reconstruction - wanted tips and handy hints
Ladies, any handy information to help with my hosp stay and 6 week recovery period?
I am having a tram DIEP flap reconstruction which is quite major surgery and will be limited with what i can do ...
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I had a left side mastectomy and reconstruction at the same time. I also had a full axillary dissection - this is the removal of the entire pad that all the lymph nodes are in.
The surgery was about 6-7 hours. The first few days are pretty tough mostly due to lack of sleep. You have your own nurse and she is in every 30 mins for the first 24 hours. They constantly check your new boob to make sure it has blood flow and a good temperature. Next day day every 1 hour. Then there is the parade of surgeons and whoever else. By day 3, I was soooo tired and just over it all.
I had no complications and things improved every day. Before you know it, the drains are out and you are shuffling up and down the hallway!
It is a big surgery and certainly not to be taken lightly but I don't regret it for a minute. I am relatively young (early 40s) and NOT having a reconstruction was never really something I considered.
Happy to answer any questions you have
Justine