Discussions

Hi Ladies,

I have not been on lately as I have been feeling depressed. I must be the biggest baby because these fills are STILL killing me. After taking both my breasts off 5/26 my doctor put in 400 cc and now I am up to 550 cc - I only want to be a B cup which is 550 c but apparantly my chest size warranted the doctor to place 750 cc expanders in. Plus I guess they need to over fill them.

I am still swelled and still look like a line backer, the doctors say this is normal, and that I am healing fine. I cannot begin to tell you where they think I can take 200 more cc in my chest. I am never comfortable sitting, standing, riding in a car let alone sleeping.

I know there must be a light at the end of the tunnel but it is getting harder for me to see it. I totally understand now why that one woman took the expanders out. This the worse pain and discomfort of the whole thing.

My friends are getting tired of hearing me complain but I am told by my doctors that all they can do is manage the pain and discomfort better. I want off pain meds so I can get back to normal but that is not happening.

I just spoke to my husband and by everything I have read the swelling should be going down and this should not be so painful but maybe it is normal, I just do not know?

Thanks ladies for listening...

Wendy

 hang in there you're almost there and oh how I admire you.  You are a brave strong woman.  God Bless and I hope all goes well for you.

Faith

P.S. I was one of the women who couldn't handle it.

Wendy, Wow, you have had a lot off cc's very fast.  Did you have a bilateral skin sparing mastectomy?  That is what I had and got 350cc's at time of surgery (P.S.used Alloderm to create a sling in the pocket to hold implants), then NO fills and a 492 cc silicone cohesive gel implant which equals a C cup for me.  I honestly don't think you are being a baby about this.  That is a lot of stretching over a short period of time.  I know each situation is unique and probably has something to do with our anatomy, but gee what the heck?? Ask about slowing down the fills.  I had no swelling or bruising, yet at times I wanted to rip out the expanders because they felt like a too tight push-up bra.  It was mostly discomfort, not pain. What type of permanent implant will you get?  All the way to 750cc's for a C cup when I only had 350cc's for a C cup???  I hurt thinking about it.  Gentle hug...Geri

Hi Wendy, I am sorry you are having so much trouble and in such pain. I hope it lets up soon. This is one of the reasons I have declined reconstruction so far. My body has been through enough, it needs to heal. I hope you get some relief soon, and can stop the pain pills. Take care hun, I'll keep you in my prayers.

Cajun Lady 

 Hi Wendy,

I too have the expanders. I'm getting one last fill tomorrow. I will be at 550 or so whish is good for me. I feel as though there is no skin left either! Sometimes it feels like the expander is going to rip through the muscle! lol. How often do you go? I go every 14 days and get 60cc...maybe this would be easier for you. I'am thight for 3-4 days then back to normal. I would discuss the fills w/ the plasrtic surgeon

Good Luck.. it will be over soon and you will look SO GOOD !

Lisa613 

 Hi Geri,

Thank you so much for your reply, I should have gotten on here earlier, you have made me feel better.

Yes, I did have skin sparring mastectomy and of course it was for both breasts.

I am thinking about going with a silicone implant - due to nurses and doctors saying that will be the most confortable with having no tissue left at all and silicone with be so much more softer to deal with than saline as saline will feel similiar to these expanders...no thanks!!

I guess the 750 cc expanders were put in due to the width of my chest wall cavity.

 Hi Cajun Lady,

After all of this I can NOW understand why women would NOT want to do recosntruction. I am not sure if it is because of the amount of tissue they took out - I was an E/F cup before or what but I try and keep thinking about the perkie barbie boobs I should have when I am done.

I will probably have to have chemo while I am still filling these damn things and I think I am going to say no to this, I need one thing done first before I go into the next phase. That is if they let me take a break in between.

Thank you for your reply and your prayers, Cajun Lady.

Wendy

 Hi Lisa,

THANK YOU for saying it well - ripping through the muscle is exactly how it feels. I cannot sleep at night and as weird as it sounds I feel the pain of my muscle stretching, which of course keeps me up. Pain killers were able to help me sleep and this is not so lately.

I have been going every week and getting fills, I am going to ask to stretch it to two weeks. My problem is I am on short term disability and it runs out in 12 weeks and between the other surgery - implants, and chemo - I am going run out of time. I think I will have to end up on unemplyment because I do not think my employer will be able to hold my job and I do not qualify for FMLA leave - my company has a loop hole of 50 local employees or less so my job is not safe - even thoughw e are n international company. But thats another whole subject.

Than you Lisa for replying....and making me feel not so alone in this.

Wendy

 Hi Faith,

Thank you, I needed to hear that someone thinks I am a brave strong woman as I have not felt that way at all, on the contrary actually.

Most times I would have described myself that way, but going through this has broken my spirit quite a bit and I am not used to just not being able to bounce right back.

Boy or boy does cancer and all the crap that comes with it....tests one resolve doesn't it? I will somehow see the end to this and see light and cancer free, good looking boobs, it is just a longer fight and battle than I had truly anticipated. Even after you all gave so much good advice and wisdom as it takes time, but I thought I can handle this and come back quicker...boy was I ever wrong.

What do they say what doesn't kill us - cancer- will make us stronger - I guess I need to remember that and remember to count my blessings and little strides I can do and focus on those things and then each day will get better.

My husband sure does he keeps telling me how great I am doing and I just slough it off like he has to say that he is my husband....anyways I am rambling now...thank you again faith for responding.

Wendy