Tissue expanders are awesome said no one ever

Thank you for your humorous observation. Yes!! They are awful. I think they were invented by the same person who invented stilts from cans. Because, I can feel the edges cutting into my chest like someone standing on those stilts.-- giant biscuit cutters.

So true about the ps' stare. At my fills, I bared my augmented chest (not considering them breasts until my sensation comes back) to up to 4 actual strangers in coats. No one looks at me. They were staring at my chest. Such a freeing experience, huh? Even though my left is 1 inch lower than my right, my ps dismissed it as not a problem. So droppy expanders. (I laugh at this!)

Done with fills (YAY!!!). Next is the switch out, the leveling of my new mounds, and hopefully healing and regained sensation. It can take up to a year. Yipee!!

Finding the courage for forward motion. r.e.

weimlover - as soon as I read the title of your post, all I could think about was those Internet cartoons with old-fashioned pictures and snarky captions.

Sure could have used some of those when I had those boulders stitched into my chest!

Weimlover-the expanders are HORRIBLE! I had mine for 8 months. I called them rocket boobs, because they projected from my chest straight up like rockets. They were too far apart and right under my chin.They did their job, in preparing my body for the implants. I could not go without a bra either. I did buy bralettes which were light and comfortable. I still wear them with my implants. I don't like the feeling of fabric rubbing on my incisions. Hang in there and remember that they are temporary.

I think I have been quite fortunate. I haven't had much of a problem with them. I feel like I am wearing a wooden bra most of the time, but in the grand scheme of things, I am not unhappy. However I have to say I had two brilliant surgeons, one who did my bilateral in February and the plastic surgeon who is doing the reconstruction. It wasn't until my tenth fill (Im getting 50 cc each time I go) that I started to feel some aching in my shoulders and neck, I don't know if anyone else has experienced this. I have not experienced the pain at 'fill' time that many of you have talked about, just a tightness for a few hours and then I am fine, I've been going weekly and I don't want to be any larger than a 38D I am 5'6" and a size 10. I was a 38G before I had my bilat, and had always wanted a breast reduction, but never had the courage to do it. Well, I got one!, not exactly the way I would have chosen, but it is, what it is. What really drives me nuts is the itching, especially around the area of where my nipple used to be, since it is numb, there seemed to be no relief from scratching. I came to this forum to see what other's were saying about all of this and I'm glad I did. Perhaps I can share some things that have helped me in the last few months.

My diet was the first thing that changed. I try to eat only organic, non gmo, non processed, foods, I am a vegetarian, I would like to say I am Vegan, but have not been able to give up my English cheese, some things are just not doable! :-) I am also a yoga nut, I try to do at least ten to forty five minutes of Kundalini yoga each day, and I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, that is in addition to my full time job. What I have found to be useful to help ease any discomfort and to keep my skin smooth is essential oils, I made myself a concoction using a Grapeseed oil base (because of the vitamin E) and added, lavender, helchrysium, frankincense, and tea tree oil. I massage myself at least twice daily (before bed, and in the morning after my shower) and it seems to help with the itching and keeps the skin supple, my scarring is minimal, and the oils seem to help. I think exercise and diet really are the key, also stress management, there were days after the surgery that I was in so much pain, I didn't want to do anything, and the first time I tried to do the exercises I used to do and couldn't I thought I would never be the same again. I was determined, and two weeks after my surgery I was able to lift my arms almost level with my chest, it was a done deal, I was on my way back!!. I meditate and do a lot of visualization I have even taken up belly dancing....(its really good for the arms, I was lucky and did not get the edema, my skin under my arms was a little saggy but after a few weeks of doing yoga and snake arms (belly dance) it went away. Qigong and acupressure massages, are also in my repertoire

I believe the cancer I had was rooted in stress. I stopped doing the things I was doing to stay healthy when I began to work on my doctoral dissertation, while trying to work full time, and take care of myself. a couple of years of fast, or convenience foods, late nights, no exercise (except going to the grocery store) no real social interaction other than my work, and stressing over the outcome finally took its toll and my body, which had been talking to me quietly for years, finally got my attention. I think for me, getting this diagnosis was truly a wake up call, and my life has changed for the better. I am still working on that dissertation, but not as fanatically :-) I'm making time for people and experiences in my life now. I'm about to celebrate my 61st birthday, and I feel better and happier than I did thirty years ago, and the best thing is, I'm about to get some perky boobs! I don't know what will happen in the future, but I wake up each morning and tell myself, this disease might well be my undoing, but its not going to be today!! I am trying to live in the moment.

I am quite a ways away from getting my implants, as I think I probably have at least two more fills to go, and then six weeks of radiation, I did not have to have chemotherapy, the Oncologist did some tests on the lymph nodes they took out and said it would not improve my chances of survival any more than what they are now. I am a little disturbed by how high the expanders are though, is that normal? I am afraid that if he keeps filling them, I will eventually have a shelf to rest my chin on! a permanent face lift! hmmm, now there's a thought. I love that when I lay down, they stay where they are, and don't disappear under my armpits! ( I guess that is a small compensation for not having any sensation, and having what feel like two base balls on my chest and tennis balls under my arms!) Yes I do have days when all I want is to feel normal again, but what is that anyway? I am grateful to be alive, and as uncomfortable as these things are some days, I continue to remind myself that this too shall pass.

Its strange, I really don't think about the cancer. I guess because at the end of the day, tomorrow is not promised to any of us, we all have a tenuous grip on life at any given time! I refuse to live my life in the shadow of this disease. All I can do is take care of myself the very best way I know how. What I do know is that my clothes fit better, I can now buy a bra for $10, instead of $60, and if I want to, I can go without one!! I have decided that since the nipples will only be for decoration, I'm not going to put myself through another surgery........I'm going to get a beautiful tattoo instead! I have spent most of my working life, covering the things up anyway (I work with men in a jail) , so what the heck, I'm actually getting used to my nipless boobs :0 So, having said all this, at the end of the day, there are things we must mourn, but there are definitely things to celebrate...............don't you think?