Anyone else

Good luck with your surgery Jennt 28. I shall watch for your post op news. I see my PS this Thursday. Paula :)

I'm scheduled for a bilateral MX and immediate free TRAM recon in a week and a half (Friday the 28th). Thanks for the run down nchess! Sounds just the timelines for recovery my plastic surgeon has described. I am hoping those first few days will be a blur of pain relief ;-) Everyone I have read about or spoken to that has had this surgery seems to be very happy with their decision and outcomes. Jennt28

I'm scheduled for a bilateral MX and immediate free TRAM recon in a week and a half (Friday the 28th). Thanks for the run down nchess! Sounds just the timelines for recovery my plastic surgeon has described. I am hoping those first few days will be a blur of pain relief ;-) Everyone I have read about or spoken to that has had this surgery seems to be very happy with their decision and outcomes. Jennt28

Hi ladies, firstly Terese I was interested to read your post as I am about to have my second breast of prophylacticaly. I have had radiation on my right breast(subsequently removed after a recurrence ). My general surgeon who will do the 2nd mastectomy was keen to go down the expander/implant road with me. However upon research I found out that there may be the problem you are experiencing with your radiated side. I decided to have a consult with a plastic surgeon and he said he no longer does implants on ladies who have radiation. I have decided to now do the second mastectomy and immediate double diep/tram surgery. I really feel for you as you have been through so much already... I guess we all have. Nadene thanks for your positive and honest recount of your surgery. I too am worried about the length of surgery and also if my radiated skin will heal. My biggest fear is flap failure. Good luck Terese with your decision and good luck Nadene with your recovery. I see my plastic surgeon on Thursday to give him my decision. I am just doing my final research, but am at the point now where I just want it done. Hugs to you both. Paula

Hi ladies, firstly Terese I was interested to read your post as I am about to have my second breast of prophylacticaly. I have had radiation on my right breast(subsequently removed after a recurrence ). My general surgeon who will do the 2nd mastectomy was keen to go down the expander/implant road with me. However upon research I found out that there may be the problem you are experiencing with your radiated side. I decided to have a consult with a plastic surgeon and he said he no longer does implants on ladies who have radiation. I have decided to now do the second mastectomy and immediate double diep/tram surgery. I really feel for you as you have been through so much already... I guess we all have. Nadene thanks for your positive and honest recount of your surgery. I too am worried about the length of surgery and also if my radiated skin will heal. My biggest fear is flap failure. Good luck Terese with your decision and good luck Nadene with your recovery. I see my plastic surgeon on Thursday to give him my decision. I am just doing my final research, but am at the point now where I just want it done. Hugs to you both. Paula

Hi Terese

I also had previous radiation treatment to my right side - once for breast cancer & once for scapula. When diagnosed again and researching my options, I made the decision to go with a double mastectomy & immediate tram flap recon. I am currently 3 weeks post surgery so can only give you a short term view on tram flap only but hope it helps you...

The surgery is long - I was under over 13 hours. Waking up is a blur, only really remembering 6 drains and a catheta coming out of me and the hospital bed in a 'banana lounge' sort of position to take pressure of my belly.The first week is the worst, a blur of nurses checking the flaps eavery hour initially (or more) and then every few hours. Your breasts are kept warm with additional blanket to encourage blood flow. You are "assisted" out of bed on the second day - torture, cruel... but you get through - you have access to adequate pain relief.

Getting out of bed on day 3 was also difficult, however each day became easier. You will only be able to have someone give you a sponge bath. One of the nurses washed my hair on about day 4 - heaven!!! By about day 7 I felt like I was well enough to go home.

I had the final drains removed on day 9 and was able to go home with a community nurse visiting every few days to change a dressing on my right side where the previously radiated skin had not completely healed. I really started to feel better each day being in my own home. I have made the effort each day to walk around the block - slowly and with company of course. Nights are the worst, trying to get comfortable, but I got that sussed quickly with 2 pillows under my knees and 2 under my head but I'll try to gradually get back to normal. I've only really take panadol as pain relief since being home and the community nurse thinks that my right side will be well and truly healed by the time I see my amazing surgeon on the 24th Sept.

Would I go through all this again..? Not tomorrow, but yes, even at this early stage I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I think the worst is over.. I probably would....

I hope this helps you. Good luck & take care

Nadene