DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Myajames- that is the typical DIEP timeline. Surgery 2 is for touch-ups to the first surgery, surgery 3 is for nipple recon and then phase 4 is nipple tattoos. Of course, sometimes you need more than one surgery for touch ups.
So what do dog ears look like? My PA said I didn't have them, but I think I have one on just one side
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jlstacey, I didn't appear to have dog ears at first, but as swelling went down and the skin loosened up a bit...there they are. They are small, but actually resemble floppy dog ears. If I wasn't at the airport, I would snap you a pictute. Maybe later today. In less than 48 hours, my dog ears will be history!
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congrats Dizz!
That's what I'm finding- the swelling is going down and it is appearing.
Has anyone heard of Oleeva scar shapes? I found them on another thread and am thinking of getting them
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Hey JLStacy,
Here's a picture
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Thanks Myajames
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I'm probably going to accidentally yank out my one remaining drain between my underwear and my binder. No more underwear until the drain is out...
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Hey Myajames, I've been looking through some of the photos and I have a question for you. You looked perfect straight out of surgery! Were you immediate reconstruction? I feel like I have 2 rectangles of hard meat on my chest!
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myajames, that's a bummer. Sorry you getting a delay on the nipples.
Best of luck to everyone going through this. It is a bit of a pain, but well worth it! Love the results and so much less to worry about down the road compared to expanders and implants.
Mel, you are so right. I agree...take it easy after this surgery!
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Post op 4 weeks today! I am back at work part time as of yesterday (desk work only). I have one abdominal drain left. I've been given the ok to start some easy stretching and range of motion exercises for my arms/shoulders, but I'm still not allowed to lay flat. I have to wear a sports bra or the bra they gave me 24/7, except in the shower. I've also had an abdominal binder for a week that I have to wear around the clock.
I did have a seroma in one flap that was drained and doesn't seem to be reforming.
My main concern is that part of my abdominal incision isn't healing well. Just had a follow up yesterday and I was told that it's looking good, but I still have to pack it with saline soaked gauze twice a day. My weight put me at risk for this complication, because fat doesn't heal as well. I'm probably lucky that it's only two small sections of the incision. So far no infection or need for oral antibiotics!
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Hi Ducky179, I know how annoying the drains are. After my mx, I had one in for over 5 weeks and when they took it out I developed a seroma and they had to put the drain back in. I found that as I felt better, I did more and then I drained more! We just have to follow our dr's instructions and remember how glad we'll be when we're all done! I've been reading about abdominal incisions and apparently it's very common to have problems with its closing. Hang in there!
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Hi grateful99 and Lilyn, thank you both for the suggestions, especially getting my name on the waiting list. That's part of the reason I was asking so that I can get things going now. Will be on it tomorrow, as soon as the offices open again. Appreciate you taking the time to reply, seems we don't have too many surgeons in the GTA who perform DIEP!!
Continue healing well.
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Hi Jacklin I think there are more DIEP surgeons those are just the two hospitals that I am familiar with and have seen outcomes from the surgeries. I had been considering DIEP for a long time my double mastectomies was back in 2009. newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who want DIEP obviously have priority over delayed. When I finally decided to go ahead I was put on list and was given a date in about five months I could not do that date but the secretary was excellent for Dr. O'Neill and she would call again with another date. She was right on top of coordinating. Because Diep can be 10 to 14 hours the doctor will do one a week. She has many other plastics cancer patients to deal with, e.g. ear nose throat.. Best of luck
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Thanks sportysister. I really think I just wasn't prepared for such a prolonged recovery. Perhaps I didn't ask enough questions or do enough research in advance. I think I just didn't want to think too far ahead because I didn't want to be overwhelmed.
It looks like I'm going to have to go back to my surgeon again tomorrow. My abdominal drain went from < 15 cc's for three days in a row to over 80 cc's today. Plus I have a lot of increased drainage from part of the abdominal incision. I called earlier today and told them everything... They weren't overly concerned, but offered me an appointment tomorrow if I wanted. At first I thought it didn't seem necessary if they weren't concerned, but I'm too anxious about it to not go. I'm just so tired of all of this.
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I just got my last drain out. I discovered something that you might not know. My upper chest between my breasts has been sore for a few days and it's getting worse. I asked my PA about it. A small piece of rib is taken out during surgery to get to the blood vessel! Since I'm moving more, it's causing pain.
Inneresting and ouch!
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Jlstacy, I just learned this myself yesyerday at me pre op. I just thought all.the indentations were bones sticking out. Mine haven't been sore much at all, so it should improve for you.
I have been in my own room a couple of hours now. Recovery room was about another hour. Surgery was under 4 hours including excision of the trouble maker lump. Dr. Thinks it is cyst that may have been in DIEP tissue since before it was transfered. Biopsy will be back in a couple days.
Not too much discomfort yet. Becoming aware of little achy areas slowly. Discharge should be tomorrow by afternoon and we may get to fly home Sunday. P.S. was able to get fat from ab and outer thighs. I asked to avoid inner thigh. I know it's still early, but so far I am feeling pretty good. Also made areola areas a little smaller with a minor lift and those dog ears are history. Ab/thigh compression pants are oh so adorable....I probably won't think so in about a week.
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Dizz- I'm glad it all went well!! Do you think it is typical for phase 2 to be an overnight stay?
Fingers crossed on that darned lump!
Why did you want to avoid inner thigh? Did you tell you PS specifics about what you wanted done?
I hope you stay comfortable
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my stage 2 was outpatient. I had fat grafting, refined nipple size and removed dog ears from abdominal scar... I was at the hospital a total of maybe 6 hours...
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I do think an overnight stay is more unique to my cancer center. Not sure why, but glad I'll have the extra support this first night. I wanted to avoid inner thigh just because I thought it may be more uncomfortable than other areas for recovery and particularly on the 3.5 hour flight home. Outer thigh probably won't be all that much better, but at least I don't have both. P.S. was very receptive to my concerns/ areas of concern to be worked on. Many areas were just an automatic, but he did listen to things I pointed out.
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9.5 hours post op stage 2 and I haven't needed a pain killer yet.... not even tylenol or motrin. The gave me some IV antibiotics and a pepcid with my lunch. I'm wondering if I am just on and endorphin high and not feeling it. My throat is sore from the tube. The compression garments feel like spanx from h€//. Other than that, I am good. Full disclosure, my foob numbness and diep donor sights were /are extensive. That could be part of it. Maybe they just really loaded me up in surgery? But, I came to and was very perky and alert relatively soon. Thank you nausea patch! I may take a pain killer at bedtime just to help out with hospital sleep trouble.
J3nny4, Best wishes on your upcoming diep next week. I hope you'll have an easy go of it and a quick recovery.
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This is totally OT, but it's an example of the scum who get on our forums and prey upon us. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics/841720?page=2#post_4658455
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Ducky, that really stinks about the draining! The Drs are never concerned but they aren't the ones with the hoses hanging out of them! Did you go to the dr? How did you make out
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Dear ladies I am 10 days post op ( It was for bilateral Diep reconstruction Removal of left implant and Right risk reducing recon) I am feeling despondent because my flap failed after 4 days and I have ended up with a Left implant and a right expander. I was mentally prepared for every complication but I really thought I would have ended up with a lovely new pair.
I had to return to theatre after 6 days for exploration of the R diep recon and the feeling of being hit by a bus is passing today. I am still on regular painkillers and mobilizing better and faster everyday.
Anyway I am feeling much better already and healing fast. Staying positive but not looking forward to a slower approach to my reconstruction and mental detachment from my breast cancer. I am greatly disappointed that I shall not be having my own issue in situ but at least I am alive and well and the right breast is salvageable.
Hope all is and will go well for diep 2016 ladies. Be encouraged that only a tiny percent of ladies will end p like me.
love
Clare
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Dear Bluebird 123.
can you let me know if you get any more info re the hormone therapy. I have been on letrozole for 2 yrs and had a Diep flap op 10 days ago, but the left didn't have enough blood vessels and the right Diep flap failed. I am coming to terms with it. I am going to research your theory because i wasn't told to stop taking my tablets. Feeling very disappointed at the moment as i was looking forward to my 2 new pairs for my 60th Birthday;
what a bummer!
Clare
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I did go back to my surgeon. They weren't concerned about the appearance of the drainage, either into the JP drain or from the incision. But they were concerned about the possibility of a fluid collection that could become infected. Also the fact that my drain had been in longer than 4 weeks. So I'm on an antibiotic. The interesting thing for me is that I started feeling better after a couple of doses. I never had a fever or anything, but I wonder if I was trying to fight something off?
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Ducky, it is very likely you were cooking an infection. I did twice with drains in. I never spiked a fever until they took the drain out. I suspect that the drain was removing just enough of the infection that my body didn't react much.
Sugar, I am so sorry to hear about the flap failure. How disappointing! I doubt the med played a huge role, esp if your vessels were small on one side. They might have been marginal on the other.
I am glad that you have options, but that isn't much comfort right now. As you are finding, time heals, much as it stinks.
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Sugar, I'm so sorry that your flap failed. That has to be incredibly disappointing and frustrating. I disagree with bigsister, in that I would have to fault the surgeon somewhat. I hope you can get better result in the future or that what you have turns out better than you feel it is now.
Ducky- I'm so glad that the antibiotic is making you feel better, although I'm sorry that darned drain is still in!!!
Speaking of drains, I had my last drain taken out Thursday. My numbers were very good and totally warranted removing it. In fact, they had been good for about 5 days! But it is still draining!!! Not a ton, but I have to keep replacing the gauze. If this is still happening on Monday, do you think I should call my PS?
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sugar8, so sorry about the flap. I have been trying to post from my kindle and it hasn't been working. Sorry I haven't posted sooner. I have thought about you a lot. While we all try to focus on the good, this is worthy of acknowledging how much it sucks. Words don't even accurately describe it. When my vein disconnected and I had to have emergency surgery, I was so scared I was losing the flap (and my life) so I know how you feel. It was just luck that it was a vein further back that was damaged from other surgeries. Keep the faith. Surgery techniques are improving every day, don't give up hope. Also, seek another opinion. I wonder couldn't the surgeon have seen the 'small' vessels on the cat scan before the surgery? Maybe another surgeon would have better luck? Take good care. thinking of you.
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Ducky, glad you went into Doctor's. They never seem concerned, but you know your body. My doctors have always kept me on antibioics until the drains come out. How are you doing now?
Jlstacey, I had that happen too from my donor site. I called. They told me to be sure to use bacitracin and bandage it with a little compression, to decrease my activity and if it didn't resolve in one week to come in. It resolved with above measures after 6 days! by the way, did they explain to you why they need to crack the rib to get to the vessel - I still don't get that?
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jlstacey - tried to look up your link - looks like most of it was deleted - what was going on? thanks
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Mel, they remove a small piece of rib in order to be able to access the mammary artery and vein. It is a routine part of the DIEP surgery.
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