DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Hello everyone. I recently had the DIEP flap reconstruction and prophylactic mastectomy in left side due to high risk, Nov 11. First modified radical mastectomy with lymph mode involvement done after chemo April, 2015.
I seemed to be healing pretty well except my abdomen. A spot center to right about 6" across just doesn't seem to want to dry up and stay closed. I have seen others are struggling with that a little, too.
On top of this, I had to rush to ER with excruciating pain in upper right quadrant of abdomen a week ago due to gallbladder. Now my gallbladder needs to come out ASAP but they cannot go in yet due to recent surgery and risk of flaps dying from loss of blood supply if they do go in. So, in about two more weeks I need to have gallbladder removed.
My liver enzymes shot up to over 700 and 675. My blood counts are also down a lot and my sugar up. Not sure if gallbladder alone responsible but have been very scared lately that perhaps something else is going on that they aren't catching.
Just needed to vent a little as nobody else seems to understand. 😔
Sunshinesprit
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Welcome to the group, Sunshinesprit! So sorry to hear about your troubles. That is awfull that you have to wait on your gallbladder. I hope you can stay away from fatty foods so that it doesn't act up again.
I also hope that it is the cause for the goofy lab work. It could be. And it could be the reason you are not healing right. Rest, rest, rest!
You can vent as much as you need to here. We all get it.
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Hello dear ladies. Just wanted to post to give comfort to anyone needing it. I had a DIEP Flap reconstruction of both breasts Sept 2014 and everything went beautifully. The recovery is tough but manageable. I even got pregnant (surprised!) 4 months after the procedure and carried a beautiful healthy baby girl to term with no issues. I remember being so incredibly terrified of this procedure before hand. I spent many nights scared. But it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. So I hope my story gives you comfort. Sending healing vibes to all.
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Got home today. Laying in bed and holding back the tears because my sister is leaving tomorrow. She lives 4 hours from me and is an ICU nurse. She spent hours with me every day in the hospital. after she leaves it will just be me and my husband and he's not much help. The next week will be tough without her.
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Stellamaris, on the nipple thread…immediately after my stage 2, I was really questioning my choice to have nipples as they looked kind of big and felt weird. I had gotten used to my mounds….I have to say that now, 4 weeks out, i am so happy with my choice. When I catch myself in the mirror quickly, my first response to my appearance is that it looks "normal." Clearly, there are lots of parts that aren't "normal" but it is surprising what a difference it makes, even without tattooing and all of that!
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Sunshinesprite, commiserations over the abdominal incision. I have been dealing with this since my DIEP on 9/29. Be aware it can get worse before it gets better. My PS says that's "normal", whatever that means. If it doesn't close, you could always ask your PS if they can close it surgically at the same time as your gallbladder surgery.
Thanks for the reading recommendations. I do have a lot of books to read and TV shows to watch, but it's the human contact I miss.
Simplicity, must be daunting for them to reopen that abdominal incision. How is it bothering you now other than the appearance? (You mentioned some discomfort). I will say, following the second abdominal surgery, if I'm lucky enough that it stays closed, the scar looks like it would be just a thin line like the rest of the incision.
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Congratulations NicNak!! Glad everything worked out for you and that beautiful baby girl!!
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Zinny, thanks for the feedback. I think that I am going for it, because I only need one, and my PS did such a marvelous job matching my good breast to the rebuild. Might as well finish the job . All the best to everyone
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I will second the "love my nipples" plug. I don't even have tats yet, and the nipples make things look and feel so much more normal.
I nursed all 8 of my kids, so I used to have pretty big ones! Now they are tiny--like virgin breasts. Lol
After I got them, my 3 older girls compared nipples with me (my husband was horrified--lol). We had fun, anyway, and it was a good opportunity for girl talk and to answer more of their questions. One thing we realized is how different everyone's body is! Despite being sisters, all of them are pretty different.
This disease and surgery sure shows you who your friends are! My girls have taken such good care of me. They have had to do things they never thought they could, but they are all the better for it.
With our genetics, it will be the gift that keeps on giving, but the options and skill of the docs can only get better as time goes on. Oy.
I am planning to call Vinnie's one of these days to get my tattoos. I just have to decide when to drive out to Maryland. Not this winter!
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BigSis when did you get the nipples during one of your surgeries or in the office. My ps says we can do it in an office visit an I can't see that happening even numb...
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Since I was having fat grafting done, my nipples were created in the OR during stage 2
I know they can do it in the office too. Since nerves were cut, we really don't feel anything, I am sure a local woluld be enough.
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Dila - I'm having my stage 2 done on 12/20--all in the PS's office. He's creating the nipple, closing up the size of the "flap" area and getting rid of dog ears on the abdominal incision. I was a little surprised he could do all that in the office, but I'm happy NOT to have to go to the hospital and incur all that expense. Without having feeling in the breast, I'm not worried about that. Cutting off the dog ears is what I'm worried about. Hopefully he's got a lot of numbing meds he can shoot in there so I don't feel it. I'll let you know how it goes!
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Hi all, I'm 6 days post surgery and need advice on managing some of my discomfort. Besides taking pain killers what have others done to help with the irritation around the drain sites, particularly the one under the arm? The visiting nurse is coming tomorrow but the soonest the drains can come out is Tuesday.
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I feel ya on the pain meds. I can certainly tell when I'm due for meds. Not that it's a horrible pain, but definitely a reminder that you had something done. Would love to put something under the armpits. I had a scare last night with one of my drains. One of the stitches got pulled out when adjusting my belly binder. Called the nurse, she said just to wrap surgical tape to help hold in place. scared the crap out of me. Can't wait to get these things out on Monday!!
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Drains are truly horrible. For the discomfort/pain, I put some gauze between the skin and the drain tube to create a cushion. Then more gauze on top to cover the drain site and the beginning of the tube, and taped the whole lot down to the skin. It helped minimize movement where the drain exits.
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I did the DIEP yes the DIEP, I know some people think I don't know the difference in the surgeries but I knew.
I will try to supply the link.
http://stlouisbreastreconstruction.wustl.edu/en/Br...
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Meow, did you have your DIEP at Washington U/Siteman in St. Louis
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No at University of Washington dr. Hakim Said.
This link explains the surgeries with diagrams I think it is good.
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I have a question that I've been wondering about. I have stretch marks on my stomach from having my kids. Will my new foobs have the same stretch marks from the skin being moved from my stomach to make my new foobs? I know it seems like a silly question but ???
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It is possible for the stretch marks to land on your foob, but I am sure your PS will try to avoid them. Talk to them
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test message as my last 3 have not posted??
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Cwayman..I guess it depends on how the PS works it, but my tummy stretch marks are part of my new foob. I am not sure why, because I had a skin sparing mastectomy, and I know they used that skin for the top part of my foob, because it still has the lx scar. The part that has the tummy stretch mark is right under where the nipple used to be. It really doesn't look too bad, considering all the other scars. I had to have a balancing reduction on the good breast, and really, I look a little patchwork now. Eventually I am sure the scars will fade. Hugs
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Hi everyone. I have been reading this thread for a while. I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders on 9/30. About a month ago I developed septic shock and had to have the tissue expanders removed emergently. Now flat. I was always planning on a DIEP flap. I have become a little hesitant after my last procedure because of my bizarre complication. Being flat has only bothered me when I see myself naked. I want to make sure that going forward with the DIEP is the right move. Anyone go through with the DIEP after being flat and wish they hadn't? Also, has anyone had a burning sensation at their surgery site this far out?
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Hi katjadvm!
I had surgery in July and my surgery sites still burn when I move or bump them, still sore and sensitive. I did DIEP and am very happy with it. Good luck to you:)
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katja, I have the burning too, it's normal nerve pain. I no longer have burning from my first mastectomy in June, but I do have burning from the second MX on 9/29.
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I remember 2 weeks after surgery sleeping and dreaming of being on a conveyer belt over a heat element in a human size toaster oven. My whole front had the sensation of burning I was ok when I woke up. Pain meds helped.
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Good Morning ladies,
Phase 2 today. Nervous and excited. I would love to hear phase two stories.
I'm getting scar revision, flap removal and fat grafting. The fat grafting scare me a bit.
Have a wonderful day!
Tig
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Very happy with DIEP here. Looking forward to touch up.
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Sunshinesprite, hugs.
Maya, I'm a bit scared. Dr says I will be fine to drive home and that I will be standing up straight immediately. Dr says the puckering should not be causing me issues, but general discomfort. Pants sometimes irritate it. Bowel issues. And my whole abdomen has been sore, painful if I hit it on my desk or anything, but not all the time, since the initial surgery May 20th 2016. I had a lot of abdominal surgeries previously, so maybe that plays into it as well. My body has always been somewhat of a bitch.
I am going to have to catch up but I hope everyone is doing ok this morning
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Hello ladies, 11 days post op. Just had 3 of 4 drains removed, oh.... what a wonderful day. I feel so much better just because they are gone. PS said I'm healing beautifully, the only thing he did scold me about is standing so straight. He said that's not a good thing, to let the abdominal muscles heal, no standing up straight. Good luck to all!!
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