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DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016

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Comments

  • taag4
    taag4 Member Posts: 93
    edited June 2016

    Grateful99-My surgery was June 6th. My last drain was removed today. I only have a dressing over the spot where the last drain came out today, on my belly button and just under my arm where the breast drain was. Today my home care nurse took off every other steri stripe. Everything is healing nice no oozing. She just said she wanted to see how it went with just a few stripes removed. Your right, clothing choices are very few. Right now Im sticking to light pjs that don't touch the incisions as much as possible. Just don't want to irritate anything. Maybe Ill talk to my home care nurse about it tomorrow. See if she has anything I can use as a dressing or what she suggest. Thanks for the tip!


  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    sportysister, great nip tip!! and your girls look awesome!!

    Grateful, I forgot to get my report, but I am terribly lopsided as well. My left is a lot bigger haha Still lumpy with areas of insane hardness (4th week).


  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    Taag, not yet :( But I got AWS (axillary Web Syndrome) 2 weeks out on the right and then on the left 7 weeks out from BMX. I was straight into OT after bmx because of it. Lymphedema is a big fear of mine. Such a tricky thing. Keep active, but not too active or your body will create more fluid therefore increasing lymhedema risk? Ugh

    I got my first 3 drains out a week after surgery (May 20th surgery cant remember dates for chit). The 4th was that Friday. Had to go in due to issues, necrosis, infection, and incision separation. Mine didnt start oozing until last weekend.

    Changing my dressing 3x a day, typically after a shower due to one really bad spot on abdomen.Not getting worse really, but definitely not improving. Sent my Dr an email and pics tonight. See what he says. So frustrating.

    Ooh! Ooh!!! I do have feeling in a few very small isolated areas. I giggled. It tickled. My girls also jiggled while brushing my teeth the other day for the first time!!

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    Thank you Simpicity! Hang in there! The first time my new boobs jiggled was when I was driving in the car, I was laughing and smiling because I was so happy! People must have thought I was nuts!!

  • farmerma
    farmerma Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2016

    My DIEP surgery is schedule for June 29th--two weeks from today. We started the whole prior authorization process back in April, didn't expect any problems, after all, isn't insurance supposed to automatically cover reconstruction after breast cancer? Well on June 3rd they sent a denial letter saying the procedure was basically a fancy fat grafting and would not be covered. My PS has been trying to get a peer-to-peer phone call with the insurance doctor to justify why this is the best procedure to use for me. I'm just hoping this all gets straightened out and I don't have to reschedule. I work two jobs and have everything arranged for time off from both, plus have made sure I have help, etc. I'm SO frustrated right now! Anybody else have any insurance issues? Everything work out for you?

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    oh farmerma! I am so sorry that this is happening to you! How dare they say that I can't even imagine what you're going through. I'm sure your doctor will be able to sort it out, they know how to deal with the insurance companies.

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    I thought I had read someone else was dealing with this; Abdominal Wound Dehiscence

    Just called my Dr's office. Waiting for a nurse to call. I'm scared. A bit of black coloring/skin has developed around my dehiscence just since this morning (been keeping a close eye on it) Ugh.

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    Hi Simplicity, that was me. Two weeks now and it is slowly healing (I can send you a photo if you like). I also have a bit of black around the dehiscence - about 1/8 inch. Yesterday, I saw a nurse and one of the fellows who were there during my surgery and both said it looked ok and will take time - likely another month! I'm just putting Inadine dressing on it with gauze and tape on top. But the pharmacist said you can just wipe it with saline and add a dressing. What you have to watch for is infection: bright red, painful, fever. Other than that we just have to wait until the body heals itself. Hope this helps.

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    taag4, that's just nine days since the surgery. Be careful. My incision started oozing after two weeks and opened up after five. Not wanting to scare you but it can be a long recovery.

  • jwoo
    jwoo Member Posts: 931
    edited June 2016

    have any of you ladies gotten your 2nd stage around 12 weeks? I am going to NOLA, and they said the soonest you could have it is about 12 weeks from stage 1. Just wondering if any of you had actually been able to do so.

    Thanks! -jen

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    Thanks Grateful. Nurse just called back and they don't seem concerned. Going back in next Tuesday and she said if need be he will cut any dead tissue away, clean the area, and give me different dressing instructions. Ugh This is so frustrating. Would you mind terribly? I can send you a picture of mine as well. The black around mine just started today. It is sore to the touch, and red immediately around the area. I just finished broad spectrum antibiotics since I was getting an infection in the abdomen area (it was red from incision up).

    Taag, do be careful.I dont sit well, and have done a bit of uh hm, driving since surgery. Nurse said that could contribute to abdominal dehiscence. SO can constipation, coughing, sneezing, etc etc. Single mom, 3 kids at home (21,18, 15). Sitting here, my mind gets the best of me. I have done good, but do have to get out of my cocoon from time to time or I'll go insane. Just thankful mine are older and can help, pick up groceries, etc

    Hope all others are doing well this evening. Im going to go sulk in my bed :(

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    Grateful99 & Simplicity - I'm so sorry you girls are going through this. As if everything else isn't enough!

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    JWoo - I had mine at 16 weeks. I'm sure all the stage 2ers will let you know! Did you check the Diep 2015 post

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    Simplicity, I just sent you a message with photos. I didn't want to scare anyone on here by posting the photos publicly but if anyone else wants to see what happens when you split open, I'd be glad to.

    Shocked

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    Thanks Grateful. I'm hesitant to look

    Scared

    Yea, I thought putting them here, with no choice but to see them, would be rude. I appreciate it.

  • jen1
    jen1 Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2016

    hi ladies my unilateral mastectomy and diep reconstruction on June 6 went well. I was in the hospital for 5 nights and was released Saturday. This is the 9th day the last couple if days have been so hard. A lot of pain. I don't have a lit of support at home and I am probably doing to much.

  • taag4
    taag4 Member Posts: 93
    edited June 2016

    Simplicity-I ended up with aws also then the lymphedema, no fun but at least I caught it early. So very sorry your having problems, take care of yourself as a mom its so easy to put the kids first. Im lucky I have two daughters 25 and 21. They aren't living at home but live together and are here taking care of me every chance they get. Great that you can email your DR.

    Grateful99-Thanks for the advice to be cautious. I find myself feeling better and better everyday so I can see how it would be very easy to overdue it. Looking forward to seeing my PS on tuesday Ill try to remember to see if I can get my report also. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

    Hugs to you both!

  • taag4
    taag4 Member Posts: 93
    edited June 2016

    Jen1- glad to see you back. Sorry you don't have any help at home, you need to take care of yourself. Mine was also done on June6 they let me out thursday morning. Things have been going really well are your drains out yet? My last one was taken out yesterday. Did they not give you something for the pain at home? I stopped taking my pain pills, not really in pain just sore when I move around.

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    Jen1, I ordered my food online and had it delivered for several weeks, also bought lots of food I could eat without much work: vegs, fruit, cooked shrimp. And I let the housework go. Still did too much and now am paying for it. So, please take care of yourself, you'll heal much faster.

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    taag4, I think it's because the stitches dissolve at about two weeks and then if you overdo things, the skin starts separating. Take care.

  • BigSister-2015
    BigSister-2015 Member Posts: 298
    edited June 2016

    JWoo, I could have had my stage two 12 weeks after stage 1, but I waited another month to make it fit into my schedule better.

    I was able to get back to things with restrictions after a week or two, but it was a good two months till I felt 100%. I am 55, so I don't bounce very well. :)

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    Jen1, sorry to hear that :( It will get a bit easier. Do take it easy thou. I have done a bit too much and think I am paying for it now. Let the little things go. Maybe pick one time of the day that youre up and fix/bag a couple sandwiches or something you can just grab to eat? I have a table of needs right beside my chair, meds, dressings, chocolate, cause thats the most important lol

    Thanks Taag. I hope your lymphedema is better or gone? Yes, it sure is, but I've really kicked back since my goof last weekend-drove 1.5 hrs to stay the night with a friend. I needed to get away!! Been a rough year and treatments back to back. My sanity is just as important as my physical health. I am glad to hear your girls are close by and able to help!! Thats awesome actually. That they help you, and that they have each other :)

    My 3 have been doing a lot better. I threatened to flash them if the back talk kept going. My tolerance is low these days but amazingly, the temper just isnt there. Its an odd, calm, quiet anger lol

    Grateful, I didnt even think of it from that direction. I havent been a very good patient, really. Have been since last weekend thou. And will be. Gotta get better so I can get out of this house haha

    BigSister, a week or two? Oy. I have no clue how I am going to keep doing this financially. Guess I dont have to rush for stage 2. A lot of my discomforts will be taken care of then...but if I have to wait, I have to. Cant pay bills with left overs :/

  • zinny
    zinny Member Posts: 169
    edited June 2016

    Hi all…all of this discussion of "doing too much" and incisions has me concerned. My discharge instructions were very vague, essentially "don't use your abs" and don't lift or pull with your arms, limit lifting to 5-10 lbs. ( i hate when they say limit and then give a range.) I am two weeks out. The nurse is telling me that they want me to have good pain control so I keep moving. I am not allowed to lift my elbows above my shoulders. I am not allowed to drive. She said that if something is uncomfortable, then I shouldn't do it…but otherwise they certainly haven't suggested bedrest!!!

    SO, my abdomen feels tight when i stand upright, but no excessively so. If I have been up and around for a bit, it gets firmer and a bit like my abs are in spasm. If I am up sitting/walking for a long time, then it starts to get harder to stay upright an I go take a break. I am having a really hard time gauging what i should be doing activity wise, trying to do nothing, or trying to do more to get moving and get closer to normal.

    Anyone else have clearer guidelines?

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited June 2016

    Morning all.

    Zinny, I think Grateful made a good point in that the stitches start dissolving at 2 weeks. So that third week, you may start feeling better, but dont go with it! I historically have a hard time staying still. 3 kids, I have to escape at some point, somehow haha

    My tum was/is the same. More I am up, more it feels like its straining/pulling. If my ass isnt settled just right sitting, I can feel it pull on my abdomen.

    Not sure there's any further precautions you can take. I think the tension plays a big part from patient to patient, how tight they had to pull ya based on how much tissue they took. I think your only safe bet is to stay in the fetal position for a good 6 weeks lol

    Yea, you're barely 2 weeks out. Take it easy. I am in my 4th week. Try to limit activities for at least the next 2 weeks, Id say. Give that skin a chance to heal and adhere now that stitches are likely dissolved.

    I have a lot of rogue, escapee stitches. In most my areas of necrosis, theres a rogue stitch :/ The spot in my abdomen had a rogue stitch as well, thats still there as far as I know. I didnt pull it out.

    My Dr says theres nothing I could have done differently. I did, however drive a lot, and probably did more than I was supposed to those first couple weeks. Then the kids really started helping out more.


  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 96
    edited June 2016

    hi Zinny and all - back from a wildly fun 'girls' 60th get together in Victoria, after I saw the Vancouver PS [she said she's really happy with my post rad boob and gave it a 10/10, so I only need minor fall revisions - nipples and kitten ears]. Regarding the take it easy stuff -- I had been told by a different PS that someone had pulled and wrecked a suture line at 6 weeks by reaching into the back bottom of the dishwasher for something heavy :( , so hearing that made me comply better with the 'take it easy'. Light loads of laundry only no basket, with the wet clothes pulled out one by one with bbq tongs, using a little step stool in the kitchen to reach microwave and low shelf cupboards, and hired a housecleaner for a couple of months, etc. But I certainly did not bed rest [though slept with pillows everywhere for quite a long time] -- short easy walks [not with my big dog who is a huge puller],out for tea or lunch, shopping with a cart for lighter stuff, light housework only...... I certainly sat around more - watched more tv and read, but made a point of getting out in the world in easy doses, as it felt good for the soul.

  • cabland
    cabland Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2016

    My first post to this thread. My wife was diagnosed (stage IIB) last year, had a double mastectomy, followed by chemo (AC/Taxol) - also did a cold-capping clinical trial which I posted about here on the forum - and then radiation. After talking to 3.2 million women we decided on DIEP flap for her reconstruction. She had expanders for the last year since her mastectomy.

    A few bullets with my notes on her timeline:

    • 05/27 - Had DIEP surgery (Friday before Memorial Day Weekend); 7 drains
    • 05/27 - In ICU
    • 05/28 - In ICU (nausea, but pain was well controlled); had visitors; sat in a chair for a short time
    • 05/29 - Moved to regular room mid-day (note: Oncology floor so nurses were familiar with DIEP patients); continued to battle some nausea; pain well controlled; had visitors
    • 05/30 - Still battling mild nausea; more visitors; trouble voiding bladder and had to do a quick recatheterization (i.e. an in and out)
    • 05/31 - Stopped narcotic pains meds which seemed to address nausea; pain still well-controlled; and yes, more visitors
    • 06/01 - 4 of 7 drains removed; nurse showered wife; discharged from hospital; had trouble getting comfortable at home in recliner (i.e. lots of try this, try that, etc.)
    • 06/02 - Little more comfortable in different chairs; pain well-controlled; lower back hurts the most; muscle relaxers help at night
    • 06/03 - Same as day 2, but improving; Husband has to help when getting up/down and in/out of bed
    • 06/04 - Able to get in/out of chairs on own and head to bathroom, etc. Still need help getting in/out of bed
    • 06/07 - pain very well-controlled; got 5th of 7 drains out
    • 06/12 - Sleeping in upstairs master bedroom (were sleeping in guest bedroom downstairs); able to slowly climb stairs, etc.
    • 06/15 - Got 6th of 7 drains out (dang you last drain!); Redness around a spot on abdominal incision - surgeon put her on 10 days of antibiotics; skin peeling (like a thin snake skin) on radiated breast (surgeon said it was common)

    Overall, I would say the recovery has gone much better (so far) than expected with regard to the pain levels (although I think her pain threshold is high). Nausea in the hospital drug on and kind of stunk and she has become addicted to Downton Abbey having powered through three seasons over the last week with little to do but "sit" all day.

    The Lord continues to be good and has been so very merciful in all this. We'll pray she continues to progress well, with no complications and I'll do the same for you ladies.

    My thanks to you ladies here on these forums as this was our primary source of information through this journey!

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    cabland- Congratulations to your wife for getting to the "flap side" and for obviously picking a good husband! Awesome that you're on top of things and giving her help, she's gonna need it for a while! Welcome to the 2016 Diep thread and tell your wife if she has any questions, I'm sure that someone will be able to offer some advice.

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    Hey everyone! Just had my stage 2 postop today. Got out all my stitches from donor sites and my doctor told me that he put 200cc in my right side. We're going to wait a month, see how that side settles and see if we need to go back and "tweak" a little more. Hope everyone is doing well and feeling stronger each day

  • grateful99
    grateful99 Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2016

    Hi Sportysister, I'd love to hear more details - do you mind sharing? How did your PS transfer the fat? With a suction needle or did he cut you open? Did you have any dog ears to trim? Were you in the hospital and under anesthetic? How long was the treatment? Painful? Thanks.

  • sportysister
    sportysister Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    Hi grateful99,

    Absolutely! You know, I'm not sure, it must have been a suction needle because there were only 3 stitches in each spot. Dog ear on right side and that was suctioned out. Also, fat on side of boobs and those fat balls in front of my armpits that I developed after chemo, lol! He also straightened out my ab scar. So day of surgery, ab scar revision, nipples (yay!), fat harvested from hips, inner and outer thighs, side boob and front of armpits, left side reshaped a bit, gave me a little space between the girls and injected 200cc into my right. Surgery was at 1:00 and I was home by 6:00. It took 2 hours for the actual surgery. The anesthesiologist said I wouldn't need the tube but she was going to place something in there in case I needed it. I felt fine when I came home but I was SUPER sore the next 2 days

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