Implant Exchange (Downsize), Breast Lift & Capsulorrhaphy After Bi-Lateral Lumpectomy to Remove DCIS - Monroeville, PA

This is a picture of the T-Section at the bottom of the left breast. It is not completely stitched together and it is oozing. I thought it might be necessary to put another stitch in it to close it up. I went to PS and he said to put gauze on it and leave it alone and let it heal. He says it looks like I am healing as he would have expected from a breast that has had radiation. He said the left breast actually looks better than what he would expected & the tissue looks better than what a lot of women end up with. I can thank Dr. Daugherty for that. He said the lower stitch lines are not as swollen as the last time he saw me. He said wearing a bra with good support 24/7 is really paying off for me. He wants me to continue to wear it except for when in the shower. I asked him about the high degree of pain I am having. He said it is probably because of all the stitching he had to do. He had to cut out a lot of scar tissue and then stitch the area up on all sides. Plus I went with a smaller implant so the pocket had to be closed up to fit the smaller implant. He refilled my muscle relaxer, pain med and nausea meds. I am trying to reduce the amount of medications I am taking whenever possible. He removed a couple of stitches that sticking out of the skin and removed the tape. The T-Section is still oozing so he told me to wear a band aid or a little non-stick gauze on it. He thought it should stop oozing in a about a week. I feel so much better getting the tape off and the popped stitches removed. I am still limited in what I can lift and what I can do. The doctor said I shouldn't lift my arms above my head because it stretches the pocket and will cause strain to the newly place implant. He said on of the worse things I could do right now is to reach up and pull down the back hatch of a car to close it. I have an SUV which doesn't have an automatic open/close switch. So I am going to call the dealership and see if it can be added. If not I will attach a pull string or some type of rope. I have invested too much time and energy in healing and I don't want to do anything that could prevent it.

I am starting to feel better. My energy level is coming back and the swelling is going down. I am still swollen in the morning even though I am sleeping at a 45 degree angle and on my back only. I am still limited in how much I can lift & restricting my arm movements. I am still experiencing more pain than I would have thought at this time. The right breast didn't go through radiation. It is looking more normal and is recovering more quickly. The left breast is slow to heal and still has the redness and scabbing. I see the PS in the next couple of days so I am hoping to hear some good news.

Some of the swelling has gone done in the right breast but the left breast is still swollen. I am still experiencing more pain than I was expecting. The left breast went through radiation and it is healing much slower than the right. It is still red at the bottom and around the center stitches. I went to the PS & he said I had a lot of stitching and removal of scar tissue on the left breast and it will just take time to heal. He says it looks like normal healing but I am to keep an eye on the redness and call him if it gets worse. A scab is starting to form on the areola of the left breast. He said that is due to a loss of blood and oxygen from the tissue that was radiated. I am wearing a bra 24/7 except when I am in the shower. I am sleeping at a 45 degree angle and limited to lifting lightweight things and keeping arm movements limited to below the shoulder.