Failed reconstructions after mastectomy

Surgery sucks. I'm sorry
Surgery sucks. I'm sorry you're going through your eighth one. Have you changed plastic surgeons? I had my "good" breast done at the same time because I couldn't get a match on an A cup, either. I had a lat dorsi flap, too. I don't know what a MRSA is, so I can't comment on that.

All I can say, is stick it out and get your recon to where YOU feel it's acceptable.

Peace.
Linda

So sorry
I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. I have heard of people rejecting implants before, and I have heard of people getting staff infections in the hospital. It is not the norm, but not all that uncommon. I had bilateral reconstruction with the DIEP procedure. One of the reasons I chose to use my own tissue was to reduce the chances of rejection. I had a severe alergic reaction to the Dermabond (glue they use to close the wound) and had to go back into the hospital. I was a sufficiently unusual case that the Dr. asked if he could take pics for educational purposes (I go to a University hospital). Then I got repeated infections in the abdominal wound after that, so it took longer than average to heal. I had the surgery in July and have just this month gotten to the point where there are no more open wound areas, all scar tissue. Once again, an unusual case.

I know it is not always Dr. error when things go wrong, but you might think of changing Drs. if things keep on happening.
It is frustrating when things go wrong, and this is a good place to express yourself.

Take care, seof

fowvay said:

10 surgeries the charm
After the MRSA staff infection I had scar tissue and ribs under where my mastectomy and rebuilds failed. The plastic surgeon said the scar tissue was too thin, so another surgery to move my latissimus dorsi flap over to cover my rib cage. Then my imbalance from all the damage to my left side caused bone spurs and rotator cuff ligaments to tear where I had an acromionectomy 25 or so years ago. Then came surgery 10 and I gave up my temporary "Timmie Tag" on the car and can move my arm. I didn't expect uterine bleeding, but immediate scaping of my uterus said no cancer. Man did that hurt. Then, of course, I have a solitary nodule in my lung. After is didn't show in my last x-ray I had a CAT scan, and it hasn't grown and doesn't appear to be metasticised cancer. That one it took the oncologit's office 8 days to get back to me. That is cruel. I didn't sign up for difficult cancer, did I? hehehe. Oh well....

I am so sorry fowvay. Wish
I am so sorry fowvay. Wish I could do more than offer prayers and good luck to you.

Hugs, Jan

smalldoggroomer said:

I'm so sorry you have had 8
I'm so sorry you have had 8 surgeries and not got the results you wanted. And what kind of support group don't want to listen to problems. What are they for anyway.. I hope you are feeling better soon. And you can come here any time and get support, vent, what ever you need. We are here for you. Take care darlin Kay

I am sorry too
I am very sorry that you don't even have support from a group that takes so much out of us to seek out. I can't imagine being part of a group that isn't into sharing and that scares me also to think that others might be going through the same thing.
Support is our best defense and that is because we have a safe place to lay our fears. I have found that people who don't want to listen to problems are just hiding from their own fears.
You are the one who has to find for yourself what it is you need and I found that this board is a great place to get rid of the feeeeeelings that can tear us apart while they fester inside of us. Thank God I have had great friends who were willing and are still willing to listen to me because some days that is all there is...
Keeping you close to my heart,
Tara