Right MX with DIEP My Story

Giselle4

I wanted to share my story about my surgery, I remember while waiting for my surgery date to come I was on line reading everything I could about MX and DIEP. I hope I can help ease some ones worries who is about to go on this journey.  I was DX with DCIS of the right breast back in October. On January 4th I had my Right MX with immediate reconstruction (DIEP) I went in at 6:00 a.m. they checked me in and I was in my gown and hooked to and IV within an hour. My surgery was suppose to start at 7:30 we ran 15 min late. What calmed me down and kept my peace,I had little note cards and they had my favorite scriptures from the Bible, I kept reading them over and over again until it was time to go to the O.R.  I kissed my family good-bye (thats when I started to cry) and I was on my way. Once I got to the O.R. everyone was waiting for me they helped me move on to the operating table. I remember laying there and they told me to breath in the mask three times, thats all I remember. My MX took and hour and a half, the doctor came down and talked with my family everything was going good, she told my family the reconstruction begun. It usually takes 6 to 8 hours for my surgery for everything, but mine took 12 hours. I found out later that when the doc finished my DIEP up, he did not like the oxygen level on my new breast so he went back in and rerouted some blood vessels. I remember coming to and all these nurses were around me, i did not get sick , I just moaned, I did not really feel that much pain, I had a pain ball that was connected in my stomach so I felt nothing there, and my breast was not too bad. I was very swollen all over for the first couple days. I stayed in PACU unit for a day and they transfered me to my room. On day three, they got me out of bed and i walked very slowly around my room.  I was in the hospital for 5 days. I came home and the whole car ride wiped me out. I made sure my husband brought my pillow so I could lay it on my belly so the seat belt would not hurt. I came home with three drains, two for my stomach and one for my breast, they are a pain but I am dealing well with them. When I take a shower, my PS gave me a fanny pack type purse that I put my drains in and I zip them up hang it around my neck and I shower. It is not too bad. My pain has not been too bad at home, I am down to one pain pill every six hours. Everyone talks about constipation problems after a big surgery, Right from the start when I was allowed, I drank lots of water and in the hospital I ate everything healthy with bran, fruits, vegetables, salads, chicken, yogart I did not feel like eating much but I made myself. I came home and I continued and thankfully, it worked for me. I also drank a couple glasses of apple juice a day. Its almost two weeks since my surgery and I am feeling better each day. I get my drains out in five more days, I try to rest as much as possible and I am not doing anything like cooking cleaning washing clothes until I get the okay. I sleep in a recliner thats the most comfortable place for me. I did have a hard time sleeping in the beginning but its getting better as each night goes by.   I hoped I helped someone out there ease there mind.  It is amazing how your body can recover! 

Giselle 

hliu_2001

Hi Giselle,

Thanks so much for sharing your surgery story! You surely had helped me to ease my mind and calm down while waiting for the surgery. I was DX with DCIS of the left breast on 12/31/09, and have left MX and immidiate DIEP scheduled next month on 2/8. Just like you I am also searching through the internet to try find all possible imformation about MX and DIEP, you journey helped me to relief a lot of the worries and concerns, just hope I could go through as easy as you! Where did you do the surgery?

Hope you could recover soon!

Hui

Giselle4

Hi Hui,

I am so happy That I can help. It has been two weeks and yesterday, I started feeling myself. I went to my BS and she gave me the good news that my path report came back and my cancer was contained in the milk ducts at stage 0 Praise God!! You will be fine, I got some good advice from other women who went though this and they told me that my job for that day was to go to sleep. When I came home from the hospital, I did not feel good at all, I had a hard time falling asleep. I would ask if you could have a Rx of sleeping pills just in case. I did everything they told me to do. When I came home every hour even though I did not feel like it I would get up and take a little walk around the house. (Keep your blood moving) If  I had to do this again, I would, I feel this was the best choice for me. I have to rest for four more weeks but it is amazing how each day goes by and I am feeling better. My BS also removed my breast drain yesterday, that felt great.I had my surgery done at the Cleveland Clinic. After I woke up from surgery, I thanked Jesus and I had this huge relief that it was done. I will keep you in my prayers and please when you can keep me posted on your recovery. I wish you the best!!!

Giselle 

Brit2001

I had a bi NSM with DIEP on December 11.  I'm almost 6 weeks out now and getting around fine.  I had 4 drains and was able to have them taken out at my post op a week after leaving hospital. I too found it more comfortable and easier to sleep in an armchair for the first couple of weeks. Saw my PS this week and I got the all clear to go back on caffeine this weekend!!! 

Its a long surgery and recovery but I am glad I had it done.  The new ladies are kind of flat but that will be resolved when I get stage 2 in a few months. Still have to sleep upright in bed as part of my incision on my stomach opened up (apparently not unusual) but apart from that feeling great.  As Giselle said, each day sees an improvement.  Good luck Hui, you will do just fine.  One piece of advice I found very useful from this site (among lots of others) was to wear silky pyjamas, they really do help you slip in and out of bed easier!!!

hliu_2001

Hi Giselle and Brit2001,

Thank you all for the advice and experience! I do feel that God had answered my prayers, he had brought so many sisters like you to help since my Dx. With all the helps and information I received, I do feel that majority of my worries and concerns are relieved. I will keep you posted on my surgery and recovery, and will aslo keep you all in my prayers.

Wish you all the best recovery!!!

Hui