continued Tissue expander pain!!

Well the more I see on this thread, the more I believe slow and easy IS the way to go....my chest width (which I have learned determines the size of your expanders) called for a 600 CC size, and they always like to go 50 cc's more to "top it off" before the exchange.  I had 50 cc's put in during the initial surgery, and started fills the following week.  I had three fills in three weeks at 150 cc's each.  I felt soooo stretched and a lot of burning!  Then a nasty infection set in and I needed re-hospitalization for 6 days of IV antibiotics (Vanco), and have been on Bactrm DS for 2 weeks, and just got a refill for another 3 weeks! Tomorrow I go back to the PS.  I know I need 150 cc's more to get to 650....but I will NOT take more than 75, and will not return for at least 2 weeks later as I am taking a short trip and would have thought of another excuse if I weren't!  I am very anxious to get this over....but I think 150 cc's per week, every week is nuts!  Any one else have a similar experience?

Good Luck to All!

Angel 10

Jen,

I think that the discomfort is caused by being filled too fast.  I am getting 50 cc's weekly and I have not noticed bad pain.  I get tightness and while sleeping I can feel the corners poking me (but it's not painful just uncomfortable).  I get my fills by injections.  My PS does not use lidocane but some do.  You could feel a small pinch and pressure as they are filling.  The PS has to fill slowly so don't panic if it takes a minute to fill one side.  You may experience your muscle spasm during the fill ( I did on the first three or so fills but they have stopped).  The spasms are not painful, you just feel them tighten.  Really weird feeling.  I get my fills at the end of the day so I don't have to go back to work.  However, I could go back to work right away.  You just feel tight. When do you get your first fill?

Good luck to you! 

Jen - since I had my mx in November and delayed TE's my recovery I believe was easier.  I only took pain meds the first day (both at mx and then at TE placement).  Don't feel bad about taking the pain meds.  Everyone's pain tollerance is different.  That is what they are there for.  Just keep taking them until you feel like you can move to OTC meds.  How much did your doctor fill you when they placed the TE's?  Mine PS did not fill me at placement.  I think that is why I had little pain.  Hang in there!  You are one tough lady!

Hi Jen,

I started mine last 6/8/09. I took tylenol 3 30 minutes before the pill. My PS also gave me local anesthesia. He ask me to tell him when I started feeling some tightness and that's when he stop filling me. After the anesthesia and tylenol 3 wears off, I felt some tightness and burning sensation. I took some pain pills and muscle relaxant and continue my excercises and massages. The tightness and burning sensation lasted me two days. Good luck to you, Jen.

My first day of work is today. I am so anxious again and woke up very early. I couldn't sleep. I should have taken Ambien but it's too late now. I am bringing my pain pills today just incase I needed them. I am going to wear my sports bra. I do not know anything about stuffed bras.

Have a great day, ladies. Celine

Hi

I had a lot of discomfort with my fills and the whole darn expander thing. My PS also put some lidocaine in my ports before my fills. It was very helpful. I also took Valium before my appt as my fills were 100 cc's each.

I'm 3 months post exchange....softer and no little foob track marks any more. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep the faith...and the pain meds!!! 

Doing OK! Have my 5th fill scheduled for Thursday.

Was looking at homes this weekend and as the realtor tried to help me onto the porch of a house under construction it felt like I pulled everything in my chest, around my side towards my back and down my left arm. Feeling a little better, but things are still a little tender.

I still can only sleep on my back but I think the Tamoxifen hot flashes are keeping more awake than the TE's.

Denise

swest - my Mx was 3/31. Right now I really don't know how far my expansion will go. I am currently at 750cc's. Since I am not a small girl, this makes me maybe a B. Prior to surgery I was a full C/small D and that's were I want my foobs to be. I have been agonizing over the final implants almost daily. At my last appt with my PS I expressed my concern. I don't think the 800cc implants will get me to my prior size. Maybe we'll get close. My PS was running behind so I was late getting my kids - but he mentioned the possibility of custom silicone implants. Didn't have a chance to really get any details, but on Thursday I plan on pumping him for imformation. The Allergan Style 45 implants may work - with the higher profile (6.7cm) they may fill out my bra better. I'm not trying to go bigger, but after going through all of this I don't want to have to settle for a smaller size. I will let you know what I find out.

Bump.  Interesting and Important thread.

Tennis, I had trouble sleeping too, since I'm a side sleeper and at first could not get comfortable on my back. But the more fills I get the better it feels. I had to get some sleeping pills from my family doctor. I take half of an Ambien and it helps a lot. The more rested I'm the better I feel and can deal with the fills. I baby sit my twin grandbabies the other day, and the next morn I could hardly get out of bed I was so sore!! Ha!!! They wore me out!  But it was so worth it!!  I'm so sorry to hear about the leaking. I will be saying prayers for you. Di

I had bilateral tissue expanders placed in March 09 but kept having quite a bit of pain and limited chest mobility. One of the expanders looked like it was being pulled under my armpit.  My PS thought it was from encapsulation, and did surgery this week.  During surgery he found that I had excessive scar tissue (from the initial mastectomy).  He said the scarring was extensive and very thick and cut "a plate full" out.  I believe he also cut some of the encapsulation on both sides.

The point of the story is that I think we all have some experiences that are similar but there are always unique considerations.  Some of you are fortunate enough to use your own tissue where as other's of us have to go with the expander/implant option.  Thank goodness for hydrocodone, although I prefer a nice glass of merlot.

swest, I have flown with TE's and have had no problem.  Your PS should have given you a card w/ the information regarding your expanders.  I would suggest taking that with you in case you are questioned.  The pressure did not bother me at all, I did not know the difference.

I hope you enjoy your vacation.  Heymoose

swest - I've flown twice with my TEs.  First time was a couple weeks after a fill, and I had no problem.  The second time was less than 24 hours after my (4th) fill, and I really felt uncomfortable during the pressure changes at takeoff and landing.  It certainly wasn't unbearable, just not  much fun.  It resolved once we leveled off and landed.  I guess everyone's different.  I didn't receive an expander card from my ps, but he did give me a letter stating that I had medical devices with magnets.  I carried this with my boarding pass through the metal detector - just in case - but had no problems with setting off the alarms - yea!

Hi Ladies,

I had Bilat Mastectomy with Immediate Tissue Expander placement June 15th. PS filled me at surgery to 350cc but no additional fills yet. So far my left breast has minimal pain and it went through mx and re-excision 10 days later. That breast looks perfect..no swelling and no bruising. My right breast is another story. 4 Days after surgery I had to see PS because that breast was quite swollen. Fluid was not draining properly so he had to remove fluid with a syringe and also squeeze the breast mount the get the fluid to flow properly through the drain.  The following Monday he squeeze and pressed on that breast mound again. This breast continues to be quite swollen and it is super bruised. Every time I move or move my arm in a certain way it aches like nothing else. My PS is aware of the swelling and bruising. He told me to take it super easy for a couple weeks..limit activity..even walking since it hurts so bad. Anyone else go through something similar or have any advice to get through this? Thanks!!!

Yasminv1

Hey

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.  I did not have reconstruction, but have been having to be drained every week to 10 days on right side.  I finally backed off doing much over 5lbs.  I go back 7/8 and hope it will not  need to be drained with needle again.  I do not why sometimes fluid builds up, but hang in there.I notice it the most when trying to sleep. I have gotten some relief by taking a flat pillow and placing it sideways under by arm....Hug Biggie for me.

Ab

Welcome, Alitman! You're still fairly fresh post-op, so it is perfectly expected that you still have some pain.  I know mine took about 8 weeks to resolve - and my ps waited another week before he started fills (was empty at surgery).  As for the napping, that's perfectly normal, too.  I NEVER napped before my bmx, but did so consistently for probably 10-12 weeks.  I was lucky as my job is teaching a few aerobics classes a week, so THAT was certainly not going to happen for awhile.  If your family situation allows it, once you return to work, you may need to try to get to bed earlier than normal.  Hopefuly your work environment will be a supportive one.  Hang in there and please keep us posted!