Bilateral Mastectomy with Expanders. Daytona Beach, FL

Stay positive is just keeping laughter in my life and don't let things bring me down I am human and I slip up and sometimes cry cause I'm on pain and lack of sleep but I make sure it doesn't laugh and my kids make sure to by making me laugh and it's been a week now since surgery and I go back to the plastic surgeon in 3 weeks and then he will add some more fluid to the expander and til I'm happy with the size then I'm sure after that I will have my surgery but don't know all the facts til my next visit hope that helps you a little bit my big pain is under my arms and upper part of chest but mostly it's the armpits that are very uncomfortable and I'm still very swollen still tried ice pack but didn't really help

Yes staying positive is very important and my kids keep me strong I am not gonna lie I do break down sometimes but after a couple minutes it's over I don't allow no more then that :) I do belong to a support group that's held at the hospital it's nice to have people that become your new friends that been through something like you to relate on but it also opens your eyes to who your true friends are and shows you friends that you wouldn't expect that are there for you now but I keep the negitive out of my life too

Thanks that's a Big help :) I had my surgery the 16th and I'm really hurting my brother and a friend came to visit and I was laughing a lot and that hurt as you know and I also went in his truck which I had to lift myself up and that kind of hurt to so now I'm not sure if I hurt something inside or what but now I feel likenindid the day after surgery I'm gonna try to see if I can get an apt with my doctor to make sure everything is good I hate this pain!! I don't know how I'm gonna do with out being on pain meds Morton is not gonna take away this pain I tried ice pack doesn't do anything for me besides makes it ache more and doctor said no heat :( I will try the website for the bra and yea I hate the one they gave us but I don't like no wearing it either I just pray this get easier soon

Don't be afraid to take your narcotic pain meds. You'll be able to transition off of them when you're ready. If your expanders are like mine, they each have three tabs that are sewn onto "structures", I think that means muscle. So not only is your poor chest muscle and skin traumatized, but those expanders basically stay put while everything else moves. I had the drains for almost a month so my plastic surgeon kept telling me to keep my arms at my sides, no lifting them up, no lifting over 10 pounds. Your pain is its worst now but should start subsiding a little every day for that first month. The expanders will never feel great. It took me about two solid months to say I was completely pain free, but I still have times something will hurt, it just doesn't last anymore.

If your plastic surgeon does a lot of reconstruction they will probably help more with your pain mgt. my doc also prescribes Lyrica, ask about that (I'm allergic to Sulfa so couldn't take it). Other women rave about that!

Did your doctor allow you to be on pain medicine for that length of time?

You know, every time I complained about the pain they encouraged me to use the Percocet. After the first few weeks I hated taking it because I couldn't drive on it. I then switched to Tramadol during the day and Percocet at night. My plastic surgeon did mostly reconstruction and according to my physical therapist, they are more general with pain meds than the surgeons who do a lot of cosmetic/enhancements. I think he knew I was in legitimate pain, and I really hated the narcotic. I'm a control freak and don't like feeling "off" but I also was slowing down my healing with the pain and not walking, etc like I should.

Three months out and I feel awesome! Ask your doc if you can switch meds if yours aren't doing the job. And ask about the Lyrica. I think it's used for fibromyalgia and must do something to block the pain somehow. It's not a narcotic.

And take it easy, when I did less (torture) I did have less pain. There is definitely a trade off!

Hope you are able to get on top of your pain, I know it's tough right now but honestly it does get better! Hug!

Yea I hope he will give me something for my pain going to my plastic surgeon doctor and if he won't help ill call my regular doc thanks I hate taking meds to but I hate being in pain too I am not able to drive yet I can't even reach my elbows to scratch them or anything with them. I am cut from one armpit to the other side

Went to doctors today and everything looks good and he did give me more pain meds which I am happy about cause the pain is still there specially when I wake up I'm do stiff and it really is hard getting out of the chair I sleep in thanks for encourage

That's great what are you doing ? Transfer fat? To where and why? Have you been sizing your bra everytime you get a fill to see your size? Did you start off with 200 cc too? How is it when they fill you ? Do you remember how much they put in on your first fill? How was it? Painful? I'm not looking forward to that its in 2wks any advice for me?

Well It's been rough, rougher than I thought or was informed it would be BUT I'm cancer free!
I tested positive for the Braca gene after my sister tested positive 2 yrs ago consecutively when she was diagnosed w Stage 2B breast cancer.My aunt & cousin both died from breast cancer.So when I tested positive I had other serious(ongoing) health conditions to deal w.When I was healthy enough & was released from the hospital I had a complete hysterectomy & my ovaries removed Step 1 for Braca gene Then after biopsies $ diagnostic MRI's w spots & growing areas in both breasts (dual rotator cup surgery, burst appendix) I had made the decision to be proactive That's how I went into this I was there to see my older sister go through chemo & that he'll I knew I couldn't go through that.Ironically enough the pathology report on the left breast came back positive for cancer, so there you go...
On 11/2 I will go back under the knife for my spacers to be removed(OMG finally) & fat transfer because I have no breast tissue & am so lean.Yes & no about the bra it's really not that accurate or easy to figure out your size.First, your breast cage size has grown from the expander so, secondly, because you /I have none of your/my own tissue left Literally a hollow Easter bunny) you need to keep that in mind, I have 550 cc in & will decide officially at my prep in 2 wks whether to go ww 450/500 cc.I was a 36 B, and would like to be a nice C.Bra sizes don't take into consideration, c/cc or lots of things.You need to have a great team of plastic surgeons & I have the "dream team".
I came out w only 100cc post madtectomy.The plan was to fill me up 100 every 3 wks 30 dys after the surgery.But that didn't happen.
I had a terrible infection & thought I'd die from pAin & depression.I don't remember the first 5 wks post op literally.
So I lost a month & was put behind scheduleYou think you can schedule well " I'll be done & back at work by..." You can't Your life must be put on hold, you surrender, get Netflix & heal.
So since I had complications/ section and an ongoing autoimmune problem the plastic surgeon team decided to only expanding 50 mL my first two times for the first two months and then on my third expansion which was literally two weeks later cause I did OK with the first two he had 100 which brought me up to 300 the second two weeks later another hundred bringing me up to 400, weeks later another hundred which was 500 and then just recently of 50 so the expansion process for me was really not a difficult one it was just the pressure of dealing with these two rockhard foreign objects in my body you have to inflate 50 over what you want so things slide in and out easily. It's really quite amazing how they do it my plastic surgeon is jazz I love uses a little stud finder to find a little port area marks it with the marker in and takes out his jumbo Tron syringe that looks like what you carry a Halloween you're going to be a doctor feels it was saline and just pumps you up asking you constantly how does that feel how does that feel every time you come out you walk out with bigger boobs The thing is I've got the dance above the spacers because there's no fat or rested you left the left one is a lot worse than the right that's with the cancer was so they have to do a fat transfer taking it from my stomach or ass and feel that area and that will be done at the same time as the implants and I may very well need another fat transfer months later . The advice for you well the first two times I went I had a driver just visited know what to expect but it was nothing I mean you're in and out in 20 minutes Eli back on this chair open up you sure it's nothing but the third time I drove myself and every time after that the thing that's difficult is where the seatbelt lies on your chest it's really not a good idea to do a lot of driving because you can feel that seatbelt strap That's what no one told me.Ive forced myself to go to spin class & stretch on my yoga mat so the scar tissue wontvbecmorecof a problem & I won't loses mobility VERY important.Im a triathlete so I know my body.
Lying around is murder being passive is the worst.
So the expansion process wasn't as bad as I expected at all, go slow, talk to your dr.see how it feels, quite amazing.Now we know what Kaitlyn Jenner went through.
I don't have a family support system So mentally it's been harder than physically.Stop looking in the mirror, take a showe w the lights off& visualize a cancer free body w beautiful breasts...
I'm here for you ...ask away

Yea I've been getting depressed too I cry and even had a panic attack going to my primary doctor this coming Monday hope to get something tempary til this nightmare is over I hate the way these expander a feel I hate how my armpits feel and the one where the cancer was and where they took 11lympnods from me it looks crazy with this big whole where the pit is plus the long scar across from one pit to the other side I just want this over soon I hate sitting home doing nothing I don't know how I'm gonna go back to work I do a lot of bending and stretching with my job I took off a month that I really couldn't afford to and I don't know how gonna afford anymore days off but I don't see me doing my job either :( how is the implants gonna feel in the body? I hope a lot better then these hard expanders? I'm sorry you been through alot and I'm here for you I have my email you can email me too we need support group to stick together cause no one else will understand what we are going through praying for you my friend :)

You've had it a lot harder than me my dear . They did a bilateral lymph node biopsy when I had my nipple delay & they came back negative When you're required to remove nodes its alot more involved My surgical oncologist was a gem, Google Pink Lotus Breadt Center Dr Kristi Funk I haven't seen her post op because she's 4 hrs away but her teammate/ my plastic surgeon has two offices & one of the two is 30 mins away & the others across the st from her in BH so I've gone to all the post op expander appt w him He's a genius & has magic hands He has a gentle soul & kind heart like none of my other Drs He's going to do the best job possible to make me whole & feel attractive again My left breast had the cancer so a lot more breast tissue was removed I will need a lot of fat transfer which may take 2 times, but all I can do is say to myself You've come this far, you're a warrior, keep going. As I said I have no family, but a handful of great friends, that's what my tears are about the loss of family For the first time in my life it's "all about me" which is a hard thing to do, because I'm a giver.Im broke too, it will be 6 months w/o work & I had to take a home equity loan out to pay for surgery & to live, but what choice do I have? So your pics looked like you had s nice support system, you're lucky. Let them help all they want I would take lots of HUGS! My spacers are rock hard & look freaky too I'm told the Implants will be alot better & more comfortable Wish I didn't have to go under the knife for the 3rd time & then heal again, but it's got to be easier than what I've been through I'm ready, wish I didn't have to wait 29 dys... But Santas bringing me new boobies for Christmas & NYEve will be the best way to usher in 2016, because it's been hell

Yea I hear ya I'm glad you have great friends to be with there is also support groups that meet once a month well at least mine does so look into that cause its nice to hear about other stories then your own plus people that been there I'm here for you too :) just keep fighting!! We can do this keep you in my prayers as I do all the ladies battling with this

Thank you :) did you have the same surgery as me?

Thanks the expanders are painful that's for sure.i just hope after this part and the implants are in that it is better does it feel better? Or does it still hurt with them in? My armpits are numb and sore do u ever get the feeling back? In 2wks I get my first fill is it going to be painful? Anything I can do to make it not so painful? My surgeon doesn't prescribe valum I saw that a lot of people take that ? I can't. Wait to get this pain away how does it feel when they do surgery to put the implants in and is the pain the same as it was when the expander put in? The thought of going through this again is not what I'm looking forward to and to be recut again ugh!! How long is the recovering time for that?

Just so you know....it is your choice how often you get fills. During my first four rounds of chemo, I only got a fill every 21 days. The second type of chemo I was able to be filled every 2 weeks. If I didn't feel good, no fill that day. The actual needle and fill was not painful at all. The tightness and soreness that came after each expansion was a different story. Muscle relaxers helped me more than pain pills. I also fought through the pain after DMX to make sure I kept moving to achieve a normal range of motion. I took pain melds, muscle relaxers, and Valium, on a regular schedule for the first 2 weeks. That ensured I was staying on top of my pain. The absolute worse thing you can do is stay still. If you are able to get up and move, even go for a walk, I highly recommend it. Once your drains are out you can begin moving around a lot more. I was too active and had to keep my drains in longer than I liked.

The expanders are not fun, but they are a necessary evil of the whole process. I felt like someone wrapped me with Saran Wrap really tight under my skin. The exchange from TE to permanent implants is a game changer! I have never regained my feeling, but it is nice to have boobs that move with me again. Mine are soft and other than scars, they look very natural.
Listen to your doctor, but when you are allowed...get your body moving!

God bless and my prayers are with you, sister!

For me, after I got the expanders removed and the implants in, it was like a whole new world. I was finally rid of the pain, and soon afterwards (for me with my PS's permission), was back running again. I was scheduled for a "fill up" every week, but I didn't have chemo to worry about, and Vicodin became my friend : ). The two lymph nodes that I had removed were painful for a couple weeks, but soon subsided. Like Reneestacy said, the actual fill up procedure itself is not painful, but the stretching of the skin was VERY uncomfortable (ok, painful). I started to feel the pulling of my skin less than an hour after the procedure. I don't know of anything that you can do to not make it painful other than what I have experienced..and that was with prescription pain medication. Everyone is different, so you should seriously speak to your PS about your options...I'm sure they're out there. For me, the surgery to put the implants in was a piece of cake compared to the expander surgery..for me. When I had the implant surgery, my PS cut me along the scar line of the previous surgery, so I didn't have any new scaring. My recovery time was less than a month..when I went to see her for my second follow up a month after the surgery, I was feeling great and still am today. Keep your head up, and stay strong!

Renee....I have to say that your post is full of wonderful advise and yess moving and doing little exercises is good and that the worse thing someone can do is "stay still"....it even can induce complications if lymph nodes are removed....natural meds like Arnica both taken orally and applied on breasts helps..many essential oils also help with both pain management and sleep or anxiety (anyone read in this you need to have professional advice on any natural meds taken orally and applied on or around wounds)...I also have had infra rouge treatment before my surgeries (had partial mastectomy in January and then double total mastectomy end of August) and intend to have more as soon as I can. Massage therapy with a well trained massotherapist (300 hours of specific cancer massage is needed) also helps....I also had an amazing alternate massage therapy last week...it is called "polarity massages"..I was able to completely relax and al.ost felt asleep...I do meditate but I find it more difficult at this time and ectic schedule...so it really helped me just having to relax and let someone else guide me....I will look into finding info on hyperbaric chamber treatments and see if it's available close to where I live. I have treatments every weeks and have to travel 4 hours back and forth every week...thank god I found the "cancer hotellerie" for accommodation since August cause cancer cost a lot and even I had to pay between September 2014 and july 2015....i can no longer since I am a single mom and liberal entrepreneur with no more private insurance. Also another method I use to relax is a combination of Delta and Theta waves music with meditation, anyone can find amazing recordings on YouTube of well known "meditation institutes". Also "respiratory gymnastic" like the 365 method is wonderful, it helps both with pain and anxiety providing a "bubble" of inner peace achieved easily in 5 minutes anywhere you are. Another technique using reflexology relaxation points on fingers and hears (since reaching feet are not easy in our condition haha). I will eventually make a full post of my experience and techniques that have helped me in hope it will also help others. Bless you and I look forward reading everyone's posts. xx

p.s. I am writing from my cell phone with auto-correct mode....eeecchh! I just re-read myself..so many typos and language errors...haha anyway I hope you all understand ;)

That's great info I will talk to my doctor about the meds so having the implants are much better then expanders? Do u still feel like there is something in your body? But it's nothing like those darn hard expander a right? Does the tightness ever ease up after the fill? Or is it a constant pain from there til surgery again?

Last week I had 30cc taken out of left breast because the wound was not healing well, since lymph nodes where removed on that side my wound is larger and still not healed. My right side looks a lot better ! It does hurt more when I get a fill (got 3 so far), to lessen the pain I ask to be put in the examination room at least 20 minutes before and I do my 365 respiratory gymnastic and meditation....I am more sore for 24 to 72 hours and then the pain lessens....I will get my permanent implants in about 2-3 months, it will depend how much cc's is out in...for the next 2 week my PS told me that he was just going to make sure the wound is healing well on my left side. I guess we will continue in about 3 weeks or later if my left breast needs more time to heal. The expanders are rock hard, especially at the top, the lower part of my breast are kinda wobbly. If you want we could exchange pictures. Send me a private message with your email and I will send you my evolution pics ;) For your pain questions regarding expanders and the final implants, I was told that I would have higher pain level right after surgery, but less than with the expanders and that I would rapidly feel much better after stage 2 is done. Most women that went through the same, told me that they were sooo happy after the final implants, they of course won't be "rock hard" like the expanders but more like natural breast. I can't wait to see my PS next Tuesday since my left wound loom awful and want to know if her will correct it during stage 2 surgery. My PS and I are very impressed about the look of my right breast wound. I use aromatherapy on both wounds and it helps a lot with healing. Since they had to scrape very close to the skin on the top left right side breast I also have 2 small wounds (about 2 cm each) when their surgical knife went a bit through the skin. But nothing I worry about compared to my left side ;) Since I am a single mom with no help at home and have to do at least the minimum like laundry, cooking and a tiny bit of cleaning I was active even after only 5 days post-op. I have to drive 4 hours, since I have no one that can accompany me every week for my treatments. so I normally arrive the night before on Mondays and leave on Wednesday mornings. I hope this week I will only be away from Monday pm to Tuesday pm since no filling is scheduled and I don't have to see my oncologist. My weeks are as full as if I was working full time and it's driving me crazy. I might get some help around the house from our local medical center. 1 hour this week and 35 hours the next and so on...this is totally crazy since I am suppose to rest and relax but that's not the case for me ;) I hope you feel better soon and let me know about exchanging our emails and pics. Hugs [RS bleep]

oups...not getting 35 hours of help per week at all !!! but night get 3.5 hours starting in 2 weeks. I wish I had someone 35 hours....haha I am typing my dreams instead of reality ;)

There is a service called cleaning for a reason that helps cancer patient with house hold chores check out the website :) also check around there is people that also help with driving you to your apt hope this helps you best of luck to you my email is wah2udo@aol.com

Having the implants in is so much better than the expanders. You asked if it still feels like there's something in your body...well, I use to have breast implants when I had breasts, and it feels about the same only they are a little firmer, but the shape is no where near the same. It's hard to describe to you what they are like, but on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give them an 8. They feel NOTHING like the expanders at all, in fact I felt/feel such a great relief of pain that I was actually excited about it. The tightness on the fill ups with the expanders never left me until around a day or two before I was to have another (my fill ups were spaced about 7 days apart). I was always in some degree of pain, but like I said, the pain meds did help me quite a bit.

Thanks so u feel it but its not hard like the expanders? They cut you in the same scar and not as long as the first one right? What is recovery time after the implants are in? I still haven't had physical therapy yet but it's only 16days when does that start?

Thank you Wendy for the referral, we unfortunetaly don't have any cleaning service outside Montreal ;) I wrote New Hamphsire on my profile because I didn't find the option for my exact location, but since I live in Quebec Province and about 25 minutes from NH border, all services usually provided to people fighting cancer are either unavailable or not provided due to major healthcare budget cuts. The reality here is very different than most people think. Friends and I are trying to organize a fundraising, since I am a single mom on invalidity with no private insurance and that originally I was suppose to be back to work and will probably still be on invalidity for many months + invalidity after for hysterectomy, I want to make sure that my daugther and I will have what we need to live. If ever the event make more money than needed I will, when I am better help others in the same situation ;) My local health service provider is also helping find ressources, after I have been searching and knocking on many doors for over a year. Even if I am tired, I will continue to look for any help my daughter and I can get.

I just said a prayer for you that you get the help you need and heal quickly without any problems I know I live far away but I'm here for you if you ever want to talk take care of yourself :)

Actually, the only time that I "feel" them is when I touch them. They don't have the hardness like the expanders do. My PS did cut me along my same scar, and I can't even tell that it's been cut twice. The second cut was not as long as the first one..but you still can't tell anyway. One thing that I do use topically for stretch marks (while my skin was stretching) and to keep my skin soft/pliable is called "Udderly Smooth" body cream. This stuff works so well, I was shocked. It's in a plastic jar that is decorated like the hide of a cow http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-70202-udderly-smooth-udder-cream-12-oz?utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=bing_shopping&utm_campaign=Bing%20Shopping&scid=scbplp2978006. Of course like everything else, make sure you ask your surgeon or doctor first before you decide to use it. It is AMAZING! My recovery time seemed very short..probably less than a month after I got my expanders out/implants in. I'm sorry, I know nothing of the physical therapy portion of the process. I did have my right side sentry node and one other node taken out, but it didn't cause me any discomfort do I didn't ask about any physical therapy. Ask your doctor, he/she should be able to answer all your questions that pertain to your healing. One thing I do believe in strongly is that "knowledge is power". Ask the question, no matter how simple it may seem to be, because that is the only way that you will start to relax, and relaxing will help you to heal.

I'm not allowed to do any exercise yet I see him in 2wks for my first fill I'm the expanders I just want to be a B cup I was a D cup and I'm tired of not fitting on cut sundresses with out having my cleavage show so this will be a nice change for me plus I don't have to wait to long for this to be over with I hope :(

I've been dealing w all this since May I had some complications after the mastectomy w expanders placement Bad infection I was in a very dark place emotionally & physically No one can truly relate or understand your personal journey Then the pathology report comes back & you say TG I did this ... But so much left to do . It was tough! Lucky me my plastic surgeon expanded me 50 cc every two wks to lessen the pain & I did remarkably well the process Last one was a [RS bleep] because my expander so are maxed In 1 month the implants go in:) Let yourself go Just surrender to the healing process Its out of your control to some degree I did 10 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber post op & will do again after the implants go in This made a HUGE difference w healing ; bruising disappeared literally & sutures healed I used Arnica tablets & bromeliad as well It will get better it will Just takes time

I had estrogen and progesterone receptor positive DCIS and had bilateral mastectomy on 6/3. I am still healing and recovering due to delayed wound healing. But, the reason I am commenting is that I went 4 months without my hormones. Then I saw the oncologist. He is my new best friend. He said that since I no longer had breast tissue, I could resume my hormones. Hallelujah! I had been miserable. Worth having the conversation. Good luck, and give yourself time to heal.

Well my cancer was an estrogen related cancer so after being on hormones/estrogen forever I'm on nothing so HOT FLASH HELL