DIEP 2011

SAMayoFL

Treesprite, thanks for that information.  That's what I thought the flap was but I just wanted to make sure. 

Carberry, hooray for such a great recovery.  I can only hope things go that well for me too!

Susan

XmasDx

I love my binder and feel very vulnerable and weird without it - am I the only one, or do others feel this way?  I'm over 6 weeks and still wearing my compression garment 24/7...?

x-raygirl

Carberry ~ my diep was 3/30.  Pleased as punch!  

XmasDx~ I was not given a binder.  Was everyone else? 

treesprite

XmasDx: I'm still wearing a compression garment for my abdomen; did you have one for the DIEP area? I went straight to a camisole with a shelf for light support on top. I can go with or without the abdomen compression garment and it feels fine either way.



Marxi: I'm so glad to hear that things are improving. That is fantastic news!

XmasDx

Just the abdominal garment, I cannot go without it yet... I wonder why?

NotAfraid

Carberry, you are ROCKING your recovery!  My 2mx+DIEP was 3/29 with an emergency flap surgery (to add another vein) on the 30th.  So, I had a bit more going on, but other than still having drains and some shooting pain now and then, I'm doing great.  I have wonderful mobility and pretty decent stamina.I am scheduled to get my remaining 3 drains out tomorrow!!!!!!!  (I'M DOING THE HAPPY DANCE).  I can't stand having drain one more second!

I'm wearing a sports bra and a abdomen binder at the moment.  We'll see tomorrow if that changes.  I think my abdomen stitches have all disolved.  I want to be in the shower and naked - STAT!

 As far as work goes, I'm a dog walker and jewelry designer.  I'm going to go back to work with the small dogs and cats on April 22.  I'll see how I feel handling 2 big dogs on a leash after that.  One good pull and I could be in a lot of pain!  

 For those of you who haven't had surgery yet, get your stamina up as much as possible before surgery.  The fact that I walk about 6 miles a day has helped my recovery immensly.  I started walking a week after surgery and just getting up and moving about has made a big difference.  The drains have been my only set-back.

 I'll let you know how the drain removal goes tomorrow ......after I stand for a very long time under a hot shower.  I'm glad I have a tankless water heater!  I'm going to make it work tomorrow.

pupfoster1

Hi girls,

Hope everyone is doing well with recovery and upcoming surgeries!  

Question for those of you who have had stage 2 done and needed some lipo because of the DIEP procedure.  My doc's office is saying that insurance usually won't cover "lipo" because it's considered cosmetic.  My thing is that I didn't have these "flaps" until after the DIEP.  They are a direct result of the surgery.  Even my oncologist said the same thing when she saw them last week. Just wondering if anyone got it done, and if it was covered by their insurance.

Thanks, 

Sharon

carberry

pupfoster1  my PS told me that a new law was passed and that us BC patients are covered for life to have any revsions and fixes that we need to make us whole again.  I asked the same question because I had a reduction on the opostite side and yes ins paid for it, so that I would be equal. 

To all of you coming up on surgery, both my surgeons instructed me to walk my feet off as much as I could prior to surgery to be stronger afterwards, so just like notafraid says walk, walk, walk!

notafraid..they let me shower with my drains in, but was sooo much better with them out, less work.  I was never given a binder or any garments and the PS still says not to wear a bra for a couple of more weeks. Good thing he made the other boob a nice perky C that doesnt need a bra. LOL

Marcidouglas

I am still wearing my binder and I agree it feels better when I do.  I did buy some shapewear and I wear those too.  I was not told to wear anything at the DIEP site, so I just wear a cami.  Looking forward to stage 2 in June cause my DIEP site is a B and my other boob is a C, but nothing like before when I felt like a lopsided unicorn. LOL.  My return to work yesterday for 2 1/2 hours was good, I also went out for a comedy show with my husband last night.  Feeling better everyday!! (4 weeks & 1 day out)

Also I showered before I got out of the hospital, I agree it was alot of work but it sure felt good.  I didn't have bandages my incisions were covered with some kind of protective glue.  When it started coming off it was like a rubbery substance.

SAMayoFL

NotAfraid, sounds like you are rocking your recovery as well!!  Woohoo!!!  I used to walk/run 4 miles 4 - 5 days a week.  I am three weeks post-chemo and have just started to get back into this week in preparation for surgery.  I walked 1.5 miles on Monday and 1 mile on Tuesday over a bridge.  It took me dang near 30 minutes to do it, but I still did it!  At least it's a step in the right direction.  I have a long way to go to be ready for surgery!

Marci, I wonder how long it will be before you can wear a bra or if you will ever even need one?

Susan

kelben

Marxi, if I could ask where you had your surgery??  I see you are in Ontario, and you didn't have a very long wait for your surgery if I remember correctly.  I am glad to read you are improving... slowly, but surely.

marxi

Dr. Brian Evans with University Hospital in London, ON, did my surgery.  He's amazing.  I've had a lot of 'issues', let's say, but that's uncommon.  He has a fantastic success rate.  I still can't wear a bra because of all the packing in the wounds and the dressing pads on the left flap.  Not sure how this will work if I go back to work on May 2...I don't need a bra for support.  My flaps are small C's I think.  I feel fine without the binder.  I still have ab dressing b/c that wound is still not healed.

kelben

Marxi do you think you will have a stage 2? ... or did your pS did everything from the get go?

marxi

i will have stage 2 in about 6 months for some tweaking of the shape of the right flap (there's some skin he wants to bring forward from around the armpit) and whatever needs to be done with the left flap by then - likely, tidying up whatever is left after the wounds heal.  he said it would be about an hour in the or and i would go home after.  we haven't discussed nipples yet so i'm thinking that is done later once the shape of the flaps settle from stage 2...even as they are, the flaps are certainly acceptable as far as the shape looks. 

kelben

that's great that the shape of the flap is good right from the initial surgery.  It would be hard to wait so long for surgery and then have to wait again for great foobs.  It certainly is an extensive job isn't it?

ladym13

Hi All,

 I haven't been on here in so long, trying to catch up on the pages and pages of posts.

I will be having DIEP surgery (left side) sometime in the summer, still don't have a date, but was told will more likely be July or August, I am SO excited and I will be checking on here more regularly as surgery approaches.

Quick question, has anyone had or heard of anyone getting pregnant after DIEP? I am definatley interested in having another baby and my PS said it wouldn't be a problem, but I'm just interested to hear from someone that actually has.

liz2253

Pupfoster1.  I think your Docs are giving you some mis-info.  I had my left side lipo'd to remove some recon left over fat, and United Healthcare paid for it.  It was done as part of my stage 2 cleanup.   Check with your insurance company, Docs are not up on this stuff, it's not their area of expertise.

SAMayoFL

OK ladies, I have done more research and have found Drs. Richard Klein and Kenneth Lee at M.D. Anderson's Orlando clinic.  They both do DIEP flap reconstruction.  I have left a message for someone in their office to call me.  Has anyone heard of them or used them?  The reason I am looking at them is Orlando is about a 6 hour drive and Southwest flies from my airport directly to Orlando for $79.  That is a substantial savings for me and it might make my surgery for doable!  Any input will be greatly appreciated!

Susan

XmasDx

ladym13 - I have read about going thru pregnancy after DIEP (that it is okay) although I have to be honest, I cannot imagine it!  I supposed since the baby grows so slowly it would be fine, but I feel stretched to the utter limit after my DIEP!  Talk to your PS about it, I'll bet they will tell you it is fine...

treesprite

SAMayoFL: So glad to hear that more options are opening up for you! Hooray! 

I worked out 4-5 days a week for about 6  weeks before my surgery; I wanted as much stamina as possible going it, so lots of aerobic activity getting my heart rate in the training zone.

My PS's office said that when insurance companies try to deny the contouring procedures, they read the federal mandate to them and that takes care of any problems.

I could shower right away; got a shower chair which was great for the first few days when standing up for long periods was a challenge. That first shower felt soooooo good!

NotAfraid: Hooray for getting the last drains out . . . FREEDOM!

Anyone run into case management with their insurance company? Mine wanted me to authorize case management which would put one of their nurses 'in charge' of my case; I declined  . . . it just seemed like adding another layer between me and my doctor.

NotAfraid

YAY!  The drains are ALL out!!!  I couldn't be happier.  I can't shower until tomorrow morning, but I will be taking the longest, most wasteful shower known to man kind!

 I also saw my PCP today and was diagnosed with both a yeast infection and a UTI - not unexpected given the catheter and the 2 weeks of antibiotics. I think the reason for much of my lack of spunk over the last 3 days has to do with my body not only trying to heal, but also dealing with infection.    Nothing a few more pills can't handle (the amount of pills I seem to take is astounding!)

 I've not cleared to do much else (I really think they are afraid of me going a little overboard), but my daily walks will be so much nicer without appendages and I might even go out to dinner and try to wear somethiing other than yoga pants!  It sure is the little things that make me happy these days.

Marcidouglas

Susan: I could probably wear one as long as it is without a underwire but a cami with a shelf bra works fine for me.  Some of the ladies I talk to last October that had it done said they were able to go without a bra if they want too and hadn't been that perky for years.  It is nice to have the option of wearing or not wearing a bra.  My DIEP side is smalerl than my normal boob which is a C but all that will be fixed at Stage 2 in June.  I wore my regular dress pants to work yesterday!! It was nice to be able to wear something other than yoga pants.  I work 2 1/2 hours again yesterday but I sure was ready to go home when the time came.  I think I may have over done it the day before, I worked 2 1/2 hours and then my husband took me to dinner and a comedy show.  Anyway I have been able to increase my walk distance and pace on the treadmill, I am up to 3/4 mile.  Everyday is a better day!!  Starting to like the way I look again!! :-)

treesprite

The hard spots (fat necrosis) on my DIEP side are stressing me out! I called my dr yesterday and they said I could massage them as long as I don't do it vigorously but that it probably wouldn't change them. I have hardness that runs along the bottom side of my breast, starting from about half way down the inside curve and running out towards the side with some areas quite wide. I have a smaller, narrower hard area along the top of my breast. Ugh . . so frustrating and it is hard not to blame myself in some way  . . . silly & pointless, but sometimes my mind goes down that road and it is hard to put the brakes on.

I know when I see my PS he'll put my mind at ease as I'm sure it will all be handled in Stage 2 and if there isn't anything I can do, it is pointless to worry or feel bad. My PS said my flap was very healthy upon transplant and I followed all orders to the letter, so I'm going to do my best to let go of this worry. Maybe it is time to plan up some fun and/or rent some funny movies; I had a good hard laugh attack the other day and even with the belly pain, it felt so good!

NotAfraid: Drain out day is the BEST DAY EVER!

I'm cleared for a non-underwire bra after three weeks, so today I'll give it a try . . it will be nice to have both girls sitting at the same level; the non-DIEP side rides a little low in the cami.

ladym13

FINALLY got a surgery date!!!

I'll be having my surgery on June 14th, I am nervous, excited and pretty much FREAKING OUT!!

pupfoster1

Hi ladies,

Thanks for your thoughts on the lipo and insurance issue.  I'd love to hear from anyone else that actually had insurance pay for theirs.  We have Carefirst BC/BS and they've been great covering almost all of my bills so far.  I just emailed the PS's secretary today (she's the one that said it probably would not be covered) and told her what you lovely ladies shared with me, as well as my onc's thoughts on it.  We'll see......

I had to note too that I like some of you other ladies am actually enjoying not having to wear a bra for once in my life.  I always had issues w/my large breasts (was a DDD) and finding cute stuff to wear, and almost NEVER could go w/out a bra----even in my skinny days it was hard to find a cute 2 piece bathing suit that could support them.  So, at least there has been ONE good thing to come of this nightmare, right?

Take care,

Sharon

XmasDx

Tree sprite, I have a hardness in the same spot under the breast in the fold running up the side... It could just be swelling? Mine has been there since early on after surgery (as soon as I started feeling around at least) so hopefully it is nothing to worry about...

XmasDx

Ladym13, did the doctor reassure you about pregnancy?

Congrats on getting a date set! Let the countdown begin!

blondie45

Ladym13 - congrats on finally getting your surgery date.

Treespite - I also have the hardness that just developed. My DIEP was Feb. 28.  My doc said it is scar tissue. I had my mastectomy 2 years ago and pretty much the scar tissue will probably remain. Mine is painful in that area right now.

XmasDx

Yesterday I felt like I pulled something in that underneath area... Very painful last night... Felt better today at work but now hurts again tonight. Too much lifting maybe? Is that where your pain is too blondie?

XRAYestInMA

@ladyM13 Yeah on a date! You will be 1 week behind me. I got my date 2 weeks ago and these 2 weeks flew by. I wonder if the next 7 will ???? I'm psyched and nervous at the same time. Will you have a bilat or uni. ? Bilat for me including a PMX on the left. Can't help you on the pg question as mine are 12 and 10 and we were done populating our family after #2. I would def ask your PS that question as my understanding after a DIEP, your abd. tissue will be pretty tight. Let us know what he/she says about it....

~L