Any delayed reconstructions out there?

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hummingbirdlover
hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
edited March 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello,

I had my BMX in October and am scheduled for TE implants on March 19th.  I thought I was feeling ok - this surgery doesn't have the same fear factor as the last, but after meeting with PS, I am a bit freaked out.  I'll spend one night in the hospital but will wake up with a morphine drip - didn't have/need that with BMX.  She says to expect more pain and a longer recovery than the BMX because she will be manipulating muscles and "putting things in, rather than taking things out".   The other tidbit of joy is that I'll have drains again (yuck!) and she said no showers until the drains come out.  Really?  I'm just looking for others who had TEs placed some time after mastectomy surgery to see how you fared.

Thank you!

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Comments

  • Mich71
    Mich71 Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2015

    I am a UMX who did delayed TE in December. The drain was a hassle just like the first time and your PS is right in the sense that each week with the fill, the muscle 'fights' back a bit so your back really hurts where we didn't really experience anything like that with the mastectomy. Now that my fills are done, I can honestly say the expander doesn't bother me that much and the muscle pain did go away.

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    Thank you! I'm glad you're doing well.

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited March 2015

    Best wishes on your surgery today. I had unilateral MX in September of last year and had TE placement in January of this year. What Mich71 said about the muscles fighting is true for me also.Hated the drains mainly because I couldn't take a shower (one of the things I took for granted) while they were in. Please try not do much because the drains stay in longer if you do. I was on Norco for maybe 2-3 days as I was not allowed to take Motrin until 3 days post-op. My PS did not really want to give me muscle relaxant. :( Massage really helped me with the back/neck pain. Recovery was a bit harder because as soon as i felt good, it was time for another fill. I'm done with my fills and waiting for exchange. You can do it

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    Thank you! Just like the rest of this journey, I'm hoping the anticipation is worse than the actual doing. Congrats on almost being done!

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited March 2015

    Yes, anticipation is worse! Holding you in prayers for successful surgery and speedy recovery

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  • grammakathy
    grammakathy Member Posts: 407
    edited March 2015

    I'm about one year ahead of you and had delayed reconstruction four months after my Mx. Nothing hit me as hard as the first surgery when I felt exhausted for a good six weeks. You still can't do too much and know you have been through the mill, but if you are like me, you will recover more quickly. Good luck

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    thanks grammakathy!

    This is more uncomfortable than BMX was. Having stabbing pains which I assume are muscle related.

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