I am 65 yrs old and had a TF Aug.2000, healthy expect for breast cancer during a routine check up, maybe I really never had cancer just very good medical insurance, two Coyotes, I mean doctors, one a surgeon the other a plastic surgeon. This uld be my best option and I would have a breast of my own tissue and this tummy tuck, which I didn't really need. Anyway, I trusted the doctors in that they had my best interested, but honestly they knew they would get paid, because I had great insurance. If I would have listened to what wanted(I was kind of flat chested) I would not have all the same things we all are talking about today I really don't want to under the knife again. I never have taken any meds for prevention of cancer, didn't like the percentages that it would prevent one cancer but could cause another. I try very hard to be active, I swim a mile at least four times a week sometimes more when I'm feeling tight around my stomach and back, it really helps until I get out of the water than couple hours it starts to all come back. Does anybody have something to say that I'm missing that would help? God Bless Us All
I had my surgery almost 12 years ago, i have a horrific scar that covers more then half way around my lower abdomen. When it came to the appearance of my breast, it is going in the wrong direction the nipple is on the side of my body, its impossible to look normal w/ clothes on.This in it self has totally destroyed my self image! My job was impossible , I was a dance instructor and could longer use my core. The doctors told me prior to the surgery it would no effect anything I did, what a lie. At this point I have pain in the back stomach and breast, and just resently developed a problem breathing. I'm on disability and have had my life destroyed, by this trans flap. I f any one has found any answers please share Thanks Dee
Hi Sisters one and al, one question, WHY THE HELL IS THIS PROCEEDURE STILL LEGAL!!! I'm 6 yrs out and suffered necrosis, mesh got infected, home health care and wound vac for 2 months, followed by 6 more surgeries....nasty ones. The Dr took off on vacation KNOWING I was in trouble and pushed me off to the wound center. I had a hole in my abdomen the size of a football and could see my innerds, he didn't care. GREED is the answer to why this deforming and life destroying proceedure is still going on. Don't bother to try to sue the Dr. You won't find an expert to testify against him. Instead I guess we have to learn to live with the deformities, tightness everywhere, adhesion pain, hernias, saggy breasts ( if that applies ) shortness if breath and horrible back pain. Bye Bye careers and enjoyable experiences. Everything has changed!!! PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO NEVER CONSIDER THIS SURGERY! It will irreversibly ruin their lives. Hey the Drs don't mind , they make a lot of money on us.
Hi ladies, ok it's been 6 1/2 years now. WHY IN THE HELL IS THIS OPERATION EVEN LEGAL!!!!! If you want to ruin your life then roll the dice and go for the"free" tummy tuck. What a joke. Now after 8 huge operations my tummy is gigantic. The mesh got infected so hernias are a regular routine. Necrosis took my belly button and horrible scarring both top and bottom. The Drs and very often incompetent ( or poorly trained ) nurses are usually the go to for follow ups , the Drs are too busy making money on other victims . Think I'm exaggerating? I couldn't have come up with this nightmare in my wildest dreams. I wish I could speak to ANYONE considering this quality of life theif to warn them. Don't bother trying to sue, there's no experts that will break out of the CLUB to testify. God bless those of us that lost a lot more than our breasts the day we got onto that operating table. They don't care, they're making a lot of cash and are enjoying their beach vacations with their bikini clad wives who were advised to stay away from the TF option when they were diagnosed. Good Luck Galfriends !
Hi all - been trying to find others with the same issues after trans flap surgery. I am 3 1/2 years out and am in so much discomfort. My breathing is also labored because it is knockiing the energy out of me . So glad to hear the bloating is normal - I too thought perhaps I have stomach cancer or something else. Is anyone still out there with these issues? I noticed a lot of these posts are from over a year ago.
Just realized there are a couple of recent posts - glad to know you are out there but also sad to know there are others in my situation. Been trying to find a sight for so long to see if others are having the same issues. I have a check up with my oncologist In a couple days and can now feel confident about talking about my symptoms. I was told before I just need to stretch - it is going to take a lot more than that!!!
My bilateral reconstruction was done 9 weeks ago & was supposed to be a DIEP flap. I found out from another PS in my doc's group that they actually performed a 7 hour TRAM flap & used mesh derived from pig cells! This was never even mentioned as a possibility & I feel misled. I finally feel human again & returned to work part time last week.
But the SWELLING & tightness in the abdomen is outrageous. Like many of you, anytime I eat (even a small amount) my stomach balloons & I look 6 or 7 months pregnant, even in spanx. I am trying to be positive & hope that this improves. I didn't want or need a tummy tuck, only breasts. I'm glad I found you ladies!
But the SWELLING & tightness in the abdomen is outrageous. Like many of you, anytime I eat (even a small amount) my stomach balloons & I look 6 or 7 months pregnant, even in spanx. I am trying to be positive & hope that this improves. I didn't want or need a tummy tuck, only breasts. I'm glad I found you ladies!
Love and need this message, thank you! Check up tomorrow! :) (Sara, 4 yrs post tramflap)
Hi, I had the Bilateral Tram Flap in 2012. During chemotherapy, my abdomen began to expand. I looked 4-5 months pregnant. It was hard t the touch, painful, and distended. After chemotherapy, I sought answers to why this was happening. I came across an article by 2 surgeons on LI, NY, that said the Tram Flap comes with a 40% risk of hernia formation. I did not know this before I had this procedure to reconstruct. I live in the southeastern U.S.
I decided to make the trip to LI, NY to consult with these surgeons, as no imaging techniques showed that anything was wrong. I had a CT scan that came back normal. But I knew that this was not normal. So, I took a leap of faith, and consulted with these 2 NY surgeons. I was given a very thorough physical exam, and it was discovered I did indeed have at least 2 hernias. This was in March 2013. I asked about their surgical repair technique. And, as an RN, the repair made sense. I scheduled my repair for May 2013, and it's still holding to this day. Since my repair by these surgeons....the only to perform hernia repairs due to the Tram Flap, I have been helping others in the same situation. Their repair was developed as so many women were coming to them with bulge and hernia complications after the Tram Flap. They have now published their repair in The Atlas Of Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Vol. 2, this year- 2016.
I've started a FB group called TRAM/DIEP- Complications And Hope. This is a closed group, and I admin this group. If anyone here would like to join, please request, and myself or another admin will Privte Message (PM) you to ask a few questions, then add you to the group. This is a place where you will find support, and the way to go about being repaired of hernias and bulges as a result of the Tram Flap. These are the only two surgeons that work in unison to do the 10 yr proven method of repairing abdomens after the Tram Flap. There is Hope after this procedure. I've helped well over 20 women since 2013, and many more that are awaiting consultation and hernia repair. our group is growing fast since I started it approx 6 months ago. Prior to forming the group, I was contacting women on sites such as this. I was finding that I needed to start this group to being together those that have been repaired and for those in need of help and repair. Yes, there is hope and there is a repair that fixes and is proven.
Best, Tori
I decided to make the trip to LI, NY to consult with these surgeons, as no imaging techniques showed that anything was wrong. I had a CT scan that came back normal. But I knew that this was not normal. So, I took a leap of faith, and consulted with these 2 NY surgeons. I was given a very thorough physical exam, and it was discovered I did indeed have at least 2 hernias. This was in March 2013. I asked about their surgical repair technique. And, as an RN, the repair made sense. I scheduled my repair for May 2013, and it's still holding to this day. Since my repair by these surgeons....the only to perform hernia repairs due to the Tram Flap, I have been helping others in the same situation. Their repair was developed as so many women were coming to them with bulge and hernia complications after the Tram Flap. They have now published their repair in The Atlas Of Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Vol. 2, this year- 2016.
I've started a FB group called TRAM/DIEP- Complications And Hope. This is a closed group, and I admin this group. If anyone here would like to join, please request, and myself or another admin will Privte Message (PM) you to ask a few questions, then add you to the group. This is a place where you will find support, and the way to go about being repaired of hernias and bulges as a result of the Tram Flap. These are the only two surgeons that work in unison to do the 10 yr proven method of repairing abdomens after the Tram Flap. There is Hope after this procedure. I've helped well over 20 women since 2013, and many more that are awaiting consultation and hernia repair. our group is growing fast since I started it approx 6 months ago. Prior to forming the group, I was contacting women on sites such as this. I was finding that I needed to start this group to being together those that have been repaired and for those in need of help and repair. Yes, there is hope and there is a repair that fixes and is proven.
Best, Tori
I had the Tram Flap in 2012. I had many of the same symptoms you are having at one time. I sought out answers and found two surgeons up North, on LI,NY that created a hernia repair after Tram Flaps as they had so many women coming to them. It is now published in The Atlas Of Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Vol. 2. I found out I had 2 hernias in my lower abdomen in March 2013, after I finished chemotherapy. imaging studies do not show the hernias. I was diagnosed via exam. I have started a FB group called TRAM/DIEP- Complications And Hope.
I admin the group along with 2 other women. We have 40+ members and growing daily. In the group, you will find answers and help. I started the group as I was helping so many women to get to LI, Ny for repair that I wanted to bring them together and also help others looking for answers and well, help and Hope. There is a proven repair. If you would like to join, please type in the group name and request to join. We will send you a PM and ask you a few questions, then add you to the group where you will find support, help and answers. You are not alone.
Best, Tori
I admin the group along with 2 other women. We have 40+ members and growing daily. In the group, you will find answers and help. I started the group as I was helping so many women to get to LI, Ny for repair that I wanted to bring them together and also help others looking for answers and well, help and Hope. There is a proven repair. If you would like to join, please type in the group name and request to join. We will send you a PM and ask you a few questions, then add you to the group where you will find support, help and answers. You are not alone.
Best, Tori
The bloating is not normal. I've posted further down on this thread with information. If you would like answers, help, and support, I've started a FB group called TRAM/DIEP- Complications And Hope. Just put it into the search engine on FB and it should come up. Ask to join, and admin will get back to you first via a PM...private message to as a few questions. It's a closed group to ensure our members privacy. But there is Hope after the Tram Flap. I was one that ended up with 3 hernias ( they knew of two hernias via exam, but found 3rd umbilical hernia during my repair). Swelling, and any abdominal bulging is not normal. Trams come with a 40% or greater risk of hernia formation. And yes, I would like to one day have this reconstruction method become obsolete. I'm working to help others now, but one day I will be advocating against this surgery.
Only surgeons in the States who perform this proven repair method. I was one repaired in 2013. Many others I've referred and numerous others I've not referred have undergone this repair with success.
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Thank you! Sent my request!
I just had mine repaired Oct 31 and I am still recovering. I finally left Jersey and went to Jefferson in Phila, PA. Dr. Rosatto and Dr. Copit believed in me and a fix. They don't perform this surgery anymore with the tram flap. I looked like I was 8 months pregnant and now I finally look like I did many many years ago. I have a flat stomach now and although still recovering I feel so much better. Good luck to you all and know that there is good doctors and there is hope.
I had TF reconstruction 11 years ago when I awoke I was lying down not sitting up. My healing went well. Years later I have serious pain in my left breast and under my ribs only on the left side. The right side had cancer but I had bi lateral anyway. It is always painful to breath since I had pneumonia and lower back pain has been a challenge. Massage helps, yoga helps and swimming helps. My stomach looks like a barrel and it has been nearly impossible to lose the weight I gained.