TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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Quick question as my next fill is in an hour and a half: The worst part of the fills for me is when the needle goes in; my pec muscle spasms so badly that it hurts down my arm and up my neck. It is excruciating pain for about 15 seconds and then it's gone. Then she does the fill and everything is okay. I don't like any of the muscle relaxants because they make me feel really drugged (like even the next day I feel drugged and I lose a day); plus, the pain is 15 seconds of excruciating and then it is over, so it seems like so much drug for 15 seconds of pain. I took two extra strength tylenol before my last fill but it didn't make a dent in the pain. Anyone else experience this and/or have a suggestion? If not, I may just have to suffer through it. I probably have 5 more fills including today.... ugh. (If this sounds really bizarre, I used to do weight training and my pec muscles were pretty strong/thick).
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I am so sorry, I just missed you. I hope you did not spasm this time. I did not take anything until after the procedure, which was a pill of both Keterolac and Tylenol. I have not had much discomfort from the fill. Best of luck!
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Ok I solved the problem:
1. Gentle yoga between fills to gently stretch the pec muscles (with dr's approval!)
2. numbing cream
3. PA is more gentle when she cleans the area. Previously, she would clean vigorously and it would cause my pec muscles to begin their spasm.
No pain today! We put in 90 cc's, so I'll have pain later, but I can tolerate that. It was the spasm that I couldn't handle. So now there are tips for others.
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im 5 weeks post op and had my first fill today. It didn't hurt when the Pas did the fill. I had 130 cc today. He filled it untill I felt some tightness. He said the next one won't be as much. I feel tightness and some pain but not too bad. I took Advil before my appointment. Does the pain get worse at night? I'm thinking about taking a pain med before going to bed.
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Mavski I felt pain when we did 90 cc's last week, especially at night when trying to sleep. I took a pain pill and some tylenol and got through it. It's worth it to me to do a bit more with each fill so that I don't have to have as many needle sticks! But others prefer to keep it down around 50 or 60 cc's with each fill. It just depends what you can handle.
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Mavski80. . .as ispy said everyone is different. I would tighten up terrible from 60 cc fills which kicked up my nerve pain. Others can do 100 cc fills w/o anything more than feeling full. I have very tight pecs.
Ispy. . .glad you solved it and recovery is going well.
Scottie
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I'm finally done with my fills, started at 350cc at initial surgery and am at 700cc now. First few fills were only 50cc each as I had some healing issues and last 3 or 4 were 100cc. Luckily, for one reason or another, I never had any issues with much discomfort only had some slight feelings of muscle aches. Waiting "patiently" for the exchange surgery which should be sometime mid-next month.
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Audrey welcome to the squishy side!
Itsy I'm glad that worked for you.
As for swimming, just go very slow. Don't do a mile! You may have to settle for less than 10 laps! I belong to an arthritis joint class. That's my speed. I only do 6 laps afterward. LOL
Much I've to all.
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This might be a dumb question... but how much can one expect to expand if they were really flat/tight after mx--no skin or nipple sparing? Is it realistic to want a full B cup with some projection? I am up to 195 and have very little discomfort and skin integrity seems fine.
Thanks in advance! Kat
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katcar. . .I was a 32 A-B pre-BMX and had very tight pecks. I had skin sparing but not nipple sparing. I think it has more to do with the elasticity and thickness of the remaining skin. I stopped expansion at 250cc b/c of nerve pain but PS said my skin could have gone much bigger. Not so sure about my pecks though. Anyway she got 300 cc high profile mentors in and I'm measuring a 38 C now. I did tell my PS that projection was my goal, not how big the implants were at the base so I think mine are smaller in diameter but project more. Talk to your PS about your priorities.
Moonflower . . .I have only tried to swim twice post BMx. The first time in a pool I could barely move my arms. The second time at water park I tried some light breast stroke on lazy river where you can walk if needed or tube. I used to be s swimmer, all strokes, swim team, life guard etc. . .it's very frustrating not having the range of motion. I plan to work slowly on my swimming this fall and winter in addition to my PT. Hiking is our big thing now.
Scottie
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That's terrific, Scottie! I don't even want to be that big, so that gives me hope. I wish I had the spare skin but I do feel I can do more--maybe at least to 250cc. I would want exactly what you asked for--projection being the priority. I'd be happy with a 34-36B. I measure 28.5 in. underneath my breasts, so putting in a big implant would look silly on me.
After my MX, I had a really good PT who did fascia massage on me to break up the scar tissue and tightness. I was able to regain almost full motion. The only thing I could not do was lie flat on the floor with my hand behind my head and get my elbow all the way to the floor--OUCH! I feel like I will be starting all over again, but the pulling sensation is even weirder with the TE. I hope you can get back to all your swimming strokes soon! You've been a big help--thank you.
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Thats the premise behind going slow I think, to give skin time to adapt and stretch. I was big and floppy before,stayed small now, no bra ever, and I love it.
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scottiemom, I've been doing my joint class for over a year. Spent 6 months in PT ( over 2 calender years) then took the live strong program. Each of them helped. But it wasn't till this year I could do breast stroke. I could do side stroke pretty well - both sides. But not backstroke at all-still. But a lot of this is due to my arthritis and shoulder problems. Just wait for clearance from your PS and go slow.
Katka do go slow. But your P'S should know how far you can take it.
Much love
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I am almost 4 weeks post MX and TE placement. One thing I found very helpful was a small pink and white polka dot pillow that was given to be by a local Breast Cancer volunteer who brought me a goodie bag while in the hospital. This little pillow is perfect tucked under my arm which is sore from the lymph removal as well as TE pressure in that area. I even use it while sitting in the recliner and while riding in the car.It's become my 'teddy bear'!
I also asked my wonderful hubby to install a hand bar in the shower which I have found to be a great comfort to steady me while showering. I was mostly thinking about after surgery but know it will also be handy for chemo time which starts in two weeks.
Does anyone know if the TE is sutured all the way around or just tacked in? And is it removed from the same incision or a new incision at the bottom of the breast? Of course I will ask my PS when I go for an injection on Wed. These posts have helped me to know to ask for a small injection, thank you
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Thanks Moonflwr! Guess I am just jumping ahead--anxious to get this over with.
Much love all around.
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Lila-claire...my PS will use the same incision for the exchange. I had asked his assistant during one of my fill visits what she recommended to help fade the scars. That's when she said not to worry because he'd be using the same incision when he places the implants.
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Moonflwr. . .thanks. I will also probably do 80 PT visits between this year and next. I'm allowed 40 per year and saved this year's for after EX. Side stroke is about all I can do. A bit of breast stroke. I'm guessing free, back and butterfly are gone, along with pushups, planks and pull ups (never liked the later 3 anyway).
Lila. . .my PS used same incisions for EX.
Scottie
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My P'S did use the same incision, but not as far. He also removed my side boobs and any dog ears on one side. He had done the other side at a previous sx.
Much love
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Mine did too but extended the vertical line quite a bit. Ive seen a lot of photos of mx with horizontal scars and mine are vertical.
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My scars are horizonal. Straight across the center of each girl but far enough from the edges that I can wear a low cut V-shaped bikini top and rock it. I hope a tad bit of vanity is allowed since I wondered if I would have to go with full coverage tankinis for the first rest of my life.
Scottie
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Ha! I love your attitude, Scottie. You go! I have been wearing tankinis for years because I have always had a flat chest. I cannot wait to wear a "real" bikini. I think I have 2 more fills and then the docs wants me to wait 2 months before surgery. Is that standard procedure? I would think one month would be sufficient.
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Katcar, my PS wants 8 weeks after the last fill before the exchange surgery
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Huh, I guess it is standard then. Seems a long time but there must be a good reason for it.
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My scars are under my "breasts", so nothing shows unless I'm lying down and you look up at it. PS says I have to wait 3 weeks after radiation for TE. More than a month does seem like a long time to wait after the last fill unless you need the time. I'd be curious and ask him why.
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S ome P'S wait 3 MONTHS! They want o be sure that you are healed INSIDE as well as outside and give the skin a chance to stretch as much as possible. But, Of course, every PS Is different! LOL
Much love
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I was hoping for 1 month! I don't want to have to pay the big deductible again
. Will just scrape by with 2 months, if I don't go any larger than 350cc. 0 -
I have to wait 3months after last fill for exchange surgery. This week PS overfilled my 600cc TE's by 50 and wants to add another 50 next week before letting them sit. I can't wait to get rid of these bowling balls on my chest!
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My PS required 3 months after final fill. I could have had EX in April but wanted the extra time to heal and exercise.
Scottie
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My PS had told me initially that we'd wait 'about four weeks' after the last fill before exchange. But as it turned out, it was nearing the end of the year, I'd already met my deductible, and so in reality my exchange ended up being exactly ten days after my last fill. There really is no standard waiting period - it's usually just the personal preference of each PS and (as you've heard a hundred times) they're all different!
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I'm glad mine doesn't have such a long wait. Unless I don't feel well, these will be tossed at the 3 week mark from rads! I hate these things already.
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