Tram Flap

freeofit10
freeofit10 Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am having a tram flap done in July. I has a double Mas last July.
Any advice? Can anyone tell me what it is like after having one?
Thanks
Cynthia

Comments

  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #2
    I had a bilateral mastectomy
    I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using the TRAM flap in January. Make no mistake about it, it is a BIG surgery. The abdominal incision is very long (mine is 19 1/2 inches, from the side of one hip, down in a crescent shape, to the side of the other hip)so you have to know how to move after an abdominal surgery like that. I had two C-sections so that helped me to know how to get out of bed and to move around. But I am absolutely THRILLED with the results. The drains are a pain but they are generally out a week to 10 days after surgery so that was the worst part for me. You don't need to buy special undergarments for the drains; they have little clippy hooks that you can attach to pajama tops or large shirts. Have a lot of large, button down tops to wear. Know that you will not be able to wear a bra for a long time afterwards because the surgeon doesn't want any pressure on the blood supply for awhile....I am hoping that part is over soon for me! Like I said, it isn't a picnic, but if you go in with a positive attitude that you will do whatever you need to do to get up and around, you'll do well. Just be sure not to overdo it...give yourself a lot of time to heal. I took four full weeks off work, and I'm doing two weeks of half days before I go back full time. The fatigue is overwhelming at times. I had my sister-in-law stay with me for two weeks and that was a HUGE help. Have food in the freezer and accept help as it is offered. You will not be allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds for 2 months, then nothing over 10 pounds for another month, but it is doable.
    Hope this helps.
  • freeofit10
    freeofit10 Member Posts: 11
    #3
    sparky72156 said:

    I had a bilateral mastectomy
    I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using the TRAM flap in January. Make no mistake about it, it is a BIG surgery. The abdominal incision is very long (mine is 19 1/2 inches, from the side of one hip, down in a crescent shape, to the side of the other hip)so you have to know how to move after an abdominal surgery like that. I had two C-sections so that helped me to know how to get out of bed and to move around. But I am absolutely THRILLED with the results. The drains are a pain but they are generally out a week to 10 days after surgery so that was the worst part for me. You don't need to buy special undergarments for the drains; they have little clippy hooks that you can attach to pajama tops or large shirts. Have a lot of large, button down tops to wear. Know that you will not be able to wear a bra for a long time afterwards because the surgeon doesn't want any pressure on the blood supply for awhile....I am hoping that part is over soon for me! Like I said, it isn't a picnic, but if you go in with a positive attitude that you will do whatever you need to do to get up and around, you'll do well. Just be sure not to overdo it...give yourself a lot of time to heal. I took four full weeks off work, and I'm doing two weeks of half days before I go back full time. The fatigue is overwhelming at times. I had my sister-in-law stay with me for two weeks and that was a HUGE help. Have food in the freezer and accept help as it is offered. You will not be allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds for 2 months, then nothing over 10 pounds for another month, but it is doable.
    Hope this helps.

    Thanks
    Thank you!
    Yes, I am sure it is no picnic. The drains were the worst part when I had my double mas.
    I am just excited that you are pleased with the results. I hear some awful stories about the belly button not being centered. I figure I have been through hell this past year at least I should get a tummy tuck!! Hee Hee.
    Wish you the best in your healing
  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #4
    freeofit10 said:

    Thanks
    Thank you!
    Yes, I am sure it is no picnic. The drains were the worst part when I had my double mas.
    I am just excited that you are pleased with the results. I hear some awful stories about the belly button not being centered. I figure I have been through hell this past year at least I should get a tummy tuck!! Hee Hee.
    Wish you the best in your healing

    The tummy tuck is definitely
    The tummy tuck is definitely a big plus! Now, if I could just stop eating, I'll keep myself from gaining so much weight that I flop over this incision, too, just like I did my C-section scar BEFORE the TRAM! Good luck....I know you'll do fine.
    P.S. My belly button seemed a little high at first, but with the swelling going down, it seems to have dropped to a reasonable level.
  • chipoo
    chipoo Member Posts: 32
    #5
    In September I had a double
    In September I had a double mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction. I know it is not the same surgery you are having but it is similar. Some things that I found helpful. Take all of your pain medications as prescribed. I did and did not really have any pain. The only thing that I found a little uncomfortable were the drains. I had 6 drains. I bought a smock with pockets and placed 3 pods in each pocket. It really helped to keep them out of the way and helped to avoid tugging them. I found it more comfortable to sleep on the reclining chair for about a weeek and a half after I got home from surgery. When you first come home from the hospital it is difficult to do anything on your own so you will need someone there to help you. The most important piece of equipment that I found helpful was using a walker with wheels that had a seat. I was able to walk on my own a lot faster using it and it was helpful being able to sit while doing my hair etc. If you don't want to buy or borrow a walker I think you can rent one.
    Good luck and best wishes,
    Marjorie
  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #6
    If you've never had
    If you've never had abdominal surgery, the thing to remember after TRAM is that you NEVER try to get out of bed or a couch the normal way. You need to roll to your side, pull your knees up closer to your chest (fetal position), drop your feet to the ground, and then roll up off the bed or couch. Your stomach muscles are worthless and you could get a hernia attempting it any other way.
  • dancingfan
    dancingfan Member Posts: 19
    #7
    Tram Flap
    Hi freeofit10,
    I had a tram flap done March 2008. I do not know if you can have both breasts done with a tram flap. You may want to check that out. I thought you could only have one breast done but maybe I am wrong. I had a total mastectomy on my left breast with one surgeon and the reconstruction tram flap done by another surgeon at the same time! They did a wonderful job and were very caring. I liked the idea of using my own tissue to rebuild my breast. I went back to work five months after the surgery. I really should have stayed out longer but felt the need to get back into the swing of things. There are lots of things to deal with after the surgery. You will most likely have drains in the surgical areas. I had four. Two in my abdomen and two in my left breast. They were nothing to worry about, just an annoyance that goes away soon as you start the healing process. My husband was always there to help. He stripped and emptied the drains and kept track of the amount of fluid. I had a visiting nurse check in on me once a week to make sure that I was healing well and change my dressings. My abdomen was very tight and I walked in the house to gain strength and tried to stretch out my abs. Walking is great exercise. I was on pain medication. I found I needed it for a few months to get by. They took my abdominal sutures out three months later. It is not easy surgery but do able. I feel that I made the right decision. I also saw a physical therapist for range of motion in my left arm. I have full range of motion once again and am very happy about that. I still do my arm exercises every night at bed time. I will most likely do these for the rest of my life. When I skip a night of exercise I really feel the difference! Actually the worse part of everything was the chemo therapy that began a month after my surgery. It made me feel soooooooooooo sick! Everyone has to make decisions and I know that yours will be the right one for you! Please keep in touch and ask as many questions as you wish. God bless ❤ Gloria
  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #8
    dancingfan said:

    Tram Flap
    Hi freeofit10,
    I had a tram flap done March 2008. I do not know if you can have both breasts done with a tram flap. You may want to check that out. I thought you could only have one breast done but maybe I am wrong. I had a total mastectomy on my left breast with one surgeon and the reconstruction tram flap done by another surgeon at the same time! They did a wonderful job and were very caring. I liked the idea of using my own tissue to rebuild my breast. I went back to work five months after the surgery. I really should have stayed out longer but felt the need to get back into the swing of things. There are lots of things to deal with after the surgery. You will most likely have drains in the surgical areas. I had four. Two in my abdomen and two in my left breast. They were nothing to worry about, just an annoyance that goes away soon as you start the healing process. My husband was always there to help. He stripped and emptied the drains and kept track of the amount of fluid. I had a visiting nurse check in on me once a week to make sure that I was healing well and change my dressings. My abdomen was very tight and I walked in the house to gain strength and tried to stretch out my abs. Walking is great exercise. I was on pain medication. I found I needed it for a few months to get by. They took my abdominal sutures out three months later. It is not easy surgery but do able. I feel that I made the right decision. I also saw a physical therapist for range of motion in my left arm. I have full range of motion once again and am very happy about that. I still do my arm exercises every night at bed time. I will most likely do these for the rest of my life. When I skip a night of exercise I really feel the difference! Actually the worse part of everything was the chemo therapy that began a month after my surgery. It made me feel soooooooooooo sick! Everyone has to make decisions and I know that yours will be the right one for you! Please keep in touch and ask as many questions as you wish. God bless ❤ Gloria

    Yes, you can have both
    Yes, you can have both breasts reconstructed with one TRAM surgery. I had it done. The surgeon didn't think that he could get breasts the same size as what I had before so I asked him, "If I eat a ton beforehand, will that help?" He said that it could. Keep in mind that you can't pick where you will gain weight....I know that I have some thighs to get rid of once I can exercise again, but it was so much fun eating everything I wanted! I considered it to be my gift to myself! And when you lose weight, you also cannot pick where it will come from. Hopefully, I'll lose it from my thighs and not my new boobs!
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #9
    I had DIEP flap on 1/5/10,
    I had DIEP flap on 1/5/10, slightly different surgery. It was reommended to me to get a recliner to sleep in. I didn't have time nor space to get one but I did prop myself up with pillows. You need to sleep in a jack knife possition for a while. Take your time getting in and out of bed.

    Also my mother came and helped for several weeks. I could not have done without her for the first two weeks. You really need help. I was exhausted and there were times were I could not keep my eyes own for 5 minutes and othertimes I was fine then suddenly crash. Get as much rest as you can. I watched plenty of netflix on my laptop in bed.

    Showering I pinned the drains to hairband that put around my upper arm. That helped me.

    I also stocked up the freezer and cupboards with easy to make food. However I had very dear friends drop by with meals which helped us a great deal.

    Although it is a big surgery, and I feel in the long run it is going to be worth it.

    good luck and take care.
  • Minuz
    Minuz Member Posts: 25
    #10
    Tram reconstruction last week
    I had tram reconstructon last week and I will tell you that it is no piece of cake.(I am a delayed reconstruction of 18months) I had 3 previous c-sections and a hysterectomy so I am use to the roll out of bed thing but between the huge incision around your stomach and the drains and pulling sensations in the breasts I didn't know what hurt more. I know it has only been a week and I'm probably still very sensitive to the pain but I really think that you have to make your own decision on this matter. I'm pretty sure I would never do this again it is overwhelming. My girlfriend said just wait until things calm down you are going to be sooo happy but right now I just want to stand up straight and get rid of the last drain. I also had a transfusion due to a bit of blood loss so I came home with a low hemoglobin count which isn't helping with the fatigue. We all have to do what is best for ourselves and I know when I made this decision I was determined to feel whole again not matter what. Now I am more humble and think I can live with a prothesis. My husband did not want me to do this but I need to for me.
    Good luck with any decision you make just make sure you are not influenced by others. :)

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