continued Tissue expander pain!!

Sheila...that's so true about the medicine caps! There has been a couople of times that I just wanted to get a hammer and bash the thing open.....but, I couldn't lift the hammer! (just kiddin')

Anyway, I chickened out today girls. I called and canceled. I have hyst surgery next week. I'll wait. Maybe like you said Sheila, by then, my muscles will have had a chance to get used to it and it won't hurt so bad.

Wren, thanks for the compliment. I'm glad I made you smile!!

There are a couple of threads on here where we talked about the bi-mast surgery and recovering. I had mine 3/22/07. If you need info, PM me or find those threads. You'll see all kinds of different stories!

It's wild how we can all react the same or completely different.

I can tell you though that the vast majority had very little "real" complaints about that surgery. You would think it would be absolutely awful but, it really wasn't. I'm finding these freaking expanders worse!

What's that stupid movie most of our husbands, so's or whatever love???? Holy Grail or something...where the guy says "It's a mere flesh wound" after his arms get cut off. My ex-husband laughed his #*s off at that part...well, that's what I thought of about a week after my surgery and people were asking how I was doing. lol.....

How's everybody else doing? I hope Jean is o.k. 

Hope you ladies have a great day!

: ) Traci

Hi Traci,

I'm with Katie...putting off the fills for a couple of weeks won't hurt (and about the movie; one of the funniest scenes ever!). About the hysterectomy...I've never had pain during sex since the surgery (unless you count now with the booblet). I do have a very light blonde beard and mustache going on though (I refused the hormone treatment; had the surgery 12/26/01). I bought one of those small trimmers and shave about once a week. I don't like the way my makeup goes on the baby fine hair. Oh the price we pay for beauty!!! The worst part of the surgery was after because they pumped me full of gas (why I'm not sure but was told it's common). By the time I got home the next day I looked 9 months pregnant and stayed that way for about a week. Of course trapped gas has to come out of the plumbing at some point and boy was that interesting! I felt like one of my sons ripping one out every 5 minutes! (Kinda like the fart scene in "Blazing Saddles). It's definitely nice though with NO MORE PERIODS!!!!! Yall have a good night.

Margaret

Memee,

I cannot believe you are expanded that large either!  I'm 5'7" & weigh 155 & my PS won't expand me past 420 even though I've asked for more!  How can you be a 32A on one side & filled to 810 on the other?  Isn't there a huge size difference?

Janine

Thanks for the welcome Ladies 

Yes, I am very uneven, this is why I stuff my bra LoL

I asked in the begining how big I was going to be expanded and was told I had a 1000cc expander but that they would not have to fill it to near that much. He did tell me in the begining that he had to make enough skin to cover the implant with no pressure on the incision and to create a nipple, but I don't think that I really needed this much.

Several people have told me that it is possible that it is to cause droop to match the natural breast and several have said it is possible that he will place an implant in "good boob" to help even them up.

All I know for sure is this thing is HUGE

I too am experiencing expanders outside the breast area...sitting on my ribcage (on both sides) and worse, up near my armpit area...how big are those expanders?  Am wondering if the expanders might pull up and away from those areas as they are filled...to eventually be more in the normal breast area...am I hoping for too much?  100 cc's were put in expanders at surgery...have my first fill since then on Oct. 11...hoping for some relief!  There is NO way I can sleep on my sides with these expanders so am still having trouble sleeping through the night...

Thanks for anyone's suggestions...

Thanks, Memee!  I had a hard time sleeping in the recliner once before, but it might be time to try it again!

It's just so irritating...I had no idea there was all this discomfort...guess that's a good thing...I've had a pretty good attitude throughout but these expanders are alterning my mood negatively.  Am glad for everyone's advice on meds to help with the pain! 

Hi Reader,

I think I responded to your other thread

I've seen a few of your posts and it seems we're going through about the same things, I'm just a few steps ahead(I had a unilateral mast. with expander. I am fully expanded just waiting for exchange). So if you have any questions about how things have been for me, I will be happy to answer any.

Hi everybody. 

Hey Traci and Memee, I hope you guys are having a good day. 

I have an expander on one side, and I'm thinking that I might opt for reduction and lift on the other, in order to cut this process short.

My biggest fear is that this uncomfortable feeling won't go away.  I don't want to go through with the implant if it's going to feel like this (like the bottom edge is pushing on my rib, and like it's uncomfortable to take a deep breath).  I'm kind of slender on top, and I guess my ribs are just not up for this.  I got 250ccs at the mast, and I'm supposed to end up with 500 to match my natural breast, but as I mentioned, I may go for a reduction instead.  I find it hard to believe that an implant twice as big as the expander is going to feel better!

The thing that helps me most is to exercise.  I take long walks -- I can't wait until they it's okay to hike or bike.  I guess I like the endorphins!  And I was pretty active before all of this happened, so I guess when I exercise I feel more like myself. 

I would love to hear from people either way -- did your switch to implants make thing better, or did the implant swap just feel the same (pressure, weird feelings when you breathe, etc.)?

Thanks!

Reader

Dear EGAL,

I will be praying that things turn around for you immediately.  You sure do have a lot to deal with on top of being a breast cancer patient.  I had my drains taken out last Thursday and have been feverish ever since...as high as 100.8...but usually 99. something!  Plus, the expanders have made my whole area tender and sore...not only that, but the expanders look like they're centered near my arm instead of the booby area...after your comments, I am going to ask him if this is how my implants will be placed...if so, he can take the whole thing out and I'll just go flat!  I don't even know my treatment options yet...will find out tomorrow a.m.  My cancer was considered non-aggressive, but I did have 3 - 4 tumors between both breasts...praying I won't have to do aggressive treatment for months and months...anxious to get on with implants, of course!

Everyone here will be in my prayers because I know how uncomfortable we all are!

I had almost unbearable pain when I had my expanders. I had waited 4 years after bilateral mastectomies. The first fill was OK as long as I was laying down. But my ps gave me a muscle relaxer and vicadon and I was OK. I took a muscle relaxer every time at least an hour before my fill and it worked wonders! I was getting 100-150 cc every time. Soon it quit hurting and was only tight. I will get nips during Nov. So far, so good. I love my new boobies!  I also had saline because of my age (58) and if and when I need to get new ones it would be an easier surgery. Girls, hang in there, you will make it! Oh, I had been a 46 DDD and now I am a 40 C! I ended up with 700 cc in each one. I am pretty broad chested, to say the least. But I love how I look. I also like the new wireless IPEX bra from Victoria's Secret. It is sooooo comfortable!!!

Thanks Margaret.

One of the girls told me tonight to eat only non-solid foods cuz my bowels were really going to be messed up. Great....well, it's not like I'm not use to it after chemo.

My freaking expanders were "spasming" all day today. GAWD.....in a way, I can't wait to have the hysterectomy so I can forget about the expander pain!!

BrendaBlack, I'm glad you're happy with the end result. That's what everybody....well, except for Egal.....I hope she's posts again. Anyway, I can't wait until I'm one of the girls saying that.

I'll see y'all maybe tomorrow, if not, after surgery.

Hugs and kisses!!!!!!!!!!

Traci

Hey Ladies,

Well, what a crappy morning I have had.

My little sisters PET scan lit up something on her vertabrae's. She had BC 9 yrs ago for those of you who didn't know. I've been crying all morning.

But wait....it gets better....I was switching my insurance from group to individual..why is a long story...anyway, the hosp called to verify my ins for surgery tomorrow and Aenta told them it had been canceled effective 10/1.

It boggles my mind that my incompetent agent, may have made me un-insured and .... un-insurable!!

Needless to say....surgery canceled. My agent said I should receive paperwork within 7-10 days.

I'm so scared about my little sister. She's being all brave in emails to me because she's at work but I know....as soon as she gets in her car, she is going to lose it. She lives in Atlanta......

Anyway, I sure hope all y'alls days are going better than mine!!

: ) Traci

Good Morning Ladies,

Traci...I think all of us need to pray for a mild coma and wait until January 1st to get here! YIKES!!!! I'd be wearing an orange jumpsuit about the insurance debacle (orange jumpsuits are the color the prisoners wear in New Orleans). I'd be on that SOB so fast they wouldn't know what hit them! I hope all turns out well for your sister. As is she didn't have enough issues with the former bc diagnosis. Keep us posted on how things are going.

I think the larger the expander gets the worse the spasms get. I was shoping the other day with my oldest son (he's turning 28 in a couple of weeks) and had to stop in my tracks...couldn't move or breathe. I just yelled out in the store "My titty's twitching!". Needless to say I got some strange looks. We laughed the rest of the trip. Gotta find humor anywhere you can! Have a good one!

Margaret

Thanks for the nice words Ladies.

I feel so much better today. I just woke up! One vodka lemonade, two glasses of wine and one ativan knocked me out last night! I don't even remember waking up to a hot flash!

I don't know what I'll do if I am permanetly uninsured. I won't even think about that right now. I'll wait for the paperwork I'm suppose to get in 7-10 days (yea, right) and take it from there. I've thought about calling the insurance company directly but I'm afraid of what they might say......I might change my mind on that. Ironically, my sister Debbi works for the Hartford..different division of course but maybe she can find some insight for me. I'll ask her when she calls later to see how my hysterectomy went!! Ha! I think if it weren't for the double dose of xanax I took after I found out about Debbi's scan, I may have gone postal on my agent. But, I was amazingly calm with him. So.....unlike me. I'll let you guys know what happens.

Sheila, I'm so jealous about the ease you had with expanders. I am two weeks from my last fill and although I am in no where near the pain I was...it's still uncomfortable. I need to call him know that my hyst has been canceled and get another fill but I don't wanna....

Anyway, Hope y'all have a good day!

Hugs, Traci

ps M....she's right....there are more women on here that didn't have pain than there are that did. And, there are alot of women that didn't have re-construction. You should start a new thread with that title and they will come on and tell you their experiences. Maybe that will help you decide! I wish you well girl either way.

Sorry Roonie,

I ...literally.....feel your pain.

I take 1/2 Oxycodone and that does help.

My ps BETTER re-fill my prescription cuz I have one pill left. And, I'm about to take 1/2 of that.

I think I'm gonna call him tomorrow and see if I can handle another fill...since my hyst was canceled.

I'll let you guys know.

Good luck Roonie.

Traci