SE of DIEP?

shelly, any chance you have a hernia?  That's one SE that's not uncommon.

As far as the binder, I was told after I wore mine for quite a few weeks thinking it was to help my tummy, that it's mostly for back support.  So I doubt that has anything to do with the discomfort you're experiencing.   

But absolutely report it to your PS and start from there....    Deanna

Shelley - I had a DIEP, and I work out 6 days a week, including a lot of core, Pilates, and yoga work.  I had some cramping like that for the first 6 months or so as the nerves regenerated, but nothing since.  I think your idea to get a second opinion is good.  You may wish to get copies of your surgical notes to make sure you actually had a DIEP.  There have been women here on BCO who were assured they'd had a DIEP, but when they reviewed their surgical notes they actually had a free TRAM, and muscle had been taken.  By the way, I did not have a binder or any other special surgical garment after my DIEP. 

Shelly - from everything I've read, if he removed a "thumbnail of muscle" then you didn't have a true DIEP.  DIEP removes NO muscle whatsoever - the muscle fibers are separated while the surgeon teases out the blood supply, but nothing is cut, and the separated muscle eventually reseals and heals.  While a thumbnail size doesn't sound big, again, from what I've read the muscle involved is only about 3 inches wide.  From a muscle that small in diameter, a thumbnail is a large amount to remove. 

I'm over 4 years out.  My PS required that I stay in a "flexed" position for the first 3 weeks after surgery, only allowed me to gradually straighten out after that.  I had a lot of tightness at the beginning, but over the years it's relaxed and I have no tightness whatsoever now.  The area around my scar is numb for an inch or so above and below it, but other than that I have feeling. 

One weird thing I did have this summer - I had a almond-size lump suddenly appear deep in my abdomen - I noticed it after a particularly grueling core workout and figured I'd given myself a hernia.  I know it wasn't there before because I have truncal LE and have to do deep abdominal MLD daily, so when I did my MLD the next morning and found it, I knew for a fact that the lump hadn't been there the day before.  I had it checked out by my PCP who referred me to a hernia repair surgeon.  He said it wasn't a hernia, but had no idea what it was.  As I was contemplating my options, a few weeks later it worked its way to near the surface and abcessed and I ended up in ER having it lanced.  It was an open wound for the next few weeks, and one day when I was cleaning it out, a stitch came out!!!  I took a picture and sent it to my ps who confirmed it was a fascia stitch from my DIEP - 4 years later!!!  I'm wondering if you could have a stitch like that that's causing issues? Just reaching for some explanation . . . your consult with the second PS will probably shed a lot more light on what's going on with you.

I'm having the same sort of thing but I am 7 months out from my DIEP. I have been slightly freaking out but keep telling myself it has to be the nerves regenerating, right? Because it moves up and down my abdomen...mainly on the right side, but it's never the same spot. So weird.

did you ever find any answers regarding your stomach cramping n spasming ? Mine is doing the same exact thing. I move a certain way and it cramps up so tight it doubles me over and you can actually feel it knotted up and till finally releases about 15 seconds later...it's been a yea