TEs. A Beginner's Primer
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Yes I had to be drained for radiation. The doctor insisted. The skin literally just hangs like empty balloons. I can feel the empty expanders now. They jiggle around since the skin is so loose. We have battled the store about charging so much. They simply told me they have to make a profit so they're significantly marked up. I think it's robbery. How can two pieces of plastic and silicone cost so very much? They're Amoenas. I have seen them online and i know they more than tripled the price. It's my fault. I was so emotional after being drained and I agreed to the purchase
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@ilovecoasters: that is so awful, so sorry that this happened to you. Giving you warm hugs.
I bought cheap silicones online and it work good for me under clothes, and v shape bikini. Here is the link: www.myspringit.com
product info: Braless
• Price: US$24.99 for each
• This product is available to ship immediately.
• Braless is available in 3 different cup sizes : B (34 inches), C (36 inches), D (38 inches).
• $8.25 for shipping within U.S.A. Products will be delivered within 5-8 business days
• $10.25 for International shipping. Products will be delivered within 8-15 business days
• Returns are accepted within 7 days after you receive our product.
I knew my TEs will just be in for a few months and I did not want to spend a few hundred dollars to be appealing to the eyes of others.
I don't know how to post pics otherwise I will show before and after pics with these "cheap prosthetics"
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Hi anothernycg - I went to Boston airport a few weeks ago with my TEs and the security did not alarm. My PS also said she'd provided me a letter, which isnt a bad idea just in case...
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All tissue expanders and implants are medical devices, all have unique serial numbers, your plastic surgeons should be giving you the cards with those numbers on them. Same goes for chemo ports.
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Thanks JLF!
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sunflowercat … how are you healing?? I caught some of your posts because I was searching specifically for what to wear post exchange. I'm nearly 4 weeks out from my exchange and my PS did not wrap me (neither did he after the BMX/TE placement) and i realize there are different schools of thought on this and some do/some don't. But, I have a similar concern with mine falling outward. I didn't realize not using the pec muscles could help prevent that! I am still on restricted arm use (also very active, also very eager to get back to the gym but realize I clearly cannot!) but I will be even more careful with this knowledge. I'm curious to know what kind of sports bra you have found to be helpful in this area (to pull together vs squish and push away). Have you had success? It seems everything I wear just smushed them and I would like to find something that pulls them together more in hopes they will heal in a more aesthetically pleasing way. TIA
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Hi Hummingbirdlover, I had my exchange yesterday.! PS ended up taking some fat from around belly button. I am wrapped in an ace bandage around my chest and my abdomen. I also have one drain. I am having some significant pain but nothing compared to MX. The belly area just burns really badly. I am also having a hard time keeping anything down. It was rough coming out of anesthesia this time for some reason. I hope to the heavens that this is my last surgery. I have to stay wrapped for 48 hours so I don't know how they look yet. I am going back to work on May 11th.
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Feprincess, Thanks for checking and AY!! I'm so happy for you and I hope the pain you have goes away quickly. Did you know in advance they were taking the fat from your belly button? I hope this is the last surgery for you too. Are you considering nipple reconstruction? Take it easy and rest and celebrate, YOU DID IT!
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Hi! I knew the day before that he would be doing that only because he had a cancellation so I did my 2nd fill and pre-op in one. That part burns and I have to wear an ace wrapped there for a week. I haven't seen my left breast yet. I will tomorrow when I take off the bandage to "bathe". It came so suddenly but since I was going smaller, it was time. They saved my nipple and so far it's looking good. Now I really get to recover! It's almost unbelievable what I just went through. My heart goes out to everyone and all the new diagnosis'.
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Remember, itll be months before you can start to tell how the implants will look and feel. It takes much longer than we realize for swelling to go down, for them to settle into the pockets, to find their shape. Dont panic, freak out or push for other surgery until you give them awhile to find themselves!!
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Thanks Aviva, I hope I never, ever have to have another surgery in my life. When you say months, do you mean like six months to a year? How long before you could return to your usual activities?
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well everyone is different. I was back to work in a few weeks, I worked a desk job. Ive had one also swapped out and lipo and that was more painful. I think after about 2 months I jumped the gun and wanted a different size. Try to be patient and wait 3-4-5 months, see how they look. But always talk to your ps and communicate with them, their input and your opinions...
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Hello Aviva, I am five day post-op. I am going to get my drain out tomorrow. I also had some fat grafting from my tummy. The exchange is less painful than the mx but I had the worse time coming out of anesthesia. I have had very bad nausea and pain. I am taking your advice though and taking it easy because my breast still looks very awkward.
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yes, early days!
I am 5 months past my last surgery (lipo and fix up, ok thats vague) but I realize I hardly think about my chest at all. I went quite small with my implants and enjoy no bra and being much less self conscious, but also I just dont think about them. Maybe its partly cause I dont feel much, partly because Ive been lucky and only need AI as further treatment so have been trying to put it behind me. I see my ps on 5/21 to discuss a possible last surgery- a tiny bit more lipo on one on side. But this 5month period has been the easiest to just be patient and let things settle in.
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Hi Aviva, I will take it easy. I got the drain out today and whoa! Lefty is looking like the odd kid out. How long was it before it started to resemble and actual breast? I went small too. I wanted to never have to wear a bra again (except when running)!
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It takes weeks, even months, for things to really look how they will eventually. Of course, we are all different, and consult with your surgeons with questions. But I'd go for visits and he would say, yep still swollen, and Id think, really? so its hard to tell everything.
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Thank you Aviva.
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- Hello. I am in the middle of my breast cancer roller coaster. I had bilateral nipple and skin sparing mastectomies with tissue ex panders due to stage 2 cancer. Initially I just wanted it out. I was very happy that I didn't need chemo or radiation. I was small breasted to begin with and really didn't find it to be all that important. Now I am 3 weeks out. I had my first fill of 50cc 1 week ago. I am still having a lot of chest tightness and constant muscle spasms. I am stretching and icing. I am taking ibuprofen around the clock. I am terrified of my next fill. I can't imagine putting more fluid in to the rocks I will eventually call breasts. I take Xanax and pain meds to sleep in the recliner. I've tried the bed without success. I think I am just looking for someone to say this is all normal, your not alone, and it gets better.
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jhendricks - Welcome to BCO! You've found a great source of information, compassion, and support. Ask any questions you may have, vent, and / or complain - whatever gets you through it. And yes, this is all very normal, you're never alone in here, and as difficult as it may be to believe right now, it does get better. I still remember those first fills because I dreaded every one. But as the TEs expand, somehow, things get easier - tighter, but easier. For now, take comfort in the fact that we know exactly how you feel! You're gonna do just fine...
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Hello jhendriks, I had the exact same experience you are having. It's totally normal. Some of us have an easier time and some don't. I don't think I got much sleep with the TE's. I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. I think AZ85048 is correct. I had 50 at surgery and the TE would sit on a nerve in my sternum. I had a lot of discomfort with them, but when I got my 80ml fill, it was still uncomfortable but totally doable. The more I got the less pain I felt, but you will have tightness that is unavoidable given the "expander" part.
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I had the same experience that once I had more volume in the expanders they weren't as painful. I remember getting out of bed slowly , sitting on the side of the bed and waiting for my chest to "settle" before I could walk around. I also found a physical therapist who works with bc patients and she worked on stretching tha fascia and chest muscles. She gave me range of motion exercises to do at home and after a week of that I saw and felt real improvement. I definite recommend a pt.
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Thank you for responding. I will try not to be as scared of the next expansion.
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jhendrickd, as they all said - normal. That doesn't mean it doesn't SUCK! SOME times it hurts a lot. Plus, remember too, you are ONLY 3 weeks out from surgery! I was still on hydrocodone at 3 weeks. Of course you are hurting. You had an amputation. Just because TV personalities can go back to work at 2 weeks doesn't mean most people can. Most people don't have housekeepers, staff to help them dress, or makeup artists to help them look good. So give yourself he time you need to heal. If you are still in pain from your last fill, wait an extra week for the next. The timing is up you. You don't win an award for the fastest fills! LOL if you think a fill might help, there is nothing wrong with a small fill of 25 ccs. Glad you found us.
Much love
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THIS SUCKS!!!!! I want to scream it from the mountain tops!!!! Yay I don't have to have chemo and I get to live. But sometimes tired of feeling every breath and every breath being an effort. I'm tired of not hugging my children fully. I'm lonely being the "sick" one. I just need to get it out so you're stuck with me complaining. I know I have it pretty good and I do appreciate my blessings bWhen I feel better I promise to be the supportive one. That is who I am and who I want to be!!!!
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jhendricks - We all can agree that it sucks, but we can also promise you that it will get better. Just take it a day at a time right now and like Moon said, this isn't a race. There are no prizes for how fast you can get through reconstruction. Your body is making a huge adjustment physically, and you're making one mentally. Both take time and patience - which is much easier to say when you're on the far side of those damn fills,,, Hang in there!
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that picture is pretty accurate. I love the support from this sight!!!
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Jhendricks, I am in your corner jumping up and down with support. I am having a really hard time with these TEs and that picture above is exactly what they feel like. I have had about 5 fills so far and am still only at 250 ccs and every week, I can't fathom squeezing one more drop in there yet I manage to live through another 30 ccs. I can't get out of bed, get into bed, sneeze or cough without wincing and what you said about hugging your kids is the truth and the worst! It sucks, all of it but keep telling yourself "this too shall pass" because it will. I'm also so grateful that I didn't need chemo or rads and that my journey has been so much easier than it could have been, but that doesn't means it's been easy. Hang in there and just take it one day and one fill at a time. ((Hugs))
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Perfectly stated hummingbird. Sounds like we are on the same page. Does your doctor recommend only 30cc per fill or is that what you can tolerate? And how often? I'm thinking my doc anticipates 60cc every 2 weeks but I could be wrong.
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also, I haven't started the tamoxifen yet. How is that?
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The first two fills after surgery (I came out of surgery with 60 ccs) were 50 ccs each. I didn't have too much trouble with the first one but the second was awful so we (PS and I) talked and backed it down to 30 ccs and I've been tolerating those pretty well. I go in once/week. I am not too far away from being done with fills, probably 2 or 3 more and then I get to "rest" for 3 months until my exchange surgery.
I honestly haven't had much trouble with the tamoxifen other than hot flashes at night - and they can be intense but I just throw the covers off and I'm fine. I have noticed my poor hair is struggling - I'm losing some and it's super dry but other than that, I haven't had any huge issues. The first few months I was having yeast infection type symptoms but I have been trying to eat a yogurt every day and those went away as well. I'll never know which SEs are just...stuff...and which are tamoxifen related but I figure if I'm just now having these symptoms at 48 years of age, I'm totally blaming the tamoxifen. :-) I'm happy to take it though, I feel like it's my co-warrior in this fight.
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