TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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Hi ladies, i have a question regarding recovery. I have been told that i should plan on sleeping in a recliner for several weeks post surgery. Is this true? When can i finally sleep in my bed? Is it because of the drains? Getting my house in order for when i come home. Will have BMX with TEs and SNB.
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New,
Everyone is different. If you are one to doze in a recliner then you might get your stuff (Kleenex etc) next to your recliner. I found bed better for me. It was nice to have someone in my house that was there cleaning it, bringing water to me and helping with answering the phone and initial bathing.if your recliner is in a busy room and bright room then you might want to hibernate in those first few days home in a quiet semi-dark room.
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Thank you for the advice. 12 days to go and i am starting to feel overwhelmed and nervous.
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Hi new___me!
I had read that @ sleeping in a recliner also- we don't have one and I even debated getting one, but in the end, I'm glad I didn't. My bed is a little elevated but I got a short step stool and put it right beside my bed and used that for a couple of weeks. I actually did order a long body pillow that curved into a giant U-shape (to the tune of 100$!) but I found that it pushed on the sides of my TE's and drains. Used it for a total of 1.5 minutes.
I did better with a menagerie of pillows that I could use- a few stacked behind my head and various ones by my sides and one under my knees. Yes, it was (and really still is) QUITE the production!! If I had a recliner I would have tried it out- but I also found that I wanted to be in my bedroom in those first few days as I kind of wanted to hide away. Plus, I just like my bed!
Thinking of you as your surgery date approaches!!
Freeland
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Hi New, I made a whole post on this but it disappeared. Oh well, the short version is I made a list on the Chemo in July 2015 thread that you may find helpful.
I just had the TE placement surgery on Oct 26th. Not bad at all. Wishing you a easy surgery and quick recovery.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/832782?page=30#post_4480044
The list is on page 30 of this thread and you may have to arrow up or down to find it.
Thunder7
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New--Me
I bought this pillow and used a menagerie of other pillows like Free123. The arm pillow from Walmart helped to keep me elevated.
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Free123 LOL i just ordered a large U body pillow from Kohls ($100+). It arrived last week. I have a rocker and thought this would help puff it up to be like a recliner if i used am ottoman for my feet. Glad to hear i might be able to sleep in bed. My daughtef is pregnant and i planned on giving the pillow to her after i finished with it. Hahaha after reading your reply about it not being vomfortable she might get it soon!
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PMR i was thinking about one of those! Couldn't find one local. i will vheck out Walmart.com. Thanks
Free
thanks for the suggestion of step stool. My bed is high too and i still am not sure about getting on and off. Will have to depend on my husband i guess. Just not sure what to expect really. He is semi-retired so will be around. We figure he can go out to get whatevet i didn't think of.0 -
Lharry. . .there are many muscles surrounding the chest area and all of them are effected by TES and implants especially during expansion. As Moon said going slower might help. Have you asked about PT? I chose to wait until after exchange but have been in PT since August and it does help. I still have muscle tightness when I overdo though and sometimes it's underneath the foobs.
Best wishes,
Scottie
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I did buy a recliner for my recovery and I am so glad I did. I slept in it for over 3 weeks post BMX and then occasionally when I was very sore from fills. I am once again looking forward to sleeping there when I get my exchange in December. For me, I just couldn't get comfortable in bed no matter how.many pillows I had.
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This is a great thread, so many pieces of helpful info. I was afraid to read anything on this, but I am glad I did. Thank you to all of you brave ladies for sharing.
When I had my UMX, it was much easier for me to sleep in the recliner. I'm having MX to my other breast and TEs placed next week and will be out of work for two weeks. Does anyone have any tips on how to camouflage under work clothes with the TEs in place? I looked for the Omalley shelf bra with the molded cups, but couldn't seem to find. I'm sure I've missed this topic somewhere.
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I found some 'bralettes' with a little padding. I definitely feel more confident wearing them, but I doubt anyone would really notice my lumps and bumps if I didn't. I came across an article at some point about dressing for reconstruction....looser tops, earrings to draw attention to face, scarves to conceal. I'm sure others will share ideas. Good luck!
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I just wear tops with patterns, pockets or other distractions and sometimes sweaters over my top. No one seems to notice.
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Honestly, I don't think anyone cares. I've been in TEs since early Aug and wear tight fitting dresses/tops. Who cares really. I was a D/DD so down to an A maybe a small B now that I've had one fill. You become more empowered, imo, if you don't care about such things. I truly admire those women who have no reconstruction done and just have a who cares attitude about what others see/think. I don't know if I could go that far being flat because I don't want to be flat, but if I did, that'd be my attitude too. Same when my hair goes. No wig for me. Bald or cap. Screw everyone who thinks anything less of me because of the way I now look. I'm still me inside, and that's what counts to those that matter.
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I had my BMx in early Dec and by the time I went back to work I was filled to B, basically my pre-surgery size. When I went out before work I just wore loose sweaters.
If anything, I'm more self-conscious after exchange. Now I just look like I had a boob job.
Elocin. . .good luck with your Mx. 2 weeks sounds like a short recovery, but you know your limits and abilities best.
Scottie
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Thanks everybody. I'm going to venture out this weekend to see if I can find a few things. I'm so thankful for this season of cooler weather where I can add a layer if need be.
Artista928, I admit, it's mostly my own vanity I'm thinking of. I was a D cup too prior to UMX on one and partial on the other, but with my body shape, no one ever believed it. The woman that ordered my prosthetic ordered the wrong size because she did so by sight and had to reorder. I really am so grateful for the prosthetic but I am very self conscious. No one can tell I'm wearing it, it's just me. But I am constantly holding my shirt to my chest if I bend down, etc. It's been 3 years, I would love to feel that I didn't care about it, but more and more I find that I do. My nurse navigator had a BMX, and chose not to have reconstruction and she was fine with being flat, and honestly, I didn't notice until she mentioned it. When I went through chemo, I wore the wigs but sometimes I just donned a cap because I was so hot all of the time. And you're right, to those that matter, it doesn't matter, just to me right now.
Scottie, how long were you out with your procedure? When I had the UMX, I was out for about 6 weeks, I think. I'll take more time if I need to.
Thanks again.
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I had umx and with my TE filled that side looks great. My natural side has gotten saggier and less full since I stopped HRT. I am in the middle of rads so my bras are not very supportive. If I wasn't lopsided I wouldn't care.
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The only reason why I bring it up is not to discount anyone's feelings. When I was younger I wouldn't leave the house without hair, makeup and clothes all looking sharp so I'm sure not one to talk. I think if you can not let this matter to you that you will become more empowered with strength and self esteem too. We always tend to think when we see someone is disabled (not implying anyone here is or being flat is at all) and happy that wow, how on earth?? I look at them as my heroes. I don't think I could be that way stuck in a wheelchair or living at home with mom at the age of 50 completely dependent knowing everyone else is not. It's quite humbling. If you notice, some of the kindest people in the world are those who are disabled. I always thought it would be the opposite, but there's something to not caring about what others think. I hope those of you that do can overcome it and not just in our situations but in all of life. Heck I've gone 180 and don't care what my family thinks and haven't for years. I'm Iranian and that's a big wow in our culture. And you know what? Life is much better and I'm happier that I don't care what they think if I'm not "normal."
I have refill #2 on Thurs and thank God I'm still quite numb from my sx back in Aug.
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I definitely see your point looking at some other areas of my life and I totally agree, I'm just not there yet in this arena for myself, but I'm working on it. My self confidence has taken a big plunge, I'm working on that too. I spent too much time pretending I was okay all of the time, hoping that would make everyone around me okay and it has taken its toll. Now, I just try to be honest with myself and others despite the cost - definitely not easy as I am one to defer - and sometimes I don't like what the truth is. I'm preaching to the choir, right?
I have always admired those in the midst of a fight or struggle for life, better health, environment, whatever the case...and I'm reminded now after reading your posts that sometimes we don't give ourselves the same compassion.
Artista, I'm so happy that you are in that space. I'll continue working on getting there. Best, Best, Best wishes!
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To you too, Elocin! It's not easy and takes time that's for sure but if you can reach that place, you will be much happier no matter what may hit you in life. I feel like I won the lottery with the 180 change I've made over the years, and I have. I'd take how I view people and life now over any amount of money.
xo
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I get your point Artista and don't disagree with you. However I have raised a child who is severely disabled. It is a fact that people stare. I got to the point with my son that I just smiled at people when they stared at him but in the early days it was very upsetting. I had to take my son to an emergency appointment only a week after my umx. I still had a drain in and only 120 cc's in my TE. I wasn't self conscious at all until I caught a woman STARING at my chest. Good grief that left me feeling very self conscious. At work I think most people don't notice and I have very bravely worn well fitting t-shirts a couple of times but that was prior to rads. Now I am so noticeably lopsided without a bra (and today is one of the days I cannot tolerate a bra) that I am self conscious. This is fortunately temporary but I have to deal with it again down the road with recon and another umx/TE. I can look in the mirror at myself with no problem but I don't like people looking at me.
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Elocin. . .I was out for 6 weeks with BMx and would have taken more but for upcoming Ex. I was out for 4 weeks with Ex.
Scottie
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Any person has tried gummy bear implants instead of silicone? Any comments?
Thanks
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I have Allergan 410 cohesive gel implants and am very happy with them. They look natural and you can't tell I had anything done when seen in my clothing. Keep in mind that I have never been one to wear push up bras or low cut clothing
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I don't know what TEs I have but after 150cc total fills, I look like a C. I'll try another 100 in 2 weeks to see what it looks like. This place adds an additional 100 cc over what you like to expand the tissues more so when it comes to rads, there's room for shrinkage--and they say it looks nicer in the end when they do the exchange.
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Hi, just joining into this conversation! Had PBMX with TE on November 2. I'm so encouraged by this thread about getting back to work, dressing, appearance and just everyday challenges in a busy life. Question for anyone who might be a bit further along. Can't wait to get rid of these drains, and I am wondering if the tubing in some places is actually causing me some pain - I can follow along with my fingers where I think the tubes go and hit several sensitive spots. Did you find any actual improvement in comfort with the drains removed? I'm having a hard time going for more than 4 hrs without Percocet and really want to get off the narcotic so I can drive.
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workingmom6,
Comfort level markedly improved for me once the drains were out.
Thunder7
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Workingmom, I had 2 drains for 5 weeks. I had pain from the drain spots but as soon as they came out the pain was gone. It will get better. My only discomfort after that isfor about 2 days each week after my 50cc fills. But that is more discomfort than it is pain.
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Workingmom: I felt amazing once the drains were removed. They caused me some irritation and little bit of pain...and once they were gone I felt like I was on top of the world! Well, at least able to ditch the percocet and move on with my recovery.
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Hello, I just had a surgery to place TE on radiated side directly using directly pectoral muscle and some fat grafting, and prophylactic mx with TE on non cancer side. Right now it doesn't look pretty, feels very uncomfortable, but that is to be expected.
I was told that without lat Dorsi flap, there is much lower chance that implant will hold on radiated side...
Does anyone have any experience to share? I don't exactly know what to expect...
Mags
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