TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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Oh, Scottie, that worries me a bit about work. I told everyone 3 weeks. I'm at almost 2 weeks post-op, and still on 3 percocets/day. I do get exhausted easily. I was hoping that would get better over the next week. But everyone at work has been great, so I'm sure it will be okay if I'm not full speed whenever I can go back.
Ruth, I found out pretty much the same thing about fills today. My PS said he wants to wait until a month post-surgery to start fills, so we scheduled my first fill appointment for June 19. I don't understand why the nurse thought I'd start today. . . .
Jhendricks, I think wine helps ANYTHING!
I had requested that I end up about the size I was before the mastectomy, so my PS made some calculations based on the weight of the tissue removed and said that our goal is to fill to 650cc and use a 550cc implant. That should put me at a 34D, if he did his calculations correctly. Oh, Badgergirl, I love your post! I felt the same way! This has been a humbling experience. I'm so glad you posted and I hope you keep posting. And I hope your first fill goes great tomorrow!!
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Halee, please try to take it easy if you do go back that early.
Badger girl Im Glad you found us. There is usually someone around to help. That's the silver lining in this horrible journey. With all of its stupid "Scenic Detours "! LOL.
Cc and size of foobs is a crapshoot. But your P'S is your best bet. That's what they do. So many have different way to get to where we want to be. You need to talk to your doctor and find out what he or she thinks. I had a 750 foob filled to 850 and am a C cup. My P'S was pretty sure a 900 saline would be what was needed so he filled to 800 at my last fill. Then the 750 were what fit widthwise! So even Dr can be surprised. But i wasn't even a C before so that's ok. Remember that your new implants will be flatter n the front and not quite fill out bra. Minimizer bras are the right profile for most. You'll have to try out what works.
Jhendrickd ruth, scottygirl. Hang in there. Drains are SUCH a pain. Mine were still in at 5 weeks. Most come out by 3 weeks. But once again take it slow now for the best results later.
Much love
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Halee, Moonflwr, JHendricks, Scottie & Mysunshine...you all came with me to my first fill - and we did great ;-) Thank you for the tips and support, I'm so grateful.
It was interesting...in one of my breasts, I didn't feel a thing, but in the other, I felt everything. According to the PS, this is normal as one breast simply "woke up" before the other. I can definitely feel a tightness, but not too bad right now (I know it might get a little worse as the day progresses, but I've got my wine chilling, so I'm going to be ok!).
Thanks for everything! I appreciate each of you so much!
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I am, for better or worse, done with fills and am at 320 ccs and honestly, today is the first day I can honestly say they don't "hurt" like they normally do. It's been like 10 days since my last fill and I'm happy to report that it seems once the fills are done, it gets better. Don't get me wrong, they're still hard as rocks and I still hate them but I do see light at the end of the tunnel. I may have gone a little bigger if I had it to do over, but I'm happy to have my shape back and looking forward to putting all of this behind me.
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hummingbird,
I don't understand....if you still have your TE's, can't you still go bigger if you really want? Or are you already overfilled to capacity?
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Yayyyy BadgerGirl!!!! I go tomorrow for an expansion. Not as nervous but not all that excited. I do see it as one step closer to the end!
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Ruth,
It is my understanding that these are smaller TEs and already overfilled at 320 ccs. I don't honestly know how much they're designed to hold but I do know they are overfilled (part of the reason they're hard as rocks, I assume). I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that when it came to the reconstruction side of the journey, I truly just put it in the PS hands and moved along. She asked me how big I wanted to be and I replied "not huge, but like I was before" which is interesting because I was post BMX and totally flat when she first met me so how could she know what I meant by that statement and she said "so B plus or C" and I thought that sounded good. I think she told me the final implants will be 300 ccs but I doubt that will be anywhere near a C cup. I'm not a very big person. I'm 5' 1 inch and am petite so we were just going with the PS gut instinct and she was shooting for 300 ccs since the beginning. By the time I was done with fills, I was DONE. My DH says I look great and I wasn't very big to start with. Sorry, I'm rambling I just felt so checked in to every step of the crappy BC journey until it came to reconstruction and my goal was just to get my shape back and I obviously didn't think much past that, or ask the right questions or do enough research. I didn't know there were different sizes of TEs and maybe I should have thought more about that and asked more questions before I had the TEs placed. Oh well. I'm grateful to have my shape back.
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I hear you completely about being checked out when it came to reconstruction. I was only given 30% chance of surviving 10 years when I had my BMX back in 2001 so really after my TE's got infected twice, I just didn't want to deal with it anymore at that time....I had much more important things to stress about. Like surviving!!!!
I still don't know a whole lot about it but from what I've been reading, if you are smaller framed then a small amount of cc can actually make a big difference. It seems like there is a good chance you could be a B or even a small C.
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Hummingbirdlover...when I was still busy reading through all the posts, I came across a great thread - I don't know if it's run by a woman named whippetmom, but she's fabulous at talking breast implant sizing. I know you're just venting, but if it would make you feel better, perhaps you can jump on the thread and get her thoughts on the sizing? Maybe she can share some knowledge or impart some wisdom on what your cc's will translate to in practice? Just a thought - I hope you don't mind the suggestion.
Either way, I will be thinking about you tonight and hoping that you find some peace.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...
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Moon that's good to know about how the expanders versus implants and bras and such. It's amazing how the cc's don't have very much at all to do with the resulting size -- I would think that 500cc = D cup but apparently that is a gross oversimplification.
Badgergirl I am SO GLAD that your first fill went okay!! But it's always good to have that wine chilling, just in case.
Hummingbird congratulations on being done with fills! And not hurting. . . . With your small frame I bet that 320cc will go a long way. Is it too late to discuss implants with your PS? When will your exchange be? I haven't had super-detailed discussions other than explaining that I want to be about the size I was before, except that I want both of my boobs to be the same size (one side has always been bigger than the other) and that I'd rather have a younger-looking version of the ones I have. My PS keeps telling me that I can go bigger if I decide I want to. . . .
jhendricks good luck on your fill tomorrow!
My first fill is June 19, which is right about a month after my mastectomy + TE placement. Is that about the time that most people start fills?
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Hi Ladies...
I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow--BMX with TE's! Just wondering...if the TE's are placed under the muscle, does that mean they are sitting directly on your rib cage? If so, is that why they are so uncomfortable? --Lorie
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Badgergirl, I appreciate your thoughts and don't mind at all your suggestion. I actually have already picked whippetmoms brain and I think I'm about as good as I can get with the TEs size I have. I don't mean to whine, I truly am so grateful to have something there again and you're all absolutely correct that I might be pleasantly surprised with how the 300 cc implants look. I'm scheduled to have the "implant chat" next month, which I assume is saline vs silicone and such and my exchange surgery will be the end of August.
Lorie, I think the TEs are painful because they are behind the muscle. My PS said because she had to manipulate the muscle, it creates pain. That and the fact that the TEs are hard, not squishy at all and the skin is tight and there is the nerve damage to deal with too. It's just uncomfortable, mainly right after the fills.
You ladies are wonderful, thank you
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I think that is partly why loriekg. I think the expanders are much bigger and firmer than the implants plus they are being used to stretch the skin and muscle. The other factor is that you are still healing from your BMX which I'm sure is a factor. Mine do feel better every day but I still hate them!!!
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Lorie, good luck with your surgery tomorrow! You're going to do great!
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Also.... I will be thinking of you and praying for you tomorrow loriekg. TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS!!!! No awards for toughest post surgical experience!!!!
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I agree it's being under the muscle! Lorie, I hope your surgery goes very well tomorrow and that you heal quickly!
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Lori, First of all, sending good thoughts your way for a successful surgery. I had the same thing with expanders, and, yes, they go under the muscle. You want them under the muscle. That is where the implants will go. Otherwise, it would look a little funny. To me, they are not so bad. You get used to them. Hard as rocks, yes, and even more so as you get more fills. But, I have not had any problems. I am in chemo now and will be having my exchange surgery in late August. After surgery, feel free to private message me if you have any questions since I am about 7 weeks ahead of you. Take it easy after surgery. Your PS will probably do some fill tomorrow. I went for the second one two weeks after surgery.
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loriekg praying for you for your surgery tomorrow. As others said, take your meds and take it easy.
Scottie
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Loriekg, sending up prayers for you and your doctors this morning! I will be thinking about you today!
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Hi everyone. I'm 3 1/2 weeks out from BMX with TE placement. I was filled to 400cc in each at surgery and had my first fill 6 days later along with drain removal. First fill was 100cc in each. I told my PS I want this to be over asap, and so far he is listening to me. My next fill is next Tuesday, and weekly after that.
I'm off work 6-8 weeks, I'm hoping to start driving next week, just locally to see how I feel.
When I first met my PS, He took measurements. I was so done by this point, I had core needle biopsies, bilateral lumpectomies, left side SNB. And I was facing BMX. I just trusted him. While I was with him for an hour, I don't even remember what we spoke about. A few days later he called me to discuss the surgery and said we had not really discussed my final outcome wishes. So what do I say to this lovely, patient, kind gentleman? I want to look like I've had a boob job. LOL. He said OK, I can make that happen. I love him and trust him.
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Hi, Audrey and welcome! That is amazing that you are already getting fills!!! I was filled to 225cc in the operating room and was hoping to start fills at my appointment this past week but my PS said I should wait 2-3 weeks. But he was ready to go ahead and schedule my exchange for August 4. He said that we should be done with fills and ready to go by then. I hope so. . . . Like you, I'm ready to be done already. And LOL about what you told your PS! I told mine that I'd go my whole life and be happy with the boobs that I have, but that if I'm getting new ones that I want them to look good.
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I've got 300 in my TE now, and only one more fill of 50cc to go. Then the exchange in July. Now I have to decide if I want a nipple or not. I used to think I wouldn't bother, but it'd be nice to "match" when I'm not wearing a bra. Decisions, decisions!P.S. After the first two weeks, I've been back to sleeping on my side. Even now that my TE is encroaching in my armpit, I find I sleep best on my side. Just hug a bolster pillow to my chest...
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Hi all ... been on other boards but found this one today, a week and a bit extra before my NSBMX with TE placement on June 11th. I adore my PS, my DH and I met with her last week and we discussed the options of implants and I told her that I had been exploring my options and wanted to go with Natrelle Inspira implants when they were available (this is based on conversations I have had with whippetmom) to get the results that I want. I told her that if I never have to wear a bra again I'd be happy. She said that with the implants I requested that I'd look like I had breast augmentation and that they'd always be "perky." I, for one, am totally okay with that at age 51. Most people don't believe I'm as old as I am so why not have foobs to match right? LOL I meet with her again on Friday morning to sign all of the paperwork and to finalize the order for the TEs. She said I might be able to go direct to implants as they had a presentation on the Natrelle Inspira but she would know more during the surgery. I thought I wanted to go straight to implant but after discussing the pros and cons with her (complication rate, possibly having to go down a cup size or so and the ability to make adjustments during the exchange) I'm pleasantly surprised at being okay with TEs and an extra sugery.
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Go Tempy! I will be looking to you to lead the way, along with the others on here.
I finally got my ps PA on the phone, and she said that her ps prefers to do TEs as it generally results in a better result with less infection. So I'm okay with it now too. Hey I'm 51 and no one thinks I am either haha. I will be thinking of you on June 11th (I graduate from college with a BA in writing on June 13th!)0 -
I had another fill yesterday. TEs definitely feel more comfortable as the fill process progresses.
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I had another fill today and I think it gets better as it goes on. Not as uncomfortable.
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I am seriously so glad to hear that this gets more comfortable!!!
Did any of you have a tender spot in between your "boobs"? I have a major tender spot and can't stand for anything to touch it. I went topless for a bit this afternoon (much to my kids' consternation) which was great. I just hope that gets better. . . .
My 4yo calls says I have "crankles" on my chest. I don't know why, but that term seems appropriate. I've taken to calling them crankles myself.
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Hi Halee. Yes, between my boobs is very sensitive. It's numb when I touch it but it hurts too. Very strange. My right breast is numb to touch, left is numb halfway from center to middle. I'm hoping my permanent implants cover the middle part enough so it doesn't hurt anymore.
I am also experiencing a wierd sensation when I drink anything cold. I feel it going past my chest.
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Audrey - I also had that weird sensation when I drank anything cold! No one else ever mentioned it so I thought it was only me. so weird feeling the liquid go down your chest on the inside, right? I am now 2 1/2 weeks post exchange and either it's gotten better or I'm just used to it. I do think it got better after a couple of months after MX.
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Jabec, I will feel it only the first two or three sips, then it goes away. Very strange. I think it's because all fat and cushioning is gone.
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