Can not tolerate the expanders, surgery was 13 days ago.

I should add that I am so blessed that my pathology was great, lymph nodes are clear. I feel lucky and understand that I have it a lot better than most. I want to be a good patient and buck up and do what I need to do, and I know attitude is everything. I just can not tolerate these expanders, they hurt, and I don't know if I have it in me to go through the process as I understand it.

@cartscoco then get them out. I had my bilateral May 2022 this is my second rodeo. The First was just a lumpectomy (A bad choice for me). I kinda wished I was in your position because of having a plastic surgeon doing the work. Make sure you have them take any excess skin from armpits and angel wing arms too. I'm not going to have plastic surgery to repair what my chest looks like now. Ugly for sure. But, most of my swelling and pain is gone so I use a front closure bra with FREE to cancer patients' breast forms. https://awesomebreastforms.org/ I prefer them over the knitted knockers. The ones I received from awesome are crocheted. Both are very light easy to use not heavy and hot like silicone prosthetics. Please lets us know how you're doing. BTW I'm 67 and flat and never going back. Just wish my belly would decrease LOL.

Hello,
I completely understand the foreign feeling and the pain of having expanders.
They stitch these to your chest wall and that may be the uncomfortable feeling.
It is your choice to have them removed, and heal your body quicker.
Ask questions and do what is right for you.
Congrats on the successful surgery -

I hated my expanders at first. My scars weren't healing as expected and I considered giving up on the process of reconstruction. I am now 3 months post DMX with expanders and doing well the 3 expansions I have had. After the first 1-2 fills the feel of the expanders decreased, they were not at cumbersome. Keep in mind you implants would not feel like your expanders. I am 52 now and still somewhat vain about my appearance.

I also had an awful time with the expander. i was nauseous almost all the time because I have a hiatal hernia and the expander really irritated it-and it hurt a bit at first. I somehow hung on and it got better. I had an awesome, talented and very caring plastic surgeon and the results look really good. It is starting to feel more normal but never the same. You have to do what feels right for you, though. Prayers and good wishes…

Thank you all for your replies, my appointment went well. Because I had large breasts and want to be much smaller, I have enough skin (in fact, he said he would have to remove more skin) I don't have to do any more stretching, just have to live with the expanders (he wouldn't tell me how long) until I know whether or not I have to have any chemo, waiting on test results to know. Every day is better than the last, I just keep taking the Tylenol, it helps lots. Good luck to you all and thanks for caring enough to respond to my whining.

We are all here to listen to one another-no one else truly understands. I don’t consider it whining-but if it is so be it! All of us have those days. 🌹