continued Tissue expander pain!!

Hey Ladies,

Well, I went into my ps's office today and asked him to show me the implant I would get if I stopped now. He showed me and I said "I want to stop". He said if I did, I would be slightly smaller than I was before and I said "I want to stop".

I'm ready to get this over with. And, I really can't see myself really trying to impress anyone with cleavage anymore so whatever......

He is going to put in a 475cc silicone implant. And, he's putting it in on 11/28. I can't wait.

I also re-scheduled my hysterectomy for 10/31.

Hopefully, by Christmas, I will be done with all treatments, feel ok and have some hair.

I'm gonna keep coming back to this thread to see how y'all are doing.

I hope I can sleep on my side tonight!

Sleep well ladies. I hope y'all are all o.k.

Hugs, Traci

Thanks for everyone for your thoughts at support! I still haven't figured out how to get here from the actual site but I'll figure it out at some point.  I did call my ps on Friday (day after first fill). I talked to the nurse and she seemed suprised I got 180 cc's. She told me to come in and the Dr. took out 50cc's.  The relief wasn't instant but it did get gradually better and every day is a little better. I've also figured out some "tricks" that relieve the pain. The easiest but least practical is laying down. I basically feel no pain if I'm on my back. If I have to sit, I try to recline.  Otherwise, keeping a good posture helps a little as leaning forward and bending over hurt. So I know squat to pick things up off the floor which is good excercise! Putting my arm up also helps so if I'm walking and it hurts, I put my hand on my hip.  So hopefully these tricks will help others that find this post too.

Others talk about going smaller than before and I really wish I could do that. I'm glad I only had a single mastectomy but it does limit my options. I am a c+, D- on the other side so I'll have to match that. Otherwise, I could totally live with a B.  I will have a lift on the other side, which I'm actually looking forward to. I'm only 34 but have 2 kids and have been "big" since I was 14 or so. So the lift is definitely welcome!

Unfortunately, I'm having chemo starting tomorrow and found out post-surgery I will also need radiation after chemo so it'll be a while before I can have my permanent implant put in. 

Well, I think I will go see if I can fine a chemo post and get some advice on that! Thanks again!

I am finally done with the expanders.  I ended up at 360cc's.  I don't know how anyone gets more than that.  They started filling me

up one week after my surgery.  I don't think I would recommend that.  They also tell you to take advil and muscle relaxers... I found

only real pain pills work ... It was the most uncomfortable time

I have had.  I too, started out as a C+ and now will be happy at

a B but will probably end up a small B... Just couldn't do it any more.

I am scheduled for implants next Wednesday...not sure what to

expect... any advice?  I will be glad to get rid of these.  I don't know how anyone got clevege... mine are miles apart!

I just came across this site.  I wish I would have found it sooner

Tracy,

I am a small woman, 4' 10" and only weigh about 130 lbs. I am short wasted and narrow across the chest. Right now the expanders that I have look like hamburger buns stuck to my chest and they feel like they go across my chest almost to my arm pit. He said that if he put in the round implants I would not get the projection or shape he is trying to acheive. A lot of what type/shape is used is dependent upon your specific body shape.

Miracle, My father-in-law passed away 7 days after my bilat mast this summer, so I know something about what you are going through. One good thing came because of the death, my son was given emergency leave from the Navy to come home for 10 days. You will start feeling better once they are filled and you get the exchange.

Sheila

Hey newbies!!!!!!!!

I felt...........your pain. Only thing I can say is....IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't even lift my head to flip my chemo/hot flash/bald head pillow! It truly sucked. I agree. Worse than my bi-mast. It's been almost a month since my last fill and although I feel soooooooooooo much better, I can't wait to get these concrete block hamburger buns (lol Sheila!!!) out!!!

Thank God...........I decided to stop.

Hope y'all have relief soon. Get pain pills.

Hugs, Traci

Miracle,

I am so sorry for your loss, you are really being tested, hang in there kid it does get better. 

Margaret,

Good for you shop till you drop-I love a good consumer. 

Traci,

Good hamburger bun analogy-I think of them as two boulders that only Fred Flintstone would appreciate. 

Good luck on your exchange and hysterectomy, I had mine in April-laporoscopy and it really wasn't too bad.  Also I stopped chemo in March and I have a full head of really curly hair.

Traci,

I have such a tight fro that it may be impossible to uncurl, this is from someone with bone straight hair that would never hold a curl.

I have had to cut it once because it was actually bushy, not enough to put it in an elastic but sticking out.  It is growing in a little weird, and I think that it is because of the AI meds that I am taking. 

I am sorry about your Dad, you just wonder how much pain a person can bear at one time. 

You seem to be holding your own though, you take care.

Hello Katie,

You are not alone with severe pain after bilateral mastectomies and immediate reconstruction with tissue expanders/alloderm.

I was in so much pain that I was hospitalized for a week to get the pain under control. I was on percuset for several months and finally weaned off to Advil/Tylenol. Saline expansions started 3 months after surgery and I tolerated 15- 30 ccs per week.

I do not think it was the bilat mastec that caused my excessive pain, but suspect it was the overexpansion of my pect major muscles. It was so bad, I wanted to remove the expanders..but I stuck with it and had great results. The silicone implant exchange was not as painful.

Hope your expansions are going okay.

Cassie 

I am new to this . Just had my first fill yesterday only 40cc's in each breast Unbearable pain. I can't imagine how brave you all are having more than that injected. Pain killers constipate me and muscle relaxers make me hallucinate. I am at my breaking point. Tomorrow I am going to a pain management dr. hopefully to get some relief. Does the pain get any better after more fills. I feel like I will never return to work. My  best wishes to all of you!

Good morning fellow BC ladies. I am new to this site as well as the cancer. I would like to tell you all my little short but sweet story. I live in N. Michigan in a small beach town called East Tawas. I just turned 40 in June, I am 5'8" 135 lbs. and was always in great shape. I work with Special Education children as a para-pro. These children range from 6-11 and have autism to down syndrome to being wheel chair bound. So my job is very physical. I also was blessed with 2 wonderful children (Kelley 16 and now thinks she's 25) and (Kevin who just turned 13 and is having great difficulties with his father who lives downstate) My fellow workers call me Mrs. Bob Villa because I love to tear things down and fix them back up. My husband is a professional physician in our little town so when we were married 6 1/2 years ago my life went from living in the big city to a small town where everyone thinks they know you and your personal business. So I went from 2 children to 5 (3 more boys, that due no wrong in their father's eyes, now ages 8,15,21) To make matters more interesting my husband is also a on again off again alcoholic. Lately more on since my cancer diagnosis. But back to the cancer stuff. While on my 130 years old house that I call "the house of hope" that I convinced would give my husband something to do other than drink a 12 pack in 2 hours, we purchase one of the first homes built in our little town to restore. The kids laughed, but mom was in heaven. While on the roof expecting the next job to tackle, a shingle was loose and I slide down the entire side of the house and fell 14 feet to the ground. Thank goodness for all those years of Akido and Karate so I knew how to fall. (which by the way is TTR-Tuck your shoulder, Turn your head, and Roll into the fall) I had no broken bones just alot to scrapes and bruises and also the trip to the ER. Their are some advantages being a Dr. wife...good treatment in the local ER.:) Anyways, about a week later (Sept 9th my wedding anniversary spent alone due to another drunk for my husband) I noticed that my left nipple at the top was inverting inward. I called my local Dr. and she said "You're in great shape, it's probably just your body changing, you may look 28 but your 40 now." Not satisfied with this answer I decided to go down state to Beaumont Hospital for a Mam. This is a wonderful Hosp. that has a breast cancer center but is also 350 miles round trip each time I visit. They did the Mam. and noticed my concern, now mind you I'm lucky to fill an A cup but wonderbra's were my best friend. They then took me into another room and did a untrasound where it was then they found the image. Due to I had motrin in my system I was rescheduled for a sterogram biopsy the following Friday. By Tuesday I was called to be diagnosed with DCIS in stage 2-3. My up north Dr. then suggested to get a Stero Biopsy on the right due to dense mass and calcium deposits. So again two days later back to BMH, for another core done. (which by the way when you have no boobs to begin with it's not a very nice feeling) 2 days later all was considered clear on the right. I now was building what I called my A team. My Breast Sergent was wonderful, I met with her 4 days later and I had already decided I wanted a bi-lateral double done. I knew I never wanted to go thru this again so my attitude was take them both and make the next set better. The same day I had routine bloodwork, chest x-ray and and MRI. The date was set for 10-16-07. I added to the A team a wonderful man who is now my PS and has a wonderful sense of humor and love horses and dogs like me:) (3 horses, 2 dogs, 5 kids, a so-so hubby and 9 austic kids in class, what a plate full!!!) Trying to go back to work was very hard due to the stress and physical contact with the children, a swat from a 7 year old with autism to a core biopsy site is enough to set you through the roof!!! So I decided to take a Friday off, just due to life in general, at 10 a.m. and 10 days before my surgery I get a call from BMH Dr. to say the MRI on the right side now did not look right to her, and the Chief Rad (who is also a personal friend of the family) didn't like what he saw and how soon could I be back down to detroit? So since I had an appointment the next day with the PS again down I went for an Ultrasound Bio. And wouldn't you know it, it doesn't show what the MRI does so could I just come back on Wed, for an MRI biopsy? Well hell, why not, like I have nothing better to do than drive 350 again. So 5 days before the big day, I have an MRI Biopsy, ladies I do not wish this procedure to any women with an A cup!!! I still have a scar from the damn machine. I now know why when I milked my neighbor's cow they look back at you. You can't keep pulling on something that just not their, I felt like a cow utter not producing milk. Not to mention the 3 holes with a vacuum needle and in and out of the machine 7 times to make sure everything would be found due to the surgery date. Thankfully everything was fine. The week-end before the surgery dear hubby thinks he can't handle the stress, goes out for 14 hours and later I find out he racked up a $490 bar tab buying rounds. I swear, I'm the one who doesn't drink but should!!!! Surgery day was now here 10-16-07 schedule was a follows: Left home at 5 am to travel to be at hospital for 9:30. 11:00 little man comes in to place lido under my tit for the sentinel node test. He confirmed he's "very good at this, very good." And he was, but the little man did not wait for the lidocane to numb up and I nearly broke my hubbies hand due to the pain. Surgery for the removal and construction took place at 1:00 and did not finish until 7:00 due to the fact that I was so tight in my chest they had a hard time placing the expanders in. PS filled about 5 to 6 oz. I wake up with the worst back pain I have EVER experienced. I came to love the IV in my hand and the wonderful nurse that kept me up on the pain meds. At 6:30 the very next morning both Dr's discharged me since my hubby was a physician and agreed with me to stay home and sober for the rest of the week. So they drugged me real good and I don't even remember the ride home. I had 3 drains in place and the best advice I can give to women is purchase one of those Softee's with the front pouch to hold the bulbs. You can step into these instead of having to put your arms over your head. Husband lasted 4 days then pretty much turned into instant ass again, but thank goodness  I have wonderful daughter and son and a best friend that is a massage tech and can work wonders. I found out Tuesday that the node test came back good, met with the PS on Wed. and took out the drains and I can breath again!!!! FYI if you need to take a shower with your drains, wear a tube top!!!  They hold everything in place and also the warm water will also help you drain faster, mine were out 6 days. Oh and to the ladies that sometimes feel like their going to be sick, keep a disposal packet of rubbing alcohol in your pocket, if you start to feel sick, smell the alcohol and it takes the sick feeling away almost instantly. (Husband Dr. trick tip from working with patients that feel faint at the sight of needles:)

As for the women with the insurance problem. I had a similar issue only mine was the Aflac Agent that forgot to enroll me with the school system program after being sent 4 reminders from personal and it is a given union benefit. It took him 8 months and the personal Dept. to realize this after I inquired about what receipts to start saving. I was then that I was informed of the error and the agent tried to tell me my policy did not take effect until Sept 1st of 2007 and any treatments that I would receive would be considered a pre-existing condition and not be covered.
Talk about a jerk. why would I get a routine mamm. if I thought I was not covered for another month. Now between the local union and my personal attorney I'll hopefully not have to pay for the liposuction I would like to get off my Polish Hips. One thing that I did wish was that with this constant reminder of Breast Cancer Awareness month, someone would tell ladies theirs not always a lump. I had no lump, no discharge, do pain or swelling, just a gut feeling that something was wrong. So ladies thank you for allowing me to vent, I too live with my laptop in a recliner, cannot sleep without the aid of a heating pad on my back and then my daughter rubbing out the kinks only to have it feel like I can't breath a hour later again. And to think I am suppose to get my first real fill in two weeks. That's something I'm not looking forward too, but of course my daughter is....she my designated driver due to the pain meds, and she gets to miss school:) Teenagers, I wouldn't trade her for all the everythings in the world. We had a good laugh yesterday, because many of my school friend teachers anf relatives purchased me sweat suits for around the house. My daughter was just dying to wear the one I wore the day before to the PS but I told her she could use it the next day. Mind you she's a size 4 and on a good non-water retaining day I may be a 6, so it was stretched out a little. We were joking about this and she said "but mom it fits great, but at the moment I fill the top out better that you, she is also small breasted. I commented not for long, you're mom's had to go thru hell the last 35 days and in the near future mine will be bigger! Her comment was "Yea, but at least I still have my nipples"  Okay she won that round, but I replied that when mine are done I'll have the option of any color of nipple that I want and maybe mine will even be the shape of stars!!!! Thank you ladies, for letting me vent. I've been searching for a site like this and am looking forward to the late night chats. Just remember what we have can be controlled by modern meds, the children I work with will always have down syndrome or still be austic 5, 10 and if they make it that long 30 years from now. What we have is just a temporary setback but we can still walk forward with support, whether it be our family, friends, or strangers that we just know with the letters of black and white.

Take Care, Sharon

I had my bilateral mast 4 weeks ago, expanders with alloderm and 400cc put in.  Lots of pain right from the beginning but it was a bit better after the last 2 drains came out at 2 weeks in.  The burning all around the chest has never gone away and I feel like a vise is clamped onto me all the time, more pressure some times, and less sometimes.  I have been taking percocet since surgery.  I had tried to cut down to 4 per day, one am, one afternoon, 2 at bedtime, didn't do much for me.  Mast. surgeon told me that my body still needs the medication and to take more so that can be more active and function normally and my p.s. seems to think I shouldn't need pain meds anymore.  I had my first fill of 150 cc this week and it didnt make much difference in pain level, (well maybe a bit tighter) but the rest of the original pain is not getting any better.  I am starting to get frustrated and depressed about being in constant pain 24 hrs a day.  P.S. said I will need at least 2-3 more fills to get where I was before.  I am not sure I will be able to handle the pain that long.  Due to the fact that my surgeon is doing the (gummy bear) silicone implants, (basically through a study) he is only allowed to do 2 surgeries per month, I probably won't get my implants until February.  UUUUgggh.  If this is what I have to deal with until Feb, I'm going to be totally miserable.  I would love to have some encouragement that this pain will subside with time over the next few weeks.  I was hoping to go back to work in about two weeks.  I have already started to do some of the work from home on the computer.  My mobility is good and I have been doing normal household (not heavy duty) chores everyday.  Any encouraging words, girls?  Eileen