need help

bevb- I haven't had deconstruction but I have heard from a lot of women that the relief was immediate.  I also had chronic pain that started soon after my exchange surgery last June. I kept thinking it was going to get better but after 9 months it wasn't.  I just did a revision where my PS swapped out my implants for smaller ones and then did fat grafting over the top.  I ended up about the same size but the pain was gone.  I think the combination of having smaller lighter implants, and because my pec muscles weren't being stretched as tight, was the answer for me.  (And the added benefit of the fat grafting making everything look and feel more natural.)  Just wanted to make you aware of another option but I'm sure others will come along and let you know about the deconstruction, too.  Good luck.

bevb- I think there are more of us than people realize.  Between the issues of our pectoral muscles being distorted during the TE process, how much heavier implants are than breast tissue (something they don't warn you about), pain from multiple surgeries, loss of breast tissue to support implants, women with auto-immune diseases which can flare with the introduction of a foreign object in your body, the need for lifetime stretching and PT, etc, etc, etc.  The list goes on and on of possible causes for chronic pain or uncomfortableness after TE/implants.  There are several threads about this if you want to read what others have said.  I think there are women on there, too, who have deconstructed that might have some words of wisdom with that.  The titles of the threads are-

Still uncomfortable with implants (there's a member on there named "faithroad" who has recently deconstructed)-

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/766702?page=5#idx_149 

trouble with implants-

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/771550?page=1#idx_9 

and Visible ripples in implants (which originally started regarding aesthetic issues with implants but now deals with all the comfort issues, too)-

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/758350?page=20#idx_584 

I'm sure there may be more out there.  These are just the ones I post on.  If you put the word "deconstruct" in the search box you may find more.  Good luck! 

Hi, bevb



Within a few months after my exchange surgery, I developed serious back, neck and shoulder pain. I also had painful spasms in the right pectoral muscle. That implant became distorted and felt like it was popping outward. That became a consistent, nagging pain that made it hard to function. I also developed lymphedema on that side. I went to a myofascial release/PT for a year and got some relief from the pain. After that year, the pain level was such that I knew I could no longer live like that and needed to deconstruct.



I started out in my BC journey a strong and happy woman. I dealt with the loss of my breasts and came to terms with that. However, the pain from the expansion process, the lymphedema, and the continual, never-ending chronic pain whittled me down to an emotional and physical basket case. I took an antidepressant, and during the time leading up to my deconstruction surgery, my primary physician prescribed narcotics for the pain. I interviewed three PS's and found one that sounded best for my LE situation, and scheduled surgery. I had my implants removed April 5 of this year, and upon awaking from surgery, even with the post-surgery pain, I felt immediately better. Within six weeks, was starting to hit my stride again, and my back, neck and shoulders felt pretty much normal again. I saw the myofascial release therapist twice to help my body readjust to not having to carry the weight of the implants, and he remarked how my shoulder muscles were no longer tight. My posture was improved as well. By eight weeks post surgery, I suddenly felt like myself again in my own body.



I am still amazed how I could go from having debilitating pain to being pain free once the implants were gone. The new PS discovered I had thick capsules around both implants, and that the implant on the right was poking through the muscle. The pectoral muscle on that side had been seriously damaged by the expansion process and from the weight of the implant. My ribcage has indentations from the expanders. I am not the prettiest sight, but I am so happy to be free of the pain. I feel like my body and mind are finally healing and well on the way to being whole again.