Pain from breast reconstruction tissue expanders?

JoanEH 17 Mar 2013

So tomorrow I am having the exchange. On the right side, the expander will be replaced with a regular implant, and on the left side, the old implant (which was not the correct size - too small) will be replaced with the correct size and lifted. Right now I'm looking kind of lopsided: the left side is on the bottom of my ribs, and the right side is on my collarbone, :)! I am looking forward to not having this constant pain, which some of you have said will be gone, yaaaye!! I do hope the PS will have actually listened and that I will have cleavage! I think I might be somewhat obsessed with that particular idea, though I should just be grateful I get to have new bobs, period, I know. Which I am. It's been 2 1/2 years, since the bilateral meastectomy and initial reconstruction. I won't be done yet, he said: possible nip and tuck, and also, down the road, the nipple tatooing. So, I will let you know ASAP how it went and how I am doing. I hope everyone has a lovely St. Patrick's Day!!

lacooksey 17 Mar 2013

Saying prayers your way & things are gonna be all downhill now. Your gonna live them!!!! No fears I'm lopsided too...left side much bigger than right!

angel17 17 Mar 2013

I pray all goes well with everything

in construction 17 Mar 2013

Hope all goes amazing! Looking forward to hearing from you . My exchange is in a few weeks

Deanna Monticello 6 Mar 2013

When you have the exchange, do you have drainage bulbs again?

scappello 6 Mar 2013

I just asked my doctor that question yesterday at my second fill appointment and she said there is no drains for the exchange.... That was the best news..

Deanna Monticello 6 Mar 2013

Good,do want to deal with the grenades, as my surgeon called them, again.

scappello 7 Mar 2013

LOL those things were horrible. Grenades is a good word for them. Hope you do well with everything..

Deanna Monticello 7 Mar 2013

Thanks.

lacooksey 7 Mar 2013

No jps at all....I was told today they are replacing my implants due to complications but may have to have them this time...ugggghhh. not what I wanted to hear but want these taken out with different manufacturer implant used

irismz 17 Mar 2013

I just went to the dr this past Thursday re my exchange. He showed me the various types of implants. He said that with saline or regular silicone implants, no drains are needed. If you choose the "gummy bear" form stable silicone implants that drains are needed. I am not sure what kind of implants to get. I didn't want to have silicone in me, but I don't want the coldness and lesser comfort level of the saline. Ugh. I was leaning towards the gummy bear ones till I found out there are drains and that if the implant rotates inside your body it requires surgery to correct it since they are not round, but are anatomically shaped. Any thoughts anyone?

lacooksey 17 Mar 2013

I have silicone & I came home with drains. ...if you didn't I think I would worry....that's just me cause I've started from day one with complications! The scaring is extremely minimal!

irismz 17 Mar 2013

Do you have regular round silicone implants or do you have the anotomically shaped implants? I think the anatomical ones are the solid form (gummy bear - either Sientra or the 410's). How long did you have to keep the drains in? Also, what complications did you have with your expander? My left expander is so much more painful than my right one. It juts out further past the side of my body and is higher up closer to my collar bone. It is also a very irregular shape - very different that the right side one.

lacooksey 18 Mar 2013

I have the anatomical saline. ...my complications stemed from my left expander rupturing 6hrs after surgery...my sticks out on the side further than the right & in roughly 2weeks will be having both implants taken out & replaced! I had my drains roughly 2 weeks & my left drain fell out early.

BethH (Community Manager) 2 Apr 2013

Just checking in...what # fill are you on now? Hope you're doing well!

lacooksey 2 Apr 2013

I've already had implants placed...having surgery Thursday because my left implant is defective & they have found something metal in nature left in on left side. So doing complete overhaul of my left side Thursday morn at 1130am. Can't wait for all this to be over & done.....my implants are 750ml & will be replaced with that amount

Deanna Monticello 5 Mar 2013

So, how bad are last two fill-ins. Also what is it like having the exchange?

lacooksey 5 Mar 2013

Exchange was easy for me considering I had defective expander that ruptured....implants far better than expanders by far!!!!

lacooksey 5 Mar 2013

Last 2 fills not bad at all I took valium at night for muscle spasms.....the exchange is far far better than expanders I had minimal pain if any at all after sutgery and was doing whatever 2 days later ....honestly exchange is not painful at all & u don't feel like u have cinder blocks on ur chest:))))

lacooksey 5 Mar 2013

Last fills were not bad at all & the expanders coming out was sheer heaven becsuse it doesn't feel like you have cinder blocks sitting on your chest.....switching to implants was a breeze & little to no pain at all. I still have issues with left side but that was from defective expander rupturing. You will be more than shocked at how much better the implants feel & look!!!

in construction 5 Mar 2013

That's great to hear! I have had my expanders since Sept. and did my fills 50cc at a time. Last one was Nov. total of 680cc. but now I am just stretching out til April. I cannot wait to have softer boobs! Does it really feel lighter and more comfortable? Can I sleep on my stomach again??

in construction 5 Mar 2013

How long feom beginning to end did you have expanders in?

lacooksey 5 Mar 2013

I had my expanders from july 29th 2012 till end of november 2012 implants placed earlier than they wanted due to my pain & left sided swelling....implants definitely softer...so so so so so much more comfortable & I occasionally can sleep on my stomach but not all the time....my implants are 750ml....much bigger than I ever anticipated & still hav bout 3 more surgeries to repair damage to left side from the defective expander......you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! !! They are soooooo much better than the expanders!!!!!

Deanna Monticello 6 Mar 2013

I've had my expanders since Oct 3 and I'm soooo ready to get them out so I can sleep in my bed again.

JoanEH 6 Mar 2013

Thank you for the encouragement. I am having my exchange in 1 1/2 weeks, and I am stoked. They did say, however, I would not be allowed to do anything for weeks, and that recovery time is 6-8 weeks. The first 1-2 weeks they will not even allow me to shower. I'm thinking everyone is different (PS's). I'm getting my hair done tomorrow for the first time in years in anticipation, :)!