Tram Flap

I get a sore lower back on and off and have done for some years.  I didn't find that the TRAM operation affected my back....not sure for you though!  I guess everyone is different and it might be worth asking your doctor what he thinks before you make your decision.

Cheers,

Louise

 

I get a sore lower back on and off and have done for some years.  I didn't find that the TRAM operation affected my back....not sure for you though!  I guess everyone is different and it might be worth asking your doctor what he thinks before you make your decision.

Cheers,

Louise

 

 Hi ladies , just wondering if any ladies have had the tram flap operation , but also had back problems before the op.

I have a bad back , but I am due to have the tram flap operation in February, but I am concerned that taking mussel from my stomach , will make my back problems worse. I have read that you should not have tram flap if you have a bad back .

Did your Dr ask you before your operation , if you had any back problems?.

 Debbie

 Hi ladies , just wondering if any ladies have had the tram flap operation , but also had back problems before the op.

I have a bad back , but I am due to have the tram flap operation in February, but I am concerned that taking mussel from my stomach , will make my back problems worse. I have read that you should not have tram flap if you have a bad back .

Did your Dr ask you before your operation , if you had any back problems?.

 Debbie

Hi there, I had my bilateral free TRAM at the end of September. It was a 12 hour surgery and then back to my own room with pain pump for 2 days. The main drug I has was fentanyl. Had 2 drain tubes out the side of each breast and 1 out of each side of my pubic area, so 6 altogether. My surgeon doesn't like sending patients home with drains so I was in hospital for 9 days and still ended up having to come home with both abdo drains still in place. One came out (district nurse visiting) the day after I got home and the other came out few days after that. Pain was pretty intense for a while and you really need to keep taking the pain tablets and not let pain take over, but at the same time you really need to take stuff to avoid constipation. My surgeon did not give me a binder garment. He had me with nothing for 2 weeks and then at 2 weeks I had to start wearing a wireless soft bra 24hrs a day for 6 weeks. The only time I was supposed to be brakess was in the shower. He also had me start massaging my whole front (breasts, stomach and abdomen) with moisturiser at least 3 times a day from week 3. He just said to use any moisturiser that I wasn't allergic to. I had immediate recon so my mastectomies were nipple sacrificing, skin sparing. I just have ovals of abdo skin where my nipples used to be. I go back in February to schedule and revision surgery and nipple reconstruction. I was a C/D cup prior surgery and had asked for smaller but came out with DD cups :-/ I am not happy with the size, although hubby likes them. Not sure I can be bothered having another extra surgery to make them smaller though, and they are a nice shape. Hope that all helps. It is a big surgery but so worth it...

 Big thank you for all your replys. It makes it a bit easier knowing what to expect.

Love Debbie

 Big thank you for all your replys. It makes it a bit easier knowing what to expect.

Love Debbie

I also had a tram flap reconstruction when my left breast was removed. It is lovely and is holding up better than my right boob lol. I can tell u what happen to me but not sure if all is the same. My surgery took 8 hours and I was sent straight to ICU. Only ma and pa were allowed in. I woke up naked with a hospital gown on but not tried at the back. Use the morphine pump as it is pretty painful when u wake up. I didn't know it was there so did not use it so when they tried to move me I nearly screamed but a couple of minutes later all good. I stayed there for 2 nights then went to the ward. For the first 3 days I had to sleep on my back with my legs over a couple of pillows @ my knees. This is so u do not stretch to scar at ur tummy. Walk as soon as u can as it gets everything moving quickly u know what I mean ??? lol After getting home, I wore a kind of elastic body suit for the next 6 weeks. It was kinda weird in the beginning but I felt naked without it after this time. They are a little expensive but u can claim them from your health funds. The plastic surgeon looked after getting one for me and they only come in black and nude. I ended up getting 4 of them so I could feel clean etc. it was high summer when I was wearing them so they got abit sweaty. I gave mine to the breast cancer nurse @ the hospital when I didn't need them anymore. They do up on the side with a zip and heaps and heaps of clips. I needed a hand putting them in for the first couple of weeks then as I was not as sore from the surgery I started doing this myself. You can shower in them and then drip dry but I never felt clean showering with it on. After this time I wore soft cotton sports bras almost like a training bra. I found them in Kmart. I can no longer wear a bra with an under-wire. They seem it stick into the new boob and as it is a strong substance than the real breast tissue it hurst under my arm to the left side of it. Oh oh before I forget I was still having a period when I had the operation and it came on within 2 days of the surgery. Doc said this is quite normal due to the stress ur body is going though it does not want to be pregerant too. I didn't take anything with me to the hospital as I was not due at that time. I can't think of anything else but will write more if something comes to mind. Like I said this is what happened to me. You may be different but if I can help in anyway :) Oh do look @ ur new boob when u r ready. It is ur boby and u can take as long as u like. I took about 4 days and really when I saw it it just look like me other but with no nipple. Still does :)) Best wishes Lesley

Hi Debbie

I think the best bit of advice that I can give you is to make sure that you do any exercises that you are given.  I didn't have a lot of pain with my TRAM but found it pretty hard to stand up straight for a while!  My surgeon had me in a heated room after the op which was a little uncomfortable.  You will most likely have a couple of drains in the areas - both your stomach and breast.

I am so happy with the result of my TRAM.  The breast is lovely and soft and natural looking where the other breast that I had reconstructed after a second case of BC 7 years later is a lot harder and not natural feeling (although looks great).

Good luck!

Louise :)

 

Hi Debbie

I think the best bit of advice that I can give you is to make sure that you do any exercises that you are given.  I didn't have a lot of pain with my TRAM but found it pretty hard to stand up straight for a while!  My surgeon had me in a heated room after the op which was a little uncomfortable.  You will most likely have a couple of drains in the areas - both your stomach and breast.

I am so happy with the result of my TRAM.  The breast is lovely and soft and natural looking where the other breast that I had reconstructed after a second case of BC 7 years later is a lot harder and not natural feeling (although looks great).

Good luck!

Louise :)