Aug 13, 2022 04:56PM - edited Aug 13, 2022 04:57PM by jennik78

Hi Whippetmom, The PS and I met again for my final expansion and he now thinks the Mentor Xtra 375 moderate plus is best but will also have the 400 moderate and the 450 high profile in the OR. We will be doing fat grafting as well to smooth things out. He says 450 will probably be too big/tight. He said he is willing to work with other brands that might have a better combination of projection and my width but he likes Mentor the best. My TEs are now fully expanded to 280 - I do like how they project and fill a 34b my bra. I know probably unimpressive to others but pretty curvy to me!

Nov 4, 2022 10:13PM k-gobby wrote:

it is good you are back.

I have few of the details you spoke up, but am clicking on links you posted. I had a TE put in Feb 9th, but I ended up with a blood clot and 6 months later I am off.

Now looking to get the left TE out and the right breast removed, so 2 implants. They will be silicone. I believe the PS said Iay need fat grafting, but I forgot to ask. I will question him in the portal.

I was not big busted and was able to get skin saving, all else removed. The right side I may get to m keep the nipple. Really, since late June of 2021, I have found I am Brca2 + and Her2+. Stage 2. Foreign. All of it, until my genetic test and pathology on my tumor.

It is good to have a forum with women and men, who have cancer.

Mar 20, 2023 10:37PM snm wrote:

Hi! I'm new to the community and so grateful that it exists. I currently have tissue expanders in and have been experiencing rib pain starting right below expander and extending down about 3 fingerbreadths (only hurts when I push on that area)- couple inches in front of former drain hole. Is it common to get rib pain with TE and will it go away when swapped out for implants?

Also wondering how folks have decided on nipples - recon vs tattoos vs nothing?

Thank you!

Mar 21, 2023 02:13PM snm wrote:

Thank you minustwo! I feel relieved to know that about tissue expanders and the pain associated with them. I will get implants in May and I'm nervous about having another surgery. I heard recovery time is short but not sure what that means - 2 weeks? Would love to hear how others handled implants-swap experience.

My recovery from BMX was painful with limited mobility and back spasms for first 2 weeks but then slowly got better over few more weeks. Stage 1A (high grade DCIS with microinvasion on left), preventative on right.

Regarding nipples and no sensation I hear you. Thinking I might need something to have closure--maybe tattoo would be ok?

Thank you

18 hours ago mavericksmom wrote:

Hi snm, I just had my exchange surgery March 2nd. It was so much easier from my other breast surgeries!

I am a bit unusual because I have had BC 3X, in 2003, IDC treated with two lumpectomies, (second one for clean margins),chemo and radiation. It 2018, 15 1/2 years later, BC reared it's ugly head and I was Dx with ILC in same breast, treated with left mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction (January 2019) and Aromatase Inhibitor. Three and a half years later, August 2022, I was diagnosed with DCIS with microinvasion, and I had a right mastectomy with tissue expander.(October 2022)

Yes, the TEs are rock hard and uncomfortable as....well, you know! My exchange surgery was great and I would do it all over again without hesitation! I was an out patient for my mastectomy, and the exchange surgery as well. Honestly, once I got the anesthesia out of my system, I felt really good! I took the prescribed medications, tylenol, Celebrex, and Gabapentin (neurontin) for the pain. He gave me a few oxycodone but I never took any because I do not like the constipation it causes and honestly, I had next to no pain, so I didn't need it!

No drains with the exchange. I had some unique issues that are not common, so I won't mention, but I did get constipation from the anesthesia and surgical medications. That was probably also due to my body and how it reacted to the drugs.

I think the worst part was not being able to unwrap the bandages, surgical bra, and the abdominal compression garment, due to the liposuction I had. That meant no showers until after I saw my surgeon for first post-op visit 5 days later. Really, if that was the worst, you can tell, it wasn't bad at all!

I am almost three weeks out and feel back to normal. Now it is really hard sticking to the restrictions I have for the next three weeks! That is a good thing!

By the way, if you are wondering why I didn't have a bilateral mastectomy in 2019, I wanted a bilateral mastectomy and was refused! Long story, and really water over the dam now, so no point in going into it, especially since my surgeon sadly passed away unexpectedly in the spring of 2021.

Any specific questions you have, just ask! The best thing about these message boards is that there is always someone who can help you with questions and your feelings. It is full of people who really understand and care, like minustwo, who helped me so many times!