Expander pain

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AliCat47
AliCat47 Member Posts: 8
edited June 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

I had a double mastectomy With lymph node removal under my left arm on May 8. I did immediate reconstruction so my doctor placed the expanders over the muscle and filled them with 535 cc. Of air. The last few days I have had severe pain, and I mean SEVERE pain under my left breast. Saturday, it felt like somebody was stabbing me it hurts so bad. Today it is somewhat better but still get that stabbing pain occasionally. I still have the drains and my postop appointment is not until Wednesday afternoon. Saturday, it felt like somebody was stabbing me it hurts so bad. Today it is somewhat better but still get that stabbing pain occasionally. I still have the drains and my postop appointment is not until Wednesday afternoon. Does this sound like an expander problem or is it just the discomfort from the drains? If it’s the expanders, there’s no way I can live with this till my exchange. My doc just says to keep up with the pain meds and she’ll check it on Wednesday. Any thoughts

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  • ljm33
    ljm33 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2018

    It's probably too late to be much help, but I had a the same surgery on 5/23 although they just filled me to 100 cc for now. My right side - which is where I had the cancer and lymph node removal - feels fine. Barely any pain. My left side is stabbing. Hurts like heck. They told me it's not unusual for expander pain to feel like this but I fear it's gonna be a long few months. I go back on Tuesday to get the last drains removed and may have more Intel then. Not looking forward to the fills, that's for sure.

    I hope your pain has subsided. Good luck.

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  • AliCat47
    AliCat47 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2018

    ljm33 Unfortunately I still have the pain. It has moved to the right breast bone as well. I have been told it is nerve pain. Strange how it hits every night at the same time...1-2:00 AM. Don't get much sleep after that. Hope you are doing well. It is a relief to get all the drains out for sure. You can move and shower so much easier. Just got my last two out a few days ago. My first fill was 250 cc. That was kinda rough. Took alot of motrin and valium for a 3-4 days. This week I only got 50 cc and took only motrin the day of and the day after and was fine. Good luck to you!

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    Look into aeroform a different choice, probablt too late if you already started with traditional expanders.

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


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  • ljm33
    ljm33 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2018

    I'm 3 1/2 weeks post surgery with two expansions. I get the nerve pain from time to time but not like the first time. I would say I'm in a constant state of discomfort though and still sleeping poorly. But I know I'm one of the lucky ones. Clear margins means no chemo or radiation so I just gotta get through the next couple months. Everyone says it's better after the expanders are gone so I just gotta believe it's true.Hope you are feeling better AliCat47.

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  • AliCat47
    AliCat47 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2018

    I am a couple days from being 6 weeks out from my surgery. I'm almost afraid to say it, but I have not any nerve pain in a week. Hopefully I've turned that corner. I now have 350 cc of saline in each expander and am done filling. Waiting for my doctor to call me with surgery date for implants. After my surgery, everyone kept saying "it gets better" and I was like "when, because this really sucks!". They definitely were telling the truth. I can tell that each week I have made alot of improvement. By the time I get rid of the cording in my armpits, it'll be time for my next surgery :)


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  • ljm33
    ljm33 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2018

    Oh that is so good to hear. I've heard the same thing but I'm just in a lot of discomfort still. And my back is killing me too. I'm at 260cc and my PS thinks I should get to 400. So I'm over halfway there but I can't even imagine given how heavy I already feel. I will keep believing that things get better. It's so weird that my left expander is so much more uncomfortable than my right side; the right is where the cancer was. Go figure. But I'm glad to hear you're feeling better.

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