Help: both TE removed due to infection. Now onto Diep.

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SA8PG
SA8PG Member Posts: 371
edited March 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi. I had nipple sparing bi lateral mastecomy mid December with expanders placed. All was going well until a month later my right side devolved an infection. We tried oral antibiotics for 2 weeks and then hospitalized with iv antibiotics but the infection never cleared & expander/alloderm were both removed. Then another month passed and I noticed my left side starting to swell and get pink and sure enough an infection was starting. PS said it needed to come out because the infection was spreading fast. So here I am a week out with 2 craters for breasts. My heart is heavy. PS says no moreimplants for me & Diep will be my only option. Has anyone out there had successful reconstruction going down this path? Thank you so much.

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  • BostonNorthWest
    BostonNorthWest Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2015

    Hi

    I had TEs placed in April and in May had 1 removed due to infection. In September had exchange surgery to implants and developed yet another infection in January, spent week on IV antibiotics in hospital and had implant replaced.

    Been couple of weeks since last infection, PS states an infection can develop at any time since I had radiation to one breast.

    I wish I had known before hand that the failure rate was so high for implants after radiation.

    Now I'm looking at other options like DIEP but am terrified.

    Am interested in others going through this.

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  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 371
    edited March 2015

    Boston

    I'm so sorry you had to go through the infection route. :(

    Do you have implants in both sides now? How are you feeling after your infection?

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  • BostonNorthWest
    BostonNorthWest Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2015

    SA8PG,

    Right now I have both implants in but my radiated breast continues to be pink. I didn't know I had an infection until I noticed the red breast.

    Frustrating as you already know, when are you making your decision to have DIEP?

    I'm seeing my PS next week and see what the next step (if any) will be needed.

    This reconstruction stuff is just as scary as the initial surgeries.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited March 2015

    If it helps at all, read and/or post on the DIEP 2014 thread. You will find ladies who have been through what you have. (which is just sucky!!!)

    There is also the DIEP 2015 thread for those of us having reconstruction this year.

    Boston, it is a shame that you were not made aware of the issues with implants after radiation! It was made very clear to me before I started rads, that implants would be "difficult" after treatment. That was fine by me, as I was certain implants were not for me, for a variety of reasons. I'm now 8 weeks out from bilateral muscle sparing TRAM free flaps, and very pleased I went this route! :)

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  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 371
    edited March 2015

    Boston

    Dr said I need to wait 90 days and to make sure this infection has left my body. I am super tired of having surgeries as I'm sure most of us are. I am going to focus on healing and getting stronger before May.

    Are you feeling ok? How long have you had your expanders in? Please let us know what PS advises. Believing great things for both of us.

    Hugs

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  • BostonNorthWest
    BostonNorthWest Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2015

    SA8PG

    Saw my PS today and he reports everything looks good with the implants (though my radiated breast is still pinkish). No infection.

    He will see me in 2 months for a follow up and if everything is good I can wait a year and do fat graphing to take care of the rippling. If I develop another infection he will probably want me to remove the implants and consider DIEP.

    I had expanders in for 5 months then exchange to implants. Had 1 infection in TE and had it replaced, after exchange to implants developed another infection and had implant "cleaned" and replaced.

    Please let us know how things go for you - infection is so hard to deal with and frustrating.

    I noticed you didn't have radiation so that's supposed to be a good thing, PS states that radiated tissue is damaged and difficult to work with.

    I had a lumpectomy with chemo similar to you, A/C then Taxol and Hercepton for a year, then rads. Ten years later after a lot of nagging from Onc had pbx in April 2014. I am ER-PR- but Her 2 ++ and Braca +.

    Hugs


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