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Hi Nikki: Don't ever feel like you are intruding here...that is what this web-site is for....you can come here when you need to get things off your chest (no pun intended) with others in the same situation because we can sympathise, understand and hopefully give helpful advice. Not all of us are at Stage IV (I am at stage IIIA) although most of us are HER2+++, but not all.
I, also, had expanders placed at the time of my double mast. It was very uncomfortable but I put up with it because everyone told me I would be better off psychologically to have reconstruction done. I went in for my radiation treatments after I had been stretched to the size I needed (C+ cup) only to find that the Radiation Techs couldn't radiate me because the "healthy" breast was in the way! I had to have a significant amount of the sailine solution drained from that breast so that I could get my radiation treatments. (And I'm sure you remember how uncomfortable it is to get the skin stretched! and here I had to undo it!!!) After radiation the skin on the breast that had been radiated was so damaged that there was only enough skin for a size B cup. I had the expanders replaced with the saline implants about a year after the radiation. They didn't match in size, shape and weren't even. The plastic surg. blamed the radiation but I don't know. I had a second surgery 6 months later to try to get a better asthetic result and release scar tissue that had formed around the radiated breast and implant. It DOES look better but still not that great. My surg. said he could try again but by this time I had had it. I have always experienced a certain level of discomfort...kind of like wearing a tight sports bra 7/24. Sometimes I wish I had just had the double mast. and no reconstruction. I hope that things get better for you. Please keep us all posted. Take Care, Linda
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