How can I help myself recover? It's been a week and I still feel very ill!?

After breast implant surgery, I advise the patients to
take one week off from work. At that point we take out their stitches and
teach them the implant massage technique. We suggest 5 times per day with
the massage and no bra for one month. The patients may return to work,
but may not engage in any strenuous activity. At one month, the patients
start to wear a soft cup bra with no underwire and can start low impact cardio.
At two months they can wear an underwire bra and engage in more strenuous
physical activity. Breast massage continues forever, although only once
per day. You are entitled to feel run down, you had surgery.  You must take it easy, your body is talking to you.

If you are feeling ill it may be due to the narcotic pain medication, so if you are still taking it then you may try a nonnarcotic pain medication to see if your symptoms improve.  Alternatively, your symptoms can indicate that you may have an infection and a followup with your doctor is important. 

There are many potential causes for the symptoms you are describing.  The most concerning would be an infectious cause, which may be related to recent surgery (potential surgical site infection, respiratory, urinary tract infection, etc.) or possibly an unrelated illness, which could be viral as you suggest.  You may also be deconditioned following general anesthetic recovery and not have an infection at all.The only way to know is to follow up with your surgeon urgently so that s/he may perform a clinical examination and elicit further points on medical history.  S/he will also be able to order further tests if needed and may recommend you see your family physician depending on your individual case.An infection in the setting of breast implants is very concerning so I recommend arranging follow up ASAP.Best, Stephanie Power MD, MSc, FRCSC