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I went thru a double mastectomy last year in March. Fortunately for me, they caught the cancer very early. I had a lumpectomy in my left breast in January, was scheduled for radiation when they found more cancer and that is why I asked for the mastectomy, that is when my doctors said they wouldn't unless I did both because of so many things going in my breast so I said okay! I have never been sorry for that decision. Because they caught it so early I did not have to do the radiation or chemo. To which I was very thankful I had my annual mammogram that is when they found the cancer, it had not formed a lump yet.
I have never regretted my decision, but you do think about it sometimes, so just by reading the different cancer sites I realize how blessed I have been. I had 2 surgeries and healed quickly with no problems in fact to the amazement of my doctors. Tucson Doctors
It was great to read someone else's story. What an accurate comparison--I also felt like I'd been run over by a truck, then stayed there. I'm 52, diagnosed w/DCIS last summer, had the same procedure last fall. 13 hour surgery, ICU, the whole 9 yards. The first few days were weird - as long as I stayed bent and perfectly still I was fine, but the slightest movement or stretching my abdominal area felt like I was about to rip apart. I felt like my torso was a crudely cut jack-o-lantern. Recovery was slow. I returned to work 2 months after surgery, right after having a second procedure to "revise" the abdominal incision, which had been healing into a protruding scar that snaked from hip to hip. I never realized I would still have so many scars--the flaps, the lymph site, the belly, the drains. Yikes.
What's been difficult for me now is getting my body back into shape. I am hoping that increased exercise over the summer will speed the process. Mentally, I'm ok - I was so fortunate that the lymph nodes were clean and I didn't need chemo or radiation. It's just the physical aspect - my "flaps" are still far from being healed, and I have gained about 12 pounds since going back to work. I've been feeling out of shape, unattractive and somewhat deformed, although I know I'm really lucky that I didn't need further cancer treatment, that it could have been so much worse, etc. I think I expected that I'd be back to normal by now, but really this surgery might take a longer time to recover from than I had thought.
So now I'm taking a big step (actually a lot of small ones)-- I'm going to walk 6 miles 5 days a week after dinner. Let's see how that goes. I'd like to hear how other women who've had tram or diep flap procedures are doing as they move through their post-op lives. I don't talk about this stuff with other people, but typing it all out here feels ok. Will watch this site.
I feel like I just read my scenerio from one year ago. I too had double mastectomy (DCIS) with tram flap reconstruction immed. following, no chemo or radiation, Went back to work in 9 weeks, then had nipple reconstruction 4 months after that and back to work 7 days later. This has been a very long year (my mother in law died the day before I was diagnosed and my dad died a few days after I returned to work). We just celebrated one year cancer free but I am still on pain meds frequently. The back pain sometimes is unbearable, they tell me its all part of the process, but I am tired of that conversation....I just want to get back to my ordinary life. I am 47 years old and am very tired at the end of every day when I get home, when does this end?
I haven't had tram flap surgery, but I've had several other surgeries, and I've always been surprised by how long it takes to feel good again. The body expends a great amount of energy to heal. You have experienced two deaths and major surgery along with your cancer diagnosis. I'm not surprised that you are still feeling tired. Try to pamper yourself and continue to get as much rest as you can manage. Maybe some of our other readers who have had the same type of surgery as you have can comment on the back pain.
Hi - As Phyllis said, you've had a hugely stressful year; I'm not surprised it's taking you a long time to feel better. You may never get back to your "old normal;" you'll be experiencing a "new normal," with probably tingling and numbness in yoru breasts. Hopefully, the pain will abate soon; I never experienced back pain from my TRAM, but you could have incurred some nerve damage...
Have you spoken to your surgeon about this? Did you have physical therapy after your surgery? If not, it may not be too late; the back pain could very well be from muscles trying to compensate for other muscles that may have been damaged. Bottom line, I'd assume that gradually, you'll feel better (with the emphasis on "gradually"). We never heal as quickly as we'd like; so, hard as it is, be patient. And, if you haven't spoken with your surgeon - do so. Mention PT. Time and PT might just be your best cure. Good luck - PJH
I would like to chat with someone who has had the TRAM surgery and has been recovered for a year or two. I've heard a lot of stories about people right after surgery but I really need a prospective of someone out some time so that I can know if there are any other complications that crept up in the following months/years. Thank-you so very much!
Hi Amy,
I'm coming up on three years post-TRAM flap surgery. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have, but generally things are good. Recovery, after the immediate surgical recovery, you should know, is SLOW. Very slow. Don't listen to the surgeons who say you will be up and around and back to normal after 4 weeks. That's completely untrue. If you decide to move forward with this surgery -- and there are good reasons to, as well as not so good reasons -- you should be very aware of the fact that it will be at least a year before you can get out of a chair or off a couch or out of bed without really thinking about it. It's a massive amount of surgery to go through so you need to be really really sure that you want reconstruction -- if you are on the fence or could take it or leave it, skip it. Surgeons will underplay recovery time -- esp for the TRAM surgery -- but even implants are difficult. Of course, if you want reconstruction (as I did), the results are good and you definitely do heal. But with the TRAM surgery you're left with mesh holding the abdominal wall in and I am just starting to have a little trouble with mine -- it's a foreign body in your body, after all, and there's always the chance of something going wrong with it at some point.
I'm not trying to talk you out of it -- it can be a great thing - but I often wonder whether I would choose to do this again. I'm not sure I would. I might. Hard to say.
Feel free to ask specifics if you need to. Just want you to have a realistic sense that it is a huge undertaking and anyone who tells you otherwise either hasn't had it done or is a doctor!
--Laura
Well that involves a lot of guts to bear the after surgery pain and just wish for your speedy recovery. Proper cancer treatment are avaliable and just hope that everything remains well.
That is a blessing. I hope you have a speedy recovery and if you choose to get the reconstruction done, good luck. I was just trying to get some idea of what to expect after surgery. I will have my right breast removed and my left boob lifted so when I get the reconstruction done, it will be easier for the doc to work with. Thanks
I underwent breast augmentation after I had a sentinel node removed, and I have to warn you that sometimes it’s better to pay a little bit more and go to a more reputable doctor. I’m not going to list his name because it’s not like a got an infection or was a victim of malpractice or anything – it’s just that he has a poor eye for his work, to put it mildly. If you really want to see what I mean (and have the constitution for this sort of thing) look at the breast augmentation before and after pictures. I understand that I am still recovering from the removal of the lymph node, but this is obviously a botched job here. I guess that’s what I get for getting the operation in Chula Vista.
I just had a mastectomy of my left breast about a week ago with immediate reconstruction using the DIEP Flap (fat from my stomach/tummy tuck).
The surgery went smoothly and I know the Mac Truck feeling. 
I've been out of the hospital for about a week and things are improving. I'm moving around better, it doesn't hurt as much to sneeze or cough and the wounds are healing well. I don't like having the J/P drains and having to drain them every 4 hours, but I know that things could be much worse. So I stay prayerful and do what I must to get better. I do have numbness under my arm and on parts of my stomach, but some of the feeling is returning and I hope that it won't be bothersome.
I opted to have reconstruction because I'm 37 and single. I didn't want to wake up and look down and nothing be there. It's tough enough to handle that you had cancer, I don't thing I should have to go through the mourning of a breast. Through my research I found that most women's breast look better after reconstruction than they did before. So I knew in my heart that it was the best decision for me. I don't think that God has given man the skills to help us for us not to use them. Technology can be a wonderful thing when used properly. 
Every woman will be different. Age and health play a big part. Besides getting cancer I was perfectly healthy and an athlete, so my body could endure maybe a little more than someone who may be older and has health issues.
The key is to do lots of research, talk to your doctors, family and friends and others who have gone through the procedure. In the end it is your decision.
I am at peace with mine and I can't wait until I am all healed up and back to what I feel will be normal.
Good Luck Ladies 
Thank you so much for your comments I have just had my op and couldnt really tell my husband what it was like but the comment about being hit by a truck is so true it really sums up how I feel.Knowing I am not feeling odd but like other people has really helped. I just cant thank you enough.
Hi Allison,
Glad I was able to put into words something that's almost impossible describe, but SO sorry you're having to go through it! Wishing you a speedy recovery and the hope that the truck-hitting-you-and-then-sitting-on-top-of-you feeling passes very very soon! Stay in touch and stay healthy! Laura
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That is a blessing. I hope you have a speedy recovery and if you choose to get the reconstruction done, good luck. I was just trying to get some idea of what to expect after surgery. I will have my right breast removed and my left boob lifted so when I get the reconstruction done, it will be easier for the doc to work with. Thanks
Hi Mary, I had almost forgot about what I had written in Dec. 2007. It has been a year and 4 months and I am doing great. I still have some numbness in my arm pits but not to bad. I still don't intend to have reconstructive surgery. I just wear my fake boobs. My only complaint is they are a little heavy but the good new is when I order new ones there are lighter weight ones available.
Also the physical therapy is the best thing I did in recovery. If you have the opportunity it is a must.
I wish you will in your surgery and hope to hear back from you. Thanks - Connie
Thank you very much, you ladies are great and this webpage is awesome. I thank God for all of you. It is nice to talk to someone who has been through this and I need this at this time. Will find out tomorrow if he wants to remove all the lymph nodes or just some for testing. Thanks again.
Dear Connie,
I have read your comments of not going through the reconstruction. Yesterday I had to see the surgeon about the same subject. When I was diagonised in April, my initial thought was no I am not going through this. I dont wnt to suffer anymore. My friend suggest I should have it done. I am confused; now. I can live with it, because i feel I am very strong and can cope. To be honest, I have reached to 60 and I dont wnt any more suffering. Please wht do I do?
Niru
Hi there Niru and all others
My name is Ellena and I am recovering from the bilateral mastectomy WITH immediate reconstruction, using the Latissimus Doris muscle.
Fortunately for me I've had absolutely NO regrets whatsoever !! I too went through a horrendous time pre-op - wondering if I should have recon or not. My first decision was to go through with it, but on researching the procedure I started to scare myself!!
I am 50 and the thought of taking recon and subjecting my body to virtually double the amount of time in theatre, double the pain etc etc... was just too much - not to mention the fact that I could not begin to imagine HOW I would survive, having major wounds on back and front....
Well, here's the sure sign it was the right decision to go for the whole thing - when I came round from anasthetic and realised I was alive, that was enough to counteract all sense of pain or suffering !!! I've been bouncing fit and rearing to go since day one after op, which was on 19 May 2009.
I am having fun learning how my 'new body' is settling into things, and my back muscles are learning how to be boobs... !!! There's so much positive I would love to share with people who (like I was) are traumatising in the pre-op time, to go for immediate reconstruction or not.... I'm happy to talk with anyone who needs to chat... you can find me on facebook as Ellena Paterson...
Warm regards and gentle hugs to all
xxx
Thank you so much. I'm doing last minute research right now and this is exactly what I needed to hear.
hello,
just wondering exactly where the muscle is that you are referring to and what was the procedure and recovery like. i have had two failed breast expanders due to infection and now must find another way to reconstruct.
thank you
laura
hello,
just wondering exactly where the muscle is that you are referring to and what was the procedure and recovery like. i have had two failed breast expanders due to infection and now must find another way to reconstruct.
thank you
laura
Hi there Laura - the muscle they used were the Latissimus Dorsi (the big muscle in the back) - I opted to use only the muscle as I am feared of having expanders/silicone implants due to infection and rejection.
My surgeon did warn that with only using these muscles I would be no more than a B cup but that is quite fine for me :-) I am moe than happy to telephone and talk with you if you want ?????
I had no one who could tell me first hand how things would be, so went blindly into it and here in Aberdeen it was the first time they did the double/double operation so was really in the dark.
There is also the tummy muscle op (tram flap) which I believe is also very much more risky than the Lats op.
I am more than happy with the results and will be even more so once a little bit of shaping is done soon !!
Warm Regards
Ellena
44 7800 984 672
Dear Connie,
I can tell you from the voice of experience that I wish I had never had the expanders put in my chest. I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction 12-7-09 and the pain was unbearable. The pain though better today 12-27-09 is still far more than I want to face on a continued basis. I am 62 years old and don't know what I was thinking to go ahead with immediate reconstruction. I don't blame anyone but myself. I didn't ask enough questions, do enough research, and not one of the doctors informed me. At 3 weeks out from my surgery I could be well on my way to recovery, being pain free, and returning to normal. Instead I am emotional wreck thinking about what I have yet ahead of me and for what? Breasts are not what a woman is nor should they define her. I am afraid that our society has put these thoughts into our heads. If God saw fit to allow my breasts to be taken away by cancer, who am I to reconstruct them? I wish I had stopped with the mastectomy and left the rest to God.
P.
Sorry to hear about your pain. And I have to say I agree with you about the fact that doctors really don't tell you just how painful and difficult the immediate-reconstruction option can be -- whether you're doing TRAM flap the way I did, or expanders and implants like you've done. All I can say is that you're through the worst of it and I'm sure you'll soon be out of extreme discomfort. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about this important decision, and take care of yourself. -- Laura