2018 DIEP Surgery
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I’ve had my pre-op appointments with anesthesia & my ps’s nurse. Less than 2 weeks to go...i’m so ready to get this show on the road! Even when surgery goes well, it’s still no fun. So anxious to get to the other side.
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Mncteach, great suggestion for tape removal as I am still dealing with tape, The paper tapes is a whole different issue, the doctor removed it because he could see all the blisters already under the tape, evidently I am allergic to the paper tape.
This is one spot.
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Ouch! I hope the adhesive remover and released help and they find something better to use!
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Lanne, THANK YOU! You made me feel much better! Is the liposuction at the waist covered by insurance during stage two? My doctor never told me there were stages to the DIEP. I thought I was stuck like this forever!
I think for now my best plan is to get back to work. I need some form of normalcy while my body heals from this I work in a school so I have summers off. When is stage two usually done? I can’t take off from work again. How long does recovery from stage two take? I will definitely talk with my plastic surgeon about this! Thank you again! This forum is awesome!
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Mavericksmom - That is kind of awful that your surgeon didn't fully fill you on what you procedure entailed or what to expect. I had this info, and still agonized about this decision. I also have no waist post procedure (I'm 6 weeks out) and a sort of 'muffin top' all above the incision, which creates a weird sideways profile (I'm about average weight, but tilt a bit to the heavy side/at the top end of acceptable BMI for my height of 5'9"). I live in Canada, and my surgeon has said that liposuction tools are not covered by our provincial healthcare in this procedure (as that would make the procedures optional/cosmetic) so I am waiting to find out what WILL be included in stage 2 to correct for aesthetic issues due to the first surgery - I am getting a 'dog ear' on one side, but not the other, and will need a lift on my remaining breast to create some symmetry, and at least these will be covered I'm pretty sure.
Imdtm23 and Runrcrb - thanks for your binder tales. It would certainly have helped with your back Imdtm23 - that was my main reason for using it in fact! I have lumbar issues and thankfully had a radiofrequency ablation in that region a month before the surgery (timing was just by chance as I only learned of the DIEP surgery date a few weeks after that). The ablation seriously saved my bacon, that's for sure, even though I still had some pain. I would have been in agony otherwise. So sorry you had a hard time with that. Overall, I do find it strange how there is such disparity in the advice/info about binders.
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This thread is pretty quiet these days.
Wondering how you passed your time in the hospital? I was barely in my room 24 hours after bmx and I stayed 3 days after twin c-section but I was very wrapped up in my babies then. Did you feel well enough to watch tv or read a book? I've planned comfy clothes and put some of my things at arm level but have given this no thought.
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Flynn, I hated being in the hospital! I know I am an exception but was discharged after two nights. First night was in the ICU due to the hourly monitoring my doctor wanted. Take an eye mask and earplugs. I left the ICU and the morphine pump at 8am for the surgical recovery floor. I rested and practiced getting out of bed, peeing and walking. I was connected to a monitor for my flap. Use your eye mask and earplugs for night sleeping. While a bit sore I was able to manage on Tylenol. The next morning my doctor released me from the flap monitor and said I could stay another night or go home. I called my son to come get me! I wad able to move about better at home including walks around the block and the food and sleep was better too.
Take reading material and go home as soon as you can.
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Hello!
I'm looking for advice...Anybody here ever have a revision, phase 2, of their diep flap abdomional scar? I got a consult where my new Dr out of town says that he can lower my scar to a bikini line! The first surgery was hell to recover from as we know. As much as it sounds appealing it will be stretching out that already taut skin! Yikes! Anybody do this?
I'm also looking into a TDAP to add to my diep flap breast as 1/3 of it is necrosis. Anybody ever do this? If so how did you make out?
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thanks for your reply runrcrb! You know, I think i’m going to hate being in the hospital, too. My PS told me to stay as long as they let me (two eight years olds waiting for me at home). He says to rest up while I have the chance. After my bmx, they pretty much made it clear they wanted my bed, so we shall see how this goes.
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Flynn, I had my surgery on March 11th. I was in the hospital for 5 days, I had both sides done and one side they had to use muscle as I didn't have a good blood vessel on that side. I was in a lot of pain, for me it was day 3 before I was up to reading, I did watch TV and played games on my phone, walks were difficult as they wanted me very hunched over and I have a bad back that couldn't handle it. When at home i started taking the medication I have for my back and it helped with the back pain, but it made me sleep a lot. I think everyone is different, if you only need tylenol it would be great, but my pain was significant and took 2 days just to get under control, I am allergic to most pain meds. They finally used the one I have the least reaction to and added benadryl and the pain was under control but I slept a lot.
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Toni, I am still recovering from the first surgery but i did ask about revovery from stage 2 and asked about the scar revision since mine is higher and my PS said it is very different from the diep. It is just skin, with the diep they disturb the muscle and dig for the blood vessels etc, I was told phase 2 is a much easier revovery.
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Toni, on Thursday I had abdominal scar revision. The entire scar was moved down because my underware were rubbing on the scar. He also did more lipo on the muffin tops. It looks good so far but man I’m sore!
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Thanks for the replies ladies! They told me that it was was easier too but ..ugh...Idk..
Amy, Does it feel like the DIEP felt? I know everybody is different.. Glad you're happy with the look so far!
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Toni, not quite so bad but it hurts.
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honestly I do not fear of the surgery or recovery just recurrence. As some studies have been said that any types of surgeries depend on how long or complex they are can trigger inflammation. Anyone can advise me in this area? Thanks.
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I am 3 weeks out from my surgery, one drain left and suddenly I notice the fluid in the drain now smells awful. Is this normal? I feel like this stain is never coming out, the last 24 hours it put out 75 mls, it seems like a lot for 3 weeks out.
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That sounds like infection. Call the on call doc tonight if possible. Infections can get serious quickly.
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DIpaquette - I had 55-65 mls on one of my left side drains. At 5 weeks, the nurse said the drain had to come out no matter what, and I never had a problem. The odor would concern me (I didn’t have that) so I’d give your Dr a call. Drains are the worst!
Lanne
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I'm having a CT angiogram of my pelvis on April 12th before my surgery on the 17th. Did your PS have any of you do this/ If so, did you have to drink the contrast or receive it via IV?? I'm kind of worried about it since i have chronic kidney disease. I do see my Nephrologist on the !!th, so i'll mention to her as well.
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Stephanie, the CT allows your surgeon to see the arteries necessary for DIEP. My contrast was done via IV.
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My CT was done via IV too, and since I still have my port they used it. I was so glad they could use it!
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My CT dye was injected via IV. As an extra bonus, my scan report also reported all normal findings in the liver, kidneys, uterus, etc. That was a relief.
I’m one week past abdominal scar lowering and lipo to the hips. I’m feeling much better and pleased with results so far.
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I just had right side stacked DIEP/left side lift at SJSH in NOLA on 3/27, so I'm 9 days post op and just got home earlier this evening.
I feel like things are going so smoothly that it makes me wonder when the other shoe will fall, so to speak (why do we tend to think this way?). Trying to just follow all the instructions for after care to keep everything going smoothly.
Anyhow, just wanted to chime in to the roll call and see how other recent folks are doing!
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I had my bilateral diep done Mon. I came home Wed evening. So far so good. Pain has been manageable but the abdominal binder is really annoying my drains. If that’s my biggest issue, i’ll count myself lucky.
Glad you’re coming along rgail007. I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly!
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I am recovering from my 3/12/19 Free Tran flap dual reconstruction. My biggest fears post surgery were laughing, coughing and sneezing. I kept a small candy bowl of Ludens wrapped cherry cough drops on my nightstand and a Vick’s vapoinhaler stick to hold under my nose when I thought I was going to sneeze. Solved the problem. Laughing was still a problem
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I am recovering from my 3/12/19 Free Tram flap dual reconstruction. My biggest fears post surgery were laughing, coughing and sneezing. I kept a small candy bowl of Ludens wrapped cherry cough drops on my nightstand and a Vick's vapoinhaler stick to hold under my nose when I thought I was going to sneeze. Solved the problem. Laughing was still a problem
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Sorry I never wrote back. The horrible smell ended up being the drain itself, that was cleaned out with vinegar and water and the smell is gone. Still have the drain, I go back Wednesday I am at 4 weeks out from my bilateral tram/ diep flap and hoping to get it out. Still at 50ml a day. Does anyone else get really sore at the end of the day? I am thinking that maybe things start to swell up at the end of the day causing the pain. I do know I am not good at listening to my body and slowing down.
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I had my surgery at PRMA on February 6, 2019. I chose the bilateral DIEP procedure and I have had wonderful results. I go to my support group and listen to the women who have implants and all their issues and feel very blessed that I chose this procedure. Their protocol was so good I had no pain after the procedure. I was up and walking fully erect the next day, the most I took was Tylenol. They also had me taking Celebrex for inflammation and Gabapentin for nerve pain for the first two weeks or so. I was out of the hospital in 3 days and have not looked back. I am 8 weeks out and have a few spots that are taking their sweet time to heal, but nothing major. I actually believe this is a much easier surgery than implants and from what I have heard, less painful. I had multiple people say it would hurt, I would not be able to stand up straight after and it would take weeks before I could move around. I was also told they would cut the abdominal muscles (they do not). They had me walking 5 times a day for 15 minutes immediately and it was a piece of cake. Ok, getting out of bed and in bed was hard and I had to have help with both. Yes I had 4 annoying drains and the binder which which makes the drains all that much more uncomfortable. And sneezing and coughing are not pleasant, but not that painful. It does make you hold your lower incision until it passes, more annoying than painful. Side benefit was that I got a tummy tuck! The con was traveling from Illinois to Texas and living in a hotel for two weeks. It was well worth it because of their success rate 99% and the sheer number of DIEPs that they do in a year 700. Around here they only do one or two a month, I wanted someone who did enough that they have had to deal with any issue that could go wrong. I have read that this is the new "gold" standard for reconstructive surgery and I understand why! I have to have one more surgery, more cosmetic than anything, making nipples and any contouring of the breast. After that I am good, no worries about implants needing to be replaced (they do not last forever) and no worries about any danger to my health as a result of implants. I wish I could tell each woman who is daignosed here about this procedure as an option. My surgeon, oncologist and physician did not offer this as an option and actually discouraged it. It was only through research and reading the forum here that I found out about this option. I am so thankful and happy with the results!
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Glad you are thankful. I have implant and want them out due to having them 17 years, place in my late 30s, and lymphoma related concerned with textured implants. Now I am looking about DIEP surgery for permanent reconstruction. Once its done it is done. I am afraid of flap loss risk and hernia risks, both of which are low. I live in NY and too far from PRMA, but NY NY has good surgery at MSK as well as upstate NY in Rochester, but probably not doing as much as PRMA for DIEP. Racheal
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Yeah, I have read that too in one article below that local recurrence can be triggered by larger reconstructive surgery for the first 18 months for local recurrence but on the other hand it did not effect overall survival. However, most other studies do not think DIEP increases local reoccurence. There are mixed opinions in the literature of reconsturction increasing risk of recurrence.
Survival and risk of breast cancer recurrence after breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator flap.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29999520
Does breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer affect overall survival? Long-term follow-up of a retrospective population-based cohort.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25719710
The recurrence pattern following delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer suggests a systemic effect of surgery on occult dormant micrometastases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4937089/
Effect of delayed autologous breast reconstruction on breast cancer recurrence and survival.
Lindford AJ1, Siponen ET, Jahkola TA, Leidenius MH.
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