I will like hot tips on DIEP reconstruction. I had mastectomy late last year and I am going to have a delayed DIEP reconstruction soon. I will like to read from people who have had a DIEP. Are you happy with the result? Did u have a tummy tuck? Time off work? How soon can you start driving? Do u feel confident. I look forward to reading from anyone that have had the DIEP.
I had a mastectomy and immediate diep recon two weeks ago. Yesterday I had the stitches out and saw my new breast for the first time. It is still a bit swollen and sitting higher on the chest than other one but my ps says it will drop. With a sport’s bra on it looks fine. I have a lovely flat tummy which was a bit wobbly after 3 children but still have to wear a corset for another week or so.
In terms of the op you are kept very warm, including being under a blanket with warm air being blown through it, this is to help the graft take. I always called it allowing the graft to cook!! Initially you are connected to several drips, drains, a catheter and epidural. On my second day the drains were removed and each day something else went. I was in a chair on the second day, walking the third, using stairs on the fourth and came home after 5 nights in hospital.
Some tips:- I found that I couldn’t get my pyjama top on because of the dressings on my boob and my daughter brought in two of my husband’s short sleeved cotton shirts and I used these instead of tops. If you don’t have capacious tops to you night wear you might like to do the same. Bridget Jone’s style knickers are very comfortable and you can buy these in multi-packs. I also had some cheap jogging bottoms to wear home. You need to buy the joggers and knickers two sizes bigger than usual to accommodate the corset.
My ps said by 2 months I’d be 90% fit and would probably need 3 months off work. He said I could drive after 6 weeks. The diep is a big op and the first two days you don’t get much sleep because the graft is constantly being checked. I get tired quickly but each day see some improvement.
Hope this is helpful if you want any further information only too happy to help.
Take care
Cassie
Thank you all for the lovely ideas. Very well appreciated. Am looking forward to the reconstruction which will be in 3 weeks time. Will keep you all posted when i have mine done. If you remember any other thing pls do let me know any ideas, same for me if I remember anything I will let you guys know.
Oops! I forgot to ask if any of u had stretch marks on ur tummy. If yes was it on ur new breast? cos i have stretchmarks!
I am due to have a DIEP in 4 weeks (fingers crossed) so the tips from Cassie will be very useful, I have bought extra large secret support tops for my hospital stay - so do you think these will be difficult to get on, initially I think they keep the hospital gown on to allow quick access for checking! How long is it before you can shower and wash your hair.
Hothottie - like you I have stretch marks on my tummy and mentioned to the plastic surgeon that would they show on my new boob, he said no - but not sure how this will work! We will have to compare notes when we are home and on the mend.
Good Luck with your op
Clare (S)
Hi all
I am posting a link to a Breast Cancer Care booklet called ‘Breast Reconstruction’ which you may find helpful, it contains information about different types of surgery including DIEP:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/breast_reconstruction_dec06_web_0.pdf
Hope this is useful.
Best wishes
Lucy
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
To answer your questions I did have some some stretch marks and I also had a scar where my appendix was removed. You cannot see the appendix scar any more and the skin grafted to the breast is only about 2 inches in diameter. I could not have a shower until after the stitches were removed and have not asked about baths. You just have to have wash downs. As far as hair washing is concerned I managed to get on my knees by the bath and one of my daughters washed my hair for me and then dried it.
I was wearing not wearing any sort of gown for the first two days. I had a very thick pad of cotton wool with a plastic covering over the new boob and this was just folded back to look at the small area of the graft. I had had a mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy and I don’t think I could have got any secret support tops over my head and then pulled down. I’m not sure how well they would fit over the dressings. I just went without a bra until I had my stitches out
Best wishes and keep in touch
Cassie
Thank you all for all your support and advice! very helpful! I really hope like Clare said that the stretch mark doesn’t appear on the new breast if it does the impt thing is that we have a breast!
I’m having mine in Salisbury - PS is Mr Teirnan
Really apprehensive in case it gets cancelled - having working in NHS for 20 years I know that this often happens!!!
Hi, I have just had mastectomy and diep reconstruction on 18th September. I too had to wear bigger joggers etc but what I have found marvellous are maternity jeans from M&S, really comfortable and make me feel a little more human. Also I use a custie cushion (think spelling is right), its a very soft sausage like cushion which moulds to your body, I put under my arm side of mastectomy and found this extremely comfortable.
At moment my boob is still very swollen and firm and seems to get worse in evenings - ps has explained this is normal.
Thank you all for all your tips. I will start shopping for the bits I need 'cos it is not long now before my surgery. Looking forward to feeling like a woman again! being confident and wearing things and not bending and wondering if anyone saw the prosthesis!