skin was very good and I could have TE placed in Sept.
I was so excited that I forgot to ask some important questions. So hopefully some if you very knowledgeable ladies can help.
Do you have drains after the TE are placed if you have already had a bmx already ?
What was your recovery like after the TE were placed? How long were you off work?
What about driving after?
What was your pain like?
Finally I have seen a lot of people have had TE after rads and they failed ? Is this the norm ?
Thank you so much lovely ladies in advance for your advise!!
0 -
shoppy - I think it is safe to say that most of us did not have delayed recon and may find it problematic to answer your specific questions. Because the discomfort of BMX happened at the same time it is hard to suss out which pain came form that surgery and which from the TE. It took me about 5 weeks after BMX with immediate TE to feel pretty good, but others feel better more quickly than that. I had several subsequent surgeries in short order so I did not drive for quite a while. Some PS use drains, others do not - hard to say - depends on the type of work that needs to be done on the inside and the philosophy of your doc. Regular TE to implants can be problematic after rads - ask your PS what their specific failure rate is. Here is a link to some already existing threads about recon after rads, the ladies there may have better info for you:
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/67/topic/821600?page=2#post_4075413
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/817272?page=1#post_3873080
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/789102?page=2#post_3853468
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/815425?page=1#post_3808689
0 -
thanks so much Special K!!
0 -
What she said! LOL
0 -
shoppe, I had five months between bmx and TEs. Mine was because I had a breast lift 12 years prior. I had 4 drains, 2 were removed after the first week, the other two for 4 weeks. I continue to take Norco those 4 weeks, half pill morning and night because of the drains bothering me. I learned with the bmx not to remove them too early, I had to have fluid removed for 4 weeks after bmx because I felt fine but was doing too much. No one said to take it easy. Wasn't able to drive for 5 weeks after TEs then was back to normal. Wasn't working anymore so could take it easy all I wanted.
Pain wasn't bad after TEs and no more zapping like after the bmx. Someone else will to response to skin issues after rads, didn't have any.
Everyone is affected differently throught this process. You may fly thru the whole thing and be back to work in a couple of days. Just remember to take it easy and "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"
0 -
Smaarty
As strange as it sounds, I am most worried about having drains again! They are such a pain!!
0 -
Thanks Smaarty
As strange as it sounds, I am most worried about having drains again! They are such a pain!!
0 -
I didn't need drains. At pre-op, she said I have a 50/50 chance of having them.
0 -
I don't know what determines when you get drains or not. Had them all 3 times! Not long enough with bmx, only 12 days, too long with TEs, 4 weeks, and 2 weeks with implants. It just is. If I get the implants redone, I'll probably have them again.
0 -
This is a complete guess but I would think you would, as they will be doing some major cutting to get the te under your pec muscles. In a simple exchange often there are no drains. Id go into it figuring on drains, and then be so happy if there arent any.
0 -
Thanks ladies!!
0 -
hi ladies.
I've had a struggle deciding whether to do the reconstruction or not. I'm having a BMX and am a single Mum, with no family support ( all family overseas). My daughters are 8 & 10.
I finally decided last week to have the reconstruction. (I just about never go clothes shopping - no time or money, haha, like most mums). Last week I had a coffee with my ex and my daughters, very unusual. Across the road there was a clothes shop. I popped in and a light bulb went on, I decided I do want to wear anything I want and feel good.
How long are we not supposed to drive for?
Any other single mums? How hard is it with no help? I know I will just get on with it, but I'm nervous and want to b prepared.
Ladies from our church have offered to cook meals, help with kids and housework. I'll also have to ask them to cut my grass too! I'm not good at asking for help, I like doing things myself. But guess I'm going to need help. Don't think I could get through this without help.
Thanks
Ali
0 -
Ali...I'm a single mom too (5yr old boy) with no help...I just started my reconstruction process 3 weeks ago I'm still having pain and not driving...my church family has been wonderful as far as helping with meals and the house...I am starting to be able to get around a little better now but still cannot do any heavy lifting or stretching...haven't attempted driving yet...still hurting to be upright for extended periods of time. I would say the first two weeks were the hardest. I also don't like asking for help but I've learned to accept it when offered. Sometimes you need to...we can do this...we made it this far...we can handle this too
0 -
Hi Ali- sorry you are having to go through this and join the BC club. This forum is a wealth of information and support. Know that we are here for you. Yes, ask for help, you'll need it. I'm not a single mom and like cammee616 the first two weeks were the hardest for me. As you'll find by reading different threads on BCO that everyone is different. Some ladies bounce right back and others struggle a little. As soon as I got my drains out (day 12, 2 on each side) I started working on my range of motion exercises and walking 30 minutes a day. There are a few different stretches you can do to help get your ROM back and the walking helps with healing. I started driving at 4 weeks....some women start earlier. My docs said as soon as I was not on narcotics and could slam my foot on the ground with out bad pain I could drive. You can prepare the house by getting things from higher cupboards on the counter so you don't have to reach up for them. Paper plates would be good so you don't have to mess with dishes. That first week you are home see if you can have somebody be around daily to help out with what ever you need and the kids. If possible, I would see if a friend could stay the night with you the first few nights you are home just in case you need the help at night. It's does get easier. I started feeling like my old self energy wise around 5 weeks. Also, it helps to have many different size pillows to prop yourself up to sleep. Some women sleep in a recliner for the first few weeks. I barrowed one from a family member and slept in that until I got my drains out. It is hard to get comfortable or lay flat as it's too much pressure. This Thursday I'll be 7 weeks post op for me and still sleep propped up with 5 different pillows. My motto was prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
0 -
ugh....just discovered i have a blister at the end of my surgery incision (think my t-shirt has been rubbing against that area all day). Has anyone else had this problem happen? Is this going to affect anything for my appt tomorrow? Should I be worried about it? I put a bandaid over it for now to try to keep it from getting worse or bursting...
0 -
camee since you have an appointment tomorrow its probably ok.
Ali sorry you have to be here. I hope you find support here. At home, don't be afraid to ask for help from friends. Most people are happy to help. Just spread it around so you don't feel so guilty.
To all much love
0 -
thanks for your replies.
I don't think I could get through this without the ladies at church. They are more than helpful. They even told me that seeing as I don't have family nearby, they are my family and you can ask your family for things without feeling like you owe them anything. And they want me to feel like that with them.
I feel that I must get through this now that I have decided. I am hoping I can find a second hand recliner as I think that sounds more comfortable than heaps of pillows. But I'm guessing the recliner needs to be electric or I could be stuck in it?
You are all so brave. I hope I am, I'm pretty scared at the moment.
0 -
Ali, a regular recliner should work. Don't have anyone help you up by pulling on your arms. If you have a large towel or sheet that you can put behind you when you're sitting, that's what they use to help you up. It will only be a the first few times. Start practicing now to get yourself up from a sitting position without using your arms. Do some simple exercises for strengthening your core muscles, stomach, that will help with your mobility. If you have utube, look up core exercises, find something that will work for you.
Let your "family" help, especially with the kids.
0 -
or have them put hand on your back and push up or forward
0 -
recliners require you to either push with your arms or pull a handle to get up. You can't use much force. If you put a pipe over the handle on a regular recliner it uses less force. One exercise to try is get yourself out of a chair with your hands crossed over your chest. You have to "butt walk" up to the edge of the chair. Then lean forward to put your weight over your toes. Push up with your legs and straighten. Practice. I could only use hard chairs for a while . Kitchen chairs. Except for my recliner which was electric because my knees were so bad.
Much love
0 -
I went running yesterday and this morning I noticed that I have a small scab on one nipple. (I had a NS BMX, obviously!) My sports bras are all too tight (only one more fill left!!), and I don't have any sensation in my nipples. I assume the bra rubbed against the nipple and left the little scab. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but you know how we all worry, right? I did just email my PS's office.
0 -
I had 125 cc. put in yesterday. I had such a big gap left by the umx, that i didn't even feel the saline go in. i have had hardly any pain at all. the PA said I am at the halfway point now with my fills. I'm sure I will have smaller fills towards the end, since I read here that it hurts more as you get to the end of the fills.
0 -
Scary, that does seem to be the case for most. I had 200cc at surgery and then 25cc put in 3 weeks in a row and they were horrible! But then I waited 3 weeks and the last 3 I barely noticed. Once you start feeling the pressure, stop. No use being miserable.
0 -
elizabethaw, I'm glad you called your PS. Better safe than another sx! Scabs usually mean an opening in the skin and that is always a problem. Better to handle it correctly!
Scary I know for me only my last 2 were painful. I wasn't expecting it had my usual 100cc fill and ouch! . So the next time he put less in 50cc and still pain for days. But then that was my last. He could barely push the fluid in the syringe in that last time. We both decided that meant enough. LOL
0 -
Well all was fine with the the post op check...we're going to wait 5 weeks before starting my fills (not gonna lie..I'm a little worried about the pain factor) I have a 3 hr drive each way to my appts because it was the only PS in the state that takes my insurance for reconstruction....on another note had the day from hell...on way to court today for my disability appeal hearing my car overheated...luckily a nice family stopped and gave me a ride to court..made it with a minute to spare...confident that we won our case...and my lawyer was nice enough to give me a ride home...a friend is on his way now to tow my car home.....was beginning to think it was Monday the way this day has gone....just glad the day is over...
0 -
cammee- hugs. But look at what you managed today! A hearing, got yourself unstranded, got yourself home, got your car towed all without losing your mind! That sounds, in a weird way, like a good day! LOL
0 -
I suppose it was but a little too drama filled for my liking lol....ooo forgot to mention oncologist office called and their PR people wanna interview me for their newsletter and get a pic of me ringing the hope bell and give me my survivor t shirt :-)
0
