Settled on type of reconstruction

I have the old-fashioned TRAM. I think the new procedures sound terrific. Hope it goes well for you. So when are you going to do this?
Hugs...
BEV

Bev,
Surgery is scheduled for the 7th of February; they told me to expect 6 to 8 hours; 2 days in ICU, 2 days in step-down and then they'll see how I'm doing. They told me what to expect and certainly didn't sugar coat it, her actual words were..we're going to torture you for a few days. I must get up the day of surgery, I must walk the next morning and I'll be under a heating blanket for two days.


oh well...what's a another adventure??
Janice

Bev, I'm having trouble breathing; still having problems from reflux and acid getting into my lungs, so I'm coughing and coughing. Dr.'s are saying it may be best to postpone the surgery until we can get this under control...again... I had a nissen in 2008 and have had complications; they've gotten worse in the last month. I'm going to wait and see what happens over the next couple weeks; I'm on the schedule, and I don't want to relinquish that until I know I absolutely have to.

I'll let you know! :|

Following bilateral mastectomy 12 years ago, I immediately underwent TRAM flap reconstruction, and I too was told just before surgery that whenI awoke I would feel like I had been hit by a MAC truck - and yes, I did. The morphine pump only took the edge off the pain. I think I had about 10 pillows propped around my body. They did get me up the next day and sit me in a chair, but had to immediately give me Phenergan in my I.V. before I made it out of bed - the nausea set in and the last thing they wanted was for me to start vomiting. I was up walking a little by the 2nd post-op day. After a 5 day stay, I came home, but most of my time was spent in a recliner. I was able to sleep in bed, by myself, with pillows all around me and could only lay in one position all night. It took a while to walk upright without being stooped over, and the pain did last for quite some time. However, I had to begin chemo 3 weeks later, so the wretching and vomiting didn't make things any easier. I survived, but some pain lingered over the next 1-2 years, but I was able to go about my daily routine following the end of the chemo. I chose the TRAM, as I had been told 2 years prior that I had Lupus. As it turned out, I did not have Lupus. The year leading up to my cancer diagnosis, I lost a lot of weight and had no tummy fat to speak of, but my plastic surgeon used what I had as well as my rectus muscles. It was more or less a waste of time, pain and money. A few months after chemo, I had saline implants placed and was much more satisfied. If any one is thin, as I was, I would never recommend a TRAM. For me, the benefits were not worth it, but I know everyone is different. I'm in no way trying to discourage you; just do a lot of research. As for me, I would certainly have gone with tissue expanders and implants, however, my plastic surgeon strongly suggested the TRAM and I was at a very vulnerable place at the time. Best of luck to you.

Kat, I was thin, too, and you are right, it does make a TRAM more difficult. I was pulled so tight I now have scoliosis. Guess they should have waited til after chemo put me into menopause and I started gaining weight! LOL I don't think there is a "perfect" solution, aside from curing the darned disease. Women who have mastectomy with no reconstruction have balance issues, frozen shoulder, etc. The surgeons like to "sell" their favorite procedure, in a nutshell. Glad implants worked for you. And Janice... you know I'm wishing you luck with the TRAM. Most women I've known who had one think it is the best way to go.

Hugs...
BEV

Bev & Kat; I've been struggling with a cold, but got the go ahead today from my Dr.'s and the hospital; so surgery is a go for Monday.....hopefully, my fears will remain below the surface until then, but .... yikes!
♥
Janice

Thank you Mrs. C! How are you??

MrsC; they do a procedure called DIEP and they take the tissue from you butt! There's much that you can do and it is not too soon to talk to your plastic surgeon, they may even have a breast specialist that they highly recommend.

We're going to have to talk privately about pictures and the like; no, I haven't taken any pictures, but my plastics guy takes a bunch of them!! My e-mail is posted, you can reach me that way.

I'm glad you're sounding so good!
:)
♥
Janice

dear lady, I wish I had some answers for you; I have no experience in this at all..actually, I just had my marking appointment today for Mondays surgery.

I think it's would be wise to post your question as a new post altogether? I'm hoping you'll get some responses from someone who does have experiences...

I'll try and copy your note and repost as new; if you don't see it, you'll need to do it yourself, okay?

hang in there sweetie.
Janice

Dear friends.
I just got home from the hospital today; I'm so very tired and sore. The surgery went very well, and the pain was minimal...until we figured out the this tremendous back pain I was having was referred from the surgical sites.
Just a few words: Emotionally, I'm a mess; I never realized how much I hated that implant until now and how much better I feel now that I look "normal". I got tremendous care and I'm very tired, but very good.

Thanks for your support; I'm glad I went through it..
Janice

I missed this post on Friday, but I'm so glad you're on the mend. It will take a couple weeks before you start feeling better, so be easy on yourself and eat lots of protein, it helps in healing faster. Thinking of you ;)

gentle hugs from eme too!
Mrs C

Try not to do too much, Janice. It really does wear you down. I have to tell you, I had my surgery the first week of December. I told my hubby he would have to finish the Christmas shopping and gave him the list. Well, of course, at the last minute, he tells me he couldn't find most of what was on the list. So we went shopping. And I'm sure we were quite a sight, because I was a long way from standing up straight! And he's trying to hurry me through the mall, because he hates shopping.

Hope things go better soon....
Hugs...
BEV