Positive Tram Flap Stories?

Try the Diep Flap threads. There are some free trams posting there and diepflaps can have some of the same problems as Tramflaps. Really the experience of your surgeon is critical to any flap procedure. Good Luck

I had a tram flap in nov. and i must say it was not as difficult as i thought.  don't get me wrong surgery is surgery and this is a major one, i was in hospital for 3 days, and when i went home i was not in much pain , yes i had a pain pump but only for a couple days.  i was swollen for several months and couldnt wear reg. pants.  i needed help getting up and would walk bent over for about a week, but listening to the horror stories on here about tram flaps would scare anyone.  i think if you trust your ps and are comfortable with him, and he does trams a lot , i see no need to worry, its all a choice we have to decide.  i was happy with mine, not everyone is.  good luck

Hi Rosasmommy, nice to meet you:)  I had a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate tram flap reconstruction in Sept. 2011.  The surgery went very well, and I am pleased with the results.  The pain post op  was difficult for about a week, but it was well controlled with the pain meds.

I just had a hysterectomy in March, and I can say that the tram flap reconstruction recovery was more difficult than the hysterectomy recovery.  I had to take pain meds for a longer period of time post tram flap surgery, but again....it was well controlled with pain meds.

Hope this helps.  I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.    Paula 

Good morning, I am 4.5 weeks out from a bmx w/immed tram flap. My experience has been good. It is quite a big surgery, but the pain was not all that bad. While my new boob is still quite swollen and hard, I can see improvement every day. Still waiting to see what the final size will be but my ps told me that it could take 6 months or even more for the size to be determined. The only complication I have had is the abdomonal incision opened at the far right end and has been draining heavily for a few weeks and did develop an infection, but I caught it early and it is clearing up nicely. will be glad to be bandage free in a few weeks.

I selected the tram because I wanted to be sure of good blood flow and the microsurgery required for the diep had a potential for failure, I am 59 and did not want to go through more surgery and the ps said my muscle structure was really good and I have not noticed any muscle weakness. The flat tummy is a positive side effect! I still have some swelling and a bit of fluid on the reconstructed side, but can see that going down all the time. Wore jeans yesterday for the first time and it was OK, Really tired of sweats, but it is what is it is and I am trying to look long term. (Trying is the operative word here!)

I am happy with the TRAM and would recommend it to anyone in good enough shape to handle the muscle relocation.

LUvlulu , DIEP is not available in my country.  But over implants, i decided for TRAM flap. I want to use my own tissue in reconstructing my foob(fake boob). Though there are visible scars all over the body. I can say my recuperation/recovery is a success. My PS is happy with my progress.

Post surgery pains will be there as well as muscle tightness. But rest assured, everything will be fine. The first month will be tough. You can't walk straight at first but slowly and surely at the end of the month your body will recover.

Im on my 2nd month of recovery and I can cycle around my area and do exercises like I normally do. I can't believe that I have undergone surgery 2 months ago. 

But do take note, you will need to wear post surgery abdominal binder all the time. Due to weak abdomen, this garment will strengthen it and at the same time, prevent hernia. Avoid carrying heavy weights etc.

Actually for the cycling part, some are advising it 8 weeks post surgery but every body strength is not the same. So seek advise from your doctor before doing exercises. Recovery is very much important for the body.  

Thank you, girls.  Had my tram flap 2 weeks ago, and God bless, all went well.  My new boob looks better than the other one!  I'm up to walking 4 easy miles a day, but broken up into 2-3 walks.  Feeling a little stronger each day.

Just want to update - so far, so good with the tram flap, God bless. It will be 7 weeks on Monday.  I "jogged" 4 miles today, then walked one mile.  Also returned to the gym this week, doing very light weights just to "awaken" the muscles, and also some easy yoga stretches.  Getting used to my new body.  We all heal at different rates, but I'm feeling great mentally and physically . . .

hi,i am thinking of having this kind of reconstrution an would like to hear more from you,how you felt an do you think it was the right thing for you,please any details would help,norma x

Sorry, meant 5 wks out. Only wishing I was 7 wks out. Haha!

I am 13 days out from my bilateral free TRAM.



I got home on day 9 (keep us longer in hospital here in Australia) and have been in my own bed since then. I have a pile of new pillows I bought before going into surgery that I have used to prop me up. Hiher during the day and lower at night. I started off with 2 pillows under my knees to keep them bent and am now down to one pillow.



The first few days I had to roll on my side and then use my arms to help get myself out of bed. Now I am rolling to the side, using my hand to my knee to pull myself up and then getting out.



I have been very surprised at the amount of stomach muscle control I actually still have. It feels like it will be almost normal as it heals more!



I am walking but although I am mostly "unfolded" I am just not quite straight as yet. My stomach feels like it has a ways to go before it will be stretched out so I can put my shoulders back.



My breasts look amazing and my stomach is as tight as it was in my 20's according to my hubby.



Very happy so far...



Jenn

So great to hear such good results!  I am conflicted about doing this or the DIEP.  I'm worried about the muscle loss with the TRAM flap but my plastic surgeon doesn't do DIEP. The other doctor in his office has only done a few so he suggested I go to a hospital that is out of our area if I want that.  I don't know how long I would have to wait to be scheuduled for this however.  I can see my PS next month.  My big concern is that my husband has been laid off come January 5.  We'll have health insurance for 6 months as part of his severence package and can use COBRA after that.  My worry is that if we are fortunate enough that he gets another job quickly, we may not have the same health insurance coverage and will have to start all over again.  Saying lots of prayers to come to the best decission.

Hi girls . . . Had my TRAM flap - left only - on July 16th and now I have no restrictions.  My body feels different, but this is the new normal, I guess!  It looks great.  And I'm a runner, weight lifter, do yoga and ride horses.  I still go easy on any ab work, but I'm happy to report I feel strong and fit (at age 59!).  I thought running and lifting would be the hardest part, but actually it's the yoga.  I can't do a "bow" pose yet (lying on stomach, grab ankles and lift shoulders and legs) but that will come eventually.  Anything where I'm doing back extensions is a little more difficult (Cobra, Up Dog), so I don't push my edge!

My PS didn't want to do DIEP because of previous radiation and my anatomy, but I trust him completely and so far I'm having no regrets.

Late to this post, but I thought I'd just add my feedback on the TRAM flap reconstruction.  I originally had silicone implants in January 2011 after BMX in Dec 2010.  Had 3 surgical procedures within a week due to complications... mostly my body not liking the implants.  By Nov 2011 I had quite a case of capsular contracture.  I hated those implants and never felt right the entire time I had them.  I switched plastic surgeons (original PS was competent, but we didn't mesh IMO).  Loved my new PS.  He did agree with 2 other opinions I had gotten that I shouldn't just go flat as I 'd be miserable being concave after removing the implants.  Since I'd fluffed up with 30 lbs in the year since BMX, I said, o.k. do the TRAM.  Not gonna lie, that surgery kicked my ass.  Having already had a c-sect, hysterectomy, and the BMX, feel like I'm qualified to say that was quite an experience.  My surgery took 9 hrs with 2 plastic surgeons.  Apparently removing the capsular contracture "stuff" was quite an ordeal.  I remember how pleased both surgeons and the nurses were with my stomach... kept telling me how happy I'd be.  But that surgery knocked me on my ass, so to speak. The next morning my blood counts were down and I barely had enough strength to hit my morphene button every 10 min.  Doc gave me 2 bags of blood and wouldn't let me out of bed until the 2nd day.  Fine with me... I couldn't move if I wanted to.  Gotta warn you, having had 2 major abdominal surgeries without a pain ball, I can tell you that that little device is very deceiving! Whenever I'd get up to walk or go to the bathroom, I'd think... "wow, this isn't as painful as I was expecting it to be."  And the nurses kept yelling at me to hunch over more.  I thought I was a rock star... until the last pain ball ran out on about day 9... lol.  Was on morphene at the hospital until day 6, and then the pain was manageable with tylenol with codeine for about 10 days and then I switched to extra strength Tylenol.  Even so, on the morning of day 5, I didn't think I'd ever get up enough strength to walk the entire hospital floor so I could go home.  Miraculously, later that night, I turned a corner, and finally went home on day 7.  I'd walk around the neighborhood, first down the street and back, then around the circle.  Finally I was back walking 2 mi., maybe it took a month?, even though I was a little hunched over.  

I made the mistake of going to the grocery store at the end of week 3.  Since I was feeling so much stronger, didn't think anything of it.  By the time I got to the end of the first aisle and went to turn to corner,  it was too late before I realized how much we use our stomach muscles to do something as simple as turn a shopping cart.  2 days later, I had a 4 in opening in the center of my 2 ft abdominal incision.  That required 5 months of daily wet/dry packing an open wound until it healed.  Word of warning to future TRAM flap patients... don't push, pull or lift anything over the "milk jug" limit.... it's not worth the possible damage to the weakened stomach incision.

March 8th will be my 1 yr anniversary of the TRAM reconstruction.  I'm not as disciplined about working out.. too many things going on to get in a routine.  But I can pull down 45 lbs on the lat pull machine at the gym.  I can do 30 lbs on the pec dec.  I had HUGE problems with this when I had the implants...was too weakened with the chest muscle pulled over the implant.  Even swimming took time to get used to with the implants.  Not with the TRAM reconstruction.  I can do yoga again.. although push ups position are a little challenging.  8 months ago it was hard for me to get up out of the shampoo chair at the salon.  Now I've gotten the hang of doing a "roll up" motion with my hands behind my knees and I kind of rock myself up.  I can do the same thing from laying flat, or I just kind of roll to the side.  That's way less uncomfortable or limiting than the feeling of having the implants under the chest muscles.  Did I mention I hated the implants?? lol   I used to be able to do 500 crunches on the ab bench at the gym.  Recently I've been able to get back to 225.  I'm not quite crunching forward as high as I did before, but it's definitely good for my remaining ab muscles.  The only thing I have trouble with is unscrewing a jar lid that's tight, or some motion that really requires straining across the chest.  Not really sure if that's 'cause I was stretched out with those awful implants originally.

On the bad side, I'm going in for yet another surgery next month.  I have a very thick, uncomfortable glob/section of scar tissue in the center of my abdomen. My PS is going to do scar revision and excise some of the excess scar tissue.  I did pretty much lose my belly button... hard to call what's left an excuse of a belly button.  That kind of makes me sad 'cause I had a cute one before!   I still wear an abdominal binder/waist cincher.  I'm rarely without it... in the shower, at the pool, or if I'm going to exercise and sweat.  My stomach feels too weird without it.  Doc is going to add some extra mesh (apparently I do have some) to try and strengthen my stomach wall. His goal is so I can stop wearing the ab binder.  I definitely have an abdominal bulge that I'm hoping is minimized after this next surgery, although I'm wearing jeans and such.  Also, my pelvic area is still rounded/puffy/swollen.  Doc thinks he can fix that a little bit.  But let's face it, there's collateral damage and my stomach/abdomen will never be the same.  It is what it is.  I try and watch my posture now... notice I'll slouch in my desk chair.  Not sure I wasn't doing it before, but I'm trying to be more conscious of it in case it's because of my weakened stomach. Also, the area right around the sternum at the top of the rib cage is just finally feeling less "numb" and swollen a year later. 

Tram Flap Warriors is a good name for those of us who chose this route.  Honestly, I don't really regret doing the surgery.  I hated the implants.  Much happier with the appearance and feel of the TRAM reconstruction.  There is collateral damage to this procedure... but that's just more of the gift of cancer.. the gift that keeps on giving whether we want it or not.  Some days I wish I had no reconstruction at all, as the past 2 yrs has been quite a battle because of the reconstruction.  If I had to choose, I'd take the TRAM over the implants right from the start.  I personally felt like a freak with the implants.  My TRAM foobies look much more real to me and aesthetically, I like them much better than how I looked with the thin skin over the implants.  Everyone has to make their own decision as to what works best for them.  I think I was one of the "special" people that just has a tougher go with things.  We don't choose this journey, but we can fight a good fight to try and get our "new normal" back.

I love to all member . This site is very wonderful  and interesting . I have take a lot of information , advice and support .  I'm too glad whereas share our knowledge , your thinkinhg both positive and negative . I learned most of positive experienced .

Hi everyone.  I had a pedicle tram flap june 2012.  My outcome is positive, however complications along the way.  I don't regret for a minute having the surgery (okay, maybe a little during the first month!).  I am a massage therapist and use my core and upper body daily.  I have had no complications with my stomach muscles, and I love my flat tummy.  Yes, occasionally I feel tightness and it's a little harder to straighten up, but that only occurs when I have taken on too much.  I am experiencing some swelling in my breast and I do have some hardening.  Massage by a professional experienced in lymphatic draingage and treating the breast has helped tremendously.  I experienced some tissue loss as well as an infection.  i am having a second surgery to repair my scar, and to lift my other breast.    I did my research and I knew this was a long process.  My breast looks great, my stomach looks great and I feel great physically.  I truly believe the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon is the key to a successful outcome.