Tissue expander removed due to infection

NotVeryBrave

When was your surgery? It's possible to have a bit of a fever post op due to slight fluid accumulating in your lungs from not moving around normally and not taking larger breaths.

While an incentive spirometer is helpful, so is just the advice to concentrate on taking 10 really big breaths once an hour throughout the day.

Nferoli

hi there I'm new to this forum and have been reading everyone's posts. First of all thank you all for sharing your journeys. I was diagnosed on 12/13/17 with invasive and noninvasive ducts carcinoma in my left breast. Chose to have a double mastectomy even though right side was fine and genetics test came back negative for the gene. On 1/22 I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Every thing has been going great as can be great news from doctors no further treatment everything came back great. I had 4 drains after a week they took out one on each side. I noticed that the right side was draining more fluid but less than 20cc's a day. 2 week my PS took out drains and started the expansion process. 1st fill up went great, 2nd was going great and added a little more saline than last time. A week later I woke up noticed drainage on my right side through my shirt took a picture emailed doctor was a Friday of course said it looked ok may have over did it. Saturday drainage was worst no fever I traced around the redness but didn't spread but did appear redder and angrier looking. Went to er put me on bat rim for a week starting to heal but now noticing a tiny spots of drainage again. I'm wondering if this is because they took the drains out to soon? Went in yesterday to have it checked their not worried but of course I am. Sorry for the long story but just wondering if anyone else went through this? I'm just trying to stay ahead of it. Thank you

macb04

Hi Alli,

I had infections twice, but went on to sucessfully go through having a TE/Implants done even though it was more complicated due to severe Radiation Fibrosis damage. It took extra surgeries due to the infection, but I got through it and your sister can too.