I really need help, I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow, after 2 months of (4 x antibiotics) pain and discomfort I need to be strong in the meeting.
I am getting no better and last week the surgeon said they will make a decission on in the implant comes out this week.
I am now in the frame of mind “just take it out” and start again next year. , what I really need is your support and help in what to say.
Last week I said I was in pain etc and when they said it looks like it will come out I thanked them and asked them to be honest with me and not dance around the issue although this time I think I need to be firmer. My husband will be coming with me for support but when we get there we are like to humble beings!!!
They seem to be blaming my skin as I had radiotherapy 13 years ago on the same breast.
Does anyone know what percentage of implants fail.
Sorry to hear about your implant problems - it is so typical for the surgeon to blame your skin as if you weren’t feeling bad enough already! I don’t know how many implants fail but there must be so many reasons. Surely you should be given encouragement at this stage by the health professionals and have the options clearly outlined for you with the pros/cons so you can make an informed decision and not be left in this limbo state.e.g.
Keep the implants - more antibiotics/manage pain
Remove implants - what recovery. What will you look and feel like afterwards?
New reconstructions - implant or tissue. Timescales
I can definately identify with you dealing with the surgeon. I have tried going to the appointments determined to have my say - with questions written down and taking my OH, and still ended up weak and pathetic in the meeting. Do you have a breast care nurse with you at the appointment? Could you talk to her first and try to get her on side?
Or see if you can phone the breastcare helpline before you go. When I was considering different types of reconstruction they helped me come up with some questions to ask the surgeon.
Hope you make some progress in the meeting. Come back and let everyone know.
Thanks so much for yur quick reply, what they said last week was that we could try again next year with the reconstruction, I had 6 months with 1 breast and if I am going to feel better I can cope with 1 breast. I have a holiday booked in November and as I had to cancel last years due to BC i really want to go on this one and want to be well enough to go. I also cant do housework/ shopping etc at the moment due to the pain which I have relief for) and I have 2 drains (which at times leak so need changing)
At the moment I just dont feel too well and have no energy and dont want this to be the norm!!!
All the best for tomorrow - will be thinking of you. Sounds like you can’t go on as you are so I really hope the surgeon will give you some options to help. Your holiday will be a great target to work towards - you deserve a good break after all you’ve been through.
I havent been on the forum as I was taken into hospital as I was in a lot of pain, the outcome was the implant was removed. I was treated again with antibiotics and came out of hospital on saturday evening
Hi tinfish - nice to know that you are back with us! i was talking to Deb 1966 last evening and we said that you hadn’t been around. Sounds horrible for you. My surgeon wouldn’t put an implant in me at this stage - said that it all needed to settle down first and get over the chemo & rads, then it was more likely to be sucessful. I was a bit put out at first but have got used to the lopsided bit now and after reading your traumas maybe she was right!
I wonder now if the op was done too soon, I finished my chemo end of Jan and had the of end of June.
I dont have to go back to the hospital until Wednesday week and in the mean time the district nurses come in and change my dressings.
The last few months have been rough as all I seemed to do was sleep watch tv eat (a bit) and sleep more but now the implant has been removed I am feeling better.
Its good to be able to talk with people on this site.