HI @A MyBCTeam Member, Sorry you're going through tissue expander pain. I just wanted to let you know that the discomfort from the tissue expanders eventually did go away for me. It actually seemed like the more they got filled, the less they hurt (other than the day of the fill) -- but maybe that was coincidence since each fill was longer out from surgery. My plastic surgeon said the pain I was feeling initially -- as though razor blades were cutting into my ribs, especially if I bent over -- was due to the internal stitches (which hold the tissue expanders in place) being tight and digging into the rib area. He said it happens occasionally, especially with thin women. I actually popped a stitch when I bent over and that created a weird lump that remained until I had the tissue expanders out. I just had my implant exchange surgery two weeks ago, so I'm done with tissue expanders and someday you will be too! Now, they are just a bad memory, receding from my mind. Hang in there in the meantime!!

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A MyBCTea...

Thanks for all your responses. Of course, I wish the answer were that the discomfort goes away by week 3, but it's good to have realistic expectations.

Mine are still uncomfortable 8 weeks later but nothing like in the beginning. And I've even been able to sleep on my side for several weeks.

I got my first fill last Friday, and, after the initial soreness/stinging from that, the tissue expanders been feeling a little less uncomfortable. I'm still aware of them at all times, but maybe the steady state pain is a 2 or 3, which I can tolerate for now.
Remember when we could just fall asleep any way we wanted and didn't feel like we were wearing corsets? It seems like a distant memory. Yes, it's very helpful to connect with people going through this journey right now, since I don't know anyone in person who is going through this at the moment (though I do know survivors).

@tipaul I can remember walking out if the bathroom after a shower and not realizing I didn’t put a bra on till I caught myself in the
Mirror. Between the weird numb feeling after my mastectomy and having those things in my chest it always felt like something.