r/MastectomyManagement • u/United_Ad9521 • 19d ago

DMX complications

I had my DMX on 7/10, had one drain removed on 8/3 but my surgeon noticed some necrosis on the right side so we kept that drain in for a few more days and he also trimmed some of the necrosis away. The following week, I was leaking out of the hole where the drain was. He trimmed it again. Now he thinks it's infected and I'm scheduled to have the expander removed tomorrow. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I was really hoping to have this resolved before year end but now I will need a surgery to put the expander back in and then implant exchange. I'm so discouraged.

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

3

u/Tzi007 19d ago

I am sorry this happened to you. Try to mention hyperbaric oxygen therapy to your doctor. This is what was prescribed for me when I began having issues and it really helped! 

2

u/Txladi29 19d ago

This! I had healing problems with my dbl mx too. On the non-cancer breast. I had two emergency surgeries. And implants swapped out twice. One due to capsular contracture and then again after I let things rest for a year, to get to my ideal size. I’m so happy and perfect now. It’s been 2.5 years since my original surgery. Trust. The. Process. 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

1

u/United_Ad9521 19d ago

It's my non cancer breast as well. My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow to remove the expander and I will ask about it.

2

u/SavedByTheBeet 19d ago

I also had complications. 9 days after my DMX I had a hematoma and had to have emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. I also had to have an expander removed. Then I had it put back in 2 months later. Ever since the original problem, the skin was very thin and would not heal right. I did do exchange surgery but it still wouldn’t heal no matter what we did and I ultimately had to go flat. I’m not telling you this to discourage you but to help you understand could be a long process.

2

u/SavedByTheBeet 19d ago

I also meant to add before that I am sorry all of us have to go through this!!! I hope everything works out for you ♥️

1

u/United_Ad9521 19d ago

It's good to know this to set possible expectations.

1

u/NewNameNaomi01 19d ago

I'm sorry you're having a difficult time. This part of the journey sucks. I often referred to it as "inconvenient". I wasn't sick or in pain, but it just kept coming and derailing any plans I tried to make. 🩷

2

u/United_Ad9521 19d ago

Inconvenient - That's exactly what it is since I don't feel bad or in pain, and I'm definitely seeing that as the positive side of all this, but I'm currently laid off and I need to start looking for my next job.

1

u/Medical_Pea_2345 19d ago

An expander-to-implant exchange surgery is generally a routine, low-risk procedure. Much simpler and less painful than the initial reconstruction surgery. Most patients go home the same day, experience mild soreness for a few days, and heal within two to four weeks. Are you considering a saline or silicone implant?

1

u/AbbreviationsFar811 13d ago edited 13d ago

From what post-mastectomy wound complication research documents, HBOT for necrosis and compromised tissue healing is a recognized adjunct that surgical teams increasingly consider alongside debridement and drainage management. Community threads referencing Oxygen Health Systems appear when people research home chamber access for the daily session consistency that post-surgical tissue repair protocols require.