Complications with Tissue Expanders

amanda55alex

I was diagnosed with stage 3 in October of 2014. I had a full mastectomy with tisssue expanders placed followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Three days prior to my last chemo treatment I wound up admitted to the hospital with a 104 degree temp. Two days into my hospital stay I had my skin breakdown with exposure to the expander. I completed my last chemo and immediately had the expanders removed around May of 2015. I then completed my radiation and decided to give my body a rest before reconstruction.

Went in November of 2015 and discussed my options with my ps. We decided to go the way of the latimus dorsi procedure. Went in on December 3rd and the procedure went well. Had 6 JP drains in, they were in for many weeks and we're only taken out after the discharge numbers went below 20cc for several days. I had a section of skin on my left breast that was not getting blood supplied so the skin was dying and needed to be removed. That surgery was scheduled for December 31st. Prior to this surgery the ps did not like the amount of swelling on both breaststroke so after he completed his part of the surgery I was taken to radiology to have image guided jp drains inserted (one in each breast). For the first few days there was a substantial amount of clear pinkish discharge. They were removed when only slight amounts of serous fluid was draining. (Just a brief synopsis of where I am now)

On January 25th I went to see the ps and he did not like the swollen size of my left breast. I told him how painful it was. He ordered another image guided drain to be inserted. As soon as the fluid began to come out it was a yellow milk like color. I have never had this kind of discharge throughout this journey.

If anyone as had the same type of discharge and could respond I would so greatly appreciate it. See ps on Monday but am extremely nervous.

Thanks

Mary