DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Barb sounds like you over exerted yourself. Just go slowly take pain meds as needed. Can't remember if you can take advil I find it better than Tylenol. My abdomen is fine gets pretty tight below incision if I do too much like today washed patio doors too much bending. I keep getting sharp pain in left breast I would suppose just healing. I have not been wearing a bra maybe that is causing pain better go get fitted for new bras. Take care everyone
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Thanks cedee and Lilyn. I think the stitches are dissolving and the scar has not formed completely yet and that's why the oozing. The nurse I called yesterday said the scar has to heal from inside as well so they won't be adding any new stitches at this point.
Plus too much straining although I haven't done anything today. I wish I could move more so that I don't lose so much muscle tone - this lying in bed for three weeks can't be doing my muscles or my back any good. I'm still sleeping a couple of hours morning and afternoon as well as a long night. Can't wait to see the nurses and doc tomorrow.
When is your next appointment Lilyn? I agree about the proper bra measurement - the ones I bought prior to surgery are too tight.
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Hi all, I've been in hospital for 4 days with an infection on my donor site incision. I had a lot of fluid retention and had come twice to get fluid drained. I came Friday and by Sunday afternoon I could barely walk and had fever of 103. They think my infection is stabilized so I can go home tomorrow. I am really worn out from it all. It was just a month ago since my SGAP. Ugh, anyone else been hospitalized with infection?
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Barb sounds like you over exerted yourself. Just go slowly take pain meds as needed. Can't remember if you can take advil I find it better than Tylenol. My abdomen is fine gets pretty tight below incision if I do too much like today washed patio doors too much bending. I keep getting sharp pain in left breast I would suppose just healing. I have not been wearing a bra maybe that is causing pain better go get fitted for new bras. Take care everyone
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Sorry to hear about your infection FE princess. Take care and hope it clears up.
Grateful: I found using a walker helpful to get up and get in exercise, while remaining bent over. You don't want to lay around too much. You want to keep moving to avoid blood clots and get lungs working.0 -
FE Princess I hope your infection clears up and you start feeling better.
I wanted to share that I have set my masectomy with immediate DIEP flap for June 22. It is so nice to have the date and not be so up in the air about planning summer activities with the kids.
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cedee, thanks for the advice to use a walker - I don't have one, but I will get out of bed more - lots of stairs in my home. I just didn't want to pull on the incision any more before it heals and it seems that any activity opens it up again.
Lilyn, my right breast seems to have a hard spot - and is painful - could it be fat necrosis or just a bruise? Have you checked yours for that?
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gratefull99- week three was hard for me but you shouldn't be in WORSE pain. I was off pain meds by day 10. Please call and have them listen to what is going on. You need to rule out infection. It may be nothing, but be pro-active.
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Thanks, Cherrie, I'm going to see the doctor today and will ask.
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For the women trying to see what this surgery looks like in real life, with real pics, check out this very brave woman's Blog. It is super informative and well written on a subject that we can all relate to. I'm grateful to her for sharing her experience as it helped me understand what I was about to do. Itwas even so helpful for me to see what a drain looked like!
https://littlebsbigc.wordpress.com/2016/01/16/real...
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Hello Ladies! Haven't been on this thread for a bit...but glad to see some of those that went thru DIEP ( Big Sister, DizzPark,etc) around the same time I did...still lending some support. How are you all doing?
Just thought I'd drop in and update. I just met with my PS to talk about my second revision. I have a stubborn wonky boob...LOL! So I am going to have some other adjustments at the same time. My PS wants to bulk/fill up my foobs with some more fat grafting. Honestly, I don't care much about being larger...but the skin from my original DD's just doesn't fit the B-C cup I got with my belly fat. The plan is to lower my belly scar this time, liposuction around my flanks and fill in some more hollow areas. I talked her into adjusting the nipples up (lift) and hoping that will improve the way my left breast is hanging.
For those looking forward to these surgeries...They are soooooo worth it. Please don't be fearful. Recovery from the stage 1 is a little more complicated...but after a couple weeks it is all downhill. Stage 2 is really a breeze. Don't get me wrong...there is some discomfort from the liposuction...but I got up like nothing happened after my stage 2.
God be with you and Healing to you all! ~Leslie
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I just had my three week follow up appointment and all is well. Whew! So I asked about stage two with some fat injections to even up the two breasts, plus nipples and tattoos and was told that I should wait at least 6 to 12 months so that all the swelling can go down first. That long?? Just wondering how long did any of you on here had to wait. Thanks.
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Grateful, every doc is different and each woman is different. From these forums I have usually heard Stage 2 is done at 3+ months, but I suppose other docs vary.
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BigSister, yes, three months is the minimum but here in Canada there is also a waiting list and I'm eager to put all of this behind me so want it NOW! LOL. Impatient to get on with my life and make plans for the next few months. Lilynn, do you have a date for your stage 2 yet?
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Cedee thanks looked at the link. Loved the blog.
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happy long weekend (here in canada)!!! just thought I would pop on, say hello to everyone. I found this forum to be such great support! I am 3 months post surgery as of May 18.
i am still trying to heal my crater on my left boob (i have pics if anyone is wondering what I am talking about, picture diary every dressing change). I have a PICO dressing which is a miracle dressing! I had it put on april 13 and it is now may 20. started off having it changed every 4 days but the drainage was too much and I had a strong odour like baby poo so we upped the dressing change to every 48 hrs the next week. that has been my life for a month.
the crater is just over half way closed now so great progress. it was caused by fat necrosis and my body just being slow to heal thanks to my rheumatoid, no infection. i am massaging the left boob more frequently so i think that is causing it to break up some and increase the drainage to the dressing. all good minus the baby poo smell. i actually thought it was a baby in a waiting room at the beginning until i got home and realized the smell was still with me hahahahaha awesome
i am still not on my arthritis meds (enbrel) so things are a struggle (like typing this post) but we are more concerned about healing this crater without infection. then i can go back on my meds, and then i can go back to work! hoping for after the july long weekend.
even with this delayed wound healing, best surgery! my right boob is all nice and jiggly and healing well. the scars are starting to become smooth and light pink. so happy! i seriously love jiggling it lol
i am still wearing my surgical bras. my 2nd stage isn't even on the discussion board yet until this crater heals and THEN i start my "resting" period. i assume early in 2017.
as i mentioned above, if anyone is curious about the crater, feel free to PM me and i will send some pictures. it's not pretty, but getting there!!
drive safe, drink safe, be safe this long weekend
xo tanya
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Happy long weekend to you too, Tanya and I'm so happy for you that you're finally healing that crater. It is a long process all this as I'm finding out as well.
My abdominal incision has finally stopped oozing, (thanks to a couple of steri strips that the doc put on), and I'm starting to feel a bit more energetic. The past three weeks are now a blur!
But I am very happy with my results even though the PS will need to do a bit of touch up to even up the two breasts and hopefully reduce the love handles at the same time.
I have booked the six week follow up appointment (six weeks from the three week one, not from the day of surgery) for June 29th. So six more weeks of recovery before I can get away from doctors for three months when the next follow up will happen.
Wishing all of you here a happy weekend!
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hi grateful and Tanya, fellow Canadians happy long weekend! - I had my diep last August which went very well and no issues with abdominal scar line or breast healing, but due to needing rads after all
, my timeline has slowed for stage 2 -- they want >6 months post rads which I am fine with -- otherwise I had heard any time after 3 months depending on individual healing. Grateful, remember to take it easy - I know how eager I was to get up and going, but listen to your body as best you can. It will happen! My stage 2 sounds similar to your plans. I didn't get dog ears -- a tiny kitten ear on one side of hip. Need a nip, and some general evening out. Geez that crater sounds rough Tanya - hang in there and glad it's on the mend. My R boob remains puffier post rads, and a bit higher and tighter. I see my PS in Vancouver early June for a check up and will plan for stage 2 later in the fall. That works just fine for me ...so I can swim kayak and paddle board at the lake all summer:) and hopefully lose a few pounds by then. Being on Letrozole makes that a challenge. I had heard on another post my PS schedule is crazy busy now and she's not taking new diep patients at the moment, so was lucky to get her when I did last summer.0 -
Happy long weekend fellow canadians:) T-11 to surgery - getting a little nervcited. Thanks to everyone for your stories- it helps calm the worries and clear up uncertainties!
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Barb have followup appointment with Dr. Neill on June 28 to discuss stage 2. I'm not in big hurry things look really good had no problems. I'm happy to let things heal for a while. Will let you know what she says. Have a good weekend,!! :-)
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It's been over three weeks now since the surgery and my abdominal incision is still oozing. To me this means that the drains should have been left in longer or that some other means of stitching should have been used to hold the incision together longer. I'm worried that the wound is not closing or healing and is open to risk of infection. I don't have this problem with the breasts but every time I move, the abdomen stretches and lets the incision open. The doctor said it will close from the inside but isn't the skin supposed to hold everything together and prevent bacteria from getting inside? Can anyone help me with this?
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Good question, grateful. Normally our skin is our first line of defense, but when we cut it open for surgery, the game changes.
What to do with drains is complicated. The drain itself is a pathway for germs and a place for them to adhere to, creating a biofilm. Thus, leaving the drain in too long is problematic.
Also, surgical wounds can open, especially if you are overweight. There is a 50% chance of a wound opening for overweight women. What is good for getting a good size is not so good for healing, sad to say.
When you do have an open, draining wound, it is unlikely to get infected because the draining is constantly cleaning it out. It is a pain because it is draining, but you have to trust that the body knows what it is doing and let it heal at its own pace.
Keep up with your dressing changes so that the germs don't have a place to live for any length of time.
You can support your body with nutrients.
- Take a good quality probiotic.
- Take a high quality daily vitamin with mentholated Bs (methylfolate, not folic acid)
- Take extra vitamins C and D.
- Avoid sugar and carbs.
- Omit wheat (it is inflammatory) and do not replace it with "gluten free" alternatives. (They are worse than sugar!)
- Take daily walks, but don't over do.
I am so sorry you have to deal with this! But it will heal over time.
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Thanks, BigSister for your advice. I am not overweight, (5'3", 130 lb.) but every time I move the incision opens, so I am not motivated to do much. I really think I should have some steri strips there (I have four in another area of the abdomen). Maybe I'll buy some myself and put them on.
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Grateful, Thanks for the info. If it opened because it needs to drain, it likely needs to drain. How are they having you dress it? Packing it would be better than closing it because it would help it heal from the inside out. If it wants to drain, there isn't much you can do about it.
You may want to see a wound specialist to get some better advice. I have learned that plastic surgeons are a little lost when things don't go as they expect.
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Thanks, BigSister, it's a long weekend here but if it doesn't close by Tuesday I'll be heading back to the doctor.
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I just read back through your posts and agree--time to go back. It sounds like it is opening more than it did when you first went back for your 3-week check?
If you run a fever, be sure to call right away.
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I just asked my son to get me some steri strips and will try to close it myself. No fever, it's just that every time I move, it prevents the skin from sticking together.
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If you can't get steri strips at the store--our pharmacies stopped carrying them--butterfly bandages will work.
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I had two spots on my abdominal incision that remained open for over 6 weeks. It was during my second flap surgery. It takes time to heal from the inside out. I rinsed with sterile saline twice a day packed some gauze into the crack and bandaged. Once it finally started to show improvement it closed fairly quickly.
I had the entire lower edge of my football skin paddle in my breast open up leaving a very large crater. I had to clean and pack this for over 2 months then got a wound vac for 3 weeks to finish the healing process. 2 days after removing the wound vac I had to have immediate gall bladder surgery. Every incision after that has healed great.
Be patient and I hope your incision heals nicely. I am praying for you.
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Great advice ladies!!!! I'll throw my two cents in as well with all my surgeries and wound vac fun last year. Lol. When the nurse came to the house to help me with my dressing changes she introduced me to SilvaSorb gel and Puracol collagen strips to pack my wounds with. That stuff was amazing and I used it this last time as well when I had a spot on my abdomen that didn't want to heal. All of my wounds healed nicely even the times I didn't have the wound vac. I got my supply refill off Amazon prime from an actual seller at a medical supply store. I'm not a Dr so please check with yours to see what they would have you do in your situation. I just wanted to share what worked for me.
Thinking of you all. Jlstacey where are you? Update us when you can.
Blessings ladies, G
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