I was diagnosed in Dec 2008. Had a left mastectomy Jan 2009, plus chemo, radio and herceptin. All treatment finished in Apr 2010. Then went to see consultant about Reconstruction. I used to be a 32H on both sides !! consultant suggested tummy reconstruction and reduction on remaining side. I have been on the waiting list ever since. part of me wanted to chase it up as I hate the fake boob, but part of me did not, as I have a very busy life and did not want to spend so much time in hopsital and then recovering. Plus my husband does not want me to put myself through any more pain.
So anyway yesterday I went for my annual check up and mentioned it to my breast care nurse and consultant. they said they would chase it up. Which they must have done as today I have had a call offering me an op date 25/5/12 !!
I agree with what some of the others of you have written about getting closure and getting the last bit of your life back to normal. I am very aware of my fake boob and feel unable to wear nice summery clothes, as everytime I look down I can see the fake boob.
I am now pleased that it is nearly all over but also scared. I sailed through my mastectomy and chemo etc, so hopefully this op will be the same !
so pleased to hear you have a date. you are right though whilst part of you wants reconstruction the other part of your brain is saying why put yourself through all this when you don’t need to. I had a delayed diep reconstruction in November 2011 and to be honest I have never regretted it at all - it was the best decision I ever made. It is a big op but I would go through it again as I now have a real boob, and it has made so much difference to my self confidence and I also have a nice flat tummy too. There is nothing to be scared of - its not nice being in hospital but remember you come out with a new body and within a few weeks you will back to doing all the normal things. good luck xx
I foster and have a house full of kids and although my hubby is great with them, having to deal with them all on his own he finds really hard. So I am wondering how long it will be before I am up and mobile again
How long were you in hospital for? How mobile were you when you got home? I remember after my Mastectomy that I had to have a drain in when I got home. am I right in thinking that you cannot drive until after six weeks?
sorry for all the questions, but it was such a long time ago that I saw the consultant that I cannot remeber exactly what he said and I do not have my pre-op appointment until the end of April
I had a diep flap recon to my right breast 10 days ago, I was in hospital for 6 (went in night before op on the sun and out by the following sat). I had 4 drains and a cathether (don’t worry about that I did and to be honest it was nothing). The first 2 days after the op were spent in bed and I had 3 of the drains removed on the 3rd day after, with the catheter out the 4th day and the last drain out of the last morning.
I was very stiff and sore at first but each day is getting better. Have been a bit bent over and not up to walking far but have pottered around and am up and down stairs. Did a bit too much yesterday and have spent most of today resting up. Your not allowed to lift more than a half filled kettle and they have said probably about 4 weeks before I can look at driving (it will depend on how I feel at that point).
I am awful at not just letting others do for me but am having to as am coming to realise if I try to do too much early on it will only delay how quickly I recover.
I dont know how old the kids are but can they each take on some chores on a rota once you have the op and make sure they all understand it will be their job to tell ‘mummy’ off if she does something she shouldnt and help instead.
Good luck with the op, I am over the moon with the early results and would have it again in an instance.
As alex says it is a bigger op than a Mx, and I too had four drains - but all these came out before I came out of hospital. I was in hospital for 5 days. They tell you not to do anything for the first few weeks as your tummy (if you are having a diep) is quite tight and sore and you will find it hard to walk straight, or lift anything. My boob was fine - it was my tummy that caused the problems. I did get an infection which is unusual so it was longer before I actually recovered, but I think you can expect to drive after about 3 weeks and do light duties after about 6 weeks. I am now 3 months down the line and can do everything but I avoid any heavy lifting (but I did anyway as I do have a bit of a bad back). I think you will need some help for the first couple of weeks out of hosptial x
well, Im just back from hols where I flaunted my tum and boob in a brief bikini…and Saffronseed and I even met up and compared our results a few weeks ago…we had our ops in different hospitals just one day apart. Glad you have a date now and you can plan to be in your bikini for August bank holiday if not before.
Id say that you should be offered help with the household initially,either housework at least and possibly childcare… you could go through your BCN, Mac Millan, your GP or the SSD but get in early! Likewise, get in touch with your district nurses before you go in, so they know to come and see you after discharge to check on your wounds…mine didnt pick me up until 6weeks after, which was way too late. My drains etc were all out when I came home after 7 days, and the dressings and few stitches taken out 2 days later…that was that! The tummy weakness and stretching makes it hard to walk or stand or get comfy, but it does pass and exercises really help!
Good luck, you sound very capable and positive and youre on track now!
hi Im 14 days post op now, struggling with tummy a wee bit and might have an infection. Do they have to remove lots of stitches? Im due at hospital tomorrow and bit worried about it with the reaction and blisters on tummy yuk!!!
I didnt have stitches intially they used glue to hold my tummy together (sounds yuk but its ok). when I went for my post op check up I too had blisters and thought I had an infection - infact it was a hematoma which they couldnt drain and I had to go back and removed under GA. I then had to have stitches in my wound as they opened me again. When I had these stiches removed it was fine - didnt hurt at all and they just cut them out with some fine scissors. x
Hiya Girls,
Listening to all your stories is a big help i’m just waiting for my date for Tram Flap! still nervous,excited scared!! so glad i’ve not read any horror stories!! obviously i understand there may be litle problems but they get sorted dont they? thanks girls keep the stories coming, Lynn XX
I am now starting to look forward to my op, to get rid of this fake boob once and for all. Especailly after the nice sunny days that we have had lately. It will be great to wear what I want when I want again. Although not quite sure about a bikini !!!
I’ve spoken to social services about getting a week or two’s respite so that should help out.
I have just got myself a secondhand treadmill, which I am trying to use at least 3 times a week. Hopefully it will also help me exercise gently afterwards.
I coped really well with my other op and all of my treatment and I know this is a much bigger op, but hopefully I will cope just as well this time round.
Really glad for you that things are coming together, its easier once you know what you are working towards, let us know how you get on and shout up if you get any queries in the meantime.
I found it really helpful to stock the freezer up on some easy meals, stews, casseroles, chilli, curries etc, they have made it easier and meant still eatting well and also gave me some control over getting ready for the op
I’ve mentioned it on another thread, but with you mentioning sunny days worth mentioning again, I was told by my recon nurses to avoid getting to much sun to scar for first year, they said it can mean that the scar stays darker then the surrounding area if it gets sunburnt, so yes wear what you want but not when out in the sun for the early days
I have had TNBC twice, the second time, last year, needing a mastectomy. I am waiting to have a reconstruction, but have been told I’m too over weight. I am a size 16! Has anyone else been told this?
Now, after having chemo twice and loosing my boob I have now got to struggle to loose weight.
As far as I know, it’s about the BMI, so dress size is only one indicator, it depends on height too. Did they tell you your BMI? I think a BMI of 30 is the max thats recommended for a big op like this. Mine was 29 ( as I’m shortish) but a size 14 so I just got in on this basis and had a DIEP in November. Ooh my tum is nice and flat now, I think I lost about 3llbs there!
It’s a balance of having enough tissue to fill a breast if it’s a LD, DIEP or TRAM flap, without complications from strain on the heart etc in surgery.
Have you been offered any help with losing weight? I saw you’ve upped the exercise by getting a treadmill. My WIi fit was quite helpful for me as it gave me daily reminds of progress or not, and I covered lots of different exercise types. I REALLY must start using it again but 4 mile dog walks have taken over recently!
Best of luck, let us know how you’re going? Pm me if you’d like to.
I was a size sixteen and was never asked to lose weight. When I asked my PS she said it would help me but never made it a pre-condition. As it is I exercised regularly and followed weight watchers diet for months. I was and am now, a size 14 for my op (well 16 on top; thats why they needed the belly…) Seems different doctors have different ideas about it. Trouble is, if like me you are on an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) it makes losing the weight just that little bit harder and I am sure they should be aware of that? Just noticed you are TN so that wouldnt apply to you.
New forest mum, I too had my left mastectomy in January 2009. I have just had my diep four weeks ago. Whilst I am still a bit sore and slow, I have not regretted it for a moment. It exceeded all my expectations. Hope you feel the same way!!
Hi, I had a double op with a diep one side and tram. I am overweight and lost a stone and half before op but was still bmi of 34 but they did need my stomach bulge to make a set of boobs. Must say if I had lost a bit more would have had a flatter stomach instead I am left with a bulge.
Well been 8 weeks now and must admit that last week Ive left almost normal apart from a pulling pain on my right hand side in my belly and further down, Im assuming this is the side they took some muscle from and amybe that’s why. Bit down that due to rads etc. the size difference is quite a lot so next week looks like a fitting for a much smaller falsie so they are still haunting me lol! Holdidays in 10 days which will be 9.5 weeks. Still have wee scab in belly button but hoping that they will allow me to go in the pool as that’s half my holiday and thought swimming might really help but worried about germs - any ideas? Also the sunbathing bit? No scars will be on show and high factor cos of lymphoedema in arm but should i be putting lotion on underneath cossie just in case? hum wonder if can get perfume free ones?
I stayed at parents for around 4 weeks probably could have moved home quicker but was double recon so took it easy. When I moved home I re-arranged things a bit so that I had extentions in sockets wrapped over door handles so didnt have to bend as far, moved my cupboards around so must used food at the lower level so didnt have to stretch as far etc.
Didnt drive till after 5 weeks but I was just being a wee bit spoilt I think - diriving back to normal now and although still get tired and ache so glad I had it done as I did nearly back out lol! xx Good luck
Lynn XX