Expanders

Tonimiller

i had a double mastectomy and i have expanders in. They are ver uncomfortable. I have a small frame. Does anyone else have issues with theirs? Does anyone know if they have different sizes for different frames. I don't want to do the muscle flap thing. Can anyone give me any advice one how to handle these things?

MTwoman

tonimiller, So sorry you're struggling with your TEs, I had one as well. I'm not sure about the sizes, but I would imagine that they do. You could certainly call the nurse at your PS office and ask. That'd be great info for anyone else who reads the thread!

So what I noticed with my TE, was that it was uncomfortable when it was first put in, and then after each fill. Some women struggle more than others, and those women who have a harder time have written about getting smaller fills to minimize discomfort. It might take longer to get to your final volume, but you'll be more comfortable. I took some over the counter pain reliever if it got too uncomfy. Again, ask the nurse at your PS office what you are allowed to take for discomfort.

Hopefully someone else will come along that can give you some additional info. Good luck!

BG46TN

tonimiller, I have expanders, I had my surgery on April 17th...they are very uncomfortable, especially in the beginning but believe it or not they do get "more" comfortable...(the only time they still annoy me is when sleeping)

They do have different sizes for different frames...I asked my PS because I have 700cc expanders (filled to 600cc now) and my friend has hers filled to 400cc and they look "bigger" mine at 400 were still pretty flat. The PS they go by your "footprint" what you had before, your PS should have measured you to be sure to put the right size expander in...

Have you had any fills yet? they were definitely more sore for 2 days after each fill....and this last one was the worst! I actually had to take a muscle relaxer and hydrocodone just to get to sleep! Ask for muscle relaxers if you don't already have some, they are the best for relaxing those muscles (when you don't have to drive)

I had to stop fills because they want to start radiation, I hope to have at least 1 more fill (maybe 2) when I"m done...then wait for my implant surgery, probably some time in Nov/Dec...ugh!

Tonimiller

Y last chemo was March 27th and then they removed both breast and put the expanders in. They don't hurt as bad as they did at first. But they are very uncomfortable at the top bottom and arm pits so i started thinking maybe they are just to big for me. I have no fluids in yet cause they are waiting on some stuff to heal. Where they cut out some dead tissue. I do take my relaxers every day ever 8 hrs. I need to ask my doc if these are just too bigg for me. Thank you for talking to me. I have nobody to talk to about this. I only want a b cup. Wish this was over.

Moderators

Hi Toni and welcome to Breastcancer.org! Thanks for joining and participating. As you can already see, our Community is a great place to come for answers and support!

We wanted to point you in the direction of a very popular thread in the Breast Reconstruction forum called TEs: A beginner's primer, which may be a good resource for you.

We hope this helps and we look forward to hearing more from you!

--The Mods

Bingle

Hi! I'm in the same situation as you are right now. Got TEs after bimx two weeks ago and it feels like I have steel plates in my chest that are poking into my ribs and armpit. PS said they will get more comfortable once fills start but I don't see how. I also just want a B cup.

noodlesmom

Hi Tonimiller-

I'm not sure I can offer much advice as I am only a week and 2 days post surgery, but I, too, am very petite. My PS said the normal "small" TE is 400cc, but I pressed and asked him to see if he could find something smaller. When I held up his sample 400cc to my chest, they looked huge! He ended up getting 300cc instead, but they also feel too big. They're sticking out past my ribs and are quite uncomfortable overall. I know it's still soon after surgery so maybe time will help.

MTwoman

noodlesmom, I remember my TE honestly looking like a torpedo sticking off my chest before the exchange surgery PS can work wonders. It looks nothing like a torpedo now

MinusTwo

The TEs were obnoxious the entire time. I HATED them. I referred to them as my 'turtle shells'. Luckily they are slated for obsolescence at exchange.