Still Uncomfortable with Implants

I just heard from another member on here that Dr. Joel Aronowitz (Suzanne Somer's PS) will swap out your implants, put the new ones over the pec muscles and then do fat grafting over the top.  He will also take out implants and do just fat grafting but for women who don't have enough fat to do all the rounds necessary this is an exciting option!  I think at least half of us who have pain after exchange have it because of the pecs being stretched.  It's great to see that doctors are addressing this issue.  

Kate and dancetrancer------ The foobs are too big. But it's now 2 1/2 years after exchange----i think I have gotten to a no pain level. The foobs for my size are not what as requested. Whats odd is Kate referred to them as dddd. I don't think they are, but I haven't had anyone do measurements. Each month they are becoming more comfortable. Not normal., but the pain of the last 2 3/4 years is gone -----to a certain point. I don't have pain now just discomfort. How is that different. Well. Lots. Now b/c the damn things are so big , I' m ware they are there. Finally the pain is gone. BUT I have to wear a bra mostly. that has an under-wire. But if the under-wire is to high I get LE increase in the left breast. I have bought by chance a bra that doesn't have the problem of causing Left breast edema.  There is a thread that has allot of bra recommendations.

My BS----like 2 weeks ago at exam------" they look the best since I've seen you"------could have riped his throat out. But had he asked me why I would have shown him the bra an explained that it kept them central versus armpits.and that the under-wire didn't go high enough to cause and increase in the LE. Whereas, I had 2 other brs bought earlier that caused LE breast problems,

The scars are outreagrous--------I may be repeating my self----------

I have on each side on the scar lines nodules that I have found-------he dismissed the first-------my PCP didn't ordered a pet and it was ok---------second I found on the right -------forgot to tell him-----it's on the surgical line and is the same as the other-------a surgical scar around a stitch.  The problem being his breast exam never identified either. So, what was the value of his exam--------paying the rent?-----------May be I'm a bitch......... I just hope my PCP doesn't retire

Kate thanks re: Nordstrom. It would be a whole day trip, but might be worth it. (H))'s sheila

ronqt- If it's craziness then color me crazy, too!  I hate these things.  I had a revision last spring and the PS put in much smaller implants with extensive fat grafting over the top.  While I love (love, love) what the fat grafting has done, and at first everything felt great, now I feel like I did before my revision.  My pecs feel constantly tight and it feels like I'm wearing a bra that is 2 sizes too small.  Yet, when I don't wear a bra at all it's even worse.  Is this what you're going through?  As far as taking out the implant all together and doing tram, diep or something I'm not sure.  You might want to post the question on one of those threads and see if someone has done that.  I know someone who has taken hers out and done just fat grafting.  I should check with her and see what that feels like.  I also know someone who took them out all together and still has tightness.  Curious about your upper body workouts- have you had nodes removed?  If so, are there any precautions you need to take as far as LE is concerned?  I've been hesitant to do much upper body stuff because I have mild LE in one arm.

Kate and Bdavis, THANK YOU.

Yes, Kate, I feel constantly tight and something pushing in. I had two nodes taken out and I have no problem working with free weights and or machines. Kate, when I am lying down and/or on the side I feel nothing. Dr. said it is most likely scar tissue. Exactly also, even after removal of first implant with lighter one with no bra I feel the same, just not so heavy as when I was carrying my "football".

Kate, what is "fat grafting", b/c I am taking a whole of notes this time with me, instead of telling me how great they look. I am completely sick of the whole thing. I have tried to stay off the site, because I wanted to move on, but realized no one else can answer my questions. None of my friends have joined our club, so I can't discuss it with them.

Thank you again, Hugs to all.

Thank you. Now will wait until 3/7 to see PS. Hopefully he and I can make a decision on what to do next.

Hugs,

This is exactly how I feel too....like I'm wearing a bra that is two sizes too small! The pain is unrelenting!! I am going to Philadelphia to see a PS who has been recommended by several people. Apparently, he is known for doing "repair" work and has done fat grafting for some time. I had my implants removed in July and feel worse than I did before. I now have a caved in chest (from the expanders) as well. Not only do I feel lousy but hate the way I look. It is beating me up emotionally. I am so hoping that this doctor can help! I certainly wouldn't wish this discomfort on anyone but it makes me feel like I'm truly not crazy when I read the posts of others here. Thanks for sharing! I am praying that we all find some answers and can move on with life!!

mlp- I think it's hard when we're not the majority.  I think most women are very happy with their recon and they don't have any problems at all.  Not sure why we do but I wish doctors wouldn't look at us like we're crazy.  The pain is very real.  If there are more women out there I hope they speak up.  Maybe then doctors would realize this is a real issue and they would start to find solutions.

Ronna- I think that is why I continue to post on different threads, too.  This is the only place where, whatever my BC issue is at the time, I can find someone who not only gets it but isn't tired of talking about it.  I sometimes feel like those in my "real" life just want me to move on already!  They don't get that having a foreign object stuck in your chest that is causing you pain and discomfort prevents you from doing so.

It's hard for me sometimes to feel grateful I'm cured when I never felt sick.  Mine was caught early, too, and I didn't have chemo or rads, either.  So it's hard to accept you even had cancer.  It was as though they took my perfectly healthy body, wrenched it open, emptied it out, shoved a TE in there and then implants and then I'm supposed to feel lucky.  I can feel it intellectually but not emotionally.  Guess I just miss the old me today and being comfortable in my own skin.

I just read a study from the University of California, back in 1996, titled "Pain after Breast Surgery".  Their research recorded the incidence of pain one year after surgery for MX, MX with recon, cosmetic augmentation and reduction.  Reduction was 22%, MX was 31%, augmentation was 38% and MX with recon averaged 49%.  For women with implants the rate was 53% and other methods averaged much less.  Here's a link if you want to read it-

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8880841 

Kate, you said it perfectly. No one could have said it better. I never felt sick either. Also was fortunate enough to not have to undergo chemo or rads.  Could not tolerate Arimidex now on Femara.

 I went to PT this morning for some other issues, so I decided to ask about the pectorial muscles. They showed me how to stretch to make them larger. It was almsot the same thing as "climbing the walls" after mast, but you don't move the arms up. You said against corner of a wall for 15 seconds, hands on both sides flat and stretch. I will try that now.

MLP, yes, I stopped talking about bc to my friends, they just don't get it. Good luck with drs at Univ of Penn.

Good morning Ladies,

Wow, you guys so get it!  I know that my sweet husband is ready to move on and have me quit talking and thinking about my breast all of the time.  I don't have the "iron bra" feeling that some of you describe.  Mine hurts where my original stereo-tactic bx was....upper outer quadrant.  It hurts whenever I move my arm or flex my pecs or even just run my hand over that area.  And the thing that really stinks is I thought we had figured it all out.  I had a revision when we did my nipple construction.  He removed the implant and did some pocket work and low and behold...it did not hurt anymore....until Super Bowl Sunday morning.  Interesting thing is that the period of time between the surgery and the onset on pain was almost the same as when I had my UMX....about 2 months.  PS says that he broke up some adheasions when he did the revision.  I have been dilagent about doing massage several times daily and have had myofascial release PT for months before and after my surgery. It is just so frustrating.

I am like many of you. So grateful that it was found before it had become invasive and that the treatment was only surgery and tamoxifen.  But it is alot to get your head around when you are moving through your life happy and well,  you go in for your yearly mammogram, and BOOM - you are thrown into cancer land and your life changes forever.  The almost constant pain and discomfort makes it hard to move on.  It is great to have a community of women who "get it" and are there to support each other whenever support is needed, 24/7.   

Kate - I had augmentation about 40 years ago at Cleveland Clinic.  I have not suffered any pain from that surgery, although I used to be a stomach sleeper and did switch to side/back sleeper; not from pain but they are (and were within about a year encapsulated).  I have always been very physically active and perhaps that helped.  Some 35 to 40 years later my tumor appeared in the right breast about 10 o'clock position and I had a lumpectomy with 1 out of 14 nodes involved.  I also had no problem with arm/shoulder pain on that side although I do have a very mild case of lymphedema in my right arm.  But I also did all the stretching exercises that were prescribed both with the initial augmentation as well as the lumpectomy.  I was one of the lucky ones with no pain from either procedure.  I feel for all the ladies that suffer from unrelenting pain/discomfort, I did not realize until reading this thread just how bad it could have been.

Hi,  here reading. Not leaving this post anymore. Yea!! I am not crazy My PS also said that I am one of the few that has complained about "pain and discomfort" and yes, most of his patients are there fo augmentation. I have been to a pain management, accupuncture, again, only at night when I am lying on side or flat down is there no pain.

So wish I was warned ahead. Again, was shown a video of all "happy ladies" who had their t/e and then breast implants. All I think of should I have done a lumpectomy???? Well I can't go back. I don't know how the gals feel who have augmented due to vanity and not cancer. I have absolutely no pain in my "reduced" breast, due to the fact that the original tissue is still there. It is the new boob that gives me the problem.

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Kate - You are correct, no one ever told me that I might experience long term pain with augmentation.  It was pure vanity (I had three kids and what little breast tissue there was, was sagging).  I so wanted perky and bigger breasts.  At that time they were put on top of the muscle so perhaps that was one reason why there was no lasting pain.  If they had warned me that I might have pain, I doubt that it would have made me change my mind; I was young enough that I felt in control of everything and indestructible.