continued Tissue expander pain!!

Linda,

oh, I know how you feel.  I had 180cc put in during surgery (6/16) ..I was in such pain for a few weeks.I cried so much, mostly slept in a recliner with pillows under each arem. and was so miserable BUT it does get better...3 weeks or so was much better.  Take your pain meds on schedule..don't wait until you need them! Now I am glad I had the saline put in at surgery.  Less time until exchange.  Take it slow on your fills.  Patience is key.  I was SO scared at my first fill but it really didn't hurt at all.  I have 60 cc's each time.  BE SURE to take something like valium (for muscle spasms) and a pain killer BEFORE you go.  You will need them for a day or so. Last fill (my 4th) I only needed valium\percoset for fill and once again that night.  Advil was fine next day.  It does get better but requires so much patience.  I want these things out too!!

Allison,

     Sorry it has been so long since I've been on the site. I was out of town last week-end and this week have been trying to get done all the things I won't be able to do after my surgery on Monday. No lifting over 5 lbs, can't raise my elbow above my shoulder. You don't realize how may times you raise your elbow above your shoulder, until you can't. For me the most annoying part post surgery was the stupid drains ! Not the taking care of them but the soreness from them and not being able to shower. I am a nurse but not a very good patient.

      Monday I am having a lift to the right breast, and nipple recon on the left from tissue from the right side. This should be my last surgery. I started keeping a journal when I was diagnosed, it's been helpful to go back and look at it. There are things I had forgotten, kinda like child birth ?

       I see that you are going to 800 cc's on your fills, I had 600 cc's and only had a left expander. I don't think of myself as a wimp, but I had enough by then. I also feel so lucky to not have had the problems some of our BC sister's have. I feel incredibly lucky that I didn't need to do chemo. I also did not appreciate what I had before I got BC. I was not real big (36 B- a C when I was on hormones) but very simetrical as my PS told me during my consult.  I am now a 38 C and that is more than fine with me.

        I told my S.O. last night I was not looking forward as much to this surgery as I was the last one (my switch out of the TE) He said "I've noticed that, I think it's because you finally started feeling real good" He's right, but I keep telling myself after 3 weeks all will be better. Maybe sooner this time.

        Keep on keeping on.........to all you great Ladies out there ! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Paula

I have a question for everyone.....It has been two and a half weeks since my last fill and I am still having pain on my right side.  I only experience the pain when I touch the inner bottom part of the TE/foob.  It feels bruised but does not have the apperance of being bruised.  Also, when I'm laying in bed at night and have to get up to go to the bathroom, I get a sharp pain in my pec. muscle while trying to sit/get up.  It almost feels like a torn muscle....I think.  I've never torn a muscle so it is what I imagine it would feel like.  The good news is the pain is not constant.  Is this normal?

Sonia

Patty,

Do you know what kind of implant you are getting? On the Exchange City Post (or one of the reconstruction threads) there are links to the catalogs of implants. To be honest, I never heard of a 1200cc implant, but I was never looking for one either! I was a 38 D and wanted to go smaller....to a B, and I have 600cc implants by Allergan planned.

Alot depends upon the size of your ribcage, and since you are taller than me (I am just shy of 5'6") you would probably need more than me....also I am 140 lbs....but there is a science to all of this.  Have you checked the other threads for more info on sizing?

Sonia,,,,there are so many different pains in so many different areas....I too find that getting up is problematic.  There are times when I hardly notice them at all...then whammo all of a sudden one TE will feel like it is gripping me!  I can't figure it out at all. My word is BIZARRE! That is all I can say. Take pain meds as needed. This too shall pass!

God Bless!

Angel

Today is the day for my pity party - I have been here in NE for just a year and have not made many friends outside of work yet.  Since my surgery I've not gotten to do anything I had planned for myself this summer - going to concerts - visiting museums meeting new people etc...  I feel completely boxed in - I have a 19 yr old son who lives with me - he tries but he's not much of a comfort - plus we barely see eachother.  I work days and he works evenings plus he is dating and has made lots of friends.  I miss my friends from AZ and would like to start dating BUT right now that seems impossible.  All I do is work and sleep (or try to).  I am not that uncomfortable most of the time but I am just exhausted.  I have about 4 more fills and I'll be done with that.  I don't  know how long I have to wait after that til the exchange,  I just want this whole process to be over and I want a life!!!

Thanks for listening - Allison 

Angel and swest,  I don't know what size my TE's are. To tell you the truth, I didn't realize they came in "sizes" but guess that makes sense. My PS told me Tuesday that it was 'possible, but not likely' that we'll be all done by the end of the year, so if that's the case, I won't hesitate at all to slow down if the fills get uncomfortable. We haven't discussed what size/type implant I want but I'm thinking I like the Mentor (memory gel?) moderate profile. (I don't like the beach ball look and would prefer more of a natural profile). What I'm sure about is that I do not want anything larger than a C.

Allison, I understand what you're saying! (We all do, no doubt). This summer has been consumed with tests, doctors, labs, hospitals, etc. Actually, my life since March 16 has been that way. I haven't been swimming once (something I love to do) and haven't been out in general that much. I've neglected my backyard bird bath garden and lost interest in my Avon business because I just don't feel like it most of the time. But I'm trying hard to remember that during the course of a lifetime, this is one small blip, which will be over before we know it, or at least that's my hope....and soon we'll emerge stronger and more purposeful than ever.

And Patty B...the same goes for you too! 

God Bless!

Angel

Thank you all for your encouragement - I realize now my life issues are nothing in comparison to what a lot of you have been going through and I hope I have not trivialized your struggles in any way.  I have nothing to complain about in comparison and I apologize for having a public pity party here.  I had no right to do so.  I thank you all for offering me comfort and not chastising me for my lack of compassion you are all such strong women and I will continue to learn from all of you.

Allison

Ladies, Don't feel bad about the occasional pity party. We all have those days. It's just hard to go through a normal life when you have these expanders in. I had a girlfriend call who she wanted to take me to her lakehouse for a weekend. My husband just couldn't understand why I declined the offer.  First of all, I have not put a bathing suit on all summer as my expanders don't really fit in one correctly, and I am 10 pounds heavier then I was 5 months ago. Plus, I just have a hard enough time sleeping in my own bed, I didn't want to deal with sleeping there.

Hang in there all of you wonderful ladies. This too shall pass. 2 more days and my expanders are gone!!!

I have a question, I had my original double mastectomy 6/5 the skin didn't heal well was debreeded (not spelled right) the next day 7/3 I was in the hospital with a 103 temp, they did surgery on both sides on 7/4 to clean out the infection.  I was in the hospital for 5 days with IV antibiotics and sent home on antibiotics for a little over a month more. My right side has always been redder and bigger then the left, last Monday after a month my right side drain tubes were down to 20 cc and could be taken out, when I saw my PS  he said things looked good and not to worry. This AM I woke up with a wet spot about the size of a dinner plate on my bed from laying on that side.  I was oozing from a little spot in the incision.  It looks like the liquid that was in my drains and doesn't have an odor. My saintly husband put new skin and a bandaid over it and it seems to have stopped. Has anybody else oozed like this?  Thanks I know it is a long story.

Allison,

    No need to apologize for a pity party, I think we've all been there more than once. If verbalizing it here helps then by all means, unload...........I have been lucky enough to have family and friends close by, and have been at the same job for 12 years. I can read in my journal three days in a row that all I wrote was "sick" that's all I could manage to put on the page.

     Tomorrow is another day, it does get better. One day you'll be able to sleep on your side again and maybe even lay on your stomach. It will seem like heaven......... for me tomorrow will (hopefully) be my last surgery. So it's back to sleeping in the recliner for awhile and on my back for many weeks to come, but 9 months since my last surgery "the exchange" I now know that time does help.

Blessings to all of you,

Paula

Okay, you want complaining, you got it.LOL.  I have had constant discomfort and pain since these stupid expanders have been in and I go for a fill tomorrow morning.  I'm dreading it.  The last fill 3 weeks ago killed. I know that it's not going to be pleasant but I'm pretty stressed about it.  I went back to work a month ago and I was fine until my last fill.  Since then, I'm feeling pretty broken.  I have taken days off from work when the pain is not tolerable at work.  i'm considering going back on sick leave during this reconstruction process becuase I am creating extra stress for myself when I miss days.  I'm not used to having to cater to my pain.   I guess I feel that I shouldn't complain becuase I am lucky to not have been faced with cancer, just the stupid BRCA2 gene.  I know that it's short term pain for long term gain but I guess I'm feeling very overwhelmed today. Somedays i feel like I walked into the hospital healthy and walked out broken.  Has anyone else managed to work through the pain until the exchange surgery?  I don't know some days how I can get out of bed becuase mornings suck! 

Thanks for letting me vent.  I think that you women are beautiful and courageous.  Thank God for this forum or I would feel so alone

xo

Karen - I am so sorry you are having so much pain!  I was filled 50 cc every week.  That was not bad at all.  Can your PS slow down and put less in?  I think if you tell him/her how painful this is for you they may adjust your fills.

Hugs sent to you!

Karen- I think you really need to just take one day at a time. Looking at the big picture was way too overwhelming to me. Once your are done with your fills, your pain should ease off. Although you will know that the expanders are there, they become more tolerable. Even the terrible morning pains will go away. Also, try not to dread your fill. All of mine were completely different. Some were awful, some not so bad at all. If you are having a hard time ask your PS to slow down with your fills, and remember to do your stretches, especially after the fills as it does help.

Hi ladies, well here I am again.  The aspirations seemed to help for awhile but now redness has come back and hot again.  PS has aspirated me several times and now I am having surgery again on Friday to clean and drain left breast and put in drains again.  I still haven't had a fill yet and it's been over two months.  Hopefully after surgery things will get better and I can start getting my fills.  You guys are so supportive and I know that I'm not alone when I have my pity parties - I know you understand.  Thanks for your support.  Third times a charm - as they say!