Tissue Expander Infection....Help!

I had one incident of infection and had to have one of the tissue expanders removed.   I had made up my mind when I did that surgery that I'd give it one more try and then I was done.

Thankfully, I've had no problems since.  The reconstructed breasts are okay but if one goes bad, I'm having them both taken out and will live without them.

Gail

Hi Vikingsgal,

Ohmigosh, I'm so sorry!  I haven't had infections, but other issues and I know the torment.  No advice, unfortunately, but you're not alone!!   HUGS! 

My story is the same I had BMX and the right side was my tumor side.  I had my surgery 5/11/10 everything was fine the first week had two of my 4 drains taken out, that was on Monday then on Thursday I had a fever of over 100 and throwing up.  Called the PS and he prescribed antibiotics, felt better by Friday and Saturday, then Sunday breast was red and swollen. When to see PS on Monday for appointment, he took out the last drain on the left but was going to leave the right one in, I said something was wrong, had no fever but something was not right.  Well they took out the drain and puss was coming out.  Sent me to the hospital asap and put on 24hr antibiotics and had surgery the next day.  Left one was ok.  Let myself heal had chemo 4 rounds of AC and 4 rounds of taxol.  Then in November we tried again, every thing was fine had my fill, then after our return from Thanksgiving my incision started weeping and had sarcoma build up and had cellulose's on the skin.  Had the fluid drained every other day then thought the incision healed and the cellulose's healed.  After two weeks of this the incision started weeping again and then a whole developed on the skin above the incision which got bigger over the weekend.  Went in to have it checked out as I was in a panic.  TE was exposed and had to come out because it would not heal for months and I still need to have rads.  Long story short had right TE removed again before Christmas.  Through a lot of thoughtful prayer and talking with my DH, I decided not to continue with recon at this time and probably never.  4 surgerys in 6 months was enough.  I informed my PS of this in January when I was going through rads, he understood and told me to come see him three months after treatment and during that time think about it.  I would end up having to have a latis flap done on the right side, through all of this my left one was looking wonderful but still had TE in.  My three months is coming to an end and I am still not continuing with recon and I will have the TE taken out of the left side as well.  It made since to me to have both taken out instead of one reconstructed and one not.  I am sorry this is not of any help to you right now.  I am 47 and know I can handle not having breasts, I am not for sure your age which maybe a deciding factor.  You go through this thinking you have done all the research and have made an informed decision but it just boils down to what is right for you.  I would say stick with it if you can.

Each story is so different and I know I could not have gone through what I have if I did not have my faith, the care and love of my DH (who just wants me happly and healthy) and DS, the wonderful sisters here and those I have found through my church.  I have prayed for you that the antibiotics will take care of this, that the possible infection will correct its self and that Jesus wrap his healing arms around you and give you comfort.

I had BMX on 2-7-2011.  The right breast was the cancer side.  After surgery I had fever, and left breast was red and hot to touch.  I had chills also.  After weeks of lets wait and see from PS, the incision was leaking, and blistered and I asked her to do something. I was admitted to hospital and was put on Vanco IV, then I did vanco IV for another 14 days at home.   We scheduled surgery to remove both expanders and skin at incision and replace with new expanders.  I still have some redness in left breast, but has not changed in 4 weeks, no fever, no chills, feel good, left side is very tight though.  Will find out tomorrow if PS will do fill on left side or not.  Right side is looking good. We have been holding our breathe as we are running out of time before they have to start radiation. 

With the implants anything is a possibility at any point in time. While you have TE, when you get your permanent, decades after you have gotten your permanent. Watch it and see your PS. Good luck.

ladies. I had a bilateral mastectomy . I am 5'6 100 pounds 27 years old. Finished chemo in December and had my surgery January 11 2018 . I have tissue expanders in right now skin is very tight. They were filled a little at time of surgery and I hadanother fill 3 days ago. My right tissue expander I can feel and see it like Its gonna poke out of my skin under neath. Is this normal? Will it fill/smooth out over time with fills? Just odd it's only happening to my one side . Please let me know if this has happened to you

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I've also had a horrible experiences with expanders. I had the red swelling and fevers and was on anti biotics for about 6 months. In the end my surgeon took them out and replaced with silicon implants without realising I had actually developed pressure necrosis from the expanders. So a couple of weeks after my silicon implants were put in my mastectomy scar opened more and more every day to the point a quarter of my implant was exposed and looked like it was being pushed out of my breast. Unfortunately I had to have my left breast and implant removed but am currently still having mastectomy scar break down. Funny thing is I've had all the same surgeries done to the right side but there wasn't cancer in that side it was precautionary but the cancer side has been a 3 year battle. I now have a lot of recovery to do and then I will be having the skin flap on the last side instead. Not even sure if I want to now tho to be honest it's disheartening when there are complications

Please keep me updated because I have struggled to find anyone that has gone through anythi g even remotely similar but your red swollen breast and chills just brought back some memories for me from 2 months ago .

Best of luck x