DIEP 2011

iamgiggles1

Hello everyone. I just had my bilateral diep surgery on June 15th. I am 3 weeks out am doing a whole lot better now. I go back next Tuesday for my 1 month check up. Do you think I will be released to drive and go back to work? When do they take stitches out? Im glad everyone is doing ok here for the most part. Take Care all you beautiful ladies

XRAYestInMA

@hello giggles I had my bilat on June 6th and was given the OK to drive a few days after week 2 when I was no longer taking narcotics for the pain - only Tylenol. I can't answer on the going back to work question as I was able to score 11 weeks off (with pay) from my job, so I am just enjoying my summer hanging in my pool with the kids, sleeping late, and puttering around the house while planning to re-do my bathroom. At 4 weeks out, I do not feel as though I could return to work at this point - but my job is pretty physical and includes lifting of patients and transfers, pushing and pulling heavy equipment, and I am not ready to dive back into that. If I had a desk job that was pretty sedentary, I could probably do that now - but I'm glad that I don't and can just stay home and chill for now. My stitches were all internal, including those around my navel, and just dissolved over time. The outside of my noobs and abdominal scar were painted with Dermabond, a type of glue. That stuff sloughed off in showers and when I became brave enough, I peeled off the rest.

iamgiggles1

Thank you so much Xray for your great info! Im happy that you get to take time off and enjoy yourself and your family!!! You have a blast. I want to hear about your progress ok? I will keep everyone updated when I get new info also. Laugh Hard and Often!!!

bdavis

I feel silly asking, but what is the 21 club?

c8ndygr1

Betsy - not a silly question. The 21 Club is the nickname for the 4 ladies (me included) who had our DIEP surgeries all on the same date, June 21st. Unusual to have so many on the same day.

alexanjb

I am one month out and (mentally at least) ready to go back to work.  I do tire easily and I still have a problem with needing to bandage the noob because the outside skin won't heal.  I am so tired out washing out wife-beaters!  My job is a desk job but my commute is an hour each way so it makes for a long day.  I don't know what to do.  I get paid 80% of my pay while on disability for 3 months, so $$$ is not really the problem.  By not having to buy so much gas to commute I come out pretty even staying home.  But I miss my peeps at work....

mscal02

alexanjb: My PS prescribed a cream called Mupirocin for the places on my breast that are having a hard time healing. I have been using it for a week and must say that there is great improvement. They are scalbing over and shrinking. I wash my breast 2 times a day with Dial or Dove unscented soap and just 2 days ago began to let it air dry. I wear this little cotton vest like top that ties in the front and my breast is left exposed. Try just washing with warm soap and water and leaving your wife beater rolled up, I take the soap and just work up a lather and just rub it onto my breast.His nurse told me to keep it bandaged, and I tried it for a few days ,but it was just too moist, I felt to heal. That is when I decided to take matters into my own hands and decided to allow it to air dry whenever I am home.I am over 6 weeks out and I sometimes get tired. I have been pressing my way into walking almost every day to regain my strength. DIEP is a big surgery and takes a lot out of us. You will regain your stamina in time.Everyone's body is different. Take advantage of the time that you have off and be gentle with yourself.

alexanjb

MSCal, I have been trying the air drying as well.  My PS nurse also said to keep it bandaged and that I could put a very thin layer of vaseline on it.  Well, I do that when I am going somewhere but I agree that it is much too moist to heal the way it is.  It just sticks to everything and then it ends up bleeding when I try to unstick it.  The healing is very slow going this way.  I have not been prescribed anything and that does strike me as odd.  It seems like there must be something to help promote the healing.  I have been washing it with my gentle shampoo.

mscal02

alexanjb; I was told to use non-stick pads. I use Curad non-stick pads that are comparable to the Telfa pads used in the PS's office when going out. They don't stick, even after walking when exercizing.It doesn't even stick to the opening on my tummy incision. Call and ask if they recommend a prescription cream or ointment? I was told to use polysporin at first, but made an appointment so that it could be seen that the polysporin was not helping,and that is when I was given a prescription ointment.

mrsnjband

Alexanjb,  A wound or incision needs a certain amount of mosture to heal.  Air drying to an extent sounds good but can hinder healing.  I learned this after my incision wouldn't heal after the radiation burned it.  If it is sticking to the bandage, use some saline water to loosen it.  You can get some in a can. Using Telfa pads is a good idea too. If you still have problems you should talk to your PS about it. NJ

MrsMot

I had my DIEP on June 8th and I am still having trouble standing straight up.  I see the word TRAM Flap in my procedures so the PS must have taken muscle.  This has been a nightmare for me to recover from.  My breasts are sore, I can't even touch them...can't sleep on my side yet and cannot drive because of the seat belt.  Heck walking wears me out.  Oh and I start chemo this monday.  My ab area is mostly the problem...a lot of little pain jabs.  Maybe its just healing.  I do have a flatter belly.  But seems everyone else recovered better then me.  

wolfe33

MrsMot:  I am so sorry that you are having a hard time....what has your PS said to you about your recovery?  I am shocked that you didn't know that they would take muscle....my PS said that taking muscle was not even an option.  He said that if they were unable to connect blood vessels successfully then they would give me a free tummy tuck and just place tissue expander's for a later implant procedure.  I would make sure to call your PS and ask lots of questions.  You have every right to know exactly what they did to you during your procedure.  PLUS>>>>if they did do TRAM, then you will have a longer recovery than DIEP.  Don't be too hard on yourself!  Hang in there...this to shall pass!

bdavis

My stacked DIEP is coming up July 21... having some anxiety, as expected...

MrsMot

Wolfe33 - When I consulted with my PS he said "They" don't do TRAM flaps anymore.  He assured me they would not go into the muscle.  The procedure says the DIEP or Muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.  Sounds like TRAM flap to me.  I am not upset, I was on the operating table for 14 hours due to some difficulties.  I love my flat belly...but just thinking why my abs hurt and I cannot stand straight up.  I am walking like I have a hunchback.  Thank you for your kind words...you are right.  This too shall pass.  Plus I have a flat tummy!  I like that part the best!!!

ladym13

Betsy...anxiety is normal, try and relax, you'll do great....I'll be thinking of you:)

bdavis

Thanks ladym13.... I am going on vacation tomorrow for a week so that should help me relax.

Snobird

Hey BD try to concentrate on enjoying your vacation. You'll do fine in surgery. I'll be thinking of you.

Sherryc

Betsy enjoy your vacation and try not to think about your surgery.  Have a great time

NotAfraid

MrsMot  My PS warned my before surgery that he MAY have to take a tiny bit of muscle if necessary and that it would show up as a TRAM not DIEP.  However, the amont of muscle is VERY small and just needed to keep the vein intact.  That may be what happened in your case. 

zogo

After my pre-surgery CT scan, my PS also told me that on one side the vein was great and on the other he may have to take a little muscle to preserve it.  He described it as a small circumference around the vein, just enough to get it out intact.  In the big picture, the vein is more important than a little muscle. 

misszed

Betsy - Anxiety is very normal, time will fly by so enjoy your vacation.

MrsMot: Im sorry to hear your healing is taking long, probably because they HAD to use some muscle during the DIEP which they should have told you prior to surgery.  This happens at times when the diep flap is not taking well. My PS told me at 2 weeks post op to just stand up...if it pulls too much bend a little but keep at it..like train your muscles...it was hard but lm now standing straight up unless l sit for too long then l have to do it slowly (probably out of habit) .  I wish you the best in the coming weeks...yes, focus on the the flat tummy..positivity all the way!!

XRAYestInMA

A brief update on my healing process ...I am now 4 1/2 weeks from my bilat. DIEP. At this weeks appt. with my PS, he told me that I had no restrictions. I failed to ask if I could wear an underwire bra, so since I do not know the answer, I'm holding off on that. I really don't wear any bras as of yet because when I went bra shopping the other day, the only styles that I liked had underwire, so I bought two different styles for the near future. They look very sexy and the cleavage looks awesome in them. I still have a bit of swelling under my left axilla, so I'm wearing compression-type camis for now and Spanx on the bottom half as my binder sucks and I dislike wearing it. I tried sleeping on my side but it just wasn't doing it for me - I'm a belly sleeper at heart, and I don't feel ready for that quite yet. I'll try that once the swelling under my left arm goes down - until then, on my back with many pillows I will be.  

Fitness-wise...I can walk for 1 hour at a decent pace and even up hills (I live in a hilly neighborhood), without getting winded at all, ride the stationary bike for 30 minutes (after that it tends to bore me), and do my routine on DH's Boxflex machine of arm exercises, ab crunches, and leg lifts. I am using the Bowflex with a lighter weights for the arms for now, and will work up to what I was able to do pre-DIEP as the weeks go by. I'm using the same weights for the leg lifts that I used before and it feels great. When the kids go back to school in late August, I'm going to look into taking belly dancing or Yoga classes as I want to strengthen my inner ab muscle now that it appears so flat from the outside.

@bdavis Betsy, have a great vacation and try to relax and chill. I think it is perfectly normal to feel a bit anxious when thinking about going under the knife to have a DIEP. You know you will be in excellent hands in NOLA, the rest will be up to you - and you'll do great. Just wondering - you have a "bilat stacked DIEP" in your signature line...just how is the "stacking" done and is the tissue harvested from another area in addition to your abdomen? I had a regular bilat DIEP with no stacking needed and I'm just trying to figure out how the latter is done. 

~Lori

daisy4ever

I had a NSM with immediate DIEP recon on June 21st. I wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences.


JP Drains: I left the hospital with four, had two removed a week after surgery, and now just has the last two removed a week later. I was worried about the drains before surgery, and wondered what I would do with them and how they worked. Hoag Hospital and my PS used Velcro to attach them to my binder, and I drained them when needed. It turned out to be easier than I thought, but I am so glad they are gone. They did leak, but the stains came out. I used spray and wash and added a little salt to the water. The salt helps to remove the blood stains. Just add it to the wash. My grandmother passed on this information. If it works for you, let me know! I did have someone wash my clothes every day or every other day, so that may have helped.



Bathing: I have not taken a shower since my surgery (2 weeks and 3 days now). I wash off every night and morning with warm water and soap, and someone washes my hair over the sink. Since I am inside the house, I don't feel dirty, albeit this is the longest I have ever gone without a shower! But maybe this is why my incisions are healing quickly and without infections? This is why I opted to avoid a bath/shower. I didn't want to keep getting my incisions wet. Now that my drains are all removed, I plan to take one.



Coffee: My PS asked if I would avoid coffee for 4 weeks post-op.

c8ndygr1

daisy4ever asked: How are your scabs doing? Are you using anything on the scars yet? What will you use? Are you walking upright? Are you doing any work around the house? Could you ever see any of your abdominal skin after they moved it for the DIEP?

Daisy, I'd say about 3/4 of my scabs are off now. I asked my PS what I should put on the scars and he said nothing. But they feel so dry and rough, just begging to be soothed. I might try Bio Oil as has been suggested by others. Don't know where to get Cimeosil. I'm still walking a bit hunched over, not so much from the abdominal incision but from the tight under-breast incisions. I'm only doing light housework at this point. Only have two places where transplanted abdominal skin shows - the circles where my new nips and areola tattoo will go. My PS had no restrictions on taking showers, in fact, I could have taken one while in the hospital but didn't because at that time it would have taken way too much effort. Since I've been home, I take daily showers using Lever 2000 antibacterial soap and shampoo my hair myself. I think it helps prevent infection.

daisy4ever

C8ndygr1: I am walking mostly upright. I was scared at first to stand up. It was getting my shoulders back that took the longest! My incisions are on the side, starting almost under my arm, and then going to the nipple and partly around it. This was partly my request since I already had a scar from a previous lumpectomy, and there was an area of concern right along the scar area. None of my abdominal skin is showing now. There had been two areas on each side, along the incision lines. The PS removed the skin layer and closed my breast skin into one incision line a week after surgery. I had a nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomy. Because a second surgery was done a week after the first, my breast scabs are not coming off quite yet. The abdominal scabs are falling off. I saw my PS yesterday and he said to wait another week. He offers something at his office, but I didn't look at the name. I go back again next week, so I will find out soon. Let me know what you use. Are you still sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees? When do you get your new nips and the tattoo? I heard they look great. I always hoped and wanted to keep mine, and so far they have survived. They are not exactly the same. They have obviously been upset by all of the surgery . They may need some fat grafting behind them to fluff them up again. My breast cancer surgeon does the NSM often, and she checked for cancer behind my nipples. I will have to see her once a year or something to check for cancer , but it is unlikely. I feel okay about taking the risk. It looks like we both have a similar history with DCIS. It took me two years to go forward with the bilateral mx. I am so glad I did it now.

bdavis

Lori,

I am having tissue taken from both my abdomen and hips (upper butt)... the incision will run about 300 degrees around my body, and I think it just about doubles the surgery time because they need to flip me over. I just do not have enough fat in one area to make 2 full breasts... The only other option is to just use the abs and add an implant at stage II.

nicurn4222

@xrayest...My PS told me no underwires for 1 year. Does anyone else have to wait that long?

I was prescribed sylvadine cream to put on my wounds. They seem to be getting better pretty fast. I wash my breasts in the shower with baby shampoo in the evening then let them air dry for awhile then apply the cream and a surgipad. Then in the morning I wipe off with sterile water, reapply the cream and new surgipads. My PS  said she wants to treat them just like a burn. Seems to be working well.

@Betsy...Have a Wonderful vacation!

MrsMot

Not Afraid - First LOVE your name.  We have to be brave in all this crap!  I think what you say is correct.  The surgery took longer then anticipated to he probably did take a tiny amount...which I feel.  Every day its getting better. 

I still cannot sleep on my side...been almost 5 weeks.  I am still sleeping with lots of pillows on my back.  But being able to stand on my own in the shower and wash my hair...heaven!!!

@Betsy - going on vacation is the best thing you can do.  My wonderful husband took me to a B&B in beautiful Santa Barbara CA and we had a wonderful time.  I never had a moment to get nervous.  You will get through the surgery beautifully.  My best to you and take good care!!

MrsMot

Misszed - I asked my PS the other day about the abs and he told me to do nothing but to let it heal.  But I do stand up straight as much as I can to stretch it.  My lower back cannot take me bending over too much.  Thank you for your words.  It is better to focus on the positive...flat tummy and new boobs!  They kept my left nipple and areola...so its like my old breast just with my belly fat.  It was good to be chubby!  I was able to get boobs!!  Oh and the best part?  They GOT my cancer!!!  Now on to chemo....

grdnslve

well, last night tried to make it all night without pain meds.  not sure that was a good idea.  although i wasn't in excruciating pain or anything, just very 'uncomfortable' and couldn't sleep.  so was wondering where the rest of you are in terms of using/not using pain medication.  i'm usually a side sleeper & maybe part of it is having to sleep all propped up on my back.  am i just being impatient?