Unfortunately, I got an infection on my right side and just had to have that expander removed yesterday, 2-19-18. The infection had to be brewing inside me for a while. I was having pain that I thought was just the expander. It was a combo of the expander and infection. I feel so much better now that it's out. Didn't realize how much pain I was really having until today. I feel so much better!
The plan now is to continue expanding my left side. Then get radiation on that side. Cancer was on my left. Right had calcifications that biopsied atypical, not cancer but not normal. I opted for the BMX. After healed from radiation on my left, the P Surgeon will put a new expander back in on right side and expand it over several weeks. Then, I can have the expanders removed and implants put in.
Some of your stories have me rethinking this now.

I had expanders in for 13 months. It was 13 months of pain, especially at the bottom. Sometimes my ribs feel broken. It is very uncomfortable to wear bras so I wore cami tops most of the time. I have had my exchange and Instill have thst pain on the underside of my breasts. My PS thinks it is where they rebuilt my pockets with Alloderm. I still cannot wear any bra with a tight band. I have to wear partial prothestics because my implants have had complicstions and appear very different sizes. I can only wear the bra for a few hours before taking it off from the pain. Personally I think some damGe was done to my ribs during BMX.

I am glad you are no longer in pain.

We are just a few days apart in the BMX / reconstruction process. I had sx on 2/1/18. I am at the PS office now waiting to get filled for the second time. 😑 mine are over the pec muscle so supposedly not as painful. But the first fill I got 180mLs each. Felt fine getting them as I am numb all across my breast but days 2-4 after OMG did they hurt. So much pressure on chest. Like bil 25lbs weights sitting on my chest. Found out last week I don’t have to have radiation. Yippee!! But still 3-6 months of healing before delayed reconstruction to start.

My docs recommended to have a delayed reconstruction if ur getting radiation bc of “rippling”. I’m about to do DMX. Finished my chemo. I’m triple positive with lymphnodes involvements. But now... thinking that if I’ve done what u are doing... I wouldn’t have to go thru gen anesthesia 3x (dmx, lat flap + expander, then again for the implants) 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. ... maybe just 2x