Delayed DIEP reconstruction

I am 6 weeks post op from diep and reconstruction. As far as pants I wore high waisted firm control knickers (like spanx) I bought mine online from Yours website. The bra I was advised to get were front fastening sports bra. Also with the knickers I asked a seamstress to but hooks and eyes in the crotch so I didn't need to keep pulling them down over scar for the loo. Also wore normal knickers underneath.  Hope this helps 

Thanks Sarah56 did you have a scan before the operation?

Hi Iblodwin I had a diep last August & had a meeting with a plastics nurse to run through the procedure before hand. During this chat she gave me information about what would happen during the process & after.  Here’s a run down of my experience which will hopefully be useful for you:

Immediately after the op you will spend the night wrapped in a heated blanket and there will be a nurse monitoring the blood supply so you probably won’t get much sleep!  The blanket can get very warm but it is necessary to encourage blood flow to the new flap. 

They try to get you moving as soon as possible in the days after surgery but you will be sore - I managed to sit up the next day and was able to take a shower (with help) on day 2 - you will be hobbling about though but definitely manageable. The abdominal wound makes it hard to stand upright and you won’t be able to for a while afterwards - you will see a physio though who will run through exercises with you to help with mobility. 

You will need front opening bras & high waisted knickers (post- partum ones are ideal).  I got mine from Amazon - these were great (I still wear them as super comfy).   The advice to me was to order a size up as you will be swollen initially.  I also got a small handheld chargeable fan which was amazing as you get very hot under the heated blanket & in the hospital generally. 

That’s all I can think of at the moment but let me know if you have any queries.  It is s major op but so worth it & I am glad I did it.  

One more thing! I did have a ct scan before hand to check blood vessels & abdomen as I had a c section previously so they wanted to make sure all was ok to go ahead. 

Thanks Meanegg  these posts are very helpful and reassuring. I need to go shopping! LOL. I will ask about the scan when I see the surgeon next week.

Good luck with it all - come back and let us know how you get on (when you feel up to it) xx

Will do.....

Hi Iblodwin good luck for your procedure. It’s interesting to see different peoples experiences and the different advice we are given throughout the country! I’m not contradicting anyone else’s advice at all but simply telling you what I was told. I was told to buy a front fastening bra which I did from M&S, they told me to buy only 1 as I would be given one by the hospital. I was told not to buy sports bras as they are too tight and hold you too firmly. Alternating the two bras between washes worked fine and within a few weeks I was back to normal, soft cup, non underwired bras. I was also told no special knickers was required, just a pack of big ‘granny’ undies from M&S and told specifically not to buy spandex as they were too tight when sitting down and can restrict blood flow. I was given a corset thing from the hospital and told to wear that when walking but to remove it when resting/sitting for a few weeks. I’m our unit they didn’t use heated blankets but they put a towel over my shoulder and boob and it was there for days. I was in a private room and boy did they keep it hot and I was not allowed to turn the heat off! As others have said, for blood flow. You are woken all night for the first two nights and they do like to get you moving fast. I was given a scan first to locate the blood vessels and you will be too. Yes take a fan, some reading materials, some Vaseline or lip salve as it’s hot and dry in there. I wasn’t showered in there, just ‘bird bathed’ dressing gown and slippers, front opening roomy pyjamas or nightie also needed. All the best to you, the first couple of weeks are a bit challenging but it will be worth it x it has fascinated me how varied the advice we are given by our teams is in the two years I’ve been on here. You really would think they’d have standard advice in place! Xx

That's really interesting... Thank you. It's so good to hear others experience. A voyage of discovery! Almost bought some bras yesterday but I have soooo many already... Always trying to find a comfortable one and never quite achieving it. I think I will wait until I've seen the surgeon next week.

Hi, I had a DIEP a few years ago. All I can add to the great info already on here is you will need help at home for the first few days.I used  support knickers and bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. - keep for later tweaks. They put the support bra on you during surgery. Take in some push-on slippers (I used crocs) for shuffling around in hospital. I used the hospital gowns while I was in and a dressing gown - I didn't even attempt anything else until leaving hospital.They should give you a clean gown each day.  But, they do try to get you moving about very quickly and its exhausting as you will have had little sleep due to all the observation checks. I was given a bed bath on day 2 and took a shower on my own on day 3. (Quite a high point at the time!) Also, it's a big and long op so you will be very tired afterwards and it can be a slow recovery once home. You can't raise your arm on affected side...... also you can't pick anything up from the floor... and do the exercises religiously!!!.. Have a couple of oversized loose front opening tops ready as it's difficult to dress directly afterwards once home. I used a couple of my husband's casual shirts, a  front zip-up hoodie and leggings. Yes, I had a CT scan to locate blood vessels (I too previously had had a C section). Good luck the results are amazing - although it may look a bit fat and flat to begin with - after all the swelling has gone (can take 3 months) and if still like this it can be tweaked by lipo and refill. Also, you will have a lovely flat tummy. Good luck and just take things a day at a time. XXXXxxx