Regretting Tram almost 9 years out
I haven't visited BCO in so long but today everything came crashing back at me. My dx was 9 years ago this July. My Bi-lateral tram was also 9 years ago in July. I gained so much weight over the past 9 years I finally decided I had to do something about it. I won 6 weeks of training in a Facebook contest and started this week. I had already lost 11 pounds on my own. Today as I lay on the floor unable to do even one leg lift I started to feel like an overturned turtle, completely helpless. With no rectus abdominis muscle because of that tram nine years ago, today I felt butchered. The DIEP was new then and no surgeons in San Diego were doing it yet. I couldn't travel due to my young children, so 2 weeks after dx I had the surgery. Why didn't someone give me a Xanax or at least a margarita and let me think more clearly about this surgery. I knew what it was, I knew what would happen and I knew the repercussions but freaked-out-me over having no breasts went for it. For a few years it was great to have those perking breasts and flat stomach but that is over now. The breasts are sagging and are more like a uni-boob and skin is folding over under my arms. My stomach bulges out and don't even get me started on the enormous pubic mound that resulted from the tummy tuck. There is nothing I can do now. When I started crying in the training session today no one could have known what or why it was happening. The trainer knew my history but she had never been faced with someone without a rectus abdominis before she had no idea I could not lift my legs even an inch off the ground from a laying position. So here I am feeling sorry for myself when I should be happy I am alive. Bad day so I came here to an old familiar place. Thanks for reading my story.
Comments
-
i too feel like I have no core body strength. I had DIEP but I can't do any of my core strength training exercises. You should keep going 11 pounds your well on your way. Losing weight should help.
-
I'm so sorry you're dealing with long term side effects. You have every right to feel frustrated. We can feel both grateful to be alive and deeply saddened by the physical changes brought about by treatment. I hope you feel proud of yourself for starting to exercise! Good job!
-
Welcome back BMD! We're so sorry to hear of your frustration.
Perhaps checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Exercise, including the page on Finding an Exercise Trainor will give you some insight on exercise after breast cancer.
We hope this helps! Please let us know how you make out.
--The Mods
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team