Can Your Body REJECT tissue expanders?

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tabby
tabby Member Posts: 135
edited August 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

I had bm's on May 7 and have been red underneath ever since the surgical tape was removed (I thought it was my sensitive skin at the time and my breasts--what's left with the te's have been warmer than the rest of my body ever since the surgery).  The next week the ps said I had an infection and put me on Levaquin as he said he could not test infection without rupturing the te's.  I have been on that for the 20 days (as long as you can take them), and on Fri. the ps saw me (still redder than ever, no pain, no fever, maybe a little less energy than normal).  He said it was time to remove the te's.  I told him I needed to know I did everything possible to save them (as I have worn this iron bra now for 6 weeks!), besides can't stand the thought of cutting in that same place now emotionally.  Long story short, he put me in the hospital for a few days of IV meds to see if it would make a dramatic difference.  I am lighter today (but tend to be light in the morning, darker red in the evening--I know strange) and feel better even though I've had very little rest.  The infectious disease doctor is stumped.  He's not even sure it's infection and wants his boss to take a look.  Has anyone out there had anything close to this?  PLEASE HELP.

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited June 2009

    Hi - I just "bumped" an older conversation that seemed to be the immune system reacting.. but after you read "If not an infection.. then what" trace "suze" the writter of that post as I believe she states what she went through and what it turned out to be..  Good luck and good for you for asking for more when you ps wanted to pull the te

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited June 2009

    I turned out to be allergic to latex during my bc journey and visited with an allergist.

    I asked her if i was likely to be allergic to the expander, which is medical grade silicone, and she said no - that it's a pretty inert substance.

    You could have an infection. In my time here I've seen a lot of infections and usually antibotics don't fix them. so prepare yourself to lose the expanders.

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  • CarolRich
    CarolRich Member Posts: 63
    edited June 2009

    Tabby,

    I'm so sorry you are having this problem!  Yes, TE can get infected as I had it happen to me 3 times.  The first was in Feb 07 and had to come out in March.  We waited 3 months for the infection to clear and put it back in in June and it came out in July.  We then watied an entire year and the same thing happened.  I am now recovering from a tram because "3 strikes and I'm out" of TE.  Good Luck!

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  • mnmt
    mnmt Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2009

    I have been wondering the same thing.  I am having horrible nerve pain/burning and my ps says it's phantom pain and says just to keep massaging the area!  Right!  I choose implants because I was terrified by the thought of the flap-type procedures, but now I'm really worried and in so much pain.

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  • kirby
    kirby Member Posts: 198
    edited June 2009

    Hi,

    I had tissue expander back in 2005 ( had my mx earlier that year) I developed redness, but it was not an infection. Everyone said it was a "rash". I went to several doctors, got creams, lotions,continued on oral antibiotics etc, but nothing really helped. I kept telling my plastic surgeon I thought it was a reaction to the expander, but he said no. Dermatogist finally did a skin biopsy and it just showed irritation. Long story short, as soon as I had my exchange the "rash" disappeared.

     If they have ruled out an infection, maybe you are having a similiar reaction. Hope you can keep your expander.

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  • Suze
    Suze Member Posts: 186
    edited June 2009

    Hi

    I'm sorry you're going through this :(

    I had my implants removed after an infection - but then the 'infection' took forever to settle down. Even after weeks of IV antibiotics and a month and a half of abx via  picc line. In the end it never grew anything, but it was still periodically hot and red and inflamed looking, even a good three months down the line. 

    They still don't know what happened - ?some sort of massive inflammatory response. I now have all sorts of odd stuff happening -I've developed an allergy to my contact lenses and an inflammatory condition in my eyelids, and am allergic to all the diff kinds (steroidal and non) that they try to use to treat it! I may never be able to wear contacts again.

    It's 6 months since I had the implants removed. I think it was a good 4 before I was really 'well' again.

    Yes, you can be allergic to implants or expanders  - you can develop an allergy to ANY substance. I'm now seeing an immunologist to try and figure out what is going on, before I have more surgery later in the year.

    I hope they can find an answer for you - and that they can save your expanders :( 

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  • tabby
    tabby Member Posts: 135
    edited June 2009

    Thank you all so much for your responses and sharing your stories.  You ladies make me feel bad for complaining since you have endured way more than me.  I decided yesterday that the antibiotics were not making enough progress to make me believe it would clear so that I could do reconstruction, so I unhappily got the expanders out yesterday.  It was a very emotional day for our family but it was the right thing to do.  There was quite a bit of infection which they can now culture and figure out the best antibiotic to treat me.  It will be at least 6 months before we can try again, but that's okay, at least we get a break from the iron bra, huh? 

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited June 2009

    tabby,

    Sorry you lost the expanders, but at least you can now get this infection cleared up once and for all, and then, if you choose, explore other options for reconstruction that perhaps involve only your own tissue.

    Enjoy the freedom from the iron bra. But more importantly, get well soon!

    Anne

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited June 2009

    Tabby, I'm sorry you lost the TE and I hope they have a full understanding of the infection so they can give you what you need to completely clear it from your system so you can start fresh!!!  (Thanks Suze for coming in and helping me with your old thread - I't good to hear from you again - though it sounds like you have been through h_ll and back!!!  Best of luck with this immune inflammation reaction!)

    Both of you be well and get strong as soon as possible!!!!!

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  • samiam
    samiam Member Posts: 160
    edited June 2009

    Tabby,

    Now that your expanders are out, hopefully the infection will clear up quickly.  I had my expander removed last December after developing an infection that we could not clear with IV antibiotics. When I found out it would have to come out, I was devastated. Fortunately these past 6 months have passed quickly.    I am scheduled to have it replaced next month.  

    Hang in there! I wish you the best.

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  • Bbets54
    Bbets54 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2015

    After my fourth fill with my expanders, I developed a rash all over my body that won't go away, could this be from the expanders? Any suggestions on relieving the itch? I can't stand it.Please help!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2015

    bbets - the last post on this thread is from 2009.  I would suggest either of these two threads which concern expanders and are more active.  Don't let the TE trouble thread scare you!

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/819027?page=47#idx_1386

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/771702?page=279#idx_8347

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/728266?page=1206#idx_36158

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    Starting your own thread might be the best way to get input.

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  • delynn13
    delynn13 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2015

    Hi, I know how you feel I'm really red ,not hot, no on my left breast they said o had a collection of fluid that was causing my left breast. But no reason for the redness. Now I'm still red and they cancelled my cemo becomes they think it looks like it's a infection so my Dr needs to figure out what it is so I can have cemo.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2015

    Hi Delynn13, and welcome to Breastcancer.org!

    You've found a super helpful and incredibly knowledgeable resource in our Community. However, this thread hasn't been active for quite some time, so it might be best for you to create your own thread to get some answers to your questions. You can do so by navigating to the forum where you wish to post, selecting Start a New Topic, creating a headline and your post with questions in the text box, and selecting Submit to post your message. Don't forget to add your topic to your Favorite Topics by clicking the blue heart, so that you will get a notification when someone replies to your thread.

    We hope this helps you get answers! Please keep us all posted on how your symptoms turn out and when you get to start chemo!

    --The Mods

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  • BevJeanAnn2015
    BevJeanAnn2015 Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2015

    I have not had any infection with my TE's but they are so painful. If I had known how bad this was going to hurt, I would have opted out of them and gone with reconstruction with my own tissue. I don't think God meant for things to be implanted under our pectoral muscles. I had my bilat mastec. in April and the expanders are still painful. It feels like turtle shells under my chest with an iron underwire! I can't wait for the implants to be placed.

    I'm sorry you are going through this with your TE's. If you have to use your own tissue, it might be a better choice. Praying for you...

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