Reconstruction

Hello Kiki1. I just wonder if you have been back to your surgeon or breast care nurse to express your concerns.  The first thing I would do is to tell them you need an appointment for pain.  Then you can further discuss.  You don’t say what kind of reconstruction you had.  Things do move about and your surgeon might be able to correct it.  I’m just recovering from bi lateral surgery.  I had a mastectomy with implant.  Just had the implant replaced as it was damaged by radiotherapy.  It’s pyrethrum painful.  Recovery will be slow.  Best wishes xxx J

Hi Jgau, I had a left mastectomy and expander initially, the expander never felt comfortable and I was hopeful that having a teardrop implant would feel better, after all people have ‘boob jobs’ all the time. Anyway, it isn’t teardropping it is still hard and painful.  I had hoped to get a second opinion before I see my surgeon next month so that I can at least be informed of some options before I see him.  He used a mesh in the first surgery that I understand is supposed to be absorbed into the body but it still feels like there is a piece of cardboard in there. 
Thank you for your message, i agree with all of it but it can be a bit of a bear sometimes can’t it. I wish you well in your recovery too xx

Morning,

Sorry, you are having problems, my surgeon is Christina Choy at The London Clinic, she is excellent. Do you have health insurance as it's she's private? I had an implant after a mastectomy so similar to you. I had a fat transfer a few months after as I could feel the implant rubbing, it had helped with the pain I was getting.

Hope things settle down for you,

Hi Lindsgab, 

Thank you for this, I shall definitely call her office. 
Very best wishes,

Kiki

Hi Kiki1. I too have had a mesh.  I did not go for expander as I was told I would have to keep going back to get it topped up.  I kinda went for what I thought might be the quickest, least painful and most all lessen the chances of infections.  That’s why I chose to steer clear of a “tummy tuck”.  Anyway Ive had that implant out and am 2 weeks post op.  It’s still very uncomfortable and I now know why I was told 6/12 weeks recovery.  It’s been drained twice and I think it will need draining again.  I have a lot of confidence in my surgeon he has been amazing.  I just hope it settles soon and softens up.  Let me know how you get on with second opinions,  I also hope that you will have a better outcome than you currently have.  Best wishes, xxx J

Hello Lindsgab,  I did not know you could have a fat transfer with implant- did you have the implant removed to have a fat transfer?  If so, what was the recovery like?  When was this and how are you now?  I do hope you are well.  Best wishes, xxxJ

Hi Jgau,

I’ll definitely let you know how I get on with a second surgical opinion and tbh if that means changing oncologist too I’d be fine with that. I hate to complain because clearly getting rid of the cancer was the important bit.  However, my oncologist is very aloof and impatient for example when i asked her about the use of HRT as a possible cause of my breast cancer she dismissed it with a wave of her hand and said loads of her patients continue on HRT after diagnosis. Well that was something I couldn’t even consider and I stopped as soon as I received the diagnosis.  So I guess my point is that even if she is 100% correct, I just didn’t/don’t have much confidence in her.  
Very best wishes,

Kiki

Hi Kiki sounds like your oncologist doesn’t fair very well with bed side manner and certainly you deserve explanations.  We all need reassurance when it comes to cancer and it’s very important to understand our own personal experiences.  I never had hrt so I don’t know anything about it!  I do hope you make good progress.  My recovery is going well but for me seems very slow and j still get so tired.xxxJ

Here is information on the fat transfer - 

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../fat-transfer-lipomodelling

This looks really interesting, thank you so much for the link, I shall definitely ask about this at my next consultation!
Best wishes, Kiki x