Horrible recovery from bilat lat dorsi flap reconstruction

Options
NotThereYet
NotThereYet Member Posts: 15
edited August 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello, I had my bilateral latis dorsi flap reconstruction May 19th, UW Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Dr. Said. Was inpatient for 6 days. I'm having a horrible recovery and am feeling so discouraged. My PS told me he wanted to do this w/out implants and just use my back (lat flaps) for my donor sites, that I would have enough to create a B cup. I hesitated. I'm very thin, did not have enough fat for tummy or thighs. Now, I'm 3 weeks out, in horrible pain, the worst experience of my life; I'm still swollen all around my breasts and due to an inexperience floater - roamer nurse who took out 2 of my 4 drains about 3 weeks far too early, I have a seroma - hematoma the size of my entire hand growing in my back. The swelling in my actual breasts have gone down and it looks like I'm hardly even an A cup and look odd, small and nipple placement folding under my very small lumps of breast. Not too mention this hematoma and swelling has not gone down at all and pain is still awful. Any advice. I guess now I have to have fat grafting but I'm just so upset. All this pain, 9 hour surgery, inpatient with all kinds of problems (I gained 22 lbs of water in the hospital - unbearable pain blood prssure dropped dangerously low), etc...and only small lumps of breasts? Very disappointed in UW Medical Center and care, too. THANKS! Wendy

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2016

    Wendy - That sounds like a nightmare. Oh my - 22 lbs of water? I hope you turn the corner very soon. Gentle hug


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited June 2016

    Oh Wendy, I am so upset for you. Please, please tell all this to your doctor. I am hoping you feel better soon and that they can correct your reconstruction to your satisfaction. We are all thinking of you and offer our support.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited June 2016

    Hi Wendy,

    We have an active thread for LD Flap surgery: LD

    Some of us have done very well and others have not as is the case with many surgeries. It's still early and the 6 week mark is when many report feeling better. I had seromas too. It's a lot to go through. I'm very happy with my outcome. It may help to connect with others.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dp730
    dp730 Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2016

    May I ask who your surgeon was? I am heading to UW for a consult in two weeks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotThereYet
    NotThereYet Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2016

    Hi there, sorry for such a late response. I'm not getting notifications when someone responds to my posts. I saw Dr. Said at UW. I went to see Dr. Paige at Polyclinic and Dr. Welk and will probably have either one follow me with continued procedures. I'm now seeing a pain specialist doctor whom works with cancer patients. I'm STILL on low dose main meds and feel completely wiped out. I'm so out of shape too cause everything seems like a struggle in terms of physical activity. Stating PT again and massage therapy. I just can't believe I've done this to myself.

    I'm 9 weeks into this and so horribly discouraged. My back, ribs, chest are so tight, but numb too. I still have my lump although the seroma - hemotoma has gone down. At this point, I'm feeling very depressed like I made the wrong decision I can't imagine this every feeling normal and I feel like I'm going to end up having implants anyway. I'm so disappointed in the size, shape and this is just awful, awful recovery, awful pain...so sad.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotThereYet
    NotThereYet Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2016

    imageimage

    Thanks, Warrior-Woman,

    Did you have bilat recon was it just latsi donor sites or implants too. were you numb but in a lot of pain, like you're wearing an iron bra or a feeling like you can't breathe cause everything is so tight?


    Thanks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2016

    holy toledo, I had DIEP with Dr. Said, very successful. I'm so sorry for your pain. Pray for your recovery.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories