TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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Grammakathy,
I'm with you. I find that not having to were a bra even under a thin tank is liberating. I'm not planning on the 3rd surgery (i.e. nipple recon). Not going under anesthesia just for that.
Scottie
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Not sure you have to go under for that. Supposedly its a small procedure that can be done in their office. But Im not for sure.
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My nipples were made by my PS at the time of the exchange surgery.
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Hi ladies. Just got home after my 3rd fill. I am so happy with the way I'm starting to look. This TE journey definitely gets better as the fills take place. Here's a pic but it does not even do justice. Hang in there everyone. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
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Not sure why but my PS does not do nipple recon at exchange. She does it as a third surgery and then offers tattoo for color. If I ever have to have a hysterectomy, I'll do the nipple recon with it.
Scottie
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I had my first fill a week ago. They are soooo uncomfortable!! I don't know if I can take having these damn things in until April.
My next fill is next Monday. I really hope this gets better as everyone is saying...ugh.
Hope everyone is well!
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lulu, it does get better. 2 weeks after my BMX I was thinking like you, get them out of me!!!! A few fills later I was OK.
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Thanks Audrey. Yeah I keep telling myself " it will be ok, it will be ok". Just gotta suck it up...lol.
Your pics look great by the way!!
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It does get better. When I last saw my PS in March, I told her that I had started lifting light weights. She thought I was crazy, but did not say no. I've kept at it and am working my way up. Currently about 10 lbs each. That may not seem like much but it's strengthening my arm, shoulders and pectoral muscles. As long as I don't push it too much, I'm way more comfortable. Exchange is end of July so I want to keep working at building my strength until then. Not sure how long I'll have to wait after to get back into exercising.
Scottie
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Kathy and Aviva -- you both share some good information! Thank you. It's good to hear from people who have made it through this process.
Audrey -- you look great!!!
Scottie -- my PS does the same on nipple reconstruction. He likes to wait 6 months after the last surgery, reconstruct (he said that he can do it with local, but usually women need a revision anyway so I'd probably be put to sleep), then tattoo. I guess I have plenty of time to decide.
I had my first fill today. I was filled to 225 in the OR and got 60 today. I have had some very slight stretching feelings, but haven't had to take Advil or Tylenol or anything. I was very pleasantly surprised. I go back next Wednesday.
It's been a rough week so far. I found out yesterday that I have lymphedema even though I had a sentinel node dissection and my PS was concerned I had a blood clot in my calf. I had an ultrasound and it's not a blood clot, but looks like I may have a lipoma. I have to have a MRI to be sure that's all it is. Every time I have a test I feel like it just leads to another test. . . .
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Thank you, thank you thank you!!!! I have had my TEs for 5 weeks now since my Bilateral Mx. It has been an incredibly tough road and I thought many times, I don't know if I am going to make it. Finding this thread has given me the hope and support I really needed to help me get through. I have been in tears sitting here reading the posts. I am disabled and in chronic pain anyway so, when I got this diagnosis in Apr, 2015 I was devastated. The PS told me several times that if my TE pain turned into "chronic breast pain" because of my other conditions he would remove them. He pretty much terrified me before I even had my surgery that this may fail so I am not really sure what "normal" pain and discomfort is with these TEs. I constantly worry that I am not going to get through this!! This HAS to work for me! It is not an option for me to fail. I have had way to much trauma over the last several years and I cannot let this have the last word or the Dr make a decision to take these out if they are too painful according to his standards. Ugh, I just have not been complaining or saying absolutely anything to his nurses when I go in for a fill. Luckily I haven't even seen the PS since before my surgery! So, again, thank you for this thread and helping me feel more normal so I don't feel so stressed and crazy worried all the time that I am not normal!
Teri
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Falconmarks - Welcome to BCO; the place where you'll find solace from the storm. You are not crazy, what you're feeling is very normal, you're in pain, and you've just found thousands of women just like you. It will get better. Just remember that in here we all get it - and you're never alone. Wherever you're going, however you're feeling, one or more of us has been there before you and will try to make your experience a little bit easier because of ours. Feel free to ask questions, vent - whatever you need.... We're here and we're all in this together. You got this!
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Falcon marks
We definitely get it. In the 6 months before my diagnosis, I underwent 3 procedures for a debilitating back injury (old injury degenerated). I was supposed to have a 4th procedure in Dec. but got diagnosed in Oct. After BMX I had to start from ground zero. 10 minutes slow on treadmill. It's very frustrating. MO has been great. Put me on Gabapentin which works great on the nerve pain from my back and BMX (also helps HFs) and allowed me to start strengthenin slowly. I could have had exchange in April but postponed b/c I wanted to be stronger going in. Hang in there and ask your PS or MO about options that might give you relief.
Scottie
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I also find these expanders very uncomfortable. I have had them in since my surgery April 10. I need to keep them until my exchange surgery in September (I hope!) I have to get through chemo first. At this time, there is a stitch under my arm where the expander is, that is trying to come through my skin. I keep pushing it back in. Ouch! I just hope and pray that I have no more problems with the expanders and that the side effects from chemo do not get worse.
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I've had my TE since my surgery in March. These things are so uncomfortable and is unbearable for me at times. I'm getting my last fill next week. I'm hoping to get my exchange in August. Only 2 more chemo tx. I was told have to wait 6 weeks after last chemo.
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hi all. I am new to the site. I have been reading messages for weeks now trying to know what to expect. I am 10 days out from bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders placed immediately. I have some fluid in my tissue expanders but don't know how much. I am very thankful for were I am at right now but my breasts (or what is there) looks so odd to me. They are wide and don't look like what I expected. Is this normal? I am supposed to get my first fill on Thursday and I am very nervous for that.
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Eee3, my expanders are wide, my arms touch them. I have about a 3 inch gap between them. Don't stres, PS will get implants closer together. At least I look good in clothes.
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Hi everyone, I had my exchange this past Tuesday!Oh Goodness what a relief to have those TEs removed! I have round silicone implants now, so soft!
Yes Eee3 it is normal, those things are really uncomfortable.
Love, Robin
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thank you everyone for replying to me. You have no idea how relieved I was to hear your answers. I have been so stressed and uncomfortable with these TEs! They are awful, ugly, huge and even square looking and I can't even put my arms down comfortably. I really don't care about the "look", it is the feeling like I am stuck in a time warp and living every minute FOR my TEs because they are always screaming at me for attention! My left armpit is deepened and my arm sometimes is sore or a little tingly or numb. I have to lift my arm to stretch to relieve the pressure all the time. I only have 2 more fills they told me but I have to wait three months out from the initial surgery until I get the exchange, so sometime in mid August I am praying!!! I would do it tomorrow if they would let me, even if my breast size was going to be smaller than originally planned! I don't care any more about my original size. I just want it over with.....
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Falconmarks, everything you are saying I have felt! I can't shave my armpits completely because of the expandersand tightness! Every so often I just pluck them....Ouch!!! They are wide and I have a space in my sternum of about 3 inches. I feel like I sweat more because they are so far on the side. I have been trying to lie on the floor a couple of times a day to stretch which really helps. I am about 10 weeks out of my surgery. I really want to get a little bigger but I don't know how much more I can take. I have recently had a few moments where I actually forgot they were there! I never thought that could happen.
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Eee3 welcome, dont worry, the final outcome of exchange is a whole other ball game. All the te are there for is to create the pocket space that the implants will eventually fill. The ps at exchange will make sure the implants sit right and not under your arm pits etc... Try to find out how much you got filled at surgery, and how much he plans to fill each time. I got 100cc at surgery and didnt get a fill till 4 weeks out. Then 50 cc per. Low and slow is the way to go. If you arent ready for a fill tell him/her...
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jhendricks
I hate anyone to feel how I feel but it is nice to have someone confirm that they are feeling what I feel. I don't know why but when someone else has similar problems it helps you get through it better. I am sorry you feel like that. We know each other's pain! LOL I wish you a speedy recover and I hope your discomfort and pain lessens. I hope you gets a break for a little while too!
Thanks for the reply!
Take care of yourself!
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thanks everyone for all the replies. Even as just a few days have passed, I can see that swelling has decreased and can see some ripples in the expander (which I know will go away with fills).
How long did it take you guys do be able to lift your arms above your head again? Does anyone have any good stretches or exercises they love?
Jhendricks, how do you do stretches on the floor?
Falconmarks, I hope that you find more comfort as time progresses. My hand has gotten some tingling and numbness already when my arm is bent too long. Hoping as the nerves regenerate that this will dissipate.
Robin, congratulations on your exchange. Hope you are happy with the result!
Aviva5675, thanks for the info. I will ask on Thursday about the numbers. The ps said he was aggressive at my first fill during surgery because they had salvaged skin that he didn't want to take a chance of losing
Audrey, mine have the gap between them too. Glad to hear we are in a similar situation
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there should be some excercises on line. But ask for physical therapy. Hugely helpful in regaining range of motion and helps with pains too. Ask for one that specializes in lymphedema, which we are succeptible to after having nodes out.
After surgeries we find we can do things- but just because you CAN doesnt mean you SHOULD!! Go slow in doing things, helps recovery in the long run.
Ideas and thoughts thrown out on this site are all helpful but ask your own drs about them, what works for one doesnt necessarily work for another.
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Hi everyone! I think this my first post on this subject, although, I have been reading all your posts. I have had my expanders since my BMX on April 10. I am in the middle of chemo now, and, I hope, will have the exchange in September. I hope it comes soon, as these are really uncomfortable and I have a stitch in the side under my arm that is trying to poke through my skin. Ouch! I keep pushing it back in! Not fun! I hope the end result is worth it
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I had my NSBMX with TE placement on June 11th so almost two weeks out and already ready to get them out already! They feel like big lumps on my chest and into my armpits which makes it difficult to sleep on my side so I've been on the couch since surgery propped up and against the corner. PS says that they were filled to 300 and that I probably could have gone straight to implant because I have enough skin but they TEs are under the muscle so it would have been very painful to go as big as I want (back to my original D cup size). I'll start fills in a couple of weeks and she's saying that they'll go up to around 700 to make sure there's enough space for the implant.
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2 weeks out you are still even recovering from the surgery. We were cut up, sliced and diced, had stuff shoved in there and sewn back up. Itll take a few more weeks just to feel ok again from that. Let alone your fills and tes.
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Hello everyone! Glad to see new people are finding this thread.
Mysunshine, what you have is called a "spitting" stitch. When you see your PS, have him remove it. You want it out so it won't be a route for infection.
We had one lady on the boards who went by 2 fried eggs as she said that's what she looked like right after the BMX and surgical fill! And it really does. But as everyone has been saying it does get better.
One reason size of implant does not equal cup size is YOU! Everybody is different inside. TEs fill out only one side - the front. Therefore, they look big. When Squishies are in they will fill in all your places where tissue was removed and so not project as much. As usual we are all different and so they fill up the cavity differently too. Sigh. it should be easier, shouldn't it? LOL
For those suffering pain in the chest area, P'S will sometimes anchor the TES to the bone. Some use Alloderm to support the implant. Remember that your own breasts were supported on all sides by millions of cells. Your foob is only supported by your chest muscle and skin. That's a big reason they can't do really big implants. If you are going through RADs they prefer to wait as long as possible after to avoid problems.
I aw someone on the other page got lymphadema. I'm so sorry to hear that. Most PSs think it rarely happens and so aren't as quick to treat it. Sorry I can't link from my phone but look for the grrrr i hate LE thread.
Much love
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Moonflwr912
Thank you SO much for your response and all the information! It is exactly that kind of information (on top of personal experiences) that I really need to hear. No matter how many times I go to the PS office for fills I get inconsistent or conflicting information from the nurses that do my fills. I seem to get a different person almost every time I go. I was told I only needed 2 more fills then this time the nurse told me your C might be different than ours and you need between 600-700 and you're only at 370 now (after that days fill it was 430). They are just frustrating the crap out of me. I ask them the right questions, get information, follow instructions but always seem to get more confused every time I have another appointment. My left breast fills huge and is visually much bigger than the right. Everyone i have shown it to everyone asks why they are so different. They told me don't worry about it. They last nurse told me it doesn't matter what it looks like. This nurse asked me if I like how it looks??? Is it getting near what I want it to look like?? I said I don't know!! It is flat and not even sticking out like a real boob. That's when she said I need a lot more fill to have it stick out more!! I am getting conflicting info!! Told it doesn't matter about projection of TEs then told it does! I am so confused and frustrated more and more. I told her I am ready to quit already because I thought I was closer and now she says I'm not. She says, don't give up. Grrrrrrrr. That's all I have to say. Does anyone else get this too? I am NOT a stupid person! I have three degrees and my pain management doctor told me yesterday I should teach a pain management class on the medication and how they work to his patients because no one understands it all like I do like how extended release works with break-through meds, etc, LOL sorry, off topic but I just was trying to make a point. That's just how deep the frustration goes!
Have a wonderful, blessed day, my friends! Please take care of yourselves and I hope you all heal quickly and have the least pain possible today!
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hello all - newbie here to this thread - looking for some advice
I had BMX with TE's on 5/28 - 200 cc's added at surgery and had 1st fill this week to add 60 cc's
Found out today from MO treatment recommendation as I had 2 positive nodes will now include 20 total weeks of Chemo and then min of 30 days radiation which will put me into 2016. I cannot imagine having my PS complete all my fills in the next month or so & then keep TEs filled for 5-6 months! I was thinking of holding fills or dosing them out a lot longer - any thoughts or similar stories??
Also got my 1st fill Tuesday & today I have such an incredible itch on the inside where the needle goes in - anyone else experiencing itching from the inside along with the pain & tightness?
Thanks
Mary
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