Recovery after DIEP reconstruction

Morning! I am now 3 years past my diep and yes I believe it’s normal. I was told it was 12 weeks for general recovery and I’d say that was about right, and up to a year for a complete recovery. After 6 weeks I could do most things but as you say, I would get twinges, tightness and was still careful in my movements, still had sharp pains occasionally, you still shouldn’t be lifting much, etc. plus you’ve have the diastasis recti repair too. I remember being so frustrated that recovery was taking so long, then you get well meaning people telling you how their mum/aunt/sister/friend was running a marathon after 5 weeks (I’m exaggerating but you know) and it makes it worse. One woman told me she’d gone to dinner at a restaurant a week after, I still had drains in and wasn’t out of my pyjamas a week after  and I think I’m pretty sturdy generally. One thing I’ve learned in all of this is recovery is always slower than you’d like. I had my surgery in the January and returned to my very active school job after the Easter hols in April if that helps? I felt mostly there by then, hope that helps, be easy on yourself x

Hi, I’ll be 9 weeks post op come Weds and apart from numb it’s no longer tight. I do the exercises daily morning and night as they do help. Have you tried the lying on your tummy excercise with lifted your chest back (so your surgery doesn’t touch the floor / bed) as this excercise really helps the tightness.

I wasn't given any exercises for my lower body, just exercises for my arms, to prevent cording from the lymph node removals. Thank you, I'll ask for referral to a physio.

Thank you, this is really helpful. My surgeon keeps telling me about other patients of his, who started couch to 5k at the 6 week mark!

I also have cording so I’ve started more excercises which are sent online. It’s improved in a week but if not fully right I have physio open for 3 more weeks if I need to see them in person.

I can try and send you my exercises if it helps?

http://yoursurgeryandrehab.co.uk/exercises-for-day-7-onwards-new/

See if this works!

He sounds very annoying  I found that suddenly I realised I was feeling a lot better, it crept up on me. I wasn’t given any tummy exercises either, I wish I had been, sounds like that might’ve helped, the tightness just seemed to fade away. All the best x

Thank you so much, this works! I will start these exercises today!

Glad I could help…I do then after my shower and before I put my PJ’s on at night so it’s like a little routine - I’m doing good but do think it’s with the help of these excercises x

Hi! I’m at 5 and a half weeks after DIEP flap and my tummy still feels tight.  By the end of the day I feel a bit like I have been sawn in half like in the magic tricks.  I’ve been doing the arm physio but didn’t get any abdominal exercises to do, so I might ask next week when I go for my 6 week checkup with the surgeon.  I’m trying to be patient as I know recovery can take weeks or months.  It’s hard though, especially if you are used to being very active and sporty!  Hope you continue to heal and recover.