Reconstruction - working in law enforcement

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1acme
1acme Member Posts: 3
edited April 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

It is here any female, with reconstructed breast who is working in LAW
ENFORCEMENT wearing BULLET PROOF VEST !!!
I had today appointment with my Plastic Surgeon and we are scheduling
Replacement Surgery (after Right Mastectomy).
Surgery will Replace - add IMPLANT on my Right site and my Left side it
will be immediate Replacement (Mastectomy at the same time).

I do understand that they will "install" Inflamers - under the
muscle (recovery time 6 weeks)
every 2 weeks - injection to increase volume
Replacement surgery - remove inflamers and replace them with permanent
implants (recovery 6 weeks)

I was wondering if anybody here have experience with Implant replacement
who is as well working in LAW ENFORCEMENT and wear a BULLET PROOF VEST.
My surgeon is telling me that they should be "fine" ... Well I am not so
much concerned about wearing my VEST as much for re-certifying for the vest -
which is including extensive 5 days TRAINING when I will be tossed on the floor
mats several times a day.

a) it will my implants last my training ?
b) do I need a "special" made vest for my self ?
    or regular vest will be enough?
c) how confortable is to wear Vest over the Implants ?
d) RECOVERY TIME - when is realistic to be ready to
    (1) Wear Vest and 
    (2) be able to attend 5 days long training (to re-certify)

Thank you

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Comments

  • MondaysChild
    MondaysChild Member Posts: 591
    edited July 2012

    I am not in law enforcement, but I shoot.  I sent an email to the medical assistant at my plastic surgeon's office asking if I could shoot skeet again if I limited it to a 410.  I never received a response to the email one way or the other.  After waiting to hear back and hearing nothing for more than three months, I figured it was okay and not a concern.  So recently I shot 410, 2.5 inch shells with ZERO issues. I will increase from there but was surprised I had no feelings at the time nor after effects later.  You may be just fine.  Try it out on a practice range.

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  • islandmom
    islandmom Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2012

    Contact Slinky she is in law enforcement and would be able to tell you more. 

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  • Be_Positive
    Be_Positive Member Posts: 31
    edited July 2012

    Hi 1acme,

    I am a police officer in Regina, Saskatchewan.  I just had a double mastectomy with tissue expanders placed.  Obviously I am not back to work on the street yet, but I hope to be sooner rather than later.  I will have to get a new vest as my old breasts were small and I am going to be larger than before.  I know some other female officers at work who have had a cosmetic augmentation (under the muscle) and as far as I know they did not require a special vest.  Recovery time for them was around 6 weeks, but I would have to ask again to be certain.

    If you don't mind, maybe we could private message or even exchange email addresses.  I've been looking for awhile on these boards for other women in law enforcement as we have very active jobs and have different concerns when it comes to recovery from breast cancer.  I'd love to hear from you to compare stories.

    Andrea :)

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited July 2012

    What is an inflamer ?

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  • Myroo11715
    Myroo11715 Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2015

    I am also a police officer and had a double mastectomy. Am I concerned about wearing a vest and heavy clothing on top it all during winter months.

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  • badgedmomma
    badgedmomma Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2018

    I am a patrol officer in Illinois and have been diagnosed as of last week with breast cancer. My double mastectomy and placement of expanders is scheduled in three weeks. I'm curious how long it took before you were able to go back to work? I just don't know what to expect since all I hear from the doctor's seems unclear because I don't have a "normal" desk job. Nothing about this adventure has seemed normal so not sure why everyone is expected to have a normal JOB. Also any must haves for post surgery? I've done a lot of research but seem to hit a wall when it comes to law enforcement as a profession. Any advise would be appreciated :) Thanks

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2018

    Hi Badgedmomma

    Firstly, welcome to the community forums. Sorry that your circumstances have brought you here but we do hope that the resources and support here will helpful to you.

    Thus thread has been inactive for some time now so you may not receive many responses.

    Here is a list links to relevant threads and information:

    Surgery: What you wish you knew

    April: Surgery Support Group

    TE's: A beginner's Primer

    BC and your job

    We hope this helps!

    Hugs

    From the Mods.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2018

    I'm not a police officer, but am a firefighter who wears an air pack, which is also confining and presses on the chest area. Since I am thin, I have to cinch it down very tight. I'd just say that you'll need to be sure to be correctly sized for your vest. The expanders have no "give; they're kind of like rocks on your chest. The tissue expanders were more uncomfortable than the implants, but I was able to work fine with both, and continue to work to this day. Best wishes.

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  • SCGirl50
    SCGirl50 Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2018

    badgedmomma I am in law enforcement and I returned to work 2 weeks after my mastectomy and TE placements. My TE's were prefilled so I didn't have to go for fills. There is no feeling remaining in your breasts so as long as the incisions have healed and the drains removed you will be good to go. I hope everything went well for you!

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