exercises that helped you to live with implant

AliceKo

I am curious if anyone can say (describe) if any specific exercises (not just keep moving, swim, walk,pt) have helped them live better with a breast implant. I have a breast implant and I do not like it. It's uncomfortable. I just want to see if I can do something to improve the situation. I have tried a lot (PT, massage, accupuncture, exercise, swimming), some improvement but still uncomfortable. And I know, I know, I am so lucky that I have not developed some terrible infection. Just implant is probably not right for me.These are my last efforts to keep it. I have had the permanent for 8 months. Thank you

Pi-Xi

Hi Alice. Can you be a little more specific about what you are feeling and during what kind of activities?

AliceKo

Hi. Lets see... I continue to feel the presence of the implant under my muscle on the left side, PS assured me I won't and my body will "adjust". It makes it difficult for me simple every day things, such as hugging my child, having sex, being without the bra for even a minute, taking a shower, sleeping on the left side, swimming, opening a heavy door, opening the back door of my suv, carying a purse in the left hand, on the left shoulder. I am in a bra 24/7 (because the bra helps a little with the discomfort) and I am a very sensitive person, it's really difficult for me.

I feel very compromised with upper strength and especially left side.

Pi-Xi

Alice, what you are experiencing would be REALLY annoying. I don't think that I ever felt the implants as much as you do - certainly not just standing there. But there are other times I was very aware. I can relate to the feeling of opening a heavy door, hugging, you don't catch me lying on my stomach through choice etc. These things have gotten better with time.

I am two years out now and just recently I noticed it didn't feel horrible to clean the stove top. I do a lot of exercise. I started as soon as I was cleared after surgery. I got back to doing full push-ups from my toes in eight weeks but they felt absolutely AWFUL like my chest was being ripped apart. I persisted. They feel almost normal now. Sometimes I even forget that I've been sliced and stuffed. I also do weight training exercises. I imagine ones like the chest fly have helped most.

I think that the positioning of the implant makes the biggest difference. My prophylactic side is up a bit higher and that is the one that has taken longer to feel more acceptable.

I'm not sure anything I've said has helped, but I'm sorry for what you are feeling and I'm offering a gentle hug that doesn't bother your pecs!

crawfish

Pi, this is so encouraging to read. My wife is a personal trainer and is chomping at the bit to get me back into strength training. I'm less than two weeks post op now and expect to be cleared to strength train on Wednesday? I think? But I'm apprehensive because my expanders are sub pectoral and I've heard so many troubling accounts about sub pectoral implants and chest exercises. You're so right about the fact that our bodies continue to heal for not only months, but years. I know this from experience from my own previous surgeries. It can feel like we're NEVER going to feel normal again but then one day we realize we're doing an activity that used to cause discomfort and we feel fine!

ljm33

AliceKo, I feel like I could have written your post. Now granted I'm 6 weeks out from my exchange, not months. But these implants are a constant presence. I'm still in a bra 24-7 because like you said it's so uncomfortable to have them hanging out there. I'm aware of every movement, pull, and hug. I can constantly feel them under my pecs and I just want them out. My PS says she gave me the softest, squishiest, most comfortable implants but I'm not in love. I feel crazy complaining because I do like how they look under clothes and I'm not in pain per say. I'm just not comfortable. My PS says to be patient but some days it's just so hard

Pi-Xi

crawfish, I'm glad my story gives you hope. I wish you continued healing!

ljm33, may I ask how large your implants are? I'm thinking that could be a factor.

ljm33

Sure, 415cc. Natrelle Inspira. I was an A-B cup before so these are a little bigger. I'm tall and my PS said I could pull off bigger but I didn't want anything drastic. AndI was not a candidate for DIEP as I didn't have enough fat. Your story does give me a little hope as well. Just wondering if/when they'll ever feel "normal".

Pi-Xi

jlm, I too am larger than before (was barely a B and now a full C) and not through choice. I really wanted to be as much like my original self as possible. I too had insufficient fat for ANY flap procedure. The implants have nearly twice the mass of the tissue removed. I believe mine are 335g which corresponds to about the same number of ccs. I thought if you had 700cc implants that could be an explanation for more discomfort!

muska

Alice,

I feel comfortable with my implants but I am 4.5 years out. I have two 500ml Mentor implants. Speaking of the exercises I would say it depends on the stage one is at:

1. right after mastectomy and even the exchange, standard post-mastectomy exercises that restore range of motion. I believe every woman should see a physical therapist two or three times after mastectomy and be coached about the right way to do those exercises.

2. A couple of months after mastectomy, I think regular stretching and gradual introduction of weight bearing exercises are key. With focus on the upper body of course.

3. I think everybody whose implants are under pectoral muscles, should not do any exercises on pectoral muscles. When you strengthen pectoral muscles you increase pressure on the implant which makes you feel uncomfortable. I don't do any exercises that strengthen pectoral muscles. This advice came from my PS right after the surgery and I still stick to it.

It took me definitely more than a year to start feeling comfortable with my implants. Sleeping comfortably on the cancer side that was more damaged, took more than a year if I recall correctly. Considering the extent of the surgeries and radiation to one of the implants, I am pretty happy with the results.

Good luck to all!

AliceKo

Wow, so many responses! Thank you everybody.

In terms of being cleared for exercise, my PS says I can do ANYTHING. She can say whatever she pleases, she is not living in this body that now feels so foreign and weak. It's just this implant it are really is NOT for me, I forgot what size it is, maybe 500?. It's for other people. They look at me and I look "fine" and if they are friends, they are very happy - they do not want to hear the whole story and if they are strangers that "it's like nothing happened" - this is big in my PS office. And I just don't know if I should do things for other people. Like maybe I should do it for myself. And my husband? He urged me to do nothing. Says he does not care about me not having a boob, no need for any reconstruction...

And I am afraid of the implant. I know it causes rare cancer and decades down the road it could become encapsulated, especially the more exchanges it goes through. and it needs to be exchanged in about 10 years and there is no way my husband is going to shell out $1000 for an MRI of the fake breast every 2 or so years. my understanding insurance will not cover it.

Flap. That was my first choice. I had enough for flap, I have a lovely pouch my PS believes it should be plan B, and this way she gets 2 surgeries (multi step) out of each client. I had second opinions and I am thinking of New Orleans breast center. Definitely life on hold, living half done, so strange.

Definitely wish everyone to have great experience with implants.

AliceKo

Muska, so are you having MRIs on your implants to make sure they are in good shape? My understanding that many do not follow that recommendation due to the costs.

muska

Alice, implants do not need to be exchanged every ten years: they are warranted for ten years but that's not the same as saying they need to be exchanged after 10 years. Modern implants can last 20-30 years without exchanges - I wish anybody would say the same about me

I am not sure why you think you need MRIs every two years - I have never heard about mandatory MRIs just because one has implants. I have had none so far and I am 4.5 years out.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Pi-Xi

muska, my PS said MRI after 3 years and every two years thereafter to check for implant rupture. I am both interested and frightened of it because MRIs can also show nodal abnormalities. I dislike scans and tests so much...

AliceKo

So according to this breastcancer.org,

The FDA recommends that you receive MRI screening for "silent rupture" 3 years after receiving your (silicone) implant and every 2 years after that for the rest of your life. Getting health insurance to cover this can be challenging, so you may have to work with your doctor's office on this. If at any time you think your silicone implant is leaking, have your doctor check it. A leaking silicone implant should always be replaced. Your body may react to the silicone by forming more scar tissue, which might be uncomfortable or cause a distorted breast shape.

Just realities for some of us

AliceKo

Muska and I did have breast surgeons who have said to me, oh well, the warranty is 10 years, but some women have had them for a lot longer. And that is like anecdotal evidence. And the breast surgeon closes your case after 2 years, what does she care? She does not know what happens after.

American business is very greedy, if a manufacturer is selling something with 10 year warranty, there is a reason for it. They could have sold it with 20 years warranty and made more money for it, the insurance company would pay knowing that they are saving money long term.

And honestly, I thought these surgeons were thinking I will not last as long as that implant. But God willing, I will last a very long time and wishing everyone here the same. I am planning on lasting a long time. I am 42 years old and I have small children that need their mother.