Pain from tissue expanders?
Comments
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Thank you Moon and AZ. My drains were removed on Feb 3. I did not have any problems with them. I did not have alot of drainage. I stayed 1 night in the hospital. I can say that everyone was so good to me. I am 49, so I thought that recon was a grand idea, I'm not so sure now. Why do I feel as though I've aged? I am waiting to see an Oncologist. My BS said that I would not need Rad or Chemo or take any meds. (Tam, etc.), since BM. I have an appt. Mon. with PS for my first fill, but he never called in a mus relax for me. Gee, I hope this goes well.
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Hi Chartruse,
I hated my TE with every fiber of my being and I expected much improvement from my saline implants, which I never got.
I'm sorry to say this but I couldn't have survived my TE without narcotics. And now after another surgery to remove and replace the saline implants w smaller silicone, I'm doing much better. I'm also taking Eleve which helps a ton and finally free from Oxycodone.
Good luck
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Hi Amyq,
Glad to hear that u r doing btr. So, u think silicone is btr than saline? I have been wondering what would be more comfy.
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Had my first fill today. I was scared, but it went well. Was told to take 3 Ibuprofen every 6 hrs. So far so good just a little nauseated, that could be from lunch though. I hope it's from lunch. My heart rate is up. Suppose I worry too much. Wish me luck. Good thoughts to all.
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Chartruese glad you are one down! Don't let them fill too much at a time if you have too much pain, fill less. Towards the end there is more discomfort usually. But as usual, everything is individualized.
Much love.
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Hey Moon!
Glad to hear from you! PS said that he added 2 ounces. Not a lot I know, but all that I could stand at the moment. The original girls were not huge to begin with.I am really tired now. Think I'll take a nap.
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Chartruse - One down! So 1 ounce is equal to 30 CCs, so you got 60 CCs. The norm (by most accounts I've read in here) seems to be 50 CCs every other week, so you're right on track. I never really had a lot of pain the day of the fill, it was always the next morning getting out of bed that I paid the price. Let us know how it goes!
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Chartruse,
I cannot say silicone is better than saline. For me I exchanged smaller silicone implants from saline, so I don't know with certainty if the size difference is what helped or the silicone. Good luck
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Hey All,
Well, I did feel bad the day after my first fill. I was in the bed all day. I hardly ate all day. It was rough! Wednesday...I ordered a pizza. I was starving! (with a side of wings...I don't even want to hear about). LOL!! Anyway, I have an appt to see an Onco Tuesday. This should be interesting. Hey, y'all have a good day!
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Good morning,
I had my last fill on Tuesday and holy cow!!!! I was pretty sure my pec muscles were being ripped in half. The first 3 fills were uncomfortable but this last one was excruciating. I had not been taking my Percocet for 2 weeks and yesterday I was taking every 4 hrs with the muscle relaxant. This was also the first time since returning to work 3 weeks after my surgery I had to stay home because of pain.
Today is better, less accute pain but still very sore. It hurts to laugh, or sneeze but at least I can lift my arms today.
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This is why I am choosing to not have reconstruction. I had bad PMPS and now that it is down to a very dull roar, I am going to let the sleeping lions stay asleep. It frightens the daylight out of me!!!!
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chartruse, no worry we all eat something we don't want to hear about! LOL
Alley, I never had a problem with fills until my last 2. Those were beasts. I took 100 at a crack until then. After that I only got another 50 in. I had a total of 850 before exchange. But now my squishies are 850. And feel pretty good. Hang in there.
Blue, your depiction should not be made because of fear. Many problems can be corrected or even eliminated. If you want to have recon go for it. If you don't want it because being flat doesn't bother you then ok. But if you want it that's ok too. You can do it. Well help you know what to expect. Much love to all.
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I am sorry to hear you are in such pain, but it makes me feel better to hear that I am not alone. I was on narcotics 24/7 for 4 weeks. Physical Therapy changed everything for me, and brought me to a place that I could take Advil/Tylenol and muscle relaxers only for fills. I had a couple of good fills, then started feeling confident that I would survive this ordeal (still had pain and discomfort, but I could handle it). NOT SO FAST! Another super painful fill, followed by more PT, and my LAST fill....which was the easiest one I've ever had. As I am learning, everyone has such a different experience! I definitely have that horrible skin pain, but that isn't the worst of it for me....I feel deeply bruised and pain against my ribs. Every time I move, it hurts. Also, my chest is so tight that I feel like my muscles will snap. I had my last fill last week and, like I said, it was my easiest. However, today I took Tylenol for pain. I have never taken anything a week later! It just varies, I guess. Both my PS and my PT assure me that I will feel better after the exchange (scheduled Mar. 27), but I worry that it won't help me. The thought of living like this is unbearable. But, I keep reminding myself that many, many, many women on this site (and 3 of my friends) have been through this, and they barely remember this stage, even though it was apparently difficult for them. The exchange made them feel better, and they moved on with their lives.
I read stories of women here who wear a sports bra (I cannot imagine why) for one reason or another while having TE's. I tried putting one on, as well as a bathing suit.....NO WAY can I do it. It pushes those very painful TE's even harder into my ribs. So painful. Just a few more weeks.....I hope to tell my story of relief and success someday!!!
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mnbeck wow you are having a harder time than I am, sorry about that.
I had my last fill a week ago and feel back to my new normal today. I do have that rib pain but really only notice it when I am laying down. I did get back on my treadmill this morning for the 1st time, just walked as I cannot imagine trying to jog with these expanders stitched to me.
I have a similar fear that the permanent implants are not going to be more comfortable but I keep thinking they will not be stitched to me so that in itself will be a relief.
I chuckled with your sports bra comment because I have been wearing one 24/7 since the PS said that would work instead of the ace bandage which kept falling down. The PS wanted to keep TE's from moving and I basically got in my head to wear it is better. Now I don't need it but I feel better with something on.
I wore a sports bra to bed before this whole ordeal so not wearing one is more uncomfortable then with it. Early on I will say I put one on that was a little too tight and asked my husband to cut it off me because I didn't even want to imagine getting it off. He did get it off me without cutting it
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Moonflwr Jiminey Cricket I am only going to 400 cc I cannot imagine trying to expand to 800 YIKES...... I bet that hurt
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alley. Actually it only hurt my last two fills. From 700 to 800 then from 800 to 850. I am a large lady! There was a lot of me to fill up. I started with 300 in my TEs. Got 100 or more each time. Only with my exchange I did not have drains. My last one with drains I needed to go back into surgery to fix a lymph vessel that was leaking. I was putting out over 100 cc a day for more than 3 weeks. After sx it dropped to less than 30. Then 2 days later it was less than 10. It came out a week after sx. But my exchange was the easiest for me out of the 7 I had. But for some it's harder. It is what it is. Much live.
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Those drains are awful
I did get mine out a week after surgery, I know that is quick and was very thankful. One thing I did purchase before the surgery was a couple of velco closure camisoles that had little pockets in the front to hold the drains. That made my life much easier.So you did not need drains when they put the permanent implants in?
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I guess I am one on the lucky ones, I didn't have any problem with my drains. Do you get drains with the exchange anyone??
Alley...You mean that the TE's move? Oh no! My PS said that I didn't need to wear a bra, so I'm not...but then again, I'm not that big. LOL
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Chartreuse....just another example of how different PS's are. I haven't worn a bra since about 10 days after surgery, and I didn't need to wear one initially as far as he was concerned. The surgical camisole was causing a huge amount of the pain I was having. Taking it off gave me a huge "ahhhhhhhhh" moment! I don't think I could move these things if I tried!!!
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Chartruse - In answer to "Do you get drains with the exchange anyone??" Some do, some don't. I had two drains for my BMX, one on each side, but none for the exchange. I also have never been told to wear a bra or any kind of support garment since the beginning. Different PSs have different protocols, and it doesn't seem that any two are the same. Just listen to yours, and you'll be fine. How are you doing otherwise? Here's a picture I found that pretty much sums up how I felt about my TEs, but Lord knows I didn't look this good!
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Hello Ladies ~ I had my BM, with TE put in, on 2/12. Last Friday, I had my drains removed and my first fill. On Saturday I felt like I had an innertube around my chest oh and I thought it was filled with cement. Yesterday they my expanders felt a little less firm. Is this how it will always go? Do you guys feel like you have side breasts. It feels like there is something blocking me from putting my arms down completely. One more question, sorry, underneath my left breast (or bresticule which I fondly call it) it gets really sore if I sit in a certain position for a length of time. I can get it to go away if I lay down or walk for awhile. Is this the expander hitting something?
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Chartruse,
Can I ask u a question? I see that you were diagnosed w DCIS and had a bilateral mastecomy. Why do you have to see an oncologist? I had a bilateral mx jan 29 for DCIS and I was told I didn't need tamoxifen, radiation or have to see an oncologist.... I just want to make sure my bs isn't missing anything.
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Mommy, you might consider getting a consultation with an MO. Before my surgery on 1/29 I was already informed that I would be on Tomaxafin since my BC was estrogen positive like yours. At that time we assumed I was stage 1 until the SNB was found positive and moved to stage 2a. I am premenopausal. Now waiting on oncotype dx score to determine if chemo is needed.
Maggie, I had my first fill last week and had similar feelings, especially under the arm pits. Each day is different. I can feel some squishiness on the side of one and then it goes away. Sometimes one foob will have extra muscle tightening and the other one feels fine. I have been told it's all common, as well as the shape changing and lumpiness.
Chartreuse, I am not wearing a bra with my TEs. My PS had me wrapped in an ace bandage until my first fill at which time he told me I could wear whatever was comfortable or nothing at all. I chose some loose camisoles to put on that we're easy to pull on since my mobility is still a bit compromised. I don't want to invest in bras yet since my old ones are way to big and I am currently way too lumpy anyway. I am planning to wait until after my exchange. Kind of liberating since I was a full and droopy 34dd before!
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Mmtagirl,
Just to clarify.. I had DCIS, ADH, LCIS in left breast and during BMx they found ADH and LCIS in prophylactic side. My bs is sure she got all the cancer, the nodes were negative. I'm 41, Pre menopausal. She assured me the se of tamoxifen weren't worth the risk and there was no need to see oncologist. Should I ask her about this? What would the oncologist do? There's no remaining cancer? Thanks I definitely want to protect myself from reoccurrence do I appreciate your feedback!!!
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AZ Good Lord that picture is exactly what my TE's feel like for 48 hrs after a fill LOL
Maggie: Everything you are describing is what I have felt or con't to feel. I think that rib pain you feel are the stitches holding the TE in place. I have the same issue, usually resolved by shifting around. It is like the world's most ill fitting bra - digging in everywhere.
Mommy - I had the same diagnosis as you and had to have a mandatory meeting with an oncologist to explain why I would require no further treatment.
Chartruse: I thought it was weird that the TE's might move but unfilled with loose skin was his concern.
I tried on one of my regular bras last night for the first time, my PS has the size right but the underwire made an already uncomfortable situation much worse so I guess I will stick with my sports bras until the permanent exchange.
Can I just say thanks ladies
I wish I had found you 6 weeks ago - your honest answers to questions has been really helpful
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Alley, thanks, it something down there digging. I think you mentioned under wires, my friend had gone to a lymphedema clinic and they told her to never again use them. They told me at my PS office that most women give up a bra and wear camisoles only (without the shelf bra). Look at the coobie bra website. They have both sports like bra's and camisoles.
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Chartruse, Alley123, Maggiemay1220, Mommyathome, and mmtagirl (sorry if I forgot anyone) - Hi, ladies, I feel for all of you, I really do. The TEs are just the worst. (Second only to waiting for test, results, and appointments, of course.) A few things that are pretty normal:
The TEs usually fill wide before they fill out, so they tend to push outward under your arms and what you once knew as your arm pit becomes (as I like to call it) the bat cave. If you had nodes removed, you need to be VERY careful about shaving in that underarm area as any kind of cut can possibly lead to lymphedema... and you DO NOT want that. You get some of that area back once you have your exchange, but I spoke to my doctor about it and he's going to do laser hair removal in "the cave" so I don't have to worry about shaving it any more.
The rib pain is normal and very common. There is nothing whatsoever that is comfortable about TEs. Their job is to be hard to stretch the skin and in the process, they just plain hurt. I could have sworn I'd cracked a rib when I had mine, which of course I hadn't, but once the TE filled out a little more, the pain subsided. My TEs were lumpy and squarish most of the way and never rounded out to even remotely resemble a boob until the last two fills (9 and 10).
Speaking of nerves, don't be surprised when you start getting zapped. You'll get little zings every once in a while that are simply nerves that were cut during surgery that are trying to find their other half - and sometimes they DO!
There are as many answers to the bra question as there are women in this forum. I was never instructed to wear one at any time during TEs or post BMX. but it all depends on your PS and what they require. I don't fit in any of my old ones anyway, so until I know what the heck size I'll end up, what's the point?
OK, those are my helpful hints for today. I hope it helps a little. Let me know if you have any more questions - I'm never very far away...
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AZ, thank you for the shaving warning. I had two nodes removed, and I honestly can't shave properly, so I've given up.
I am four weeks post op and am dealing with mostly lymph node area pain. It's a pinching and pulling kind of pain and sometimes it's severe enough to almost bring tears to my eyes. I did not expect this from my surgery. I focused more on the MX. Anyway, I may have to see a PT if the exercises I'm doing don't help... just one more thing.
Claire
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ClaireFraser - Yes, they say that even if you only had one node removed, you run the risk of lymphedema for the rest of your life and it could happen at any time. Very scary. I never had much trouble at my node site. It took a while to feel really 'healed' but no pain. Maybe a PT can help you - I hear they do amazing things. So no needle sticks, blood draws or blood pressure on the arm where the nodes were removed is what I was told.
Here's a website that will give you a free (BRIGHT PINK) reusable lymphedema band in case your hospital doesn't use them (some don't) so they will know which side to be wary of. I got one because it looks like I'll be heading for another surgery in the near future.
http://www.lymphedema.com/alertband.htm
And here's a whole lot more than you ever wanted to know about lymphedema:
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Az, you cracked me up. I am feeling the bat cave! As for the side breasts, I am glad that is normal. Thanks!
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