tram flap reconstruction

ever1

On 2/16, I had a mastectomy w/ tram flap reconstruction. I still have the drain. How long does this drain normally stay in? I'll be glad when it is removed so I can take a shower. Comments and suggestions would be appreciated!

SusanAnne

Hi ever1. I was encouraged to shower even before I left the hospital. If you pin the drains to a long necklace of gauze draped around your neck you won't have to worry about them hanging. If you don't have gauze, try putting the drain in an old belly bag around your waist. You will feel so much better after a shower! How is everything else going with your recovery?

Susan

ever1

SusanAnne said:

Hi ever1. I was encouraged to shower even before I left the hospital. If you pin the drains to a long necklace of gauze draped around your neck you won't have to worry about them hanging. If you don't have gauze, try putting the drain in an old belly bag around your waist. You will feel so much better after a shower! How is everything else going with your recovery?

Susan

Thanks for the suggestion. Recovery is slower than I expected. When did you have your surgery? Did you need chemo also?

wingingit

Your doctor should have you measuring the output of your drain in a 24-hr. period. When your amount gets down to a certain amount (30ccs?), they will remove the drain. Many people have their drains removed within a few days, but I had one of mine removed 5 weeks after my surgery. I took the elastic off a pair of old underwear and wearng it at my waist I pinned my abdominal drains to it when I showering. Kind of odd, but it worked! You will get through this . . . Krista

seeknpeace

Hi hon...had a bilateral with double tram last February. I will be glad to talk to you one no one if you want as well. They gave me an elastic belt to wear that had velcro on it and the tops of my drains had it too, so they were secure for me to shower, like hand grenades..haa. Mine had to get down to draining 10ccs before they took them out and for me, taking it out was nothing. Some folks have said it hurt. Mine just felt like a slithery thing being pulled from my body. Did not feel a thing. I had three of the for out first and the right one, in the cancerous side, took a week or more longer.

Try to find a way to get it secured, use a pair of old panties and pin it. You will feel like a new woman when you do finally take a shower. Bless your heart.

Best of luck and lots of love ... Jan seeknpeace@aol.com

SusanAnne

ever1 said:

Thanks for the suggestion. Recovery is slower than I expected. When did you have your surgery? Did you need chemo also?

Hi ever1. I was stage IIIa when diagnosed so I had mastectomy first, then I entered a clinical trial and my treatments lasted 15 months. Therefore, my TRAM reconstruction was a delayed one. The initial surgery was 5/04, revision was 9/04, nipple construction was 12/04 and tattoo was 2/05. I felt my recovery was slower than I expected as well, but you must realize that it is such a major operation. The best advice I can give you is to stay active. Walk as much as you can and ask your surgeon when you can start a gentle exercise program. I began a yoga class three weeks after surgery and it helped tremendously! Stay active as well. The last six months I have slacked off and am definitely feeling the consequences. Time to get moving again! Hope things improve for you. If you have any questions, just holler.

Take care,
Susan

martyzl

Hello Ever1,

Congratulations on getting through the Tram surgery! You sound a bit like I did when I had mine done nearly 3yrs ago! The healing from the Tram was the hardest part for me.. you are well on your way!!!
As others have already said, it depends on your output... I had one drain of 5 (I can barely remember already!) which was in far longer than I could stand it... begging your plastic man/woman rarely helps. *smiles*

Believe it or not, this period will pass and before you know it, you'll be on the other side of the chemo and starting a whole new life!

Be well and feel free to vent here!
Marty

wrenmorrison

The good news is "I don't remember," just as I no longer remember much of the details of my recovery. The recliner I purchased to sleep in to stay upright for the first week or so is now getting worn out. My three little ones still call it "Mommy's surgery chair" and when my 5 yr old had her tonsils out recently, she was given honorary privilege of using it solo (or on my lap). I say all this to say, there is life after and eventually it becomes a distant, if ugly, memory with details fuzzy. I had to stop breast feeding my middle child just prior to the surgery and she's almost 6. Hang in there. As hard as it seems to believe now, what seems to be taking "forever" now will eventually be a memory, too. Take care of yourself and be patient. Also--accept help from ANYONE who will give it.

littlelindalu

Dear Ever -

I also encourage you to find a way to be able to wash yourself -- others have given you great advice on how -- so you can be more comfortable. I also want to encourage you to start moving about --- walks are a great way to start. Starting to move about will not only help you regain your energy level, restore normal sleep patterns and help your general recovery but will give you more of a feeling of well-being altogether. Aside from getting some fresh air, we all need sunshine part of the day. There are some great books on good stretches to do while recovering from breast surgeries -- several written by women who themselves had BC and went through reconstruction surgery. If you want to know the titles, I will be happy to provide them to you.

I hope to hear that you are resting more comfortably and feeling better soon.

Regards,
Linda