Wound dehiscence after TramFlap breast reconstruction

I didn’t have this happen, but I had to respond....so sorry this happened/is happening to you. That plastic surgeon ....@#$& him! Glad you already plan to not see him. My PS would have never dismissed that. Hope the wound vac does it’s work quickly.

I'm going thru almost the exact same thing. I had my DIEP surgery on February 1st. I was in the hospital for 4 day before going home. They were so focused on my flaps surviving I'm not sure how much attention was paid to my abdomen incision. While I still had my drains I noticed my skin turning dark under my belly button. When I went to see my PS to get the drains out he told me to put Betadine ointment on that area 3xs a day and keep it covered, he would see me back in 2 weeks. Well the weekend before I went back I noticed a small hole open up at the incision site. When I went back to the PS he said don't worry we know how to treat this and told me to start a wet to dry dressing 3xs a day. He made sure to tell me this was going to get a lot bigger before it gets better. Went back to him this week and he seems to think it's doing better but its now huge and I refuse to look at it. My husband packs it so I don't have to do it. He even comes home at lunch to pack it. This week they tried to cut out all the dead tissue and fat so it can start healing from the inside out. The wound vac was mentioned but he thinks I can heal without it. My nerves and emotional strength is about gone. Sorry for the graphic pictures but I wanted you to know your not alone.

Ladies, had nasty infections in the past, and went to a Wound Care Center. I self referred myself, because the PS seemed kind of at a loss as to how to help me. I got Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

Made a HUGE, improvement. Even better, insurance paid for it. Went from not healing, to all healed up within about 10 days, give or take. I also took about 3 to 6 grams of Vitamin C per day to help with wound healing. I used to talk to these other patients there for big nasty wounds, diabetic ulcers, ect. They all healed up too with HBOT.

I totally feel your pain. I had diep flap in Dec and my abdomen opened up about 4 weeks later. They first tried just watching it then it opened even more. My PS scheduled me back for surgery. He cleaned up the wound and stitched my entire abdomen incision back up. A week later. I developed a seroma and they had to cut a section of it open and pack it. I had so much packing I felt like a magician doing the scarf trick. My PS stressed to me to eat PROTEIN, PROTEIN and more PROTEIN. I've been eating over 100g a day and it went from an 8cm hole to barely there in a month. I went back this morning and he said Im good to go. Can exercise and do whatever I want now. It will not open back up.

Hang in there!

I had the DIEP and my surgeon was concerned he put many stitches in. I had a couple lumps he removed but he told me he is very concerned with wound opening. It never happened to me, looking at the photos I can feel the pain. Try the wound vacuum or maybe the treatment macb04 suggests. Wow, praying you guys heal soon.

I still see my oncologist once a year, even though I have been cancer free for 7 years and I have been off AI drugs for 3. He still has me do a yearly blood work up, mri, and mammogram.

My insurance changed I used to never see a bill or a benefit statement. Now I see both I had to pay $5 of the $120 dollar office visit, still waiting for a $22 bill for lab work. My mammogram seems to have been covered in full, but I had to pay $95 toward the MRI. So a little over $100 a year for continued surveillance is worth it to me.

Before I used to pay $10 copay for office visit and mri and mammogram no charge. Still a really good deal.

Don't give up hope on the wound healing, if it doesn't improve inquire about other treatments.

Imdtm23 - How long were you off work? I had my BMX back in Oct and didn't go back to work until the first of the year. In between I needed a out patient surgery because my right nipple died and had to be removed. I was back at work a month before my DIEP and have been out ever since. My PS says if I feel up to it I can go back since I have a desk job. Right now I can't even imagine going back with this huge wound that has to be packed 3x's a day plus I'm worried sitting at my desk would hurt because of the location of the wound. I have taken your advice and I'm trying to add a lot more protein to my diet. I have gained so much weight since all of this has started I'm just falling into a huge funk!!

Kanona7795 -I had immediate reconstruction. Original they said I would be out of work for 8 weeks but since my abdomen reopened my PS wouldn't clear me until the wound was almost 100% healed (well 98%). I was out of the office for 12 weeks but I was able to work from home at 6 since I wasn't eligible to disability. I have a desk job too but he was concerned with the wound still draining while I was at work

. Sitting at the desk is very annoying plus today is the first day I am wearing fitted clothing since my operation and the button on my work pants is bothering my scar. I told my husband that my scar is angry (really red). It has been yoga pants and sweats for the past 3 months. I may go buy a couple pairs of elastic waist pants to get through the next couple of weeks.

here are pictures of my incision before my 2nd surgery and yesterday.

My PS gave me the option let it heal on it's own, which would take alot longer to heal or have a 2nd surgery and he would clean up the wound and stitch it up. I chose the surgery because I didn't like walking around with a wound opened like that.

He explained that your abdomen incision has the most tension and everything you do stretches that area. When I sleep I keep with my back and my legs propped up to not have any tension. I think mine was cause by the elastic in my underwear rubbing it. I went and purchased some high wasted briefs (i call them granny panties) that helped.

Hang in there! My PS told me the good news (if you can call it that) with the longer healing is that all muscles have healed and shouldn't have issues with hernias. Now he wants me to.up my exercises. All I was doing was walking around the block.

This is my same story! 4 weeks after DIEP, thought I was doing great, when my incision started opening up. I emailed PS right away, she had me come in to have it cleaned and looked at. they were not concerned at all, says its common and it will heal. Gave me some Aquacel silver and sent me home. It just got worse! Now it looks like someone took an ice cream scooper to my tummy and left a bunch of gunk in the hole! My tummy is still numb so I feel no pain, but psychologically, I'm a mess. I cried at dr's office (and I haven't cried all through my diagnosis and treatments so far) I'm on ativan just to keep my nerves together. I can't look at the hole in my stomach, when I change dressings I can't look in mirror. The mental stress is the worst!!

Next week I will be starting on Vacuum Assisted treatment, Dr says for about 4 weeks. Will be weird having the VAC device, but am very glad that I won't have to change my dressings anymore! Will be going to nurse 3x per week for changes.

This is considered a 'minor' complication. I didn't even know about the possibility of it, I had researched my surgery a lot and discussed what I thought were all my risks with my PS. I guess I had known there was a risk of wound healing issues, I just had no idea how HORRIBLE that could be! Wish I'd known this, probably wouldn't have changed my mind on the procedure, but I wouldn't have been so blindsided by this...

Good luck to you, wish me luck on my VAC treatment!