cellulitis and tissue expanders

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Kyta
Kyta Member Posts: 713
edited March 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi all

I'm not one who usually posts a thread...more of a lurker of other's, but can't seem to find much info re infection and tissue expanders. I had mx on left cancer side in Dec 2009. Then had right prophy Nov 25, 2010, with expanders on both sides. A few weeks after surgery noticed redness on left side. Early Jan 2011, started on oral antibiotics for 10 days....no change. Jan 27th, back on oral antibiotics (keflex) and IV meds (ancef). Infectious disease Dr says it's cellulitis. Going for a picc line tomorrow for several weeks of antibiotics. Needless to say I'm disappointed that the expander fills are halted....I only needed a couple more. I'm so anxious to get this process going and finished with.

Symptoms are red breast (particularly on the lower half of the breast) and tingling, itchy, burning feeling in the breast.

Any others going through this? What type of antibiotic are you on? For how long? Any improvement? 

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited February 2011

    Hi Mich.  Bumping this up for you.  Gentle hugs.

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited February 2011

    Hugs Mich. (bump)

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  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 713
    edited February 2011

    thanks Sharon.

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited February 2011
    Wink
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    I'm not sure how things turned out for you, but I had bmx on Feb 28. Developed redness a couple weeks later with no other symptoms and nothing showing in fluid testing. Took cipro which helped a little. Two weeks later, redness was back again. Again, nothing showed in fluid culture, so PS ordered it to be cultured and grown. A week after that it came back as pseudomona...an antibiotic resistant bacteria.

    Since I was fully expanded, we went in to surgery on Monday to either install the permanent implant if the infection was cleared on the Cipro. No such luck. Too much infection. Expanders had to be removed, and I am home on iv and oral antibiotics.

    Now I have to wait 3 months to start over. I was totally bummed but am doing better now.

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  • sanbar8771
    sanbar8771 Member Posts: 281
    edited May 2011

    I had an infection that sounded like what you are describing but mine was pseudomonas. I had to get my left expander removed. I am so sad. I have to wait 3 month before I can get the TE replaced. Oh I forgot to tell you that was my second surgery trying to insert the tissue expander. In July this will be the 3rd attempt. Im going to check and see if I'm allergic to Cipro because Im allergic to levaquin. Thanks ladies

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    AFter your first one failed, did you do anything to try to protect the skin?

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  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 713
    edited May 2011

    Hi Fluffqueen and Sanbar

    I can totally understand feeling sad and bummed about having the TE removed. It's already a long process, and an infection thrown is just an extra pain in the as*. I started on IV with ancef, then moved on to vancomycin, and no improvement (and had a nasty head to toe skin rash, allergic reaction to the vanco). My left TE was removed early March. Next surgery date is June 20 for a new TE. Hoping it works out this time.

    I hope you both have success next time :) 

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  • ShannonR
    ShannonR Member Posts: 307
    edited May 2011

    Diane

    One of my breasts is pale purple. My PS put me back on Keflex as a precaution he does not think it is an infection but believes it might be irritation.  I wonder how they know if it is the skin being stretched too tight like yours.  How are the implants going for you ?

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  • June-Rose
    June-Rose Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2012

    How have you been going since your cellulitis?  I had expanders put in Feb 12, and have just developed cellulitis.  I'm not responding to oral antibiotics, and am waiting to hear from the breast surgeon.  It's a week now.  Did you go ahead and have the implants done?  I'm wondering whether it's worth having implants if cellulitis is going to be a problem. 

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  • Binc
    Binc Member Posts: 82
    edited July 2012

    I'm curious too. I have been dealing with cellulitis in my right TE for the past 8 weeks. I have been on IV vancomycin for the last 6 weeks and have shown little improvement. I go to my PS tomorrow and am scheduled to have the TE removed next week. I'd love to know that others dealt with the same issue and had success the second time around.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2012

    Removal is a piece of cake. Looking at the flat chest was not pleasant for me. I was pleasantly surprised when I looked after Bmx and had a small mound there. Wasn't bad at all.



    After expander removal, it was tougher. It was out for three months, then put back in. Sailed through with very few problems. Had a rash, and my implants had to be a little smaller due to the infection causing thin skin, but fat grafting has helped a lot.

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited June 2013

    I'm worried this is what is going on with me as well. TE breast is red, but only on the underneath part. Last night I had fever and chills and a terrible headache. Today I still have the headache but I think the fever is gone. I went to seethe PS and he put me on 2 antibiotics. I'm feeling really weak and out of breath easily. I think the last time I felt this weak, it was when I was on chemo. Does anyone know more about cellulitis?

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  • Patsycat
    Patsycat Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2013

    I have been running high fever for past 4 days, noticed that my left breast where lumpectomy was was red, and warm to the touch. Went to urgent care today and got some antibiotics. I had 19 lymp nodes removed and am wondering if this could have been caused by a dental procedure I had done the day before and with the nodes gone I couldn't fight off the infection



    I sure hope I begin to feel better soon. Thanks

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  • ItsStillMe
    ItsStillMe Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2018

    I am experiencing the same problem. How did this resolve for any of you

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