Pain from tissue expanders?

Also, I had a follow up with the surgeon 3 days after surgery and she was concerned that I couldn't lift my arm very far and that I wasn't doing arm exercises. I was like are you kidding me!!??? I barely could make in to the appt!! But she was pretty adamant and said do them and make sure I took enough pain meds to be able to do them. So I did and I think it really helped because I have full range of motion and never had any problems that I read about some people having. She said if you don't do it you will have to go to pt and then you'll really hurt! There we're just two exercise I did and also when watching tv I would put my hand behind my head and just push my elbow back. It was just like strtching execises that you get a little more flexible each day. They prob gave you instructions but if not, let me know and I will decribe them to you.

Hang in there girls. I remember those first days weeks were the worst. Me and my TE have been together little over year and in 13 more days am getting this bastard out. Ask for flexeril. Its a muscle relaxant. The percocets made me so constipated it wasn't funny

I've had my tissue expanders in for three months now. They are driving me out of my mind. I can't imagine having them in for over a year. My chest feels tight all the time. When does it get better?

I have most of my range of motion. I do the exercises a couple times a day. I feel like I have a bra on that is too tight.

That's how I describe this feeling to my friends. Its so uncomfortable. I might have a couple of muscle relaxers left from the surgery. I might take one tonight and see if that helps.

I had mine for about 9 months and they always felt like a tight bra. They did eventually stop hurting though. The silicone will be much better and not painful at all. I had mine 7 years now and they still clench sometimes if I go out in the cold. It doesn't hurt though. It will be worth it in the end.

I had a TE put in at the same time as the mastectomy.  Now when I drink something cold I get cold waves across that side of my chest....is that because the fat insulation is gone?  I also went to PS and asked him if I could start getting 100cc instead of 50cc put in every week.  He said no that these things had to be done carefully.  I jokingly asked him was it soo tough to get shoe leather to stretch.  To his credit just doing the 50 made old incision (5wks) bleed.  So I see that his idea must be best for my flesh.  I did start working with free weights 15 and  later 10 lbs to increase ROM and strength.  Also to improve lymph movement since 4 nodes were removed.  Any other ideas?

I think I only got about 25 cc put in at a time. It was so sore for so long even after the really bad pain stopped. I figured the slower the better that way the skin would stretch nicely and not get stretch marks or anything. By the last two fills they went down to 15 cc because they were so tight. The exchange surgery is a piece of cake in comparison. Once the pain subsided enough to start fills, that was like a turning point in the whole cancer nightmare where things seemed to get better all the time. I liked seeing my foobs get bigger, like Growing Skipper. Haha if anyone remembers her!

Having DCIS in addition to IDC is very common - surgery is the treatment for DCIS and you have already done that so don't worry about that.  As far as the lymph nodes, the Sentinel Node Biopsy that was done took the first two nodes away from the breast.  If they did not contain any cancer cells it is highly unlikely that additional nodes would.  The more nodes that are removed the more your risk of lymphedema goes up - that is why they only sample those sentinels instead of taking all the underarm nodes.  Try not to worry - hoping your PS appt. goes well.  Ask these questions of your doc also so that he can ease your fears.

Hi, I'm new to all of this and was searching for a question that you asked! I just received my tissue expanders with my bilateral mastectomy on Sept. 26th. I had one fill, and feel sharp muscle spasms. Because I have to have radiation, I have to wait until next year to get my "breasts" back. I can't imagine living 10-12 months with these in my body, they feel like turtle shells. I had chemo prior to my surgery, radiation is next. I'm terrified of lymphodema, and just want to feel normal again. I'm sorry, I'm not offering any advise, I'm just venting myself. This whole thing is just so scary.

I had my mastectomy with te put in on Oct 24 - have had two fills since (100cc, then 60cc - we'll see what this week brings!)

It's like a cruel joke - the second I start to feel a teeny bit of relief, as in my skin stretched a little and I can almost breathe, more gets pumped in. I want to get it done quickly, but boy, do I feel your pain, literally. I hated the meds and have been doing a half dose of Advil pm since my drain was removed, it helps a little at night and allows me to wake up and help my daughter get ready for school. 

I'm so looking forward to the end of this, as I know all of you are in your own lives. Of course, the good thing is that we are alive, right?  xo

http://breastcancernycmom.blogspot.com

Did you have radiation on the side that is not healing? I did 3 years ago. I had the same problem as you. My left side didn't heal and the incision kept opening up. The PS tried to fix it a couple of times, each time deflating the TE a little more. Two weeks ago my he had to remove it, sorry to say. He wants me to wait until I get a break with chemo and a chance to heal before doing another procedure. I want to heal both physically and emotionally before even thinking about it. The right side healed fine. It still feels like a turtle shell under my skin. I hate cancer. It sucks!!