IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!

thanks Glennie! The insert link button on this forum is wonky for me sometimes, probably because I'm using an iPad.

Ariom and Glennie,  I talked to my boss, (my attorney) about this and he feels it would be very hard to prove any wrong doing or malpractice.  I feel so ashamed that I have let myself be taken advantage of and have to go through surgery again.  I sometimes think it is because my husband works for the USPS and I have terrific insurance.  I really want to be flat, but is it worth it to go through a mastectomy again??  I am so tired of going to doctors and hospitals and pharmacies.  What would the recovery time be?  I really don't want to be off work again for another two weeks.  I really don't think I am emotionally stable enough to do this again. 

Nomatterwhat, I totally agree with Glennie, so not your fault! These Dicktors need a good swift kick up the backside, for what they are doing to women. Doing it for the money from good insurance, is truly unconscionable!

I do firmly believe, there should be a name and shame list, for every time this occurs. That would have to send a message to these crooks.

Don't be giving yourself a hard time about this, there is plenty of time to think and decide if revision is even something you want to explore, down the track. It is very early days for you, six months is nothing in the grand scheme of things, your chest is going to change even more, in the coming months.As the time passes, you will feel differently about it too, it is such a lot to process. I left mine for 15 months and seriously, the main reason I decided to go for it was, because of the feeling of zapping nerves inside that Dog Ear, which irritated me enough, to have to do it.

Although at first, I despised the way it looked, 15 months further along, I didn't like it, but I could have lived with it. It was the way it felt, inside, that pushed me into revision. If you can handle looking at the before and after pictures of my revision, it is on breastfree.org and you'll see exactly, what I mean.

One other thing that I should mention too, is that the actual recovery after the revision, for me, was pretty uncomfortable for the first few days, not so I needed any pain meds, but also, not anything like the soreness after the Mx, node removal, discomfort.

I wish you all the very best, take your time and let yourself heal, there is no pressure to make any decision. See how you feel a year from now. We will be here, to support you!

I had a double mastectomy in March. I didn't know if I was coming or going and still faced additional treatment, so with that in mind, I didn't make any hardcore decisions concerning boobs or no boobs. At first I thought it wouldn't matter being flat chested, but now not so sure. Now that I have had time to adjust and research, I would like something there just so my clothes look like they fit correctly. This is important to me because most of my blouses hang down in front and the tips of the scars show. I'm considering an autologous reconstruction so to avoid issues with foreign objects. Still on the fence with this. So for now, I am going with prosthesis.

WooHoo nomatterwhat! That sounds like a plan, a very good plan! It's great to see you so up and happy, in that post! Enjoy yourself!

Hello, just thought I would update you all, especially for those who are considering removing their implants. I had the surgery to remove my unilateral implant 3 weeks ago, and I feel so much better! It is a relief. My shoulder is still tight, and my pec still cramps on occasion, but I feel like myself again. I am planning on returning to the gym the end of this week to begin stretching and weight training again, something I stopped as the implant felt so weird and uncomfortable. I am left with loose skin, a nasty scar, concave, with a nipple - very interesting look for sure, but I feel so normal again I don't even care. I did not like that thing. At all. I don't know if I am too active a person or what, but it didn't work for me. And I am pretty tough and have a very high pain tolerance, was back to work 1.5 weeks after mastectomy/immediate implant surgery. So ... plastic things placed into your chest - be careful. If I was rich, I might try for a reconstruction using muscle/fat, but as I'm not, this is now me. OK with that. Best wishes to all of you, none of this is clear or easy to figure out. I hope you all can do well, and be comfortable in your own skin.

I am getting closer and closer to the date for my second opinion and I am to the point with all my discomfort and constant reminder of these buggers that I don't care if there's extra skin left. I Don't Care!!! So next Monday I hope to be in much better spirits and have something life-changing to look forward to.

Wish me luck.

Amy

PS to gotgoats I am beyond thrilled for you!!!

AmyQ, if you're going to a plastic surgeon, there's no reason there should be leftover skin. Plastic surgeons are trained to give a good cosmetic result. Please let the doctor know you want to look as good as possible flat. Some plastic surgeons apparently seem offended when patients want to remove implants, but others are very understanding and work to give the patient what she wants. Please let us know how the second opinion goes!

Sounds like you found a great PS Amy Q. I hope you get relief soon no matter what you decide to do.

I'm sorry you've had such a difficult winter Bettyboops. I'm in Minnesota where we expect cold and snow but really we've been spared so far this year.

Now back to my second opinion. I've never heard of PMPS before today but have started researching it right here on BCO. Of course, lots of very useful information but I did come across something rather surprising and if true, a deal maker...on the thread titled Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome there are pages of women who have had their implants removed and their lymphadema cleared up. That alone would be reason to remove my implants. Now I really don't know what to do.

Another more invasive option discussed today is releasing the capsule(s) with surgical incisions. But of all the options discussed, fat-grafting sounded like the least invasive option according to the PS - small, almost microscopic incisions where the cannula is filled with fat, deposits the fat under the skin and over the muscle to provide the extra layer of cushion.

He did give me a referral to a woman who specializes in breast reconstruction therapy for a pain assessment and treatment plan. I can see her on Thursday and hopefully she'll have a dx and plan long before my surgery date.

One point I want to confirm, this PS is very willing to remove my implants and do fat grafting to give me the cushion he thinks I'm missing between the muscle and the skin. He'll remove the extra skin and do whatever is needed to repair the muscle so either way, he can help me out. I just don't want to have the implants removed only to find I still have pain, which is a very real possibility IF I have PMPS.

Gosh, I wish I had a crystal ball.

Amy

Thanks so much Erica and everyone who has weighed in. I think I'll give fat grafting a try since it is the least invasive of all the options.

Amy

I know this is not the correct site, but you ladies helped me last time and I need a third, fourth, fifth and beyond opinions. 

Has anybody else gotten a call from their MO's office wanting to set up an appointment "to go over your treatments and summarize what you have been through".  WHAT?? I got a call today from the nurse navigator from the hospital I had my chemo at and she wants to set up an appointment that would be about three hours and of course bill my insurance for this.  I told her that I could summarize what I have been through in very few words and can tell them every treatment I have had and didn't need to relive this past year.  My husband thinks it might be some sort of a psychological evaluation.  I am one of these women that when I get out of bed in the morning the devil says "OH NO, she's awake!!!".  So maybe they think nobody can go through the cancer treatments with a positive attitude unless they is something wrong with them.  But we both agree it is also for billing more to our insurance company.  Being in the accounting world, I have set up a chart to keep track of bills and payments and WOW is it scary!!! 

I think docs are becoming more aware of the emotional toll it takes to have this disease. I think I read that sometime in the past year (?) protocols had changed and oncos are now charged with being on the lookout for anxiety and depression (often PTSD) that quite often occurs after active treatment ends. I certainly crashed and if my docs had been a bit more vigilant it might have been easier. I've always considered myself a very strong woman. It was very hard to climb out of that dark well - with meds and counseling. I am impressed that your docs have added this. I sure wish mine had.