Hello Ladies:
Here is my two cents. I have been where many of you now are and I thought that I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. I waited 17 years for reconstruction and I am wondering why I waited so long!!!!! I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and then again in the other breast in 2000. I had a double mastectomy and chemo twice! It was hell. I was just happy to be done and to move on with my life . . . but my heart always wanted my breasts back. I had my exchange on Friday and boy is it wonderful to not have to wear a prosthesis ever again! For all of you who are second guessing your decision . . . don't. It does get better. My reconstruction was not an easy one, I've had many bumps in the road and a failed DIEP flap. Would I do it all again? YES! YES! YES! Have faith and patience ladies, it does get better :)
Joan - Thanks for taking the time to respond. I found this site too because I was in so much pain and I thought that something was terribly wrong with me since my surgeon indicated that I shouldn't feel so much pain. It's pretty apparent from the posts that I'm not the only one. When you said that your right side failed, was it a TRAM or DIEP flap? What happened that it would fail a few months afterwards? I would have thought that once you passed the 72 hour mark that everything would be good. Also, I've never heard of Eucerin cream. Can you buy this over the counter at a drug store? I'm not using any cream but I noticed tonight after I showered that the skin is starting to peel kind of like when you get a sunburn. I'm wondering if the skin around the implant is too dry. As far as the pain . . . is anyone else having back pain too? I just wish my surgery would have been a success and I could be spending this time recovering and not having to go back to see my P.S. for fills. I feel so defeated. Thanks for the hugs Joan. I certainly need them right now.
I've been reading these posts and have been relieved to see that pain is very common with the expander. I thought I was going crazy since my surgeon indicated that I would feel discomfort. Well I'm not feeling discomfort . . . I am feeling pain! I've had many surgeries and this is probably the worst pain I've ever had. I've going through a tough time. I had a double mastectomy 17 years ago and decided to finally have reconstructive surgery using my own tissues - known as the DIEP flap. Only one of my flaps survived and therefore I now have an expander in the other breast. Needless to say, I was devastated. It was like losing my breast all over again. I'm a little depressed which is unlike me as I'm usually a very strong, upbeat person having been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and having to undergo chemo twice. This is really testing me. I am feeling severe pain in my chest especially when I move, getting up, sitting down or trying to turn around. Now I'm feeling pain in my back directly behind the surgical site. There are so many things going through my head . . . has the cancer returned, why am I feeling so much pain, etc. etc. I'm trying to be rationale but when you feel so much pain it is overwhelming. Any suggestions to help me through this? I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and I my first fill post-op last week. I go back tomorrow for another fill. Please help!
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Posted to Pain from breast reconstruction tissue expanders? on 3 Dec 2012
Posted to Pain from breast reconstruction tissue expanders? on 12 Jul 2012
Posted to Pain from breast reconstruction tissue expanders? on 12 Jul 2012
I've been reading these posts and have been relieved to see that pain is very common with the expander. I thought I was going crazy since my surgeon indicated that I would feel discomfort. Well I'm not feeling discomfort . . . I am feeling pain! I've had many surgeries and this is probably the worst pain I've ever had. I've going through a tough time. I had a double mastectomy 17 years ago and decided to finally have reconstructive surgery using my own tissues - known as the DIEP flap. Only one of my flaps survived and therefore I now have an expander in the other breast. Needless to say, I was devastated. It was like losing my breast all over again. I'm a little depressed which is unlike me as I'm usually a very strong, upbeat person having been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and having to undergo chemo twice. This is really testing me. I am feeling severe pain in my chest especially when I move, getting up, sitting down or trying to turn around. Now I'm feeling pain in my back directly behind the surgical site. There are so many things going through my head . . . has the cancer returned, why am I feeling so much pain, etc. etc. I'm trying to be rationale but when you feel so much pain it is overwhelming. Any suggestions to help me through this? I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and I my first fill post-op last week. I go back tomorrow for another fill. Please help!
Anna F