TE pain under breasts and pain med question

ggtexs

Hello! I had bi-lat mast almost three weeks ago and had TE put in. I am very sad because now they are talking about needin rad. after I finish 6 months of upcoming chemo. This means I might have these things in me for over a year (aaargggg). If you help me I have 2 questions. 1) the TE are DIGGING into me under my 'breasts' is like a needle/knife pain under there. Is that considered a spasm? I can't bend over cause I feel they will kill me with pain from the digging pain!

2)how long did u take pain meds for? I have been trying to get off them, my PS suggested to use advil in between to take less but I still feel quite a lot of pain if I wait too long. I hate almost feeling guilty for still needing pain meds :S

SpecialK

ggtexs - you may be experiencing some rib bruising - keep in mind you are only three weeks out, it takes a bit to get past that discomfort if that is what it is.  You might ask for a muscle relaxer in lieu of traditional pain meds - possibly Skelaxin, Flexiril, Soma or Valium - they seem to work better on the TE pain because it is muscle stretching as opposed to actual pain at the incision.  I don't like pain meds so only took them for a few days.  I found that very warm, but not too hot, showers went a long way toward making me comfortable. We are all different in terms of pain tolerance so don't feel like you are taking them for too long and don't compare yourself to anyone else.  Good luck!

liefie

ggtexs, when I had my mastectomy with TE placed in 2012, I thought I could just get an implant later and be done with it. Then I unexpectedly had to get chemo and rads due to a positive lymph node. Was not a happy camper at all, but that was the reality. My PS filled the TE to its full capacity, I then had chemo and 25 radiations, and had the TE in for 15 months. I got so used to it that it did not bother me at all anymore except for the beginning part, and getting used to it. This morning I will be discharged from hospital after DIEP flap surgery on Thursday where the TE was removed, and my tummy fat was used to create a new breast for me. I feel so grateful that I have come this far. This is a marathon, and it will take its own time. It's better to resign yourself to this fact, let it run its course, and just be good to yourself. Take pain medication to help you over the first weeks/months. You don't have to feel guilty, and you don't have to suffer. Best wishes to you! It WILL pass.

ggtexs

liefie - thank you so much for your kind and wise words. Yes I need to get over it and just keep on living. I have a young child ang get anxious that I can't take proper care of him since he is such a hyper bundle of energy



SpecialK - I will try to be patient with this pain but I will have to talk to my PS about it cause sometimes I can't even stand up or bend down...but he always says..'it is normal'. Thanks for your advice!

BikerBabe1

I had my TE for four months and had pain the entire time.  I ended up using a pain medication patch at a low dose that kept me comfortable but without all the ups and downs of taking short acting narcotic medication. 

At first I was very resistant to the suggestion. My plastic surgeon minimized the pain (i.e., it might be "a little uncomforable") so was somewhat dimissive.  Many women who undergo reconstruction with TEs do not have signficant pain, but some do.  I could not lean over or sit or lie back without signficant pain.  Once I accepted that I did not need to feel guilty about it and  was not overreacting and that I deserved to have reasonable treatment for the pain for the duration of the pain, I was better able to advocate for myself.  I went to a pain specialist, who suggested a low-dose patch, which allowed me to work and to be comfortable for the remaining time I had the TEs. 

I encourage you to speak plainly with your doctors about your pain and to not force yourself to go off the pain medications just because you think it is time to and you should.  Listen to your body. Pain specialists deal with this type of thing all the time.