DIEP pain? Were you scared?

Trvler,

I am about 9 weeks post Diep, For me (and I can only speak for me). It was not particularly painful. Everything was pretty straightforward. I did not feel very frightened and was pragmatic about the procedure.

I decide to do it, because I hated the prosthesis. I wanted to feel relatively normal again.

No, I am not sorry I did it. For me it worked very well.

Are you considering it?

I am 6 weeks post op.

The surgical pain can and will be managed! The worst thing for me was bad back muscle spasms when I was trying to walk or be on my feet for more than a few minutes, and they took about 9 days before they really started to ease.

The only other acute tummy pain was when I sneezed unexpectedly! And also whenI got nauseous and had a few dry heaves - that was a bit scary at the time.

I came home day 5 post op and just on Tylenol and Advil for pain, although some ladies are given narcotics, and others seem to hardly complain at all of pain!

One description of how I felt, that amused me anyway, was "like Robin Williams must have felt in his Mrs Doubtfire costume!" The whole of my frontage felt stiff and swollen, and as it didn't really belong to me.

Now I'm moving quite well with no real pain. Had a cold this week, and sneezing is still not much fun! Have to remember to sneeze open-mouthed into a tissue, after years spent stiffling sneezes! I can still feel a bit stiff/tight when I first get up.

My shoulder on the irradiated side still needs work to get my range back, and I'm seeing Physio for that.

It's all quite doable, even if you have to get through a few rough days, but everyone is different.

I had left Mx 2012 for cancer. This surgery I had the right mastectomy, and both breasts reconstructed at the same time.

I never completely got full range back in my left shoulder, after my original surgeries, and I also developed mild lymphedema in that arm. Neither of these things had a huge impact on my life, to he honest.

I do have a glove and sleeve, and I'm currently in dispute with my LE physio as she wants me to wear them fulltime, but I don't feel the minimal swelling I have (only in my forearm) really goes away by wearing the sleeve, nor does it get worse if I don't! So my druthers is to wear the pressure garments only when I am exercising strenuously, or if my arm does feel more achy/swollen from time to time.

I was concerned that the surgery would exacerbate the lymphedema, but it hasn't at all; in fact for a couple of weeks my arm looked pretty much normal!

Also concerned that movement restriction post op would have a detrimental effect on my range as I normally stretch daily, and this was the case as I say, but progress is being made, and I have functional range already.

Trvler -- I was really really lucky with pain -- I didn't use the pain pump that much in the hospital and only took a couple of Tylenol once I was home (and one time was for a fever).  I've historically been very lucky with minimal pain following surgery, but I'm not sure, based on what I have read on these boards that history is always a good predictor (knocking on wood now because I have my last surgery next month). 

I had a bilat mastectomy and diep recon at the same time, with a sentinel node biopsy on my right side that day as well (the left side had been done when I had a lumpectomy a few months earlier).  I had to have the right side done because we found DCIS on my "non-cancer" side (that's a long explanation to note that I didn't have ALND). 

Best of luck with your decision.  I've been reading the diep threads from 2013 when I was diagnosed, and I think most are happy with their decision.  I would definitely make the same choice if I had to do it over again, and I didn't sail through without complications -- dissolving stitches that wouldn't dissolve, hole in my abdo incision, fat grafting #1 that re-absorbed, etc. -- they seem like mini-blips now)

You're welcome, and good luck with whatever you decide.

I had a fairly major complication, i.e. clots to my lungs, and did find myself wondering whether, given my known high risk for thromboembolism, I hadn't been rather stupid to put myself through this.

But, y'know, even though this happened, and I have to stay on anticoagulant now, and even though I will need further procedures before my surgeon is happy with the result, I'm already pretty fond of my new shape (having been "uni-boobed" for two years) and the fact that am currently "NED", and long may that last!

No regrets!

I had one complication from surgery, "drop foot". In my case it was due to compression on a nerve from the boots you wear during surgery. I had neuropathy in my feet from chemo, so there was some nerve damage before surgery. I did a few weeks of PT and the  drop foot issue is resolved.

About 5 or 6 weeks after surgery I noticed some bumps that worried me. I had one ultrasound and 3 of the areas are necrosis, which is normal. The 4th bump didn't show up at all, but it is believed to be an undissolved stitch. Doing another scan in 6 months just to be sure.

That is the one down side to any of the surgery options, lx or mx. Lumps and bumps can appear months afterward for a variety of reasons and it can be very alarming when you notice it. Usually they are b9.

I had DIEP about a year and a half ago and am very glad I did it. For the first day I felt I'd been run over by a bus but there was minimal pain. It was very well managed and each day I got so much stronger. I have an amazing PS and had full confidence in her and her team. Afterwards you have to be careful with lifting and raising your arms. I am very happy with the results.

I am 23 days post double mastectomy and DIEP. The pain is not bad. The only thing that hurts is where they had to cut some cartilage to access blood vessels. I am slowly straightening up and slowly am regaining range of motion. I am going to have my breasts augmented as I did not have a lot of fat on my tummy and want my D's back. I am attempting work next week as I have a very sedentary job.

Hi Trvler,

I had my BMX with immediate DIEP last June and was in the hospital Monday-Thursday, followed by at home recovery for about 6 weeks. I think you will perceive the pain to be much worse than it actually will be! : ) I used the pain pump the first night and switched to oxycodone the next morning. Oxy worked better but the pain pump was immediate but didn't last long. I kept up with the pump whether I thought I would need it or not, and really I think that helped the most. Don't let the pain get out of hand and you will be fine. I think the next few days, I was more sore than really painful. When I got home, I was advised to alternate between 3 ibuprofen and the oxycodone. That helped especially since I timed it so that I got an oxy before bed so it helped me sleep. I slept in my recliner in the great room for about 4 weeks because, although it wasn't painful, it was not comfortable at all to sleep in bed. I'm a stomach sleeper and just couldn't do that for about 8 weeks. Don't let the pain scare you. If you can get through the first 24 hours following surgery, I think you will be able to manage the pain and discomfort. As others have mentioned, I had more pain (in my back) trying to do my daily walks around the neighborhood. I did it slowly and eased into the walking and a few weeks later my back started to feel okay for longer periods when I was upright. I am happy I did it and do not regret it! Good luck! : -)

The pain for me was not that bad, felt good enough to go back to work full time 10 days out( minus any lifting). If it wasn't for the drains I could have gone back several days sooner.

Trvler - Chemo is doable if you are prepared.  I was able to work throughout chemo and radiation.  There are a number of good posts on BCO about preparing for chemo.  If I can answer any questions, feel free to ask.