Explantation due to cellulitis

melmcbee

Well after all the pain and aggravation of te's and exchange surgery. I thought I was in the clear and done with everything but 2 bouts of cellulitis caused me to have to have the right implant removed.  Im in pain an  look horrible. Real bummed. 

ziggypop

Oh that sucks. I think I would be throwing things at the walls. Have they worked out a plan for what is next or do you have to wait and see what happens first? Many hugs.

Togetherness

Well I may be right behind you having the implants removed. I had cellulitis in October with tissue expanders was in the hospital for 6 days. Then had me exchange and implants put in nov. 5th and a few days later second bout with cellulitis. I was on antibiotics for a month and now off for a week and guess what is back cellulitis....... Ugh! So frustrated. Go in Monday to PS to discuss what is next!! I am afraid he is going to say remove them and then I will have to start from scratch later..... Ugh! What options did they give yoy? Stay strong!!

melmcbee

I was also in the hospital in september with cellulitis. It was 6 months post exchange surgery so the cellulitis isnt from the implants but it did need to come out. I am tired of all of it and do not want to try another implant for years. I just feel freaked with the way it looks on that side. I sometimes wish I would have stopped with the bmx and not done expanders or implants. Good luck to you

karensimone

Hi: I had reconstruction surgery on Dec. 11. I have had breast cancer 2x in same breast so last October I had a double mastectomy. I was not sure about reconstruction so I did not have it done at the time . After much thought I decided to go ahead. I am now on anti biotics for cellulitis and it has been 4 days and it is still very red and hot. However it is not spreading. The cellulitis is on the side that did not have cancer. After reading this forum I am questionin wether I should have left well enough alone. I see some of you were hospitalized. Was that immediately or after being on anti biotics.

Togetherness

Karenismone I was hospitalized immediately for the first cellulitis.  I have had it twice since then and was treated with antibiotics.  Due to numerous infections I am having my implants removed.  Best of luck to you!

catsnroses

Hi all,

I developed cellulitis of my right breast hours after getting my last two drains removed on 4/5. I ended up in the ER due to sepsis and was put on IV antibiotics for 4 days. My labs all look good now and I'm free of any fever, but my breast still looks about the same (red, inflamed, nipple pulled in, porous).

For those who have dealt with cellulitis, how long did it take for you to see its appearance begin to dissipate?

I'm worried about it not healing and needing to have my right implant removed. I had direct to implant following my mastectomy on 3/16.

Thanks in advance for any info!

melmcbee

Catsandroses, my recollection is that I had to stay on iv antibiotics until my breast had no symptoms. Then it came back about a month later and my ps said the implant had to go and wouldnt put another one in then. That was 5 or 6 yeats ago. I never got it replaced. Has your ps seen it. Good luck. I know how upsetting this is

catsnroses

Hi, Melmcbee! Thanks for your response.

My PS saw me in the hospital and I followed up with him today about it. I am taking augmentin now, on day 4 of a 10 day regimen of it. I'm finally seeing less redness and tenderness, and PS agreed that it's looking better, but wants me to do an additional 10 days of augmentin once I'm done with the current regimen. I'm glad my PS is being cautious.

Hoping it heals and does not come back, but I am really worried. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. When the cellulitis returned, did you first notice the return of it by its appearance on your breast, or did you get a fever, or both?

It really is a stinky situation. - c

melmcbee

Hey Catsnroses. i actually woke up in the middle of the night with chills and a sore throat. The next morning I went to a clinic thinking that I had strep but the doctor noticed the redness on my chest and I took my shirt off and saw my breast was bright red and hot to touch. Doctor wouldnt let me drive they put me in an ambulance and I was carried to the hospital that I had the surgery at and put on iv antibiotics again. In a day ir 2 the ps said the implant had to go. I asked uf ge wiuld take the other side out too and he said no. I so hope you get well. Sending hugs and prayers

melmcbee

Catsnroses I just saw that I started this thread like 5 years ago. Lol. I just wanted to tell you that I dont remember the pain or feel bummed at all. I never wear a bra and dont even think or care about how I look now. I am alive and thankful for all the help that all the doctors have given me. I dont want you reading how I felt back then and worry or get down. You will get thru this and forget about it I promise. Sending joyful thoughts your way

Debra_Dee

Hello Ladies .. I do NOT have cancer. I have a chronic problem with Duct Ectasia. I came back here today because I have been told the treatment is nipple removal and possible mastectomy. There doesn't seem to be many support groups for non cancerous breast disease. What I have found useful from your posts is the reference to cellulitis. My first post was here 3 years ago almost to the day .. when i thought I had IBS. Thankfully I do not but the pain and burning that comes with these infections (I've had 5 now in 3 years and 2 surguries to remove abcesses) is really taxing on the body. The amount of antibiotics I have had in the same time frame is disgusting, but no once can say why these infections keep occurring. After reading your posts I am really really leaning against any kind if reconstructive surgery. Every one says to me.. NO they do amazing things with breasts now. My reply is yes but they don't seem to be able to do much about infections. I still worry that even with the breast gone... will the infections go away.? They did say there is a small risk they won't.. if they don't what happens after that?? At first I was worried about the thought of loosing my breast but of course the bigger picture .... At this point though.. I just had an access removed 6 weeks ago. I was released from care last week and BAM today the burn is back. Today is rather have no breast and just be done with this ordeal.

Thanks for reading my rant.. and I feel like a princess to complain given that it is 100% certain I do not have cancer. I just dont know anyone personally who has had a mastectomy.....thank goodness for that really..

I hope you are all well.. sending rays of healing to all of you.

Debra

Lula73

Hi DebraDee- it sounds like you’ve been thru the ringer. Just thinking out loud here with 2 different trains of thought...

1) Have you tried a round of the antibiotic Levaquin? If so, how long was the course? There is another chronic condition that causes recurring abscesses typically in the creases/bending spots of the body that presents as infection, responds somewhat well to typical antibiotics but recurs within a couple weeks of stopping the antibiotic. Some researchers did a study with the idea that there was possibly an endospore bacteria causing the recurrences (basically the bacteria kind of goes into a self-protecting hibernation and is protected from antibiotics and the immune system during this time, then comes back out of hibernation after the antibiotic is done causing the symptoms to recur.) So they looked at using a heavy duty antibiotic for 3x the standard course of therapy to try and cover the timeframes for active-hibernation-active life of the bacteria. They were able to put it into remission using Levaquin for 30 days and clindamyacin lotion on any visible/surface abscesses. I was not in the study, but talked with my doc about the study and he agreed to give it a whirl for that condition and it worked!

2) have you tried doing the autoimmune protocol diet (or a variation of It) to rule out an autoimmune response causing the abscesses and inflammation? I know it sounds crazy, but it could very well be why the abscesses keep recurring. The AIP diet entails discontinuing all dairy, egg, gluten, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, tobacco), and nuts from your diet for 4 weeks. Then add 1 food group back at a time for 2 weeks and see if the symptoms return. A modified version of the diet that’s easier is to discontinue 1 food group at a time for 2-4 weeks and see if it makes a difference. If eliminating one or more of them clears things up, then you’ve identified the culprit and can continue to avoid that food group.

I would try these two options first before moving forward with mx personally. If You do need to move forward with mx and this is truly a duct issue, all the ducts will be removed during mx, meaning it should not recur. Yes, recon has come a long way. TEs and implants aren’t the only options for recon anymore. They can use your extra fat in your tummy area or hips to recreate a breast mound that looks and feels just like the real deal. I would think that if the infections were to recur after mx, they would recur regardless of whether you had recon or not. Either way there’s still the same number of microscopic breast cells left behind. Feel free to reach out with any questions!

catsnroses

Melmcbee- thank you, that's good to hear.

Debra Dee- it sounds like you've been through a lot. i'm glad Lula73 was able to provide some suggestions. i hope you are able to find relief!

wishing all of you the best. - c