DIEP or TRAM - anyone either type reconstruction in relation to....

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1

hi there,

anyone out there who had a diep or tram flap reconstruction in relation to:

  1. had a diep but was told before the op there was a 10% chance it would need to become a tram flat (taking all muscle) when on the table (although that didn’t happen).

  2. or had a tram flap as a research of the 10% chance coming true - and how has it been having a tram?

When I originally saw the surgeon some months back he talked about muscle sparing and never mentioned it not being, and someone in a forum mentioned they signed something to say don’t take the whole muscle/s. Now 3 weeks before the op, he has mentioned the 10% chance of taking all the muscle – was anyone else told this and have I imagined it about opting out? I think I put that to him but he was saying they wouldn’t know for sure until you’re chopped open and from what he was saying they would be half way through so it wouldn’t work to stop.

Because he was very reassuring at the time today, I forgot to keep my questions head on. Now it’s back and I’m feeling very unsure again. I have a friend who has endless hernias (not from a tram, but I’ve seen the damage), there’s a possibly of me having keyhole to remove ovaries in future so I’m wondering with one muscles there if that would add to the chance of hernias a lot. I also want to build my strength and wonder how having no lower core muscles could affect me.

Any folk out there with any thoughts on:

  • having the 10% mentioned
  • opting out of further while on the table from signing something
  • what it’s like having had a tram

thank you so much :womanhappy:

a very nervous & confused,

Jenny x

2

Hi jenny
I had double mx and recon with Diep before the op surgeon was a bit unsure about being able to do both sides Diep as ct did not show a great perforator on one side.
She said she would do best to get it done as a double Diep but if not she would just take a small piece of muscle one side.
In the end it was a double Diep but I think they like to warn you just in case.
I think if they only take a small piece of muscle the risk of hernia is very low so I would ask if that would be an option if it came to it!
But as I understand from my surgeon it is pretty rare that they can’t do a Diep so I would be reasonably confident that they can do Diep for you.
SL x

3

Hi Jenny,

 

I’ve just come across this and am assuming you have had your operation by now. I too was scheduled for a DIEP but when they did the CT scan, my surgeon warned me that my blood vessels were small and numerous which increased the risk of the flap failing and also complicated the surgery. He warned me I might have to have a TRAM and in the end I had an MS TRAM early Feb.

 

I’m recovering pretty well, the wounds have healed and I’m focussing on upping my physical activity and stretches whilst being careful about what I lift. I’ve been getting mixed information about what level of exercise will become normal and when to resume things like hoovering and mopping. (some sites say 4 months and others think I should be back to duties by now!) 

 

Would really like to know which op you had in the end (if you already have) and how the recovery is going.