Settled on type of reconstruction

Just came home from seeing my surgeon; he/they are beyond happy with the results, my healing, everything! He took out the last drain (HOORAY!!!) and lifted restrictions, except core exercising, he'd like me to wait another month.
whew!, I'm happy, and I have to say, the results are wonderful!! He said the pain will continue to diminish, the lethargy too, but after the marathon I've run, it's a nice way to finish :)
Janice

Well, the last few days have been not so good; been feeling fairly lousy, but I think it has more to do with stopping the norco, and the withdrawal from that. Although sleep was elusive last night, I do actually feel better today; still tired though:) I am amazed at how good I look, honestly; I feel complete!

Things are healing and there's the ouches and tightness and itching and the realization that you just can't do things as quickly, but progress is still being made!
Janice

One of my best friends just underwent a breast reconstruction procedure that takes tissue from the buttocks instead of the tummy, so she said it was great because she got a butt lift and breast reconstruction at the same time. The procedure is called a SGAP flap procedure if anyone is interested. It worked out really well for her...she looks and feels great and had a pretty quick recovery. I think there are many doctors out there performing this one.

Hi Bev. mine was a free tram, muscle sparing; so the abdominal tissue was cut free from abdomen and transferred to the breast; microsurgery is involved with that as well to attach the blood supply to it's new source. They have to remove part of the third rib to access the area to attach..who knew???; it's only with the pediculed tram that the tissues stays attached to it's original source and no micro is needed.
♥
Janice

Well, the small portion of the rib was #3 and that's near the top, not the bottom ones that RW had done..wow that is drastic!!

My physical therapist is specialty trained in breast massage for reconstruction; I have some scar tissue that has developed but she'll take care of it in no time.

I have had some problems with my abdominal incision, but my third trip this week back to my Dr., and now he's happy. Others here have said they're up and running in two weeks, boy, not me. They told me not to worry; with as much as I've gone through over the past two years, it will take me 3 months to get up to speed; I feel better knowing that.

Drains were no big deal to me; 5 surgeries, drains= pita, but nothing else; exhaustion,loss of energy and loss of interest big trouble for me..and, of course, I developed a urinary tract infection, just like I always do around 1 month after surgery.

Tom and I are heading to the home and garden show tomorrow, walk around the arena for a few hours, (will probably do me in for the day), but being up and moving may be just the ticket too.

I am constantly amazed at the beauty of my reconstruction...keep in mind, I'm 55, so you won't see me as one of Vicki's angels on the catwalk, but oh my, my new breast is perfect, perfect! soft, warm, same size and shape as my other side. The tummy tuck has taken years off my mid section, so, while I have complications, I'm not complaining. I have residual pain from the muscle donor site, but that too will pass. They healed my spirit by recreating my body and I would go through it again.

I find myself being overly emotional; I chalk that up to screwed up sleep patterns, lingering pain and a long recovery, but spring is here and that helps my mood tremendously. It will be 6 weeks on Monday; they told me it will take longer for me, so, like I said, I'm not going to worry about it now.

Bev, you are a god-send! MrsC; I'm glad you stay in touch! It seems like I'll be in this recovery mode for a while longer, but at the worst, I'm 1/2 through!

hugs to you!
Janice

Janice, How are you doing now?
I was thinking about you this morning... I would give it more than 3 months to feel like getting close to normal. Major surgery like this is taxing on the body in more ways than we know, so take care of yourself especially now when people think you should be doing more, you listen to your body, it'll tell you what you should and shouldn't be ready to do ;)

cyber hugs!