Hello just joined this forum today and feeling a little low. A quick introductory I was diagnosed in 2016 with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and put on Tamoxifen, have had regular checkups and mammograms since then, in February this year after my yearly mammogram they picked up something irregular and after a biopsy I was diagnosed with DCIS cancer in the same breast as before as you can imagine I was shocked and upset as after taking tamoxifen I thought I would of been less likely for the cancer to come back. Because I had already had radiotherapy they said I needed to have a mastectomy and recommended a DIEP reconstruction at the same time. I had the surgery on the 5th March but unfortunately while operating they discovered I had a lot of scarring on my stomach blood vessels from 3 caesareans which prolonged the operation and was apparently very complicated when attaching the new breast. My surgeon was very unsure if the breast would survive but thankfully after 3 nervous days he said it looked ok. It has been 4 and 1/2 months since my surgery and after 2 more procedures because of my wounds not healing I think finally I now might start to get better. I would like to know if anyone else has had similar complications and also how their stomach is after surgery. The scar has healed really well but I am still tender in my middle section and find when I eat the area above my belly button really bloats out and becomes very uncomfortable, is this normal?
I’m really sorry if I’ve gone on too long about everything but would be grateful for any advice from anyone with similar experiences.
Hello @Littlelegs glad to hear you’re starting to recover now. That must have been a stressful time wondering if the breast was going to survive. I too had a Diep 6 weeks ago. I didn’t have any complications but have got a lot of bloating above my belly button. At first I thought I must be constipated but that isn’t the case . Are you still wearing the compression knickers? Does that help? I am planning on mentioning it to the consultant on Wednesday. Louise x