TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Comments
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Thanks, Moonflower. I finished my ABX several days ago. I saw the PS yesterday and he was concerned but not ready to do anything yet. He says I am getting more fluid building up again but it's building up much more slowly than last time and there wasn't enough for him to drain without risking rupturing my TE yesterday. If all goes well, the next time he wants to see me is next Thursday in ultrasound where he can drain it if necessary without rupturing the TE. He told me to watch for fever or redness and call immediately if necessary. This morning it doesn't look any worse than yesterday....maybe a little better? I've got requests in to my prayer groups.....no more complications, please, Lord!
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StaceySue, I will add you to my prayer list for no more infections!
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StaceySue2U, keeping you in my thoughts & prayers. I sure hope that fluid goes away and your TE is left in tact. You have had too many obstacles!
I had my 4th fill today. The purpose of doing it was to try to smooth out a fold in my right TE that has caused a pressure point on my skin. Otherwise I was not going to be going in at all this week as she wanted me to wait a good 3 weeks prior to the noticing the pressure point. Good news is that the skin looks just fine. She was only going to add maybe 10cc to see it would smooth out but ended up putting in 30cc. No luck, the point is just the same. My skin is pretty tight on the right which is dictating these small, spread out fills. I noticed what I thought was a reddish spot on top of my right foob and maybe some stinging sensation. I looked more closely and found the redness is from some capillaries that must have burst during the expansion. I might call and ask if that's ok, but I think it is because I think the underside of my foobs has some of those showing already. Anyone else have that happen? I think the stinging is unrelated, just chest wall irritation that happens to be in the same general area.
But, I may be done. I do have another fill scheduled in 2 weeks which will give me time to decide if this is enough. Ha - I've got a whopping 170cc in each TE! To me I'm pretty big, but I know that this is pretty small. On track for an earlier exchange surgery on June 22 due to pressure point from TE.
Good thoughts to all - no new infections or other complications!
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Thank you for the prayers, Molly and Jessie! I accept any and all blessings.
Jessie, I have noticed some areas where there are a lot of capillaries forming and I'm not sure but I think it's my body re-establishing the blood supply to the skin. I think it's a good thing.....but then, I'm a ridiculous optimist.
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Staceysue - You will be in my thoughts and prayers as well, hope everything will be alright. JessieJake - our exchange surgery dates are 3 days apart, mine is scheduled on June 25th. 😄 Hope your next fill will resolve your problem. Hang in there!
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Thanks StaceySue! I hope you continue to heal well - did your doctor put you back on antibiotics? I still have stitches, but I think they will eventually disappear. I can feel them when I was the wounds in the shower. I can't wait for the day when I don't have to wear pads in my camisole!
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Keep up the prayers, folks, if you don't mind. They're working!! All the redness and edema is GONE. Chicago, I'm not back on antibiotics. He wanted to hold off because he was worried but not sure it was an infection so he just wanted me to watch it real close.
Jessie I hope your pressure point goes away and you make it through everything without a single complication!
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Great news, StaceySue!
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You are blessed to be an optimist StaceySue2U! I wish I could find that more easily myself sometimes. Glad it improved so much. Yeah!!! Good point on linking the broken capillaries to blood supply.
Sheree66, we'll be able to swap stories in June.
Today at a lunch with friends I kept feeling my foobs brushing against my arms. It made me giggle to myself. I have the vaguest of memories of this happening when I breastfed (the only time I had any type of boob!).
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JessieJake - i got my exchange surgery date wrong - it's on June 23rd, the day after yours. 😀 Counting the days!
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stacysue do glad to hear! Fingers crossed it stays gone.
Jessie, i hope the point doesn't cause any problems.
Much love to all
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I had revision 3 weeks ago, 3 weeks after my double mastectomy due to skin necrosis and an infection. While things are moving in the right direction (albeit slower than I'd like), I still have some pretty strong discomfort in the middle of my chest - almost like a weight and a rug burn. It seems to kick up more in the evening. I've been taking Advil during the day, but need Norco at night. How long does this burning pain last? Will it go away after the exchange?
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Hey CHicagogal - Sorry you had to have another procedure! I understand about things not moving along as fast as you'd like. I've been trying to overcome my frustration with this process as well. I am 12 weeks post TE placement. I remember that burning feeling and I think it only lasted on and off for a couple of weeks. The heaviness - yeah - that keeps on giving although I find over time it lessens a bit (or I've just gotten used to it) I am starting to understand that it is common to have less pain/discomfort during the day and then need more "help" at night. I go through spurts ( I think because I'm desperately trying to get back to my normal and still may be doing too much.) After my 4th fill (about 5 weeks ago) I felt great! I was taking Motrin during the day and a muscle relaxer at night. Then I had my 5th and final fill and I felt like it set me back 3 weeks. Back to the pain meds (and darn if I forgot the stool softners - UGH) Finally last week I wasn't taking the motrin anymore and had even kicked the muscle relaxers to the curb when out of the blue Saturday night I was back at the Oxycodone again! The other common thing I notice is that everyone is different! Every once in awhile I just touch base with my PS to make sure I'm still in the "normal" range! I hope you find some comfort soon!
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Chicago - it usually takes a number of weeks for the hypersensitive skin feeling to dissipate, and for many right around the 6 week mark you start to feel ok. Unfortunately for you there was a double whammy in the form of an additional surgery - I feel ya - I had a bunch early on as well - also for necrosis. I am thinking 2-3 weeks and you will be seeing a difference in how you feel, and fills actually do help relieve some of the heaviness in the chest, counterintuitive as that seems. Filling the TE lifts it up and forward so it can actually feel better for many. Hang in there!
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Thank you, Ringelle and Special K! I'm relieved to hear that there's an end in sight to the discomfort. I start chemo May 12th (8 rounds, every other week), so it's gonna be the Summer of Suck, but after that I'll get my exchange and my ovaries removed and this will be behind me!
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I'm so glad I found this thread! I am 3 weeks post nipple sparing BMX. My left expander is starting to poke out right around my nipple and on my right side the skin between my midline and nipple changes from thicker skin to very thin skin so there is ridge. I am getting nervous about what this will mean down the road with implants (rippling). Has anyone else has a similar experience? I go for my second fill on Thursday but I'm wondering if I should wait a week. I can out of surgery with mounds but I have no idea how many ccs. My first fill after surgerywas 50 cc and I did not have any pain, just worried about thinness of the skin and trying to stretch it again so soon
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I am so new to all this. 1 week ago today I had BMX. IDC in rt breast and ADH in left my PS put 750 cc's in each breast but backed off to 600 cc's. Does that sound like a lot. I saw her yesterday and had 2 drains pulled with 2 left. I feel like I have an elephant sitting on my chest but she assured me I looked good. I had 40 D breasts and she used alloderm and said I had metal plates. She told me my new breasts would gradually sink down as the pockets formed and she will finish the complete 750 cc's in both sides. A different PS will do the exchange when the healing is complete. I am so happy to be going through this if it means I will look more normal. I am going to get 3 D nipple tattoos when finished. I think I have to have chemo treatments soon though but won't know until I see my BS in a week for post op and path reports. If I do I think they are going to transfer me closer to home so my other family members can take me. Has anyone else had that much cc's put in their expanders directly from surgery. I have a wide chest they said and I'm tall and 198 lbs?
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seedsally - that is a big surgical fill but it is all about what the tolerance is behind your muscle and tension on the skin. I have a good friend who also has a wide chest and her surgical fill was 500ccs in 800cc expanders. She eventually filled to 960ccs and exchanged to 800cc saline implants, overfilled to 960ccs - she looks very good. Don't compare yourself to anyone, or worry that your surgical fill is too big - we are all different, and have differing body types and anatomy. That feeling of pressure is normal and will subside, for me it was at about the six week point. I happened to read your post to whippetmom regarding the chemo and exchange order. You will have chemo first, possibly continuing to fill during chemo if your surgeon allows and your blood counts hold up, then a period of time after your last chemo infusion - usually a month minimum - you can exchange to implants. Chemo is a healing inhibitor so you can't have surgery too close before, or too soon after.
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Paulinek, Hope you are feeling good at the 3 week mark. I am like 9-10 weeks out and feel quite good, but at 3 weeks I was still in big time recovery. I did want to say that my TEs have had pokey spots since they were placedduring surgery. They were basically unexpanded during surgery so there was a fold at the bottom of each and on the outside of each. Each time I went in for a fill I asked if those pointy spots were ok and they kept telling me they were fine until my 3rd fill. On that fill the bottom fold on my right TE started pressing like a point against my skin. They were concerned about it stressing the skin and possibly breaking through. Also, my skin is very tight (which seems to be what you are also saying) so my fills were not very big and they wanted to spread them out as far apart as they could (2-3 weeks).
However, because of that pressure point I returned in 1 week (4th fill) as they hoped filling more would smooth out the fold and get rid of the pressure point. It didn't but my skin is holding up ok.
My fills have been 50cc, 50cc, 40cc and 30cc - starting from 0 as they only placed a little air during surgery. I can clearly see and feel the edges, folds, and pokey spots of the TEs, but they are pretty comfortable right now.
Because of my tight skin the original plan was to go 2 weeks between fills and then 3 weeks. They check for blood flow during the fill so they know immediately when to stop. How long will it be between your first and 2nd fill? Did they comment on thin skin or stretching?
Oh, I also notice a little rippling on the outside of my TEs. Not worried about that as I know the final implants won't be anything like these TEs. It's just the way my skin is stretching for now.
Hope that is reassuring!
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So after dealing with the pain from my last fill for almost 4 weeks - I had enough this morning and finally called PS. Thankfully there wasn't anything "wrong" - I just wasn't tolerating that fill on the left side. He offered to take up to 60 cc out and assured me it wouldn't make that much difference in the end result - I would look just a little wonky until my exchange. He ended up taking the full 60 cc. The relief was immediate! I couldn't believe it - no more pain, no more ache in my shoulder blade - nothing! I'm a little sad that my left side is now a little smaller and droopy but I am so relieved not to be in pain anymore! I just wished I had called with my concerns earlier.
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thank you JessieJake! It will be one week in between fills, but I may ask to wait. I didn't notice the thin skin and stretching until a few days after the fill. It may be completely normal, but I would feel better knowing the skin had more time to heal in between fills. Initially I wanted this process to go fast and be done, but I've read some scary stories this past week and don't want to end up having more surgeries because I rushed.
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Hi everyone-it's good to catch with everyone and see how we are all getting closer to getting our expanders out. I have what I think is my final fill may 13th. Hoping to get a surgery date soon after, guessing it will be late June. Having hysterectomy or oopherectomy at same time so it's the coordination between 2 docs that may take some time.
I'm amazed at how different everyone's fills and surgical starts are. I had 120 in at surgery, then 4 fills each 4 weeks apart for a total of 520. I have an odd feeling. I can point without looking to where my nipples are, or used to be. Is this a phantom like feeling? Either way, I'm getting tattoos right where I point. Anyone else know what I'm talking about
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Paulinek, another tidbit - I did ask if I needed to continue checking my skin for blood flow after a fill. They said it wasn't necessary, but I could. The PA said it would be obvious right away if there was a problem as she did the fill. One PA showed me how to press different spots and watch for the capillaries to refill. She said it should happen within 3 seconds. So, even though my skin is stretching like it never thought it would, the blood is still keeping my skin alive. After the last fill I did I actually noticed a faint spot where I think some of the capillaries burst (like those little spider veins), but I can't really even see that so much anymore. The way I really know my skin is way stretched is that my nipples are bigger. I'm not sure why that surprised me. It makes sense that they stretched, too.
One PA (I didn't click with her so I'm not seeing her anymore) wanted to do weekly fills, but the PA I see regularly was the one who wanted to space them out more to allow my skin to relax. That PA (the one who wants them spaced out more) was very glad I waited 2 weeks. It's hard for me to appreciate that my skin is not just stretching like crazy, but when I noticed those burst capillaries I understood it more.
I guess if there is not something forcing it to happen sooner it's best to wait. Maybe you could see about that.
Aside from my pointy spot, and needing to take it slower due to tight skin, I've not had any issues. Hopefully that will be the same for you.
BethL, Not sure about your phantom feelings if that's what it is, but did want to say I think there'll be a few of us having surgery at the same time during late June. It will come fast!
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I know a lot of women say they don't wear a bra at all with expanders but iam really uncomfortable without a sports bra. I also still wrap myself in the big ace bandage at night. It seems like I have more discomfort when not wrapped or held snug. Anyone else feel this way?
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Paulinek- I know exactly what got are talking about. I too felt the same way with the expanders. I felt better when i was wearing a sports bra. I am over 2 months post exchange but I still remember that feeling very well. Good luck to you.
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I pretty much am only without a bra when I shower. I'm hoping in my case it is providing some support to the pointy spot caused by my right TE.
I think I could try without, though.
If nothing else, I think I feel it's offering a little protection. Maybe or maybe not, who knows!
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Hi all,
I am having bmx with immediate reconstruction next week. Also having axillary disection. One question I have is...after surgery, about how long will it take until I can expect to be able to lift my 9 months old baby?
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Layle, some people have said they have a lot of weakness in their arms after surgery. I think it depends on if the tissue expanders are over or under the muscle. I did not have any weakness at all after my surgery, with over the muscle expanders. There is a strict 10 lb weight restriction after surgery and instructions for "no repetitive lifting." So my guess would be that even if you don't have arm weakness you're going to have to avoid bouncing the baby and try to hold him/her sitting down with a pillow under your arm to support the weight.
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Hi everyone! Welcome to all our newbies.
Layle, yes, depending on how big your baby is, you'll have a hard time lifting. And the axilary disection will make it worse. You will need help. You have to heal the interior stitches as well as external ones. And with the AD, you must be concerned with Lymphedema too!. You want to avoid that lifelong problem if you possibly can. This is MAJOR surgery. Yes, some can sail right through it, but those celebrities you read about have a lot of help to get through it; those of us without fulltime staff do it the hard way.
Perhaps others with the littles at home will chime in with ideas on how to avoid picking those littles up all the time.
Ringelle, I'm glad you had relief. We always try to see how long we can stand something and then wonder why we waited. Sigh. I think we all suffer from that. LOL
To all, Remember this is not a race. You will not be judged, scored, critiqued, or awarded points! LOL. The only thing to do is get through it in any possible way that works for you. For some that meams LOW (small amounts of fill) and SLOW ( larger than usual amounts of time between fills). For others more fill with larger amounts works too. You are in control, not your PS; if you feel the need to wait, do it. Your body is trying to tell you something, listen to your body. For myself I was filled 200 during the BMX, and 100 each time after. Only had trouble 2nd to last, that caused real pain, so it was cut to 50 for the last fill. My final was a size 750, overfilled to 850 on both sides. The PS wanted 900's but they were too wide for my body so he figured it out. After all my trouble to get them, I'm happy to finally be done
Here's hoping your journey to Squishyville goes without any "Scenic Detours"!!! LOL
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there, and all who nuture our children when we can't be there, too! Not to mention all the furbaby mom's out there!
Much love to all.
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I had my mastectomy and tissue expanders placed on March 28th. My surgeons were able to do some skin sparing so my scars and skin look very lumpy. They put 150cc in my expanders at that time and I still have lots of pain and pressure from them. Do any of you use lotions or massage? It feels like in some places my skin is very tight and then very loose in others.
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