Diep 2012

Hey ladies! Hope everyone is doing well. At the beginning of the week I called my PS office about an area where I had some oozing and their nurse told me I could go and see my local ps just to be sure everything is a OK. I went yesterday to my local PS and he said everything looked great and he had no concerns of any with my healing. My drainage out put was like MAYBE 12cc in a 24 hr period so he pulled my drains yesterday (3weeks post op). Soo, fast forward to today. I called the ps pa who performed the DIEP and she gets all pissy about the local ps pulling my drains and tells me that more than likely my incision will open up. I was a mess when I got off the phone. The pa then calls me back 3 minutes later telling me she was moving my check up appointment with them out 1 more week (from jan13 to jan20) because since i had my drains pulled 4 days earlier than they were gonna pull them that that would give me time if my incisions were to open then they could see me then. She tells me to immediately get a compression garment and gegin wearing it 24hrs. I am soo upset and freaked out because as soon as I got off the phone with her another place began dripping fluid. There is NO open places but I am oozing a little. The discharge is yellow/clear drainage with no odor or fever on my part. Any similiar experiences or reassurance? I'm terrified of my incision opening up!! : (

Kasey... I did have my incision open up, two weeks after surgery when the glue came off... I ended up losing the flap and needed a wound surgery and then a replacement flap. The difference is I think that I had skin necrosis  and was using ointment on the raw skin and the incision below that opened and kept getting bigger and bigger until after two weeks of tremndous leaking had to go back under the knife. If I knew then what I know now, I would have seen a doctor as soon as it was leaking. They told me NOT to get it closed up as that can seal in any bacteria and let it heal from the inside out, but perhaps a local doctor could have done something before it was a disaster. 

I know you wanted reassurance.. sorry I can't give that. My suggestion is to not only wear a compression bra but to add extra padding for EXTRA compression... but if it continues to leak, see a doctor.

Thanks bdavis- yes, in my terror I forgot tp mention it's my abdominal incision. Sorry, about your flap loss. I'm sure you were devastated! I'm just soo ready to get off this emotional roller coaster : )

I have a garment like spanks that I got today and am using those pads they give maternity moms when they leave the hospital. I also ordered a lipo in a box compression garment that should be delivered tomorrow. I am putting Bactroban ointment on my incisions twice a day and changing pads twice a day. Any other suggestions? I see no holes but just drops of liquid is oozing out two places : (

I had some minor oozing out of one of my breast incision. PS was not concerned because the incision wasn't spreading but if it started to open up I needed to see him. It resolved itself in a few days. I just added some gauze pads under my bra to soak it up. Only had to change 3 times a day til it stopped.

Sadie- So glad to hear everything went well for you and you are feeling good. You should feel better everyday

Thanks ladies.  I appreciate the kind words!  I did forget to mention that I'm having the weirdest problem and I've not seen it here.  I have two drains in the left breast - they are taped up and stitched under my arm.  Occasionally, it pulls there and it does hurt.  However, I have almost intolerable pain from the drain end which is poking out of the skin right by the cleavage.  You can feel the drain in the breast and this end hurts more than anything I've had so far.  I can't even bear to touch it - this tender hard lump which is the drain end.  I'm hoping I can last until next Thursday when he (assumedly) takes the drains out.  I told him about this before I left the hospital and he acknowledged it, but didn't do anything.  My husband hasn't noticed anything oozing from the stomach (I keep my binder on all the time) and there are layers of tape under the breast which PS said is forming the shelf the breast will sit on, so I haven't really seen the "complete" breast. 

This stupid, sometimes unbearable pain from this dam* drain.  And not even from the drain site!

Kasey... Might I recommend using betadine. You want to keep it DRY not moist... So I think using ointment is going to keep it from healing. I would use betadine and then use compression and extra pads over teh open incision... and keep using the betadine to dry it out. An incision is not the same as a cut where we use ointment. Of course ask the PA, but my 2 cents. Who is your doctor?

sadie5254 It's too bad you have them so long. Most of us seem to leave at least 3 drains including both upstairs drains at the hospital. I had the same grievance with mx drains however. The drain pain was at the tip not the skin opening. It felt like a knife in my side. The day it came out was the best day of all. It will soon be in the past.

I think the drain tubes must be supplied on a roll or rolled up in a package because they do have a curl to them, and the ones that curl in an unfavourable way are more painful. I don't think they always pay enough attention to the curl when they put them in.

c8ndygr1 -- I am doubtful that a bra would flatten a breast. I WILL reiterate that you must trust your PS and know that he/she knows what is best for you. And if there is any doubt about that at any stage in prepping for surgery (beyond bras, etc.) then you need another surgeon.

And I will keep posting that NOT every surgeon believes that it is necessary to wear bras after DIEP construction and I have complete faith and trust in my surgeon. He is TOPS. He is one of not too many in the country who have been trained in the finesse of microsurgical techniques and has extensive practice. So it doesn't bother me a bit that some other women and their surgeons swear by having bras and compression garments post surgery.

I will say that it is sometimes frustrating to keep reminding women (not you my dear) that just because YOUR experience and everyone you know has been X ... and not Y, then therefore every other woman in the world should follow your example. Just isn't the case in real life when it comes to breast cancer, to surgery, to treatments, etc. For that matter it just isn't the case in real life at all. Our lives are just that .. our lives. There are differences that occur. That doesn't make those differences WRONG or out of synch or risky .... it just makes them different.

Hugs to you fine lady. You will do just fine :-)

Diana- are you in Chicago? Mind if I ask who your surgeon is?  I've had trouble in the past identifying skilled DIEP surgeons in the city, for other people. (I went out of town)

I am so thankful for all the helpful information I have received thus far....Surgery is only 9 days away and the nerves are kicking in. I would love to see some diep pics if anyone is willing to share? I had to have a double mastectomy in Dec 2011, and I never dreamed I would be so eager to have breast so soon. Thank you so much again everyone. Continue to join me in praying for a cure!

rtthrift1... I do not know your doctor, but hopefully someone will chime in...for pictures PM nowheregirl and ask to see her picture gallery.

dltnhm... I get the impression you are pointing your statements toward me, and yet I said to follow whatever her doctor tells her to do... said what mine did after you said what yours did... didn't say mine was right and yours wrong, just different.

Just called up there for my report time. 6 AM on Tuesday. Now I'm nervous!

I saw Dr. Schechter. He has offices in Morton Grove, Grays Lake and at least one other location. I am in the car traveling to Galena in his snow right now so I cannot give you a link. Google Schechter and Pavone and plastic surgeons and DIEP and you should be able to find him.