2018 DIEP Surgery
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Hi Primrose24, how are you feeling? Are you feeling comfortable? I'm praying you are. Hi Dawnann, thank you for your updates. It's comforting hearing how your progress is going as I'm just around the corner for my surgery. All of you women are such an amazing reminder that I am not alone. I will always be grateful for that.
I'm flying next week and I'm wondering what to expect from airport security with this TE? Is it always smooth sailing? Also, I asked my soon to be nurse over a phone call about the CT scan of my abdomen and she said it wasn't necessary because I had no prior surgeries in that area. What I was reading here, was that the scan was more about helping the surgeon know where your arteries are. Should I inquire further about this?
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Hi parachutes. Like you, I had no prior surgery and a Ct scan was not recommended. Some surgeons order it, some don't. Further inquiry could not hurt if you don't feel comfortable. Best wishes for a speedy recovery
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Parachutes, I did not have a CT Scan either. When I asked my nurse navigator about she explained my Plastic Sirgeon were vascular surgeons also and did not require CT Scans.
All the best for your surgery. Praying for miraculous results for you
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Hello ladies,
Day 4 after surgery, DM with DIEP reconstruction, may be heading home today or tomorrow. Was a long surgey about 12 hours . I have to say the pain is not what expected, I thought it would be worse. Still sore in many place but it is all managable. Reading all the posts here was helpful, it was nice to know what to expec
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Primrose- so glad things are going well. Hope you get to go home soon!
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Primrose, so glad to hear all is going well!
Thank you for your frequent posts; I’m right behind you ( surgery date is 6/4), and like you were, I’m extremely anxious. It helps me to read your posts and see that progress is being made daily!
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hi ladies! 5 days post diep@ nola. Very happy with my outcome so far. Constant pain from cut nerves gone, due toDr Trayhan reconnecting and removing scar tissue. My breasts are full, round symmetrical, soft and warm. My tummy feels very tight but I am walking upright. I got 2 bras but curiously no abdominal binder. My belly button is about an inch off center. I go back for my post op tomorrow. I kept my tissue expanders for a reminder of the misery I went thru before I ended up here. Thanks again, Dawn.
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Parachutes - TE is no issue for airport security.
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isn’t it a good feeling to have soft, warm breasts again, DawnAnn?!
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OMG...I nearly forgot what real breasts felt like. If I was the crying type I would have cried. My husband is thrilled. I was afraid this place was like a tittie factory. I couldn't be more wrong. I got the best care ever got anywhere. As corny as it seems, we believe that they truly have a mission. Thank goodness I found this place.
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So glad you’re happy with the results, DawnAnn. It does feel like the docs and staff at NOLA are on a mission...because they are. It’s hard to put what that feels like into words though. It’s hard for anyone to understand unless they’ve been to NOLA. The closest I can get in this description is that they are just as invested and passionate about your outcome as you are. It’s not a surgical team/medical team that is treating you the patient. Rather, they are on YOUR team like family is (or should be anyway). And that’s how you are treated at the office and in the hospital...like a member of the team/team leader/family and not just another patient that needs taking care of.
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hi everyone
I haven’t been checking in as much as I used to. Hopefully everyone is recovering well. Has anyone needed a wound vac? I was wondering if you found it helpful.
My surgery was in feb and I have had healing issues with my abdominal incision/scar. There is no infection (has been cultured twice) but it has been slow to close. I have been packing the wound “wet to dry” gauze and now the surgeon is recommending a wound vac before she can close the wound in my stage 2...
I know this is not a common complication but wondering if it has come up yet?
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Wishing you continued success with your recover Dawnann!
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casun-so sorry it’s taking so long for the I vision to heal. This came up on another board I’m on too. May I ask what you’re using to clean the area with daily?
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Casun I had a wound on my flap that I had to pack for about 10 weeks then I got a wound vac for 3 1/2 weeks. It made a huge difference. If I had to continue packing it would have taken several more weeks or even months per my plastic surgeon.
The wound vac I had, came in a little bag like a shoulder purse that made getting around very easy. I went anywhere I wanted. The only problem is,it makes noises every once in a while like a burp. I just grinned and ignored it.
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lula - I was using saline but they switched me to something called didaktol. It’s a little more dilute than dakens solution. (I am sure I am butchering all the spellings of these). I have to change the dressings 2-3times a day.
Jbdayton- oh my gosh 10 weeks! I have been packing this wound for about 6? And I am ready for it to be closed. thank you for telling me your experience. I have been warned about the hissing noise already. Good to know they were not exaggerating.
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Casun- interesting that they switched it out. Did they say how long to use the Dakins for? I'm re-reading through the post in the other group-sorry I can't copy & paste it. She says she was using the antibacterial solution to cleanse the wound following what she had seen done by medical staff in the early days of the wound opening up and never asked when to stop using it. When she went to the wound center they told her that her body was making “yellow tissue" to protect the area from the cleansing solution which meant healing wasn't happening. Wound center said to stop using the solution and/or any other anti-bacterial/anti-microbial soaps/solutions for cleansing (saline should be ok) and she said within 2 days healing started happening. It might be worth a call/visit to a wound center for further help. Here's a link to a wound care doc's blog where he talks about dakins solution in it's various strengths and the wound healing process. Warning: he can be quite sarcastic at times.
http://www.woundsource.com/blog/wound-care-crisis-death-dr-dakin-s-magical-panacea
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thanks lula, yes I was switched out from saline to the diluted Dakins to help with the cleansing and debridement. This solution was to soak the gauze before you pack into the wound. I never really used anything else to clean in cause I didn’t want to look inside
I am sure the wound care center were the other poster is, is very knowledgeable but I was/ am being seen almost weekly where they cut out That “yellow tissue” you mentioned. It appears your body needs to get rid of that before a wound can heal. They said it’s necrotic tissue or necrotic fat.
Thank you so much for the link! Will check into it,
Wishing everyone a speedy recovery!!!
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Casun19 Primrose24 Dawnann, and Roxwrites, I hope you all have continued healing and comfort!
I had my Stage 2 consult last week, despite my nervousness it went great. I was afraid the small issues might get brushed to the side and I would have to point out and ask for what I wanted addressed. Instead he gave verbal notes to a scribe and detailed everything he saw in detail including measurements. When he was done with that he told me everything he would like to do to make my whole torso look great. I have a good bit of rads damage on my side boob/underarm area and hardly any fat there because they took a lot during BMX and total node removal. Basically it’s skin stuck to ribs, not cute. So he wants to fix that with a fat flap transfer to cushion and fill out that area, FG won’t work in that area because it’s too stuck down on the ribs. He will sculpt out my waist line and a little on my upper abdomen and FG my upper pole/cleavage area of both breasts.
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Continued from my last post above because this site or my phone or a combination of both make it almost impossible to post sometimes! Anyway...
We'll do FG at least twice but maybe three times, 3 months apart and then I'll decide if I'm ok with the size, maybe more shape and fluffier up top will satisfy me. If not we'll add implants. He was open to trying the FG first and then, because my waistline will have already been sculpted down, if needed FG from another area after implants if I choose to do that. Not excited about the lipo pain and all of the areas that might be involved but we'll see how it goes. Hoping the first two FG will do the trick:) Unfortunately I’ll be going into 4th year of insurance deductibles, &$@?!
I'm week 11 post bilateral DIEP and found it hard to see this far out when I was in the first 6 weeks or so, hang in there! It gets better:)
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hi ladies.
I just got home and am 8 days post diep. I must be some sort of anomaly, but except for the drain discomfort I feel really good. I am upright, walking and going about my business. I have taken 1.5 pain pills. Of course, I found out that I am going to have to have a phase 2 and 3 at nola. Hoping to get this done this benefit year.
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Hi ladies,
One week after surgery and I have to say I am feeling pretty good, pain is getting less and less each day and has been mostly in my abdomen area which is what I expected. I am hooked up to a nerve blocker, bupivacaine in NaCI pump(Marcaine) for my abdomen area, it's a little weird that I have to carry a little black bag with me everywhere but it seems to be doing a good job. I had my surgery on Thursday the 17th, DM with immediate reconstruction. Was discharged on Monday the 21st. Have been up moving around although not standing up straight yet, I am working on that. The drains are uncomfortable but that is manageable. It's tough being at home and not being able to all the things I want/should be doing but with a 5lb lifting restriction I can't do much! I am amazed this is going nothing like I imagined. I pictured myself barley being able to talk after surgery and I was actually out of bed the next day. So glad I made the choice to have this done. Doctor called yesterday and I am cancer free, all the margins were clear and no lymph node involvement, that was so nice to hear.
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great news, Primrose!
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Great news Primrose! Take your time...don’t push yourself to do too much. You just had a HUGE surgery plus it was a very delicate surgery too. You don’t want to do anything that will strain all those vein and artery connections. It takes 4-5 weeks to turn the corner and start feeling like yourself again. My depression came when I couldn’t drive and I could not do ordinary chores around the home. I felt very confined even though my DH and DS were good about taking me out to lunch.
The hard part is behind you, rest and let your body heal
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Hello ladies! Anyone here experience a hematoma after their DIEP surgery? My PS said it will resolve on its own but to let him know if it gets worse and begins to strain the sutures. Well that is happening and on a holiday weekend no less. Just nervous. I am taking it easy and not really moving.
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2018 DIEP sisters,
I have found a lump (cyst?) under my left arm close to where my SNB was done. It's very possible that it could be several benign things: fat necrosis, scar tissue, etc. I am almost 14 weeks post op. Of course I find this on a holiday weekend...Here is my question: who do I go see to have this checked out? Will my MO be able to identify the lump? Should I go back to my BC surgeon...he released me to my PS for follow-up since I had BMX with DIEP? Should my PS be able to determine if it's a fatty cyst or something more sinister
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I’d call my BC surgeon
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Hi Bella — I would say your Breast Surgeon.according to my MO follow ups with the BS are every 3-6 months even after a BMX. Maybe call the pS office and ask them first if you’re not sure?
Shaleae- I had a hemotoma after my biopsy and it definitely got bigger at first. Radiologist told me to put ice on it but of course I was able to feel the cold back then so be careful with that. It took a few days before it stopped growing. It was firm and black and blue .. started to shrink a little after a week or so .
Less than a week now for my DIEP flap - getting nervous but I think I’m ready thanks to all the advice and updates I am reading here. For those who had the delayed DIEP .. were the drains put in the same place on the sides of the breast? It’s been nearly 4 months since my BMX and those areas are still tender so just wondering if they will be Irritated again. I am so looking forward to getting these TEs out! And darn if I haven’t developed a lymphatic cord under my arm running down to my elbow .. going to PT to help loosen it but she said it takes time so just another thing to deal with post surgery.
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Bella2013, my breast surgeon did an ultrasound on a similar lump and I had it removed during stage 2. I would recommend having your breast surgeon check first for peace of mind. These lumps are not uncommon after diep and usually are due to fat necrosis.
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Thanks Suburbs. It may just be fat necrosis or a fatty cyst but I do need that piece of mind.
Teaberry11, I will be thinking of you during your surgery. Maybe talk to your PS about the placement of the drains. You will do great! The hard part is behind you. This time when you wake up you will have breasts
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