Bilateral Lat Dorsi Flaps

Thanks @Jane221, I have joined the group and posted. Thank you also for the additional links, I'll keep reading....

Hi @gailforce_75, hopefully you have joined the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group here - thanks @nikkid for putting in the link. We have had quite a few members who have had a Lat Dorsi reconstruction and so there are a number of photo stories available to read in that group. 

Thanks to to @LucyE for suggesting Reclaim Your Curves. RYC was set up by Louise Turner (who started the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group here) to specifically inform and support women going through / considering reconstruction and there are a few ways to get support:

1) Check out the website - specifically the info on Lat Dorsi reconstructions here: https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/latissimus-dorsi-flap.html
2) Join the RYC Facebook group - there are many members from here who are also members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/reclaimyourcurves/
3) Come along to a support group lunch - we have informal get togethers in various locations, run by our peer support volunteers: https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/ryc-peer-support-lunches.html

Hope this helps. Hopefully see you in one of the groups soon :)   Jane xx

@gailforce_75 there's a great organisation called Reclaim Your Curves which you could google. They are great. A lot of surgery is complication free. My cousin had a bilateral mastectomy with implants and is really happy with the results. I definitely feel more like my old self after reconstruction. @CarmelS Carmel, I'm sorry to hear you've had such a tough time with it all. It must be stressful dragging out that long. 

I had an immediate recon with implant at time of mastectomy. But it was only decided half way through chemo that I also needed radiation so I ended up with really bad contracture & have had lots of surgeries to replace implant, to try & improve shape, then the lat dorsi was to repair a large wound that didn't heal.....as I said, it's a 6 year long & sordid tale......& it continues
Carmel

Thank you LucyE. That's my dilemma, should I put myself through all that, when I could be quite happy with an implant only.

Thanks CarmelS, very helpful. Did you have an implant under the pectoral muscle first, is that what needed to be repaired?

@gailforce_75 I had the more traditional LD reconstruction with an implant. It was quite painful where they cut the muscle and where the drains were. I'm happy with the results, but ended up in hospital for about 12 days with complications. Had a reduction on the right to balance it all up. If I could have just had an implant, I would have. All the best. x 

Hi gailforce75 I had a Lat Dorsi a couple of years ago....I don't call it a reconstruction as it was a repair for previous surgery; aside from that sordid ongoing tale...... The restriction as far as movement goes for me is pulling myself up to get into our very tall 4wd vehicles or trying to close the garage roller door. It is the pulling down from above my head......like doing a chin up (not that I do that !!)   & I was told that this would be an issue. It is uncomfortable when I get into the truck, just feels a bit tight round from the back & under my arm. I wouldn't say there is any pain involved with the movement though.
Best of luck 
Carmel

Hahaha!!! thanks Nikki, I forgot to add it x

Here's the link :) http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/1-choosing-breast-reconstruction