DIEP

Oh, Lynda - I don't know where you are going for DIEP, but it is beneficial to wrap your arm prior to surgery (so that it is wrapped during surgery) if at all possible. Having said that, I never did wrap my arm for surgery (and I have had MULTIPLE since being dx'd with LE) - but I have a favorite sleeve that does not cause my arm to flare when it is at rest. I wore it during every single one of my surgeries. Not only does it help my arm, but it reminds the nurses and MDs not to use that arm for anything. As for DIEP - there is a lot of talk regarding how it can sometimes help lymphedema as you are replacing scarred tissue with new healthy tissue. I cannot speak for that, because I had flaps from my hips - it neither helped nor hurt my lymphedema - but helped my overall self esteem immensely.

Lynda, I haven't had reconstruction, but I did have a hysterectomy in July.  I wore a bright pink lymphedema alert bracelet and a piece of stockinette with LYMPHEDEMA IN THIS ARM written on it in black sharpie.  Some of the ladies here gave me the link to the free med-alert bracelet - I'll look for the thread and bump it for you.

 Best of luck to you - my arm and side (I have truncal LE as well) did just fine.