hi,im hopefully havin ld flap with expander in the new year,can any one tell me what the recovery period is,im really scared of the op,but i need to have it done to feel me again thanks x
Hiya
I had ld flap with implant done in March. Its a big operation but the recovery time was alot less than i had expected. I would say that i felt almost normal within about 4 weeks, although there is NOO way i could have returned to work.
The op was the best thing i could have done. The backache was the one thing that nobody told me about but thats a small price to pay. It takes a while for the muscle to settle down and for a while you can feel it “twitching” under your arm but that gets less and less as the weeks go by.
Get yourself a V pillow, I took mine into hospital and was an absolute godsend. Somebody else also suggested satin sheets which makes it easier to get in and out of bed.
Any more questions then pls feel free to ask. You will be just fine. The anticipation is FAR worse than the operation!!!
All the best.
Deed
xx
Hello,
I had an LD flap in February. I had six weeks off work. I had imagined I would do all sorts of things during my six weeks off, but the reality was I was extremely tired for the first four weeks or so of that, so really did very little but sit around and potter a little around the house. When I first got home if I pottered for half an hour I would need to sit down for two hours to recover. And I’m not the sort who gives in easily.
I run, and I started running again after five weeks, very slowly and very short distances, and I found that I had no energy. In that respect it took me a good four months to feel myself again.
Deed’s satin sheets idea sounds very good, as moving around in bed is quite awkward to begin with.
xx
Posted for new user Lynda
Jo, Facilitator
hiya, i had an ld flap recon two weeks 4days ago.I am still in a lot of pain especially around the back.I also had a full lymph node clearance so im very sore under the arm too,Sleeping is the worst thing 'trying to get comfortable’i have had to take sleeping tablets.All that said i am feeling a little stronger each day and the new boob is quite amazing,i am to have the other one uplifted with a small implant when all my chemo etc is over.Good luck with everything.Lots of love.xx
Hi - could I ask a question to ladies who have undergone ld flap reconstruction…?
I have been told I need a double nipple-sparing mastectomy, but have a couple of options in terms of reconstruction. I’m worried about the ld flap option for a few reasons, such as additional scaring, but more importantly because I’m very active (I’m 38)- I have run numerous half and full marathons and completed in my first triathlon this year and plan to do more once this cancer thing is sorted.
I understand the removal of the back muscle can lead to back discomfort and weakened back muscles long term. Now I’m obviously not looking at Olympic medals here, but being active is so important to me as I want to ensure that my decision supports my lifestyle and not being able to run/swim/cycle etc really scares me.
RoadRunner - how is the running now? Obviously I know recovery time is important, but do you think the op has compromised your running enjoyment?
hi runner girl, I was told that I might have stiffness or reduced strength in my back and arm which was something i was very concerned about as im in the police force and it would have meant I couldnt have dealt with confrontation therefore having to move to a desk job. Im pleased to say that through strengthening exercises i have managed to get that strength up to what it was before. The force medical officer had to check me on weights before i was allowed back so i know its not just my wishful thinking! I had a set back recently with my implant and was rushed in for more surgery but able to continue with the exercises so not to lose all that i have gained. I do get back ache from time to time but im expecting that to get easier as my back get stronger. I know nobody can give you any guarantees and its a huge decision to make but thankfully it paid off for me. I hope you make the right decision for you.
best of luck
deed
xxx
Deed, Your message was useful, I work as a prison officer , am having to choose option of MX or Rads and one of the things that scares me about the long term side effects of mastectomy is losing upper body strength.Unfortunatly in my job there is not an option of working at a desk ,I would be re-graded and lose alot of money. Do you get the appropriate pysiotherapy and advice on strengthening excercises whilst in hospital?
Hi Bannibug
When you are in hospital a physio will come round and give you a leaflet - i did these religiously every day. I was also aware that i couldnt let that arm become lazy so continued to use it constantly. How will you do a phased to return to work? I saw the force medical officer 2 weeks ago and he doesnt think i will be able to do confrontation until March!! I have to admit that im not happy about it. Its a tough decision so make sure you think long and hard. any other questions pls dont hesitate to give me a shout!
good luck,
deed
xx
Deed, ,I,m on a back to work plan now ,following my wide local excision. Work has been realy good allowing me to do report writing for a couple of weeks, however that is not a long term option. I’m not sure how flexible the service will be in regards to my annual fitness test, I,m afraid of becoming an easy target for helping them to make financial savings. Iknow I must not allow this to enter the equation when making my decision ,but we all have bills to pay and that’s a sad fact.
Deed - many thanks for your response and it’s great to hear that you’re back at work and almost back to old self, although a year of not being able to perform confrontations must be so frustrating. It’s very reassuring to hear that you did regain your strength, although I’m sure much of that is your diligence in keeping up your exercises which is a good lesson for us all. I’m still leaning towards the implant option as I have to have a double masectomy and so trying to creating a new breast that is the same as the existing one is less of an issue; else I think this would be my first choice for cosmetic reasons. I know I’m lucky to have a choice, but I almost wish someone would tell me what to do.
Fortunately I have dull desk job (I’m a businss analyst, although getting cancer makes me think about more useful careers, but that’ a whole other thread!!) so my choice isn’t restricted by my job and money (Bannibug - I feel for you there as you have to live with it for the rest of your life and it would be a shame if your job dictated your choice…) but I want to have many more healthy years, and for me that has to include sport.
Many thanks again for your messages and best of luck of everyone…
Runner girl,
I can honestly say that I have felt no difference in my shoulder/arm strength or movement since the operation, other than the first day or two. My PS told me that my running and swimming would not be affected - he was right. He was more cautious about my church bellringing, and wouldn’t say how that would be affected. Well it hasn’t been affected either.
Are you having or have you had a node clearance? For me that did make a difference to my arm strength, but that was three years before the LD flap. It never made any difference to the running, but I was aware of a weakness there when gardening & bellringing, and if I had a longer swim than usual. This took a long time to go away, I’d say two to three years before I stopped feeling that weakness.
Hi everyone
I was hoping for ‘just’ a WLE after months of hormones. Unfortunately I found out yesterday that although the ultrasound said my tumour had shrunk (albeit with fuzzy edges), the MRI I had a few days ago said otherwise. Apparently there is a smallish harder part, but with lots of small bits left around it. It’s like parts have dissolved but not enough.
So yesterday I found that I had to have a MX after all. I don’t want to always be without a breast, so I am opting for an immediate reconstruction with LD flap. It was a real shock as we were all geared up for WLE + rads and I’m still reeling from the news.
drabble: Looks like I’ll be having surgery at a similar time to you.
I am also very concerned about the pain and discomfort, both short term and long term. I’ve just been reading another thread which was not as upbeat as this one. It’s encouraging to read that some of you found that exercise seems to have helped you regain your strength.
Deed: I think I’ll try and get a V pillow as I think I am more concerned about the pain in my back.
My other concern is sleeping, especially at first. I already have aches and pains in my legs and hips most nights due to Femara/Zoladex, so I tend to move around a lot. The thought of only being able to lie on one side only at first will mean more aches and pains in my legs as well as a painful back/side/breast.
I was told I will be off work for 3+ months, and I will not be able to drive for at least 2 months. I am not looking forward to being without my car for so long as I can’t walk far because of the fatigue/aches due to the hormones, and I rely on my car for freedom.
I just hope my experience is not too bad. Any hints and tips would be appreciated.
Julie
Hi,
I had mast with immediate ld flap in May 2009, I can say that I felt no pain what so ever either post op or whilst recovering, I was given plenty of pain killers but found I did not need them a week after surgery. The new boob, did feel like a lump of clay on my chest at first but this goes and today, it feels just like my other floppy boob. no painful bits or restrictions at all. It took a bit for me to lie on my side or back but it comes. My only tip would be keep your arm and shoulder moving, coz frozen shoulder does hurt.
I am so thankful that I was able to have the ld flap, and I am avery mard person.
take care, you will be fine xx
I had ld flap recon in Nov 2009. Went back to running 5k per day (probably not as much as RoadRunner and RunnerGirl though) by the following March. I was also happily shifting wardrobes around (as I helped my Mum move her house around) by the following June, then had to nurse my 16stone father who had to be lifted in and out of bed/wheelchairs etc.until he died in October. I would say that I felt a bit weaker but with exercise and use it came back.
However, don’t be too keen to lift things too early as you will risk lymphodeama, so get some exercises from the hospital physio by going to your doctor once you are 6 weeks in and asking for them. It is a shame they are not given automatically, but I got 6 weeks’ worth (there was a waiting list, so ask for them as soon as you can)
Annie
Some of my concerns are how I will cope at first. For example, is getting out of bed difficult, will I be able to pull on my own socks, is it possible to sit and relax, and, most of all, how do you sleep when it hurts on your back, side and front and you have 4 drains in?
Apart from Deed’s suggestion of a V shaped pillow, does anyone have any other ideas of things to get to make life more comfortable. (I will feel better about it if I feel prepared)
Julie
Hi all, I had recon 9 weeks ago,I had a double mastectectomy back in october 2007 and in november have just been reconstructed with ld flaps and skin taken from my back on both sides, I must admit I have sailed through this. Before going for the op I expected to be in great pain having the muscle and skin taken from my back on both sides. I had implants on both breasts with no expanders. The recon on the left side has dropped somewhat, however the right side (which had rads) has not dropped as good as it could have done, I am just hoping that with massage and time it will look just as good as the left side. I feel so much better now, I did not realise just how much I wanted this until seeing my new breasts. I hope to go on to have the nipples done and also get the aereolas tattooed on. I believe I have sailed through this op because I did my best to get myself fit and ate properly knowing I was going for the op. Good luck to all you ladies who are going for it…I luv my twins…xx
thankyou ladies,my appointment got cancelled so im not goin till 11th feb then i should get my date for op,im feelin loads better about havin it done,i will keep you posted thankyou again love dawn xxxx