Question about abdominal exercises after a tram flap

Hi Mtriso - Did you have a "free-tram" ? If so, you should be fine doing abdominal exercises.....they should have no impact on the hardness of your new breast. Your new breast should stay soft - the hardness you experienced before was no doubt due to the newness of the procedure and possibly due to swelling. But since I haven't done any abdominal exercises myself yet after m March 3rd Diep, I can't really give you advice - who knows what will happen to my new "foob" when I start trying to get back in shape?

Lockerbie2 - your screenname conjurs up a sad time for me when my husband's close friend died in that awful terrorist attack on the plane over Lockerbie - is that what your name refers to? To answer your question - the same thing happened to me - the bloating - the pain - and my Diep surgery was nearly 3 months ago. How long ago did you have your surgery? And again - was yours a "free-tram" - that is, a "muscle-sparing tram"? If not, then you may not be able to do a sit-up ever again without the aid of a physical therapist (this according to a friend of mine who had her surgery about 10 years ago.) My own bloating is due to abdominal lymphema and I'm been going to an LE therapist who performs massage therapy on the abdomen and arm. It helps - a little bit - but I find if I'm too active during the day, my tummy gets even more bloated at night. I'm told it WILL get better over time - so I'm hoping the same will be true for you! Be sure to talk to your surgeon about your problems and ask him if he thinks a lymphedma therapist could help you. 

bean...You might want to repeat this question up in the surgery or recon sections where more women hang out and are more likely to have had the same issue.

~Marin

I to am having problems with stomach/upper abdomen bloating after DIEP surgery.  I did not know, until today, that I was not suppose to do exercises (especially sit-ups) until 6 months after my surgery.  Now I'm wondering if I made a small issue into a mountain.  I've stopped with the exercising, but I too have gained weight as I have to take Femara for the next five years.  I am very unhappy about the weight gain.  Thought about trying to get LapBand surgery to keep the weight gain down, but the 2/3d stage of my reconstructive breast surgery is due next Monday.  I will have to delay consulting with a gastroenterologist until later.  If anyone has an alternative to the bloated stomach, please share.

Thank you

I am about three months post TRAM surgery.  I am lumpy and bumpy in some areas around my breasts but my PS said he would remove much of that and even things out in stage 2 so I am not worried about that.  I had been exercising on an indoor bike and really watching my diet, keeping it bland.  I was really pleased with some semblance of a shape returning  and I had lost about 14 lbs after surgery.  Fast forward a couple of weeks and now my family is visiting.  Bunch of eaters, we have been eating out, BBQ'ing, having snacks, drinks, appetizers, etc.  I went back to the bloated upper belly with the funky detached feeling in my gut that I started out with.  I think my midsection looks like a frog belly right before dissection (a vision that keeps the sprinkles off my ice cream).  I haven't really gone overboard on eating.  I just need to face facts that I can't have salty food, spicy sauces, carbonated drinks, processed foods, bacon or anything that will cause bloat because right now it will just go to extremes. I have since upped my water intake, started eating better, cut out soda, and tossed all the fun food except the bag of Hershey kisses (they don't go bad).  Already I can feel things deflating.

Just noticed my recent default photo was taken at Chili's.

I had my tram on August 25th.  I was told no exercise what so ever for three solid months.  I  will see my surgeon in November to find our what I can do besides walk.  I have lost 15lbs since the surgery but i had a hysterectomy as well.  I tried to do a sit up yesterday just to try and i could do it but I only did three and quit.  I think we all have to realize this is a long haul and we have to be paitent.  I think this is the hardes thing for me.  My brain is alive and wanting to go but my body is not there yet. 

One thing my surgeon explained to me was your stomach is tighter which will not allow you to eat as much as you would normally.  I cannot eat the same amount I use to without rushing to the bathroom.  Sorry to share that but it really has been the hardest part for me. I have to eat very small meals slowly to have it digest well. 

Hang in there...we will get through this.

Hi I am new to this forum.  I had a tram flap reconstruction on May 26 2009.  Since then I have suffered from the bloating.  what I do notice is that it goes away when I do light exericise such as walking and when I watch what I eat, particularly avoiding coffee and salty foods.  Hope this helps.

I had a failed TRAM in January of 2008 and I still get bloated every day. By the end of the day I look and feel terrible. The bottom of my stomach is nicely shaped but the top bloats sideways. On October 14 I am having scar revision surgery to get rid of the dog ears on my sides and to flatten out the skin sparing mastectomy mess on my right side and smooth out the left side. If I'm going to be flat I want it to look as good as possible...

Linda

Edited to add that Yoga has been the best "exercise" for me. My core is much stronger.

I feel the same way, so depressing I am so lopsided, also I can't wear thight clothing, my scar across my tummy itiches like crazy, does this happen to all who had the free tram flap?

Hi, I had a DIEP surgery that turned into a ped. tram on 2/25/2009.  I was bloated for months and worried a lot about it.  I went to an occupational therapist for arm exercises to begin with, then eventually for my core muscle/stomach.   I went from May-Sept twice a week.   I stopped going when I finally could do a sit up!   I said "if I can do this, I WANT to do it!"    With help, and holding my feet down I eventually purservered and did a sit up, then 5 and eventually 5 more. Trust me, this was not easy.   

I want to eventually do a sit up without help, I believe it's possible but you need good help and coaching.

I had a tram-flap done in 2007 - and I have the chubbiness hanging over the sides but no fat rolls on my stomach. I was told that since your six pack is cut you can't do sit-ups. I can't even sit up without using my ams or my back. God help me if I try to get out of a pool or pull myself up. It's been over 3 years and I've adapted but I would like to do ab exercises if I could. I have problems toning my arms too because my pec's are gone - any suggestions for this?

i need some help please......my tram flap "failed" when i had my bi-lateral mastectomy.  this means that i had to have 7 reconstructive surgeries for breasts and basically had a tummy tuck..... i couldn't get a lot of explanation from my PS and he has retired now.  my question is CAN I DO ZUMBA AND YOGA EXERCISES THAT WORK ON THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES????  from what i can remember, they cut all the muscles in my stomach!!!  when i joined the YMCA they were trying to establish a workout program for me and when the instructor found out about my surgeries she suggested that i walk and do water aerobics.......my surgeries were 11 years ago this september.  

Wether a TRAM or DIEP it is your belly fat that is used as the breast tissue. When you gain or lose weight it will happen in the fat tissue in the breast and anywhere else that you have fat tissue like above the abdomen scar. Your new flat belly lacks the fat tissue as it has been relocated. If you gain a lot of weight you will still have a fairly flat tummy but your upper abs and hips will grow bigger as will your breasts. Crunches will not help. Walking, running, any aerobic activity and a good nutritional lifestyle (I hate to say diet because that seems temporary and this needs to be permanent) will help. I tell myself that food is medicine because I'm not on chemo and it wasn't recommended for me so this is my way of fighting the disease.

I had tram flap in January 2010 - I find water exercise helpful. Trying to go to pool every day for at least 30 minutes. My problem is a fairly new one....I am experiencing bloating. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat or if I eat. Tummy is full & hard!!! Any ideas? I can't say I have pain, just discomfort.