continued Tissue expander pain!!

Please dont call me stupid.

I went to the PS today- 2 days early (5 days since last fill)...to have him remove what fluid he could.  Thinking that those gobs on my side were filled with fluid.

He said he would do a fill & then remove what fliud he could after the fill helped push the fluid up...I dont recall how he worded it.

Anyway I got 50 cc & he removed 5 cc from one side.  He said the stuff on my sides could be something I always had (not) or swelling still from surgery- they are both where my drain was.

He said I am outside the box- that he has never had a patient with this much pain.

Stupid me (yes I was) didnt speak up & say WTH are you doing adding more if none was removed. Even if some was removed- that was why I went there.    Needless to say I cant take the pain...I will have to find his Wed. office & get there to get some saline removed....I know he thinks I am crazy with all my pain & going back the day after...He also said lets wait 3 weeks til your next fill...

Im freaking here. I cant walk, breath or move.

Dejaboo,

Wish I had some words of wisdom for you.  Hate that you are soooo miserable.  Glad to hear you are hunting him down tomorrow for some relief, I hope.  I had a lot of pain at my drain sites just below my sentinal node scar.  For @ a week I thought it was from the node removal, but then realized it was the drain wounds.  My PS showed me how to massage the area, and I couldn't believe it actually decreased the pain.  I think it was nerve pain, and if massaged, it deminishes. 

I've never heard of fluid developing around the expander, wish I had some advice for you.  I'm glad you're on the site tonight, and will get some support from others.  Are you able to sleep?  Can you call your PS office and have him paged? Maybe he could call something in for sleep or pain?  Glad to hear your PS will wait a few weeks until the next fill.  There's no hurry. 

I'm thinking positive thoughts for you, and hope you can at least get some rest tonight.  And, ofcourse, you aren't stupid. 

Teresa  

I agree w/Erin about a pain med before a fill.  I took 5 mg. of valium (not a pain med, but muscle relaxer) before each fill, both for nerves, but more importantly to relax my muscles (bc that's where the discomfort is coming from most likely).  I also took 10 mg of valium at bedtime after a fill to get me thru the night (PS approved). 

Teresa

Erin & Ruby, did your PS recommend a PT or did you ask?  He's given me a few exercises, but I've pretty much been on my own.  He knows I'm a golfer, and when I ask about swinging a club, he just said make sure you are stretching.  Any thoughts?

Teresa

I almost forgot to mention...a firm sports bra may help too--especially at bedtime.  I have worn one since last fall and it just seems to give me enough pressure.  I even had my exchange 4 weeks ago and am still wearing one to bed...

Last idea...I promise :-)...my husband is a former professional baseball player and was instrumental is helping me stretch.  He has lots of books and techniques and was able to work with me on the floor while watching tv which was very helpful.

I can barely sit in a chair.  So laying down on the floor or even in bed is out.  or any kind of stretching.  I do have pain meds & Muscle relaxers & I hope that will get me though until tomorrow.

My pain level was pretty strong before with pain meds.  This fill doubled the pain.

With my last fill he removed 40 cc each side & filled each side 50 cc.  I didnt watch where the fluid came from- but it was like right near the fill port.

Im not wearing a bra.  I may consider trying that.   Im pretty miserable right now- to put it very mildly.  So ill see if I am up to trying to put one on.     Most I have are probably tighter then I should try- with the swelling on my sides.

I swear each minute the pain gets worse.

Thanks ladies,

Pam

Hi Ladies,

Wow, Lots of stuff to catch up on.

Mecca, If it was me I would go for symmetry and have an implant and a lift on the other side. I opted for a bilat mast because the "bad" side was now the "good" side and I new that I would be having more issues with that side and I wanted symmetry and the idea of going larger was an option. You will do what is right for you.

G,   Has anyone talked to you about getting tested for the BRCA gene because of your family history with BC. I would ask your DR. about this option. That is a lot of sadness for one family. I feel so bad for you.

Sharon,  Good Luck with the cherries on top for Friday. Please oh please tell me the type that you are getting and all about it and how they look and how you are doing. This is so exciting. Who ever would have thought that we would be here. After last WINTER!!! EXPANDO H*LL!!! I am soo happy for you. I hope that it goes well.

Pam,  WOW!! I do remember that pain and it is not pleasant. Get some good pain pills, Call the PS and see if he can take some out. Are you having fluid build up where the drains were. Sounds like a seroma. They can be persistant. Some women get relief from taking warm showers or baths, one lady told me that she would use wet warm washcloths on both expanders to ease the pain (didn't appeal to me).See if the PS can order you some muscle relaxants like valium or xanax. Can you buy Robaxin over the counter? It worked for me a little bit. Ask the PS about the possibilty of some of the pain being nerve pain, gabapentin is good for that. Let things really loosen up before any more fills.  Sounds like the fill process that I had. Because I had a seroma on the right side and had to have it drained about every 6 days. My PS would drain the seroma first and then do a fill to try and fill up the space that the seroma was forming in. I also got into terrible pain as my muscles had no time to recover. I was ready to pack it in and have them taken out and have the PS do a DIEP instead. I do feel for you. Even stretching for me made things tighter. I know that you won't be able to do this now but ask the PS if you can get a referral to a Physio and also ask if you can rub lotion around the outside of the expander. I asked mine those 2 things and they helped for me after my pain was under control. The lotion around the outside of the expander really helped me. He is expanding you too much and too soon. Next time only let him put in 25-30cc on each side. I hope that you get some relief. Let us know.

I called my girlfriend today and told her about my exchange surgery. We have know each other for 25 years. I told her that I now had a cleavage and I didn't have one before. She said to me " It is probably still swelling from surgery ". I nearly told her to stop raining on my parade. Cleavage sounds better than swelling.

Sharon, How long did it take for your foobs to drop and fluff? Do you remember?

Take Care All,

Kerry

tmac, You should be able to get a referral for PT just for range of motion.  I asked for a referral because I have numbness literally from my armpit to my wrist from AND.  It SUCKS and PT didn't do a whole lot for it but it at least made me comfortable touching it, etc.  PT did help immensely with my expander and increasing my range of motion.

Deja, It would REALLY help if you had a bra on....get a friend to buy you some cheap sports bras that are a size or two bigger than what you normally wear....I would go for the 2 sizes bigger because I usually buy them a size bigger anyhow.  clearpointdirect has nice front hook bras but they take FOREVER to ship...at least that was my experience.  Walmart does have a Bestform bra that hooks up the front that MANY of us on this site used during expansion and after the exchange. It comes in a variety of colors.  The newest is heather gray.   A little support goes a LONG way!  Best wishes 

Hi Ruby Tuesday--just curious--when you say your foob took up to a year to drop & fluff...did you actually increase or decrease your foob size?  I'm really satisfied where I'm at and would hate to experience any shrinking over the coming months :-)

Erin

I just had my fill yesterday...100 cc's.  It was supposed to be 80 but I said,"what the heck!"  After getting stuck twice on each side as the syringe only holds 60 cc's, my kevlar vest feels like it has two seedless watermelons stuck in it.  Hurray for Loritabs. 

Dejaboo and EGAL, I am so sorry you ladies are in such pain and discomfort.  I have to tell you there were times that I wanted to grab my PS and cry to him that I wanted my life back.  But it is ok now.  Obviously for me, things could only get better.  I will say a prayer for both of you.  (and all the other ladies as well)  -Janelle

Pam,

So glad to hear from you, and that you are feeling better.  I really can't say enough good things about my sports bra.  I hope you will find it helpful.

Feel good,

Teresa

Erin, It didn't decrease, it got a bit fuller looking.  I think as they fall into the pockets, they look fuller too.  Best wishes

Thank you, ehall, for your response of May 30 re one expander lumpy and odd-filling. Your comments and personal experience kept me going through another 2 fills where PS cautioned he might need to re-do. I also learned that the lumpy area was where he'd fashioned a sling out of dermal tissue. At yesterday's 3rd fill, he took a look and decided--yep--he could work with it at time of exchange. Whew. I could not have taken another surgery and setback. Thanks for your encouragement!

Hello Ladies,

I haven't been in since March or so.  I had my silicone implants put in early Feb.  Looks like we have quite a few new joiners.  This site was so helpful for me during my reconstruction!  I have been working so much I haven't had time to do anything else, but thought I would drop in and see how everyone is holding up. 

I have had my silcones' for almost 4 months now and I love them. I have to say it was allll worth it.  If I can help anyone in any way, let me know!  Hang in there!!!

Teri.

hktty,

I had to have alloderm after my exchange to fill in a a sort of hollow hole in my underarm . It was very  hard but it seems to be getting a little softer now. Its been 4 weeks since my corrective  surgery. There is still a little bit of a hollow area but I am done now I cant take any more surgery's. Just waiting  the tats...