DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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NancyHB--I had only one side done and the abdominal incision is not made any shorter. I can't remember exactly why they can't make it shorter, but it has to do with the fact that they harvest the "deep inferior epigastric artery." Good luck to you!!
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Were all of you in ICU for first 2 days? I understand it's for closer monitoring and keeping things from moving. But whatare you able to do? Just wondering what I should bring for those first few days. Book? Phone? Tablet?
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Please add me to the DIEP list of surgeries, I will e having my DIEP om July 27, Dr. Shannon Colohan, UNiversity of Washinton Medical in Seattle
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Does anyone know how long it takes to heal the rib cartilage that was taken out during the surgery? At night when I find myself on my back (no more big pillows), it feels like there is a big weight on my chest. Or is that the weight of my new breasts? After all they're about a pound each. Just wondering if any of you have felt this.
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Farmerma, for the first 24-48 hours they have to check the pulse of your new flap hourly using a Doppler--much like they do when checking for a baby"s heart beat when you are pregnant. Since the regular floors of the hospital don't have the staffing to do that close checking, you get to be in the ICU that first couple of days.
The sleep deprivation from that constant monitoring will wipe you out. Frankly, I don't remember my hospital stay at all! It is all a blur. Your phone, a charger, biotene mouth spray to keep your mouth moist, and Chapstick is all you need. You can bring a book, but I didn't have the capacity to read. I might have listened to a book on my phone, but I don't remember!
My husband stayed with me during the day the first couple of days and then my daughter took a turn. Apparently we talked. Lol
Grateful, I am not sure what you are feeling. The rib can feel like pressure. I don't recall how long that took to settle. A few weeks
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Reading and catching up, sending big [but gentle!] hugs to simplicity and grateful -- thank you for sharing your challenges and keep on resting and healing:) I was lucky and didn't have any opening up, and now 10 months later faded 90% and a pretty thin line.
Mya -- can't wait to see unveiling of final results -- things are spectacular so far! I get my nips in the fall:)
I recall my rib discomfort [mostly when coughing or pressure] eased to a not noticeable within a couple of weeks, so possibly it's the weight of that pound of butter -- I think mine did feel heavier too, and it took a long time to feel comfy side sleeping, but remember it's all still tender now [where it's not numb!].
Welcome mom4 -- I looked back at early posts here and even previous years - lots of great tips. I tend to overpack but really only needed biotene spray, nice refreshing face wipes, lip balm, phone, a couple of magazines to flip thru, and easy on slippers. I stayed in ICU all 5 days - just the system where I was, as things progressed well for me. Day 1 barely recall, Day 2 the worst - hot, tired, sore when I moved, Day 3 to 5 improved regularly so was very encouraged. I am so happy to have chosen this route.
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Morning ladies. Thinking of all going in soon or going home soon.
Grateful, I just sent my son for some raw honey, Ill let ya know thou yours look to be healing beautifully. Im using coco butter when/where I can. I dont have that discomfort but Im about the same size I was? Ido have many thou. Ive mentioned my tummy discomfort. Both side boob areas are very tender. The right has a necrosis spot with a helluva wad of stitch
(a good bit that was loosely hanging and had hardened has already been cut off), and the left, no clue, its just very tender. I havent been massaging so probably need to do that more. Wish I had advice for you. Hoping today is a comfy day for both of us. So far so good here.Thank you Phoebe!
BigSister, I thought that was so cool! Im not sure but dont think I was in ICU. Lol I didnt leave the room until my last day, then I just walked the hallway. I was in for 4 nights.
I had my phone, toothbrush, face cloth, minimal coloring supplies, and a book. Slept a lot thou, while I could, before I came home to 3 teens haha
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farmerma- I was in ICU for three nights. I actually loved it, I know that sounds crazy. But here's why: the hospital I stayed in was brand new and they now have private rooms for each patient in this place--no one has a "roommate". Also, I had a big screen t.v./computer which I could go online with and watch movies or t.v. The food was not great, but my nurses were really nice. And it was fantastic to know that my flap was being monitored. I am very grateful for the experience! I did get some biotine but I found that I didn't really mind the dry mouth and I was drinking things soon enough.
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Thank you so much for all the input on the ICU stay. I want to say that without you ladies and your willingness to share so much information (including the pictures!), I would be a lot more scared than I am. I am actually looking forward to Wednesday and getting this done and get the healing process started. I appreciate all that you've shared!
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Thanks so much for all the info. My PS said yesterday that because of my difficult time with the expansions and the extensive radiation I had 8 years ago she was so glad that we chose the DIEP because it will look great and my pain will be much better after the DIEP. I am just trying to get a list of who canc help me at home as I am single
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and then there was nipples. Today was the big reveal. Holy Nips batman! Is that really me? I cried for the first time today. Funny that nips were the tipping point. 😂
Feeling grateful.
(Picture is day 2)
P.s. I told my doctor about the Dr. Scholls idea and he thought it was genius. Well duh! The ladies on here know their stuff!
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grateful - it took mine about 3 weeks until I no longer noticed it. my biggest issue eas pain when taking a deep breath.0
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myajames - absolutely stunning result! I am over the moon happy for you!0
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Mya - Hot damn! You look spectacular!
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thanks ladies! I'm super happy with the result, and glad this journey is coming to an end. I'm glad I've documented every step in pictures... I've been able to show people going thrusimilar situations, what this process is like. From ICU, to measuring the output of drains, the panic one felt when you mistakenly pick up something heavy or put your arms over your head....
This community kept me sane. You, kept me sane. Hopefully I'm able to pay it forward somehow.
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Mya, those are gorgeous!!!!
I ran a test on a couple spot for 2 hours the other day with the honey. No adverse reaction. So last night, I put it on a few other areas of necrosis and my belly button. I'm not sure if I am just super hopeful, or imagining things, but my belly button was less red and irritated this morning as well as another spot of necrosis I put it on
Still haven't tried it IN my deep abdominal wounds. A bit scared to. I don't know how it would hurt anything if it did fine in other areas. I guess the depth and magnitude of the abdominal dehiscence scare me as far as putting any honey in there....There is a lot of information out there regarding using raw or manuka honey as a healing agent.Hope all are doing well, and resting
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simplicity, glad you found a remedy that may help. Please be super careful with the open wound. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hugs
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Simplicity, I heard that there is medical quality honey you can get but I'd ask the doctor before putting into the open wound.
Just wondering when it is possible for us to wear an underwire bra again or is it never? Just checked some really nice ones but worried that it's too soon.
Mya, your doctor is a genius and an artist.
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Thanks Stellamaris and Grateful.
O yea definitely. I am still testing prior to use on the bigger areas. I checked with my Dr and he is fine with it. That said, I am using the saline wet to dry dressing now and a big chunk of...dead fatty cells? scar tissue? There's a name for that gunk they scrape out-it's not infection, anyway a big piece is working its way out
Hard to find information out there, there's bits n pieces. Not surprising, if you're one that believes more could be done, than the average citizen is privy to, about cancer and other diseases. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I have my opinions.
Anyway, I found this;
"Best of all, honey is so easy to use. For deeper wounds and abscesses, honey is generally used to fill the cavity after it has been cleaned. On smaller wounds and on larger ones that have been filled with honey, a top dressing is applied. This is done using approximately 1 ounce of honey on a 4-inch square dressing pad. The pad is then applied directly to the wound. A second, dry dressing is placed on top of the first dressing and secured with adhesive tape."
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"Let food be your medicine..." Hyppocrates. I'm going to try it too.
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Grateful, they have Manuka honey bandages at cvs drugstore. Pharmacist said she hasnt heard anything either way.I got raw local honey.
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hey Simplicity!
When I had radiation burns on my chest wall I used Medihoney. I was all healed up in a few days. It is medical grade honey bandage or you can use local honey which does the same thing. Here is a link to the medihoney . Hope you feel better soon!
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Thanks Blossom!! But I am steering clear of any processed honey. My wounds are very significant (previous page are pictures). For now, I am still testing it in other areas to ensure no reaction.
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Medihoney is not cheap! But if it works, great idea. In Canada I found it on Amazon.ca.
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hi again everyone. it's been awhile since I have posted but I do log in every once in awhile to read how everyone is doing. i am still trying to heal the fat necrosis on my left breast. originally on the PICO from april 12-may 26 changed every other day. may 26 until now we are packing it with gauze and changed daily. that in itself is exhausting, having to go to clinic every day for a change. the drainage is less which is great so the bandage is smaller.
still cannot shower by myself but my wonderful man and i have a routine so it works. i am supposed to go back to work july 4 and i think i am ready. it will be good to get back to a routine. i will just leave work early to go for my daily dressing change. fun fun.
we move this friday coming so talk about a busy last week of freedom!!!
we go see the surgeon again on july 7. i think we will be packing this hole until the end of july at least. i am just over 4 months post DIEP. so at this rate i won't be getting any 2nd stage surgeries until next year. it has been frustrating and exhausting and crippling to my emotional stability at times but then i remember how far i have come from surgery day feb 18. my right foob is fantastic!!!!
i have also started back on my arthritis meds which is wonderful. it will take a few weeks to stabilize but looking forward to each new day.
MYAJAMES; your foobs look flipping fantastic!!!!!! so happy for you. truly flawless.
all the best.........
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Morning ladies.
Tanya, I completely understand. I have abdominal dehiscence and I'm feeling very discouraged. 4x a day dressing change and I try to shower at least twie prior to changes, which is hard. It takes a good 45-60 minutes to dress each time. I have 3 different treatment areas going on. Abdominal I am doing a wet to dry saline dressing. I am testing some areas with raw honey, then I have a deeper area of necrosis on my right breast on the far right (where my arm rubs
) that isn't getting worse but isn't improving either.Mentally and emotionally exhausting. Yep. Glad to hear your man is helping out where he can. That's awesome.
Hope all have a good day. Im about to examine the wounds, shower and dress them again. Oy. I dont wanna
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Hi ladies have been watching posts and hope you ladies who have had incision problems will heal soon. I don't know about the honey should check with your surgeons. This group of women have been amazing with the advice and encouragement. People ask me why I went ahead with this surgery and I say it was this forum and all the advice from you ladies. I am doing really well, going to Victoria B.C. this Thursday for a week for my nephews wedding so ready for a vacation. All the best and good healing,
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Morning Lilyn. What a pretty name! My Dr said it was fine, and doing some research, it has been used for a long time for wound healing.
That said, I still haven't tred it on my deeper wounds. The article I found says to fil it with the honey once it's clean. I have to go back Tue to have it scraped again, so I was going to try it after that because it will be clean of all the fat necrosis.
I am glad to hear you're getting a vacation!
This place and all the ladies in it, has been a great support and not sure I could have made it through without it.
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Have a great holiday, Lilyn! I'm off as well on Thursday.
Simplicity, have you noticed yet any positive results with the honey?
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Morning Grateful. In my opinion, yes. Right now, I am using it on my belly button, and 2 areas of necrosis on my right breast. The belly button has had 3 days (?) of honey treatment, and all the gook is about gone. It's the first application of the right side of my right breast, so no difference today (thou it does look a bit cleaner? Hard to tell). The other area of necrosis seems to be responding very well to the honey. It seems to be drawing out any gook.
Meant to ask, do you have any pain around the area? Or stomach pain around the areas? I need to talk to him about that Tuesday. It seems when the fat necrosis appears in my deeper abdominal wounds, it makes my tum hurt, and its tender to the touch around the area. last week, after he debridled it, it felt awesome for about 2 days, then more necrosis appeared
I have not yet tried the honey in the deeper wound, thou he said it was fine to do. I am waiting until it gets cleaned out Tuesday as i don't want to trap any of that gook in there. I have a big chunk of fat necrosis trying to work its way out of the left hole. I tried to get it and pull it out-worst sound ever as it seems to be attached to the side walls by tiny strands of whatever
And it wouldn't come out.Pardon potato quality. Easier to take a reflection shot as the mirror gives me light, and a clearer shot.
You feeling ok today?
This is 6.24.16
This is this morning. 3 days of honey treatment.
Right side of breast only 1 day of honey treatment
Left side of right breast, 6.9.16
Left side of right breast this morning. 2 days of honey treatment
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