Still Uncomfortable with Implants

Erika, it took about 4 months before I started looking okay. Give it more time, but I too am concerned about the redness. You don't want an infection. Watch this closely. Don't worry about your English, we understand you! :-)



Ronna, what a difficult place to be in. I know before I wanted my tests to show something, so I would understand why I was swollen and in pain. And they were normal too. :-0. But I sure didn't feel normal. I am sorry for your pain.

It's been awhile since I've posted, but several months later, I'm still not happy with my implants. To recap, my darling PS did not listen to my repeated requests for smaller implants and replaced my 500 cc tissue expanders with 800 cc implants, which are huge and heavy. Now that they've "dropped and fluffed," I feel a constant pull, and by the end of the day, the area above my armpits feels stretched and tight. I found a new PS, whom I really liked, and he agreed that the implants were too big, but when I called to make the appointment for "downsizing" surgery, I found out he was moving out of state. What a sad day! Now I'm back to square one, looking for a new PS (if anyone knows a good one in the Phoenix area, I'm all ears!). Since it looks like I may have these implants for awhile longer, does anyone have a recommendation for a comfortable bra? I think I've bought just about every bra that's been suggested to me, but by the end of the day, every one of them feels tight and restrictive, and I can't wait to get it off. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Joanna- Your post just infuriates me as does your PS.  I just cannot believe how I hear time and time again how a PS discounted a patient's wishes and placed implants which are much too large.  Who does that?  They certainly wouldn't do that to an augmentation patient so why us?  We especially cannot accomodate the weight and the stretching of oversized implants.  I swear these doctors should be called before the medical board.  I can't help you with the PS recommendation (I'm in Mesa) as I've yet to find one myself in AZ.  I do have a recommendation for bras, though.  I made an appointment for a bra fitting at Nordstrom's at Chandler mall.  They were wonderful!  I stayed in the dressing room while they brought me 25 bras to try on.  So much easier!  If you go make an appointment ahead of time and let them know you have had MX/recon.  They have specially trained fitters for us.

Some have recommended, and I concur, if any of you have not had your exchange yet tell your PS specifically what size you want to be and then get it in writing.  Then if they don't do what you request you have a recourse.  Any additional surgeries to correct should be picked up at the PS's expense if they don't do what was agreed upon.   

Ronna- There is just no excuse for not getting back to a patient.  I swear these PS's just don't want to deal with any kind of post op issues and just wishes we'd go away.  

I don't want to jinx it but feel like maybe things are starting to feel a little bit better on my end.  (Either that or my LE is just taking my mind off other issues!)  I think this whole thing is so much harder than it needs to be.  I really think the involvement of the pec muscles for recon should no longer be used.  Since some doctors (Dr. Joel Aronowitz in CA for one) will put the implant over the pec and then put fat grafting over the top there are better solutions out there.  I wonder how many women suffer with long term pain when it isn't necessary?  PT should be regularly prescribed, too, before there is an issue.   

kate~

Mayo Clinic does the same as Harvard.  The appointment (post-surgery, though I think would be better before) is set up and coordinated through the breast center.  Unfortunately, the PS is still clueless about PT, LE, etc., and no idea that patients go to a lymphedema clinic along the way.

Also, Mayo had very good patient education materials about the side effects of ALND-axillary lymph node dissection, and how it is a risk for lymphedema, frozen shoulder, etc.

UNFORTUNATELY, they forgot to include the fact that ALND is also creates a risk for axillary cording/webbing!  For me that was as big an issue as the LE.  So when I had a follow up with BS, and physiatrist in LE department, I thanked them for the heads up about LE -- but I opened up their patient education booklet to the list of ALND risks and told them that axillary webbing/cording was overlooked, and that their BS, PS, and Rad Onc just stared at my atrocious, evil cord growing out of my axilla incision! 

So it was my local PT-CLT who exclaimed when I was on her table, that I had unbelieveable cording.  Of course, I was stunned and then mad about not being informed verbally or in writing, nor was it on consent form.  Even though I had a severe case, which is very rare, I still felt I should have been informed.  I found a breast cancer patient booklet online from the Canadian Cancer Society, and it actually included a page about the risk of axillary webbing/cording syndrome.  Sorry to go off topic - guess this should post on LE/cording thread.

Thanks for recommending a fitting at Nordstom's, Kate. I did that several months ago and ended up with a $70 bra that still feels too tight at the end of the day. Maybe they all will! I did get another recommendation for a PS, though, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I like her.

SAS- Not sure, but enjoy it while it lasts!  

I always read CNN on my Ipad in the morning and a story caught my eye.  It seems a lot of surgeons on jumping on the plastic surgery bandwagon.  They will say they are "board certified" and they are- just not in plastic surgery.  The state medical board don't restrict doctors from performing procedures outside their training or specialty!  A woman had augmentation only to find out after her PS botched it that he was an eye doctor!  Here's what struck me about what he said to her-

The next morning, she rushed back to her doctor's office. He inspected her chest and, with a quizzical look on his face, declared, "I have never seen this before."

Not that our PS's weren't board certified PS's but how many of us have been told that before?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/25/health/youn-wild-west-medicine/index.html 

sas-schatzi,

I apologize if you have already explained this, but how did you get rid of the pain after 3 years?  I am only in my first year of this horrid pain. I hope you have something to share that might help me.  I am trying nerve deactivation test (failed but scheduled to try again), compounded creams and everything a pain management physician can think of since my breast surgeon does not want me to deconstruct and my plastic surgeon did not believe me anyway. Both seem like, "too bad for you, live with it". My pain management doctor says no more surgery, that it will not make the pain better because is has gone neural. Something has to give. I am breaking under it.

Ronna- Mine ache and I swear feel swollen like when it's that time of the month even though I don't have a "that time of the month" anymore. Seems weird to have that sensation when there's nothing left but skin and silicone.

Many here support the efforts of others to bring awareness to breast cancer during the month of October. There are those here that are frustrated by it because of different reasons. What this thread is for is to think up slogans for use on tee shirts, placards whatever. This is meant to define what we don't see happening. Use of words can be very compelling. We here are collectively, very compelling in all our different threads. Many of our frustrations are not listened too by anyone. So let your frustrations fly. Please keep the language clean enough that you can't get arrested for wearing it, but still conveys the message you want the observer to receive.

community.breastcancer.org/for...

I am back. No one told me to put the magic compound onto my breasts. I had been putting in on my shoulder, side of my back near breast, arms  and back. Well last night I decided to put the compound on my boob. When I got up this morning, I felt like it was numb but I had more strength to get out of bed and about. Could this be the answer? I will call the doctor and ask if I am supposed to be putting it there. I know pain management dr said not the armpits.

Kate, with the sore feeling, I thought I knew that feeling of "long ago".

Have a good day friends.

We will be starting a novena Tuesday Aug.14th . I have asked Frank to pick the novena. Please, keep him in your prayers daily as he is being chemo challenged at present. The herceptin has stopped working. We have many members that are having condition changes on the Catholic thread and throughout BCO right now. Please , join us on the 14th.

A Novena is prayers said daily for 9 days with stating the intention of your prayer. An intention can be for a person , group, or a thought. This will be posted on threads also. You don't need to be Catholic. Prayer is Prayer. If something in the prayer doesn't fit your belief system, substitute or omit that portion. We are an Ecumenical group which means inclusive of all.

Send your intentions to me by Pm or post on Catholic thread on sunday (preferrably) or monday and I will combine them into a one list. It takes awhile to do the composite list, thats why I ask that intentions be sent on Sunday, Pax Sheila(sassy)

community.breastcancer.org/for...

Annette!  I have missed you over on the picture forum.  I am glad to hear you are doing well and happy.  I hope your mother is also well. I still remember the wonderful photo of you two together.

annettek- So glad everything is going so well for you.  I agree with you on the fat grafting- definitely not a fan of the "extraction process" as you put it either- lol!  (Note to others- fat grafting is not for the faint of heart!)  

For the rest of you still struggling I can understand your frustration trying to get doctors to listen to your concerns, to understand and, more importantly, to find a fix for it.  It's maddening at times since there can be so many different reasons for pain after recon especially with implants.  It's really hard when you thought this would all be over once you healed from your exchange surgery.  It can be easy to just give up and accept this as your new normal.  I think the more vocal we are, though, about these complications the better off all women will be.  Pain is something that can't be seen or felt so it is easily discounted by our doctors.  Research has shown that women's pain in general is not addressed or treated as much as men's.  I think we need to take up the mantra, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"  Doctors need to realize this is a more widespread problem than they realize and it's a slap in the face to any patient to say we are the only ones they've ever heard complain about this, or worse, say there's nothing more they can do for you.

Hi all, haven't been on for awhile. This Wed I am going in for scar revisions, mastopexy of good breast (with severe scarring underneath) and finally yes finally after a year of complaining about foob, I will have fat grafting in a dented area and anything else that will help with the pain. He finally listened. I had a visit to him recently and said "no more", I just can't do this anymore. I am in such pain on the right side of implant I am exhausted by end of day and am not living like a normal person. I am praying he finds something wrong in there, and I am praying and praying that this is finally corrected. This is not in my head.

He will also correct nipple aerola area, other scarring issues with steroids, and I will have to go back every two weeks for injections for the scar revision.  Before they knock me out, I will tell him no more implant if there is a problem, use all of the belly. When I went to visit him at office, I refused to go in examining room, I told the office staff I wanted to go into the consultation room. I was very serious about this.

I hope this is the end of it. I have not been on because I am eating my guts out over this, just wanted to let everyone on this thread know I am still here. Kate, your footnote, yes they're fake the real ones tried to kill me" well so did the implant. I also told him my quality of life is down the tubes. I must say my back and arm are feelin better. Thank Goodness the Savella did some wonders. He did ask me if I wanted to stay overnight and I said yes.

Love to all.

I absolutely hate my implants.I have hated the way they looked from day one and I was told by my BS and PS to "give it some time", that "things change". Well things did change but not for the better. I had SS/NS bilateral mastectomy with the scars going outward from the areola towards my axilla. As the scars are healing my nipples are being pulled further and further outwards.There is constant pulling between both breasts and the space is getting bigger and bigger. Big dimpling is now occuring in both breasts. I cannot go with out a bra as #1 it's uncomfortable and #2 all the divots on my breast show up .All this time my PS has kepy saying that it looks good while my BS has finially admitted that I have less than optimal results and that she would do things differently if she had to do it again. I've seen someone else for a second opinion and he was less than enthusiastic about fixing the problem.It's not so much another surgery that I dread but the recovery period. I'm 68 and very active and I don't want to waste any more precious time recovering.I think I'veposted my problem before but I just get so mad when I think about it that I just have to get it out and maybe I'll be able to deal with it for another 6 months.And yes, no needto say it, I'm so very grateful that I have no cancer at this time.If I didn't have to look at my breasts I'd be happy as a clam, even on the damn AI meds!!