Walking with Westy- Episode 7- The Expander Phase

About this episode

Charlene Westbrook discusses the challenges and sensations experienced during the expander phase of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

n this episode, I share what the expander phase is really like the tightness, the nerve zaps, the pressure, and the emotional toll that comes with having hard, stitched-in devices under your chest muscle after a mastectomy. I explain how expanders are placed during surgery, how fills work using a magnetic port and a needle inserted straight into your chest, and what they feel like inside your body including the strange “half-full Ziploc bag” sensation and the discomfort that comes from having no feeling in your chest after your nerves are severed. This stage is painful, weird, overwhelming, and honestly one of the hardest parts of reconstruction. If you’re walking through it too, I hope this helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

People in this episode

Host: Charlene Westbrook

Topics covered

• expander phase
• mastectomy
• reconstruction
• emotional toll
• pain management
• body sensation

Keywords

• expander phase
• mastectomy
• reconstruction
• nerve zaps
• chest muscle
• emotional toll
• pain
• discomfort

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