Tag Archives: reconstruction

October 2, 2023

Posted on by under cancer

I’m officially eight weeks post surgery, and I went back to work today. I was exhausted and sore when I got home. And running a low grade fever. Maybe I overdid it or maybe I have something going on. Last night the incision on my left breast started weeping. I sent a message to my surgeon’s office and they suggested I don’t use the hot tub anymore for a while. I’ll also need to keep an eye on it for any signs of infection. So frustrating.

So…aside from all that, here is how I’m doing at two months for anyone interested or considering diep flap reconstruction:

My incisions are (mostly) healed but still red. There has been some fat necrosis on the left side of my chest, so there is a section of hard, immovable skin, which sits on my tight tendon. Physical therapy is helping with the tightness and massaging the necrosis section is helping it move a little. The transplanted skin from my stomach is a different color than the skin on my chest, so that’s disarming. My doctor said it may get less noticeable over time.

My stomach still feels tight, but I can stand mostly straight now. There is still swelling which means my stomach has no “give,” and I can’t wear anything that’s too tight. No squeezing myself into jeans. Also, the longer the day goes on, the more swelling seems to happen. Swelly belly is what a lot of women who have gone through this surgery call it. In addition to that, my stomach skin is SUPER sensitive to the texture of fabric. I’m trying to wear normal clothes again but it’s hard. I ordered belly bands and hope they are thin enough that I can wear them under my clothes without adding a lot of bulk or warmth. They have to be better than the abdominal binder I no longer need to wear.

I am able to lay on my side, although I can’t stay there too long before it feels weird. I also was able to lay on my stomach during physical therapy, which I haven’t been able to do in two years. It was glorious. No pain.

I can lift things heavier than 10 pounds now but I still do so carefully, using my knees and all that. I can’t sit up without turning and pushing myself up. Engaging my stomach muscles for anything feels really uncomfortable, although I’m slowly adding some exercises to my stretching routine. Sitting too long makes my stomach feel weird. Twisting feels weird. Notice a pattern? I suspect my stomach is going to feel weird for a while.

I still get random sharp pains or a dull ache in areas where the nerves were cut. It’s tolerable. And my new belly button is still red but looks like my old belly button.

Would I do it again? Yes, assuming nothing goes amiss at this point. Otherwise I’ll probably wish I had taken out the implants and left it. I’m thankful that my reconstructed breasts are soft, and the heaviness of the implants are gone. I’m thankful that even with the tightness I still have, my range of motion is better. And I’m grateful that although I’m scheduled for revision surgery in April to make everything look better, I don’t have to do it. I can change my mind.

September 6, 2023

Posted on by under cancer

I have a spot on my tummy incision that my doctor’s office thinks could be a spitting suture. I thought the nurse misspelled “splitting” but after a google search, I discovered it means a stitch coming to the surface. I’ve been instructed to use warm compresses and antibiotic ointment on it. I’m thankful it’s not actually splitting. I got real nervous for a second visualizing a gaping wound. In fact, most of my incisions are mostly healed. There are some big scabs on my breasts that are still hanging on, but I’ve done really well not picking at anything. And since I’m forbidden from using lotion or anything, I’m really hoping the scars left behind aren’t too bad. I’m glad that every day is a little better, and my physical therapy is helping the tightness and scar tissue.

Mostly healed—even my new bellybutton!
These scabs are hanging on like crazy.

August 21, 2023

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I’m two weeks post surgery. It feels longer. I’m able to walk around much easier and am starting to bend over a little better. I’m also making it a bit longer in between pain meds – and at half the dosage I was prescribed. The compression garments are a pain to wear 24/7, mostly because they’re scratchy nylon, although it does feel kinda good to have stomach support. The swelling there is still pretty substantial. From everything I’ve researched, that won’t subside for months.

Even though it feels longer than two weeks, I’m consistently reminded that it’s only been two weeks. While I can move around better, I get exhausted quickly. I napped again this afternoon, after my mom and I finished cleaning the garage. And I’ve started getting the sharp pains of healing nerves and muscles. I still have a long way to go.

I’m thankful I’m able to take it easy, and I still have help this week. I’m expecting next week will be easier. And each week after that…

August 17, 2023

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I had my follow up appointment this morning with my plastic surgeon, and I got the wound vac from my stomach as well as three of the four drains removed. I have one remaining in my left hip. The doctor is happy with the progress and of my healing. The incisions look good and the transferred skin is looking healthy. My left breast, which was my problem side all along, is feeling firmer already though. He says it could be some fat dying off or some possible bruising underneath, but it isn’t anything too concerning. He does want me to go to physical therapy soon as it might help with the tendon tightness that is still present.

He also confirmed that the pathology report stated there was some potential skin necrosis happening in my left breast prior to surgery. He said it was quite a mess, so I’m grateful I was finally able to get this done before I had no choice anymore. Now I’ll be wearing compression garments for a while and have a follow up appointment again in a week.

I’m also thankful that I got some visitors today. A couple of friends stopped by with lunch, and we sat outside for a little while and caught up.

Then some other friends stopped by before dinner, and we sat on the deck, too, since it was such a gorgeous day for being outside. They also brought me a gift which made me laugh. They know me well. Skulls and flowers! And coffee! 🤩 It was a good day.

August 10, 2023

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I’m home! I was doing so well, they let me leave the hospital a day early. Of course the incisions still look horrible. There is no covering on my new breasts so the incisions are viewable. There’s a lot of bruising and swelling, but the blood flow to my new tissue has been strong, so the likelihood of them failing now is pretty slim. It’s hard to stand upright still, and walking is slow, but my pain is minimal—unless I need to cough. Then it’s miserable.

I got settled at home while the pups were outside, so my arrival was fairly uneventful, which was good. I still have 4 drains in my sides and a wound vac on my stomach. All items very interesting to a pup. The last thing I need is for one of them to jump on me. I think they missed me though. Once they came in and saw me and eventually settled down, they laid by my chair.

I’m thankful to be home—a big step in my recovery.

August 2, 2023

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I’ve been working from home this week since I’m trying to be a bit more careful and not be around a lot of people before my surgery. However, today I had to attend an all day meeting with a smallish group of colleagues. I tried to keep a bit of distance just in case anyone had some germs because I will be so very upset if something interferes at this late date. My hand is still swollen, although sometimes it’s better. My implant is practically in my armpit. And I have what appears to be some kind of blood blisters along the side of my breast, I’m assuming from the pressure of the implant. If I weren’t having reconstruction done, I’d simply have the implants removed. I’m thankful to be just days away from some relief. At this point Monday can’t come fast enough.

February 1, 2023

Posted on by under cancer

I’ve been feeling anxious lately. I’m sure the winter doldrums isn’t helping, but I’m also sure that my upcoming doctor’s appointments are part of it. This month feels like it will be pivotal, and I’m worried about getting bad news. This week I’ll meet with a new doctor about getting my ovaries removed, next week I’ll meet with a new doctor about my reconstruction, and the following week I’ll have an MRI to check that I’m still cancer free. It feels like finals week, and I haven’t been studying.

So I’m feeling like this self-portrait I drew, a little off-kilter. But I know it’s temporary and hopefully as silly as the drawing makes me look. I’ll get through my appointments and figure out the next steps and carry on. I’m thankful for that.

August 22, 2022

Posted on by under cancer

I had a follow up visit with my plastic surgeon today. I fully expected to schedule my next fat grafting procedure. Not so.

I had been feeling lately like my left side implant was higher than it started out, but I figured it was just my imagination. Turns out it’s not. My doctor says that the late effects of radiation are causing my skin to continue tightening, which in turn is pulling up my implant. He figures it is about 2 centimeters higher than after my surgery. It’s probably why I keep feeling aches and shooting pains along my side again. The implant is pressing more on my nerves since there is no more give in my skin.

The biggest problem, however, is that the movement is taking away the inframammary fold my doctor created by pulling up skin from my stomach. If he must recreate it again at some point, he will need to take skin from my back. The alternative is removing the implant on the right and reducing the size. That will require moving the nipple we tried so hard to save.

For now, we just wait to see if the skin continues to tighten and I’ll see my doctor again in December. I asked about the muscle tightness I have under my arm still, and he thinks the radiation has impacted the muscle as well. I’m going to start massage therapy to see if it makes any difference with the tight muscles. Maybe it will at least give me a little more range of motion.

It was a disappointing visit, but my doctor reminded me that I’m now fully healed from my surgery. Plus I have no more restrictions, aside from waiting one more week before soaking in a tub since he finally removed the scab from the scrape on my incision. I’m thankful that all is not lost yet. It sounds like I’ll have options. And even if the skin shrinks more, my doctor assured me the implant won’t rupture. Thank goodness.

June 20, 2022

Posted on by under cancer

I saw my plastic surgeon today for a follow up. He explained again what he did and where he took the fat from. I’ll go back on Friday to have my bandages replaced with silicone tape. Everything looked good; he simply cautioned me not to lift more than 5 pounds and to wear my sports bra 24/7 for the next 6 weeks.

I was able to take the bandage off my stomach. He went through my belly button for the fat grafting, so I really expected to see a lot of bruising around it. It’s mostly bruised inside, so that wasn’t too bad. My hand looked worse. I’m guessing they broke a blood vessel there.

I’m thankful things are looking well. I’m still tired and sore, but I’m able to move a little bit better today.

June 15, 2022

Posted on by under cancer

Well, it’s less than 2 days to my surgery, and I’m starting to think about it. I’m always nervous before surgery (who isn’t??) but this time I’m also excited about it. So long, rocks! I cannot wait for my chest to feel normal again. Or as normal as it can be considering it will still be implants.

Things I’m looking forward to after a year:

Laying on my stomach. Getting a good massage because I can lay on my stomach. Breathing normally. Maybe getting a full stretch out of my left arm. Wearing shirts that fit properly. Wearing shirts with stripes that don’t zigzag weirdly across my uneven breasts. Sleeping on my side. Holding something against my chest. Giving really tight hugs. Bending over without pain. Jumping jacks.

Just kidding on that last one. I don’t care if I can do jumping jacks again.

I’m trying to focus on the positives with this surgery and not on what makes me nervous about it. But today I was talking to someone who asked if I was going to be ok on Friday. Um, yes. I’d better be. And don’t jinx me like that. I told Patrick that if something crazy happened and I died on the table, my plastic surgeon better finish up. I’m not going out without great boobs. I’ve waited too long.

Probably the biggest thing that makes me nervous is not knowing what to expect afterwards. Since I’ll also be getting fat grafting, I’ll have some pain/discomfort from the liposuction to my stomach, but who knows how much. Or what my stomach will eventually look like. And although my plastic surgeon discussed how he would pull up some of my stomach skin to help create the missing inframammary fold on my left side, I just can’t visualize the outcome.

There are still a lot of “what ifs” rolling around in my head, yet my gratitude for finally being at the end of this long path is going to win out. It’s going to be fine. Maybe even good. Or great. After all, I have a lot of things I’m looking forward to.