TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
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Hey Andra - thats annoying that you feel like physically you arent where you want to be. Do you feel like repeated surgery is hard on your body? For me, it seems like it takes it out of me on some level for weeks. Add all those weeks up, for me, and darn but its a lot of time this year being messed up! Maybe there is hope yet for physical gains, who knows. Glad you are closer to a result you want. Like you, I wanted BRAVA but didnt have enough fat. Boooooo! So yeah, these implants are level at least for now. That makes me happy. Other than that, my expectations are pretty low. I guess my naked days are over.
Wila- what kind of massage do you do for your implant, if I may ask? At what point in your healing process did you start it? Thanks!
Best wishes to all!
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Andra: thanks for all your comments! You sound like you're doing well. You're my inspiration for a little attitude adjustment! You seem very grounded and accepting. I guess I need to work on my expectations - I think I'm still living in an unrealistic world where I hope my breasts will look similar to they way they did pre BC. Crazy. Anyway, for now I should be pleased because they are basically the same size and shape. It's really the rippling and the inner edge visibility that are bothering me. Maybe it will improve over time - maybe some fat grafting. We'll see. But it's good to not be in pain as so many people are with implants, and to have great mobility. And to have two fairly similar breasts. So there is definitely that ! Thank you, again.
Littleblueflowers: I started massaging about a month out from surgery. First my PS just wanted me to move the implant N, S, E, W in the pocket. She's not big on massage, though, and later just said to move it around whenever and however I felt like it. My massage therapist suggested using oil and massaging the full area around the implant (the pocket). She said to lightly circle above and below the scar line (or the edge of the implant - all the way around) with 1 or 2 fingers, and then also to use both hands and sort of gently stretch the scar tissue in two opposite directions. Again, gently and with oil. Additionally, after my first surgery, my PS had me simply use one hand and place fingers on either side of the nipple and squeeze 5x twice per day. So I do that too. I hope you find something that works for you and is best for your particular situation.
Good luck everyone. Have a good night.
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Hello ladies! Yesterday my PS replaced the air in my TEs with 500cc saline on each side. I thought they'd be so much heavier but in fact, I hardly notice the change in weight. I won't be able to do the exchange until over the summer (after chemo) but it's good to have my foobs back! The air had deflated down to 270cc on each side so I was definitely due for some pumping up!
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PugsMama, that's awesome. Glad you're feeling "inflated" again.
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thanks raven! Hope you're healing well...
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Hi all - secondary cancer topic with textured implants comment. I waited a few days after that story came out and then read some info on here and now I finally got around to checking on this thread. Littleblueflowers, I believe you mentioned you had talked with your PS about this cancer and then asked on here about who might have complete coverage in alloderm (It's hard to keep track of all the posts as I read through these pages!).
I wondered the same thing, though. I also have alloderm completely covering my prepec textured implants. I read in some article about the textured surface allowing for a biofilm to collect and possibly being where this secondary cancer came from. I don't know, but it did leave me wondering if having the alloderm coverage might make a difference.
In the data they've gathered, I wonder if there has been any info on whether or not these women had alloderm or other material over their implants?
As I'm sure has already been stated, I didn't mean to trade one can of worms for another. It is not lost on me that literally one week prior I had my last visit with my PS where I emphatically stated that I was quite satisfied with my outcome and was ready to move on....
I understand the risk is terribly low, but still...trip me, kick me, watch me get back up and then stick a nasty note on my back as I walk away! LOL (hope that made sense!)
Hope everyone else is continuing to do well. I think of all of us as I do my yoga class where I stretch my arms and such so much while I think that my alloderm sure better be healed up well!!!
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hello ladies, I've been reading along. ..too much to read with all the anesthesia fog I have. I was so concerned about all of my cancer issues, that I jumped in to the TE aspect of my recovery without much knowledge. ....I am at a point where I am tired of making decisions!LOL
I have a pre-pectoral TE, and I need to read thru more info before I ask questions about what I have gotten myself into, and hoping I will be back to work in the next 6 weeks with heavy lifting.
Thanks everyone for sharing!
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Good healing 2FUN!
FYI, on the BI-ALCL issue - I spoke with my PS office yesterday about this. They summed it up as the risk of recurrent BC after mastectomy is higher than the risk of this cancer. That put me more at ease. And...my PS herself has dealt with 2 cases of this cancer. Both in women who had their implants for 10 years or more. She believes that if she didn't work where she did (Mayo) she may never have had one of these cases, but it is the nature of Mayo.
They gave me this site to use for info:
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety/info...
Happy almost-Friday!
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F/up with PS again today on new TE on the right. He put in another 50 cc of saline. I sure hope he steps that up and starts putting in more each time or I won't even be considering exchange until June, which would suck. I already had one summer ruined over that stupid infection; don't want to lose another one.
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Hi 2FUN. Welcome to my listing and info on Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction. Do you want to give me the name of your PS to add to the list?
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Thanks for the welcome, I've been over on the march surgery group. My PS is dr andrew smith, rochester, ny. He was so matter of fact about pre pectoral implants that I didn't know it was a new thing. My first visit he said we will do sub pectoral implant. I asked about pectoral function changes, since I am a PT and need.my body ( ok we all do). He said that it wasnt a big deal, and that people don't use their pectoral much ( not true), so on my pre op visit he said that if my skin flap was thick enough, he would do a pre pectoral. It's hard to know how.much to vet your medical providers and how much yo trust the team who is referring you!
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2FUN, I'm glad your PS was able to do Prepectoral for you. Although I wonder what he meant by saying "people don't use their pectoral much" .? I had subPectoral first and absolutely hated how it felt. I couldn't open a bag of potato chips, my strength was so disrupted. Men wouldn't put up with that kind of loss of comfort and strength. I am so glad the Prepectoral option is available now. I will add your PS'S name to the list.
raven4mi, I know what that's like, to really want to be finished before summer's over. Why is the PS filling so slowly? I hope that you can be done filling soon.
Hey JessieJake. Good to hear from you again. How are you doing? I agree about the lymphoma risk being so low. All the hype is making women unnecessarily nervous. Just having rads and chemo is an increased risk of cancer, not to mention the risk with tamoxifen. I am just much happier now, being able to get dressed without worrying about some damn prosthetic. I was always worried it would shift, or fall out somehow. I know rationally that couldn't happen, but it stressed me out every second I had to use the prosthetic boob. My implant has given me a certain measure of peace that I never had with the prosthesis.
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I think Dr's comment about not using your pectoral falls in line with " this won't be hard" etc, even tho I am a man and I have NO IDEA what you are going through. But I am trying to be understanding /compassionate.
He seems competent, and the more interaction I have with him the better he seems. It's got to be hard for all of these health care folks to see us as patients. When we come to see them we are in a really bad, maybe panicky place in our life.
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I have no idea, macb04. I know he's still wary because this is my radiated side, so I'm sure that's a big part of it. I'm going back on Monday and I'm going to try to talk him into filling 100-150 instead of 50 at a time since I don't have any pain or pressure with the fills.
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Hi Macb04, Yes, no worries of these implants slipping out! So glad to have this easy option of the prepec implants. All is well on my end although I am going in for an ultrasound on Tuesday due to 2 lymph nodes that are enlarged in my right armpit. They've been there for some time and I'm hoping the US is just for peace of mind. I really wonder if it's the implants, etc... that have caused this reaction but it's not (hopefully) a sign that anything is wrong.
2FUN, is it fate, luck or what, but I feel as you do about getting the prepec option. PS didn't refer to it as anything but a normal choice. It was very close to my actually surgery date that I was in her office waffling back and forth on which option to chose. I had signed up for subpec and literally feel as though it was a last minute choice to go prepec. I can't imagine anything else! Hope that it all goes equally as well for you!
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jessiejake, thanks for your encouragement. Just heard from BS today. Margin on one side was only 1mm. He is thinking he wants to go back in for more tissue. It will be interesting to see how that changes reconstruction. Always something new!
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2FUN, I really hope you don't have any more surgeries besides reconstruction. I will cross my fingers that you are ok.
Hey JessieJake, I will be crossing my fingers for you too. May that ultrasound be a piece of cake, no worries at all.
raven4mi I really hope you can speed up your fills like you hope.
Take Care
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jessiejake and 2FUN, I'm with you on the "luck" train. It truly was just a stroke of luck that led me to a PS who has been doing pre-pectoral for a while now and then, ultimately, to this thread and all the awesome advice I've gotten here. It's the one bright, shiny thing I can speak of wrt this entire process.
2FUN, oh, I'm so sorry about that news about the small margin. Fingers crossed you don't need more surgery and there's no impact to your reconstruction process. I saw on the March thread that you said you wouldn't worry about it until you had to but I know how much easier that is to say than do. Just know I'm thinking about you and keeping my fingers crossed for you!
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thanks raven, I needed that this morning!
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F/up with PS again this morning: I got another 100 CC fill today and he did explain that the reason he's going so slow is not to put any undue pressure on the incision while it's still healing. He said once he's 100% confident the incision is healed he'll start filling me faster. So right now I'm at 300 cc on my way to 750. At least now I have a reason for the careful fills.
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Has anyone heard of taking tetracycline to reduce drainage post-op? My PS mentioned that a colleague of his has "anecdotal" evidence only of using it for people who have a lot of drainage. I'm currently 2-1/2 weeks post op and still consistently putting out between 25-45 CCs in 24 hours and nothing I've tried has helped at all. Would love to get rid of "Elphaba" sooner rather than later (yes, I named her after the Wicked Witch of the West.) I'm willing to try just about anything but not sure I want to indiscriminately take an antibiotic like that. Found some studies where it was effective in reducing pleural drainage but that's it so far. Just curious.
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UGH! Sorry you're dealing with drainage issues raven4mi. Am I reading this thread correctly in that you have a drain, but you're also getting TE fills? If that is true, I am baffled. I've never even heard of anyone getting fills while drains are in.
2FUN - I'm also a PT.
yeah...mind boggling how anyone can think we don't use our pecs much. So glad you're getting pre-pecs!Jen - I don't think the repeat surgeries are hard on my body. They also don't set me back much cardiovascular because I exercise as hard as I'm allowed post-op starting day 1. Heck I even exercise before showing up for surgery. My weight training drops off a little. Wish I'd make more progress. Now I'm dealing with patellar issues again - getting MRI and seeing a ortho knee specialist later this month (after breast recon surgery #3). My patellar articular cartilage is bad but I still want to run, hike, and snowboard....it's the stuff that makes me happy. Signed up for a mountain run in Flagstaff in October and planned two other half marathons (early June and late August) anyway. Snowboarded at Telluride this past weekend to close the season - conditions were great! I just had to alter the way I ride to minimize my knee pain, but still spend my time on all the blacks. Next weekend - closing out Taos. Hope you're getting out despite your lame restrictions. When are they lifted?
have a great week everyone! - xo
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raven, I had last drain pulled at 2 weeks. I had about 20 to 40 cc drainage and PS said "sometimes you have to just fish or cut bait" and pulled it out. He was more concerned about the risk of infection rather than drainage. Despite being in healthcare, I never did acute care so all of this is new to me. Here's my advice. Embrace Elphaba, and she will soon be gone.
Andraxo, nice to see another PT. I haven't been as active as you, but I am hoping I can get back on my bike when the weather/snow clears. I walked my usual 2.5 mi walk, and it took FOREVER. Got my 13,000 steps in today. I cannot believe how beat I am. After abdominal surgery, and these BC surgeries I have lost so much core strength. But a little more each day is all I can do.
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Andraxo, yes, you are reading correctly. Getting fills but still have drain. Is that unusual? Because I'm pretty sure that's what he did last year after initial BMX too, because I had drains for 7 weeks and I know he was filling along the way during that time period too. I'm hoping the fills will eat up some space that nature is abhorring and is therefore making the output (if that made sense at all!)
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2Fun & Andraxo - really everyone
Regarding getting back to being active....Now that I've had 3 surgeries and the required downtime from those, I am reassured that if I have to do more I will be able to bounce back. It was scary the first time and took a while, but even with my TEs I eventually was back to full activity level and it felt so good! So, I know it's possible and I know prepecs was a great help in making it happen as easily as it did. But, what I really wanted to share is how beneficial I find yoga to be with core strength. I never really did it before and I've lucked out by getting into a fairly low-tech community class that is working wonders - yoga for healing is the name. Boy, do I recommend that. Many of you may know more about yoga than me, but she uses the breath to support the spine and in that we work using our lower ab/core muscles during our exhalation. It's just awesome, highly recommend! It's a very low-key way of increasing core strength almost without realizing it because we are more focusing on the breath and supporting/protecting our lower back as we do it. 2FUN - We've had a few days in my neck of the woods now that I consider ok for biking. What a relief to get on and pedal again! Goodbye winter!FYI, if anyone caught that I went in for an US on some lymph nodes in my right armpit. They are nothing - benign little guys.
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I caught it, Jessie 😁 I am so glad they turned out ok. Was thinking good thoughts for you!
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jessiejake. How long b4 you started yoga? I normally do modified yoga for some of my clients, but at 3 weeks post MX I suspect I should not be doing any upper extremity weight bearing. LOL
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jessiejake, glad you got good results from US.
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Hi 2FUN, I actually didn't start yoga until after my last surgery which was just fat grafting. For that one I had a few weeks worth of restricted activity which was more to protect harvest area. I wasn't very good at following that as we went to FL and I just had to bike, but it was near the end of that window anyway,
But yes I would think after MX and TE placement it will be a while longer and very modified poses as you regain ROM. If I recall correctly I was restricted activity and lifting for 5 or maybe 6 weeks after my first surgery - BMX and TEs. Then I had to listen to my body on how quickly I returned to stuff. The yoga inatructor here is so good at adjusting to the limits of the person - I wish I had done this sooner! Do U teach yoga yourself
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jesse, I am a PT, and I have studied about every movement system around! I use yoga for the developmentally disabled kids I work with. But when I was in a different setting I would also use it. Other things I really like, and can be adapted are Feldenkrais, Pilates, and tai chi. Bottom line is we need to move, have the most options for efficient movement, breathe and tune into our bodies to live well. I'm usually the teacher, and not the student, so I am learning a lot of lessons these last 9 months!
I am thinking of all of you today, and hope you have a good day! Peace!
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