JP Drains removal and Tissue expanders filled (IM SCARED!!)

Heatherlucas74

Two weeks ago today I had bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with tissue expanders placed. I had 4 drains placed and had 2 removed a week ago. One I did not feel at all but the other hurt so bad when they removed. I nearly passed out!! NO JOKE. So now tomorrow I go to my plastic surgeon again for the removal of the last two drains and to get my first fill since surgery. I am scared out of my mind. Did anyone else feel pain when the drains were removed and how are the fills? I had 50cc filled the time of surgery and I am so darn tight and still cant take a deep breath without feeling like my chest is going to rip apart. Can someone please reassure me that this reconstruction will be worth it and it does get better. My PS says he fills until I tell him to stop and when it becomes uncomfortable...Ummmm Im already uncomfortable so how does that work? Thanks for any advice or reasurance!

Molly50

Well I only had a uni mx instead of bilateral but I felt the same way initially. I actually felt better a couple days after each fill. My pec was spasming and I was so uncomfortable I wanted to rip the TE out of my chest. It should get better with time. HUGS!!

Blessings2011

Hi, Heatherlucas74 -

Ouch - so sorry you felt that one drain being removed. Personally, I never felt mine being taken out. I was in the middle of talking to my PS (and not looking at my chest), when he said "All done!" and they were out. Never felt a thing. But our experiences do vary. Just be sure to mention how you were uncomfortable last time.

As for fills, you are only two weeks out from your BMX. Many Plastic Surgeons wait a month before starting fills, because the muscles and tissues that were cut during BMX are still healing. Others decide to start right away.

One thing you want to remember about this whole fill process: YOU are in charge. If you are feeling tight and constricted with 50ccs, then you are definitely one who would do well to follow our motto of "Low and Slow is the way to go."

In other words, take your time. If you don't feel ready to start fills, don't. The difficult part of the PS inserting saline "until you tell him to stop because it becomes uncomfortable" is that often, you don't feel the discomfort until that night.

The fills procedure is pretty simple. The doc will fill a large syringe with saline. The syringe is attached to a thin tube, which has a needle at the end. He will pass a small metal detector over your TEs (kind of like a stud finder) to locate the metal port that is built in to them. He'll make a small dot with his surgical pen, and insert that needle straight into the port.

I think I MAY have felt that needle once or twice for a brief second each time. Mostly, our nerves have all been cut in that area, so getting the needle in the port is not painful since there is no feeling in the skin.

Sometimes, though, you do find that there are areas of skin that do have some feeling, but still, it's a teensy sting for one second. You may never feel that again, because with every fill, the TEs move around a little.

Once he starts injecting saline, it's hard to know when to say stop. My PS told me the same thing - he'll go until I say stop. What I did feel was "full" if that makes sense. I'm a larger gal, with very loose skin, and I never had ANY discomfort while he was injecting saline. Sometimes at night, though, I did feel a little tightness in the muscles in my back, but that was rare. A nice hot shower relieved that. (I got 180ccs in the OR.)

Other ladies with different (smaller) body types and sizes experience things differently.

This is where your control comes in. Postpone the first fills if you are in pain. Heal a little bit more. Then make the first fill VERY small, and see how you do for the next 24 hours. It's not a race. What you want is good and complete healing, without compromising the integrity of your skin.

Wishing you the best!

Heatherlucas74

Thanks ladies! Blessings2011 I did ask my doctor last week if we could hold off on the fills but he said that he likes to fill a little when he removes the last drains because it helps push any remaining fluid out. So I guess I will just go with it and pray it isn't as bad as I am anticipating! I am pretty small framed so maybe that is why it is so uncomfortable. Its so frustrating knowing I am only at the beginningof this process. Did you ladies feel better when you were free of drains?

anotherNYCGirl

Heather, - Those drains are SO annoying, - I am sure you will feel better when they are gone. Taking them out is quick, - so any discomfort should be over quickly, too!

The tightness will take time. Everyone is different, but it seems inevitable to feel like a too tight bra, considering that the TEs/implants are under a muscle, but it DOES get better. (I was given valium to help as a muscle relaxer, - i used it some nights to help sleep.)

As for fills, I am small chested, and only rec'd 50cc at a time, and once only 25 on the radiated side. Speak up and dont take more than you are able to.

Hang in there, - you WILL feel better!

Heatherlucas74

anotherNYCGirl how long did it take to be done with the filling process? The doctor did give me Valium as well so I will take it to see if it helps. I think my doctor does fills once week which seems like a lot