Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction
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MVP - There wasn't a transformation. I went from BMX with expanders to implants with cellulitis to nothing at all to LD flaps with expanders to LD flaps with implants. This took a total of 11 surgeries over 2 years. It's a blur now but I think there was a 3-6 month period between the first reconstruction attempt and the LD flaps. At the time I was contemplating the LDs I couldn't find any photos on the forum but now we're represented. There really isn't a shortage of the expanders to implant photos and the cellulitis photos would only serve to freak people out.
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WW - wow you are right it's one thing after another. I guess reconstruction will take two years give or take
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I had lat flap surgery 2 weeks ago. I still have all 3 drains in. Two of the three drains are clear yellow but my breast drain on the lat flap side is still pretty red, is this normal?
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Madison, yes, I think it's normal to still have one drain draining red at 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure one of mine was.
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Thank you Nash. I was just concerned because it was the cancer side. I just can not wait to get these drains out!
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Thank you Nash. I was just concerned because it was the cancer side. I just can not wait to get these drains out!
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I hear ya! The drains are a real pain!
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Madison - my drains were in much longer after this surgery then any of the others. The positive thing is that they're doing their job. But I sooooo agree with you, the drains are no fun. Here's hoping you get them out very soon.
Kathy
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Hello Ladies, here I am still waiting for this open wound to heal but good news that it's healing well, slowly but at least it's healing. Hoping to have my Lat Dorsi surgery by July after all this lefty open wound healed and recuperated.
Good luck to all and praying for fast healing!!!
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MVP - Had everything gone as planned my original attempt at reconstructions should have taken just a few months. It's when everything got screwed up that I saw years being added to my cancer sentence. Most people do well with their first attempt. Good luck with your wound healing. That's important.
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Here's wishing you a successful surgery tomorrow! Take it super easy for a good week after you get home. Do the exercises they tell you to do to stretch your arms/sides. I work from home song was able to work a few days after surgery. I felt pretty ok about 1-2 wks after. Just don't over do it. Hugs and prayers!!
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WW - I agree with you, I was blind sided by my PS, when they are prepping me for my TE reconstruction the first time, he approached me and told me that when he opens my lefty radiated side and if the tissue and skin are not healthy enough to accommodate just the TE that if I am allowing him to do the Lat Dorsi, that option was not discuss with me prior to this date of my surgery, if he had explained to me more about radiated side being difficult with healing and expansion I will most likely consider it instead of failing on the first attempt of just only TE, I could have research this Lat Flap options and be ready for it.
But all is said and done, I just trust that these things happen for a good reason, "blessings in disguise".
Happy weekend everyone!
MVP
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I am sorry and don't want to open a can of worms here but I personally don't believe in the "everything happens for a reason", "blessings in disguise", "happened to make you appreciate more what you have". I know that it's supposed to give us a false feeling that somewhere, somehow, things are in control.
Here, this person says it very well:
No, Everything Does Not Happen for a Reason.
Optimism that has no base is not a good thing. I am not saying that optimism itself is not a good thing, on the contrary. But optimism based on illogical and fallacious premises is destined to fail.Because it does not give us logical steps in the process of grieving and healing.In the end it hurts us more than it helps us, because it will fall short of our expectations and we will feel betrayed and powerless.
But then I am one of those cold-hearted people who don't think that forgiving is a good thing and it helps you move on. I believe in moving on, but never forgive an evil, because that is just giving permission for that evil to harm you again.
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KSteve, Thank you! I am hoping they come out Monday!!
MVP- I just had my lat flap surgery 18 days ago and I am very pleased! It was painful the first week but manageable (refused morphine because it made me so sick and just took oxy). I did not get filled at the time of surgery but I am already very pleased with the way things look. Glad I chose the lat flap so far! My range of motion is great and no complaints so far, just trying not to do too much. I hope all goes well for you and you are able to get your lat flap surgery in July as planned.
Looking forward to my first fill on June 3rd. I do have swelling under my armpit from the lat muscle but PS said it will go down over time. You have all been so helpful with your posts as to what to expect!
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I'm writing from my hospital bed at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ. I had the ld flap surgery yesterday. I actualy feel pretty good, not much pain at all. I should be released to go home tmrw. I could have gone today but was a little causcios about leaving too soon. My ps came in and said everything looked great. He did say that the rads took a toll on my left breast tissue. I have three drains though!!!! 😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕
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Madison - congratulations to your sucessful surgery, I hope you have a fast and safe recovery. Thank you for the updates
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lonnie713 - get plenty of rest and hoping for your fast and safe healing
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I was released this morning. Feels good to be home. Still not in alot of pain. I know this isn't the norm, just thankful and surprised based on everyone else's experience. I had hubby take a picture of my scar. I wanted to see what it looked like and how large it was. You can see one of the tubes. The other two are are under the breast.
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I am now 5 days post bmx and ld flap surgery. I don't have pain per se...just very uncomfortable. I don't have any feeling in my back, under my arms, or in my chest. I feel like I have a tube wrapped around me, squeezing really tightly. My arms don't seem to want to lay flat by my side when standing. I feel a bit like the boy from "A Christmas Story" bundled up to go school. "I can't put my arms down!". Is there anything I can do to help this feeling now? And with the knots in my back too?
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Addlantan, that's how I felt post-op, too, and since I didn't get proper treatment until recently, mine has been persistent. Not to say yours will be. I have read that this is normal for the first month in many cases. Other people don't ever seem to feel this way post-lat flap for some reason, or it's not as severe.
If it persists past 3-4 weeks, please consider looking into getting help from a lymphatic drainage therapist, b/c a lot of this is from swelling and it's hard for it to go down by itself, and also find someone who can help you with scar tissue and fascia release. I have the tightness plus spasms in my back. Not sure if you've got spasms, too--if so, ask for a muscle relaxant. I didn't get one until three weeks post-op, and by that time it was too late to help me much. The spasms are gotten better as I've gotten help for the scar tissue and fascia tightness.
This is the protocol that my current chiro uses, and it is helping me. Not sure how soon it can be used post-op, b/c I was nine months when I started it, but just wanted to put it out there in case you need it.
http://www.sdcenterforhealth.com/topics/163-rehabi...
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You will still have quite a bit of swelling from surgery. The fact that you can't put your arms along your body come from the LD muscle being tunneled right under the armpit. Until the swelling will go down you won't have much relief, then you have to wait for the LD muscle to atrophy. Many of us still have "the loaf" for years and years after the surgery. I know, nobody tells you ahead of time that you will have that. Many surgeons at the revision are able to make the "loaf" smaller and contour nicely the breast in that area, but most likely you will still have a little bit of a muffin top over the bra under the arm.
Muscle relaxers help a lot for the knots and spasms in the back. Also ask your PS when you can start stretching. If after three months you still feel the "iron corset" ask for some therapeutic massage.
I think I WILL after all do the videos with stretching exercises that help with the LD flap reconstruction post-surgery long-term pain and discomfort. I'll post here when I do. I had this in plan for a while but had to go through some remodeling in the house - Oklahoma - over 3k earthquakes in the past year or so - brick house - cracked plaster. Been working on it for three weeks but finally I am almost done - just about one square yard to paint and I'll do it early tomorrow morning as I'm totally worn out tonight (yes I've been doing that by myself)
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Addlantan, I just wanted to mention to that I had the same sensations that you're experiencing of feeling like I had a snug Ace bandage wrapped around my rib cage and also not being able to quite lower my arms all the way. It felt like I had a rolled up towel under my arms. It was on both sides but worse on the lat flap side. It went away with time even without any therapy for it. I'm sure it might have gone away faster with PT or targeted exercises. Also, the nerve to my lat wasn't cut, and my PS told me the muscle wouldn't atrophy, but even with that, I no longer feel like there's something under my arm.
Seachain, I'm interested in your videos. I've got full range of motion, but still some tightness when I extend my arm on the lat side. I'd like to loosen that up more. I've been working on it with yoga.
Good luck to everyone who is going into surgery or still healing.
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Hello Ladies,
In your experience how soon can you rub or put bio oil or medermain the surgery scars? Is there a time frame for it?
Is there a sucessful breast recon surgery that you know or heard involving irradiated breast without using any kind of Flap?
Thank you!
Marivic
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Journey, follow your surgeon's instructions for applying anything to the incisions. I can't quite remember when mine gave me the go ahead, but I think it was a week or two post-op.
Sadly, I don't know of a recon procedure with a good success rate on irradiated skin that doesn't involve a flap. If I did, I'd have had that procedure because I sure didn't want a flap of any sort.
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2Tabbies - thank you for the information, I will make sure to ask my PS. Yes, recon without flap is what I wanted as well but I dont't think it will work with me 😞
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I am experiencing the same. Zero pain, just tightening. I can hold my arm along my side fine until I lay down. Then it feels swollen and awkward. I was just saying to hubby I hope that I can put some sort of lotion or cream on my back to help with the tightness. I don't see my ps until 6/1, that's 2 weeks post op. I am hoping I can get these drains out then. The fluid is clearer and no more than 15ml per drain. Has any one had their drains out in 2 wks or less? Also, when did you start therapy? Or able to get a massage?
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Hello everyone,
Just a quick question, is it recommended to wear a comfortable sports bra everytime after the TE is put in?
It feels like my right TE is sensitive if I don't wear my comfy sports bra everytime. Please advice.
Thank you!
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Journey - I used a Genie bra - "As Seen on TV". It covers the lat muscle donor sites and felt comforting. My PT recommended it to help with swelling. Also, I was told I could use scar treatment after the incisions are 100% healed. That did not take long.
lonnie - Ask your PS about PT. I was referred for months of PT prior to my surgery and started up again a couple of weeks after the LD surgery. I really feel it helped a lot. I have full ROM, strength and I'm completely comfortable. It does take time though.
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WW - what is a scar treatment? Is that the mederma or the bio oil treatment
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I used Mederma and something my PS sold in the office. I don't think what they sold was any better. It was only more expensive.
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