Tram Flap - Should I do it?

Hi Joan. It is 6 weeks today that I had my delayed TRAM flap surgery (one side only). I thought I was prepared going in but I have to say that it was much worse for me than I anticipated. I expected the abdominal and breast discomfort obviously, but I was not prepared for so much midsection pain. There was a lot of inflamation and tightness. I am usually a very good patient, motivated to do well and follow instructions to a tee. I have been walking 2 miles a day since the third week, and at week 5 joined a yoga class (doc says the gentle stretching is good). Yet I feel I should be further along than I am. The doctor assures me that I am on target with my recovery, I guess I just expected more of myself. I do have a spot near my underarm where the flap is under my radiated skin which is very hard and it prevents me from having the range of motion in my arm I should have. I will be starting some physical therapy to work on that.
To sum things up, it was a much bigger operation than I anticipated. Others on this site have said that it could take up to a year to fully appreciate the results. I would say that up to week 4 post-op that if I had known how painful it was going to be, I might not have done it. But the further out I get, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am happy with how things look now with clothes on. Clothes off is another story. I guess once the nipple is constructed it should make a big difference.
Abdominal TRAM was the only thing I considered since I did not want any implants. I hope my comments help you in some way to make up your mind. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me. Good luck.
Susan

Hi Joan. I had Tram Flap reconstruction almost 4 years ago and if I had too, would do it again. Yes, it's alot of surgery and a long recovery but I didn't find it as bad as I had expected. I was actually back on the tennis court 7 weeks after surgery. I was 48 at the time. I would be willing to answer any questions you may have . Feel free to e-mail me here and I will be of as much help as I can. Take care. Oh, I was never given another option. I was told this was the way it would be done and I never asked any other questions. I probably would have chosen the implants but at that time, I was a wreck and very glad I didn't have to make decisions. As I said, I'm glad I had the Tram. It feels and looks very natural. You do have lingering tightness and numbness in the abdomen but you do get used to it. Good luck with whatever you decide. Let us know how things turnout. HUGS!! Cathy

Hi Joan: I just had the latissimus dorsi flap done a week ago and I haven't had too many problems. I researched the procedure before hand and asked some people via the Medical Oncology area who had the surgery. I went through hell with the chemo last year and then the mamogram showed some calcifications on the right side that wasn't there before in January of '04. I said if anything showed on a mamo Iwould do the bilateral mastectomy and reconscrution. The plastic surgeon I have is wonderful as far as explaining the side effects good the bad and the ugly! I have found by talking with people about the cancer and surgery is very thearaputic. Hang in there and the right decision for you will come. Best wishes to you.