Bilateral Mastectomy and TRAM Reconstruction

taraleec

I'm having a bilateral mastectomy and TRAM Reconstruction, this coming week.  Monday I'm having Delay surgery.  Please help with any words of encouragement or advice.  I'm so scared.  (Also it's hard to explain to my young son; this will be the first time in his life that he'll be away from me longer than a day).  I'm supposed to stay in the hospital for 5 days.  Thank You.

leaf

Of course you're scared.  You have never had this surgery before. This will change your body.  You've thought through this for quite some time.  Now you can look forward to a time with a much lower risk of breast cancer.  I'm sure you are doing this, in quite some part, so you can be there for your son.   I'm sure your son knows how much you love him. Kids are quite resourceful, and stronger than you think. 

You've gone through a lot.  You will have a whole new life to live.  Best wishes!

macksix6

Tara I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. Many of us have had to make the same decision but it is a relief to get to the other side. You will be in my prayers.

 I am a bit confused with your procedure. Will you be having a bilateral mastectomy and then delayed TRAM reconstruction at another date? You posted that you were having delayed surgery so I am not sure what you mean.

Please take advantage of any help from friends and family to get you through your recovery and help with your son.

Magister105

Tara:

I understand your fears and trepidation. I just had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction three weeks ago, and I was a mess the week before it. It was just so alien and I had the sense that I had lost control of my body. I was apprehensive of what life would be like in the weeks following surgery.

I will be honest, it is no picnic, but it is not the nightmare I had imagined. Don't be afraid to ask questions or just say you don't understand. My doctors and nurses were incredible, but they are so used to this that they sometimes forget EVERYTHING is foreign to the person dealing with cancer, surgery, and recovery. I am so much better after three weeks, but understand that I have weeks still to go.

The best thing for your son will be to see you when you come home. You will be able to talk with him and tell him you love him, and he will see that you are the "same ol'" mom he has known and loved.

I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. Life will get better!

taraleec

Thank you all for your kind words.  macksix6:  I'm having immediate Tram reconstruction.  My plastic surgeon says there's a procedure of tying off arteries in the groin area which will allow for increased blood flow to the breast.  Supposedly it is just called Delay Surgery.  That will be tomorrow.  The big operation will be Friday.

Minnesota

Taraleec,

I don't mean to throw anything to you from left field at this point, but is there a reason you're planning TRAM recon instead of DIEP? You know that TRAM can compromise your abdominal muscles, while DIEP does not? I traveled from Minnesota to New Orleans to have my recon - one big reason was because the breast recon surgeon here only knew how to do TRAMS,  and I didn't want to risk those muscles, yet I wanted to use my own tissue rather than implants. If you have any doubts about which procedure you want to have, or what the full range of options are, you know you can take all the time you need to do your research. I have pleomorphic LCIS and will probably be having prophylactic surgery on the other breast in the coming months. I plan to travel back to New Orleans to have it. I'm sorry if this is insensitive/inappropriate to bring this up at this point, but I just wanted to make sure you know all your options - many, many women aren't told them by their plastic surgeons - especially techniques they don't know how to do themselves.

BossyRenee

Tara:

I had the same surgery On October 5, 2009. My prayers are with you throughout this journey. Just know that your son will be waiting for you to come home with open arms exuding all the love that a child can express.

taraleec

OMG!!  (Forgive me) IT HURTS SO BADLY.  I had my Delay surgery today.  I thought the incisions were to be in my legs/groin area.  The incision was actually the bottom/lower incision which will be re-opened the day of the reconstruction.  It goes from hip to hip.  It is painful.  Good luck to everyone.  Thanks for your kind thoughts and words. 

Minnesota

Taralee,

Sending healing thoughts your way. So sorry you're in such pain. Did they give you pain medication? Maybe you need to ask for something stronger!

taraleec

Does anyone have suggestions on how to get out of bed or out of a chair after having an incision across the front from hip to hip?  It really feels like it's tearing the incision open each time I get up.

Anonymous

tara----to get out of bed: do not try to come straight up in bed--roll onto your side, bring your legs over the edge, push up on your arms to bring your body up as your legs go down over the side. To get out of a chair: using your arms to push, scoot forward in the chair so your feet are flat on the floor, then push with your arms and legs, so you don't strain with the abdominal muscles. This is how we teach it in the hospital (I'm a PT)--it also worked very well when I had my open abdominal hysterectomy! It also helps to pull on something sturdy (a bedside table for instance) if you're home alone. It's really important to try and get up and walk around a little bit every few hours to keep things moving. (circulation--to prevent blood clots, but also digestion---colace and senekot work well for constipation from painmeds)

Anne

taraleec

Thanks Anne, but it's still pretty difficult that way too, because I have a drain in.  Thanks for the suggestions.

leaf

When you have your next operation, you may want to request some PT if they don't automatically give it to you.  They can show you in detail how to do things. PTs have helped me so much!

Minnesota is right - if you are in horrible pain, then maybe your surgeon needs to know.

macksix6

Taralee

I am so sorry that you are in so much pain. I have not heard of this procedure before. Usually it is a one step procedure. When you have the other surgery request a Q ball which drips medication into the incision area. I had this for my diep surgery and I was not in any pain.

Good luck with your surgery Friday.

taraleec

Thank you everyone, I'm pretty nervous.

OG56

Taraleec, I am sending gentle hugs and wishes that the next few weeks of healing fly by.

Linda

leaf

Taraleec - I hope you are painfree and healing well.  I hope all went well yesterday.  Best wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery.

macksix6

Taralee welcome to the other side. I hope everything went well and you are resting and pain free. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Anonymous

Hi taraleec I hope everything went well for you yesterday and you are on your way to a speedy recovery.

Take Care

Cathy

CharlestonGirl

Taraleec, if you can do this, you might want to consider renting a hospital bed. I had BMx with immediate SGAP and we rented a bed for a while. Insurance will sometimes cover this, but it truly was a blessing and made it much easier to get out of bed as well as sleep, change positions, etc. My bed could raise the feet or head and that was great during a time when I couldn't wiggle around much to adjust pillows etc. We just shoved the furniture over and squeezed in the bed. It was great and worth every penny.

Hope all went well for you yesterday!

taraleec

It was rough.  I was in surgery 11 hours, very painful.  Someone in surgery, put tape on my skin along an ace bandage wrapped TIGHTLY around me.  When the Dr. removed the ace bandage, and the tape came off, it literally RIPPED my skin off about a 1/2 inch under my breast.  And it's about 3 inches long, looks like an actual burn, feels like it too, thru layers.  OMG!  Sleeping is definitely not peaceful yet.  But it was great to see my son and be able to be home with him.  Not alot of time to write now, but wanted to let all know I came home today.  And both Doctors say the healing looks to be going well.  Still lots more recovery though.  Goodnight all. 

leaf

Uhhhh - just those words 'ripped' sounds painful! 

Glad you got through to this other side, and so glad the healing looks like its going well.  Hope they gave you some good anti-pain strategies.

macksix6

Taralee so good to hear from you. Take your pain meds, drink lots of water and take those stool softners. Your body has been through a lot. You need to rest and get your strength back. Each day will get better, Try to take walks during the day but don't push yourself. Hopefully you have some help for you and your son. Congratulations you are on the other side.

Sending healing prayers your way.

taraleec

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, kind words and prayers.  I think the part in the hospital was actually the worst.  Having the drains in, and they were compressed underneath all the bandages and the binder, they had also left welts from my breasts down to my abdomen, then the lower ones left welts on my thighs.  Oh well had to get through it.  It is starting to feel better day by day, and doing a little more just by getting around the house. 

leaf

Good to hear you are doing better!  I'm glad you are trying to do a little more day by day.  Don't want to get frozen joints.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

macksix6

Taralee so good to hear that you are feeling better. Try walking each day and your strength will come back.