lymphedema and diep flap surgery

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I have had mild LE since early 2002, after lumpectomy/radiation/chemo in 1999. I lost ~15 lymph nodes in that surgery, which I think were further damaged by radiation. Anyway, it's been under control since then, manageable with caution and smart choices in movement and diet. Fast forward to this year, I have been going through treatment for a second cancer on the same side, and worried about what would happen to the LE. I am now 9 days out of a bilateral mx with DIEP flap reconstruction, and I'm confident that my LE has not been worsened. Immediately after the surgery my arms were super swollen and I was TERRIFIED that it had blown up worse on both sides, but I think it was just passing effects from the surgery. The arms are positioned in one spot for the long surgery (touchdown arms?) which was not great, and then perhaps laid up in the hospital bed recovering without proper elevation. But the swelling went down after a couple days and all seems ok now.