Breathing problems after an implant.

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mary_z
mary_z Member Posts: 7
edited February 2016 in Breast Reconstruction
Hi! This is my second post here so bare with me. I put this post in another section that may not have been the best match. Anyway...

I was diagnosed with breast cancer early last year (one 1.4 cm lump, no lymph node involvement, I has a total mastectomy and ACT treatment, no radiation), last Feb, I had two saline breast implants. They were small. I am very pleased with how they look. However the one problem I have are difficulties sometimes breathing due to the tightness of my chest. My chest gets tight particularly when I talk a lot. I have gone back to the surgeon who simply told me to exercise them by moving them around with my hands. This helped a little but there is still a problem. When I went back a second time the surgeon said it was just stress and gave me some medication. Do not like taking mind altering drugs!

Anyway wanted to know if others out there have had issues with muscle spasm after surgery. Particularly if things get better with time. If so how long? Is there anything I can do that will help?
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  • LiveForToday
    LiveForToday Member Posts: 311
    edited July 2007
    Gee Mary! I can't imagine still having muscle spasms after a year! Maybe you need to get a second opinion....couldn't hurt and maybe it is totally unrelated to the implants or muscle. My muscle feels weird when I pick up something or sneeze but never interfers with breathing or talking. Let us know if you get another opinion...

    huggs, Sherry
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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited July 2007
    Try chest openers. Implants do stretch your pectorals and they will resist. You'll develop a slumping posture if you don't work on it.

    I liked this site:

    www.stayingabreast.com
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  • AnnieBird55
    AnnieBird55 Member Posts: 122
    edited July 2007
    Hi Mary :-)
    I am curious myself to see how implants will feel in this regard. I am currently about 75% through reconstruction. I have expanders in now. After every fill for at least 2 days, I have muscle spasms. They then go away (with NO spasms ...ever ..not even when sneezing).

    I will say I workout - religiously (5x/week) which includes about 20 minutes of upper body work. I end my workout with stretching (upper body as well).

    It is hard for me to say whether the workouts are alleviating spasms because I don't know what I'd be feeling were I not working out.

    I have also found myself particularly sensitive to feeling *anything* in the breast areas. I think that my inital dx has generated a *fear of recurrence*.

    I would agree with Sherry that if it has been over a year, that seems like a long time. Maybe try your PCP for a 2nd opinion.

    -Anne
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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited July 2007
    Mary, I'd check with your oncologist or PCP to rule out heart problems which could be caused by AC chemo. Heart problems will leave you short of breath. I've had my implants for 7 months now and don't have shortness of breath from them and I have asthma. Best wishes!

    P.S. Are you on an AI?? I know shortness of breath can be a side effect of Femara....not sure about Arimidex or Aromasin.
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  • mary_z
    mary_z Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2007
    Hi Rose, I checked the web site you sent me. thanks. I think you are right I need to do exercise more to strength the muscles. I done Ekg which was fine and waiting for the pulmonary function test result. will be meeting PS tomorrow morning.
    Mary
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  • Maireadaniar
    Maireadaniar Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2012

    I had double Mastecomies in July of 2011.  I was told by my plastic surgeon implants were my only construction option.  I repeatedly asked him if it was safe with my fibromyaligia.  two months after having them in I started to develop sever pain.  One implant either slipped or ruptured.  Never have gotten a straight answer on which it was.  I had the removed by another surgeon and she is doing fat graphing.  I noticed right from the start I had breathing difficulties, which I thought was due to first surgeon cutting my peck muslce and rearranging it.  This Sept how ever I developed a broncitis or RSV that moved really fast. Now two and half months latter, two courses of antibotics, several steroids, and cough meds with narcotics, I am still struggling.  Sometimes the simplest things make me so short of breath.  They have done lung exrays, and cat scans.. everything looks normal, yet I am continuing to stuggle.  I am open to suggestions ladies...

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  • Maireadaniar
    Maireadaniar Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2012

    Mary, some of the issues could be muscular in nature. I have found one thing that helps so much with pain I get is getting in a pool 30 minutes to hour a day.  I do a whole series of excerises that work my core muscles and then my shoulders.  For the muscular side getting your peck muscles and other chest muscles stretched seems to be key.  The pool also helps with chronic pain and for lymphedemia because it works like a huge pressure stocking.  my name is the same as my yahoo email if someone needs or wants me to send them detailed excerises for a pool.  One I do at my desk, hold arms straight out in front of you palms up. Raise your arms up wards and back down repeatedly... seems to hit the muscles effected by implants.  I have also found if you don't keep on it, scar tissue tends to begin to tighten right back down.

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  • Trish23
    Trish23 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2016

    i have had the same problem breathing have seen a heart Dr but yet my Dr tells me I'm fine just muscles or scar tissue I believe it is more






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