Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Ladies - I have just found your thread - I haven't been on this site for ages but occasionally I feel the need to go back and see if anyone is having the same problems as me! I had a MX with immediate free tram flap in Aug 2008. Unlike all of you who have had long waits for surgery after previous treatment I had my surgery within 7 weeks of initial diagnosis so it was a fairly traumatic summer this time 2 years ago. The outcome is pretty good - he did a nipple graft at the same time so I won't need any more surgery. I had hoped for some other lipo work to improve a flat breast mound but he is reluctant to do 'unnecessary' cosmetic surgery. I had a seroma in my tummy which needed regular draining for 6 months but eventually emptied itself. After nearly 2 years my tummy is still tight and uncomfortable and I think has a lot of adhesions - I seem to have a 'muffin top' along and above my 18" tummy scar (Yes - I did measure it!) which isn't getting smaller. After buying some bras in Nicola Jane in London I am finally comfortable but struggled with finding the perfect bra for ages and all I wanted to do at night when I came home was take my bra off. So - best of luck at St Johns - on the whole it was good and I have a good result - I can wear low cut bras and tops and could wear a bikini (If only I was not in my 50's!) ... View more

I love the idea of the cabbage leaves - I must give this a try! I have been having an abdominal seroma drained since last October after a tram flap recon last august. It is now down to a small amount every 4 weeks but they feel it is best to drain it or the layers of muscle won't knit together. There seems (as ever) to be as many different opinions as there are surgeons........ I feel more comfortable to be having it monitored and drained under ultra sound than just being left with the hope that it will be absorbed. Good luck with the cabbages........... ... View more

Hi - where is your seroma? Tummy or breast? I have one in my tummy which needs drained every 3 or 4 weeks after tram flap last August - so it can go on for a bit I'm afraid! ... View more

Hi fantan - thank you for getting in touch. I'm having it drained using ultra sound now and it's certainly a lot less painful now that she can see what she's doing! I am 5 months post op so I hope it will not last as long as yours has. Hope you get rid of it! ... View more

Hi girls - I feel very much like you all do - I was dx with widespread high grade DCIS in July and had a MX with immediate tram flap recon. I am due to go back to work in 3 weeks and I hate the thought of it. I got 6 months off so I can't complain but I really worry about how I'll get on as I don't sleep well either - I have all the same discomfort you are describing - then I can sleep in for hours in the morning. I'm in my 50's with no kids at home so I feel so lazy but I wish I could just jack it all in too! ... View more

Hi girls - just to add my twopennyworth to what the others have said - I had a Mx with immediate tram flap recon in august and I don't regret it at all - it was a traumatic experience but now 4 1/2 months on I look fine (sadly he couldn't do anything about the bags under my eyes!) I wear bathing suits, vest tops whatever and even in the skimpiest bra no-one could see any difference. It takes a long while to get over this operation - I was told this before but didn't really appreciate what it actually meant but now I am getting back to full fitness and will regretfully return to work in Feb. (I was lucky and was entitled to 6 months off so I just took it). I still have a bit of trouble getting comfortable in bed but that is the worst problem. Good luck in January - I am sure it will work out well. ... View more

Hi Lorraine - like Louise I had my op with C R in Livingstone - in August. I had a MX with immediate tram flap recon. It was a long op - 11 hrs I believe and I felt awful to begin with, no doubt about it but after the first 8/10 weeks I felt much stronger. I am cycling, exercising, doing everything much as before, except heavy lifting - which suits me fine! Have faith in this PS - he most certainly knows his stuff and although he will leave it up to you which op you have he will make it clear which one suits you best and will advise you. Hope it goes well. Good luck ... View more

Hi girls - I had a nipple graft taken from the 'good' side at the same time as I had a MX with immediate tram flap recon. I was apprehensive as I didn't want to lose any sensation on the other nipple but I needn't have worried - there isn't any change in it. To begin with the new nipple looked like a dried up raisin but then that fell off after a couple of eeks leaving a lovely little pink blob! I will have the 'areola' area tattooed in the new year and it will hopefully look better. Yes - how do they do all this????? ... View more

Hi everyone - I had my tram op at St Johns 13 weeks ago. I am heling well apart from an abdominal seroma which I have had drained but has filled up again. I suppose I'll need to phone the dressing clinic and go back next week. I still get tired easily and my tummy feels VERY tight all the time - especially after sitting still (eg in the car) so I think keeping active is the best thing. I had a nipple graft at the same time as the op and it looks fine. It came from the other nipple which is unaffected - i thought it might leave it numb. I suppose I need to start thinking about going back to work but I am enjoying these lazy mornings! Louise - Hope you get on OK with our mutual hero CR when you go back. ... View more

Hi girls - I had a tram flap recon 10 weeks ago and today had to get some fluid removed from an abdominal seroma. I felt that my tummy had turned into a water bed! It was quite painless and only took the surgeon 10 minutes and now I feel much more comfortable. He said it is something that happens from time to time and if it happens again just to call the hospital and they will see me again at the dressing clinic. If you are worried phone the unit where you had your op and they will advise you - it's better than waiting and worrying. ... View more

Thanks for the offers - if you send me a PM I will get back to you! Our theatre company could use about 4! ... View more

What a good idea! I am the wardrobe mistress for a theatre company and actually, getting a fake chest for a pantomime dame is not always easy! I could use a couple at Christmas time if anyone wants to give them to a good home! ... View more

Hi girls- I haven't had the diep - I had the MX with immediate free tram flap recon. I think there are similarities but the tram takes part of the tummy muscle. Like others here it was a long op -11 hrs and difficult week after but now 9 weeks on I am on my exercise bike every morning before shower (PS recommended cycling as post op exercise Jackie) and walking the dog evry day. I have a funny part of my tum though that feels like a balloon filled with water - not the side where the muscle was taken - bizarre! But it is certainly flat - not that it was huge before and it feels tight. I want to get started on tummy strengthening exercises but no physio has been given or suggested - apart from how to cough the next morning! Good luck with the ops girls. ... View more

I was in a similar position of being so gobsmacked by this diagnosis -( DCIS - highgrade, widespread, mastectomy in 2 weeks she said) that I hadn't a clue what to ask when she said "Have you any questions?" Now, 3 months, MX and immediate tram flap recon later and an 'expert' in breast cancer, I have decided that if anyone ever again asks me that question I will say "What sort of things would you ask about if you were in my position?" Good luck with your surgery. ... View more

Hi - I had a MX with immed free tram flap recon 9 weeks ago in St John's. CR was the PS and I think he was great. I was worried about the flap failing immediately after in the ITU when I was very scared but the nurse assured me I would be fine - she said she had never known one of his patients' flaps to fail. It was tough the first week - I wasn't quite prepared for being quite so helpless and I was very nauseous with the effects of the sentinel node biopsy. No doubt about it, it was hard but it got better. I found an arched pillow was a good thing to help me sit up and sleep - a previous patient advised me to get this and I still use it sometimes. 9 weeks on I am still sore and uncomfortable and need to get my bra and pants off and dressing gown on by about 7! Finding the perfect bra will be my life long challenge! But apart from numb parts of my tummy (and an 18" long scar) and a boob that still doesn't feel like mine but is getting softer, it GETS BETTER! Good luck girls. ... View more

Good luck with your op. I had a MX with imediate free tram flap recon in Aug and he did a nipple graft from the other side at the same time. I was worried about losing the sensitivity from the good side but it hasn't made any difference and the new nipple (centre bit) is fine. I am waiting for tatooing around the areola area until the PS is sure he won't need to adjust anything with the shape of the new boob after 6 months. Re the hair - the pS shouldn't use the skin from the pubic hair area or it will continue to grow! Can't comment on the radiation question as I have been lucky and don't need it. Best of luck ... View more

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I was never given or told to wear a corset so I've just been wearing big sloggi pants - I don't feel like I have enough support though. I found a very good research article by a physio with some exercises for post op tram flaps. Worth a look if you are interested: FindArticles - Abdominal-wall recovery following TRAM flap surgery Rehabilitation Oncology, 2003, by Kozempel, Jeannie, Dell, Deena Damsky Louise I assume you had C. R.? I thought he was great. The staff at St J were great but I was really terrified in the ITU the first night. I also missed having anyone else with a similar problem to talk to. At least in the WGU everyone has a variation of the same problem. Looking fwd to hearing when I get my tittoo! ... View more

I had my mx and immediate tram flap recon nearly 7 weeks ago and my tummy still feels like a tightly stretched drum but is getting better. My recon boob is still hard but I have been told it will improve. I found a good way to stretch the underarm ligaments/ muscles was to let the hot shower hit them (protect any scars with your other hand) and gently stretch the arm up the shower wall and down about 10 times. Within 5 weeks I had complete movement again with only slight tightness under arm. I was driving at 5 weeks and that makes you feel a lot less stir crazy. I go back next week on Tues to see the PS and hope to be told some stomach exercises - wasn't really given much advice in hospital - anyone got any good ideas? I am still uncomfy at night although in last week have been able to lie on side for short times - need to cuddle a pillow to stop insides falling out! Louise were you in St John's? Take care everyone - it gets better ... View more