Hi Kim!

I haven't had any fills since Feb. when my PS swapped out for larger expanders and found that my cancer returned.  I did radiation and I just had a PET yesterday which will detemine if I need chemo or not.

When my doctor swapped out my expanders for bigger ones it's cause he filled mine up to over 900 cc's and I brought in an old bra and I barely filled a C and I wanted D's - so he put in bigger expanders then plans on taking tissue from another area to help make my breasts bigger cause implants only come so big.

I know when I had my hole it was because I had tissue at my incision that was dying and had to use this green ointment that ate away the dead tissue.  At the point when the hole got too big and you could see my expander through the hole, my doctor popped it and removed it through the hole in my chest...not sure the reason behind it, just that it had to be done. Once I healed from the inside out, he sewed me up in a day surgery then a month later he placed a new expander - after which I was fine.

Why this doctor is allowing fills while you still have a hole in your chest is beyond me.  With a hole there you are at risk of staph infections besides other things - even if the hole just started out as a small cut.  Did he know about this cut?  I'm not sure how he plans to take you into surgery with a hole, because you need to heal first.

First I would point out to him that you are not the correct size.  What helped my doctor understand that was a bra, and showing him a picture of what I would like my boobs to look like.  I couldn't think of anyone else so I used a picture of Pam Anderson, but told him not quite THAT big.  Doctors think in terms of CC's not cup size - so show him what you want.  Secondly, bring that hold to his attention and let him know how concerned you are about it.  If he closes it up know it can grow infected and fill with pus only to have to be opened later and drained.  You should def be on antibiotics!

I totally uinderstand just wanting it done and over with....I've been waiting 3+ years for mine to be done and one is sitting on a fractured rib and is killing me, but I just keep telling myself just a little longer.  If I take them out now I will regret it cause I had 2 failures just to get here and I don't want to settle for less than what I want - and that's perfect boobs, cause I figure hey if I can't have mine then I want the best ones ever, right?

So I say get in touch with your doc - call now, they can reach him after hours and discuss this hole with him.  When we called my doctor after hours and told him we could see plastic he wanted to see me the next day - so your doc should not take this lightly!  Also ask him about the shape and size of the finished product.  I know there is a difference between silicone and saline and you don't want them too up, too down, too in or too out.  He should build "pockets" to hold the implants in so they don't shift.  Also keep in mind he will clean up any dead or hard tissue from around your hole (I have some on my L side that I HATE!)  Most doctors are very concerned with the finished product, as he should be as well.  Don't be afraid to speak up and demand to be heard!  These are all issues that could get him in trouble with the board....but don't go threatening him, just ask for things to be done right.  Let him know you are unhappy and worried.  Hopefully he'll be able to set your mind at ease and correct these problems ASAP.  Don't let him push you into settling for smaller breasts or putting your health at risk ok!

Please let me know how it goes, ok.  Take care!

Angi