What Could Be Causing my Severe Abdominal Pains? I've Had Inconclusive CT Scans, Ultrasounds, and Blood Work...

Your describing pain that seems to me like muscle cramps.  It is important to localize this to one side.  It invariably is not on both sides although possible.  If isolated local anesthesia can be placed into the area to see if there is resolution of the pain.  Three
basic forms of breast reconstruction exist. You can use your own tissue,
implants or a combination of the previous two techniques. Your own tissue can
be used in the form of the DIEP flap, PAP flap, SGAP flap or fat grafting.
Implants can be done in one stage or two stage. Two stage reconstructions are
started by placing expanders at the time of mastectomy. Once they expanders are
placed they are able to be inflated as determined by wound healing. The final
time consists of combining any of the above techniques.



If
you are interested in being seen in Austin please give us a call. I know
this is a difficult time for you. The majority of my practice is devoted
to reconstruction for women with breast cancer or who are BRCA+

It is very unusual to have abdominal pain after a DIEP Flap.  The risk of hernia/bulge is 11% with traditional TRAM Flap and only 0.6% with the DIEP Flap.    If you feel abdominal distension on the side of your flap harvest, you may have a breakdown in the fascial repair which requires attention. 

It is also possible that you could have an intercostal or cutaneous nerve which is entraped and causing pain.   I would recommend consultation with your diep surgeon and possibly a pain management doctor for correction of your concerns.  I wish you a safe recovery.

Dr. Gill