This is a sad story, OMG, My surgery was 2 years ago April1 and my belly is more and more troublesome all the time. I have shooting pains and of course the bulge. I wish I'd gotten the implant and had my abdomen back, however it was going to be. It surely wouldn't be like this. It's mostly from the naval up, larger than below and is misshapen. Very sad. Also I have had back pain ever since the surgery. Oncologists don't care. Who do you even tell? I don't think there's anything to be done.
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I know this is an older thread but I am so thankful to have found this.
Had a TRAM reconstruction in 2006, healed well from a wound & scarring perspective but have gone on to have recurring abdominal & lower back pain that continues to get worse as the years go on. Has anyone had any type of doctor actually understand or help them with ongoing pain issues? I've bounced back & forth to so many specialists & more often than not, I'm the one explaining TRAM reconstruction to gastro drs, gyn drs, orthopedic drs...it's ridiculous. I have a friend that recently underwent a mastectomy & reconstruction & the abdominal TRAM flap surgery wan't even considered for her which left me wondering if it's not as popular due to complications? Thanks for letting me vent!!
Had a TRAM reconstruction in 2006, healed well from a wound & scarring perspective but have gone on to have recurring abdominal & lower back pain that continues to get worse as the years go on. Has anyone had any type of doctor actually understand or help them with ongoing pain issues? I've bounced back & forth to so many specialists & more often than not, I'm the one explaining TRAM reconstruction to gastro drs, gyn drs, orthopedic drs...it's ridiculous. I have a friend that recently underwent a mastectomy & reconstruction & the abdominal TRAM flap surgery wan't even considered for her which left me wondering if it's not as popular due to complications? Thanks for letting me vent!!
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I have facet injections to help with back. I also take 2 antidepressants which help with abdominal pain.
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I am on long Island too. Had my TF 2 years ago and am miserable. I would love to know the Dr you used.
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I'm 57 had my transflap recon. Done about 7 years ago. What a mistake. From the very start. Healing didn't happen for six years. Mesh has need replaced 3 times, numerous surgery's. Look pregnant, constant pain. Huge hernia. Drs who won't touch me. I don't even know what to do anymore. Had to retire medically. Lawyers won't take my case. The mesh that was used destroyed my insides. If anyone has any suggestions please contact me. mksalas*****SPAM*****
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I had my tram flap reconstruction back in 2002. Things were going well and no real problems. But I too had the feeling of tightness around my middle, and when stressed or too cold my whole mid section felt constricted. Now 13 years later I too have a bump under my ribs on the left side and it's painful. I just had other tests done - colon and stomach. Showed nothing - but still have pain. At times I think its at the anchors for the mesh. Now I'm getting new pain on my left side - that's the reconstructed side. That's what lead me to consider that all this could possible have a connection to the reconstruction. So now what??
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I'm BRCA 1 positive and I'm 4 yrs post tram flap, both breasts removed and reconstructed using my size 5 belly. Doctor should have never did that. Tram is for women with larger belly fat and tissue. If your already thin, with hardly any belly fat, this is not the surgery for you. I also have the problem of when I eat or even drink a glass of water, my belly gets so big, like a frog belly. The pain is still very bad, especially at the end of the day. I find that wearing a bra all the time helps with the breast pain. Im kind of getting used to the pain and just take motrin for it. The motrin seems to help alot. I just ordered one of those Missy Belts you see on tv. Well, girlfriends! I am very pleased to say it is helping me get my waist back!! Its a waist trainer, It feels as if its pushing all my insides back where they should be. But I only wear it an hour or two a day, because it can get painful. But when you take this belt off, my God help me....I see a difference. I believe if you "Look Good" you will "Feel Good". try it what have you got to loose. I hope everyone who reads this will remain cancer free and find help and relief of their issues.
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I had a pedical tram flap reconstruction 12 months ago and i 2 have had constant problems first with the tram flap 3 inches had 2 b cut open again as it went black then infections eventually they fit a wound pump which i had for 3 months until it healed up now its hard and difficult 2 bend with. This can b quite painful depending how u sit or r lying in bed effects ur sleeping. The reconstruction has also had its problems infected, fat narcosis, now being treated 4 lymphodema and learning how 2 manage it. The breast is hard due 2 the radiation and discolored in places.
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Please. Someone help me im in so much pain . when weather changes i feel like i being pulled apart i have no idea what to do i go to er they tell me its nothing becz they dont see it in cat scans im in such horrible pain plrase if someone can pls tell me what i can try
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Dear guest,
I had my surgery on 9/9/15and just about everything I eat bloats me up
If I cough or sneeze the pain I get feels like the muscle they use to make my breast are pulling and I have to literally grab my stomach and wholed it till the pains goes away.
I'm 47 and I'm on disability due to not being able to sit for a period of time or stand.
My stomach incision open up some and got infected and I kept telling the plastic surgeon prior to the infection that something was wrong, To be ignored, after a few visit I was waiting one morning to a very foul odor and when I jump in the shower and went to clean that area it was ratchet and gross. I walked into the office for him to literally lay me down no meds.with his assistant and cut the infected part out of me.
Right now I look like I'm 7 mths. pregnant. I'm reduce to wearing sweats for comfortably.
My primary doctor ran test and she stated I'm gluten free, I'm not lactose intolerant, my acid relux is neg. so she's sending me to
a stomach specialists which won't be till the end of May.
I'm use to weighing no more
than 135lbs. I now weigh 162 and I'm 5"3
I had my surgery on 9/9/15and just about everything I eat bloats me up
If I cough or sneeze the pain I get feels like the muscle they use to make my breast are pulling and I have to literally grab my stomach and wholed it till the pains goes away.
I'm 47 and I'm on disability due to not being able to sit for a period of time or stand.
My stomach incision open up some and got infected and I kept telling the plastic surgeon prior to the infection that something was wrong, To be ignored, after a few visit I was waiting one morning to a very foul odor and when I jump in the shower and went to clean that area it was ratchet and gross. I walked into the office for him to literally lay me down no meds.with his assistant and cut the infected part out of me.
Right now I look like I'm 7 mths. pregnant. I'm reduce to wearing sweats for comfortably.
My primary doctor ran test and she stated I'm gluten free, I'm not lactose intolerant, my acid relux is neg. so she's sending me to
a stomach specialists which won't be till the end of May.
I'm use to weighing no more
than 135lbs. I now weigh 162 and I'm 5"3
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Spread the word everyone and anyone about this type of reconstruction and how terrible it is, I do!! This is my 12th year out of tram flap procedure, and boy do I wish I could turn back the clock. I have had belly issues everyday for twelve years. Thats a long time to suffer!! Only to have doctors look at me blankly as though they just went brain dead, so this is beyond frustrating. I try to move forward in my life anyway, not taking my frustrations out on anyone else. I just stay quiet, and stay busy during the day, but at night is the worst for the abdominal pain. If you cry in front of a doctor, they chalk it up to depression in order to get off the subject. These doctors are good salesmen when it comes to buttering you up for this procedure, but terrible and irresponsible when they have done something wrong. My heart goes out too all who suffer from this, my prayers are also with you. Let's keep posting, maybe a miracle will happen. Deb
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I am so sorry that this has happen to you. I had reconstruction on both my breast with a tram flap done in 2009. It is now 2016 and I am still having back problems from that surgery, I ended up getting a staph infection from that surgery and also fluid was leaking from my navel. I have gone to physical therapist, pain doctors, and they are clueless on what is causing it. The last pain doctor that I went to told me that I was not in pain and that I needed to run, do physical therapy, exercise, and eat right. I was floored, he was in the room with me less than ten minutes. He never asked me what my eating habits were, which it consist of chicken, fish, turkey, vegetables, fruit, and lots of juicing. I tried to explain to him that the more active I try to be, the worse the pain gets. He did not want to hear it. He didn't even ask about the cancer, and if he would have spent time with me, he would have known that I am a six time cancer survivor. I have had Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Thyroid cancer four times, and Breast cancer. Doctors today don't try to fix the problems when you are asking for help, they rather make it worse, at least that is what it seems.
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Thank you for your response, but don't waste feeling bad for me. Just take care of yourself from here on out, one day at a time as they say. I have a belly ache as I'm writing this which is the norm especially at night and I have no doubt ur being bothered by pain as well at this very moment. I wonder if a lot of what happens with those of us is the lack of the rectus muscle that's used during this procedure for blood flow to the new breasts. Look up what that rectus muscle does, I like to hear some opinions from people on this!
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Yes I am Interested I have pain on my left side above my Tram Flap the bone really hurts
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I had a tram flap in 1997 . It has been amazing for me . I am happy I had it done. I have a hernia , so what ? I am here . I have pain in my reconstructed breast , but it's not debilitating and I am alive . Girls , think positive , exercise , take gabapentin, if it hurts It's not easy , but we are still here , ours lives are not over....lose weight , if you overweight ..that will help the most..it keeps my hernia in . Sure it swells..but I'm alive , let's all stay positive . Go to a therapist , they can help,you deal with pain and other problemss. I wish you great luck and positive thinking . God bless
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