DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Katjadvm, I had my expander removed because of septic shock, too. Scary!
During the wait I hated being flat. I had the DIEP last December and I am delighted! So much better than expanders.
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I am booked for my diep on the 14 Jan and excited and nervous of course. Bit of a problem in that I have 1 blood vessel to the area so having to go into the muscle to do the 2nd side. This is a worry for me as I am a horse rider and use my tummy muscles with the work I do. I am thinking maybe asking to have some muscle stuf done on the other side so that the weakness is even. Not sure if this is such a good idea though.
KarenAus
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Karenaus, I'm 7 months post DIEP/TRAM. My right diep system was damaged, so that went to the left breast with some abdominal muscle. The left diep went to my right breast-no abdominal muscle. Im not a steady horse rider, or exercise, but I haven't noticed much difference. Still getting use to things and still cramp thou menstrual cycles for me ended a month into chemo. Abdominal strength wise thou, not much difference imo.
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saw my PS today. 3 months post Phase 2, and all healed up. On the wait list for phase 3 in the spring - new nipple, tatoo, and clean up kitten ears and tummy scar. Woohoo! Finally will be all done 1.5 years after initial dx.
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I need a good tattoo
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Hello all. Hoping everyone is doing well and recovering appropriately.
Well, tummy incision site did open up and I now have a good sized opening in my stomach with fluid being the reason. The ps had to remove the necrotic tissue today and clean up the edges. Quite a scarey looking thing to see. Said I am healing very slowly, not sure why but all my counts are off lately and this is 1 1/5 yrs post chemo all of a sudden.
Need gallbladder removed ASAP but will have to wait according to ps for now due to healing issues.
I was so relieved to hear not infected cause surely looks like it to me. 😕
I pray you all do well with whatever decision you make. Do what YOU want and need for YOU. I was a uniboober for a year and a half. I didn't mind the non boob side as much as I minded the mammoth left behind that I felt still threatened my life. At times I feel I could have went flat but, now I have my foobs, or frankenboobs as I call them, I really like them. And they are still a work in progress and not same size, etc but I love them and they are made from me. Pretty cool!🙂
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nlo322,
I'm 10 days post sugery and will have drains removed tomorrow - probably 2 of 3 according to the nurse. My energy has been much better in the last 2 days but my abdomen is so tight it has prevented me from standing up straight and being more active. I noticed more swelling after eating a salty meal a few days ago, so now I'm avoiding salt. Hope I'll be able to start walking soon! Don't want to walk outsideuntil I can do it with good posture.
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You'll feel better with the drains out. I think that tight feeling makes you feel like you can't stand straight. I remember being nervous about straightening my back but it was ok. Also when I got back to doing yoga I was nervous about stretching it was ok but I had a bothersome lump on incision line. My plastic surgeon fixed it and I felt like I could do yoga again. Swimming really helps the tightness but I wasn't able to swim until 2 months later.
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jcn, wait before trying to straighten. I didn't and the incision opened up, delaying my healing by two months.
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Meow and Grateful,
Thank you both for your suggestions! I appreciate your insight very much. I will listen to my body and not stand up straight until the tension lessens. I spoke with one of the surgical residents about the tightness over the weekend and she told me than my PS adds something extra to anchor the incision and prevent the scar riding up in future years. She thought might contribute to my discomfort. I'll be seeing the nurse today and will go over my symptoms and confirm what activities are ok to do. Pilates is out for now!
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jcn, I agree, don't push the straightening. I think it was 3 weeks before I was totally upright. Your body has to build all that new skin to replace the area that was taken. It takes time
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Thanks BigSister, that's good to know. It's hard to be patient when I'm not used to sitting still. Knowing it can take 3 weeks will help keep me motivated.
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grateful, your incision opened up! That was my fear yikes. My plastic surgeon did some kind of reinforcement too that's why I had that uncomfortable lump on incision. He was defensive about it when I told him it bothered me to do yoga. He did remove it.
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JCN-It took me 6 weeks before I could stay upright. Of course they took a lot of abdominal tissue and had to pull the remaining skin very taut.
It is well worth it to heal right! Time will pass an so it will be worth the wait.
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Well, Phase two surgery over and now healing. I am pretty sore from the liposuction fat grafting sites. Yesterday we rough. My whole body kept trembling from the shock of surgery. However it is much easier than the DIEP sx 🤗
The PS managed to get 180 grams fat and split it between each breast. I'm hoping to retain 50-70grams. She mentioned that fibrous fat tends to be reabsorbed easier and that thin women tend to have that type. I never thought about different types of fat-lol.
I'm in the post op hyper phase in which I can't sleep. Also, it is super hard to sit upright due to tender thighs.
Happy healing to everyone out there.
Any recommendations for books are tv series to watch while healing?
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That is a different experience I thought the fat transfer was much worse as far as pain. I very little to no discomfort recovering from my 10+ hour DIEP. The bruising was bad and I hated the garment but wore it religiously.
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meow-
Interesting about pain perception. The DIEP flap was very uncomfortable for me plus I felt so restricted in movement. The fat grafting has intense superficial pain for me. I hear you on that garment!!!! I have to stuff foam rectangles over the lipo sites and then struggle to myself all hooked and zippered in 😣
How did your fat grafting turn out
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Well you know I don't think it was not worth all the effort. Much got reabsorbed I couldn't see a difference however now I am debating a touch up fat graft. I think I'm going to pass though.
I wonder if my DIEP experience was much easier because I was only doing one side. I could always sleep on the non reconstructed side. I did have a lift on real side same time as diep. I was really numb on my whole front area for a long time so pain wasn't an issue. Plus I was so happy with the result. Skin match was perfect and scar nice fine white line now.
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meow13- it sounds like the over all result was good 😊. I'm a side sleeper and counting the days until I can sleep 😴 that way again! I'm super beat. Btw I like your furbabies:-
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Hi all! Two drains pulled today and one more in abdomen will come out on Friday. As soon as the abdomen drain came out I could feel the tension ease and could stand almost straight. Had gotten so used to the drains I didn't realize how uncomfortable they were until they were out. Now I'm hoping to enjoy my weekend after the last drain comes out. Maybe a little shopping or baking!
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jcn, yeah getting the drains removed is such a wonderful event. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and new year.
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jcn- awesome news! Thank God those pesky drains are almost ALL out! What are you baking?
I am not hungry post op at all. Just had my first cup of coffee. That actually felt good on my throat. Anesthesia tubes are one of my least fav part of the surgical experience.
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A treat for all the wonderful women sharing this journey
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Stage 2er's did any of you get drains after the surgery?
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Thanks everyone! I agree, drain removal is worth celebrating. It's so freeing!
Tigger, in answer to your question I hope to get some holiday baking done. I'll start with the easiest and my kids' favorite, oatmeal bars with a cranberry date filling. I haven't felt hungry either, mostly I think because eating puts more stress on my abdomen. I'm sure my appetite will return but at least this year I won't put on a few pounds over Christmas and New Years.
Wishing everyone a good day
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Drains? No, thank God!!!!!
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Good evening ladies.
Has anyone else had their abdomen or breast flap after DIEP open up in them? If so, what did they do and how long did it take to heal? My left breast flap under my arm now has a small sore that looks like it may soon open up also. Getting a little weirded out with this inability to heal right all of a sudden. I have to admit I am getting a little down.
Hope everyone is doing well
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Sunshinesprite, you are in the right place. There are many of us here whose abdominal and/or breast incisions reopened. For me, everything was going well the first 2 weeks, then the abdomen started oozing, and it opened about 7" long and 1" wide. For over a month it just kept getting bigger. I also had 2 holes open up in one breast. The breast closed and healed in about 3 weeks. The abdomen didn't. I had to pack it with dressings several times a day and I had a second surgery on the abdomen 2 weeks ago. Without the second surgery, I reckon it would have taken another 2 months to close, so 4 months total. While it was open my PS kept a very close eye on it and saw me twice a week. My initial DIEP was 9/29 and I still haven't been able to go out except by car for medical appointments. It does really get you down.
Dlia, my PS says there will be no drains for stage 2. And thankfully she is not going to touch the abdominal incision, assuming it stays closed this time.
Tigs, how much difference do you notice from the fat grafting? As for TV series, what kind do you like?
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"Dlia wrote: Stage 2er's did any of you get drains after the surgery?" I had drains after stage 2. But my stage 2 was a bit more invasive than normal due to abscess on left breast, and scar tissue. I think it varies.
Sunshinesprite; a good bit of us here lately had areas open up.Maya, glad to read you lol
Hope all others are doing well and healing well. You will heal!! I promise! Some take longer than others. I know it's easier said than done, but just be vigilant in changing dressings, keep a watchful eye, call your Dr if you think you need to, and over all patience and know that things will heal.
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Hi, I had surgery on Oct 11th. I've had 3 more in patient surgeries for abdominal and breast openings. I'm packing a small opening in abdomen and getting a wound vac tomorrow for a 1. 5 inch wide and little over 1 inch deep tunneling breast opening. It's so depressing, I just want to move on.
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