Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Self diagnosis or hypochondria

I'm still having pain just below my left expander (almost said breast--ha ha). I'm still trying to figure it out. It feels like one of those "snake bite" things we did as kids where you twist the skin on someone's arm and it burns. Super painful! So I've been reading that it could be the expander pressing on a nerve; it could be fractured ribs from the expander; it could be infection; it could be pulling on the sutures holding the expander in place...
It hurts worse at some times more than others. Sleeping is difficult. I think it might have been a bit better today. 

My other issue is redness on the left breast (don't know how else to explain). It is red in the area below the nipple and hot to the touch. I think it may be swollen but can't tell for sure. I'm thinking it looks to be about where the alloderm was placed. The alloderm is usually placed to make sort of a hammock to cradle the expander. The body usually doesn't reject the alloderm but I guess it can happen. Infection is my concern. I don't have fever and I'm sure feeling worn down is from the sleep problems. I was looking at the breast cancer forums and some of the women had horrible pain from the expanders so I'm glad mine is never any worse than about an 8 on the pain scale.

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