Sorry, a unusually long post from me (NOT!) with two questions so I have split it so if you only want to read/answer one you don’t have to wade through it all
I went to see my surgeon today (8 and a bit weeks post LD recon) and asked him about the shape of my breast (its natural enough at the top but hard and flattened at the bottom) and he said that my implant had perhaps capsulated (I think thats what he said) in that my body maybe forming a capsule around the implant which is what is causing this.
He said not to worry about it and that if there were any issues it was something we could sort out down the line.
Unfortunately due to the fact that I went to talk to him about my back wound and I have serious chemo brain I didn’t really think about what he was saying and question any further on it, just nodded and left.
Now I want to find a bit more about this and wonder if anyone else has any experience of this and what the outcome was?
I also asked him about the fact that if anything touches my breast (strap, arm) for more than a minute or so it leaves a dent or line. He said that this is due to a bit of lymphodema in my breast caused by the fact that fluid doesn’t drain as it used too and that my body will figure draining fluids out in time. That makes sense I guess as they don’t attach lymph glands in your chest to a muscle from your back so it doesn’t function like a real one but it made me think.
Has anyone else had experience of this and has it eventually settled?
(He also said that the lymphodema is what is causing the enlarged pores and dark hairs sprouting from them on my breast?!?!)
Yours questioningly and hoping someone else has had the same, O, x
hi im 4 weeks post op from ld implant reconstruction and my bra always leaves dent marks on my reconstrcted breast and i wandered if this was normal as well but reading your post it seems to be i guess i may have slight lymphodema also i struggle to straighten my arm its always bent and when i put my arm out it feels as if some think is going to snap and under the arm pit it feels like there is a piece of rope have you had this or similar the thing is i have not seen my surgeon once since having the op had my breast dressing changed once told to do the rest my self and got an appointment through for feb 13 th next year seems along time to me to wait to b4 seeing my surgeon does this sound normal ?
sorry i waffling off your subject now on to my own why does that happen? lol
any way i do have your question 2 problem with the dents so i guess this is some what normal lol
and going on question 1 my breast looks normalish i seem to have hard area all down one side so i guess mine is doing similar things although no pain in breast more in my lower back and blimin arm .
well i hope this may of some what helped
take care xxxx
I am posting a link to a BCC publication about breast reconstruction which you may find helpful to read as it contains information about the issues you are facing at the moment, you can read it via the following link:
You are also welcome to call our confidential helpline if you need any further support and information on 0808 800 6000, it’s open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Re your issues - I am surprised that you have no follow up appointment at all between surgery and February and no support re your dressings. I saw my surgeon about 10 days post surgery for check up and tumour/lymph results. I have seen mine a lot more due to problems with my back wound but I would certainly have expected to see him a couple of times in the few weeks after surgery. Perhaps you could post and ask other ladies for their experiences? You should also have been given some advice re your wound - ie taking the dressings off. I was told to soak mine off after about 2 weeks but that was after a follow up appointment. I know other ladies have had regular dressing changes and or district nurses to do so. The tightness under your arm sounds like cording - the tendons are tight - and you need to keep doing the exercises they should have given you, pushing yourself a little bit each day and it will start to relax. I haven’t been brilliant about my exercises as I was worried I was causing problems with my back and am only at 75% normal this far on, if you don’t do the exercises you will struggle to get back to normal…
Thanks for letting me know about your bra marks, its reassuring to know there are others with similar issues, makes you not feel so alone or different.
Thanks Lucy for the publication, I have read it before but that was immediately post surgery so will go and dig it out again.
hi ostrich, thank you for replying.
yes i was very suprised at the lack of communication with my reconstruction surgeon i did forget to mention that i did see my consultant to get my results on the removed breast and she had a quick peek that was 8 days after surgery, i had an appoinment 2 weeks post op to have the dressing changed at the hospital by some nurse i had never met not that i mind , and was told to keep re dressing it my self. I see my surgeon on febuary 13 th seems a long time to keep dressing it but guess its right. how long did you or are you dressing yours if you dont mind me asking?
thank you for the advice on the arm cord think your right there about the tendons i cant straighten my arm fully looks crooked i guesss this is normal as well lol?yes i did recieve exercises to do and must make sure i do them regulary so thanks for your advice made me relise how important they ar
I do hope you get back to your fully 100 per cent or at least 98 per cent if we cant get the full 100 im sure you will thoe in time well thats what i tell my self and yes knowing other people have similar issues you dont feel alone or panic as i do lol
Lucy thanks i will be reading through it thank you
take care xx
My situation is a bit different re check ups dressings as I have ongoing issues with my back wound (9 weeks nearly 10 post surgery and its an open wound). Had it not opened up (which it did 5 weeks ago) I would have only seen my surgeon for the results about day 10 and then a 2 week check with the surgeon and weekly until 4 weeks post op. My dressings were only on for the first 2 weeks as at my 10 day results appt they took my back dressings off and told me to soak the front dressings off in the bath over the next couple of days. The dressings were never changed just put on in theatre and removed within 2 weeks as they don’t like to interfere whilst its healing.
That being said I now have my back wound dressed every 2 days but thats because a special gel has to be put in it for ucky reasons I wont go in to and it leaks out after 2 days but if they could they would leave it on longer in between changing it as its better for the wound.
Perhaps you could ring your BCN re how long you need to keep dressing it and how often to change it and whether you should be seeing a doctor to assess the surgery before the 13th Feb?
I am working much more on my mobility now, as I mentioned, I wasn’t that brilliant at doing them before but once my back wound opened up I just stopped out of fear of it not healing as fast, unfortunately it is going to take another 2 months probably and chemo is slowing down the healing so I am getting on with the exercises as I don’t think they are going to do as much harm to a slow healing wound as not moving will do to my return to work, xx
hi again ostrich
poor you that cant be very nice for you at all but we just have to deal with it i guess, not nice at all thoe and i really do feel for you, fingers crossed for you it hurrays up and heals .
i bet you were in fear of doing more damage then good to start off with on your back wound well all we can do is try are best least you are now cracking on with your exercises which i must do some days i forget as my 1 and half year old takes all my time but must must remember the importance of them lol
.
ti think i will ring my bcn, i guess its not dressing as such i have, its micropore tape ,to keep the scars streched out to give the scars a fine finish so not really sure seems when i pull it off it takes alll the scabs etc off weird lol any way i wont pick your brains any more i will speak to my bcn if i can get hold of her lol
take care xxx
