TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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maggs - I think your odds of success are as good as not, - I have heard the 50/50 stat, time will tell. There are some threads here devoted to this topic more specifically, so I am linking one for you. You can use the search box, or look at the All Topics box at the threads in the Radiation section, or you may find other threads from the one I linked. I think the majority of folks on this thread had TE placed prior to chemo or rads so they may not have the experience to be able to advise. Hope this helps and good luck!
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/806748?page=12#post_4430094
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Hello everyone, I had my drain removed on Tuesday, such freedom. I still have a lot of tightness and pain. Just wondering if this would go away once the filling process was completed. I will have these expanders in for a year since I'm having delayed reconstruction. I also have this flap I guess you could call it on the side under my arm area. Does that smooth out with each fill? Sorry for all the questions?
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Hi Lemint,
My tightness after BMX and again after TE placement was only aleviated with stretching exercises.
Have you seen a PT? My BS sends all of his patients to a PT that specializes in Lymphedema.
You may want to ask your BS for a PT prescription. If you PM me with your email address I will scan my exercise sheets and send them to you.
Thunder7
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I second PT! I have my 4th and final PT appointment today. I can lift my arm to the side again! I have to stretch every day and now at least twice a day because of radiation but my ROM is better and the tightness isn't as noticable.
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Thanks Thunder and Molly for the advice.
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yes, pt is the way to get your ROM back. My pt worked on stretching the fascia and within two sessions and doing my at home exercises she recommended, I had regained much ROM. Definitely give it a try.
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I'm doing PT right now as well (TE's put in 4 weeks ago after BMX). It's helping a lot!!!! Definitely recommend
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Ive been going to PT 2x weekly since August. It definitely helps. I still don't have full ROM back but I'm getting there.
Scottie
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hi everyone, I have already posted on Fat Grafting thread but maybe this would be a better spot....
will appreciate any advice....
To make a long story shorter, November 9th I had prophylactic mx with TE placement on my left and delayed (original Dx and right mx in 2012), reconstruction with TE and some FG on my radiated right side without using any flaps.
It's been 2 weeks and since I'm having a lot of discomfort, itchy/burning pain in my chest, I emailed photo of my front to PS this morning. It looks like my left side has this large flattened boob expanding under my armpit, while my right is much smaller and more shaped. I was told that PS already filledTE with some saline, however much more to the left side than to the right (radiated) side. It seems like saline on left tends to fill my underarm area rather Than front... Is this normal? Also the nurse called me back and pointed out to some visible on the photo redness on my chest. She asked how long did I have it for? I didn't even pay any attention to it, so I don't know... Should I be worried ? What could cause this redness? Is the fat or TE being rejected? I've been on antibiotic since surgery, so it should not be any infection ...
Did anyone had a cancer recurrence due to FG?? Last night I read that fat stem cells can stimulate growth of any remaining dormant breast cancer cells... This freaked me out!!!
Maggs
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Hi Maggs,
Did you have a graft such allograft on your TE side? Some people get a syndrome called red breast as a reaction to the allograft. It is usually treated with antibiotics and resolves itself. My PS told me to watch for redness and call immediately if it occurs.
I don't have any experience with FG yet. My TE's have been in for 4 weeks, they were filled halfway when they were installed (Oct 26th). I have had two fills since then with all of the expansion being in the front of my chest. I would definitely get an appointment with the PS as soon as possible. I had some discomfort at first but it alleviated with PT stretches. Do you still have drains?
Thunder7
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Hi Thunder, thank you for your response. As far as I know my PS only used FG when placing TE on radiated side.
I don't know if what I have on the new mx side is actually expansion going sideways or maybe swelling /seroma???
I am going to see PS on 26th, hopefully something will get resolved then...
How long did you feel discomfort for? My TE expander on the "old" (radiated) side feels uncomfortable and very tight. I also developed some mild annoying cough... And I don't thing it's due to any colds... I wonder if this cough can be a result of the pressure /chest tightness from TEs?
At the same time I'm freaking out,worried also about PE, (blot clot in lungs), even though I've been injecting myself with 80mg of Lovenox daily....
I seem to be having really hard time dealing with this surgery, I'm so scared 😒
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Hi Maggs,
I am sorry--it sounds like you are really scared. I get so scared before surgery, but then feel such relief afterwards. I don't really know how to answer your questions because I did not have radiation or get fat grafts (yet). I do know that my friend had radiation and got a nagging cough due to irritation from the radiation. It resolved itself a couple of months later. It's possible this is what you are experiencing. Hopefully, you will get more info and reassurance from others with more experience with these issues.
All the best to you and (((hugs))).
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Is there anything that can be used on the skin after placing TE and FG (surgery 2 weeks ago) and during expansion? Skin seem to be so tight and uncomfortable... even though there is only a little bit of saline in those expanders. (I'm only aiming for B cup breasts). The area is so hard to the touch and tender.
In general I don't like what I see in the mirror, in addition to all other concerns ...but again, I had no idea what to expect? There are even deep "indents" on both sides where the scars are.
Does anyone have similar experience that turned into successful reconstruction?
Maggs
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Maggs09, I asked a similar question back when I had my TE's put in @ July. I was determined to get my skin soft and supple so that it would accommodate nice implants. I am small- a very small A until I had small B implants put in @ 1999.
I had skin/nipple sparing DBMX in July '15 and the skin on the cancer side was VERY compromised. I used a mixture of cocoa butter/shea butter and mineral oil starting about 6 weeks out (when my scars were pretty much healed). I used this combo in the beginning stages bc with mineral oil mixed in it is softer and spreads more easily on your skin. I found the best products were marketed for African-American hair conditioning, ironically. Read labels to find the ones with the best ingredients. Or I could also get off the couch and actually go look at the labels and see what I used and tell you if you'd like specifics, LOL.
As the weeks went by I switched to a more organic blend of cocoa and shea butter (shea is really hard to spread, especially in the winter!) when my skin was able to handle it. When I would go for my fills and check-ups my PS would always comment on how I must have been really conditioning and taking care of my skin bc it was really doing well.
I have always enjoyed "self-improvement projects" or Glamour make-overs (ha if you are old enough to remember those) so I just saw this WHOLE thing as one giant self-improvement project. And I do mean "giant"!
And girl, I did NOT look in the mirror much in the beginning!! I think I had 50 cc's of saline put in each breast on the operating table and this with VERY messed up skin/nipple on the cancer side. And the scars- oh my. Just don't look. I have a big jewelry box that covers part of my big bathroom mirror that I just stood in front of. I could see my face, but little else…concentrate on your eyes…check out the new NYX shimmer eyeshadows- they are like 3$ and they are so much fun. Last forever!! Combine them with Fergie eye-shadow primer (by Wet and Wild, LOL) and you could swim the English Channel and it would all stay on. Concentrate on the fun stuff!
By the way, I did this moisturizing routine twice a day- morning and night after each shower (or bath, later on) and I do think it made a difference!
Hang in there, Maggs09!! Prayers and hugs to you!!
Freeland
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Hi Freeland,
Thank you so much for your reply! It gives me hope that this whole process may actually turn out ok, and it definitely put a smile on my face. I will try some Shea butter or just plain coconut oil for starters...
I have been so very strong through dx of 2 independent cancers (bc and colon), lung surgery, blot clot, chemo, rads, and never thought that I would loose my strength now... I'm scared about risk of recurrence because of reconstructive surgery potentially causing inflammation , possibility of blood clots, deformity (like I said my chest doesn't look pretty lol), and everything else...
Thank you for awaking some sense of humour in me
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Oh Maggs, hang in there, girl! Some days are so stinkin' hard.
I may be PM'ing you about the colon cancer thing- I was scheduled for a colonoscopy due to some issues I'd been having right when my BC was found this spring. Just had my exchange surgery so hopefully in a few weeks I can have it. I do think something is going on. But this whole thing has prepared me for... whatever.
Just read your posts about curcumin and Tamoxifen. Just started curcumin Friday to go along with the Tamo I've been on for a few months… Lawdy, if it's not one thing, it's another!!! Murphey's Law of cancer I guess!! Just know you are not alone!! Prayers and hugs!!
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Free, I think adding some curcumin (powder) and cayenne or black pepper to your diet earlier in a day (I take my tamoxifen at night) should be ok; and again if you are on AIs, you should be fine, even with curcumin supplements, as AIs are metabolized differently; also if you take calcium supplement - keep it within a safe time from any other medication, especially tamoxifen, as calcium produces a coating in the gut, preventing other meds from being fully absorbed, therefore lowers their efficacy; calcium should be taken either 2 hours after or at least 5-6 hours before other important medication, so it can be fully absorbed before other medication is being given.
As for colon cancer... I was dx with bc in May 2012, it was a total shock! And a blood clot in my lung, which delayed my mastectomy ... Since I had some other symptoms, I insisted on having colonoscopy before starting chemo in June... that's how we found stage 2 colon cancer;
Thank goodness colon was treated with a surgery alone, no chemo and we could concentrate on all the big guns to stop bc
Mags
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ok. Is there a problem with this thread? No one in a week? How's everyone doing?
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been wondering same thing. Unusually quiet!!
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Has anyone else had a rough time sleeping with tissue expanders? I'm 6 weeks out of surgery, and they've been ok lately for the most part. Fills haven't been too bad. But sleeping is just not comfortable. Well, I start out feeling ok, but wake up every night feeling kinda tight. No position feels good. And then my back starts hurting too. Not fun...
And I feel like the things are way too much in my armpits! I hope the implants don't get out in my pits!
I'm pretty small/narrow... And I just feel outta proportion...0 -
KCinMN, I have to sleep on my back slightly elevated with a pillow or folded blanket under my arm. If I sleep on my side I have to support the TE or it feels like it's pressing into me. I was pretty good with the tightness until radiation. Now I am uncomfortable again. I feel it in my armpit.
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KCINMN, I'm almost 4 weeks past surgery and TE placement. I've been having lots of pain, especially in recent mx side, and it seems like the initial fill (done during surgery) went into my left arm pit also, which adds to discomfort. I haven't had a second fill yet, we postponed it till Dec 10th, because of pain. In addition, I'm experiencing complete lack of energy, I guess this whole process has very emotional impact on me... Anyone else feels like that? I was so strong through chemo, rads,previous surgeries, but this last one seems to be draining me out...😒
Mags
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Mags and Molly - thanks for the responses!
Every part of this journey has been draining for me. Especially the post surgical drains.... Hahaha.
Ugh. Another sleepless night for me. I spent a few weeks post surgery in a recliner, and I think I'm going to have to resort to sleeping there again. I had been fine back in bed, but even propped up this past week has been rough. I keep waking up in pain. I usually feel ok during the day, so who knows what I'm doing wrong while trying to sleep...
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Maggie, Mollie, KcMin,
I have also had feeling like it was under my armpit. There is a moderate amount of swelling still and extra fluid behind TE. I had to have it drained once. My PS thinks this is normal and is going slow. Fills are only 25cc. I am thankful for no infection. I will deal with the pain/sleep issues. I can't say it's comfortable. It feels weird. I have an Alloderm matrix in the bottom half also.
Patty
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I am waiting for the scheduler to call with my surgery date for MX with TEs, From reading through these posts it seems that tissue expanders can be pretty uncomfortable. Are some types of TEs more comfortable than others? The PS only showed me one, which was kind of rectangular looking. Also, where do they insert the syringe to fill it? Thanks!
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Does any of you have any mild discolouration of the skin 4 weeks after placing TEs? My skin doesn't look infected, but it seems slightly pink(reddish) and slightly warmer than the rest on my body. On the right side, (where I had radiation in 2012/13) I noticed a "bluish" spot, looking like a light bruise.
I wished PS was better at describing what to expect and to when to be concerned?
Mags
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Last night was my first night home after PBMX with TEs. I am trying to figure out the best set-up for sleeping in bed. I think I may have found a decent position using one of those armed bed chair cushions with a pillow in front of it. My lower back on both sides feels quite uncomfortable though. Feels like a constant strain on the muscles. Tonight I will try a pillow under my knees to see if that helps.
My TEs are pretty uncomfortable right now. One of them is sitting pretty high up on my chest and it just feels weird. Hopefully things will improve over time. I have a long way to go....
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Mrs G congratulations on having made the decision to have the surgery and have it behind you! I am 14 days out PBMX with TEs. Everyday is so much better than the one before. I had been sleeping in a recliner since coming home. Yesterday my last 2 drains were removed and i slept in my bed for the first time in 14 days! Tomorrow i can finally shower whoooee!! I hope your recovery exceeds your expectations.
Hugs, diane
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Hi everyone,
Maggs, I can relate also. I had surgery on Nov. 17th and though I am optimistic I have spent a lot of time crying. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, and I think the lack of sleep isn't helping. I had a LMX with TE placement and TE place on the right radiated side as well, had the RMX back in '12. My radiated side is doing well, but the other is giving me so much grief. I had a seroma drained last Monday and will most likely do it again upcoming Monday from the looks of it. Up till 3 nights ago, I'd been sleeping in a recliner. I'm now in my bed with so many pillows propped up behind me and a pillow under my knees. I have to get up though every so often to walk about because I get so stiff. I am a walking zombie and I was foolish to think I'd be able to go back to work in 2 weeks. I've been cleared to take Ibuprofen now and that has helped a smidgen. I may ask for something stronger to take at night. Maybe that will help. I think if I could just get a good sleep, I'd be so much better.
Thanks to everyone for sharing!
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Elocin, it sounds like we both had initial right mx and rads in 2012 and left mx with TEs on both side this past November.
I expected more pain in the radiated side too, but ironically left side (never radiated) bothers me more. Plus having expander shifted into my armpit doesn't help😩.
Everything looks pretty ugly too.
I found that gentle back rubbing/massage (done by my teenage daughter in a sitting position before bed time), calms ends of the damaged nerves and reduces burning pain at the front /chest area, therefore makes it easier to fall to sleep😊
Are you using any lotion or any ointment on your chest?
Mags
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