Should I remove my TE's?

I think what you're describing is pretty normal so soon after surgery and could possibly be the nerve sensitivity phase that many of us experienced after a mastectomy. Tissue expanders feel like a metal bra, I've heard. That's totally normal. It's also normal to feel that burning after a mastectomy. It has only been three weeks, you poor dear. Give it time. Treat yourself well.

No one but you knows what's best. I would say that if you wanted reconstruction initially, if that what your gut wanted, hang in there a little longer. Part of me wishes I had been braver and had tried TEs and implants. It's distressing to be so disfigured.

I'm so sorry you have to do chemo. Stay on the boards and these tough ladies will help you through. It's the only upside to suffering: bonding with others. Hang in there

Melgirl - It will improve but it is definitely very, very painful. I found a PT who was also breast cancer survivor and she helped a lot with the physical and emotional pain. I can't tell you how many time I threatened to take the f-ers out. Honestly I was too chicken to tell my PS or I would have!

It will get better but ask your PS for ways to cope. Mine said I might just have to endure it, which though it sounds glib, actually helped me a lot. I like the buyer's remorse comment.

Hang in there.

Yes, definitely also post in the Reconstruction forum. And I agree that it would be good to discuss with your PS. Sometimes they can do the fills more slowly and with less each time. Especially while you're going through chemo, you may want to slow it down.

Also, as was mentioned, you're still early in your recovery from the mastectomy surgery. I opted not to have reconstruction, but at the three-week mark, I was experiencing nerve sensitivity that made it hard for me to bear anything against my skin (satin or silk camis helped), and I definitely wouldn't have worn anything approaching a bra at that point. That all quieted down pretty quickly after that, but everyone heals differently. I think expanders tend to exacerbate some of this immediate post-surgery discomfort.

Hopefully, things will start to settle down soon for you. And I agree that a good physical therapist might be helpful. Many women do complain about tissue expanders, so you might find you're in good company over at the Reconstruction forum.

Best of luck!

My experience is that once the mastectomy scar healed, it was impossible to expand the skin later. I ended up with a DIEP reconstruction using a tissue flap and all abdominal skin. A review of reconstruction photos online will show that this is not a desirable cosmetic outcome compared to what you can have using expanded skin. In your place I would hang on to the TEs for dear life if you plan to have reconstructed breasts. TEs are uncomfortable but shouldn't be painful. I would call my surgeon's nurse asap and tell them you're having pain. I also had weird burning and pinching sensations, but it was all from severed nerves acting crazy. It lasted for a month or two until my brain adjusted.

I have done the tissue expanders and now have the implants and they still hurt and are very heavy. I stuck it out with the tissue expanders route but always had this gut feeling that nothing was going to work for me and I wish I had listened to my inner voice. Will have them taken out this week and going the whole flat and fabulous way.

Wish you the best!

Hi Melgirl

I had a terrible time with my TEs and constantly wished them gone. I thought I had made the biggest mistake by agreeing to them. However, it's been a year now and I am getting my exchange done end of April. The TEs were never comfortable, but they definitely got less painful and bearable as time went on. I am actually glad that I put up with the discomfort although it was a raging battle (with myself) during the chemo (I just wanted them OUT!). After chemo they actually settled down alot. It definitely is Your choice (not your PS's), but if you can put up with it during chemo, it should get better thereafter. Take your time to decide, they aren't going anywhere lol.