DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2016
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Hi Brightfuture, hang in there! This surgery is more of a marathon than a sprint. It takes time to recover. I had my surgery last year on 12/10. It takes about 3 weeks before you are fully upright. Each day you are a little bit more and then one day you'll be able to stretch out!
I remember that my belly felt pretty tight for quite a while--like for weeks. But now a year out I can say it feels much more normal.
I second the motion that wearing yoga pants is wonderful. The gentle tummy pressure that affords helps a lot.
Cwayman, how long to wear compression is a question for your plastic surgeon. Mine didn't believe in compression, so I never had any, hence the yoga pants.
Also, stage 1 is a long surgery. For most it is 9-12 hours. The reason it is so long is that they have to find the tiny blood vessels in both your belly and your chest and carefully dissect them out without damaging them. Then they have to connect them again using microsurgery. That doesn't count reshaping the belly fat into a breast and securing everything. It is a long, complicated process! It takes two surgeons and they need to take breaks here and there, so it is a very long day for everyone but you. To you, it will feel like seconds if you even remember.
I hardly remember anything about my hospital stay. Apparently I had long conversations with some of my family members--gave them advice and everything, but remember none of it.
I am so happy with the results. I love love love my warm breasts that feel like me. Sometimes when I glanced in the mirror early on I was almost surprised to see scars because I feel like me.
That is the best part. As the moderators said, I am sorry you had to join our little group, but we are glad to have you! Ask any questions you may have, and the ladies here will be glad to answer as we are able.
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hi there...first time poster; apologies in advance if I've put this in the wrong spot!!
Three main concerns now that I'm 12 days out from Stage I DIEP flap surgery:
1. Too big! I didn't think having breasts this big was even an option (D cup), and after spending most of my life as a full DDD, with an athletic lifestyle, I was looking forward to having a smaller chest! Can this be easily fixed in Stage II, or is it a bigger deal to get them reduced?
2. Those wires! They stay in there forever? That's disturbing to me, and I wish they had told me in the beginning! When checking out from the hospital, they were just cut at the surface and I was told they'd never bother me....will I be able to have MRI's? Trouble at the airport?
3. Mesh??? One on the reasons I chose this surgical path was so that I would not get any abdominal mesh...I'm an active martial artist and get kicked in the gut and thrown...the fellow working with my PS said it's not the same as hernia mesh, much softer, and I can get kicked all I want...just not for 8 weeks, lol.... I'm still concerned with problems down the road.
Any experience or input here would be very helpful! I'm going tomorrow for follow-up, but I'm interested in all of your experiences as well.
Thanks
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hi there, I'm in MI too...where is your surgery? I just had mine 12 days ago with Dr Chaiyasate at Royal Oak. Good luck to you!!!
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Cwayman, I got in trouble for standing up straight while still in the hospital on Day 3! My doc scolded me nicely, saying "isn't that pulling on your incision?!?!?!?!" I said honestly, maybe a little bit, but not much at all....in fact, to walk hunched over for me was more uncomfortable due to muscle failure in the back. I tried to please him and stay hunched, but I was upright more than I should've due to forgetting!!! I don't recommend standing straight, but I wanted to speak up to make the point that we are all so different! My nephew is a nurse manager in a wound treatment center and says my incision looks excellent, so I can't be doing too much damage??
PS...I denied narcotics, so not feeling any significant tugging wasn't due to it being hidden. Nothing against narcotics, they just make me very nauseous...I threw up when they tried them...despite the anti-nausea meds...and vomiting a few hours out of surgery is highly unpleasant!!! Lo
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@katjavdm, my mistake was not being clear on an upper size limit...I didn't think larger than a C was possible, and was looking forward to a large B to a medium C....came out super full D...maybe DD, we'll see after swelling is done reducing. I'm super bummed...even the surgeon told my family in the waiting room that he may have made them too big...!!!! They do look beautiful in a tshirt, but I was looking forward to a smaller-breasted lifestyle. So, just be clear on an upper limit!
This is what I look like now, and that's crammed into a surgical bra! Picture also doesn't convey the fullness, which has me back to that choking full feeling.
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Jubird, your surgeon will be able to reduce in stage 2, just make sure your assertive and clear. I was opposite to you in that there wasn't enough fat to match my good D side so I knew a reduction was in place in stage 2 but was surprised to wake up with my diep side reduced - and lifted as well. I do have a beautiful matching set now but am probably a B cup.I guess after the diep I thought the surgery left me 'lifted' so nothing would be done during stage 2 , but now I see it looks much nicer.
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Good morning all.
I had my abdominal scar revision Dec 21st. 7 days post op and I have just been sore since day 1. Can't wear jeans for long. Here are some pictures.
That dark area was the biggest, deepest, longest running hole. He didn't fix that yet
You can really see the difference the scar revision made with the sinkhole to the left. From my point of view, it's hard to see the difference. But looking at this picture, I can see it.
Hope all enjoyed their Christmas and high hopes for a healing, and bright 2017 for all of us!
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Simplicity that looks much better! This time of year it's great to have an excuse to wear something stretchy! Quick healing
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- Hi Cwayman,
It's been 26 days since my surgery and things are looking good! Sounds like you are prepared and asking lots of good questions. It's important to ask your PS these same questions. I also use the surgeon's CRNP and PA as resources. They've been great about returning phone calls and providing information.
My surgery was on the right side only. Took 5+ hours. I also had an umbilical hernia repaired and my PS gave me a new belly button too. It felt like seconds passed between when I went out and waking up as they wheeled me into recovery. My hospital uses nerve medication that lessens the need for narcotics so I remember most of my hospital experience. Everyone was kind and responsive and made me feel so comfortable before and after surgery.
I want to echo what others have said.... Everyone heals on their own schedule and surgeons have different ways of doing things.
Regarding compression garments.... My PS said not to bother with a bra unless I was uncomfortable. I'm only an A cup so I'm still mostly going without or wearing a soft stretchy pullover one if going out. My abdomen didn't swell until a week after surgery so that's when I started wearing compression running pants. The extra support feels good and eases the swelling. Avoiding salt, eating smaller meals, and taking breaks throughout the day also helps ease the swelling.
I was able to stand mostly straight once all of the drains were out. That was at about two weeks, although I still have some tightness. That could be because I didn't have a lot of fat in my abdomen before the surgery. My belly hasn't been this flat in 25 years!
Please let me know if you have more questions or feel free to private message me if you'd like.
J
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I had much the same experience. Hiking at 3 weeks post op and back at work 4 weeks post op. That being said, I was lucky to have no complications and also had uni mx. Love yourselves, take the time you need physically and emotionally. Simplicity, you have had a particularly rough road, and I am sending you hugs and healing thoughts that you can finally get this behind you. To all my BC sisters, thank you for being there. It so much better than going through this alone. All the best for 2017 !!💕
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Hiking at 3 weeks? I was lucky to just walk around the block at that point. Lol. We all do heal differently, but 6-8 weeks is more the norm after stage 1.:)
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So, here's my question for those of you who traveled a long way for your surgery. I'm having my DIEP in NOLA in Feb. It's about a 1-1/2 hr flight, so probably a total of 3hrs in transit 1 week after surgery. I know I won't be able to walk through the airports, so I'll get a wheelchair. How did you manage? How was the flight?
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Has anyone experienced a partial flap dying? I had bmx with DIEP in Aug, the next day went back into surgery to reconnect a vein. It still didn't take so I was left with a large hole about the size of a golf ball with tunnels. Now 16 weeks later, the hole is the size of a large cherry tomato. I am wondering what comes next? My PS says to be patient. Also, I my stomach still swells a lot by the end of the day. Am I doing too much during the day?, too little exercise?, too much salt? Nothing seems to help.
Thanks!
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Two years out and I was still getting abdominal swelling and pain and swelling in my left breast and arm. I started seeing a PT for lymphatic massage. I also had a revision surgery on the breast to remove necrosis. My stomach is not swelling anymore.
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Big Sister - yes, I agree. 6-8 weeks is the norm. I have been hiking a long time, and my recuperation was very fast. I was back at work at 4 weeks - and consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to get back on my feet so quickly. Happy New Year everyone
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thanks Debiann, was your necrosis hard knots that did not go away over time? My left above and below where the area that didn't take also have very hard knots that are not getting any softer. I am wondering if these will also have to be removed?
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I now have 2 weeks before I go into surgery. Luckily I am going camping for that time so won't be worrying about it too much.
I have put on the weight over Christmas and hoping to do a lot of swimming while I am away. I presume the fitter yiou are the better. Going to be hard to lose my chrissy weight while I am away but will try my hardest.
For christmas I got a pony.
My mare had a foal at 4am christmas morning and I will get to see her the day before surgery as she is on the other side of the city so we will see her then say overnight in a hotel close to the hospital.Happy new year to all and hope next year is better than this year has been to all.
KarenAus
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Good morning everyone and Happy New Years Eve!
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Karen that is amazing! How lovely for you. All the best!
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Wishing all a very Happy New Years, may surgeries be uneventful, healing quick and pain kept to a minimum. I hope 2017 brings us all closer to the end of reconstruction! Hugs all!
Shari
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Lakechef, yes, the necrosis was a big hard area on the bottom side of the breast. He said he cleaned everything out and it was all biopsied. I didn’t ask too many questions, I was just happy to hear "benign". It also felt better immediately.
I still get a little area of edema and pitting in the skin. The pt showed me how to gently "push" the fluid away. I'm finding that the less time I spend in a bra, the less swelling I get in this area.
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Hi Everyone :
I am still here. Welcome to all who are new too! I am still on this journey. I can't believe I started in 2013 and today starts 2017. I have been struggling with abdominal belly; pneumonia (2015 and 2016) due to damaged right lung due to radiation. I still want Stage 2, but all of my medical issues need to be resolved...there are many!
In despite of all issues, I am so happy I selected DIEP.
I read all your posts, send hugs and hugs! I could not have stayed positive and sane without all of you!
May 2017 be a good year for all of us! 💜💜
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lili. I will be going for radiation.How much radiation therapy did you have ?
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Nanpop: I had 6 weeks of radiation including 5 boosts. All was fine with the radiation. I worked throughout the process and drove myself until the final week. I used aloe from the plant and used "My Girls" cream throughout. I love the product. I found it on Amazon. LiL
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After the radiation process, the fatigue kicked in and it has not left
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hi everyone. happy new year. saw surgeon at the beginning of November to discuss stage 2/revisions.............waiting for appointment to see her in office to confirm our options and then surgery will be scheduled.
I will need some more fat necrosis removed on the left breast as well as a reshape & lift on the left. she will do a reduction and lift on the right to match. dog tags on abdomen will be removed as well.
sooooooooooo wait wait wait. hope everyone is doing well.
anyone hear from MYAJAMES since august?
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Morning tanyarocks, I haven't heard from her or seen her post. I sent her a message when I saw your post. Certainly hope she is doing ok. Her last post was regarding headaches
Hope all are healing well. Saw my PS yesterday and may have more procedures in my near future. They will be in office so nothing major. Just trying to get things, cosmetically, where I'd like them to be. ugh
My abdominal scar revision incision is healing well with a few bratty stitches that are poking out.
Hope all have a great day!
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Morning all, I am heading in for stage 2 tomorrow. I am very curious to see what it will look like when I wake up!
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Simplicity and Tanya, I sent MayaJames a PM Aug 16 with no reply, I'm hoping she is alright and just taking a break, but her last posts were worrisome.
Simplicity I'm so happy your healing! Yea!
Maya15, speedy surgery tomorrow with awesome results! I found it much easier and even had hernia repair.
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Maya, hopes for the best tomorrow!
slv58, seems like forever ago. A different time, life, person. Organizing photo's and omg. I won't be looking at those unless I have to. How have you been doing?
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