Reconstruct #5 infected- removing implants permanently?

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happyteacher
happyteacher Member Posts: 118
edited June 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello,

I had a bilateral prophylactic mx in April of 2014. Tissue expanders were followed by the exchange. The right side did perfect, but I am currently recovering from the latest attempt at the left side. This surgery was March 18th. He found Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and that this encapsulated the implant that was removed. He irrigated, put another one in, and I did 10 days of antibiotics once I left the hospital. It was going well up until about 4 days ago. I still have a drain in, and the left side swelled up with an increase in pain. The drain is not clogged. Sent a pic in this morning to the doc, he started me on antibiotics, and indicated that the implant may need to be removed. I see him in two days. I am trying to prepare myself for the seemingly likly outcome of having the implant removed. I am out of sick days at work, and literally next week am supposed to be interviewing for a promotion. I am beside myself, and normally through all of this I am pretty even keeled. So I have some questions to those who may know more:

1. Assuming he has to remove the implant, I need to decide if I want both taken out, or just the left. I am tired of going through surgeries at this point. If I leave the right side in, how is the prosthetics experience for the left side? Do they work well, stay in place, and look Ok? To complicate things, I am 6'2'' tall and finding a bra that fits my long torso is challenging without the implant issues, so no idea if that makes prosthetics rough too.

2. How long until I can get a prosthetic? Is there a store or something that you go to? Order online? Is it just an insert that I can put into my current bra, or at least that option for a temporary fix?

3. Are there women out there that kept trying to get it to work past 5 attempts, and are glad they did? 2 years and over 6 months of that with drains and missed work has me skeptical.

Any advice is appreciated-

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Comments

  • BigSister-2015
    BigSister-2015 Member Posts: 342
    edited April 2016

    I suffered through two infections after TEs--never made it to implants. After the 2nd infection the PS didn't want to do any more implants, so he suggested a lat flap. I wasn't interested in moving muscle.

    I eventually went for another opinion at a different hospital that did the DIEP flap. I ended up having that done after waiting for 6 months to get my life back in order. While I waited, I was lopsided. I didn't bother with a prostheses. I had the one side inflated to about a B cup and left the other side flat.

    I am 5" 11" so I hear you on the height versus clothes issue. A good bra shoppe that offers prosthetics could help.

    I am now almost 4 months after my bilateral DIEP and couldn't be happier. Since I have no implants, infection is much less likely. I love my warm breasts that feel like me and will never have to bed wrapped out.

    The DIEP does require a second stage about 3 months after the first one, but I felt it was worth it. I read all the posts from the 2014 DIEP thread and was amazed to find that 100% of the women on hat forum, over 100 of them, were happy with their choice.

    Sounds like you need to ditch the infected implant, take time to heal and get life spinning again, and then decide what to do next

    Hth

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2016

    I never did implant, I had DIEP with great results.

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  • LisaMarie67
    LisaMarie67 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2016

    happytracher - I also struggled with infections, and removal and replacement of implants. I too am lopsided at the moment. I have one implant and one side is flat. I am done with implants and think I am going with the DIEP. These ladies have been such a big help to me.

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  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited May 2016

    Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. I have had infections where I was worried I would loose my implant. I was on two different antibiotics, kephlex and doxycycline at the same time. Seemed to help, but only for a little while, then the fevers came back. I have had thousands and thousands of antibiotics lifetime, so I seemed to be developing greater antibiotics resistance. Knew I had to do something else. I got IV Vitamin C at my Naturopath. 50 grams of Vitamin C in my IV, plus other Vitamins and Minerals. I also took Oregano Oil Tincture, Goldenseal Oil and about 5 grams of Vitamin C plus Zinc plus Preformed Vitamin A daily. I had Marasens something, found in culture of 150cc of seroma fluid they aspirated off my chest.

    I still have my implant. Looks pretty good. I am going for nipple tattooing in June. Please, everyone look to your nutrition. Remember, surgery depletes Vitamin C, which is essential for collagen formation, tissue healing and along with Vitamin A and Zinc boosts your immune system. We need extra, compared to non bc people, because so many of us have been through considerable immune damaging treatments. Look at my posting about needing Vitamin C, where I posted the study information supporting what I have said.



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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited May 2016

    Hello!

    I had the same infection...nasty bug that Pseudomonas aeruginosa!! I ended up having to have IV antibiotics, actually a few rounds of those but that was because of chemo too. I would suggest asking about that, just to make sure that sucker is gone.

    I ended up having my TE's taken out and I have yet to go back for surgery since. I was sick of it, I had 5 different surgeries in a short span and I just couldn't do it anymore. I do have breast forms that I wear in a special bra and they are surprisingly comfortable. http://whblongview.com/

    That is the link for the speciality store I went to. I'm not sure where you live so this may not be applicable to you, but I got their information from my BS and PS office. You may find something similar there. This shop worked with my insurance company and it was an easy process to have bras and forms covered by insurance.

    I am still not sure what I want to do when it comes to recon, but for now this works well. Best of luck and I mean it about the IV antibiotics.

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  • happyteacher
    happyteacher Member Posts: 118
    edited June 2016

    I ended up removing both implants. The one on the left that was replaced ended up swelling up significantly and the skin became too thin to hold the weight. Had both implants removed Monday, and the surgeon indicated the left implant was once again very infected. Now I am just hoping the infection will be dealt with. Sad a bit that I threw in the towel and gave up on reconstruction, but very happy that this should be my last surgery. Thank you for posting all-

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited June 2016

    Each story is different as we are also each different. After doing expanders to implants I developed and infection that they attempted to salvage. That was a big mistake. It did a lot of damage and ultimately failed. Eventually I had bilateral lat flaps and I'm very happy with the results. From start to finish I had 11 surgeries. I would have called it quits but i found a surgeon that I have confidence in. It really is a lot to go through on top of the whole cancer thing. I did have both removed as the infectious disease doc said it could spread. Also, I didn't want to be uniboob. I figured keep them the same regardless of how they look. In the end it was the right decision for me but it certainly isn't for everyone. I used little rubber thingies that they sell that look like chicken cutlets. They're small but I'm petite. i'm not sure they would work the same for a taller woman. All the best whatever you decide to do.

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  • happyteacher
    happyteacher Member Posts: 118
    edited June 2016

    Dang. 11 surgeries. That is a lot. I do think had I been willing to keep going back in eventually it would have worked, but no way am I up for 11 surgeries. I am already well into double digits on surgeries over the last few years, and have had enough. For me, they are just prosthetic and not worth all that pain and recovery time. It is heartening to see though that for those who choose to continue to make it work eventually find that it does. Thank you for taking a moment to post.

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