February 2015 surgery

dancingdiva - I also feel like my TEs are somewhat also in my armpits (they have not moved - just seem to be wide). I asked my PS about it and he said that the natural breast tissue does expand to under the arms and he thought my TEs were perfectly placed. I guess to me it's still lumpy and noticeable there. I've only had one fill so far and am hoping that as they get filled, they will push more forward and/or smooth out under my arms. Last resort is to really discuss with PS what result I want from the exchange and make sure that the pocket and implants are the right width for me.

I have come to the realization being 5 weeks out from surgery that the pain/discomfort that I'm continuing to feel has nothing to do with the surgery itself (I feel like I'm healed), and probably won't be totally gone until I get these TEs exchanged. I'm not sure if that realization makes things better or worse, but at least maybe now i'll stop waking up every day thinking I will feel great. In general, the discomfort isn't too bad, but i feel like one of my TEs is pressing on a rib and it's just overall discomfort, not really pain. I'm hoping to start PT this week and I hope that stretching will help with some of the tightness.

welcome copperlisa

Good Evening Sisters,

I hope you are all well!

I have been enjoying my daughter, my heart is do happy seeing her!

She went with me to my first fill

Nurse added another 100cc making it a total of 500cc now. When she told me to look down I could believe these things. She said I will probably be done filling by the end of the month. I will need to wait three months then have the exchange.

This whole thing has gone by so fast.

I am still having that very sensitive burning sensation. They said it will go away in time. I am still having a difficult time sleeping, from the tightness. PS said once the TEs are removed they go inside clean out all scar tissue and position permanent implants. She said they will look normal not like now. The sides of my breast seem weird but she said that is from the nerves being cut. No lifting anything more than a pound for the next several weeks. She began to do this massaging with with her hands, it hurt and felt good at the same time. She told me to do it everyday. It feels so strange when I try. I am afraid of hurting myself. Is anyone else doing the massaging, please let me know what you are doing.

Love Robin

P.S. Here are what they look like now.

I really give kudos to everybody on here. Being able to read about people that are going through the same things I am going through is such a relief! I also give kudos to those that keep up with each person. I have to sit and read and make a list and then post. And since I started back to work on Monday......needless to say, I am just glad I was able to get caught up with the reading. But in general, like some have said, I had the sunburn feeling in between my TEs and under the arm that had the SNB. It has for the most part subsided. I was 5 weeks post op on Monday. I really thought I was ready to go back to work. I didn't take into account that I've not been sitting in an office chair for hours at a time. So the past 2 days have been really hard. I went back on my norco. Very low dose and that keeps it so I can stand the pain. I also had a Lupron shot a week ago Monday because they are chemically shutting down my ovaries and I will start Femara on this coming Monday. I can't tamoxifen because I got a huge blood clot when I was 39 and have to stay on blood thinners for the rest of my life. But the other thing the Dr. did was change me from coumadin to Xarelto. As a result, I am having the worst period of my life. I know that sounds kind of dramatic but I had had endometrial ablation so my periods were very light and I only had cramps on the first day. This one is so not like those. I already called the Dr to make sure I can still take the femara and she said yes but I'm calling her again today to let her know how much I'm bleeding. My fills seem to be going fine and I feel like I have little booblets now but of course they look awful and not shaped like a boob at all. My PS said he will fill to 800 CCs (I'm at 400 now) and then I wait a month and have my exchange. So it's looking like I will have the exchange at the end of April or beginning of May.

Gentle hugs to everybody and maybe this weekend I can get caught up again and post a less generic post. I hope everybody has a really good day and please know that I do think about each of you and pray for you each day. I do feel like this is such a special group and I'm happy that you allow me to be a part.

Amanda

FaithHopeCourage,

My oncotype was 19. That has me at a 10 year recurrence of 12%. With chemo it would have been around 10%. So the risks of chemo aren't really worth it to me. We are considered low-intermediate so it's a decision you and your doctor have to make. The oncotype score is assuming you will be on hormonal therapy. Score less than 18 = no chemo.

ok...I'm going to have to call PS again and I'm sure he thinks I'm a hypochondriac. My TEs are both filled with only 50 right now. One looks like a half full zip lock bag. The other used to look like that but now is HUGE and so tight that I can find the TE. I feel like its going to bust out of my chest. The crazy part is that the side that's so big is the side that had no lymph nodes removed, so it can't be that. I am never even getting these TEs filled. I am just doing an exchange in 2 weeks. I don't want anything to stop that. Any ideas?

Hello Sisters,

I was thinking about you all.

How is everyone doing?

I pray everyone is as well as you can be!

Have a great day!

Love Robin

Welcome alaskamamma!!! I am 3 weeks post-op and I have serious fluid build up under both my arms. My plastic surgeon looked at it and just said it was a result of the surgery. I know, not too helpful, but at least I share your pain!!!

Thank you jilly59!! I'm in a better place now. I haven't met with my MO yet. The information came from a conversation with my nurse navigator. She went over my case with the MO. Once I meet her next Wednesday, I should have a better understanding of the statistics.

Welcome Dental Chick and Alaskamomma03, I'm glad you decided to join our thread.

The ladies here are very caring and helpful!

It wasn't until I read what my fellow sisters were sharing when I was able to put into words what I was feeling.

"Sunburn" such a strange sensation, nothing is soft enough against my skin.

Joanne, I haven't gotten a number yet.

Love Robin

I went to get rads info and found out that I need to be able to have both my arms at 90 degrees. My ROM is not that good.

I also feel major pain between my TEs and under one side. Sometimes I feel like I'm ripping! I thought I was getting better but then he did one fill and it got worse again. But it's not the TEs that bother me. I don't know if it's muscle or nerves but one side is totally screwed up.

Filling the TEs btw did not hurt at all. Little pinch and that's it. I was worried

Today is 5 weeks out from surgery, 1 week out from Tamoxifen. I'm regaining physical strength but feel like I'm losing mental strength! I've done yoga, treadmill, elliptical, bike. Had a great massage today, pedicure earlier this week and reiki last week. Diet is getting back under control. Physically, I'm feeling pretty comfortable, and heading back toward 'normal.' My mental state is not doing as well. I have a lot of thoughts along the line of "did that all really happen?" I've had a lot of reflection time this week. It's not all ok, I guess it's a work in progress.

I tried for lumpectomies- had two but no clear margins. I have to say while the discomfort is totally different with MX, I remember the pain I had from lumpectomy, and it's bad enough on its own. It's been a relief to not having that pain anymore.

It all sucks.

Morning Arlene!! Great news about the snb!!! Just wanted to let you know I'm also a Staten Islander. Where did you have your surgery?? I had mine at Staten Island University. LIJ.

Much Love,

Joanne

NurseShark -

We had our NSBMX surgeries same day.  While I don't have issues with nipple necrosis, I have issues where they ulcer, scab over, repeat. Also, one of the incisions opened a half inch so back to the PS I went.  I am STILL on antibiotics. 

So glad to hear you are doing well. I am having depression issues, related to the sudden d/c of hormone replacement therapy. Sigh.