Home from hospital

helen e
helen e Member Posts: 223
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had my mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction on Friday the 11th. Things went pretty well except for not enough stitches in my belly button and bled all night - needed transfusion by next day. Came home Wed. night. I do have one question - how long before I can stand up straigt? I feel like an old woman all hunched over and walking slowly. I am starting to have a lot of back pain because of this. I can't sleep without being propped up and sitting is the same. I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and holiday season.
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Comments

  • LC815
    LC815 Member Posts: 155
    #2
    Welcome Home!
    I didn't have the same surgery you did, but I remember it taking about two weeks for me to be able to sleep comfortably. Don't be a heroine . . . take the pain meds! :) (Just make sure you take the stool softener, too.)

    I can't believe it is already the twenty-first! Merry Christmas to you, Helen, and I'm glad you're home.

    Peace,
    Linda
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #3
    Glad You Are Home
    I am glad you are home for the hospital. Hope you get better soon. Have a Merry Christmas.

    P
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #4
    My goodness, sweetie~ you
    My goodness, sweetie~ you have been through the wringer, haven't you? I didn't have your surgery, so I can't speak to what you might expect, but I simply wanted to welcome you home, and wish you a speedy and complete recovery coupled with a beautiful holiday!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #5
    My surgery was quite different...
    ... and nowhere near as invasive. Am glad you're at home. Take the very best care of yourself, and I hope you'll feel better enough to enjoy the just-around-the-corner holiday.

    Kind regards,
    Susan
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #6
    Christmas Girl said:

    My surgery was quite different...
    ... and nowhere near as invasive. Am glad you're at home. Take the very best care of yourself, and I hope you'll feel better enough to enjoy the just-around-the-corner holiday.

    Kind regards,
    Susan

    Helen
    I didn't have your surgery, but, wanted to say that I am glad that you are home now and that your surgery is behind you. Praying that you heal quickly.

    ♠♣ Christmas Susie ♠♣
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #7
    susie09 said:

    Helen
    I didn't have your surgery, but, wanted to say that I am glad that you are home now and that your surgery is behind you. Praying that you heal quickly.

    ♠♣ Christmas Susie ♠♣

    I had the DIEP, not the

    I had the DIEP, not the TRAM, but they're similar. I was able to stand up fairly straight almost immediately, which really amazed my plastic surgeon's staff. I think that normally it gets better each week, but it's a slow process. Sleeping was more difficult for me than walking, and it was several weeks before I could sleep without pillows under my knees. And I slept on my back for at least 6 weeks. There was constant improvement, it was just slower than I had hoped. I, too, had problems with my new belly button, but it's fine now. Hope you continue to improve and get stronger. Don't overdo during the holidays: let your family take care of you.

    Joyce
  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #8
    susie09 said:

    Helen
    I didn't have your surgery, but, wanted to say that I am glad that you are home now and that your surgery is behind you. Praying that you heal quickly.

    ♠♣ Christmas Susie ♠♣

    I just wanted to say welcome
    I just wanted to say welcome home too, Helen. Glad that surgery is over with and wish you a quick and complete recovery. Hope you'll be feeling better soon.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #9
    Sunrae said:

    I just wanted to say welcome
    I just wanted to say welcome home too, Helen. Glad that surgery is over with and wish you a quick and complete recovery. Hope you'll be feeling better soon.

    Welcome home Helen! Rest
    Welcome home Helen! Rest and recover now.

    Debby
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #10
    DebbyM said:

    Welcome home Helen! Rest
    Welcome home Helen! Rest and recover now.

    Debby

    I also want to welcome you
    I also want to welcome you home and repeat the rest and recover. Don't over do. Take meds if you need them and stool softeners if you do take the pain meds. Just have a happy holiday and let others do it all for you.
    Stef
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #11
    fauxma said:

    I also want to welcome you
    I also want to welcome you home and repeat the rest and recover. Don't over do. Take meds if you need them and stool softeners if you do take the pain meds. Just have a happy holiday and let others do it all for you.
    Stef

    Welcome home
    Helen,
    It took me several weeks to be straight. My physical therapist and plastic surgeon told me not to expedite this process.
    Do you have drains?
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #12
    New Flower said:

    Welcome home
    Helen,
    It took me several weeks to be straight. My physical therapist and plastic surgeon told me not to expedite this process.
    Do you have drains?

    Helen .. Welcome Home and back to the boards
    I am so very sorry that you are suffering .. I will have my surgery sometime early February (I hope after 2/7/09), SuperBowl and all. But, I will take any surgerical date available - I am so ready to get on with my life.

    Please ... take care, and call your surgeon - should you experience any additional pain. I am worried sick.!!

    New Flower is right ... do not expedite this process, and if necessary take pain mediciation.

    OUCH ...

    VickiSam
  • marilyndbk
    marilyndbk Member Posts: 238 Member
    #13
    Glad you are home. Sounds
    Glad you are home. Sounds like you are doing good. I had my bilateral mastectomy with Latissimus flap reconstruction on 9-3-09. I am still sleeping with many pillows. The expanders and tightness make it hard for me to stand up straight. Take your time and I found it helped to take deep breaths several times a day and when the surgeon said it was ok to gently stretch. My recovery has been slow but it does get better. Hang in there. Merry Christmas. Take care. Marilyn
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #14
    marilyndbk said:

    Glad you are home. Sounds
    Glad you are home. Sounds like you are doing good. I had my bilateral mastectomy with Latissimus flap reconstruction on 9-3-09. I am still sleeping with many pillows. The expanders and tightness make it hard for me to stand up straight. Take your time and I found it helped to take deep breaths several times a day and when the surgeon said it was ok to gently stretch. My recovery has been slow but it does get better. Hang in there. Merry Christmas. Take care. Marilyn

    Welcome Home Helen! ♥
    You have really had a rough time Helen. I pray that your recovery will go swiftly for you!

    Love, Jeanne ♥
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #15
    aztec45 said:

    Glad You Are Home
    I am glad you are home for the hospital. Hope you get better soon. Have a Merry Christmas.

    P

    Glad you are home Helen.
    Glad you are home Helen. Hoping that you feel better.

    Angie
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #16
    marilyndbk said:

    Glad you are home. Sounds
    Glad you are home. Sounds like you are doing good. I had my bilateral mastectomy with Latissimus flap reconstruction on 9-3-09. I am still sleeping with many pillows. The expanders and tightness make it hard for me to stand up straight. Take your time and I found it helped to take deep breaths several times a day and when the surgeon said it was ok to gently stretch. My recovery has been slow but it does get better. Hang in there. Merry Christmas. Take care. Marilyn

    Helen, glad you are home
    Helen, glad you are home now. Hoping that your recovery will be fast and easy.

    Happy Holidays to you and your family.

    Lex♥
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #17
    Oh Helen... I didn't have
    Oh Helen... I didn't have this surgery... but wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts... and I'm praying for a speedy recovery for you...!

    Hugs,

    ~T
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #18
    taleena said:

    Oh Helen... I didn't have
    Oh Helen... I didn't have this surgery... but wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts... and I'm praying for a speedy recovery for you...!

    Hugs,

    ~T

    welcome home
    just wanted to say welcome home helen...


    teresa
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #19
    teresa41 said:

    welcome home
    just wanted to say welcome home helen...


    teresa

    Poor Helen
    I wish I had an answer for you, but, I had a lumpectomy, so, I didn't go thru what you did. I am so glad that you are home, but, so sorry for what you went thru. You take care of yourself and take it easy. Merry Christmas to you too Gloria.

    ♥ Noel
  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    #20
    Noel said:

    Poor Helen
    I wish I had an answer for you, but, I had a lumpectomy, so, I didn't go thru what you did. I am so glad that you are home, but, so sorry for what you went thru. You take care of yourself and take it easy. Merry Christmas to you too Gloria.

    ♥ Noel

    Good to see your post~
    ~Helen I have been thinking of you, and praying for you. My reconstruction was a lat flap, and it occurred 6 mo after my mastectomy. All i can suggest is to find what makes you feel most comfortable~propped up, or flat on your back, and get help sitting up. Stay on top of your pain meds, they help you rest better. I drank alot of juice while on mine, and used stool softeners as needed. After the mastectomy, I needed help just sitting up for 10 days. I thought I was never going to get better! But, each day something would return in healing form, like my arm wouldn't be sore, or I could lift it higher, or I could sit up on my own. I wish you well, my ornament swapping friend!
    Melanie
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #21
    GreeneyedGirl said:

    Good to see your post~
    ~Helen I have been thinking of you, and praying for you. My reconstruction was a lat flap, and it occurred 6 mo after my mastectomy. All i can suggest is to find what makes you feel most comfortable~propped up, or flat on your back, and get help sitting up. Stay on top of your pain meds, they help you rest better. I drank alot of juice while on mine, and used stool softeners as needed. After the mastectomy, I needed help just sitting up for 10 days. I thought I was never going to get better! But, each day something would return in healing form, like my arm wouldn't be sore, or I could lift it higher, or I could sit up on my own. I wish you well, my ornament swapping friend!
    Melanie

    Welcome home Helen!
    Welcome home Helen!

    KYLEZ ♥

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