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Extended abdomen after a DIEP
A little background. After a DIEP after breast cancer my abdomen has been extended so badly that it makes it hard to breathe and I am short of breath. Some days not as bad as others, but the feeling of being full without eating, swollen stomach all day, and pain on my left side under or just near the rib cage. I eat low FODMAP, gluten free, vegetarian, no fried food, or any kind of alcoholic drink (really hurts if I do) and still have this problem for years. Now the DIEP may or may not be related but it seems it started after that. Have had all the GI test and told everything is fine- but it is not! The only thing they say is a slight fatty liver. I can only eat one meal a day because I am so uncomfortable after I eat, and my belly makes it uncomfortable to sit so I recline, but retain extra weight regardless, and feel like I am carrying around a baby inside. So so frustrating. I hear IBS or other common things but with the restrictions on my diet and no change it has to be something else that they are not thinking about .
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I wonder myself. I said it started after the reconstruction surgeries (there were several due to the first doctor’s malpractice). But the surgery was after chemotherapy and I wonder if it is associated with that because it has been since then. But then I think it would not be because it has been 8 years now dealing with this. So if it were associated or a new cancer I would have had other symptoms by now. I am due for my cancer check this coming month so I will ask - thank you!
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3 ReactionsThank you! I downloaded all the linked articles and will read them over. Appreciate your research!
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2 Reactions@kkasey
You may want to see a vascular specialist to see if you are dealing with fluid buildup in your abdomen due to the DIEP procedure. You may have an issue with circulation in the area they took tissue, vessels and nerves.
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1 Reaction@kkasey
I am totally with you on sort of giving up on doctors helping much. I make more effort to research and understand my health conditions and connect the dots (since I am a whole person and not just parts/separate systems) than my paid providers do.
Chemotherapy can cause small fiber nerve damage and impact skin sensations plus autonomic nervous system controlled organs/vessels. A neurologist can diagnose small fiber neuropathy with a skin punch biopsy as a gold standard. There are not a lot of things available for treatment of symptoms and it cannot be cured. I have this and take supplements which help me (alpha Lipoic acid, Acetyl l carnitine and magnesium). I cannot take gabapentin or Lyrica for nerve pain because it makes me too drowsy and I am afraid of falling.
1. https://oncodaily.com/oncolibrary/neurological-side-effects-of-chemotherapy
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17479-small-fiber-neuropathy
3. https://neuropathycommons.org/neuropathy/causes-neuropathy/chemotherapy-induced-peripheral-neuropathy
4. https://neurogenx.com/understanding-chemotherapy-induced-neuropathy-causes-and-symptoms/
Thank you. I know I have this in my feet from chemo but never thought about it others places. I will read the info.
Something I would never have thought about. Thank you.
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1 ReactionMy apologies for not knowing your full history or details. Do you still have your appendix? Have any recent scans included the appendix area? My husband had same symptoms & it was appendix cancer. Basically the same as ovarian cancer, by the way. Sorry for scary comments, but it's usually treatable.
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