Tissue expanders and pain

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Natemax
Natemax Member Posts: 7
edited June 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

I have had tissue expanders since 1/2018 and will have them until next Spring. I wake up in the middle of the night and each morning with rib pain on the rights side where my cancer was. Seems to happen when I sleep on that side. Wondering if anyone else experienced this?

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  • Taurus75
    Taurus75 Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2018

    I had my double masectomy and reconstruction 10/15/2018. I have gone three times to get fills in both. This last fill, they put 180cc in the right and 160cc in the left. They took out 100cc of fluid my body has collected around the expanders since I no longer have drains. I had to go back to the doctor because the pain is so bad. I have pain all over to include my armpits and back. The doctor just said to get a compression bra but it still hurts so bad especially when I'm trying to sleep. I can't even lean on my side. Too painful. I'm starting to get depressed about it because it has completely limited what I am able to do. I can't lift anything, bend down and pick up a tissue, nothing. I usually can tolerate pain and didn't have to take pain killers after I got out of my masectomy surgery and after my 1st two fills but this one is killing me. The pain is excruciating and the doctor/nurses do not seem concerned at all. Like this is normal but I'm miserable. So I feel your pain. Hope you find a solution and feel better soon.

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  • Vslush
    Vslush Member Posts: 183
    edited November 2018

    Natemax and Taurus75,

    So sorry about all the pain you are having. The expansion process can be so miserable, and pain is pretty common. Are you being given muscle relaxers with your fills? That really helps. Also, a slow pace makes a big difference. I had large fills in a short amount of time and ultimately lost my implants due to infection (skin split, infection set in etc...). I think a good rule of thumb is no more than 50 or 60cc each fill. If I had it to do over again, I would have insisted no more that 35cc.

    I will add that if you're having any difficulty breathing, tell your PS. I complained a lot about that but was told it would feel better in a few days. Turns out from the large fills my expanders were going inward on cancer side, and ribs were bent in the process (still are, but have been assured by multiple Drs it's not a danger). They will cosmetically correct it with DIEP surgery in a couple weeks. Not trying to scare anyone, just wanted to make sure you report any breathing issues.

    Good luck and hope this helps.

    Hugs, Vickki





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

    For others considering expanders for reconstruction look into aeroform this is designed to reduce the pain of fills and shorten the time to get results.

    https://centrefars.com/aeroform-air-expander-breas...


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  • Vslush
    Vslush Member Posts: 183
    edited November 2018

    Meow13,

    Wish I had known about this before my surgery. What a great option! Have you posted this to any of the reconstruction threads? May save a lot of others from the pain and suffering of traditional expanders.

    Vickki


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  • kdw6449
    kdw6449 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2019

    I am several weeks past my last fill and will have expanders removed and implants inserted in September. I’ve also been concerned with the amount of pain and discomfort this far out. Is this normal

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