Matalan do lovely little bags for drains £3 xx
Hi Melanie Thankyou so much for your reply. You sound so positive. I’ve been really good so far but have had ‘a wobble’ whilst walking through the lingerie in M&S today, wondering if I’ll ever wear nice underwear again! I bought some non wired bras, a support cami & some button front pjs. I guess it’s the time of year as well. I’m not very good with medical things ie drains, and i think I’ve left it too late to get a bag for them, I’ll have a look in Matalan as Trixiladybsuggested… Thankyou for the tip about a pillow I’ll definately get that. Xx
Hopefully your feeling more settled now and we will wear all that lovely underwear once treatment is over and we’re back on track positive thoughts really help ,I’m not brilliant using these forums but try my best , as i find them a comfort , I’m waiting for my booking appointment , it feels strange I want it to start so it will finish and hopefully life will return to normal xx
Hi Cal Sorry to heat you have to go through another operation. I’m not in a situation like you but I have previously had radiotherapy on the same breast as I’m having reconstruction on. My surgeon says there are risks as the skin may have changed but she seems confident. I am having a mastectomy & a permanent expander on Wednesday xx
Trixiady I know I feel the same. I’ve never used a forum before but have found it comforting and informative. I like being in control & organised and this has helped me to be like that if only a little bit. I’m still struggling with the ‘why me?’ Am I a bad person? Have I done something wrong? but I guess that’s natural. I hope you get your dates soon, and then can plan the rest of the year, it feels like life’s on hold doesn’t it, I’ve just had to cancel a holiday in Feb but there’ll be others ? Stay positive and Thankyou xx
Stargazer , all the best for whatever 2019 holds onwards and upwards positive thoughts sending love & hugs , I smiling today I’ve just had 50 MLS of saline solution inflating my boobie today , it was pain free xx
Hey ladies, how was Christmas time and New Year eve? I hope you all have enjoyed it despite the circumstances. I have been very happy since my family is finally here. I couldn’t help but dried a lot when I saw them at the airport (I had never been emotional but nowadays everything makes me cry haha). Now I’m a bit anxious again because I haven’t received a letter yet for my next appointment before radiotherapy and my BC nurse doesn’t reply my emails anymore so I have no idea about the next step of my treatment. I also had a nightmare yesterday that I hadn’t got clear margins and clear sentinel biopsy(that made more anxious) but my family being here are great to cheer me up again.
It would be great to hear from you all. I have been thinking how you are and wishing strongly that you’re all fine and happy ?
Jane, are you back to work? How is it going?
Wish you all a great weekend!
Carol xx
Hi Stargazer1 , hope this finds you recovering well from your operation , hopefully the new year can set us all off with positive attitudes , sending love and hugs x
Hi Jane, I’m happy that you haven’t any side effects neither with rads nor herceptin! :-). They suggested me tamoxifen for ten years! I hope I won’t have side effects too.
Yes, having my family with me makes me able to smile again and think in other things. I was unsure if I wanted they to come due to the expenses of an overseas trip and because of their jobs, but their bosses were so nice and allowed them to stay for long. I realised it was the best decision, I really needed them here(not that they had asked me. They just came ASAP lol) 
Really happy for you to be ending your treatment!
Take care?
Oh Helen, I’d like to give you a hug! Please, don’t feel scared about the cough, many people are like that lately. It has been so cold! I’m sure it’s just a flu and you’ll be fine. ? When will you get your x-ray result?
Thanks for your tip. I finally got my letter today and my next appointment will be in two weeks. I’m just a bit nervous because my husband will have training at work during the week of my appointment, so I’ll be there on my own since my family doesn’t speak English ?
I don’t think I’ll start rads this month so I’ll enjoy this time visiting some cities before my sister goes back in the end of January. My mother, fortunately, can stay until end of February ?
I’m happy you had a great end of the year and hope everything goes well at work when you go back. Do you have any idea when you will have your implant changed?
I really wanted to give you a real and big hug, so you won’t cry anymore. As I can’t, I send you good thoughts and love ?
Take care,
Carol
Hi Trixielady Thankyou for your message. My surgery went well. I’ll be honest though I I didn’t expect to feel so rough afterwards ? However, I’m improving each day & remain positive. The implant isn’t quite what I expected but of course it isn’t inflated yet, I have to give it time, my problem is that I’m a little impatient. How are you?
Xxx
Hi stargazer1, I’m doing good, my inflation started on new year’s eve with 50mls, back tomorrow but not sure how much will be put in, I had a phantom itch where my nipple should have been, very strange feeling and done my head in for about 10 mins, my app with the oncologist is Monday so strangely looking forward to starting chemo although I can’t feel my boob the area underneath my arm and side sometimes feels like there’s a lump of metal pushing out of it it feels tight more discomfort than pain how do you feel?? Xx
Hi Trixielady I’m so glad you are feeling ok and your inflation is going well. I’ve been feeling really uncomfortable. I’ve got a stability bra that I have to wear day & night, it’s quite tight and as I’m really swollen under my arm is seems to pull on that. My drains are getting less & less I’ll be glad to have them out so I can lie on my side. Yes I have numbness too but from my shoulder to my elbow is so painful to touch, my bcn said it’s the nerves but nothing seems to help. I’ve an appt with my surgeon tomorrow to check the implant & dressings, she’s being cautious because of my previous radiotherapy. Have you had any other scans or tests? I have seen on here & on a FB page im on that some have MRIs, CT & something called Pet? None of these have been mentioned. Xxxx
Hi stargazer1, I had my MRI cancelled not sure why, I see my oncologist on Monday so more tests and more results hopefully, see BC today so I’m going to ask why I feel so uncomfortable, how are you managing with your drains?? I still can’t lay completely comfortable on my opposite BC side but a V pillow helps, thinking about you take care xx
Stargazer1, I couldn’t wait to get my bra support off even if it was whilst I had a shower think in all I had to leave it on for 8 weeks around the clock, I was much more comfortable without it xx
Hi Trixielady and Stargazer - thought i’d jump into this topic as I’m a bit further along than both of you with the tissue expander, so thought I’d share what I’ve found so far.
I had a right sided mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using a tissue expnader with ti-loop meash on 24th September.The tissue expander had 225cc volume filled in theatre -so I straight away had a bit of a breast shape. I then went weekly for 6 weeks and at each appointment had 50cc added. I now have a total of 525cc in it and this is the final total. I was a generous D cup before the operation.
I used to wear the front fastening bra’s to begin with and my breasts looked very strange and uneven - the ‘new’ one very hard and a weird shape and my ‘good’ one looked very droopy compared to the new one.
I’m now back in my normal bra’s and they look so much better in it - they look quite even in size when tucked into the bra (they still look weird when not been restrained in a bra).
I found having the weekly ‘fill’ was uncomfortable - nothing too bad, just achy for a couple of days.
I also had the phantom nipple itch for a while - but I don’t get it now - so that should clear for you.
I sometimes feel like the expander has a life of its own - it seems to ‘move’ - especially when I cough. It looks odd, but I’m really hoping when it’s exchanged for a softer permanant silicone one it will look (and feel) more normal.
I go back on 5th Feb when I’m hoping to get a date for surgery for the exchange.
If there’s anything else you want to know about my tissus expander ‘experince’ let me know.
Love, Helen xxx
Hi Trixielady Hope all goes well at your appointment on Monday, I think I may have the results of my surgery at my appt on Monday, although my consultant did say they might not be back. The drains were good today 20 in one & 50 in the other 10 less than yesterday in each. Apart from the arm exercises I’m not doing very much so think that’s probably why. The drain bag has been a godsend, the Bn gave me 1 & I bought another off eBay, 1 in the shower with me & 1 drying! I’ve taken ‘the bra’ off today to wash it, as I only have the 1. As a friend was visiting I put a soft cup bra on with a shirt & it looks ok, I’m gearing myself to put it back on later! My arm & underarm are very swollen so the bra is tight & im not sure that helps?xx
Thanks Helen, glad to hear from you it’s much better to hear from someone that has experienced it. I’m a little bigger today and having more put in on Monday, after my oncologist app, Doc has just rang to say my white blood cells are low, thyroid needs adjusting and cholesterol is high, any ideas on what I can do, see doc on Friday xx big hugs xx
Hi Helen, as Trixielady said Thankyou for sharing your implant experience. Can I ask initially ie. straight after surgery was the implant quite high? You say yours is being replaced with a permanent one? I believe mine is permanent but I will check that. The top of it is gel which is there now & the bottom will be filled with saline gradually week by week. In total from surgery how long has it taken to be ‘full’? Did you have any swelling down your arm, the bn said it’s a bit early for lymphodeama so might just be from the surgery, I hope so. Xx
Thankyou Evie That is very reassuring, I was even worrying that it might be a blood clot & therefore DVT, thinking all things at the moment ?xx