TEs. A Beginner's Primer
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Fe, you took 80? Wow, you're my hero! 50ccs shot me over the edge, so on Wednesday, I'm going to ask for 40. I must be a wimp.
I hope your pain doesn't get too bad. I was really sore the morning after this last fill, which was my second after surgery.Km, is it the insurance saying that this procedure is "elective"? In what universe exactly? That's not fair. Aren't they leaking? How can that not be grounds for a medical fix
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knmtwins, Maryland is covered.
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires group health plans, insurance companies and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that pay for mastectomy to also pay for [124]:
- Reconstruction of the breast removed with mastectomy
- Surgery and reconstruction of the opposite breast to get a symmetrical look
- Prostheses
- Treatment of any complications of surgery, including lymphedema
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act does not apply to some church and government insurance plans. For more information on the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, visit the Department of Labor website or call toll-free at 866-275-7922.
State Laws
Many states require all health insurance providers (including those not covered under the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act) to pay for reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. Check with your state insurance commissioner's office or your health insurance provider to find out which services are covered by your state's laws and your health plan.
- See more at: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastReconstruc...For more information on coverage of breast cancer-related services by state, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' website. - See more at: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-proce...
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Hummingbird, I didn't feel it but I am starting to feel it now. It feels like a charlie horse in my sternum. I am leaving for Switzerland on June 24th so I don't have much time to go slowly. I'm no hero believe me. I am taking pain pills w/motrin as well. My nurse said to stay as still as possible for two days. I am going back to work on the 30th.
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Fe, I'm not sure what I wrote to make you post "Maryland is covered". My insurance is covering this, well that is after I pay my $750 deductible and 20% of everything until I pay $5,000 for the year (yep, 7th largest employer in the country, chose most expensive health insurance, and this is what we pay out of pocket, per person) Also, as it is a 'self insured' company, Maryland's breast cancer legislation doesn't matter. The issue is they are not 'in network' with my PS's surgical center, so I have to wait for the hospital to give him some time in the OR. Now, I must say my PS is wonderful, I have heard some ladies say they have to pay a copay when they go in for their fills. I only paid co-pays for pre-op consultations before I did surgery. I've been there at least 15 times since surgery and haven't paid a thing.
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Hi, I guess I saw elective and went all crazy.
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Fe_Princess - that is what makes a true friend. Willingness to protect each other like a momma bear. Thank you!
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Second fill today. Took 30cc's and felt the pressure especially on that right side even in my shoulder. PS thinks the expander is fine but it may be scar tissue that is making it a constant bother. I suppose I could limit the discomfort by flexeril daily but I'm not a pill popper in general. So think heading back to the gym and restating spin classes minus the jumps and standing climbs may help and PS agreed I'm ready to head back on an easy does it scale. I didnt feel the needles go in this week like I did last week. Go figure.
On a positive, PS agreed that the new girls are looking good at 210 and that just over 300 may be the ticket which means not too far off! Silver linings!!
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knm, that's a lot to worry about. Our deductible is 5 grand each too. For the past 4 years, we've been there by February! Sucks. LOL I hope they work things out for you. And you're welcome to stay on this board, but feel free to join the trouble board too. Lots of info there too.
Philly, fills are so individual you just have to do what works for you. I saw Special k tell you she had 25cc in her fills. I had 100 each time till I got to 700 with no pain. Then I had to drop as it was really painful. Did 50 then. So everyone is different.
Hummingbird same for you. You're just a bit farther along, but still recovering from surgery.
FePrincess, you are so close to your sx you still are dealing with sx issues! I was still on major pain pills the 3rd week. Tapering off only the 4th week. I'm assuming you don't have any drains left though right?
Please DO NOT RUSH your healing. It was major surgery. You have a right to take enough time to recover. We as women tend to forget this with all the things we need to do. But if we overdo it takes longer to recover from complications!
Much love to all.
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If you have flown with your TEs, did you get stopped going thru security?
My PS office said that they will give a letter to me, but I am wondering if I should only show it if stopped, or if I should present it before going thru metal detector? I'm thinking to see if I can just walk through, rather than 'open up a can of worms' by showing letter right away...
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Hi Moonflower912, it'll be a month's time from my mx when I return to work. If it's too much, I can always leave. I'm going a bit crazy in the head too. I have run out of sick time too. I am in a union and they have given me seven extra days, but I want to save it for my exchange surgery. I still take pain meds but only a couple a day except the last few days after my first fill. I couldn't even stand up straight yesterday!
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AnotherNYCG - i have flown on 2 trips with my TEs and have had no problem. I brought by card with my TE info on it to show in case I was stopped but didn't need it. I also figured that if I got stopped, I could just flash them and I'm sure they would want to send me through and away from them as quickly as possible 😃
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Thanks jabec!!
Feel BETTER Fe!!
mared, - a cruise sounds wonderful! wish we could join you!!
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hugs fe. I'm hoping it works out for you. But if you are not healed or still on pills you can't run machinery. Can't your surgeon let them know it's too soon?
Much love to all
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Another and marex. Just go hrough. If they stop you show them the card. Worst case they pull you in to the private room and freak out over the scars....
Much love to all.
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I'm not being forced to return but I am soon running out of sick hours. I am project manager at our school district, so I don't do any hard physical labor. I still take two pills a day or more when I am in more pain. I have two more smaller fills before my exchange. I will try one day of work and see how it goes. I am 23 days post mx. When did you go back to work, or when does one go usually?
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Hi Fe,
I took 5 or 6 weeks off for my BMX and 3 weeks for my TE placement surgery. Just take it easy and listen to your body. I had a ton of sick time built up, thank goodness. And like you, I don't have to lift anything heavy, I pretty much work at a desk on a computer all day.
Take care!
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Thanks Hummingbirdlover, I would like more time off. I had breakfast with my boss today and he said he will make sure I am covered if I need it. I'm not really ready but I am leaving work for good soon, so I will be able to really take it easy. I am having such a hard time with this expander! I tried to quit my pain pills and couldn't do it.
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Fe, I'm not loving my expanders either! This reconstruction process (in some ways) has been much harder than the BMX was. I'll be SO glad when fills are done and I have a few months to finally feel comfortable again. To say I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, and poked and prodded would be an understatement
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The Tes, from my experience, feels so painful when its not filled. I had another fill today and now up to 260ml. It feels better after the fill than before I went in. I don't know if its because my muscle is used to being full since I used to have a 350ml augmentation under the muscle or what. No matter, I'm glad that the fill today was not painful. Thanks to this website, my anxiety, questions, and uncertainty has been resolved/reassured. Thank you to the people that continues to post their progress. There is a rainbow after a rain.
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Hi Hummingbird, I hate this TE. I've read that it gets less painful with the fill, but now I am having these crazy muscle spasms. Do you get them too?
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Yes, I do. I still have some flexiril left but I don't like how it makes me feel. Someone here suggested a hot shower, so I've been doing that and just trying to ignore it. My right TE is more uncomfortable than my left. I can feel where the port is and it gets irritated easy. I liked what Mared said and am hoping as they get more full, they'll get less uncomfortable. I'm at 190 ccs right now. Hang in there. I keep telling myself this too shall pass.
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I'm at 180 with 100 to go!
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Awesome! 2-3 more fills and light at the end of the tunnel. Sounds like we will be done about the same time. Hopefully a few more weeks!
Have a great weekend!
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Hey Hummingbird! Hang in there. My mantra is the TE's are temporary. I'm currently at 210ccs and think I've got 3 more fills of 30ccs each left and I might be done.
Right now, when I get filled, my worse discomfort progresses as they days go on. That being said I don't really take anything except maybe an Aleve. The last couple days (my fill was this past Tues) my TE's feel like steel balls or like the TE's rolled up into tight rubber balls. Seriously. They are so tight and annoyingly uncomfortable. But I think it's just part of the journey and as I said the mantra helps.
So hang in there, girl. Some day soon you'll have your implants and this will just be a memory!
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Does it ever get any better with TEs? I know they are temporary and I am sooo hoping that the constant nerve pain will subside when I get my squishies. I have good and bad days and usually have no idea what causes either. It's very frustrating and I fight the pity parties. I do try to remind myself that all in all I very blessed.
Scottie
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You ladies are SO awesome! The way I look at it, they must be nicknamed "squishes" for a reason right? I hope so! Do TEs have a clever nickname that you've heard of? They are seriously hard as rocks! My son used to love to rest his head on my chest and even if that were remotely possible at the moment (and don't even think about it) it would be like trying to reston a boulder, or hard hat or something.
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Ha Ha to that!
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I miss my rock hard TEs. Being deflated after being fully filled to 900cc's has been devastating emotionally. I have now lost my breasts twice. Once with the mastectomy and now being drained. I was fitted for extremely expensive prosthesis ($3700) and have regretted every minute. They were way more than what we could afford but moreover are super heavy and hot. I can't believe I will have to go through expansion again. It took 18 visits to the PS the first time and almost $2k in copays. I find it hard to wake up from this nightmare.
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Coasters, I am so sorry! I don't know very much about your journey. Are they draining you for radiation? I was upset with my BS when he told me no to immediate reconstruction because I knew it would mean more surgeries. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. Those sure seem like expensive prosthetics, wow! I think mine were around $800. I didn't mind them, but I wore them in the winter. Summer has got to be so much more uncomfortable. I'm trying to visualize...are they leaving the now stretched skin alone and just there around your TEs?
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