TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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www2b I'm so glad you are healing and feeling better. Thank you for sharing. I'm scared for my first fill which should be on the 11th. it's good to know pain isn't an absolute.
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Nancybel, don't work yourself up about the fills like I did. I was scared to death with the first one. She gave me 60ccs each. Didn't bother me a bit. Then the next time she gave me 120ccs each. Again, no pain at all. Now I do admit that my 3rd fill at 120ccs each was a bit much. Like I said before, no pain, just the feeling of giant boobs that don't belong. I know the TEs don't go under my arms but it feels like they do. I am still hating the back sleeping but I guess there is just no hope for any side sleeping anytime soon. When I do managed to prop pillows placed below the breast area I am comfortable for a few minutes then it starts hurting. I flop back on my back and it feels like they have moved out of position. Probably just in my mind.
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Nancybel, something minor that could help at your fill. My first one hurt and the nurse realized I was clenching my fists. She opened my hands and then it was just a small pinch. She said even though I had a bilateral, the muscles still contract. Would have never dawned on me.
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ww2b and Iloverollercoasters, thank you so much for the advise and calming words. I will remember not to clench my fists. I can't wait until I can sleep on my side again.
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Is there a lot of pain I have been reading the other girls mess and it seems that there have a lot of pain with it I have to have my left breast off I already had my right breast off
And then I have to have expanders I am very high in infections as I have lupus I have be wrapped in a warming blanket after my op and I well have to have PICO on where my breast all this at the end of November I am dreading it as all I have read is that I will be in a lot of pain I also read the expanders have been known to have cracked a rib
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nancybel, I did not feel my fills AT ALL. Not even a pin prick. Only a very tiny amount of pressure (blood pressure cuff hurts me more.) My fills were only 50-75cc and I'm sure that makes a difference. Now I'm starting over with new expanders and I already have more sensation than I did before they were changed out. Hoping I still don't feel my fills!
Pauline, you have already had one breast removed so you're familiar with the pain. My first set of expanders were really painful. Then I developed an infection and one expander ruptured so I had them replaced. Now I have very little pain (just from the incisions) and none from the expanders. My surgeon removed a lot of scar tissue and that is what caused all my pain before. With the scar tissue gone I feel almost normal.
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pauline. Like noonrider said, you know the pain but it might not even as bad as the first mastectomy. It will have some pain of course. I just hope that it's small for you.
My fills were pain free at first at 100 each time. Except for the one time he hit a blood vessel and said "oh, that's gonna leave a bruise"! LOL he was right. But no real pain till my last 2 fills. One at 100 second to last and owie! Pain pill time. They last one at 60. No more would even go in and that's when I hit the doorways! LOL. I was glad to get to the squishie side!
Much love to all
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Holy crap Flannery- 250 cc's in a fill? That would hurt! I went 60 ccs each time.
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happyteacher:
Yes, that first 250cc fill was a doozy - lots of women get that much during the initial surgery at the time of TE placement, but in my case I got it a few weeks afterward. The next two fills were 40cc and 65cc and that's all I'm getting.
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I was scheduled to have first fills today. BUT last week the left side started to swell below the former nipple area. Skin got pinker and shiny. I texted pic to PS on Tues and again on Fri. She worked me into her OR schedule for yesterday morning. I have a new TE and another damn drain! And I forgot to ask if she could do a fill on the right while I was under. She was mad she didn't think of it either.
Going for the right fill on Fri. Hopefully the left drain won't have to stay in too long. This left side is such a troublemaker!!!! First to get cancer, then an infection 2 weeks after that mastectomy, then fat transfer failure in July, and now this. Oy! Fortunately, yesterday's surgery did not involve any post op pain or discomfort. But, I can't do any fills on that side yet. Might not make that Dec. 31 insurance deadline. It's gonna cost me a new deductible. But, I gotta do what I gotta do.
Thanks to all for the bra advice. I did find a comfy, stretchy sports bra.
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hi ladies. I had BMX 10 days ago. Had 3 drains pulled on day 8 (unlike most of you, I thought it burned terribly). But my Q is... I have big dents on both breasts they're the kind with tabs and were filled to 300cc each at surgery., eventually getting to 600ish. Is this just where the tabs are sutured? Is this what they call mudflats or dogears? I can feel that the TE actually ends where the tape stops. The rest is just extra skin that PS says he'll need during fills..but how can it be used when it's stuck down in there like it's stuck toy ribs? And yes..I'm chunky.
Thoughts please? Look familiar or whacky?
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Horsemom,
My extra flaps are much worse than what you have. My PS said he wanted to keep as much extra skin as he could in case it was needed later. I hate it! He assures me it will be gone with the exchange.
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I have the same. My PS also says they'll be gone after exchange. A combo of pulling skin forward (some of that happens as the expanders fill) and the rest will be lipo sucked out or removed. (this is what my PS told me. I trust her so will just wait and see! LOL)
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Horsemom, May I suggest you delete that pic though? This is an open forum and searchable. Just to be safe!
But the mudflaps are what you show. The PS will use what they need and then remove the rest. If you think about it, when you wear an under wire bra, you take all the breast tissue you can reach and fill the cup. Or at least thats what my aunt who was a professional seamstress of wedding dresses taught me way Back in the 60's! LOL. They'll just pull t to cover the implant. And it's so early for you and your TE aren't even half filled. It will be better.
Much love
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Friday's fill was only 60, and only on the right because I still have a drain. I couldn't even tell I had a fill.
Had another fill today. 110 on the right - still feeling tightness, but not bad. She also put 30 on the left to see if we could get less coming into the drain (which has been about 35 each of the last couple days.) Scheduled for next fill next Wed. and the following Tues. Hoping to get those permanent implants before the end of next month. Will I or won't I make the Dec. 31 cutoff before I have to start spending more $$?
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I think I'm going to lose my mind.
Recap: BMX on Sept 12
4 weeks post op right TE is all the way under my arm.
5 weeks post op one TE is ruptured and have a large seroma that cultures infection. Have been in miserable pain since BMX, have trouble both inhaling and exhaling fully because of the tightness of everything.
6 weeks post op surgery, replaced both TEs. Clean up a LOT of scar tissue. Basically chest is encapsulated. Scar tissue is what pulled TE out of place, and making things too tight so I feel claustrophobic. Within 24 hours of surgery I feel like a new person!!
10 days post op remove drain, 50cc fill to right side bringing it to same volume as left. (200cc total each side)
11/12, two weeks and two days post op, 75cc fill on each side, but drain 50cc from right side seroma and 40cc from left side. PS is hopeful that each week we can continue to do needle aspirations without having to put drains in again but will watch closely.
11/13, suspicious area on left breast in the area of TE port. (see pics on pic forum if you're there.) Watching it closely because it looks to me like early cellulitis. Upper pole - where I actually have sensation - is very sore. It wasn't yesterday after my fill.
If I am truly having another problem, I may just be done with this BS. I don't have the patience for constant issues. I just don't. I'm so frustrated.
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Noon, I'm so sorry. I just said to a friend today that if I knew pre-mastectomy what I know now about reconstruction I don't know if I'd do it. I'm sick of sleeping on my back, of the pain, of the fills. I can't imagine what you're dealing with. All of this is just crazy.
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Noon
Don't be discouraged. Sometimes we have a few detours on this road of recon. After my final
fill I developed cellulitis and was in the hospital for 8 days. Was home and ok for a week then more cellulitis and my left TE was removed. Waited and had a FG. Cellulitis and another hospitalization. Waited a few months and another FG. This time no issues. Waited a few months again and did an exchange on the rt with a lift and direct to an implant on the left. Today is 4 weeks and I am really happy. The FG did its job and greatly improved the integrity of my skin on the left(my radiated side). Hang in!!!!!
Babs
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It is really hard not to get discouraged when I am trying to be a MOM to 5 disabled kids, some of whom are brand new to a family and never had a mother before, who need me to show up at school things, who need me to make meals, etc. Who need me to be functioning but every time I *just* get to the point of participating in life again I end up with another surgery or some other stupid thing. So very frustrating.
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Noon
That's really hard!!
Please try to stay positive!
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Noonrider - no doubt about it - your plate is full! And you have handled a lot of adversity along the way with dignity and humor and patience.
I don't think there are any right answers here. You know from reading on the Picture Forum that many women had severe challenges every step of the way, and reaching that final good outcome was often delayed for years. But eventually they ended up with the breasts they wanted.
Others decided to just go flat and live without reconstruction, so that they could get back to their lives in a more timely fashion. They had business to take care of.... the kind - like raising kids - that wouldn't wait.
And you know there is another group of women who postpone recon indefinitely.... so that their bodies can heal, so that they can take care of personal needs, and so that they can take a break from all things BC. What we go through can become all-consuming, and make us feel like we ARE losing our minds.
I'm so sorry you are facing more challenges. I am keeping you in my prayers for good healing from these last procedures, and the eventual good outcome you want and deserve. But I also totally support you if you decide to change your mind at any time.
You need to do your research, become educated, persevere, and in the end...... follow your gut and follow your heart. The answer will become clear.
Sending you gentle hugs and big prayers......
xoxoxoxoxo
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It is amazing how Blessings20 always knows the right thing to say! I agree with her post wholeheartedly. I also want to commend you on caring for five disabled children. I can only imagine how challenging that must be when you are not feeling well emotionally or physically.
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Hugs, Noon! Hang in there. This is not a race. If you feel the need to wait for a while then do the sx later, do that. It will work out. Much love
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Good morning ladies-have a question-had an TE placed Sept 4th, first fill 5 wks later (150cc) and then 2 wks later second (145cc)- no problems until about 5 days later both times and lasts for several days. Had discomfort neck and upper back but the worst was down the arm and in shoulder-is this normal? I did have some discomfort in the breast area but not too bad just tight. Yes I do realize he is putting in a lot at each time. Not sure why-have 700cc capacity TE-maybe why? Next time IT WILL BE MUCH LESS! Have already put in call to let them know. Next fill in 8 days. Thanks Char
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could shift and press on a nerve. Hopefully will ease up. I had that only once after my final fill. Took about a week to shift off again. Good plan for smaller fills tho!
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Yes smaller fills will be better. But if you are going for an exchange by Dec, a lot of fluid needs to get in.
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Moonflower-no exchange won't be until end of Feb or first of March. This will be fifth sx, first PBMX in Jan with direct to implant, three for necrosis then infection and implant removal-and finally TE in Sept. Hopefully it will be able to expand enough to put matching implant back but PS is not too hopefull, felt I should maybe to LD flap. Had second opinion and she felt I should try with TE-so here we go. Char
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char did you do rads? If not, is the P'S recommending the flap because of tissue damage ROM the infection? Cause it all makes a difference. I ad in and out expanders too. But Sandra had tissue problems o deal with too. She'll be n soon to help.
Much love to all.
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char I had issues due to radiation I kept getting cellulitis. Fat grafting made all the difference for me. They wanted to do LD on me too. Maybe ask your Dr about FG?
Babs
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No rads-preventive BMX due to LCIS and ALH. The necrosis is probably due to compromised blood supply to the skin. Had 3 surgical revisions and some inoffice revisions, prior to infection followed by implant removal and 3 months of healing. I am sure the infection was because of open necrotic wound for 3+months. The PS is talking about FG at some point to try to help the very thin scar tissue. He is guarded about the outcome but I feel it is worth the risk and time to try TE and implant vs LD flap. The pain in shoulder and arm a week after the TE fills is the worst of the problem at this point. Maybe the smaller fills will help this. Char
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