Hi suzan , I am in the Nuffield in Brentwood Essex. I have a fear of needles so just kept telling them that I have a phobia and they gave anaesthetic cream first and were very gentle. I can honestly say there has been no pain at all, I really don’t know how u can have all that done and just take a paracetamol! They supply the girdle thing here and the bras but I got 100% cotton button through nighties in matalan, they were £6 I think. Today is the first day I have worn my own nightie as there are so many checks they just lay their ones over u. U r kept warm at all times and I was dreading that as get hot flushes anyway but even that felt ok as if my body knew it should b warm. Make sure u get 100% cotton though. In the middle of typing this the surgeon has come in and taken 2 more drains out so only have the stomach one now. Hoorah I am allowed to lift the remaining one on my own so can walk about the room on my own now and go to the loo without asking the nurse to carry my drains. that feels great. He said I should b able to go home Sunday. Please please don’t worry it really has not been a bad experience at all, all the things I was so fearful about turned out to b ok. Good luck. Julie x
Hi julie isnt it wonderful home on sunday it must be a good feeling.Thanks for the advice I will go into matalan . Just trying to psyche myself up at the moment. I was doing pretty well then my daughter decided to end her marriage and have been moving her out and into her new flat while she has been staying with me so kinda lost the focus at the moment. I was originally booked to have it done last year but dident feel I had recovered from the chemo and still felt pretty tired so put it off till now, but it will be wonderful not to wear a prosthesis in the summer time and to have a flat tummy again.I will be pleased when I am on the other side like you. Its been pretty hard as I had a reccurrence after 18 years so took me a long time to get my head around it all.Must admit I was dreading hot flushes and being kept warm but as you say its as if your body knows its got to be kept warm. All the best for tomorrow and let us know how things are progressing when you get home love suzan xx
Hi everyone, Day 6, the one remaining drain is doing it’s job and still draining so I won’t b going home today, never mind I don’t want to b rushing anything a cause a problem. Physio came and walked me full length of corridor yesterday and up and down 2 flights of stairs , had no problem with that just felt tired afterwards. Also had a shower with assistance and hair wash, bliss! I managed to blow dry most of my hair so was really pleased with that as am a bit of a hair fanatic !
Peacock - how r u doing noticed u said about staples , mine is all glued so nothing to come out strange how we all differ
Suzan - sounds like u have really been through the mill, take care of yourself
Julie x
Hi Ladies, Julie glad you are doing so well and the experience hasn’t been too difficult for you, like you I think the waiting and thinking about it is actually worse than the op.
Suzan, you are bound to worry so nothing we can say will help but I found it helpful to read about other people so maybe that will help you too.
I have been home almost 2 weeks now, nearly 3 weeks since op. I am walking upright, although only really around the house and garden at the moment. I am still on antibiotics as both scars are infected and still oozing, which is annoying but I suppose its better to come out than build up. My PS saw me on Friday, had the staples out (OUCH) and he wants to see me weekly for a while. So a 4 hour round trip won’t help the tiredness but at least they’re keeping an eye on me. Julie I live in France, maybe that makes the difference between what they do there and here? I wish they had used glue, I had glue last year when I had a breast reduction on other side and it heals up so well. My main discomfort is under the new breast to the front, above the tummy scar (rib area?), this is uncomfortable and I don’t know why it hurts there.
Good recovery to all xx
Hi girls, had the last drain taken out this morning have had a shower and washed and dried my hair. Have got dressed for the first time in a week , feel almost human. Am staying for lunch so I can have a bit of a rest now and then home this afternoon. Can’t wait!
Peacock- ah I expect that explains the difference. So sorry u have got that infection, sure the antibiotics will clear it up soon and you can get on and mend. Take care
Julie x
Hi Peacock,
It might not be the right answer for you, but when I had my immediate DIEP, I suffered with an uncomfortable and sort of numb but sensitive feeling - if you know what I mean and when I questioned the Drs, they said it was because they “tunnelled” the fat from my tummy under the skin and into the breast mound, and it was the loosening of the skin from the fascia that caused the feeling. Don’t worry it does get better and begin to feel normal again.
Marjay
Hello all
3 weeks post surgery today (am glad its done and dusted)!
Am walking around ok, get a bit tired still and sometimes need to rest. Am preparing lunch for myself and dinner in the evenings for myself and daughter.
I am lucky, I have a nurse coming in everyday to clean and check the scars. I’m on another course of AB but I think this is just to be on the safe side.
The scars don’t look very pretty at the moment, but time will heal and I’m sure they will barely be noticeable in a year. I have a lovely cleavage again which is nice, as well as the flat tummy.
Hope everyone is healing well and thinking of those about to have surgery.
I am so grateful for you girls posting your experience. Mine is March 28th and I am in Canada. How long after did you do any form of activitity? When did you return to work fulltime? The PS said I didn’t have enough skin to form anything bigger then a small B. I do have some fat he can take from the sides but said that would make surgery too long. I really don’t care about size, just want to have my boobies back.
Hi girls looking for advice I am due for DIEP on 10th march and I have to get some support knickers that come right up to under your boobs, have tried M and S but nothing but really fancy shapewear want something in cotton really can anyone tellme where they got theirs from many thanks love suzan x
Hi Girls, Day 18 Post Op, Cant believe where the time has gone, feeling really good have been out to lunch several times and even had a walk round the shops, never thought I would be doing anything like that. Can do everything for myself now, am going back tomorrow for Physio and to see the PS. The worst thing about the whole thing is the long line bra and the tummy binder, they press on the drain holes, particularly the bra but it is improving every day. The scar is really itchy at night, drives me mad!! have been covering it in E45 and Savlon. I get a bit tired in the afternoon so have a sit down about 4pm, oh nearly time!
Suzan - have you tried Debenhams, they may have something. Good luck for next week, will soon be over, will be thinking of you.
Julie x
hi Suzan
I had a diep flap op 5 weeks ago, and the hospital provided an elastic surgical binder to wear for 6 weeks post op. It was put on in theatre, so I woke up wearing it. It would be worthwhile checking if this is the same at your hospital.
I was told by physio I could wear firm support knickers during the day and the binder at night at my 4 week post op appointment as wounds were healing nicely, but another lady who had her op at the same time as me is still having to wear her binder day and night because her tummy wound is open a bit, and she cant pull the knickers up as she hasnt regained full strength in her arm yet. (they do need a bit of tugging, and bear in mind that you are not supposed to use your affected arm at all in hospital and very limited for the first couple of weeks at home.)
At first the binder just seems a pain, it seems too long, the nurse cut mine down a bit, but it does make your tummy feel well supported, and I’m not sure I feel ready to give it up next week!
The support knickers I got are from M and S and are called magic knickers - the fabric is polyamide and elastane, they are very plain in design. I’m not sure if cotton ones would have enough support if you can get them.
Hope this helps and good luck with your op on 10th March, hope all goes well and you make a speedy recovery!
love nicola
Hi ladies,
i am now on official countdown with 20 days to go, but saw my GP yesterday whoahas been treating me for anemia and he has siad that they wont do it if my iron levels are still too low???
I havent got my pre op till the week before did any of you have bloods taken and any problems with this.
I am so gutted as its all sorted woith child care for my 5 and 3 yr old girls and I am mentally ready now and cannot bear the thought os it being postponed.
This thread has given me so much comfort with aqll of your comments and being much more aware of what I am in for Many amnay thanks for posting.
Any advice will be great.
Nicki
Hi girls thanks for the help, I must admit I am a little confused as the bc nurse said I had to get them to fit now as I might have swelling from the wound I got the impression I had to wear them straight away but cant work out how I am gonna pull them up as they are quite tight after I have had abdominal surgery. Think I will ring hospital but will send off for some at M and S although they are all quite fancy.best wishes love suxan x
hi Suzan
I wonder if the bc nurse meant for you to get them ready for when you can where them, and when she said in a size to fit you now, she meant not to get in a smaller size (anticipating a smaller tum once tummy tuck is done!). I am still wearing the same size I was before surgery, my tummy is flatter below the scar line where I had a spare tyre, but is about the same around the middle.
Of course it could be that the swelling went down, and the chocolates and cakes have replaced it! lol!
love nicola xx
HI girls well had my DIEP on thurs 10th march 8 hours long op.Woke up and felt like I had lost a day and had no concept of time till ther next day. Walked back to the bay after being in a room on my own the previous night and I can pretty much say after that I did everything for myself, more out of being stubborn and not wanting to be dependant on anyone. Final drain out on tuesday and home then. Still sore but managing to get around ok.and back to dressing clinic on tuesday…The op is long but doable.Have a good tummy tuck. Hope everyone else is ok love suzan x
HI IM ON THE WAITING LIST FORA RECONSTRUCTION USING MY BELLY , HOW CAN YOU BE SO STRONG , WOULD YOU MIND IF I ASKED YOU SOME QUESTIONS XX
no ask away I know how I felt love suzan xx
It’s 6 weeks post my surgery and I am doing almost everything although still avoiding lifting, stretching and hoovering (cylinder hoover not an upright unfortunately). I had 5 1/2 weeks off from driving but now doing that ok too.
The ongoing problems with my tummy scar continue, it is still dressed with a duoderm plaster to draw out fluid and I am still having weekly visits to see my PS (my slow healing could be exacerbated because I am a type 1 diabetic).
Ask away, we can all help you hopefully as I found I wanted to know as much as possible and didn’t believe the pain would be as less as it actually was - more uncomfortable.
Good luck and hope everyone continues to do ok
Hi Girls
8 weeks since my op and I feel like I’m on the home straight. am avoiding heavy stuff but can lift normal things like hoover (but don’t tell anyone) and am doing core exercises and lots of walking. Zumba was a bit ambitious (dvd) but want to get fit asap.
I haven’t used a tummy wrap or magic knickers. Did have to have some fluid drawn off tummy a couple of times but it seems to be going of its own accord from about 6 wks.
I used some cream with honey for wound healing in the bits that were slow or had reaction to dissolvable stitches, Medihoney antibacterial wound gel, from amazon. It works.
Am still getting tired but for every hour you’re under anaesthetic its a week recovery. Mine took 12hrs (bilateral) so I have a few weeks to go.
Anita, the waiting and anticipation is the worst part. The relief afterwards is amazing. The recovery is fine. The pain is minimal!
Nicky x
Hi girls, 5 weeks post op now, everything seems to be going well, when I saw PS a couple of weeks ago he said I didnt have to wear the binder or the bra anymore and could just wear my own bra, trouble is because he didnt lift the 'good ’ boob at the time the new one is smaller and so I have to pad the that side out. The new boob seems very flat at the front,almost as if someone has just sliced the front off, when I asked about it the PS said that when he makes the nipple he will ‘pull out’ the boob, he also said that the shape will change considerably over the next 4 weeks. Can anyone tell me if this is the case, does the shape change a lot? My tummy is fantastic though, really flat, it actually goes in when I sit down, never had that in my life!
Physically I am pretty good, have now driven and used the hoover today and managed a bit of ironing. Went to the X Factor concert on Saturday which involved train and underground and lots of crowds, managed it although was really tired and had to rest all of Sunday.
Suzan - you sound as if you are doing really well, keep it up.
Take Care everyone
Julie x