continued Tissue expander pain!!

Georganne - Sorry, I haven't had a pop. But I do know that I used to feel like they had shifted out of place and I needed to "shift" them back. Best wishes. - Jean

MB - Sorry I can't help you. I never had any bruising. You might post the question in the EXCHANGE CITY thread. There are a lot of women there that have had TEs. Are your fills very large? I never had more than 60 cc at one time. Gentle hugs. - Jean

Hi all,

I noticed my skin started to get red a day after my last fill 3/6/09. It doesn't feel hot and I don't feel sick or have a fever but I went to see the PS last night, he tried to get some fluid from around the expander, but there wasn't any, he said thats a good sign. He has now put me on Cipro (anitbiotic) just in case it's an infection. He said if it doesnt clear up I may lose the expander. Says I will have to wait 3 months to try again! I sure hope it clears up soon! Anyone ever have this problem?

Dee

Dee and MB,

I hate it that you are both dealing with TE issues!! I am hoping and praying that things get better and you continue on with your fills and later your exchange. Best wishes to both of you!

Tracey

Tracey's a calendar girl?  I should have suspected.

Hi All  - I'm new to the forum and have a question please.  I had BLM on 3/2 with TEs.  They put in 200cc initially.  I started getting fills of 50cc at week 3.  They have always felt firm, but a few days after the last fill they got really hard.  There is no firm to them now just hard.  I've seen a lot of postings that say TEs are hard, but is it common for them to feel more firm and then go to very hard?  I talked to one of the PS nurses today but I'm not sure she really understood that I could feel a big difference in hardness.  Anyone else have their TE get much harder over a few days?

Thanks! - Traci 

Edie - There are a few of us here w/ PBM and I agree, I totally admire our other sisters!

Traci - I am not sure how hard you mean. My TEs are certainly firm. If you are really concerned, I would make an appointment w/ your PS.

It gets easier over time ladies.

Thank you, mykidsmom.  I am still very bruised feeling, but my husband said it looked like the color was decreasing, so I am hoping so. 

I hope all of you ladies are doing well today.

mb

Edie, I am your prohylactic mastectomy twin! I had mine the same day, 3/26.  Had 350 cc put in with placement, and will not receive my first fill unti 4/29, five weeks after surgery.  My PS suggested going slow, 60 cc every two weeks and waiting a good while before the first fill.  He feels we have the luxury of time since I am prophylactic (no radiation or chemo related deadlines to work within) and I told him I really wanted to avoid pain that would cause me to miss work.  I did return to work full time today, one day shy of 3 weeks post-op, and I did fine. You might want to consider slowing down on the pace of your fills if you are having significant pain?  Just a thought!  Good luck!

Traci126,

I had my Prophylactic BLM on 3/3. I had 225 cc put in with surgery and since have had 3 expansions of 50, 100, and 100ccs. I too am experiencing the hardness in my expanders.  It feels like I have hard plastic thick frisbees in my breasts.  It is very uncomfortable, but hopefully when we get our implants we'll feel relief. When are you slated for your exchange? I'm supposed to have at least 1 more fill of about 100cc then the exchange in late May or early June.  I'll say a little prayer for you.  Hang in there. Georganne

Georganne,

I'm at 400ccs now and will have at least 1 more 50 fill and maybe 2.  The PS and I wll meet after my next fill and we'll decide on whether to have the last fill and hopefully what my exchange date will be.  I have a business trip in June so with any luck I'll get a July date.  You're strong to be getting 100 at a time!  Are you still sore from the pop you had?  Hopefully it's had a couple of days to work it's self out and is much better now.  Don't want you to have to put of the exchange!!  Traci

I feel your pain ladies!  I had no idea the TE process would be so painful!!  I've needed percocet for each fill.

I started out with 60ccs in surgery on 3/10, then had my first fill 3 weeks later at 50ccs.  I was still in pain from the surgery that I couldn't differentiate fill versus surgery pain.  Then my next fill was 60ccs and wow, was I beside myself.  I couldn't breathe.  The pressure was so intense on my rib cage. It took 4 days to feel better.  After that experience, we went to 40 ccs and that was much, much better.  This week I did 50ccs which had me shaking in pain last night.  But I'm starting to bounce back.  My doctor recommended a heating pad on my back and that has really helped.

I'm also experiencing some bruising after each fill...not black and blue, just a red discoloration under my skin. 

According to my doctor, everything is fine and looking good.  But yowie...the stretching process is something else.  I can't believe what our bodies can do.

It helps to read all your posts.  I'm finding with every fill each week, the pain is different. 

The nurse told me more difficult, not easier as the process progresses.  That scares me because its been rough from the start and we've had to be very conservative in the fills.  I'm in denial on this one.  I'm hoping with each fill it will get better.  I don't know how some of you manage the 100cc fills.  Power to you!

 Wishing you all a comfortable week.  Good luck with the fills.

Hi Ladies, 

  I wanted to post in here again and share my 'GOOD NEWS'  Too often we will express our bad and forget to share our good!!  To start from the start... Bilat w/ immediate recon (expanders) Feb/10/09  ... drains out after one week and deemed 'Cancer Free... no chemo no rads!!'... stitches out @ two weeks. I had a small fill at surgery time, Right only 60 cc's none on the Left as my PS was worried about my skin.  First post surgery fill first week of Mar 60 cc's on L only.  Mar/11 I had 100 cc's on both sides followed by 60 cc's on both sides on Mar/17 that took me to 220 on both sides (and we're aiming for 450 to allow room for 400 cc implants).  

  That was when my skin (on and around the incisions) started to blister/open/drain/bleed and just didn't seem to want to heal.  I was told it was abcessed stitches, that it was 'pissed off skin', that it was 'unusual but would be fine'.  This seemed to go on forever...   During this time I was not only terribly worried/frustrated but I also had unbelievable pain on my left side from the expander pushing into the muscle.  I had no fills again until April 14th when I had 60 cc's on each side.

  Once again, after the fill on Apr/14th the skin opened on the L side and emitted some clear liquid and when I squeezed the hell out of it, it pushed forth a small white mass... very similar to what the ps's assistant had called 'an abcessed stitch'.  

  I'm very happy to report that the pain has almost completly gone.  I had a very successfull and almost painless fill of 80 cc's on both sides today (just a few rib pains and some tightness.. but nothing overwhelming... so far!) and the skin is FINALLY looking okay!!!

  *BIG DEEP LONG SIGH*

  My long winded point is... *nods head* YES... the whole process sucks.  We have to deal with unknown/foreign pains/feelings that seem otherworldy to us.. but the PS says 'it's normal'... but we will get through this!  

  I'm going to finish my glass of wine, carfully lay myself in bed... try to stretch my L arm above my head and rub the cording (scar tissue) below my expander... and thank my lucky stars that the Cancer is gone... and that THIS TOO SHALL PASS...

  I wish you all sweet dreams and healthy tomorrows ...

  Lisa