DIEP surgery 5 days ago.

Good morning PinkLady2021 and welcome back! I know that Yorkshire_defector had her diep at the end of last year,  and a few others on here have mentioned theirs in the past.  There is also a group on F which is UK based.  I hope that you manage sleep soon! X

Thanks! X

I’ve to make a decision on this soon. I was all for it and ready to have this in March 2020 and along came Covid. 2 days before the op it was cancelled and I was taken in for a mastectomy instead. Now meeting with my plastic surgeon again soon and have no idea what to do this time. I’ve gone from being all for the procedure to now having doubts. Hate making decisions.:)

Hi

I had delayed Diep in December 2019. It is very early days for  you so hang in there ! My physio gave me a great tip for standing up , tense your pelvic floor muscles as you are standing up and it makes it much easier. The tightness has only really just totally gone , but got much more bearable. I went for a flat long walk of about an hour three weeks after my op and went back to work after six weeks , it is the first couple of weeks that are hard . I also had a long pregnancy pillow which made sleeping easier , it allows you to move around supported a bit more in bed. 

You will get there , I do think the operation is totally fab , but it is a gruelling recovery at times , just carry on doing as you are told , but also make sure you do move around as much as possible , without lifting/pushing/pulling things.

Jo x

Hi PinkLady2021

it’s now 3 years since I finished treatment , got the 3yr all clear . I had Caesarian sections many years ago . I remember the nurses saying 

“Bottom in and shoulders back “ then your tummy will sort itself out ! It’s true and it works . This also helps prevent you getting a sore back.

When moving in bed always dig your heals into the mattress to help you move about , so legs bent and heals dug in .

My baby is now 39 !!! and I remembered being told this . The nurses laughed when I spoke the instructions to myself after my Diep reconstruction, but agreed it worked.

With my reconstruction I think I was in just over a week , first night home after a long car journey , I slept on the recliner in my lounge. Next night I lay on my “good” side after that I lay on my back , almost sitting up but got less pillows every night . Make your you follow aftercare instructions for your scar and do all the massaging in the shower as instructed too . Keeps everything supple . My skin was very pampered and still is. 

I also went a short slow walk every day , getting longer and longer. Best exercise there is - I always had someone with me . 

Heres a laugh - when I had my younger son , I was lying in bed with a jug of water perched on my upper tummy , so that I could top up my tumbler if I felt a sneeze coming on , well I fell asleep to be woken in a very wet bed ! So I don’t recommend that. The secret is bent knees when sneezing . 

Dont worry you will feel better every day . Don't worry about not sleeping , the more you worry the worse it gets . 

Take care 

lots of love 

Ruby Rose  

Hi PinkLady2021,

I had a mastectomy and immediate DIEP 3 years ago. The first few weeks are the worst and it does just take time to recover from the op. The abdominal surgery is the worst bit by far. I didn't straighten up for weeks and had lower back ache from stooping. And yes, I can so identify with the comment about feeling and shuffling around like a 90 year old. for the first couple of weeks try not to move around too much. I also used my daughter's shoulders as a Zimmer frame, went up and down stairs sideways and had stools strategically placed in places where I normally would have stood to do things - clean teeth etc. Try sleeping with a V pillow behind you and pillows under your knees until you start straightening out. Wear some good support knickers as this really helps. Do all your exercises religiously and massage your scars with Bio Oil when you are allowed to (at least 6 weeks post op) and soon as you feel up to it start going for walks as getting the blood circulating aids healing. From looking at your post you most only be about 10 days post op. This is still very early days. It is a long and very complicated surgery and there is no denying it can take many weeks to recover from a DEIP. Take things slowly, be patient with yourself and each week you WILL improve rapidly. But, I do remember those early days post op and remember thinking that I would never get back to normal. You do..... take it one step at a time.....be patient with yourself....... it is worth it. XXXxxx