Diep Flap

Hi

i had diep in December 2017 in London. Happy to let you know about it or do you particularly want to know about the Manchester hospital experience???Xxxx

Hi, Thank you for replying, I am happy to hear your thoughts and experiences, I suppose it would be similar in many ways. Thank you

I was diagnosed with nearly 5cm of high grade DCIS (routine mammogram) although I would have preferred a lumpectomy, the team said I needed a mastectomy and suggested immediate reconstruction by DIEP (tissue from tummy). My nodes were clear. My operation was around 7 hours and I woke up in recovery absolutely fine. I stayed in hospital 4 nights. It was all very straightforward no problems, text book surgery. You are given plenty of pain relief in hospital including your own morphine pump which they took away from me after the first night as I wasn't using it enough!!!! Lack of sleep is the main problem as they have to do their observation every hour for the first 24 hours, then every 2 hours for the next 24 then every 4 hours. They do get you up and staggering around after a couple of days. My tummy was so tight I found it very hard to stagger about I was really doubled up and once home I needed help to get out of bed, showering etc there is a lot of stuff you are not allowed to do due to the surgery. I slept with a V pillow behind my back and pillows under my knees, which I reduced as the time went on. Over the next few weeks I straightened up but it took me a while as I think they had taken very bit of fat from my tummy. I was also very tired for ages no doubt due to all the stress before hand and the long anaesthetic. But, it does get better with each week although at the time you think it won't!!!! The abdominal surgery is quite extensive. I was given pain killers to take including some really powerful ones which I sometimes took in the evening. Otherwise I was fine with paracetamol but  I did take them regularly immediately after the surgery. As soon as it was 6 weeks after I began driving again but used a cushion/scarf to protect myself from the seat belt. I can't remember when I started carrying heavy shopping again. 

Gosh, the above all sounds awful. Well, it certainly isn't a walk in the park and you will need somebody to to your bidding for a few weeks. LUckily mine was just before just before Xmas. My husband took 3 days off work as soon as I came home our my teenage daughter on school holiday and then  it was the long Xmas break so I was looked after. BUT! results are AMAZING!!!!!  You are given a very natural looking new boob which is warm and feels very natural. It is the Rolls Royce of reconstruction. My scars have healed well and now just a white line. In a bra or a bikini you wouldn't know anything had been done. Only tell tale sign is your new tummy button but somebody has to be really close to see that scar. I have since had a bit of lipomodeling done re shaping and I am going to have a bit more done. I have also had nipple reconstruction and just had the tattooing. Now even naked it looks pretty good and in a changing room nobody would really give me a double look. I also have an amazing flat tummy!!!!!

its a big operation with a long recovery. BUt, it's doable and gives an amazing natural boob. If there's any specifics you want to know please just ask. XXXXXXXXxxxxx

Hi, All of your information is valuable, your collection of the operation and recovery from it is really helpful to me. This is the fourth major operation I am facing and I think i'm just feeling al little bit jaded by it all. I wanted to reply to you straight away to acknowledge your post and to Thank you. I am recently out of a consultation and have a lot to take in and consider, I will come back to you if you don't mind, once I have specific questions. I didn't want you to think I had disappeared from this topic, I just feel as though I have a lot to absorb. 

Thank you once again, I am grateful for your time

A

No problem. It is all a lot to take in and make a decision on. If there is anything I can answer, please let me know. There are a few of us on here who have had this operation and everyone has been very pleased with the results. It is very doable but there is no denying it is a big operation. Good luck and please ask any questions. Xxxx