Post surgery injury (DIEP Flap)

Mobri

I had my DIEP flap reconstruction back in 2005...so 15 years ago.

About a week ago, I injured my chest trying to force open a door that had swelled shut due to rain. I was using my shoulder to try and force it open, but near as I can tell, the underwire from my bra jammed into my breast (underside and side). Now it's painful to breath deeply, cough, sneeze, hiccup, move about too much.

Wondering if I could have somehow damaged the infrastructure the doc created during the surgery or if this is just a soft tissue injury that needs rest. I'll likely visit urgent care later today, much as I don't want to.

Anyone have any insight about how injury can (or not) affect your reconstructed breast?

Moderators

Mobri, we're sorry you're going through this. Probably best to get it looked at to see what's what. Please let us know what they say.

farmerlucy

I did not have DIEP, but I did trip over a low dog barrier and fall flat on my right implant three weeks post exchange onto our ceramic tile kitchen floor. It was black and blue, very swollen, and I was sick about it. My PS put me on an old drug called papaverine to increase blood flow to the area. It took some time to heal, but I had no long term issues due to the fall.

Mobri

Thank you for that info. It must have been both scary and painful! I felt relieved reading what you shared. And I'm glad you were ok.

Mobri

Thanks for your reply.

Went to urgent care. Doc said he thought it was probably bruised ribs and intercostal muscles. Gave me a prescription for Naproxen and said I could take it with tylenol. Seems to be helping more than Advil alone. Turned down a prescription for Vicodin because I don't tolerate it well and it doesn't seem to reduce pain for me (just makes me cranky and irritable).

Doc said will probably have pain for another couple of weeks. He didn't think I would have injured the reconstruction given how long ago I had the surgery.

farmerlucy

Whew!That’s good news! Feel better soon!