Forum Discussion
Diary of a DIEP flap bilateral reconstruction
When I was considering reconstruction options I went looking for accounts of people who had been through the process. There was not much there so I promised myself I would try to add to the information available. I am a few days into the process so will have to go back a bit to explain my situation.
Bowel cancer diagnosis age 36 when having my first screening (aged 10 yrs less than my mother had been diagnosed, she died of it).
Surgery and loss of 2/3 of bowel. Chemotherapy over following 7 months.
Genetic investigations revealed HNPCC (lynch syndrome) so I have a continuing risk; I have annual colon screening and had a total hysterectomy to reduce my risk of associated cancers.
When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer I was told it was not associated with our genetics, just the 'background' risk of breast cancer, so i did not really believe it could happen to me - I had had my cancer.How quickly genetics research is advancing. I found a lump in 2010 and began my breast cancer journey which turns out to be genetically linked with HNPCC (not the more usual BRACCA genetics).
65 Replies
- Hi Paula I am trying to recall the reasoning, I think that it reduced the length of what is already a very big surgery, possibly by about an hour. Also, if there are Any adverse findings with the pathology then that can be dealt with. Also in my case it could be done more locally and not in Sydney. Every surgeon may have differing views and each patient different needs. I must say that it was not nice to have no boobs at all for three months but helped me to appreciate all the more my new ones. Good luck with your surgery and really allow for time to heal, especially when chemo was more recent for you.
- Wow, amazing to read all you are going through. I too am planning the same. I was booked for earlier this year but have been cancelled twice due to some abnormal blood results. Still getting over chemo!!! I had a recurrence and so two lots of chemo in 18 months has taken its toll. However all the more reason for the prophylactic ,mastectomy. I was originally planning to have the mastectomy at the same time as the reconstruction. There is however now talk of doing them separately. Did your surgeon give reasons for separate surgeries? Thanks again for all you are sharing it is brilliant to have such warts and all info. Take care Paula :)
- Thanks for the tip Sharona about support undies. They will be added to my shopping list too. I had only really thought about bras and forgot about undies. I think you are doing amazingly well. Good for you Sister. Lots of love Janey xxx
- Hi Sharona So good to read your latest blog. I've got 3 weeks till my surgery. Had my CT angiography yesterday. I really hate needles, as all my veins in my left arm are scar damaged. Will be interesting to see where they're going to put the canula when I go in. You mentioned support undies for the after surgery. I didn't even think of that. Will be adding some to my shopping list. Hope your body recovers in leaps and bounds from here on in.. Kat xxx
- Hi Cathy and Janey One thing I must comment on is the difference between having surgery when you have a cancer diagnosis and get hit with chemo 4 weeks later -that whole process is just awful and very different from and having surgery that is planned and without all of the extra mental stress and anxiety of cancer treatment. I really noticed this when I had my second mastectomy earlier this year. Recovery went really well. This op is so much bigger and I hoped to be feeling stronger sooner but we are all impatient and I am getting stronger each day and the amount I do is going up. Yesterday after my visit to the nurse for a quick dressing change on my belly button, I went to the shopping centre and did about five errands (but not supermarket shopping yet - too heavy) and it was fine. Drove home and had lunch and was not exhausted. Definite progress.
- Hi Cathy and Janey One thing I must comment on is the difference between having surgery when you have a cancer diagnosis and get hit with chemo 4 weeks later -that whole process is just awful and very different from and having surgery that is planned and without all of the extra mental stress and anxiety of cancer treatment. I really noticed this when I had my second mastectomy earlier this year. Recovery went really well. This op is so much bigger and I hoped to be feeling stronger sooner but we are all impatient and I am getting stronger each day and the amount I do is going up. Yesterday after my visit to the nurse for a quick dressing change on my belly button, I went to the shopping centre and did about five errands (but not supermarket shopping yet - too heavy) and it was fine. Drove home and had lunch and was not exhausted. Definite progress.
Sorry to have been slow to add to this diary. I feel as if I have been doing everything slowly for a while. Anyway, I was able to leave hospital after 8 nights as was originally estimated. I was really pleased to be going home. The 3+ hour journey was surprisingly ok and the seat belt was not a problem. I had so looked forward to my own bed but I had not lain flat since the surgery and could not do so, i was quite confronted and had to sort out a pillow pile. That is my next tip, work out how to be really comfortable at home but probably sleeping on your back and with head/chest up to some extent. I had a couple of very quiet days at home then a day trip back to Sydney to see my surgeon. He took off all the dressings, removed steri strips and stitches around my belly button. He said it all looked fine but from my point if view it was not pretty and there is a lot of semi numbness in my abdomen which feels weird. Unfortunately my new belly button is going to take a bit longer to heal (seemingly this happens sometimes) so I have had to see my GP/practice nurse most days for a dressing change. To my GPs astonishment I was allowed to drive 2 weeks after the op but I only did so because hubby had to go back to work (remember if you do not have medical approval to drive after surgery your insurance may not be valid). At 3 weeks driving is fine but at first doing anything was a challenge at home. Healing from week 2 to 3 has felt really slow, but there has been definite improvements, but it is slow! Physically I am still not up to a great deal and still taking panadol for pain/ discomfort. When I saw the surgeon he reminded me that I could get out of the big elastic abdominal support once I had some 'nanny knickers'. I wish I had bought some beforehand as I did not feel able to go near a shop for a couple more days. I have never worn 'support wear' before and they seems to vary a lot. Buy somethiing before surgery. My Target purchase is ok but more comfortable is some Ambra shapewear I bought online. I can now shower with relative ease and have started massaging some vitamin oil along my scar lines. My new mounds still have bruising on them from the surgery. I was told by the surgeon to work on arm mobility and had 10 days to be able to get both arms straight up above my head. On one side that is fine but on the other I am still very tight and cannot do this without discomfort. So overall I am progressing but at that really frustrating stage of recuperation. The surgeon says it will take 6 weeks for my haemaglobin to recover and my GP suggested iron tablets. I will be seeing him in another week and know that I will be feeling much better by then. Thanks for the thankyous for doing this diary, it is my pleasure, it is a warts and all description and I recognize that I need to give it more time. My body still feels rather strange and I am looking forward to losing all the redness of tape allergy and scars and enjoying my new look.
I just remembered another of the warts in this recovery. The back of my head felt bruised after surgery which I presume is due to the many hours on the table but at about 2 1/2 weeks I started losing hair from that part of my head, it brought back really bad memories or losing hair with chemo but was confined to one part of my head and a few days later it has settled. At least it did not become a bald patch, just a bit less hair.
Sorry to have been slow to add to this diary. I feel as if I have been doing everything slowly for a while. Anyway, I was able to leave hospital after 8 nights as was originally estimated. I was really pleased to be going home. The 3+ hour journey was surprisingly ok and the seat belt was not a problem. I had so looked forward to my own bed but I had not lain flat since the surgery and could not do so, i was quite confronted and had to sort out a pillow pile. That is my next tip, work out how to be really comfortable at home but probably sleeping on your back and with head/chest up to some extent. I had a couple of very quiet days at home then a day trip back to Sydney to see my surgeon. He took off all the dressings, removed steri strips and stitches around my belly button. He said it all looked fine but from my point if view it was not pretty and there is a lot of semi numbness in my abdomen which feels weird. Unfortunately my new belly button is going to take a bit longer to heal (seemingly this happens sometimes) so I have had to see my GP/practice nurse most days for a dressing change. To my GPs astonishment I was allowed to drive 2 weeks after the op but I only did so because hubby had to go back to work (remember if you do not have medical approval to drive after surgery your insurance may not be valid). At 3 weeks driving is fine but at first doing anything was a challenge at home. Healing from week 2 to 3 has felt really slow, but there has been definite improvements, but it is slow! Physically I am still not up to a great deal and still taking panadol for pain/ discomfort. When I saw the surgeon he reminded me that I could get out of the big elastic abdominal support once I had some 'nanny knickers'. I wish I had bought some beforehand as I did not feel able to go near a shop for a couple more days. I have never worn 'support wear' before and they seems to vary a lot. Buy somethiing before surgery. My Target purchase is ok but more comfortable is some Ambra shapewear I bought online. I can now shower with relative ease and have started massaging some vitamin oil along my scar lines. My new mounds still have bruising on them from the surgery. I was told by the surgeon to work on arm mobility and had 10 days to be able to get both arms straight up above my head. On one side that is fine but on the other I am still very tight and cannot do this without discomfort. So overall I am progressing but at that really frustrating stage of recuperation. The surgeon says it will take 6 weeks for my haemaglobin to recover and my GP suggested iron tablets. I will be seeing him in another week and know that I will be feeling much better by then. Thanks for the thankyous for doing this diary, it is my pleasure, it is a warts and all description and I recognize that I need to give it more time. My body still feels rather strange and I am looking forward to losing all the redness of tape allergy and scars and enjoying my new look.
I just remembered another of the warts in this recovery. The back of my head felt bruised after surgery which I presume is due to the many hours on the table but at about 2 1/2 weeks I started losing hair from that part of my head, it brought back really bad memories or losing hair with chemo but was confined to one part of my head and a few days later it has settled. At least it did not become a bald patch, just a bit less hair.
- I really cannot comment on what is best, it is a decision that must be considered with doctors consultation, each of us is different and have different bodies so one technique vs another has to be tailored to each individual.
Can you tell me what is good silicone implant or DIEP Flap....
And do you need more surgery after that?
Thank you
MJ
