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TEs. A Beginner's Primer

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Comments

  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 90

    Thanks ladies! My dr says it is most likely because this huge overfilled expander is messing with my muscle and ribcage and throwing everything outta whack. I'm with you aviva, I think it's also sitting near a nerve. Sometimes I can barely use my arm but when my daughter massages my back and arm it feels better...

    I'll just give myself extra TLC. Doctors orders. But it sure would be nice to have all,of this over with already!!!

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485

    Hello TE people! I had my TEs st time of BMx. Had 60cc at time of surgery. 2 weeks post got first 60cc fill. No pain, gad no feeling. Dec 2 was my last fill, at 420cc each. Exchange scheduled March 5! They are very tight still. Guess this is what they feel like being full.

    I had my own muscle pulled from sides and stitched fiwn instead of Aloderm. PS refuses to use AD. Did anyone else have this procedure?

    Thanks, Robin

  • Ilovecoasters
    Ilovecoasters Member Posts: 44

    Robin, did you have the Latissimus flap used? I had alloderm when my expanders were placed but will have Latissimus with my exchange. I'm curious what recovery is like.

  • sunandsnow
    sunandsnow Member Posts: 17

    Hello Ladies! I have been getting weekly fills and had my last fill two weeks ago in prep for exchange on 3/3. By about day 8 post fill I was beginning to feel some relief. However I woke up yesterday feeling like the fill fairy had stopped by and dropped me another 50cc. I have no explanation as to why I would start hurting again. Today I am so tight and uncomfortable that I hardly got out of bed. I upped my ibuprohen and went back to taking a Valium and have no relief really. Have any of you had this happen for no apparent reason? Meeting with my PS tomorrow but was curious if any of you have experiences. Thanks girls

  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 90

    Yes but mine was directly related to doing too much too soon. Call your ps but meanwhile maybe some moist warmth (careful with heat since our nerves are all messed up - can't feel a burn) might help. I have a sock filled with rice that intros in the microwave. Hope u feel better soon

  • sunandsnow
    sunandsnow Member Posts: 17

    Thanks Alexa. I have had that happen before when I've overdone it, but this time I really didn't do anything? Hoping it's nothing

  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 90

    Sunandsnow please let us know what your dr says. Hope it's nothing!

  • jabec
    jabec Member Posts: 14

    strange question - I am having BMX next week with TE's. My family is booked to go on a scuba diving trip in July and if I still have my TE's does anyone know if I can go scuba diving with them? Will the pressure changes of diving be a problem?

  • Ilovecoasters
    Ilovecoasters Member Posts: 44

    I've been told no swimming at all with mine, but it may be different with your doctor.

  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 90

    good question... I would think they would not allow it, but if anyone has experience with this, I'd love to hear it as well

  • jabec
    jabec Member Posts: 14

    I just did a search on the internet and it looks like scuba diving is OK if everything is healed http://www.realself.com/question/scuba-diving-tiss...

    I will of couse check with my doctor though. I hope I can go with the rest of the family.

  • AlexaP
    AlexaP Member Posts: 90

    Cool

  • www2b
    www2b Member Posts: 10

    Hi Ladies! I haven't been on in several weeks so I had a lot of catching up to do with all the posts. I had my PBMX on 9/15. I didn't do well in the beginning, emotionally. You ladies were very supportive and I am so greatful.

    I read the post about the pill bottle. I never really though much about it, but I couldn't open them either. Had to put them between my pelvis and a dresser and push on it and turn the cap that way. I still have a problem with them, but my biggest problem is the big ketchup dispenser at work. Pressing down on the pumper. Will that ever get better? It's not like it hurts, just feels weird.

    My surgery for the permanent implants is THIS THURSDAY. I am rather excited to get this over with. I had to switch surgeons for the final surgery because my initial PS didn't do her second surgery at the hospital I was required to use, (insurance purposes). But I love my new surgeon. Wished I had found him earlier. He only makes you wait 1 month between the TEs and the permanent ones. My first surgeon makes you wait 3 months after the last fill. I had a total of 660 ccs. I was so incredibly miserable at about week 11 or so. And this started weeks after the last fill. They just made it impossible to sleep, no back sleeping or side sleeping. Hurt all the time. My new surgeon removed 75 ccs on each side, on my initial consultation with him. I'm thinking, "really, that's not going to help". But it did. I have been almost completely comfortable after that. He said I had capsular contracture. After reading up on that, I sure hope it doesn't return after my final surgery. Seems this condition is common. Has anyone had a problem with this?


  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836

    I havent had that problem, so far. My ps had me massage my implants to help with that. But even the first side,when I didnt, so far so good. good luck

  • roadrash
    roadrash Member Posts: 31

    www2b- I hope your surgery is a successful and you get immediate relief in your chest. I am not familar with capsule contracture. I'm going to ask about that too.

    I am in so much discomfort from being overfiled that i actually called the after hours office of my ps. I was told warm or cold along with massage. I am so afraid that something is going to shoot right out of my nipple or pop out the side. I asked them to call me back to have some of the fluid taken out. I thought it was my AWS cording causing so much pain lifting my arm but I really think it is the TE. I am taking pain pills every 4 hrs and it is still not helping me.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485

    I didn't have LD flap. Instead of Alloderm, my PS uses my own muscle from sides of breast and pulls it around underneith breast to form pocket. He says Alloderm has the potential for rejection or infection. I will be having Allergan silicone implants at exchange.

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938

    roadrash, have you been helped? Did they take some out or did you get accustomed?

    Robin, some P'S do alloderm because they don't like to mess with with muscles. Every P'S is different. LOL. Whatever works.

    Much love

  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 438

    Moonflwr912, didn't you get large implants? Did you do it to match your previous breasts? Are you on the photo board? Do you remember what your TEs were? I'm in the middle of this journey, had pendulous breasts, so asked for a reduction with my BMx, but right now I'm just curious and feel their aren't alot of naturally large breasted women who I can turn to with questions.

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938

    Yes. I am a large lady my breasts were never huge. I filled a C cup. I now almost fill a C. I have Mentor saline rounds. I actually have 750 filled to 850. This is because he tried 900 ( the largest available size there is. ) and he tried 800. Neither would give the correct placement. Guess my chest is not as wide as it looks. During the initial fills I took 100 or 120 without issues. Only my last 2 were painful. I was filled to 750 before exchange.

    Have you tried implants 101? WhippetMom can help you see which type and size implants will work for you. She is amazing. Go to that thread and follow the instructions. She will help.

    Much love

  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 438

    Moon - yes, whippetmom is a goddess. Just it doesn't seem like there are a lot of naturally large women, but maybe I've been missing something. My fill today, is really bothering me right now, yep, numbing has worn off. I'm only doing 60 ml a side. When the 2nd to last one hurt, did you have them do less for the last one? Did you have side boobs under your arms from the TEs? They are making me nuts. My hair is finally coming back and I went to shave, and nothing is the same shape under there anymore. When I raised my arm to shave, a side boob went up there. I had no clue how to shave, I tried, but only got about 1/2 the hair.

    BTW - I always see your 12/8/11 date and think this is old news to you, then later look and realize you have done TEs a few times and only had squishies for a year or so.

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938

    Yep. It's been a journey. LOL with WAY too many Scenic Detours!

    Yes when I had my last fill he only put in 50. He had a hard time filling it because he had to push hard. It hurt.

    One of my side boobs, dog ears, etc., was taken care of at one of my unsuccessful implants. One was at my exchange. They don't get in the way at all. Maybe because I went through menopause before cancer, but I did not have much hair under my arm even before sx. Now I have like two hairs. I have no hair on my legs either. Of course that means my head hair is ultra thin on top. Sandra is the new to talk to about odd shaped underarms. She had to deal with a mess!

    Much love

  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 89

    Robinblessed54- I live here in NC and my PS has the same view on Alloderm in that it has a high potential for infection or rejection so he refuses to use them.

  • JLF
    JLF Member Posts: 21

    I am 9 days post Bilateral mastectomy and here's how my TEs feel: my breasts a very full and super firm, which is how they felt when my milk came in after my two pregnancies. Only the feeling is more pronounced and there is achy and sore pain involved. It's not unbearable butit is uncomfortable. I'm hoping that over time some of the pain will dissipate.

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836

    JLF you are in very early days. If that is 'only' as bad as it feels, you are doing well!! Dont over do, but try to use your arms so you start getting your range of motion back...good luck!

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Member Posts: 5,938

    JLF, yes you are doing pretty well. I was still on pain pills till about 4 weeks. Just take it easy you had major surgery!

    Much love

  • JLF
    JLF Member Posts: 21

    thank you! Next question 😉... I'm getting stretch marks - what people using for this, if anything? Thank you!

  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 438

    JLF - are you really young? I had twins in my late 30's and didn't get stretch marks, but did in my teens when my breasts were growing. I thought the difference was older skin gets less stretch marks (but don't remember if that was based on research). As to what to do, call your PS. These are the doctors who as a profession fix marks. I'm sure they have some secrets. Until you get an answer, cream them up with thick moisturizer / cream. I've been using Cera-Ve CREAM.


  • JLF
    JLF Member Posts: 21

    Thanks! I see my PS this week so I will ask. Not sure if they are ok with me putting anything on them yet so I'll wait for now. Oh and I'm 48.

  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 438

    JFL - I'm 49; btw I didn't pay attention to the fact your surgery was only 2 weeks ago.

  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 317

    hi, I'm new here. I had BMX feb 5 to TEs. I still have 4 drains in and 1 of them still has bright red blood in it. anybody else hear this is normal?

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