Diep reconstruction and breast wound healing issues

Hi, I'm one of the community champions here and just picked up your post. That's sounds so frustrating, it's understandable you're feeling low. Have they given you any advice on what to do to help it heal more quickly?   I know it's hard to feel positive, but I would imagine this won't be for much longer and I guess cancer treatment is all about the long game.

The lovely folks at Macmillan are always at the end of the phone if you feel like a chat, they may also have some ideas. You can call them on 0800 808 0000. Best wishes 

Hi Jacks0027, sorry to hear you are having issues after your surgery. I too have had issues with wound healing, so you're not alone. I had a mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction in October and the middle part of tummy wound has been really slow to heal. I started off going for weekly wound dressing, hubby dressing it in between. Then went to two weekly appointments. This week it finally healed, so no longer need to go for these checks. However, I did notice a lump in my armpit, so went for a scan today. They think it's likely fat necrosis, but had to have 3 biopsies, which came as a shock. So now have a two week wait for results. Hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer for your wound to heal. Xx

Thank you so much for responding I am definitely feeling sad about all this and the nurses did say that the tummy can do this as well and takes just as long so I really understand. None of us are used to open wounds and they don’t really prepare you for it. I’m really happy that your wound has finally healed. Truly that must be such a relief. I’m still going in weekly of course I’m hoping it eventually will speed itself up. How awful now for you just as one thing sorts its self out it’s now another wait for something else they need to work out for you. But they will and  I’m so sorry but I’m positive this is just another unexpected blip for you. Please stay in touch. It’s always good to have someone else on the journey who truly understands that this is all a bit horrible and it’s okay to be unhappy about it now and then. X 

Hi there. So I’m week 7 after bilateral diep and last week I had a vac dressing fitted as have a hole in my left boob. It’s all very frustrating as literally a week after my op I went back and pointed out the black necrotic skin but was told it was nothing. Then my surgeon said he would remove it and vac and that was at 2.5 weeks. He decided not to and here I am with a deep hole that just looks like it will take ages to heal at week 7. I’ve just said all the negatives and I’m sad about it all but I have to keep positive as I nearly lost the whole boob after my initial op. Had to go back to surgery and he did manage to save it. If this boob survives I will be happy so I’m relying on the vac to do its thing even though it is a total nuisance! Not sure if that helps? My right one is beautiful and my tummy scar is so neat so I’m hanging on to the positives x

It does help thank you. I think the wounds are just dreadful and just make everything seem a bit sad and slow in trying to get on with life and my poor boob looks dreadful. All misshapen and bruined. I’ve certainly learnt from this that you need to really ask lots and lots of questions before making these decisions. After three weeks of it I asked them to remove the wound vac so I could just get on with things a little more easily. I’d recovered far enough along that they were okay with it. I’m week 10 now. I am down to one big hole. But I can shower each day and go to work etc so it’s just going to take a bit longer to close off that final hole. Tummy scar is higher up than they wanted but it is neat and did not have wound. and right boob was unaffected - just single mastectomy.  Oddly just starting to feel sensation again in tummy. So also trying to be positive.