Reconstruction Expanders

[TASC13]

In 10 days scheduled to have a mastectomy, lymph node, and expander put in. Is the expander very painful- have heard mixed things? I am very thin and small-breasted and putting a foreign object w/ a piece of metal under my chest muscle sounds horrible

Thanks for any feedback

[Farfalucia]

I’m cheering you on🙏. I have a temporary breast expander after double mastectomy September 9, but mine is not under chest muscles, which is supposed to be less painful than all your muscles having to stretch to accommodate the expander as well. I have been going to the wonderful Osteopathic clinic at St Barnabas to help my body each step of my cancer treatments. Listen to your body🙏. It’s good to do movement of any gentle way as you feel ok to do. As I am finding personally, it needs to be very gentle and not demanding activity, but we each have our own journey and experiences. Sending loving support your way🙏💖

[TASC13 in reply to Farfalucia]

I’m confused your saying expanders under the chest muscle are more or less painful? Did you Have a lot of pain or discomfort with yours and for how long?

Thanks

[ICare4Emma]

They are very uncomfortable (please know that it was my wife that went through it, not me, so I can’t describe it well). But, she did not ‘expand’ to the size that the dr recommended and is very happy with her size. So, please remember that option. The dr’s recommendation was based on what other clients chose, and he meant well. But since that was much bigger than she had she felt that proportionally it was too big and we didn’t want other problems - like back problems (FYI - she was 35, since age could change your perspective)

[Mmnyc]

I’m going to be very honest with you, I found them extremely uncomfortable.

When I woke up from my mastectomy I was under so much pain. I remember telling the doctor that it hurt right in the middle of my chest and he told me that he wasn’t sure why it hurt but that the pain would feel better. They send me home in a mastectomy bra and told me not to take it off until I met with my surgeon.

The best way I can describe what living with an expanded feel like is, it feels like you are wearing a tight corset around your chest. I had never worn a corset in my life so feeling like this was horrible for me.

Like everything else in cancer land you get used to feeling uncomfortable but I did cry when I first saw myself after my mastectomy. The plastic surgeon will insert them and slowly expand you to whatever size you want.

I was scared about the expanding because I wondered how are they going to expand me??? Another needle?!!! My expanded had a metal thing inside that guided my plastic surgeon as to where to inject me. You feel pressure but no pain. My chest felt tight after the first few expansions then I didn’t feel anything.

The actual tightness feeling didn’t go away until months later. To give you a perspective how long I had them: I had my mastectomy in late June and just had my reconstruction in January. So I had to live with them for 6 months. Unfortunately there was a delay because I had to get chemo and my plastic surgeon did not want to continue with expanding until I was done with chemo.

One thing he was right about is that the discomfort gets better. By November I was able to sleep on my side. You really don’t have to wear a bra but I always did because I wanted to feel like a woman so that was my choice.

Now I have my implants and they feel better. I still feel them, if that makes sense. I decided to stay my size but your plastic surgeon will expand to whatever size you tell him. You can expand once a week or once every 2 weeks, it’s up to you.

Wishing you a quick recovery from your mastectomy.

[TASC13 in reply to Mmnyc]

Thanks so much for your honesty. I am really considering holding off on the reconstruction...

[Misor]

I have had a double mastectomy and reconstruction. I can tell you it was painful, but with the prescribed exercise the pain went away within a short period of time, and I do not regret having reconstruction. I don't relieve that metal is part of reconstruction.

[Jerzygirl]

Just try to remember it’s just temporary. I will say I never felt pain, more uncomfortable and tight. My reconstruction was done above the muscle, so that may be why no pain. All I can say is that the uncertainty was hard not knowing what this process could possibly feel like, but I had a great team of doctors and asked A LOT of questions. My choice was to do it at time of mastectomy because of who I am. You do what you feels is best for you. So much is thrown at you and decisions to be made in this small window. The reconstruction process is one part of this journey that can wait. In this whirlwind you have a choice. If you aren’t sure you wait....It’s hard to imagine, but the scars will fade and the pains and discomforts lessen or even go away. This is just a season that to will pass.

🙏😘😊

[TASC13 in reply to Jerzygirl]

Thank you!