January 2013 surgery

Thanks Moira!  I'm looking forward to making decisions and moving forward again!

Oh no Lmimp64!  Is your breast red, swollen, or hot?  I'm hoping that the infection is not inside the breast!  Please keep me posted!

I went in Friday, but the CT scan report hadn't posted yet so we weren't able to make any clear decisions.  The good news is that she doesn't think there is any rush to get these out.  I'm hoping to postpone that until the end of the year...fingers x'd!

Any news?

Well, that's good news!  I know it's tough to play the waiting game, but better that than to have to remove the implant!  My next appt. is on July 1 and I don't expect to hear anything before that.  I will keep you up to date...please do the same.

Count it down Tangles...you're almost there!!!

Exchange surgery tomorrow! Very nervous, but also ready to get rid of these ROCK hard TE!!!

Well I can tell a HUGE difference from my right side to my left. Left side was the easy exchange no issues, right side had to do some repair work as the tissue expander was digging into my armpit. Also had lymph nodes taken out from under that armpit. Drain hanging from the armpit. Pretty painful on that right side. Took a peek and I think I look pretty small, but not complaining the TE are out and its done so as long as I dont have any complications Im all good with whatever size I turn out to be!

I'm glad, Tangles!



My infection isn't showing signs,but I haven't been taken off the antibiotics yet, so it's unclear as to if it is gone or not. Either way, my ps saw me today and said the skin on one side is too thin. The revision stitches she did two weeks ago aren't holding. So it's back to surgery for me on the tenth. This will be the third implant in that side and they will remove the skin. I've been wearing the surgical bra since May 31, 24/7. No end in sight now, but if three is my lucky number, I will take it. If this doesn't work, I'm going flat. Has anyone else had to do that? I'm only 48 and a mom of a middle school boy. I didn't want that yet.

Limimp64, have you thought about tissue based recon? I had DIEP and am very happy with my results so far. ps can take your own tissue from a number of different places. It's worth looking into it.

Lmimp64,



So sorry to hear about all your complications! My PS said he was using strattice for my revision instead of alloderm this time. He told me it was stronger and would help with the rippling from thin skin. To which I asked, why didn't we use it the first time? He kinda danced around that one. I'll be thinking of you on the tenth. Here's hoping for good results!

I will ask about strattice. Thanks.



Tangles, so sorry you are also going to face another surgery. It's awful. Keep us posted on what happens.



I'm going into surgery Wednesday. Based on what I am seeing in the mirror, and the oozing I'm having, I think I'm going to end up losing the implant for a few months. I don't know how to deal with flat on one side and back to drains. I will finalize with PS Monday. I have also lost all the range of motion I had. Who knows when I will get back to PT and when this will be over. I guess I get through this and the deal with the chemo issues I'm still having - nerve damage to teeth. What makes me so crazy is this is the non cancer side! Argh!

I ended up with a hole in my skin through to the implant as my skin is thinning out at the incision. They took out the implant and I'm back to drains with one foob and one flat. After everything heals, if it is stronger. I will go to expander then try implant again. Been a hard few days and I'm in quite a bit of pain. We are hoping the infection is gone for good, but the thin skin/hole came out of nowhere. It probably was caused by the swelling from the infection.



Thanks for your support. This is a tough one. I feel like I am back in January.

Thanks, Tangles. I do think you will be wise to not do anything until after radiation. You could begin to get second opinions during that though. I agree perfection is not worth the risks, but you have to do what makes you happy.



My doc says there is a possibility my skin is thinning on the other side too. I can just see me finishing with one side and then have it happen to the other. Thank goodness for sleeping pills. I can shut off my worry for a while.



Let us know how radiation goes.



Hope everyone is doing well.

So it's been almost 7 months since surgery, I'm heading off to my last chemo this Friday, yay, (still wont be done Herceptin till end of January).



I didn't know what to expect by now, but I'm REALLY unhappy with how my implant looks. It's twisted, gnarled, dented and really really ugly. I feel so unattractive. I change in the bathroom most of the time so my husband won't see me. I can barely stand to look at it myself, it makes me cry. What can I do? My PS said by the 6 month mark it should resemble a 'normal' breast, but it looks like a monster breast. It's got bumps and bulges, dents and craters. (I can't figure out how to upload a pic). It's just awful



Did anyone else opt for immediate reconstruction? Are you happy with the results thus far?

Hi Mirmir!

I have wondered often, how you were doing. So glad to see you're nearly at the end of the chemo, but so sad to see that you're recon hasn't turned out to be as you would have wanted it. it must be so frustrating after going through all that surgery.

I have just been to my first follow up since Mx, all is well, I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

I wish you all the best, and hope that the breast improves. Maybe some more time will make a difference? I know from my own experience, of no recon, my chest has continued to change over time and seems to have reached the point where it has no more swelling, and the scar is fading. I am building a bit of chest muscle with yoga exercises, so I don't have such a cave in, and a bra sits more firmly against my chest. I think this is as good as I am going to get. I would still love to tattoo over the site, but have been scared off by too many stories of LE. Maybe later!

So pleased to see you.. How's that gorgeous Hazel? and Chris?   take care ((HUGS)))