NYNJGirl3, welcome to the club nobody wants to be a part of!

I had my BMX on 9/8 with TE's. My first "fill" was a couple weeks later and my Dr just put 50cc's in each side. It was barely noticable.

Here is my personal experience: they are hard, especially at the bottom of them. I have to watch my posture because it seems any slouching causes the TE's to feel like they are digging into me, at the base of my "breast".

When I get a fill, it is a huge, very intimidating needle, but I have not felt it go into my skin at all. The day I get filled, I take a "precautionary " pain pill, but it probably isn't necessary. I have found that the day after each fill, I am significantly more uncomfortable, but that usually only lasts a day, maybe two. But it is manageable with pain pills.

My PS has also extracted fluid from each side after he does a fill. I think it is from the site where my drains were. That can be a little painful, but just for a quick minute. Once he's done extracting, there is no pain.

I do have green bruises where he inserts the needles, but I can't feel the bruising. Guess that part of me is deadened from the surgery - I guess.

Anyway, that's what my experience has been so far.

Let me know if I can answer more questions for you!

Linda

I don't recall bruising post surgery. Not until he started filling me. And no redness either. Are you running any fever at all? Are you on an antibiotic? I was on antibiotics for about the first 3 weeks. I did run a slight fever, but my scars and drains all looked fine so we were never sure what caused the fever.

Take your temp just to be sure. Maybe it is just some irritation, and no infection. Hopefully

NYNJ. Welcome! I am 2 weeks post op for BMX also. I had my 1st fill today. The actual fill didn't hurt. It just felt like a lot of pressure. But about an hour after it really started feeling sore. And tonight I'm pretty uncomfortable. Be sure & take your meds(muscle relaxers especially) before your appt. good luck!!

Welcome Tina and NYNJ, 

I am only 5 days postop. I haven't got any fills yet.  But it sounds like its not too awful from what others are saying. . The TE area is pretty much numb. It itches around the drain site. Did I say how much I hate these drains that drag, catch and pull? . My PS put 300 cc in during surgery. I woke up to 3/4 of a boob. I was grateful for that. I see the PS in 2 days and hopefully can get 1 or 2 out. My question is are you ladies taking the Valium very much? I don't really notice a difference with the tightness. It just causes me to be in the Twightlight zone. Lol.  

CBwitt- did you get Path yet? 

Gardner- 3and half weeks for a drain? I hope you get yours out today! You must be sick of them too! 

Have a good day. 

Patty

Patty, yes, this is my third day wearing the coobie bra, and I have to say I'm very pleased. It's really comfortable--and I'm still swollen a bit from surgery--and I like the small pads it comes with. (I'm 5'2" and was a 34A or sometimes B before surgery, so note Patty's comment about size above.)

If anyone is thinking of trying it out, they seem to run a lot of specials: I watched the site and bought last week when they were offering $20 off for three, which brought the price of three bras down from $60 to $40. Hard to beat that!

I also just received two free, crocheted breast forms from this site: http://awesomebreastforms.org . This seems like an amazing organization: a network of volunteers who knit or crochet forms for anyone who asks, absolutely free. I was really touched that the package included a sweet card from the woman who made mine.

Meanwhile, I can't be fitted for the forms that my insurance covers for another three weeks. Sigh.

PMR53 - I got my last 2 drains out at 4 weeks post op. They are awful! It was so liberating to have them gone!

Here is one thing though that I experienced once the drains were out.....my first shower without drains was totally weird! It was really the first time I actually washed my chest because with the drains in, I was a little afraid to (I washed my arms, underarms, stomach, etc, but avoided my actual chest). It was just the oddest sensation. It's like you are washing your body but it doesn't feel anything like your body. Just a very odd feeling. And then, of course, the emotional waterworks started flowing again

thanks cbwitt and Gardner!

Tina1969. - seems you and I are almost in the same timing schedule!! My tissues expanders have gotten easier to deal with over time, but are no means comfortable. I make sure I do the stretching my ps told me to do and it helps to loosen things up a bit. As far as sleeping, I've been sleeping In a bed with a "husband" pill (with the arm rests) as well as a regular pillow for back support and one of those travel pillows around your neck. It's a process every night but it's so far the most comfortable position I've found so far.

PMR - the Valium didn't do much for me either other than make me loopy and sleepy. After about a week i stopped most pain meds and Valium and switched to Tylenol. I have a follow up / filling appt on the 20th so I am going to ask about muscle relaxers as well. Holding to return to work at the end of the month.

Thank you NYNJGirl3 for the extra advice about the husband pillow etc. I always have a "nest" of pillows around me but I'm going to check ou the husband pillow to see if that is something that will work for me. Also my PS has not given me any exercises to do but i am willing to try anything. I may have to contact him sooner than my next appointment.

I'm glad i decided to post. It's nice hearing from others that are having the same experiences. Thank you.💜

Tina1969 - yes the ps should give you stretches to do to make sure you dont lose too much range of motion. I'd ask him/her about it. Crawl the wall and shoulder rolls... They hurt in the beginning but it's the best thing for you to do!!!

Hi Ladies

In July I was diagnosed with BC in both breasts and on September 15 I had a bilateral mastectomy, sentinel node biopsies and tissue expanders. It's been a complete roller coaster ride emotionally and physically. This is my second time battling this stupid disease (FU Cancer)

My drains came out after a week and last week I went for my first set of injections for tissue expanders last Wednesday, it wasn't as bad as I thought is was going to be. Just like many of you it didn't hurt but I did feel a lot of pressure, especially within the 48 hours. Advil worked well for me.

Iam experiencing a great deal of sensitivity to my upper arms and chest. My skin is extremely sensitive where I can barely wear a loosefitting cotton T-shirts. It feels as though Im wearing a wool sweater. I'd love to wear a padded bra or something that would make me feel more normal in my appearance but I'm unable to. Thank goodness it's fall as scarfs are my new best friend. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so how have you dealt with it?

PMR - yes I'm scheduled to return to work on 11/2 but I am Going to try for sooner. I work in NYC but have been recouping at my parents house in the "country". I find that sitting around reading, or watching tv has been making the time drag (plus gives me too much time to sit and think)so I'm hoping work will speed up the time and soon I'll be going in to have my TEs swapped out! One can Only hope right??

Thank you! I'm definitely going to check it out!

CBWitt - congrats on your path report!! Awesome news!!!

Patty - can you please post the link to the Alloderm video? Thanks.

I'm two weeks post op today. I'm feeling good, but the underside of my arm is extremely sensitive, and my breast and underarm are still swollen and tender. I'm told my incisions are healing really well, and almost totally healed. Rads next, but not for a few weeks.

pMR- recovering in th country sounds great but it gets old fast. I need to start getting back into the swing of things.

On an unrelated note, my final sterile strip fell off today. Wasn't prepared the for scar underneath. Sighhhhhhh

Patty,

How did the valium work out for you? Did it help you sleep?

I'm