continued Tissue expander pain!!

Thanks for your welcome!

I am feeling OK with the tissue expander - like I said, it may be because of the small amount being filled each time. I go back for my third fill tomorrow.  Slowly, slowly wins the race, I guess.

I start chemo on Wed. so I guess my mind is a little consumed by that at the moment.  Really the fear of the unknown is the worse part, isn't it?

I have a wicked (British) sense of humour so I am hoping that it will get me through.  That and the love and support of my family and the help of all you amazing women.

Thanks

Sue

I had my surgery a little over 2 weeks ago, and I go for my first expander fill on October 6th.  My husband was planning on going with me, but it turns out he will be out of town on business. 

Did you ladies go alone, or would you recommend I have a friend/family member go with me for the first time?    Would you recommend premedicating with pain med? (I've been using motrin now for a week or so, I didnt' know whether I should pop a Vicodin before hand or not.   Were you able to drive home afterwards?

Any practical advice on this front would be greatly appreciated.

 Thanks!

Sue 

I went by myself then to work.  I also took tylenol before I went.  Later fills, they gave me a muscle relaxant which was helpful.  Only take about 15 minutes and mine we done by the nurse.

Sue,

If your husband can make it, it is always nice and an added stress relief, but everyone's situation is different.  My wife just had her second fill last week.  She had half a tylenol before and one after.  The pain was still there until she could lie down, but really her problem was stiffness.

She didn't feel mobile enough to reach out of the window to put the card in the parking garage reader and then again to parallel park in a tight spot (she said parallel parking is the toughest).  So if you can, get your husband or someone to help you the first time or two. It can't hurt.

As for me, I just felt good that I was there to get her there and back safely.

Route53

http://route53.wordpress.com

Sue, I went alone the majority of the time because my husband was out of town most of the time. I found that when I had 100cc's put in at one time the discomfort would hit me after about 30 minutes, so I would take a pain pill either on my way home or immediately when I walked in the door. I now have 550cc's in and will have a 500cc implant placed on Oct. 24th and had my last fill about 8 weeks ago. I can't wait. My prayers are with you.

Jeanne

I started out with 300 cc after my mx, since my PS used alloderm. Then at my first fill he added 50cc, and I actually felt better with more fluid in the expanders. I had a little muscle cramping the first evening, but I had gone dancing that night, so who knows if it was from the fill, or from all the exercise???  Next fill was 60 cc, and again all I felt was slight muscle cramps the first night. The last fill was 90 cc, and then I went grocery shopping and out dancing the same night. Danced for 2.5 hours! Boy did I get the muscle cramps! OK, so maybe I overdid it, but I was having SO much fun, I didn't want to stop. It took about a week for the expanders to calm down this time, but they are completely full, so maybe it's just more of a stretch. The trade-off is that the extra fluid has caused them to settle down a bit lower, and they look almost normal, except for just a bit of extra skin underneath which my PS will eliminate during the exchange. My right upper rib is painful if I sit too long, so that just means getting up and walking more. Went for a nice 5 mile hike yesterday which helped. I am so happy that I am beginning to look closer to me again. It's a good feeling.

Greeting From Michigan,

Sorry it's been soooo long. Well here an update. The numbness finally went away!!!! Thank Goodness. About 2 weeks ago I was stretching and felt a pop.....then the feeling was back in my arm again. I wish I could say I'm out of the clear, but that would be just too good of luck. I have an appointment with the PS in the morning, they seem to think that I may have a Capsular contracture going on in my left breast. This is due to all the scar tissue. I'll let you all know when I do. Hope all is well.

Love Sharon

Sue, I've never been a back sleeper, so I haven't been able to get comfortable on my back at all. But I've been sleeping pretty well on my side since my second fill. I still use a second pillow to hold my arm away from the expander (whichever arm is on top), and I have to switch sides pretty often during the night, but I'm getting fairly decent sleep, all things considered!

Sheila

Hey Sue,

I'm a stomach sleeper as well. I was able to gently lie on my side after about 3 weeks and on my stomach after about a month. However, I did buy the booblet her own pillow because until I was filled a bit larger I was really lopsided! Those microbead squishy pillows are great! I still use one with the implant when I sleep on my side.

Margaret

I have slept on my back, on my side try propping a pillow behind you like you do a baby to keep them from rolling it works well for me and gets me away from being flat on my back.  I have even slept on my belly if I use a pillow for my head and one under my belly leaving a canyon for the expander to fit in.  Just some tips that worked for me.    I have had my last fill and feels as if I have a shingle shoved up under my muscle, I am filled to 600 and having a 550 silicone implant on the mast side and a 120 and a lift on the other. 

Jan,

OMG! Someone else from Northern Michigan!!!! I live in East Tawas!!!!! You're just down the road...how nice to finally have someone close to talk to

Sheila,

I had my surgery at Beaumont, Royal Oak, but I have family in Garden City and Dearborn Heights. What part are you from. I am always downstate!!!!

Sharon

Hi,

I am brand new to this site, but very grateful that I found it.  I am two weeks post surgery with the tissue expanders; however, my case is different than what I have read so far.  I had a right modified radical mastectomy in 1980.  I wouldn't even consider implants at that time because what I had seen had no appeal whatsoever.  I worried constantly about a recurrence in the left breast, then found that there was a surgery to empty all the breast tissue and use an implant to replace the breast, thus knocking down the recurrence rate about 95%.  My surgeon thought this was a good idea for me.  I was only 37 at the time.  In 1984, I had the subcutaneous surgery done on the good breast and reconstruction using  latissimus flap on the right side.  This surgery took 7 1/2 hours, but it was worth it to me.  I hated using a prosthesis.  My implants gave me no trouble, once I got past the four month healing time.  So, for about 24 years, I just about forgot that I really had implants.  Then a few years back, I noticed that they began sagging and started to look misshapen.  (So did the rest of my body, as I am now 63).  Finally, I went back to my original surgeon, who said the implants had ruptured and debris was floating around in the area.  The good news was that I just needed to have them cleaned out and have tissue expanders put in.  I had this done two weeks ago; however, I don't know anything about expanders, except that one of them is hurting me a lot.  It is the left one, and I suppose the reason for the pain is that one still has some nerves in it, while the right one does not.  I have been told that the expander was filled to 650.  I could be wrong about this, as this was told to me right after surgery and obviously, my mind was fuzzy.  I do want to end up with a 36D.  I will be seeing my doctor soon, but in the meantime, I would like a lot of questions answered by you gals who are experiencing this first hand.  I had my surgery at Royal Oak Beaumont and also had a tummy tuck at the same time.  The pain in the left breast nipple region is very sharp at times, and just sore at other times.  The tummy tuck ache, I can deal with.  By the way, I wanted that done because I did not enjoy looking 8 months pregnant at my age.  It already is a pleasure to look down and see a flat abdomen.  So, here are some questions that I need your opinions on:

l.  How many months do expanders stay in (approx.) and is it longer if you want to be a 36D?

2. What methods lesson the pain I am experiencing.  The worst is turning over in bed.

3. I can see a hump near the collarbones.  How do you camouflage that?

4. How long does the bra vest need to be worn?

5. Does creating a nipple using the area tissue hurt like hell?  Do they anesthetize this?

6. Does the final tattoing hurt, if so, how much.

7. Does massage help?  Seems like it would if you know how to do it correctly.

8. The transfer from expander to implants surgery--how painful and how much recuperation time?

9. Most of you said you were very pleased with the final results

10. Any tips, or suggestions are very welcome.  So far, I have only been taking 400-600 mg. of Motrin when the pain gets down right irritating.  Should I ask for a muscle relaxer too?

Thank you all for your time and help.

Chris (latticelady03)

cvb05@comcast.net

HI chris, and welcome to a site that saves us all!  I am sorry you had to join our group, but here you will find all the help you need. Sharon67 answered alot of your questions, But, Like you I was filled alot at time of surgery{ bilat mast with tissue expanders, May 23 08} I had 400cc's then 2 weeks later an additional 180cc's!!  I thought this was the norm until I got home and  found this site, Thank GOD! I saw that everyone else had 30-60cc's each time and went much SLOWER!  The key is GO SLOW>  I was  in so much pain that I saw another PS{ my surgery was done at Mayo, IN Rochester MN. I live in Northern NY}, so, he removed enough cc's to make me comfortable. It took 2 months to feel better,  The pain you are feeling is the tissue and pectorial muscle streching too fast.  Sleeping is a real problem, and does get better with time, Use lots of pillows, put one under your mast side. Hang in there , as you read other posts, It does get better!  You may want some saline removed, and tell you ps, there is no need to rush things!  I am now at 480cc's and go every other week for 50cc's  I think I am almost to where I want to be for a breast size, then I get over filled to allow for a little sag and give in the tissue, so it doesn't look like 2 round mounds sticking straight out!  For pain I took hydrocodone, It really didn't help me, so I drank wine or beer, LOL  The whole process depends on you and your PS.  The longer the better, so the tissue can strech . I won't have my exchange until March 09, so I am looking at 10 mo. altogether. I hope I helped you and Good luck, Just know you ane NOT alone in this .SHARON, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!  Funny how that date is now as important as a Birtday!  So glad everything has gone well for you, I can't wait until my exchange!  I have a question!  After the exchange, Do the implants look more like real breasts?  I am so hard and round right now, Can't get used to not having saggy boobs!  Thanks. and gentle hugs to all,  Jeanie

Jeanie,

Now here's a real surprise for you......My exchange surgery was March 9th of this year!!!!!!!!!! So it's been over 6 months and they still have to drop and fluff out alittle more. But for the most part, they just look like a 16 year olds boobs, but without the nipples and of course the lines across my chest. If you get on Timtam's photo site, I have my photo's posted.

Chris, I did not wear the vest 24/7 and mine still turned out okay. The good thing about the vest is that the ice packs that Beaumont gives you fit in nicely. Who are your doctor's? Mine is Pam Benetiez, she was the BC Doc, and Daniel Sherbert from Bloomfield Hills is my PS. I actually called both of them today to thank them for my one year anniversary!!!! When they did my Double, they both pulled alot of strings so I could have my surgery in Suite 100, got a private room with my hubby to stay with me (he's a Dr. as well) and after my 9 hour surgery, still was able to go home to northern Michigan the next morning. (I honestly don't remember the ride home, but I know I was glad to be home!!!)

Have a good one,,,,Sharon