Infection help

Options
1concernedsister
1concernedsister Member Posts: 1
edited March 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi. I was diagnosed with IDC in my left breast day after Thanksgiving. I chose a double mastectomy with TE construction. I had the surgery on 1/17. It hasn’t been easy adjusting to the TE at all. Just this past week I was diagnosed with a rare staph infection in the left side and regardless that all my docs aren’t agreeing on if the TE should be tsken our or not I think it will be. I’m on high doses of oral and IV antibiotics at moment and scheduled for surgery next Thursday. I’m scared to have another surgery so soon but I’m also scared that chemo keeps being delayed. Has anyone gone through this before with some insight, please? I am afraid the antibiotics aren’t working either and it’s spreading to other side.

Also a part of me is even wondering if these are worth it now? I did the DMX so I didn’t have to have radiation but I’ve since found out I do. This means TEs are in a lot longer. Their painful. I’m just scared these things are going to be painful forever even after they are out and implants are in.

I have tried talking to my woznderful husband about this but he just keeps reassuring me it’s all going to be ok and I just don’t feel it is. I know they are going to get rid of the cancer but these TEs....I just don’t know 😔

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited February 2018

    Hey. Im sorry this is happening to you. I went through same thing. I hated the te’s tthey were painful. I did radiation. I had the exchange surgery. I was hospitalized twice for infection and they finally removed the implant. That was five years ago. I still have one implant in and flat or concave in other side. I am not in pain and do not care to ever go through another surgery. I am happy and never wear a bra. Or a poof to fake a breast there. Just to tell you most women beat the infection and never have problems. I was just over it. Healing hug

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited February 2018

    I, too, had dbx, then returned to hospital for an infection. I was on IV antibiotics for a couple of days, and then sent home with a very strong and very expensive (ugh) antibiotic pill for at least 2-3 weeks. My chemo was delayed, too. I am sure it happens more often than we know. I hated the TEs do to the discomfort. I did not lose them from the infection, however, after they were switched to implants, I had to have one removed because the radiated skin refused to completely heal. Another TE was put in at that time, and later an LD flap was done on that side.

    As the drs remind us, reconstruction 'is a process'. ugh There are hurdles, but we somehow get through them!! Hang in there!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mitzi458
    mitzi458 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2018

    concernedsister...I'm so sorry that you had to go through this. It will get better. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but as difficult as it is, try to stay positive and BELIEVE. Our minds are the best tool we have to beat this beast!!

    melmcbee- i’ve been where you are now. In 2007, after. Year of chemo, rads, three surgeries and an infection kicked me to the curb. I only did a partial reconstruction and lived as a Uni for the past 10 years. I finally decided to finish the job but it took me 10 years. I’m hoping this time will be it and I can put it behind me. I love your strength!

    anotherNYCGirl...glad that infection is behind you and you are on your road to recovery!

    Does anyone know how these infections just “happen"? I had one with my last surgery in 2007 with a Lat Flap and implants. Does it happen more often with implants than flaps? I just had a Bi-DIEP Flap and I can't bear to go through that again. Any suggestions to try to avoid infection this time around?

    Stay strong ladies

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EastcoastTS
    EastcoastTS Member Posts: 864
    edited March 2018

    I had a post-op infection, treated with three antibiotics. If this plan had not worked, which they did luckily, I would have had to go the IV route or lose the TE.

    So, give the meds time. They may well be working! My area was still a little red for months or darker in color than the other breast but noticeably better. Give it every minute until surgery is scheduled to improve.

    Have you checked out the TE boards on here? Lots of discussion about experiences with TEs. (TE: A Beginner's Primer link below)

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

    Although I found them doable, I thought they were fairly uncomfortable -- as many do. I'm now happy with implants (Sept Exchange) and glad I made it through the TE journey. However, if you decide you want to go another route (flat and fabulous), there are also many discussions about that here. Reconstruction is a process, true.

    Good luck! I'll be thinking about you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories