Delayed expander surgery- what was your experience?

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mircann
mircann Member Posts: 45
edited May 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

I go for expander surgery in 2 weeks and I know I will be in pain....and cant lift over 4lbs for a month (my MD said)....but how bad is the pain? Do we just have to be laid up in bed the first week downing our pain pills and if we move we say "ouch"?

And when did you start driving? I only have help (family from out of town ) coming for the first week, then the second week I am on my own (my boyfriend who lives with me will take my 3 yr old to and from day care the second week)...by the third week, I hope I can start cooking? do dishes? or will I still be a pain zombie? I know everybody's different...and their body responds differently. When I had a C section, I hardly had any pain when I got home.

I just don't know what to expect, will I have to have someone help me get dressed the first two weeks? like cant lift my arm to put on a shirt etc? Any info welcome....thanks

Smile

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited April 2016

    Things are a bit fuzzy now since I'm nearly four years from my exchange, but the only thing remarkable about it was how long it took me to come around after surgery (too much anesthesia). I was driving in a couple weeks. I had drains again but not for long. Overall it was a nonevent. Much much different from the mx. FYI I had my exchange five month after the mx. I had restrictions on my arms for four week again (had to do Dino arms). Good luck. You'll do fine!

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  • KellyAnne13
    KellyAnne13 Member Posts: 63
    edited April 2016

    Hi Mircan,

    Due to some complications I had one TE placed during my BMX and the other was not put in for several months. It really wasn't bad at all. Nothing compared to the mastectomy. It was sore for about a week but I was able to do most things slowly and carefully, I was driving after several days. The stretching of the muscle was nothing, because I'm still fairly numb on that side. Sleeping was a bit tough at first but again, nothing like the mastectomy. I switched to Tylenol right away and did take it for a few days before stopping. The incision and everything was not a big thing this time around.

    That was done in January and I have been fully exercising, including pushups, etc for a couple of months already.

    Having said all of that, I also know to expect the unexpected along this journey! Best of luck to you :)

    Kelly

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  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited April 2016

    in February I had delayed TE placement on my cancer side (mastectomy was one year before) and I had a PMX and TE placement on the other side. The delayed side has been fine, very little pain...the other side has been a whole different story, though it's okay now. When people ask me how it's been I have to say that it's a tale of two 'titties' 😳😀
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  • mircann
    mircann Member Posts: 45
    edited May 2016

    Thanks ladies...the pain the first 3 days...was almost unbearable...especially while trying to stay in bed or shift around....and get up...the mornings and late pms the pain is worse...but Im alternating Lomidine and Oxycontin ...but every day the pain seems less...the mastectomy pain was a breeze compared to this...yikes..

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  • Kri239
    Kri239 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    mircann, I'm guessing you have JP drains? For me, they have been the most painful part, and you can't drive until they are out. I have a bmx in February of 2015 and then decided to have TEs for implants about a year later. My surgery for TEs was April 20, and by now I feel good but I can't do anything because of the drain! I hope your pain has dissipated since your last post :)

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  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2016

    for me, the original pain dissipated but I had other pain with each fill. I'm done with fills now but have to wait 3 months for exchange. It's a long process and I hope when I'm all finished that I'll think it was all worth it...not so sure right now

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