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Slow wound healing after tram flam breast reconstruction

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Posted 2/20/2006 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 5 weeks post-op after mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction.  I have an open wound under the reconstruction that is slow to heal.  My surgeon has me using silvadene cream 3 times a day and he tells me that it will heal, very slowly.  Has anyone had this problem?  How long did it take?  Thanks,

Rhondabloo

Posted 2/20/2006 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I had problems healing. My doctor also gave me Silverdene which is really a good medication. I still have some left and use it whenever I have a spot that needs to heal. I developed a seroma after my tramflap in my abdominal wall which had to be cleaned up in another surgery a month after my original, drain tubes all over again. It turned out that I had gotten some contaminated sutures that were distributed and recalled by on of our great health care manufacturers. My advice is to eat well, rest a lot and let your body heal. Good blood protein is necessary to healing processes. Extra stress and little rest will also prolong healing. Take care and let us know how you are coming along. Where are you located? I am in TX near Fort Worth. I am also the oldest member of this board, now 67. See the roll call posts the third down on the list of topics. It will tell you about us. Welcome hugs, Mary K. (MK)
Posted 2/20/2006 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Rhondabloo

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I know you will find all the answers to your questions. We have a great bunch of ladies that havebeen or are going thru the same things as you are. Feel free to jump in anywhere and ask all the questions that you have.

L&H

Bernadette
Posted 2/20/2006 2:55 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your reply.  I'm in New Jersey.

Rhonda

Posted 2/20/2006 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
We do have some board members in your area. LMackey and Cryptols are two that come to mind immediately. MK
Posted 2/20/2006 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Rhonda,

 

I am 4 1/2 weeks post Tram Flap surgery and have on area in the abdominal incision that isn't healing as well as the rest.  Fortunately, the breast is great.  When I saw my plastic surgeon 2 1/2 weeks ago, he said he wasn't worried.  However, Saturday, I noticed it's red and yucky looking.  I see him tomorrow, so we'll see what he says. 

 

How has your recovery been other than that?  Did you have trouble standing straight at first?  It took me about 3 weeks to stand straight completely.  I also have skin pain (to the touch) on the skin below my breasts and above the abdominal incision.  Do you have that?  My surgeon said that is normal.  It seems like it will never go away.  Other than that, I'm doing very well.  I hope you are, too.

Posted 2/22/2006 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rhondabloo,

I'm one of the NJ people MK was referring to. I'm up in Sussex County and go to St. Barnabas for my oncology appointments. My surgeon was in Summit (one of many offices she has). Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing! I sure hope the incision heals quickly for you! As MK says, eat well and get plenty of rest, plus try to limit some of your activities that make the incision hurt.

L&H,
Laure
Posted 2/22/2006 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
The plastic surgeon did a procedure to remove the stuff from the incision, so now I have a small hole that I have to pack with gauze strips.  He numbed it even though there is no feeling there, but later at night when I had to change it, boy, did it sting.  Right now it itches and stings at the same time.  He told me it's OK to get wet, which I find strange, but he's the expert.  He told me to put antibiotic ointment on it to keep it moist.  He doesn't want it scabbing over.  Oh, he also found a suture there that he removed.  He said it might have been irritating it.  I hope it gets better soon.  The skin pain is getting just a little better.

 

I can go back to work in 2 weeks.  What work, I'm not sure.  I hope it will be the same place, but it's all up in the air now.  Wish me luck!

Posted 2/23/2006 4:03 PM (GMT 0)

I'm now 6 weeks post -op and have made a lot of progress.  Standing up straight did take a few weeks.  I do have some draining from the abdominal incision even now.  The biggest problem though is the open wound under my new breast.  Also still very swollen.  I'm hoping that it will still come down some more.  The PS said he will do lipo when he does the nipple so it will be the same size as the other. Hope I don't have this swelling for another 6 weeks but I may. I'm seeing him tomorrow and I'm very anxious to hear what he thinks about this open wound. 

Thanks for your good wishes.  Hope we all heal quickly.  Good luck and feel good.

Rhonda

Posted 2/24/2006 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Rhonda, I hope you report in after your dr appt today and let us know what he said. I had drains for six weeks, too. Not fun, are they? Hope you are healing well. Hugs MK
Posted 3/13/2006 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I am almost nine weeks post-surgery and am also dealing with an open wound. I've also been using the silverdene cream, which seems to help. My doctor has me cleaning the wound by squirting it with sterile water using a syringe before applying a wet-to-dry compress. It is starting to close, but he said that it will take a month or so. The other breast is hard along the bottom. My ps says that it's still swollen. Has anyone else had this problem for such a long period of time?

Bye now,
D
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