Any Positive TE Stories?

EastcoastTS

I'm heading down possible path of having TEs -- surgery 2/27. Are there any stories that are positive for these things? Seems everyone hates them. Would love to hear if they are manageable/livable. Thanks!

MinusTwo

Eastcoast

There are two pretty comprehensive threads here. Try Exchange City and TE Trouble.

Yes, I have read some posts of women who are not only comfortable, but love the look they get with TEs.

Yes they are manageable. I thought they felt like coconuts or turtle shells and found them distinctly uncomfortable, but I kept my eye on the goal and it was livable. After a rocky start, I made sure the PS office filled very slowly - only 50ccs at at time. And I only got fills every other week. My PS wanted me to wait 3 months after I decided I was full enough for the skin to gently complete stretching.

You can do this. If you haven't checked in with whippetmom on Breast Recon 101, you might want to read the header on that thread too, and maybe post.

EastcoastTS

Thanks MinusTwo!

I've checked in with Whippetmom on sizing. (I'm going to go very slowly because my end-up size is going to be very small. I'm an AA/A now and not interested in a ton more than that.)

I'm a bit afraid to go to the TE Trouble thread in the event it just adds to anxiety. Guessing these are all people who experienced issues or hated the TEs. I do not have a large amount of anxiety at this time, even if I should.

I have reviewed Exhange City and will look again today. Appreciate the support!

SpecialK

east coast - besides the TE trouble thread (you are right, don't go there unless you do actually have trouble) there is also a newbie to TE thread linked below. I have had a number of TE and while they were annoying, I would have them again if needed. Nobody really likes them, they are the means to the end, and for most they are a temporary necessity. Don't worry too much, especially in light of not needing a great deal of expansion - you should do just fine!

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/819027?page=91#post_4904147

MinusTwo

Special - that's the one I was thinking about - Moon's thread. Thanks for posting the link

Lisey

East, I just wanted to add.. that I went into the whole thing telling the plastic surgeon I wanted to be an A size. he kept saying it would depend on my ribcage size what size I get. AFTER the TEs were put in, I was informed that they don't make implants for A size for my 34 size circumference and that minimum I could go would be a C. I was furious because I wanted to be tiny. I ended up with my TEs removed and am flat and fabulous now, but there are other women who wanted small, and they all said they ended up much bigger than they wanted. Be careful with the assumption you can be an A when all is said and done.

Anonymous

Hi! I'm just shy of 2 weeks post op with BMX and TE's. Had 4 drains, down to 1, which should come out tomorrow. It's definitely an uncomfortable feeling and I'm realizing it's the TE's?! So far it's doable....I'm itchy at night, so take benedryl and a tylenol, but haven't been on the narco's in about 10 days. Thanks for starting this.....I was looking for TE info, but nothing scary lol.

candles1

LIsey, I, too, have told my PS I want to stay as small as possible. Has anybody had any luck getting a reconstruction that is smaller than their current cup size? Say, a C to an A? My PS did not say anything about ribcage size, or any other reason why my request can't be accommodated.

SpecialK

Silicone implants come in as small as 125ccs, which in a reconstructed breast would be quite small. 125ccs is equal to about 1/2 c. of liquid. Picture that spread across the entire breast area. There are many members here on BCO that have reconstructed smaller than, or equal to, their natural breasts.

Lisey

Special K... I asked my PS about the small implants... He said on my frame (I'm 34 around) they would look like tiny flat pancakes. They said the smaller implants for for typically tiny asian women and for women with breasts who just want to go slightly bigger. They don't make an A size boob that works if you have a normal size 6 frame like I do. They base the implant size off of your frame, and the nurse and the surgeon told me there was no way to make me an A and they both looked at eachother and said 'Why didn't you just go flat if you wanted to be an A?"... I then had the TEs removed and I'm a happy flat younger woman.

MinusTwo

My rib cage was 33 when I had my implants - Allergan anatomical gummys. I went from a huge saggy D to a nice small B. Needless to say I'm pleased.

EastcoastTS

Thanks, everyone for posting! SpecialK, big THANKS to you for the link and because you post a lot of great info that I have already read on various threads. I plan to take your advice of slow process with small fills each time. (like 25cc) And I'm going to ask the PS to fill just a little at surgery. If I have any say-so there.

So glad to have a forum for information that is factual, helpful and at this point in the lives of those moving into the TE experience, not too threatening. I know some of us may be coming back for troubleshooting info. but hoping not to think of all that can occur yet. (While being educated about what can. That is the rub.) TEs instill fear, at least for me.

I've spoken to 3 plastic surgeons who have agreed to my size request, however, I've actually been told by one that I have an "Asian" frame. (Which is funny to me for some reason because my son is adopted from Vietnam, and I feel quite connected.) Anyway, I'm right now not even 100 lbs -- a little lost due to stopping my daily after-work glass of wine. Size 0. I am very small-boned and really petite. I think a PS would fear making me too big. It would be a disaster!

Many warm thoughts to all...

BleuJay

I am 2 weeks away from my exchange and I have had a very positive experience with my TEs. I too wanted to be small and my PS gave me 250 cc TEs and we have gone very slowly with fills 25cc at a time every other week. Give your self time to adjust and if you can allow yourself to get enough rest

SpecialK

east coast - there is somewhat less control about how much fill can be placed in the expander at the time of surgery. The plastic surgeon has to achieve a level of tension under the skin that encourages the formation of the blood supply between the skin and the pectoral muscle. This is what will keep the skin alive and viable. Too little tension, or too much, will inhibit this marriage of skin to muscle. What size expander has been chosen is also key - your doc should measure a number of different ways on, and around, the chest to determine the appropriate size expander. I have had expanders placed by two different surgeons and the second one felt that the expanders placed initially too large for my frame, so this is an important factor. All expanders can be overfilled so fitting the frame is more important than the total fill volume per expander.

Lisey

oops wrong post.

hummingbirdlover

Hi there,

I can honestly say the TEs were not that bad. I had delayed reconstruction and had my TEs placed about 6 months after my BMX. They were hard as rocks (especially the more they were filled) and I was a bit sore during the filling process but I just took it slow and didn't try to rush things. Each fill was between 30 and 50 ccs and I could do it on a quick break from work. My implants are silicone 375 ccs and I am maybe a small B cup? I'm definitely smaller than I was before surgery and the silver lining is that I never have to wear a bra. The TEs definitely had better projection, the implants seem a little flatter/smaller but I'm ok with that. Good luck on your journey!

kcat2013

eastcoast, I had serious "buyer's remorse" with my TE's for about the first 6 weeks but then my body got used to them and I was fine with them. After that the TE's weren't comfortable but they weren't bad, definitely manageable and I'm very thankful I stuck out those really rough first 6 weeks with them because I'm quite happy with my reconstructed breasts.

As far as sizing, etc goes, I'm petite also-100lbs, small boned, ribcage is about 28. I was well endowed with my original breasts and liked that. I ended up a bit smaller than my originals because I told my PS if she had to choose in the OR (when placing the silicon implants) between bigger or smaller I'd rather go smaller. But if I had wanted to go quite a bit smaller we certainly could have done that (as long as PS knew that from the beginning). I ended up with 400cc implants, when I wear a bra the cup size is a D, but the foobs actually look like an average B cup.

I think the key is good communication between you and the PS, make sure they know what you want the end result to look like, etc.

EastcoastTS

Thanks, Amapola, Hummingbird and Kcat! BC.org is a lifesaver. I honestly don't know what I would have done without this group of people and support over the past month. You don't know what it means. None of us wanted to join this damn club -- but I'm so glad there is somewhere we belong once we're tapped on the shoulder for this mad ride.

Amapola, checking out @anaonointimates.

EastcoastTS

Also chiming in to say I really feel a discussion highlighting the TE path as manageable/end-in-sight "doable" is critical to the newly-diagnosed. Yes(!) to learning all we can and understanding the risk/reward but with encouragement and insight that it can be done/has been done.

THANKS to all.

SpecialK

I get email from AnaOno, and just received one that discussed their real breast cancer models walking at NY Fashion Week - how awesome is that?

Imkopy2

Hi Eastcoast, I had a BMX in Apr 2016 at which point I have TE put in, about 10 days post op I thought good god what did I do to myself? I googled stuff every night and I kept reading it will get better, along with the 10,000 other horror stories of how terrible they are. Im 10 months out from my surgery and I can say they do get more comfortable! A couple of pointers in helping with the the comfort, massage...I went to therapy where they did soft tissue massage to my lymphatic system. I meet with my PS 2/23 to schedule my exchange. Im hoping MArch 8th is the big day! Im here for you if you need encouragement, guidance or strength. Adding you to my

Imkopy2

Special K that is phenomenal news!

EastcoastTS

Thanks, Imkopy2! I'm already planning on "early" PT and hopefully massage because, well, why not? And insurance covers. I blew through my deductible in about 2 days in early Jan.!

For other TE-fear lurkers, I stumbled upon an older thread, started in 2011. For some reason, I've really enjoyed reading it. It's mostly discussing TEs and sizing (during process and pre-E) with humor and affection. Lots to read about sizes and what people end up being in the Cup World. B, C, D, DD. It was started as a thread about going smaller but many on there went larger. LOL

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

EastcoastTS

BC rocks Fashion Week. I love it!

MinusTwo

Eastcoast - yes the "go smaller/stay smaller" thread was very active for awhile. I really learned a lot. And I was one who definitely wanted to go smaller. Glad you had fun reading.

Beatmon

I made it at 63!

PNWBCHgirl

I would have to say my TE experience was pretty uneventful . A little pressure the day of fill but Tylenol usually did the trick. My very last fill was the most noticeable and took a few days. But nothing that would have made me not do it or regret it. Yes they were hard and a little heavy but not horrible. I did do massage but I do that regularly anyway.

EastcoastTS

Amapola: Is this your PT or side massage therapist? I know some people see both or have more of one combined in all.

MinusTwo! I remember seeing you on the other thread. Hello!

Thanks, too, PNWBCHgirl!

FYI: I'm already looking into PT. Going to schedule the first appt at around my two week post mark. It can't hurt and why would we not do this? Especially if insurance covers in part. My nurse navigator (works with local BS that I'm not using but did consult with) was like: we don't schedule PT unless people are having issues. What a proactive approach! Um -- yeah, no. So I'm asking my PS for the script.

Wow -- do you have to manage your own health agenda in this world. Pays to be pushy, I guess.

EastcoastTS

Hello, Beatmon! Thanks for commenting.

EastcoastTS

Good luck on the big day (hoping March 8 for you), ImKopy2!

EastcoastTS

I found a great indie local PT group that specializes. They're out of network so would be a little higher cost to me -- and I'd have to file with insurance -- but they seem good. THANKS!