continued Tissue expander pain!!

Anonymous · January 2009

Jackie300 - I copied and pasted the info. to get to the pictures forum. Please see below.

p.s. once you get on the pictures forum by following the below info., then go to the "Under Construction" topic. Once you click on that, you'll see my entry about 5 rows down.

Hope that helps.

Thanks,

Sue

(My pics are under "saline implant 5 weeks out; couple questions" - OnEaglesWings"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's all that you need to get to our "100% private" picture forum;

http://tamako.milkcafe.to/luv/forum/Blah.cgi
ID: usbaldchicksrule
Password: bcsucks

Do not put an extra space at the end, and they are case sensitive. If you try to log in with upper case or put an extra space at the end, it won't work. Especially if you want to copy each word from this message and paste them in the box, you will more likely to copy an extra space at the end. I guess you'd better type them yourself. I made each word look funny so it's not hard to remember/type anyways.

Here's the tutorial for how to get in the forum. Please take a look before you access the site.
http://tamako.milkcafe.to/luv/tutorial.htm

There is a board named "Guidelines" where you can learn our rules, how to get your pictures posted on our forum etc. Please take a look at it before you start posting. I hope you enjoy posting and are able to get a lot of information.

Lastly, we strongly encourage you to post your comment or a simple thank-you to those who have contributed. That way, we can keep the forum alive for those who will follow. If we get too many "lurkers" who never post, the forum will die and people will get anxious about posting without knowing who are looking.
Thank you for your understanding.

Hugs,
Fumi

Anonymous · January 2009

Jackie300 - I meant to mention, once you get on the pictures forum by following the above post, then go to the "Under Construction" topic. Once you click on that, you'll see my entry about 5 rows down.

Hope that helps.

Thanks,

Sue

sbmolee · January 2009

OnEaglesWings - It is not your place to be giving out the signon and password to the private picture forum - especially publically showing it on this site. Anyone who reads this, now has access to our pictures. Internet users can read our posts without a signon. I posted on the picture forum because I understood it was controlled site and not just anyone could go there without permission. At times, we get weirdos and lurkers coming to this site and you have now given them access to our picture site - to our most private photos that were intended to help others in need of knowing what to expect.

I am hoping Timtam changes the password as quickly as possible. If not, I will delete my photos so they are not available for public viewing by any internet user.

Estepp · January 2009

Oh no...

sbmolee · January 2009

Estepp - I am just sick thinking anyone can see my photos. I feel so bad for complaining but am concerned.

Anonymous · January 2009

Oh, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry. I dont' know what I was thinking! Please accept my apology. I would NEVER EVER want to put anyone at risk for exploitation. For some reason, it has always felt so safe here, and I just totally forgot that there could be wierdos out there that would do something as horrible as that.

To all the dear women here, please accept my deepest apologies. I will IMMEDIATELY notify the appropriate person and have them change the password.

i hope you all will forgive me. I really did not mean any harm.

Estepp · January 2009

Oh I TOTALLY understand sbmolee... That is why I said Oh no!.. You can edit your post OnEagleswings.....

Estepp · January 2009

I know you did not mean any harm....:(....It will be ok... just edit...

sbmolee · January 2009

OnEaglesWings - I am sure you meant no harm - it will be ok. I also just sent you a PM as well. I do not want to cause any friction on this wonderful site and YOU are an asset with your postings here on this site and on the picture forum. XOXO

Anonymous · January 2009

Forgive me. I edited the post, and contacted the person who heads up the picture forum. I feel like such a fool. I am so sorry. I had the best of intentions, and would NEVER want to make anyone feel vulnerable to exploitation, especially with all we've been through.....

Linda54 · January 2009

OnEaglesWings,

Don't let it upset you so much. It was an honest mistake. We all make mistakes because we are human. I don't think any harm was done since it was caught and deleted so quick. ((hugs))

Jackie,

I sent you a PM

nowheregirl · January 2009

OnEagleWings,

Like everyone said, please do NOT be upset. I am 100% sure you only meant to be helpful and what you did was an honest mistake. You are not perfect and none of us is. So please don't be harsh on yourself.

As I posted on our picture forum, our forum is still 100% safe and secure. (You will see why I can tell you this if you read my post there.) So OnEagleWings, actually you haven't done any harm. Even if somebody had read the information you mistakenly posted here, they would have had to register themselves on the forum in order to look at the pictures. And I will be notified of each and every new registration via email (because of the settings I have there) and I can remove their membership if I don't recognize them. So far, nobody has joined without my consent so you have no reason to be worried, OK?

Let's forget about this and move forward. Luckily we are not so good at remembering things (thank goodness for chemo brains!) so I don't think it's hard to let this go.

Hugs,
Fumi

Jackie300 · January 2009

I'm very sorry for what ever I caused. I just know that Sue and the other have helped me greatly this past weekend. I'm just trying to figure out this sites layout....as for the PM you sent I will try and figure that out later. Sorry....................

suedap · January 2009

Can anyone tell me how to get to the pictures forum? I can't figure it out and I really need to see the final result after this tissue expander. I am convinced this boob will NEVER look anything like the other one.

Mykidsmom · January 2009

Suedap - Sorry, I finally figured out how to get a picture on this site. I don't know how to put one on the picture forum. Are there instructions on the forum? Otherwise I would send a PM to TimTam. Perhaps you need to make them smaller. That's what I found w/ putting my picture on this site. Good luck. The pictures on the forum are a real help to all of us. Thanks. - Jean

Linda54 · January 2009

Suedap,

I bumped up the instructions to the picture forum but you need to have been posting for a while before Timtam will give you permission to enter.

There is a reward at the end of the tunnel. The implants will look so much better and softer. :-)

Good luck to you

nowheregirl · January 2009

Please, please don't be sorry. Nobody has to be sorry for this entire thing. No one has had ill intentions and nothing has happened to our picture forum. It is still safe and secure as it always has been.

I am the one that manages the picture forum that has been mentioned here from time to time. I wish I could post the instructions for how you could be invited. Actually there was a thread where people were able to request access to the forum but it was removed by the moderators here. I was told that I was advertising my website and they didn't like it, which is why I have to refrain myself from posting about it. Please don't start bashing moderators. It was ages ago and I have got past it. I had to go through too much for this and I would never want to go back there again. They have their own rules, whether we like them or not.

Anyway, just PM me if you want to get to the forum I manage. You may not gain access straight away as I have to make sure you really are who you say you are. But as long as you keep posting here about yourself, you will be invited shortly.

Hugs,

Fumi

suedap · January 2009

FRom what I am reading I guess I should just consider myself lucky. I had 150cc put in this expander to start with. Then I got another 150, 100,100,100, 75. fills.I had a 3 week break before the last 2 due to an infection Every time I was just uncomfortable that day and by the next afternoon I ws fine....Until the last one killed me! I went back after 1 week and the dr removed 25cc..it seemed to be better. It has now been 3 weeks and during the day I am ok but I cannot sleep at night because the minute I try to roll off of my back it feels like someone is sticking a burning arrow in my chest. When you are up 3 and 4 times a night then you feel crappy the next day due to the interrupted sleep. I just called the dr office and they are gooing to call me back. I think the plan is to give me pain meds to take before bedtime. Does this sound normal? I guess I just ned to be reassured that I'm not in some serious troublre here...Thanks..Sue.

Anonymous · January 2009

First of all - thanks Fumi for the grace given about accidentally posting how to get on the picture forum. I am GRATEFUL that everyone's pictures remain secure, safe, and sound. Personally, the picture forum TREMENDOUSLY helped me, as I was deciding whether to go with saline or gel. the pictures and discussion with women, really helped provide insight, and gave me clarity and peace about my decision. The pics encouraged me that the outcome would be better than the TE. So, thank you, FUMI for the tremendous ministry of encouragment and help that your forum provides.

Suedap - what you are experiencing is normal. I never could sleep on my side during the whole TE process -- too painful. It wasn't even until the very end that I could sleep in bed, flat on my back. For about 7 weeks I was sleeping on the couch, just so I could sleep on the arm, propped up at a 45 degree angle, to take the pressure off my chest.

I routinely used a Vicodin and flexeril tablet before bedtime to help me sleep. I often would have to get up a second time in the night because of pain, and take another Vicodin to help me get back to sleep. My PS had absolutly no problem with my use of pain meds....the TE process can hurt like you know what!

I am now 5 weeks out from exchange and feel GREAT! I can sleep on my side. My foobs are soft. Absolutely no pain. I don't think I needed anything after the surgery - it truly was like night and day.

It will get better. Do what you need to do to get through the process. There is no shame in taking the necessary medications that will keep you comfortable and able to sleep.

I used motrin and flexeril during the day throughout the whole expansion process. You won't need the meds after you have your exchange.

God bless you,

Sue

suedap · January 2009

Thanks for the encouragement. I called the dr office and spoke to the nurse. I am waiting on a call back hopefully they will prescribe some pain meds to help me through the night. It is so helpful to have this forum. I was convinced I was having another major issue and now I know I was actually Ivery lucky to have the minimal pain I had up until this point. Still cannot wait for the exchange!

Mykidsmom · January 2009

Suedapp - A friend suggested aleve to me the other day and it does seem to help at night. I am four weeks out and still finding sleeping to be the hardest part of this whole thing.

Sue (onanglewings) - I saw your pictures and they really helped me as well. You look fantastic. It is nice to know that there is such a great result at the end of this tunnel.

Ladies - The problem I am having is a little seroma build up on my right breast. Thoughts? Suggestions? I haven't had any problems till now. At four weeks post surgery I thought I could start doing things, perhaps I over did it. I see my PS tomorrow and hopefully she will tell me that it is nothing to worry about.

Thanks. - Jean

Anonymous · January 2009

Jean - I had a large seroma on my left for about 6 weeks. The PS said that it was nothing to worry about, because it would eventually get reabsorbed. He said it actually might "help" the expansion process, because it was stretching the skin. During the process of having the fills, the expanding TE actually began to "press" the excess fluid out of the tissue, so later on in the process the seroma completely resolved and was not an issue. Maybe some other ladies can share their experience. My seroma went away over time, and became a "non issue".

suedap · January 2009

What is seroma?..please don't tell me its another thing I have to worry about.

also some humor..a friend asked if the the new boob was almost like the old one...my reply ...the new boob is like that of an 18 yr old..its high & round and tight as a drum..the other has got almost 40 yrs of gravity going against it...no way in hell are they anything alike! We shared a good laugh and it helped!

Anonymous · January 2009

Seroma is a collection of fluid under the skin. It depends on the size of the collection...if it's really large, sometimes the doctor will carefully stick a needle in it and drain off the excess fluid. When I had a seroma under my left breast (was present within a day after my mastectomy and TE placement), My PS said he preferred to wait to see if my body would absorb it, because there is always the risk of puncturing the TE if not careful. Mine just gradually resolved over time. The fill process also helped to push the extra fluid out of the tissues to get reabsorbed, so I didn't have any issues with it, thankfully. I think Seroma's generally occur very early in the healing process.... unusual to develop later.

What have other's heard?

Jackie300 · January 2009

I am just thankful to have found this site. I am having better days knowing that I am not crazy and that pain is normal. My PS still tells me I shouldn't be having this type of pain. However, now reading how everyones fills went, I just feel she is filling the expanders to fast. I did make that appointment today for a second opinion. Not only are these expanders painful, I feel like they are placed to far under my armpits. Whenever I hit my arm to hard into my side it sets off a trigger reaction and everything on that side starts to hurt and spasm. My shoulders and back are getting uncomfortable because of the way I hold my arms now.

On Eagles Wings.....thank you for all your help. I will keep everyone updated.

Suedap,

Sleeping on the couch is the best place for the 1st month. I would try every night off in bed, but eventually ended up sleeping on the couch. I would take pain medication, a muscle relaxer and Motrin before bed and that helped a lot. However, be careful everyones body reacts differently to medication. I am tall and slightly over weight, so I was able to handle that amt. of medication. During the day I would take 1/2 pain pill at lunch the other half around dinner time along with the muscle relaxer. I also found exercise over the last 2weeks for mastectomy patients and I think they are helping too. They are more of a stretching exercise. Hang in there and just keep reading everyones messages.....that is what is helping me....... Smile

Jackie

Jackie300 · January 2009

Suedap,

How are you doing and did you hear from you PS?

Hope you are feeling better.....

Jackie300 · January 2009

Mickie,

I just read your posting from Jan. We had our procedure very close together. I had my BM with expanders on 12/2. I was just wondering how you are doing and are you back to work? I'm due to go back to work the first week of Feb. My doctor wanted be to start back to work next week, but there was no way that I could do that. Keep in touch...

Jackie

kmccraw423 · January 2009

This is good that there are others that feel the same. I went to see the PS yesterday. He tells me that he spoke to his mentor and thought about it over the weekend and has come up with a plan. He will leave everything alone for 10 weeks. Great! Expanders, tightness, pain for another ten weeks. Then he will go in and reinsert the expander under the muscle (it came out) and clean up that area (huge scar and scab) on the right and try to unpucker the skin on the left. He's not doing that now because he is afraid of tissue breakdown.

Next he will start to fill the expanders. Outside of the fill at the time of the bmx, there has been no fill. I don't know how long that will take. And, of course, a rest of 6 weeks after all the fills before he will do the exchange. So it looks like 5 more months. I didn't sign up for this.

Has any one else had these problems? I am asymmetrical by a lot. One breast is puckered and high up (at next surgery he will try to lower) and right breast is flapping in the wind. I am very discouraged and also half wish I had not elected reconstruction.

Mykidsmom · January 2009

Kathleen - I went back through some of your posts. It looks like we had BM w/ TEs placed at around the same time (I was 12/16 and you were 12/19, right?). It also looks like your PS did a very large fill at the time of insertion (500cc and 600cc?). Wow - that seems like a lot. I thought I had a lot w/ 150cc at the time of placement. I would think that such a large fill would definitely be uncomfortable. I am all done w/ my fills and I am only at 320cc total. These girls feel like large rocks sitting on my chest wall. I am only aiming for a small B cup, but they still seem big to me. I am glad that it is winter and that I am wearing a lot of layers on top.

10 weeks seems like a long time to have to wait to be more comfortable, especially since the expander is no longer under the muscle. But I know that my PS tells me that everything has to sit and wait for a while or there are more problems. That is one reason why they don't rebuild nips at the time of implant, both are done on the same tissue and the tissue needs time to recover between procedures.

I am also asymmetrical. One side is a fair amount larger than the other and extends under my arm, which is not very comfortable. But I don't think I am as much so as you describe. I am so very sorry you are having these difficulties. I do have a close friend that opted for a BM w/o reconstruction and she is totally satisfied w/ her results. She was a D cup when she started. She says she loves her camisole and wears a 34A prothesis when she wants to dress up. I was going to go that route and may select that route down the road if the implants don't work out.

Best wishes and keep in touch. Take care. - Jean

kmccraw423 · January 2009

Jean - thanks for the response. I guess there will be nothing to report for 10 weeks. Yes, I had my bmx on 12/19 but had a broken blood vessel which necessitated them going back in which may account for the crazy chest configuration.

I've looked on the web and have seen others with puckered skin so I don't feel too bad - don't feel great about either!

My PS keeps referring to me as a big girl and I'm starting to wonder if I am going to look like Dolly Parton when all is said and done.

I will keep everyone posted when there is something to write about.

continued Tissue expander pain!!

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