April 2016 Surgery

So, just in case I scared any of you about having your drains removed and then developing a seroma, let me set your mind at ease, because I just found out tonight that the horrendous pain and fluid build-up I encountered was likely NOT a seroma or hematoma or a result of the drain being pulled at all, but from a rather rare bacterial infection that usually causes urinary tract infections. How on earth it ended up in my boob is a mystery – I never had a catheter during any of my hospital stays and I am fastidious about washing my hands before handling my drain at all times and I use anti-bacterial wipes to "milk" the drain every time. The fact that the infection happened to occur at the same time my drain was pulled seems to be mere coincidence. The PS says it's a "chicken and egg" thing – he's not sure if pulling the drain caused the infection or if the infection caused the fluid build up or if there was some other combination of imperfect conditions that all just converged at the same time.

And to make things even better, according to the PS the strain of bacteria I have is responsive only to IV antibiotics. I have an appointment with an infectious disease specialist tomorrow to see if there's an alternative treatment, but I may end up with IV abx either in hospital or, hopefully, at home. And there's a chance my PS may need to remove the TE on that side for a minimum of 3 months, depending on the outcome of the treatment for this infection.

The road on this journey never is smooth, is it?

Hey ladies, if you want to hear good news and wish to follow my progress, here's a link to a post on my progress report from today in another thread. Adding link so as not to double post (against the rules)...

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

There is hope for better days ahead, hang in there ladies!

Jacklin, I'm down to one TE only due to an infection and can't re-try the reconstruction for three months, so I'm flat on one side. Someone on another board recommended a Genie bra for me. They're about $10 at Wal-Mart, or you can get them on Amazon for cheap also. They come with a pocket in the cup and there's a small padding insert on each side that comes with it. I just took the padding from the left side and doubled up on the flat right side - it ain't perfect (the padded right side is much higher and perkier than the reconstructed left side!) but it's better than being flat on just one side. The bra itself is very comfortable and it would at least give you some shape - less to worry about with finding clothes to work with. And, yeah, I hear ya - I did love my breasts too. *sigh*

I say....fake it till you make it ladies! ;-)

Remember to remove the pads and fiberfill before you wash your customized bra!

I have a question for you guys who have tissue expanders. I have a deep dimple at the underarm breast sidearea at the end of each incision on both sides then there is an area I can only describe as a fatty lump like a small breast on each side. My PS says those areas will be liposuctioned and the skin brought towards the breast during exchange. I had large size D cups before and the breasts did spread back under my arms which caused problems with proper fitting in bras. I have 750cc TEs that were filled to 600cc at surgery and later had 150cc added at 3rd week follow up. My PS will replace them with 800cc high profile silicon implants. Do any of the rest of you have a similar situation regarding the deep dimples and underarm fatty lumps

I am almost 6 weeks post mastectomy with tissue expanders. My physical healing had been easier than I thought. Now mentally has been ano there story. At about week 2 I started having panic attacks and feelings of suffocation. I was able to work with my primary dr and able to get it under control in about 2 weeks. I'm not sure if it was just all of the stress that brought it on or maybe a reaction to the Norco. I can't take Vicoden because it makes me paranoid. My radiologist said that Norco and Vicoden are very similar so it very well could be a reaction to it too.

My expanders are still uncomfortable all day everyday but I'm definitely used to them now. The only time I have any pain is at night. I still wake up every couple hours to change position because my ribs hurt. I stop taking all pain meds 2 weeks ago and now I'm just on anxiety meds that I will stay on till exchange surgery thenext wean off them hopefully. My expanders are filled to 390 and I'm hoping to get to about 600 then a 4 week wait till exchange.

I got the call today that my oncotype test results came back so I'm meeting with my oncologist on Friday to go over results and see if they reccomend chemo. I already know that I don't have to have any radiation.

I'm celebrating everyone! Got my last fill yesterday (450) cc total. My Foobs look like I have two huge 1/2 coconut shells under the skin!. Minimal discomfort with only the occasional twinge or dull ache where the full TE is probably pressing on a rib. But I'm needing the muscle relaxers off and on since yesterday. My skin is very tight and the pectoral muscles are tense. As with the previous fills, I expect these symptoms to diminish in a few days. My exchange is scheduled for late August due to my vacation and Doctors schedule. The most surprising thing is how hard these Te's are.

So I have two months of "diamond" boobs (so hard i can cut glass with them) before I go under the knife and swap these out for the permanent soft and teardrop shaped replacements.

Then the plan is... heal for several months. Lyposuction + fat graft (1), heal for 2 months, Lyposuction + fat graft (2), heal for 2 months, assess situation... of good, build nipples. Heal for two months, tatoo....

What a journey!. Even with this odyssey, I'm lucky, no chemo or rads to face because I chose prophylactic BMX. I would not change my choice if i could. Knowing i will never face another mammogram or biopsy again, and possibly avoiding a 90% certainty of developing cancer, makes this all worth while. Reading the posts of everyone here who is fighting cancer, all I can say is hang on! It does get better.

Congratulations to all the ladies getting ready to go over to the "squishy side"! I finish up radiation on July 18th. My PS wants to wait at least 6 months, possibly 1 year, before my exchange. I understand he wants to give my skin enough time to heal, but one year? Hopefully, I will be one of his "6 months" patients. At least I have no need for a bra with my expanders. They are like boulders cemented to my chest! Absolutely no movement. It's a weird feeling!

Have a great weekend!

touching base with April surgeries...

Everyone out there doing Ok?

I'm exchanging next week. Simultaneous lypo will be performed to start the shaping and PS is going to release the deep dimple I have under my left arm pit. Here we go! Phase 2!

Squishies! Can't wait!

Yeah, Alex, good luck!