continued Tissue expander pain!!

I will have reconstruction in a few months after chemo.  I had saline implants before my bi-lat mastectomy. For those that had implants before, is the pain similar to pain after breast augmentation?  Also, how long is the normal process for expanders, etc.?  I want to be a full C or small D when finished and I'm just wondering if my skin can stretch that much.  I am so hoping that this procedure will better than chemo.  Chemo has been the pitts!  Thanks for your insight.

Hi All

I have just found this website and think it's great to have a community of first hand experience with tissue expanders.

I have just had what may be my last fill and for the first time am experiencing pain with it.  My ps put in 100cc, now totals 560cc.  Is it possible that it is too much or do you think in a day or two it will ease up.  Can he remove some if it doesn't?

I too have questions about nipples...and if possible would like to see the photos you are all talking about.

Thanks for all your help,

Jill

Hi Kerry,

No, I don't have expanders yet.  Thanks for your advice.  I'm looking for a PS to start consultations.

Hi Ladies,

Laura,

Happy to see that you are back! Chemo sounds like the pits.Sorry that you have to go through that. WOW, your expansion is up to 360cc. That was when I got really tight and the pain got worse for me. Only 1 more fill!!!! Congrats, you are nearly there. And the expanders do get better over time, mine are livable now and my fills stopped on Feb.11/08. They do drop a bit and loosen up for sure. My exchange is booked for Apr.25/08 and I am getting the last minute jitters, wondering about size and recovery and stuff. You know, the usual. Take Care. Let us know how the rest of your chemo goes.

Kerry

my last fill was 5 weeks ago. I had a lot of pain during the fill process and that last one (80 cc) was a killer. I had severe musle spasms with it. I can now say that they are feeling much better...just a slight soreness which is very tolerable. I am able to lay on my sides at night for 1/2 hour increments...which is the most I have since my bilat mast. on feb 1st.

I did change my ps after the last fill and am very happy with my new one. I should have done it sooner. like night and day as far as answers to questions and compassion.  won't be able to get my implants till late july/august tho' as I am still going thru' chemo. but have accepted that and am learning patience

for those jsut starting this process......it does get better I think, jsut try to hang in there.

Hi Ladies,

Welcome to the new ladies,

Jen, Your fills are done!!!!!!!!!!!!YA!!!!!!!!!!! They will drop and get looser, and become livable.

Bubby, 300cc at time of mast is a very large amount. I had 200cc and I thought that my PS was aggressive with that amount because 200cc was the largest that I had heard of. The drain is uncomfortable for sure.  My PS , I think took mine out when it was at 40cc in 24hrs. Some think that they should come out sooner due to infection, and others  like to leave them in until they drain <30cc/24hrs. You must feel really tight with the bra on and an elastic bandage. Hope you feel better soon.

Take Care,

Kerry

Goodness, Bubby, they sure are rushing things.  I can't image how much pain you must be in.  I didn't have anything put into my expanders until 3 weeks post mastectomy surgery.  Then I had 60cc's every 1 1/2 weeks for the first 4 then cut back to 40cc's.  I couldn't have worn a bra.  My skin was way too sensitive.  My drains were in for about a week. 

It took me 3 months to get to where you are already and it's been painful all along.  I know you have to be sooo uncomfortable.  Maybe it's better to get it over with all at once.  Keep us posted in how you are doing.

Laura

Thanks Laura and Kerry. They told me that the drain would only come out at 25 c.c.s in 24 hrs, so i am hoping that it will happen to morrow.  I think Laura you are very brave to have chemo and this expander at the same time. I could not have coped. My chemo was too hectic, and although i am 2 months post last chemo, I still have some side effects.

Can someone tell me why once you have had the last fill there is a 3 month wait for the exchange, i would have thought they had stretched the skin to its limit by then.

Kerry you must be feeling excited as the 25/4 draws near.

Hey Bubby,

I don't know why they wait 3 months either, but that's what mine is doing too, so that must be the norm.  I would think a month would be plenty.  I can't get mine until I'm done with chemo and then radiation, so mine won't be until November anyway.  I really hate these hard things.  I hope they soften up a little or it's going to be a long 7 months.

Laura

Bubby: You post really amazed me. I had unilateral mast with expander on 3/19. No fills at that time - and I am not getting my first fill of 50 ccs until April 23 (I started chemo last week and he wanted to give me time after that before he began.) I feel really lucky that he's taking it so slowly. I took some Percoset at night to sleep, but other than that, I really haven't had much pain yet. 200 ccs sounds aggresssive (and painful!)

I hope you heal well.

Sue

Hi Ladies,

Mikki,  I think that you have to talk, talk, talk, talk, and then talk again to your PS before your surgery and while you are expanding. Everyone is sooooooooooo different as to how they expand and what size implants they will need. Everyone is different as to body build. My PS told me to see how I looked in a tee shirt and then tell her the size that I wanted to be, then she told me what size implant that she would put in. It is not an exact science. Hope that helps,

Take Care,

Kerry

Congratulations, Debbie!!!

I wish I could get mine out of me.  I had my surgery on Jan. 13th and I have to keep these horrible things until November.  I have my last fill a week from today.  I just hope they get softer and drop out of my armpits.

Good Luck!!!

Laura

Kes and Laura, Thanks for the advice. Right now, the expander feels so full, especially near the armpits. I look good in a tee, but because it feels tight and unnatural, it's hard to be sure if the sizeis right. I think we have to trust the process (that's what I tell my clients in a totally different line of work). It has been a help to know that I'm not the only one still in need of pain pills and not sleeping well.

It's funny how you don't expect certain things. Like, after having a child, no one tells you how many different things your body will go thru for the first couple weeks immediately after. I had no idea how painful the expanders would be. But in the big picture, it's a short period of time.

You're comments have been very helpful for me. It helps me acknowledge my pain, and I know I'm not a wimp..it really is uncomfortable

Thanks, Mikki

Michele-I have been using vitamin E lotion on my scars; it seems to work well.  I went to my PS two days ago and she said how soft my skin is.  I put it on twice a day and rub it for about a minute or two.  I am currently going through expansion and think this helps.  My PS said it is okay to use as long as I don't develop any reactions-so far so good.

Good luck!

JMJ

Hello Ladies, Greeting from Michigan,

Sorry it's been a few weeks since my last posting, it just seems like there are not enough hours in a day!!!

Kerri, you're almost there!!!! The countdown begins.........what size did you and your ps decide on?? I think you seen my photo's so you'll see what you get with 350's.

To all the new ladies, welcome, welcome, welcome. I'm the person that is usually complaining about family, etc, but also keep people informed on "life in the middle of no where", and try to keep alittle bit of humor on this site.

Here's my two cents of advise to some of your questions, remember you are welcome to hand the change back, or keep it all........

Expanders are the pits, there is no doubt about that, most of us have pain with the expansions, personally, I found that I was better with smaller fills, no more than 50cc's at a time. My double mast. was October 16th, and the ps placed the expanders in at that time. He placed 75cc's at that time. My drains were in place for 1 week (I had three, 1 for each side from the bi-lat and 1 from the sent. node biopsy) Here's my thought on drains, keep them in until they get down to at least 25cc for the entire day. If you have one drain that is not draining alot of fluid, message the area in your chest, the drain may be blocked, like mine was. Now guess what happens when they remove that drain, you get to wake up to a half a grapefruit under your arm pit, and fight with the ER room to drain it. (at least that was my case, because my ps was 300 miles away in Detroit, and I live in "the middle of no where") My local hospital is only 5 minutes away, and my hubby even does some of his surgeries there from time to time, and I still got a hard time. Bottom line, they may be a pain in the ass, but it's a bigger pain to get it drained every other day, because it was removed to soon.

Okay, next subject, expander time frame....I was expanded every other week (give or take) starting in the beginning of November thru the end of January. My ps waited 2 weeks and then did the exchange. I was overfilled to 425 and he put in 350 mentor silcone rounds. I was always told not to wear underwire bra's and also during the surgery he created an imflamtory fold to hold the implants in place (it's kind of like a front fold pocket, and I had 75 internal stiches on each side for the folds and another 50 across each of my breasts. All of my stiches were interal and disolvable. My scars are still red but healing nicely for scars.

My only complaint at this time regarding my exchange is that I still swell under my armpits. My expanders were well placed, but they did stretch out under my arms a bit and now when I'm active I get fluid retention in that area. This is something that the ps said he would take care of at my nipple surgery at the end of June.

As for working after surgery.....My ps had me take off work the entire time until after the exchange. This was due to the fact that I work with Imparied Special Education students, and it is not uncommon to get hit, kicked, bit...you get the picture. So I was off the entire time, but during this time also gained 15 lbs, and a dress size, all of it in my Polish Booty and legs. I went back of work March 5th and since then have lost about 8 pounds but still cannot fit into alot of my favorite work/barn jeans. (I have 3 horses, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and lots of fish in my pond, oh yea, lets not forget about 5 kids and one husband!)

Well ladies, that's my two cents, I hope it helped someone, if I can give any other advice, just ask.

Love, Sharon